“We are a year further and it is important to revive the economy once more. Celebrity Cruises decision arrived at just the right time and brings good news for our tourism and economy” as the director of Aruba Ports Authority N.V. (APA) Marc Figaroa declared this past weekend. The return of cruise ships to the island translates into more people arriving on the island and directly contributes to our economy and all those dependent on tourism.
Last Friday, Celebrity Cruises announced its long-awaited return, according to the president and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo. The revolutionary ship Celebrity Millennium, which is at the head of a program to modernize the vessels at a value of 500 million dollars, will depart from the port in St. Maarten on the 5th of June 2021.
By the 25th of March, excited passengers can make their dreams a reality when the reservations open for the 7-day itinerary, which will be traveling till August to some of the Caribbean’s most desired destinations. All crewmembers will be vaccinated and the ship will be open for adults who have been vaccinated and children below the age of 18 with a negative COVID-19 PCR test conducted 72 hours before departure.
President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo said: “heading back to the Caribbean after more than a year is a very important moment for us. It marks the start of the end of an exceptionally difficult moment for us all”.
Cruises in the Caribbean: what stands out most of this experience.
The Celebrity Millennium’s new season in the Caribbean will offer a week of pleasure on a luxury cruise with world-class gastronomical experiences, elegant rooms, and exciting shows all while enjoying the sun, culture, and history of some of the world’s most beautiful islands.
The Revolutionary Celebrity
From the deck to the mast, Celebrity Millennium underwent the grandest renovation in history, to guarantee an incomparable new experience of luxury for the passengers. The cruise now has new rooms, restaurants, and newly equipped halls. It also contains a redesigned spa that will provide the guests with relaxation and leave them feeling recharged and rejuvenated.
Some of the improvements aboard include:
- Rooms and suites that have been completely redesigned and have been inspired by designs by Celebrity Edge’s interior designer Kelly Hoppen, eXhale rugs, and luxurious Cashmere™ mattresses.
- Newly renovated bars and restaurants where the guests can enjoy unique culinary experiences in a captivating environment.
- New boutiques with your favorite name-brand designers.
- Advanced RFID technology in Celebrity’s digital key that will grant aces to every door in the room.
Healthy on the ocean
The company’s main priority is the health and safety of the passengers, the crew, and the people living on the islands that visit the ship. The Celebrity Millennium will navigate with integral health and safety measures designed with the help of the expert guide from the Royal Caribbean Group’s Healthy Sail Panel, the global director of public health and the medical director, as well as local government and health authorities. These measures, as well as the required vaccine, will evolve with the current public health.
The details concerning the health and safety measures
Furthermore, the guests must comply with the rules for traveling to St. Maarten, which currently requires a negative PCR test conducted within 72 hours upon arrival on the island. To simplify the luxurious vacation, WiFi, drinks, and tips will now be “all included” on all Celebrity cruises. Additionally, the “Celebrity Cruise with Confidence” offers a flexible cancelation and guarantees the best price. It must also be emphasized that the cruise must comply with Aruba’s strict protocols.
A collaboration with the Government, APA, and ATA
To be able to accomplish this, the Royal Caribbean Group had many dialogues with the minister for tourism, Aruba Tourism Authority, and Aruba Ports Authority executives. Aruba showed its willingness to work together with the cruise and health authorities to make this visit possible. This once again demonstrates that Aruba is still one of the preferred tourist destinations for cruises, and also provides recognition for how Aruba is managing the crisis. The cruise will be expected in Aruba twice a month, starting this coming June.
