As the U.S.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to enforce its Conditional Sail Order which has prevented cruising in U.S. waters, another offshore option has been announced by luxury line Crystal Cruises, whose Crystal Symphony will sail a series of 15 10-night Luxury Caribbean Escapes round-trip from St. John’s from a homeport in Antigua.
Crystal Symphony will be the first ship ever to homeport in Antigua.
Beginning August 5 through December, Crystal Symphony will visit Barbados, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Maarten and Tortola, Roadtown, in the British Virgin Islands
The Antigua location will offer plentiful air options from most major U.S. cities, said the cruise line in its announcement. Crystal recently began offering Bahamas only sailings from a homeport in Nassau on Crystal Serenity and five consecutive 10-night voyages circumnavigating Iceland and crossing the Arctic Circle from a homeport of Reykjavík on Crystal Endeavor.
Crystal Symphony’s return to sailing marks the resumption of service for 97% of Crystal’s oceangoing fleet in the summer of 2021.
Crystal Symphony will return to sailing with reduced capacity, and increased social spaciousness.
Crystal guests must be fully inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to boarding any Crystal ship. This requirement is in addition to existing, comprehensive Crystal Clean+ measures, including negative COVID-19 tests for both guests and crew, reduced capacity, social distancing, mask requirements and health screening questionnaires.
Global Global Ports (Antigua) Ltd., is the port operator. See story on how Global Ports is preparing Nassau for homeporting here.
