Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas completes test cruise, can sail with paying passengers
Royal Caribbean International’s Freedom of the Seas ship has received Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approval to sail with paying passengers after completing the first test cruise carrying employee volunteers in U.S. waters earlier this month.
“Today, Royal Caribbean International received the Conditional Sailing Certificate for Freedom of the Seas, which provides approval for passenger voyages. This follows the successful completion of the ship’s simulated voyage earlier this month,” Royal Caribbean said in a statement provided by spokesperson Lyan Sierra-Caro.
The ship’s first sailing carrying paying passengers will run July 2 through July 5 to celebrate Independence Day, according to the company. It will sail from Miami and stop at Nassau and Royal Caribbean’s private island Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Freedom of the Seas is Royal Caribbean International’s first ship to resume sailing with paying passengers from a U.S. port.
dropped its vaccination requirement in Florida before departing on its first sailing with paying passengers. Initially, Celebrity had committed to a vaccine requirement to bypass a test sailing in accordance with CDC guidance but that mandate was at odds with a Florida state law. While it dropped the requirement for proof of vaccines, Celebrity Edge sailed from Florida Saturday with around 99% of its passengers vaccinated.
USA TODAY has reached out to the CDC for comment.
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