Norwegian Cruise Line said on Monday it was easing COVID-19 safety measures on its ships by dropping requirements for testing, masking and vaccination, as the pandemic loosens its grip on the world. The decision by the cruise line comes after several countries lifted testing requirements for international air travelers as people return to pre-pandemic lifestyles across the globe. The cruise line, owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd, said even with the easing of its health and safety protocols, which will be effective Oct. 4, it would continue to follow travel guidelines as required by the destinations it visits. The cruise industry was among the worst hit during the pandemic, as countries went into a lockdown mode to curb the spread of the virus. However, with the reo...
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NCL’s newest addition makes history as first major cruise ship christened in Reykjavik, Iceland Katy Perry, global superstar and Godmother to Norwegian Prima, delivers memorable performance following christening ceremony Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel, christened its newest ship Norwegian Prima over the weekend, which made history as the first major cruise ship christened in Reykjavík, Iceland. The first of six ships in the groundbreaking Prima Class, Norwegian Prima, debuted to more than 2,500 guests who enjoyed an immersive experience in the beautiful Icelandic capital and a christening celebration like no other. "With her stunning design and unique offerings, Norwegian Prima is in a league of her own,” said Frank Del Rio, President ...
Read MoreNorwegian Cruise Line is dropping a requirement that passengers test negative for COVID-19 before sailing unless it is required by local rules. The company said Wednesday that it will drop the testing requirement Aug. 1 except on ships sailing from places with local testing rules, including in the United States, Canada, Bermuda and Greece. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requires pre-trip testing for passengers on 94 ships taking part in CDC’s voluntary COVID-19 program, including Norwegian ships that sail in the U.S. Norwegian requires vaccinated passengers in the U.S. to show a negative antigen test for COVID-19 within two days of their trip or a negative PCR test within three days of sailing. Unvaccinated children under 12 are subject to more testing when th...
Read MoreNorwegian Cruise Line on Wednesday canceled trips on eight ships, a few whose embarkation dates are as far out as late April, as the spread of the Omicron variant in the United States shows no signs of slowing. The division of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd made the decision with the United States reporting nearly 1 million new coronavirus infections on Monday, the highest daily tally of any country in the world. FILE PHOTO: People pause to look at Norwegian Cruise Line's ship, Norwegian Breakaway, on the Hudson River, in New York. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) "Due to ongoing travel restrictions, we've had to modify a few sailings and unfortunately have had to cancel," Norwegian Cruise said. “As we continue to navigate the fluid public health environment, while focusing on del...
Read MoreA cruise ship set to dock in New Orleans with over 3,000 passengers has detected 10 cases of COVID-19 among its crew and guests, the Louisiana Department of Health said late on Saturday. The cruise ship Norwegian Breakaway, owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd, departed New Orleans on a weeklong cruise on Nov. 28 and had stops in Belize, Honduras and Mexico, the health agency said. “NCL has been adhering to appropriate quarantine and isolation protocols,” the department said in a tweet. The ship was set to reach New Orleans on Sunday morning, according to its itinerary. Everyone on board will be tested for COVID-19 before leaving and will be provided with post-exposure and quarantine public health guidance by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)...
Read MoreNorwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd, which is set to resume sailing from U.S. ports over the weekend, said it was seeing pent-up demand for 2022 cruises even as it reported a bigger quarterly loss on Friday. A more than yearlong suspension imposed by U.S. health officials forced cruise operators to raise billions of dollars, with some of them even pledging ships and private islands to stay afloat. FILE PHOTO: The cruise ship Norwegian Dawn of the Norwegian Cruise Line departs the Royal Naval Dockyard near the port of Hamilton, Bermuda. REUTERS/Gary Cameron Cruise operators have been sailing from U.S. ports again in recent weeks, with mostly vaccinated guests and crew following lengthy talks with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Norwegian Cruise said cumulati...
Read MoreNorwegian Cruise Line heads to federal court on Friday in a battle that pits the company’s plan for returning to the seas against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s vow to oppose COVID-19 “vaccine passports.” The court battle comes as big business and some government entities are responding to the rapid spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus with vaccination requirements, prompting legal challenges from vaccine skeptics and civil libertarians. Norwegian plans to make its first post-pandemic departure from Miami, the main port for Caribbean cruises, on Aug. 15. As part of its plan to guard against a COVID-19 outbreak, it will require passengers to prove they have been vaccinated. Banning anyone who refuses to prove their vaccine status will run afoul of Florida’s law, whi...
Read MoreNorwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has turned around global cruise travel, transcending many boundaries through its 54-year-old history. On the occasion of World Water Day 2021, the cruise company, that has always been mindful of preserving natural resources integral to our sustenance and survival, takes us through its water conservation and management practices. Under its Sail and Sustain Stewardship Program, the company has been working tirelessly to launch several innovative initiatives to minimize waste to landfills, reduce the CO2 emissions rate, increase sustainable sourcing and invest in emerging technologies. In 2019, NCL became the first major global cruise company to eliminate single-use plastic beverage bottles across its fleet and its private destinations, saving over six million ...
Read MoreRoyal Caribbean to go ahead with Singapore cruise, while suspending most other
Cruise operator Royal Caribbean Group has said that it would stop all its cruises, excluding sailings from Singapore, through the end of the year, extending previous suspensions as coronavirus infections continue to increase globally. The company's announcement comes days after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a framework for a phased resumption of cruise ship operations, after a no-sail order issued in March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic expired on Saturday. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd earlier said about its plans to extend the suspension of its cruises starting December through the end of the year. A Royal Caribbean International cruise ship is seen at Circular Quay in Sydney Harbour, in Sydney, Australia, in a File Photo. REUTERS/Loren E...
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