Line by line – when cruising is coming back

Last update: September 9, 2021

I began this line-by-line guide on March 14, 2020, when cruising began to shut down because of the Covid pandemic. Now the multi-billion industry is coming back strongly, with only lines highlighted in red yet to resume cruising. Please use the links to refer to individual company websites for details:

Aida – Restarted on October 17, 2020, in Italy. It began a Canary Islands season on December 5 and resumed sailings in 2021 on March 20.

Alaskan Dream Cruises – Started 2021 with a five-night cruise in April on its 12-passenger Kruzof Explorer. On May 22, the Chichagof Dream set sail, followed by another Kruzof trip the next day. On May 30 the 40-passenger Alaskan Dream re-entered service.

AmaWaterways – Operated chartered sailings on one ship in Germany from July, 2020. Its 2021 restart dates were: July 3 (AmaDouro on the Douro); July 21 (AmaMagna on the Danube); July 22 (AmaKristina on the Rhône); July 22 (AmaLyra on the Seine); July 27 (AmaVida on the Douro); July 29 (AmaDolce on the Garonne); July 29 (AmaSiena on the Rhine).

American Cruise Lines – Restarted coastal cruises on March 13, 2021 (Independence); resumed river cruising with the maiden voyage of American Jazz on March 21.

American Queen Steamboat Company – Restarted on March 15, 2021 (American Duchess); maiden voyage of American Countess was on March 21.

Aranui – Restarted on August 8, 2020 (excluding one-off cruise for local passengers on July 18)

A-Rosa – Restarted on June 17, 2020. The first cruise on the Douro in 2021 began on June 16, with a seven-night itinerary from Porto to the Spanish border and back. Voyages have restarted on the Rhine and Danube. Seine cruises will not resume until 2022.

Australis – Due to restart in December 2021

Avalon – July 27, 2021 (Seine); August 7 (Rhine); August 10 (Danube); August 31 (Rhône); September 10 (Moselle).

Azamara – Azamara Quest returned on August 28, 2021, and Azamara Journey will sail again on October 13, but Azamara Pursuit will not resume cruising until January 2022.

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line – Began sailing on July 24, 2021.

Carnival Cruise Line – Restarted in Galveston, Texas, with Carnival Vista sailing on July 3, 2021, and Carnival Breeze on July 15. Carnival Horizon began operating from Miami on July 4 and Alaska cruises departed from Seattle from July 27 on Carnival Miracle. New ship Mardi Gras started sailing from Port Canaveral on July 31. Carnival Magic homeported from Port Canaveral from August 7, Carnival Sunrise started from Miami on August 14 and Carnival Panorama sailed from Long Beach from August 21. Other dates – September 5 (Carnival Glory from New Orleans); September 19 (Dream from Galveston); October 9 (Freedom from Miami); October 11 (Elation from Port Canaveral); November 1 (Valor from New Orleans); November 14 (Legend from Baltimore and Pride from Tampa); December 13 (Radiance from Long Beach and Conquest from Miami); January 2022 (Sensation from Mobile).

Celebrity – Celebrity Millennium began sailing from St Maarten to other Caribbean islands on June 5, 2021. The line was also the first to restart cruising from US waters when Celebrity Edge left Port Everglades on June 26. Celebrity Edge’s sister, Celebrity Apex, made its world debut in Greece on June 19 (see story here). Celebrity Silhouette began sailing round-Britain cruises from July 3. In the Galapagos, Celebrity Flora returned on July 4, followed by Celebrity Xpedition on July 24 and Celebrity Xploration on September 18. Celebrity Millennium began Alaska voyages from Seattle on July 23 and Celebrity Equinox sailed from Fort Lauderdale on July 25.

Celestyal – Restarted on June 12, 2021, with Celestyal Crystal, followed by Celestyal Olympica on June 28.

CMV – Ceased trading on July 20, 2020. See story here. But a new company, Ambassador Cruise Line, is aiming to fill the gap in the market – see story here.

