The 169,000 ton Norwegian Encore.
(Reuters, Nivedita Balu) Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd said on Monday it had sought the approval of U.S. health authorities to restart trips from U.S. ports from July 4 with mandatory vaccinations for travelers, bringing new hope to the ravaged industry.
The company’s announcement follows the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest guidance last week to the cruise ship industry, including the need for COVID-19 vaccinations.
The move by CEO Frank Del Rio is a bold salvo amid the cruise industry’s escalating frustration with the CDC. Criticism has mounted since Friday, when the agency said travel for vaccinated people was low risk — but also laid out a raft of additional conditions, under a “conditional sailing order,” that cruise lines need to meet before getting permission to operate from U.S. ports.
“I’d like to hear an argument why we couldn’t sail,” Del Rio said in an interview with The Washington Post. “If everyone on board is vaccinated and following the protocols, there is absolutely no need for the conditional sail order to exist as it is known today.”
Del Rio made his case to the CDC in a letter dated Monday.
Frank Del Rio, chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., has sought the approval of U.S. health authorities to restart trips from U.S. ports from July 4.
Frank Del Rio, chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., has sought the approval of U.S. health authorities to restart trips from U.S. ports from July 4. PHOTO BY MARK ELIAS/BLOOMBERG
In the letter, Norwegian Cruise said that its plan was in line with the latest guideline and that it aimed to kick start trips at a 60% capacity starting July 4.
Norwegian also said it would increase the capacity by 20% every 30 days and ramp up departures from U.S. ports for its fleet of 28 ships spread across Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
In addition to the vaccine requirement for passengers of all ages, the company will require negative coronavirus tests, face coverings, contactless food service and other measures.
“We believe that through a combination of 100% mandatory vaccinations … we can create a safe, ‘bubble-like’ environment for guests and crew,” Del Rio said.
Shares of Carnival, Norwegian Cruise and Royal Caribbean closed up between 3% and 7% on Monday.
While Carnival Corp noted that the latest guideline was “largely unworkable and stood in stark contrast to the approach taken in other travel and tourism sectors,” Royal Caribbean said it was “reviewing and studying” it.
In a statement, the CDC sounded unmoved by Del Rio’s request, reiterating the approach it has laid out in its order.
“Cruising safely and responsibly during a global pandemic is difficult,” the statement said. “While cruising will always pose some risk of COVID-19 transmission, following the phases of the conditional sailing order will ensure cruise ship passenger operations are conducted in a way that protects crew members, passengers, and port personnel; particularly, with emerging COVID-19 variants of concern.”
Other cruise lines have announced plans to start cruising again for Americans outside the United States – including the Bahamas, Bermuda, Caribbean and Greece. In most cases, those cruises will require either everyone on board or those 18 and older to be fully vaccinated.
The Cruise Lines International Association, which represents the three companies, also said the guidance was “burdensome and ambiguous” and urged for a controlled return to service this summer.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, threatened to file a lawsuit if cruises continued to be blocked this summer, according to several media reports. Del Rio copied DeSantis and other elected officials from Florida, home to the world’s busiest cruise ports, on his letter.
With additional reporting from Hannah Sampson, The Washington Post
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