Cruise Ship Kicks Off 'Fully Vaccinated' Tour In May: Here Are The Requirements

The Royal Caribbean's first "fully vaccinated" cruises are setting sail from Israel in just two months as COVID-19 vaccines continue to roll out across the globe.

The hospitality industry has been among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic over the past year. But with coronavirus vaccines now available, cruise companies such as the Royal Caribbean have seized the opportunity to put their business back in motion in a safe manner.

In May, the "Odyssey of the Seas," the Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, will start taking customers on three- to seven-night trips to Greece and Cyprus from Haifa, Israel, and back, according to a press release.

Passengers will have to be residents of Israel and be vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to boarding the ship if they are 16 years old and above, ABC7 Eyewitness News reported.

"Thanks to the millions of vaccines we have brought, I am proud that Israel will be the first country in the world to launch Royal Caribbean's new flagship," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement released by the company.

"Royal Caribbean's decision to come to Israel is a significant expression of confidence in our policy. This is an important economic, touristic moment for the State of Israel," he continued.

The new ship offers many amenities, including a two-level pool area, a "high-adrenaline" playground and several restaurants. Tickets go on sale starting Tuesday.

Over half of Israel's 9 million population have received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, while over 3.3 million are now fully vaccinated, The Washington Post reported.

In October 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidelines for passenger cruises. The Framework for Conditional Sailing Order included testing, quarantine and isolation requirements to ensure the prevention of the further spread of COVID-19.

Through its proper implementation, the cruise line industry may be allowed to resume operations safely as it has been proven that outbreaks on cruise ships amplify transmission of the virus if proper health and safety guidelines are overlooked.

“This framework provides a pathway to resume safe and responsible sailing. It will mitigate the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks on ships and prevent passengers and crew from seeding outbreaks at ports and in the communities where they live,” CDC director Robert R. Redfield said.

“CDC and the cruise industry have a shared goal to protect crew, passengers, and communities and will continue to work together to ensure that all necessary public health procedures are in place before cruise ships begin sailing with passengers,” he added.

Royal Caribbean earlier said it won't sail from U.S. ports until at least after April.