Celebrity Cruises Silhouette's first post-lockdown cruise from Southampton on July 3 were moved to tears as they were applauded onto the ship by a welcoming party of crew and executives.
These first 970 passengers - less than half the maximum capacity - walked up the gangplank wearing masks that hid faces full of hope for a return to normal.
And although this new normal involved constant hand cleaning, social distancing in the lifts and the end of the help-yourself buffet, before the ship sailed away many had were happily sipping drinks out on deck without their masks.
The July 3 departure was the first of this summer's seven, eight, nine and 10-night UK cruises and the atmosphere was never anything less than relaxed and happy with.
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