'It's a great day': Seattle celebrates the welcome return of Alaska cruise season

Every inch of the Deck 7 Promenade of Majestic Princess is occupied by cheering crew applauding guests as they board the cruise ship – and undoubtedly cheering for their own return to sea. After all, it’s been well over a year since these dedicated workers have earned their living tending to passengers.

Each passenger who enters the gangway has the same sensation: it’s good to be welcomed back aboard.

As the CDC lifted the no-sail order and cruise companies worked behind the scenes for months to amplify health and safety measures, leisure travel began once again and, particularly for Seattle and Alaskan ports, a big part of the local tourism economy is the cruise industry. Cruises departing from Seattle are responsible for nearly $900 million in business activity and more than 5,500 jobs.

“It’s a great day, a great Seattle day, too,” said Steve Metruck, executive director of the Port of Seattle, as he welcomed a small group of media at the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal on this especially sunny day in the city.

“Fifteen months ago, there was a lot of uncertainty,” Metruck said, recalling the initial travel shutdown. “But at that time, I said I know this for sure: the cruise industry is a resilient industry, and it will come back better, stronger, and safer than before, and that’s where we are at today."

Metruck turned the podium over to Arnold W. Donald, President and Chief Executive Officer of Carnival Corporation, the parent company of popular cruise lines including Carnival, Holland America, and Princess, all of which are celebrating their return to Seattle and sailing to Alaska this season.

“Good morning, everybody,” said Donald, thanking guests for joining the celebratory return to sailing. “I can’t acknowledge enough the tremendous commitment and dedication of our people..."

That dedication is evident throughout each ship, as crew members wave and share smiling eyes above their face masks as passengers return to Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam and Majestic Princess after so many months away.

As members of the media stroll through hallways, staterooms, and onto the sun-kissed outer decks, crew members delight in seeing guests once again. Wait staff wave and pose for photos. Cleaning crew attend meticulously to every corner. Captains and navigational officers look completely at home once again. Everyone is excited to get back to sea.

For passengers boarding the first sailings to embark from Seattle, it will be a joyous reunion where it simultaneously feels like nothing has changed, and everything has changed. Passengers can expect the same high caliber of service aboard Princess and Holland America cruise ships, with attentive and friendly staff, an abundance of dining options, and nonstop entertainment whilst sailing north to Alaska.

What’s different are the little details, of course. Prior to embarking, guests will provide proof of full vaccination at least two weeks prior to boarding. Guests must bring their official CDC vaccination cards for check-in.

The enhanced health and safety measures for Holland America Line and Princess Cruise Line ensure all guests are vaccinated and, with that, guests will be able to experience everything they previously enjoyed while cruising: a bountiful buffet, a variety of performances, a lively casino, and sunbathing on the pool deck.

With a fully vaccinated cruise, guests may also free themselves from wearing a face mask though such precautions may still be required while on land in the cruise terminals, and while visiting certain ports.

Guests will also notice the routine muster drill prior to sail-away has been streamlined. Rather than gathering guests into large groups while demonstrating safety drills, cruise lines have amended how safety information is relayed to guests. Aboard a Princess MedallionClass cruise, for example, guests will use their wearable OceanMedallion to verify the safety drill has been reviewed in the privacy of their own room prior to visiting the muster station on their own.

While some social distancing measures like this are in place, guests may otherwise feel like cruising today is just the same as cruising two years ago. Only better. Better, because throughout the travel shutdown the cruise companies worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that every guest, every crew member, and every port city has a greater sense of safety and wellbeing in mind.

With new health and safety measures in place, Seattle is once again a celebratory homeport for Holland America and its sister companies sailing to Alaska this season.

Though cabin space is limited and in demand, it is still possible to find a great deal on Alaska cruises from Seattle this summer and fall. Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam sails roundtrip Seattle to Alaska July 24 through October 2, 2021. Majestic Princess also sets sail roundtrip Seattle to Alaska this weekend with the last cruise this season sailing on September 26.