PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. – Royal Caribbean on Wednesday became the latest cruise line to get its workers vaccinated at Port Canaveral.
The cruise line is hoping to vaccinate about 1,500 workers.
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“This is a great day. You’re going to have many great days over the next few weeks with ships coming in for our crew vaccinations and that’s the first step in getting our business back and running,” Port Canaveral CEO Capt. John Murray said.
Hundreds of Carnival workers were vaccinated at the port last week as cruise lines hope to be sailing sometime this summer.
Here’s the plan for Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships:
- Wednesday 5/19 – Explorer of the Seas - 210 vaccines
- Friday 5/21 – Adventure of the Seas - two-day total 1,050 vaccines
- Saturday 5/22 – Adventure of the Seas
- Saturday 5/22 – Explorer of the Seas returns for another 210 vaccines
Murray hopes sailings will resume soon.
“No specific date but I think you’re going to see it happen pretty quick. I think by summer we’ll have some ships sailing out of Port Canaveral and you haven’t heard me say anything that optimistic in a while,” Murray said.
Capt. Hernan Zini, the vice president of worldwide port operations at Royal Caribbean Group, said providing vaccinations is a crucial step in the effort to set sail again.
“We are coming back strong, we are coming back ready for safe cruises and we are coming back soon,” Zini said.
Port Canaveral was the first U.S. port to sponsor COVID-19 vaccine distribution to port workers and vessel crew members in response to an April 29 Florida Public Health Advisory approved by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The advisory expanded vaccine eligibility to include individuals who are in the state for purpose of providing goods or services for the benefit of residents of and visitors to the state, News 6 partner Florida Today reported.