COVID-19 and cruising: Norwegian Cruise Line offers a behind-the-scenes peek at how cruising will return

Lights, camera, cruising.

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced a return to service from July 25 and is chronicling the road to cruising's comeback in an online docu-series called EMBARK.

NCL hasn't sailed for more than a year and has lost $US50 billion in market capitalisation.

Cruise companies have previously been reluctant to take the public behind the scenes, but the 27-minute episode features conversations with the line's president, CEO and vice-presidents of guest experiences and hotel operations, among others.

The first episode, which premiered on April 16, includes discussion about the need for health-and-safety protocols, the pandemic's effects on ship crew, entertainers and the small businesses dependent on the cruise industry.

It also details preparations for the re-float of the company's 17 ships, and insight into what travellers might expect in future when it comes to the embarkation process, health testing, housekeeping – and even the ship buffet.

There will be four more episodes in the series. Tune in if you are a cruise enthusiast keen to see what is next when it comes to the revival of cruising.

Five Norwegian ships sail from July 25, using the ports of Piraeus (Athens) and Civitavecchia (Rome) in the Mediterranean, with Barcelona added from September. Cruising in the Caribbean resumes in August from Montego Bay in Jamaica and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. NCL will also resume cruises in the US during the northern autumn, starting with Norwegian Joy sailing the Caribbean from Miami beginning October 19.

Norwegian also plans to start 12-day Sydney to New Zealand cruises from Februrary next year.

Phone 1300 255 200. See ncl.com/embark