FAQ: Norwegian Cruise Line
When is Norwegian Cruise Line sailing again?
Now! Norwegian Cruise Line first returned to sailing in the Greek Isles this summer, while their first cruise from a U.S. port in over 500 days started in Seattle in August 2021 to relaunch the Alaska cruise season. The first sailings to relaunch from Los Angeles will take place in October 2021 aboard the Norwegian Bliss.
Will Norwegian Cruise Lines require a COVID vaccine?
Yes, Norwegian Cruise Line is sailing with a 100% vaccination requirement for crew and guests, no exceptions. While that means younger kids who don't yet qualify for vaccination aren't able to sail quite yet, it does mean guests are assured that all fellow passengers are completely vaccinated.
Ships have also been fitted with medical-grade air filtration systems and are constantly cleaned and sanitized. A dedicated Public Health Officer oversees each sailing to ensure no suspicious sniffle goes undiagnosed.
I'm vaccinated. Do I still have to take a COVID test before sailing on Norwegian Cruise Line?
Yes, in addition to the 100% vaccination policy, all NCL guests must currently take a pre-cruise COVID test on the day of embarkation. This test is administered and paid for by the cruise line, so passengers won't have to make their own arrangements or spend extra money. Rapid tests are conducted at the port, prior to boarding.
My kids aren't vaccinated. Can they cruise with me?
Since the policy prohibits minors who aren't yet eligible for vaccines to sail, only vaccinated children can cruise right now. The youngest cruisers I noticed during my cruise were tweens and teens.
Are masks required on board Norwegian Cruise Line?
At no point aboard the ship are passengers required to wear masks. The vaccination and testing requirement combined means guests can enjoy all parts of the ship without social distancing or wearing a mask.
However, when visiting ports of call, passengers will need to follow local health guidelines, including mask mandates where applicable.
How else is NCL ensuring guest safety aboard their cruises?
Norwegian Cruise Line has a new, staggered embarkation process to streamline check-in and get passengers on their way to vacation fun faster than ever. Boarding documentation is handled electronically to speed up the process and reduce touch points.
On board, guests will enjoy a reduced capacity sailing, which means there's never a wait for the water slides or finding loungers by the pool. Reservations for specialty restaurants are all done electronically, too, with the Cruise Norwegian App, which is free for everyone to use, no internet required.
Is Encore the newest ship from Norwegian Cruise Line?
Norwegian Bliss debuted in April 2018 and then Norwegian Encore first set sail in November 2019 as the newest ship, right before the pandemic hit.
The next ship to debut from NCL is Norwegian Prima , which will start its inaugural celebrations in late 2022 before home porting in Galveston, Texas for the 2023 and 2024 season. Tony Award-nominated musical "Summer: The Donna Summer Musical" will be the headlining show for Norwegian Prima, and ports of call will include Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; Roatan Island, Honduras; and Harvest Caye, Norwegian's private island destination in Belize.
Via PakApNews