This Week in Cruise Recovery: Virgin's First Miami Cruise, HAL's San Diego Restart

13 October, 2021

Major restart developments this past week included the first sailing of Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady from its Miami home port. Travel Agent recently toured Scarlet Lady in New York and provided an initial look at the new ship, which will sail four- and five-night Mexican and Caribbean voyages to either Cozumel/Playa Del Carmen; Nassau, Bahamas; Costa Maya, Mexico; or Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

Also on the restart front, Holland America Line returned to West Coast home porting for voyages from the Port of San Diego on Sunday. The Pinnacle-class Koningsdam is now sailing 23 seven-night Mexico and coastal California voyages.

Further down the line, Carnival Cruise Line announced plans for January 2022 and February 2022 restarts. Of note, Carnival Sunshine will restart from Charleston on January 13 and Carnival Liberty from on February 11.

Executive Perspective

Travel Agent talked one-on-one with Carol Cabezas, president of Azamara about her line's restart, new ownership and what she's seeing within the cruise industry for guest trends.

Silversea Cruises, as reported by our sister publication Luxury Travel Advisor, is running a new marketing campaign and TV commercials, designed to entice guests back onto the high seas to explore the world. They are targeting "curious travelers."

Luxury Travel Advisor also offers a look at the cruise industry's recovery" from the perspective of Andy Stuart, former president and CEO, Norwegian Cruise Line.

Speaking at Seatrade Cruise Global recently in Miami Beach, FL, Joseph Boschulte, commissioner of tourism, U.S. Virgin Islands, advocated for greater collaboration among Caribbean destinations and cruise line partners to ensure the safe and successful return of cruises to the region.