Coral Expeditions – Restarted for Australian guests on October 14, 2020.

Costa – Restarted on September 6, 2020 (Costa Deliziosa from Trieste); September 19, 2020 (Costa Diadema from Genoa); October 10, 2020 (Costa Smeralda from Savona). In 2021 it began cruising on May 1 (Costa Smeralda), followed by May 16 (Costa Luminosa), June 26 (Costa Deliziosa) and July 4 (Costa Firenze).

CroisiEurope – Restarted on July 13, 2020. For 2021, the dates were: Douro – June 7; Gironde – June 30; Seine – June 30; Rhine – July 2; Rhône – July 3; Elbe, Oder, Havel & Baltic – July 8; Danube – July 8; Guadalquivir – August 19; Po – August 25 and French canals from July 2. On the ocean, it sailed in Croatia from June 10 and Corsica from July 4

Crystal Cruises – Crystal Serenity began sailing in the Bahamas on July 3, 2021 (see story here). Crystal Endeavor made its debut with five ten-night sailings around Iceland beginning on July 17. Crystal Symphony is sailing seven-night voyages from Boston to Bermuda from August 22, and from New York to Bermuda from September 24. On the rivers, Crystal Ravel left Vilshofen, Germany, on a seven-night Danube itinerary on August 29, followed the next day by Crystal Debussy leaving Basel on a Rhine cruise. The line has sold its 62-passenger yacht, Crystal Esprit.

Cunard – Queen Elizabeth began sailing ten voyages in UK waters from Southampton from August 13, 2021. Queen Mary 2 will restart on November 28 with two round-trip sailings from Southampton before her first transatlantic crossing on December 13, while Queen Victoria will sail three new voyages from Southampton starting on April 22, 2022. World voyages on QM2 and Queen Victoria in 2022 are cancelled.

Disney – Disney Magic began sailing UK cruises on July 15, 2021 (see story here). In the US, Disney Dream restarted on August 9. Disney Wonder will resume cruises from San Diego on October 1 and sail a 14-night voyage through the Panama Canal to Galveston on November 5. Disney Fantasy will restart in Port Canaveral on October 9 and Disney Magic will resume sailing from Miami on October 28.

Dream Cruises – Restarted on July 26, 2020.

Elixir Cruises – Introduced first ship Elysium on July 31.

Emerald Cruises – First sailing was on the Douro, Portugal, on July 30.

European Waterways – Restarted on July 12, 2020. In 2021, the first sailing was L’Art de Vivre in Burgundy on June 27, followed on July 11 by Finesse, Renaissance, Anjodi and Panache in France, Magna Carta on the Thames and Spirit of Scotland on the Caledonian Canal. In Italy, La Bella Vita began sailing on August 1 – the same day that Shannon Princess restarted in Ireland.

Fred. Olsen ocean ships – Began British cruises on July 5, 2021. See story here.

G Adventures – Only a few tours ran in Europe in 2020. Now suspended until October 31 with some exceptions.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises – Restarted on July 31, 2020. The line began a Canary Islands season on December 4.

Hebridean Island Cruises – Having cancelled 2020 sailings (see story here), the line headed south for the summer of 2021 to avoid the Scottish restrictions on cruising. The first cruise was on July 13 from Cardiff (see story here).

Holland America – July 24, 2021 (Nieuw Amsterdam from Seattle). Eurodam will sail in the Med from September 12. New ship Rotterdam will make its first cruise on November 3. Volendam and Zaandam will return next May. Noordam will restart with a March 14 cruise in Japan, Oosterdam will begin cruising on May 1 in the Med and Westerdam will return to service on May 8 in Alaska. The line is cancelling grand voyages until Zuiderdam sets sail on a 128-day world cruise leaving Fort Lauderdale on January 3, 2023.

