FRANK GONZALEZ NCL wants to return in July and to be vaccinated it will be a requirement!
The Norwegian Cruise Line Holding has just released a statement informing that it will be necessary to be vaccinated to board their ships. This will be mandatory for the entire crew and passengers.
It also indicated that it expects to return in July restarting its cruise ships sailing at 60% of its capacity , gradually increasing the number of ships leaving US ports as well as capacity by 20% every 30 days.
The group of shipping companies, which operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands , has indicated that it is ready to return in July, with a requirement of 100% vaccinations on its ships.
Petition to CDC to resume in July
Norwegian has sent a letter to the CDC outlining its plan to resume cruise operations from US ports next July.
The letter specified its multi-tiered “SailSAFE” health and safety program , developed in conjunction with world renowned experts , members of the Healthy Sail Panel (“HSP”).
The plan unveiled by Norwegian Cruise Line parallels the CDC’s updated recommendation stating that international travel is safe for fully vaccinated individuals and that COVID-19 vaccination efforts will be critical to the safe resumption of cruise travel. .
By requiring passengers and crew to be vaccinated, the shipping company believes it meets and exceeds the new rules added to the current CDC Conditional Shipping Order .
In the statement, Norwegian Cruise Line is optimistic about a change in attitude and CDC requirements as mandatory vaccinations eliminate the need to follow the Conditional Order guidelines and therefore it is possible to lift the order to their ships, allowing them to sail from North American ports as of July 4.
Frank Del Rio , President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings
stated:
“We commend the CDC for the steps it has taken to further open travel for vaccinated Americans. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings shares the opinion of the CDC that vaccines are the primary vehicle for Americans to return to their daily lives “
These strict conditions will remain in effect until public health conditions allow the requirements and protocols on cruise ships to be lowered .
If the plan for the return to service of the Norwegian Cruise Line group’s shipping companies goes ahead and has the go-ahead, they would join those of the Royal Caribbean Group that has recently announced the return of some ships from ports outside the United States but that require the vaccination of passengers to board.