Norwegian Cruise Line Announces SailSAFE Cruises, Calling Vaccines A Game-Changer

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) introduced its return to service with three new Summer season 2021 itineraries that can depart from ports outdoors the U.S. 

• Norwegian Jade will sail from Athens on a seven-day Greek Isles cruise, beginning July 25, 2021; 
• Norwegian Pleasure will embark on a week-long Caribbean itinerary from Montego Bay, Jamaica on August 7, 2021; and
• Norwegian Gem will sail on a week-long cruise departing from Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, on August 15, 2021.

Every Caribbean itinerary contains stops at 4 distinct ports of name and two days at sea. As well as, passengers on Norwegian Pleasure go to Harvest Caye, the corporate’s non-public resort vacation spot in Belize.

Passengers on Norwegian Jade will go to Olympia, and the islands of Crete, Rhodes, Mykonos, Corfu, and Santorini. 

“Now we have been working diligently in direction of our resumption of operations, specializing in the visitor expertise with well being and security on the forefront,” stated NCL President and Chief Government Officer Harry Sommer in a press launch.

“The rising availability of the COVID-19 vaccine has been a game-changer,” stated Sommer. “The vaccine, mixed with our science-backed well being and security protocols, will assist us present our visitors with what we consider would be the healthiest and most secure trip at sea.”

Well being and security first

A few of the well being and security measures being applied could woo cruisers who really feel reluctant to return to the seas after ocean cruising was suspended greater than a 12 months in the past.

Per the road’s SailSafe™ dedication and the suggestions of the Healthy Sail Panel, these are among the many new measures to be applied:

Friends and crew

• Requiring all visitors and crew crusing aboard cruises (with embarkation dates by way of 10/31/21) to be absolutely vaccinated no less than two weeks earlier than departure; minors who are usually not but eligible for the vaccine won’t be able to sail.
• Requiring COVID-19 antigen testing and a destructive end result previous to boarding, administered and paid for by the cruise line;
• Staggered embarkation and check-in to streamline boarding and permitting digital signing of paperwork;
• Obligatory use of face coverings indoors besides in cabins or when consuming/consuming in eating places, bars, lounges, and outside (when bodily distancing isn’t doable);

Onboard security

• Initially decreasing capability limits to 60% to accommodate bodily distancing, together with elevated spacing in eating, leisure, and different onboard areas;
• Contactless meals and beverage service ship-wide, together with all eating places and lounges;
• Enhanced cleansing and sanitation protocols all through the cruise expertise, together with a devoted onboard Public Well being Officer to supervise sanitation and cleanliness.
• Set up of medical-grade air filters promised to take away 99.9% of airborne pathogens, together with COVID-19; 
• Enhanced onboard medical capabilities with extra staffing, together with ICUs and devoted quarantine house with new and upgraded tools; 
• If a visitor follows well being and security protocols and checks optimistic, the road coordinates and covers prices associated to mandatory COVID-19 associated medical therapy, required land-based quarantine, and arranging journey to guarantee protected passage house; the identical prices may also be borne for shut contacts who’re denied reboarding;

Security ashore

• Limiting all shore excursions to land-based tour operators who’ve agreed to companion with NCL to increase well being and security measures, making a “bubble-like” setting;
• Requiring vaccinations of all guides and drivers;
• Dedication to ongoing monitoring of native situations to make any mandatory itinerary modifications

In a Zoom interview as we speak, Sommer famous that NCL will proceed to “comply with the science” and constantly evaluate insurance policies and procedures.

Sommer additionally defined the selection of itineraries: The Greek Isles are the second hottest cruise vacation spot abroad, and Punta Cana and Montego Bay are among the many prime locations nearer to house. 

All cabin classes will likely be accessible on all three ships, together with The Haven, a spread of suites, and balcony staterooms. Though some short-term modifications and modifications will likely be made, practically all onboard venues and actions, together with leisure, spas, and casinos, will likely be accessible to visitors.

For these vacationers who nonetheless have trepidation about stepping on the gangway, the cruise line prolonged its short-term Peace of Mind cancellation coverage to visitors crusing on cruises booked by April 30 with embarkation dates previous to October 31, 2021. 

A path ahead

NCL has already obtained permission from the governments of Greece, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic for the three new cruise itineraries. 

NCL’s mum or dad firm, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (which additionally operates Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises) despatched an April fifth letter to the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) requesting permission to function out of U.S. ports in July. If authorized, this could allay considerations of cruisers who’re hesitant to fly and wish to depart from ports nearer to house.

Optimistic in regards to the future, CEO Sommers believes that cruising will grow to be “the most secure leisure exercise on the planet.” 

Based on Marketwatch, buyers share that enthusiasm. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) surged 3.9% after the announcement of the letter to the CDC.

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Friends will have the ability to comply with what NCL has dubbed, ‘The Nice Cruise Comeback,’ on the road’s new docuseries, EMBARK – The Series, premiering April 15 at 8 p.m.

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