Hurtigruten – Restarted on June 16, 2020. Its ship Otto Sverdrup sailed from Hamburg on August 24. Maud will leave Dover on September 22 and begin a winter season from the port on October 6. Fram, Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen will begin sailing from Antarctica in October/November.

Lindblad – Restarted on June 4, 2021 (Galapagos) and June 5 (Alaska). Began on July 7 in Iceland.

Majestic Line – Restarted on August 29, 2020 (read my review of one of the first sailings here). Began 2021 sailings on May 18.

Marella – Marella Explorer began UK cruises from Southampton on June 25, 2021, followed by adults-only Explorer 2 from Newcastle on July 10 (see story here). Sailings are suspended on Marella Discovery until October 25 and Discovery 2 until April 30, 2022. Explorer 2’s planned sailing from Naples to Montego Bay on November 4 has also been cancelled.

MSC Cruises – Restarted on August 16, 2020 (Grandiosa); October 19, 2020 (Magnifica). See story here. The first sailing in 2021 was of MSC Grandiosa on January 24. MSC Cruises began round-Britain cruises on new ship Virtuosa on May 20 (see my review here). The line resumed US cruises from Miami on August 2 on MSC Meraviglia, then MSC Divina will begin sailing from Port Canaveral on September 16. Elsewhere, MSC Seaside began sailing on May 1.

Noble Caledonia – Began round-Britain cruises on June 16, 2021 (see story here)

NCL – July 25, 2021 (Norwegian Jade from Athens); August 7 (Norwegian Joy from Jamaica and Norwegian Encore from Seattle); August 15 (Norwegian Gem from New York); October 19 (Norwegian Joy from Miami); October 24 (Norwegian Bliss from LA); November 6 (Pride of America from Hawaii); November 7 (Norwegian Bliss from LA); November 13 (Norwegian Escape from Port Canaveral); November 14 (Norwegian Encore from Miami); December 23 (Norwegian Pearl from Miami); January 20, 2022 (Norwegian Jewel from Panama City); January 28 (Norwegian Sun from Hong Kong); February 9 (Norwegian Spirit from Sydney and Auckland).

Oceania – Restarted on August 29, 2021, with Marina sailing from Copenhagen. Riviera will resume published voyages from Istanbul on October 18; Insignia to restart with the December 21 Panama Canal voyage from Miami ahead of its 180-day Around the World cruise; Sirena to start from Miami on January 22, 2022

P&O Cruises – Began British cruises, initially with Britannia, on June 27, 2021 (see story here). Iona’s maiden voyage was on August 7 (see my review here). Cruises are suspended on Ventura until October 3, on Azura until December 10, on Arcadia until March 27, 2022, and on Aurora until April 13, 2022.

Paul Gauguin – Restarted on July 11, 2020 (French Polynesians); July 29 (international travellers).

Ponant – Restarted on July 11, 2020 (see story here). On November 18, it suspended sailings in the Northern Hemisphere for the rest of 2020. It restarted on June 16, 2021.

Princess – Restarted on July 25, 2021, with Majestic Princess sailing from Seattle. The line began round-Britain cruises on July 31 – see story here. Diamond Princess and Island Princess will return to service in spring 2022.

Regent – Will restart with Seven Seas Splendor in Southampton on September 11, 2021, followed by October 16 (Explorer from Venice); December 18 (Mariner from Miami); January 6, 2022 (Navigator from Miami); February 15 (Voyager from Barcelona).

Royal Caribbean – Restarted on June 12, 2021, with Adventure of the Seas in Nassau. Anthem of the Seas began sailing round-Britain trips from July 7 and Jewel of the Seas has been based in Cyprus since July 10 (see story here). In the US, the restart dates are: July 2 (Freedom of the Seas – Miami); July 3 (Odyssey – Fort Lauderdale); July 19 (Serenade – Seattle); August 8 (Allure – Port Canaveral); August 13 (Ovation – Seattle); August 14 (Symphony – Miami); August 15 (Independence – Galveston); August 23 (Mariner – Port Canaveral). These follow successful sailings in Singapore of Quantum of the Seas that began in December, 2020.

