Norwegian Cruise Line Western Mediterranean To Restart in September 2021
Norwegian Cruise Line first proposed plans in early April to resume its voyages from its U.S. ports starting July 4, but is still waiting for approval. Due to strict coronavirus guidelines in the U.S. regarding the operation of cruise lines (the CDC believes that COVID-19 spreads more easily on ships according to a research they carried out), the Norwegian Cruise Line decided to shift its focus and announced on Wednesday that they will be resuming their summer sailing outside the United States, in parts of the Caribbean and Europe.
Norwegian Cruise Line Announces Sailing Resumption Outside U.S.
The line announced on Wednesday that it will base two of its biggest ships in Europe, starting early fall.
The 4,100-passenger Norwegian Epic in Barcelona will return to the city with a Western Mediterranean itinerary from September 5 through October 24.
Another of the big ships, the 4,028-passenger Norwegian Getaway, will sail a mix of 10- to 11-night Greek Isles Voyages from Rome (Civitavecchia), running from September 13, 2021 to October 25, 2021.
Norwegian also plans to restart operations from Greece in their Norwegian Jade, and if they pull through, they will be the first major international cruise line to restart in the Western Mediterranean. The line’s Greece and Caribbean sailings will not accept children onboard as of yet. All passengers hoping to board the ship will have to provide a proof of vaccination.
The news is coming just days after the EU announced that it will be accepting vaccinated American travelers.
“Europe is a top travel destination, so we are very much looking forward to returning to some of our most beloved homeports, resuming those itineraries and welcoming our guests to experience a vacation of a lifetime in the safest possible manner,” Harry Sommer, Norwegian Cruise Line President and CEO said.
“We are actively working with our local partners and government officials, as we plan for resumption of voyages in the region with Norwegian Epic and Getaway joining Norwegian Jade this summer. Relaunching Norwegian Epic and Getaway will allow us to provide a greater variety of highly sought-after itineraries for those travelers preparing to take their first cruise vacation in over a year.”
Norwegian Cruise Line Looks Forward to Spain Lifting its Ban on Cruise Ships
Spain has not reopened its tourism yet, but it is among other EU countries pushing to allow international travel, as long as the travelers are vaccinated.
“While cruising has not yet restarted from Spanish ports, the Port of Barcelona has been closely working and cooperating with the Spanish Ministry of Health and with the Health Department of the local government of Catalonia towards the same objective: the resumption of cruise traffic following the safest protocols for guests, crew and the inhabitants of Barcelona,” President of the Port of Barcelona Merce Conesa said.
There is hope that Norwegian Cruise Line will soon be allowed to operate in Barcelona.
This Monday, Spain’s secretary of state for tourism, Fernando Valdes, strongly assured that the country will lift its ban on the operation of cruise ships. However, ships have been operating in the Canary Islands since October 2020.
At the annual summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council, Valdes announced that the Ministry of Transport is working closely with the Ministry of Health to safely bring back cruising with standard protocols.
The announcement comes on the same day as sister brands Oceania and Regent Seven Seas Cruises announced plans to reopen in the Mediterranean and the U.K. in September.
Cruise Ship Laws in the U.S.
There has been no official timeline as to when the United States will be removing its ban on cruise ships, although there have been discussions going on about it.
In a press release, Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, said that they are planning to resume cruising from U.S. ports as they are in conversation with the CDC to figure out the best plan to support reopening the ports in the safest way possible.
Earlier this month, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his plans to sue the CDC, calling for cruise ships to be allowed to begin operation in the U.S. immediately.
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