Norwegian Cruise Line Provides Update to Health Protocols
Today, Norwegian Cruise Line provides an update to its health and safety protocols for all voyages beginning March 1, 2022. These protocols are significantly more relaxed than those currently in place. These new updates include changes to vaccination mandates, testing requirements, and face coverings. Continue reading to find out the BIG changes coming to NCL ships this spring.
Vaccination
Prior to this update, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Sail Safe Health and Safety Program required 100% vaccination of all guests and crew. This meant that children ineligible for vaccination were not able to sail with the cruise line.
Today, Norwegian Cruise Line announces an evolution to this protocol to allow children under 5 years old to sail while unvaccinated.
“As we continue to heed guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to prioritize maintaining health and safety, our Sail Safe Program, which requires all guests, ages five and over, to be fully vaccinated at least two weeks before departure and show proof of vaccination at the terminal in order to board the vessel, has evolved to allow children under five to sail while unvaccinated.”
As part of the CDC’s Voluntary Conditional Sailing Order (CSO), NCL will limit the number of unvaccinated children aboard to not surpass 5% of total guests.
Testing
Prior to this update, guests needed to test twice before boarding a Norwegian Cruise Line ship. Guests were strongly encouraged to test once at home and were required to test again at the pier before embarkation.
Now, guests will only need to test once at home prior to their cruise. This protocol change will allow for expedited embarkation and reduce wait times at the pier.
At time of check-in, all guests will need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 antigen or PCR test administered by a verified third party or via a medically supervised home test. This test must be within two days prior to boarding for cruises originating in a U.S. port and three days prior for voyages departing from a non-U.S. port.
Of note, some itinerary-specific protocols may vary. NCL will communicate these protocols with guests as soon as they become available.
Mask Use
In this same operational update, Norwegian Cruise Line also updated its mask use policy.
For cruises with embarkation dates through February 28th, all guests and crew need to wear masks onboard while indoors, except when actively eating or drinking. They also need to wear masks outdoors when unable to physically distance.
However, for sailings with embarkation dates beginning March 1st, guests are no longer “required” to wear face coverings. NCL does continue to “recommend” that all guests do so onboard when indoors or outdoors when physical distancing can not be maintained.
On Europe sailings, local government regulations still require all guests to wear masks.
All crew will continue to wear masks onboard NCL ships as well.
Comments
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