Saga ocean ships – The inaugural voyage of Spirit of Adventure set sail on July 26, 2021 (see story about the naming here). Spirit of Discovery returned on June 27 (see story here).

Scenic – First sailing was on the Douro, Portugal, on July 30, 2021.

Seabourn – Seabourn Ovation sailed from Athens from July 3, 2021, and Seabourn Odyssey was based in Barbados from July 18. Expedition ship Seabourn Venture will join the fleet with its maiden voyage from Greenwich, London, on April 10, 2022. Seabourn Sojourn’s 2022 world cruise has been cancelled. Instead, the ship will restart in the Med on June 6, 2022. Other restart dates – April 17, 2022: Encore (Greece); May 10, Quest (Venice).

Sea Cloud – August 6, 2021 (Sea Cloud); August 30 (Sea Cloud II); September 14 (Sea Cloud Spirit maiden voyage).

SeaDream – Restarted on June 20, 2020 (Norway). The line began sailing in the Caribbean on November 7 but cancelled the rest of the season after a Covid outbreak (see story here). Restarted in 2021 in Greece on June 26 and in Norway on July 7.

Silversea – New flagship Silver Moon sailed from Greece from June 18, 2021, and other newcomer Silver Origin made its debut in the Galapagos from June 19. Silver Muse resumed round-trip sailings from Seattle on July 29 and Silver Shadow began circumnavigating Iceland with three 10-day voyages from Reykjavik, beginning on July 30. Other proposed restart dates are: September 3 (Silver Spirit); November 10 (Silver Explorer); November 14 (Silver Cloud); November 17 (Silver Whisper); November 19 (Silver Dawn); November 20 (Silver Wind).

Star Clippers – Suspended until September 14, 2021 (Royal Clipper); November 3 (Star Flyer); December 28 (Star Clipper).

TUI ocean cruises (Germany) – Restarted on July 24, 2020.

TUI river cruises – August 15, 2021 (TUI Maya); November 22 (TUI Skyla); March 30, 2022 (TUI Isla).

Tradewind Voyages – Sailed a ‘dress rehearsal’ cruise on new ship Golden Horizon on July 7, 2021, and an inaugural voyage on July 19. Read my review of one of the first voyages here.

UnCruise – Restarted on August 1, 2020 (but had to cancel rest of season, see story here). Its first sailing in 2021 was on May 2.

Uniworld – Restarted on June 20, 2021, with its most recently transformed ship, La Venezia, in Italy. Newcomer São Gabriel began sailing the Douro on June 27. Cruises resumed in France with Joie de Vivre and Bon Voyage on July 4 and Catherine on July 11. Other restart dates are July 25 (Antoinette on the Rhine); July 26 (Duchess); July 31 (Princess on the Rhine – charter); August 1 (Maria Theresa on the Danube); August 16 (Beatrice on the Danube); August 26 (Queen on the Rhine and Moselle).

Variety Cruises – Restarted on July 24, 2020 (Galileo in the Greek Islands). It began 2021 sailings on May 28 in Greece.

Viking – Viking Venus was christened in the UK on May 17 and began the first of eight-day voyages from Portsmouth along the English coast on May 22. Viking Orion began sailing around Bermuda on June 15 and Viking Sky around Iceland from June 28. Viking Venus and Viking Sea have begun sailing from Malta and Viking Star started UK cruises on August 7. River cruises returned in July.

Virgin – Scarlet Lady began sailing UK cruises on August 6 (see my review here). Sailings in Miami have been cancelled until October 1. Valiant Lady is scheduled to debut in Portsmouth in March 2022 (see story here)

Windstar – June 19, 2021 (Star Breeze and Wind Star); July 15 (Wind Spirit); August 8 (Wind Surf); September 4 (Star Legend); November 3 (Star Pride).

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