Crystal Cruises' Crystal Symphony embarked on its first cruise in 18 months Monday, becoming the first large cruise ship to depart Boston since the global cruise shutdown in March 2020.
The 848-passenger ship set sail for Bermuda, the first in a series of four seven-day cruises sailing roundtrip from Boston on Sundays. The departure was delayed by one day due to Hurricane Henri.
Its Boston sailings will be followed by eight Bermuda cruises from New York's Manhattan Cruise Terminal beginning Sept. 24. The Symphony will call at Bermuda's Royal Naval Dockyard for two full days and nights.
All guests and crew on the Symphony must be fully vaccinated, and the vessel is operating with reduced capacity.
The Symphony had been scheduled to offer 10-day Caribbean cruises from Antigua and St. Maarten this month, but the line canceled the season citing airlift difficulties and higher demand for cruises from U.S. ports.
American Cruise Lines also operates small-ship cruises from Boston.