Norwegian Cruise Line, the world’s third-largest cruise operator by passenger numbers, announced Monday that it would eliminate Covid-19 vaccination, testing and masking needs starting this week.
For the first time since before the covid-19 pandemic, Norwegian cruise ship passengers will not be required to provide evidence of vaccination or a negative covid-19 test, and will not want to wear masks on board, the company said Monday. .
For overseas travel, the cruise line will still comply with regulations set by local fitness authorities, and Norwegian ed that passengers may be denied boarding if all country-specific access requirements are met.
The move makes Norwegian the first major cruise line to eliminate mandatory testing for unvaccinated passengers when allowed, as rivals Royal Caribbean and Carnival still largely require negative Covid-19 tests from guests who don’t provide evidence of vaccination, with Disney set to adopt a similar strategy this month.
Cruise ships were hotspots for COVID-19 infections at the start of the pandemic, with large numbers of other people staying nearby and boarding at other destinations along the journey, creating many opportunities for transmission. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a no-sail order in March 2020 that lasted until July of that year, but cases continued to be reported on board when ships resumed sailing, even with strict CDC rules. in a position to prevent transmission, such as requiring the vast majority of passengers and staff on board to be vaccinated. The CDC removed its travel health statement that warned travelers about the threat of cruise ships in March, saying that while cruise ships will continue to pose a threat to Covid-19, “travelers will make their own assessment of the threat when decide to travel on a cruise ship, just as they do in all other travel contexts. In July, the CDC said it would no longer monitor how cruise lines enforce Covid-19 protocols, saying that individual corporations “have access to management and equipment to manage your own travel programs. ‘mitigation of Covid-19’. The firm still advises travelers who aren’t up to date on their vaccinations, adding Covid-19 reminders, to avoid cruises (only 37% of Americans have earned two reminders, according to the CDC). The cruise industry continued to suffer, with Carnival shares falling to their lowest point in 3 decades last week after a disappointing earnings report.
While COVID-19 cases and deaths in the United States remain well below their peak at the height of the pandemic, the country continues to record more infections and deaths than in the summer of 2021. A recent surge in cases and hospitalizations in Europe has prompted fears that another wave of infections could hit the United States. CDC data shows that vaccinated Americans are more likely to contract the coronavirus and face a higher death rate.
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