Norwegian Cruise to require COVID-19 vaccination for guests, crew upon restart

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd would require mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for all guests and crew when it restarts trips from US ports in July.

According to Norwegian Cruise’s CEO Frank Del Rio, they believe that a combination of 100 percent mandatory vaccinations for guests and crew and science-backed public health measures can create a bubble-like environment.

The need for COVID-19 vaccinations is part of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) latest guidance to the cruise ship industry.

Norwegian Cruise suffered heavy annual losses and plunging revenue due to the pandemic, prompting it to take new steps to set customers sailing again.

Norwegian Cruise and Royal Caribbean, which is set to resume its Caribbean trips in June, has set up an expert panel to help safely resume operations.

Norwegian had informed CDC that it will begin trips at a reduced capacity of 60 percent before increasing capacity by 20 percent every 30 days.