Crystal Expedition Cruises plans to return to Arctic and Northern Europe cruising in July on a new vessel for passengers who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Genting Hong Kong-owned Crystal Cruises plans to resume sailing on 17 July with the Crystal Endeavor, a 200-berth expedition ship coming from German shipyard MV Werften this summer.
MV Werften received a €193m ($228m) government bridging loan in October to help complete the ship for parent Genting Hong Kong after a Covid-19 lockdown.
The Crystal Endeavor will provide 10-day voyages within Icelandic jurisdiction, allowing it to sidestep US sailing restrictions. The US restrictions run until November but may be lifted before then.
"I know that CDC [the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] is hopeful that a lot of these operators will be in a position to be sailing by mid-summer," US transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg said on Friday.
Florida has sued the CDC for keeping a conditional sailing order (CSO) in effect to 31 October.
US cruise major Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has said it will start sailing on 4 July throughout the world despite the CSO.
Crystal Expedition's interim chief executive, Jack Anderson, thanked Iceland's Minister of Tourism, Industry & Innovation for permitting the voyages after the Crystal Endeavor passed sea trials in Germany.
Crystal Expedition announced in February that all passengers on its ships must be have received vaccinations at least 14 days before boarding any of its ships.
Its vessels will also require virus tests for guests and crew, social distancing, a "nimble" mask policy and reduced onboard capacity as part of its Crystal Clean and Crystal Pristine measures.
