Cruise giants Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International returned to service after almost 16 months over Independence Day weekend.
Carnival Horizon and Freedom of the Seas both departed from the port of Miami.
Carnival Horizon set sail on a six-day cruise to Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic and the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay.
Carnival Vista departed Galveston, with Carnival Breeze sailing from the Texas port on July 15 and Carnival Miracle kicking off the line’s Alaska season from Seattle July 27.
New ship Mardi Gras is due to sail from Port Canaveral in Florida on July 31 with other ships in the Carnival fleet returning to service in August.
Freedom of the Seas resumed sailing as the first Royal Caribbean ship in the US to welcome passengers back on a series of three-night weekend and four-night weekday breaks to private island destination Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau in The Bahamas.
Royal Caribbean is “strongly recommending” that passengers 16 years of age and older be fully vaccinated – age 12 and older for sailings departing from August 1.
Those unvaccinated or unable to show proof of vaccination are required to undergo testing, follow additional health protocols and obtain travel insurance that covers medical and other costs related to Covid-19.
Royal Caribbean is planning for nine more ships to return by August, including Anthem of the Seas in the UK, Serenade and Ovation of the Seas in Alaska, and new Odyssey of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale.
The line will announce plans to reintroduce its full fleet around the globe by the end of the year “in the coming weeks”.
Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy said: “PortMiami is our number one homeport in terms of ships and passenger embarkations and today’s return to cruising with Carnival Horizon represents an important first step in getting our company back to business while infusing much-needed capital to the thousands of workers who rely on the cruise industry for their livelihood.
“The past year has been challenging to say the least and I wish to thank our state and local officials, PortMiami, and our business partners and suppliers for their incredible support and patience during this time.”
Royal Caribbean International president and chief executive Michael Bayley said: “We have a lot to celebrate. Families and loved ones can finally come together after more than a year apart, and we’re now welcoming them back on board to make up for that lost time.
“For a moment as meaningful as Fourth of July weekend, it couldn’t be more appropriate that Freedom of the Seas be the first ship to ring in our return to cruising in the US and delivering the memorable and safe vacations Royal Caribbean is known for. Summer family vacations are back, and we are just getting started.”
Meanwhile, Celebrity Flora, the first of Celebrity Cruises’ three ships to resume sailing the Galapagos archipelago, has started operating, to be followed by Celebrity Xpedition on July 24 and 16-passenger Celebrity Xploration on September 18.