If you’re planning to go on a cruise vacation, you might be wondering if cruise ships are still leaving from Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is a popular departure port for many Caribbean and transatlantic cruises.
However, the island has faced some challenges in recent years, such as the devastating Hurricane Maria in 2017 and the COVID-19 pandemic. So, what is the current status of cruise ships leaving from Puerto Rico Let’s find out.
Pre-COVID-19
Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Puerto Rico was a bustling hub for cruise ships. The island had two major ports: San Juan and Ponce.
San Juan was the busiest port, with over 1 million passengers passing through each year. Many major cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line, had regular departures from San Juan to destinations such as St. Thomas, St. Croix, and Barbados.
COVID-19 Impact
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the travel industry worldwide, including the cruise industry. In March 2020, all major cruise lines suspended their operations in response to the pandemic. As of May 2021, most of these companies have not yet resumed operations.
In Puerto Rico specifically, the San Juan port has been closed since March 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions. The government of Puerto Rico has been working with local health authorities and cruise lines to develop protocols for safe cruising during the pandemic. However, there is no clear timeline for when cruises will resume departing from Puerto Rico.
Future Outlook
Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 and other factors such as natural disasters and economic instability in Puerto Rico, there is hope for the future of cruise ships departing from the island. The Puerto Rico Tourism Company has been working to promote the island as a top cruise destination and attract more cruise lines to operate from its ports. The government has also been investing in infrastructure improvements to make the ports more attractive to cruise lines.
Additionally, some cruise lines have already announced plans to resume operations from San Juan in the near future. For example, Royal Caribbean plans to resume sailing from San Juan in November 2021, with departures on its Adventure of the Seas ship. Other companies such as Celebrity Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line also have upcoming itineraries that include San Juan as a departure or port of call.
Conclusion
In summary, while there have been challenges facing cruise ships departing from Puerto Rico, there is reason for optimism about the future. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many disruptions, but with vaccines becoming more widely available and protocols being developed for safe cruising during the pandemic, it is likely that cruises will resume from Puerto Rico in the near future. Keep an eye out for announcements from your favorite cruise lines about their plans for resuming operations in Puerto Rico.