Norwegian Cruise Line opts to begin voyages from the Caribbean
Even while Norwegian Cruise Line awaits a decision from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on a request to begin sailing from U.S. ports in July, the cruise line has opted to begin cruises from two other ports in the Caribbean as well as the Mediterranean.
The Tuesday announcement details how the line will begin voyages on board Norwegian Joy from Jamaica and Norwegian Gem from the Dominican Republic in August, but even earlier on board Norwegian Jade from Athens in late July.
Anyone sailing will need proof of vaccination from COVID-19, according to the line. The requirement will be in place through at least October.
“We have been working diligently towards our resumption of operations, focusing on the guest experience with health and safety at the forefront,” said NCL President and CEO Harry Sommer in a press release. “The growing availability of the COVID-19 vaccine has been a game changer. The vaccine, combined with our science-backed health and safety protocols, will help us provide our guests with what we believe will be the healthiest and safest vacation at sea.”
On Monday, the line’s parent company, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, which also runs the brands Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, sent a letter to the CDC announcing its intentions to require vaccinations on its sailings from U.S. ports, the first major cruise line to do so. The letter asked the CDC to remove its conditional sail order for its brands to allow it to return to service by July 4.
On Friday, the CDC had given more incremental details on how cruise lines could return to service, but did not nail down any target dates. The update to the conditional sail order that has been in place since fall and is in effect through Nov. 1, 2021, did not state lines would have to require vaccinations for its crew or passengers.
Also on Friday, though, the CDC adjusted its recommendations for domestic and international air travel, saying anyone who had been vaccinated could fly, although it still recommends limiting travel.
The cruise company’s letter to the CDC pointed out that its stance on airlines could also be applied to cruises if vaccinations were required.
While the CDC has not responded to the request, and may not, it has given lines a path to move toward its next required steps before it will let any ship return to sailing. The next step, though, will be a simulated voyage for each ship that seeks to sail again, with volunteer passengers. If those sailings go well, then the ship would move to conditional sailing status with paying customers at reduced capacity.
Cruise lines, though, must await more direction from the CDC before they can schedule any of their simulated voyages.
In the meantime, other cruise lines had already announced more sailings around the globe, some with vaccination requirements, others without.
Royal Caribbean plans to sail from both the Bahamas and Bermuda this summer while already sailing in the Mediterranean and Asia. Norwegian Cruise Line now joins the global return to sailing schedule.
First up is Norwegian Jade from Piraeus, Greece, near Athens, beginning July 25 on seven-night Greek Isles voyages. Next up will be Norwegian Joy from Montego Bay, Jamaica, on seven-night Caribbean itineraries beginning Aug. 7 and then Norwegian Gem also sailing seven-night voyages from Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, beginning Aug. 15.
While both Jade and Gem are among the older ships in the line’s 17-vessel fleet, Norwegian Joy is one of its newest and largest. The 168,800-ton, 3,850-passenger vessel debuted in 2017 and is part of the line’s Breakaway Plus class that also includes Norwegian Escape, Bliss and Encore. One of its most recognizable features is the go-kart track on the top deck.