Where is it safe to go sailing in 2021?

More than a year after Covid-19 cruise ships came to a standstill, there are clear signs that the voyage may return.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this month has hinted that sailing may resume in the middle of summer – with restrictions – in a move applauded by operators and boating enthusiasts.

This follows months of increasing pressure from the industry, claiming it has been treated unfairly due to coronavirus restrictions, which led Carnival to consider resettling ships and suing the Florida government, Ron DeSantis.

With government regulation and vaccination varying across the globe, seafarers still have much to navigate. CNBC’s Global Traveler looked at what to expect from cruises in 2021.

At present, the departure of the US port remains banned under CDC guidelines, despite calls to resume by 1 July. These include major voyages to Alaska, where Gov. Mike Dunleavy is threatening legal action.

However, the Caribbean Islands are full steam ahead – as long as passengers leave the islands.

From June, Royal Caribbean will run a series of routes across the region starting in the Bahamas and St. Maarten. Crystal Cruises starts in June from the Bahamas, while Norwegian starts in August, departing from Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.

Europe is also moving forward.

Greece is the destination of choice for many entrepreneurs, with Norwegian and luxury trucks Celebrity Cruises, Seaborn and Ponant planning all this summer with port calls around the Greek islands. From May, MSC Cruises will also operate a range of itineraries in Europe, with calls to locations in Italy, Malta, France, Spain, Greece, Croatia and Montenegro.

Venice is included in the MSC Cruises routes, but departure from the city’s historic port will soon be a thing of the past, as Italian officials have indicated that cruise ships will be diverted to the nearby industrial port under a new environmental decision.

However, some providers, including MSC Cruises, are only available to passengers living within the European Union’s Schengen zone. International visitors should be aware of any restrictions regarding accommodation and fly to the country of establishment before booking.

Meanwhile, the so-called “cruises to nowhere” remain in full swing. Since returns without pre-requisite and mandatory pre-departure tests are considered a low-risk option for vacationers wishing to escape.

The non-destination holidays in Singapore have proved so popular that city-state cruisers last month accounted for one-third of the industry’s total travelers, extending Royal Caribbean and Genting’s biggest providers to October.

In the UK, companies are also coming up with the idea. From June, P&O, Princess Cruises, Disney, MSC Cruises, Virgin Voyages and Royal Caribbean will all depart around the British Isles – many with inland ports.

Vessels will mostly only be available to those who have been vaccinated.

In January, British operator Saga Cruises became upset when it became the first cruise line to introduce compulsory vaccination. But now companies are recognizing this as the norm, said Tom McAlpin, CEO and president of Virgin Voyages, Richard Branson’s adult cruise line.

“We know this is the future,” McAlpin said. “As a lone adult cruise line, we can provide a very controlled, safe environment for everyone on board.”

Crystal Cruises, Norwegian, P&O, Viking and Celebrity Cruises, all followed suit and introduced the vaccine requirements for adult passengers. Royal Caribbean has made vaccinations mandatory for some routes, including the Caribbean, while Carnival Cruises has not yet announced such measures.

The emphasis on health and safety will also extend to the experience on board. Buffets will be no more and entertainment can be limited because neatness is the most important place.

“Although traditionally cleaning a ship would be done in the background … ‘household theater’ would be of greater importance to consumers and hospitality brands would prioritize their cleaning protocols, ‘says Elle Kross, director of strategy at digital marketing firm Movable Ink .

Meanwhile, passengers can expect new technologies, from virtual queues and contactless payments to temperature control and UV disinfection, to reduce contact on board.

“Operators have done a lot of work … using modern technology, implementing new processes and training employees to work with new policies and guidelines,” said Vijay Achanti, head of hospitality in North America at the global consulting firm Capgemini, said.

As new measures are in place and more routes are announced, it seems that holidaymakers are gaining confidence. 2021’s bookings are up, and Crystal Cruises recorded its biggest single day bookings in its 30-year history last month.

The route forward seems even clearer. According to Google data shown by travel website Trips to Discover, advanced US ticket sales for 2022 so far are larger than those seen in 2019 for the 2020 season, as travelers plan new and rescheduled trips.

Movable Ink’s Kross says the majority of these discussions regularly come from regular cruises. Carnival reported last month that 55% of its 2021 discussions so far come from ‘brand loyalists’. But newcomers are also beginning to view cruises as part of ‘pre-Covid normality’, she said.

Yet many do so with caution, says Jeanie Johnson of tour operator Jeanie’s Journey in Minnesota, who notes that most vacationers opt for suites and cabins with balconies.

“Although these vessels have been fully vaccinated and are ready to go, they are just a little bit cautious,” she continued. “They want access to the outside … just in case.”