Several small niche brands are back in Europe.

Primarily serving local markets, these cruise lines are making quick restart plans, sailing the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Black Sea, the Greek Islands and more.

Ponant
First navigation: In service
Ships: Le Bougainville, Le Lyrial, Le Dumont-D’Urville, Le Champlain and Le Bellot
Region: Mediterranean, Iceland and France

Le Ponant resumed its reception activities in June. Focusing on Europe, the company plans to offer departures to Iceland, the Mediterranean and France during the summer.

The restart program is marked by new routes and stopovers, including a unique stopover on the brand’s eponymous islands, the Ponant Islands.

Saga
First navigation: June 27, 2021
Ships: Spirit of discovery and spirit of adventure
Region: UK

Saga Cruises recently restarted operations with a domestic program in the UK. Based in Tilbury, the Spirit of Discovery was the first ship to welcome guests on June 27.

The new Spirit of Adventure, meanwhile, is set to make its maiden voyage on July 26.

Phoenix Reisen
First navigation: In service
Ships: Artania, Amera and Amadea
Region: North Europe

Phoenix Reisen has been offering cruises to Northern Europe since July 10. Departing from Germany, the local brand uses its biggest ship, the Artania.

According to the Phoenix website, two more ships will enter service in August, the Amera and the Amadea.

Hurtigruten expeditions
First navigation: August 10, 2021

Ships: Otto Sverdrup, Maud and Spitsbergen
Region: North Europe

Hurtigruten Expeditions plans to resume service in August, with the Otto Sverdrup. The newly refurbished ship is expected to offer cruises from Germany to the Norwegian fjords, the North Cape and the Arctic. A second ship, the Maud, offers similar itineraries from England, starting in September.

While Spitsbergen’s Arctic Summer Program is still being evaluated, other ships will not resume service until later in the year.

Marella Cruises
First navigation: In service
Ships: Marella Explorer, Marella Explorer 2 and Marella Discovery
Region: UK and Mediterranean

After restarting service in the United Kingdom with two ships, Marella Cruises is now requesting the resumption of international routes.

From September, the British company will offer three new routes in Greece on the Marella Discovery, in addition to routes in Spain on the Marella Explorer 2.

Mano Cruise
First navigation: September 2, 2021
Boat: Iris crown
Region: Israel and the Greek Islands

Israel-based Mano Cruises is hoping for a reboot in 2021. According to the company’s website, the Crown Iris could welcome guests again on September 2.

In the meantime, Mano recently opened bookings for its 2022 season. Starting March 31, the Crown Iris is set to run a schedule of short cruises to Cyprus and Greece from Haifa, Israel.

Black sea cruises
First navigation: In service
Boat: Prince Vladimir
Region: Black Sea

Prince Vladimir of Black Sea Cruises returned to service on June 13. The ship now offers its regular schedule of seven-night Black Sea cruises, with stops in Russia and Crimea.

Based in Sochi, the itinerary includes visits to Novorossiysk, Yalta and Sevastopol.

Club Med
First navigation: In service
Boat: Club Med 2
Region: Mediterranean

Club Med is resuming service in the Mediterranean. The French brand resumed its activities on July 10, with its only ship, the Club Med 2.

The restart deployment includes French coastal routes, as well as cruises to Greece and the western Mediterranean.

Celestial cruises
First navigation: In service
Ships: Celestyal Crystal and Celestyal Olympia
Region: The greek islands

Celestyal Cruises resumed operations in Greece on June 12. That day, the Celestyal Crystal left Piraeus for a seven-night cruise calling at Kusadasi (Turkey), Rhodes, Santorini, Lavrion, Mykonos, Milos and Crete.

A few weeks later, the Celestyal Olympia was added to the restart fleet, offering an alternate route from Lavrion.

Cloud Sea
First navigation: August 6, 2021
Ships: Sea Cloud, Sea Cloud II and Sea Cloud Spirit
Region: Mediterranean

According to its website, Sea Cloud intends to operate its entire fleet in the Mediterranean by September.

The first ship to resume service is the Sea Cloud, which is due to leave Piraeus on a Greek Island route on August 6, 2021. On September 14, the new Sea Cloud Spirit is due to depart Civitavecchia for its maiden voyage.