Royal Caribbean bases cruise vessel in Bermuda

By Michael McGrady, Maritime Direct Americas & Pacific Correspondent

MIAMI — Royal Caribbean International announced that it would base a cruise vessel in Bermuda, with cruises setting off from the British Overseas Territory terminals. The Maritime Executive reports that the company’s Vision of the Seas liner will be homeported in the island community in order to serve as a second base for the restart of cruising in the region. Michael Bayley, the president, and chief executive of Royal Caribbean International, said that his company is eager to ‘start cruising again.’

“We are thankful to the government and people of Bermuda for welcoming us to their beautiful island nation with open arms as Vision of the Seas‘ new homeport. This is another step in our safe and measured return to sailing beginning in June,” said Bayley. “Travelers are eager to venture out gradually and start cruising again. By adding a second unique option to sail the Caribbean from a destination as rich and vibrant as Bermuda, we’re offering guests choice in how they can enjoy their well-deserved vacations this summer.”

Vision of the Seas was introduced in 1998. It is a 78,340 gross ton cruise ship that underwent renovations and major retrofitting in 2013. Though the vessel has a normal capacity of about 2,050 passengers, Royal Caribbean will be restricting occupancy in the interim. Currently, Royal Caribbean and other cruise operators continue to lobby the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to lift the no-sail ban and the current restrictions on cruising implemented to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Maritime Direct previously reported that Miami-Dade County had asked the CDC to alleviate restrictions in their nearby terminals in Florida. Like several tourism-focused industries, the cruise sector was terribly harmed by the pandemic due to border restrictions.