Posted on 12/06/2021 8:08:48 AM PST by Capt. Tom
Cruise News Norwegian Cruise Line Ship Changes COVID-19 Testing, Masking Requirements After Omicron Variant Discovered Norwegian Cruise Line Ship Changes COVID-19 Testing, Masking Requirements After Omicron Variant Discovered December 06, 2021
All passengers and crew returning to New Orleans on December 5 after a one-week Western Caribbean sailing on the 3,963-passenger Norwegian Breakaway were tested for Covid-19 before they were allowed to leave the ship.
The move, which is new for cruise lines coming and leaving from a U.S. homeport, followed the discovery of what the cruise line is calling "a handful of COVID-19 asymptomatic cases among guests and crew." The reason for the concern: One of those cases, a South African crew member, is suspected to have the Omicron variant.
“We worked with the CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) to test everyone on board prior to disembarkation,” said Jose Cano, a Norwegian Cruise Line spokesman.
The cruise line immediately instituted new rules for guests who opted to board the ship on the next sailing, which embarked Sunday, Dec. 5. Norwegian said they "must wear masks while indoors except while actively eating or drinking and will be tested twice during the cruise," according to a statement to Cruise Critic. Guests on that sailing were also offered the opportunity to cancel without penalty.
The positive cases were found during a one-week sailing, which embarked from the Big Easy on Nov. 28 and visited Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; Roatan, Honduras and Harvest Caye, Belize.
The Louisiana Department of Health reported 17 cases on the cruise among passengers and crew. There were reportedly about 3,200 people on the ship.
Separately, the Louisiana Department of Health confirmed its first case of Omicron in the state, which is not related to the cruise ship.
Those who tested positive were allowed to return to their local residences or otherwise told to self-isolate. The infected South African crew member was reportedly quarantining on the ship.
Norwegian Cruise Line requires all guests to be fully vaccinated and to undergo Covid-19 tests within 48 hours of their sailings. Up to this point, masks were not required. It was not clear if the incident on Norwegian Breakaway would lead to changes on other sailings.
"As always, the health and safety of our guests, crew and the communities we visit is our highest priority," Norwegian Cruise Line said in its statement. "We will never compromise on health and safety and we will of course, continue to take all appropriate action to ensure everyone’s well-being and to protect public health."
These additional restrictions are not going to help out the Cruise Line filling their ships. - Tom
OMICRON!
The next variant Greek Letter is ‘PI’...........................
Wearing a mask while shooting Craps in the onboard casino, splashing in the pool, or lounging in the sauna must be a real hoot!
Regards,
We still have 9 more greek letters to describe the variant VIRUSES.- Tom
I can’t wait for the Phi-Beta-Kappa variant. I hear it’s really smart.....................
Thanks, but I’ll just vacation in California of I want to wear a mask all day.
We did the cabo turn around on the Grand in mid Oct had to wear the mask going to and fro the ship was only about 35% full it was the best cruise ever no lines plenty of pool chairs
What happened to Xi ???
He’s in China.................
I was on the Mardi Gras in August the 3rd sailing...
2,800 passengers on a 6,500-passenger ship lots of room no lines etc
It was great
“We did the cabo turn around on the Grand in mid Oct had to wear the mask going to and fro the ship was only about 35% full it was the best cruise ever no lines plenty of pool chairs”
Ditto. Took a 7 day Mediterranean cruise out of Barcelona in Oct on the NCL Epic. We had to wear masks indoors (Europe rules). But guess what there weren’t any crowds and I had a fabulous time. So fabulous I decided to take the same cruise again the following week and I got a fantastic $$ deal.
If these discounts last much longer it can’t be good for the cruise lines’ financials...
BUT all the more reason to go on your cruise NOW. There are fabulous deals, there are no crowds, and service is better than ever as crew and tour guides are delighted to be back at work.
So nice to get upgraded to a balcony and have my steward clean my room and bring me fresh towels twice a day on the ship - while at every hotel I have been to in the US the prices have gone up 50% or more and they are cutting back cleaning service to once a week “because of covid”.
If you truly aren’t concerned about covid or omicron or whatever, and you don’t mind vaccination and masks, which are common in many places anyway, go enjoy a cruise.
Wear the masks whose manufacturers warn are not for use in healthcare settings?
Those masks?
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Those aren’t masks.
They’re muzzles.
And no, I won’t pay to have some company muzzle me.
Stay home then we wont miss you
Omg. people have a....a....c..cold!
I’ve booked a cruise on Breakaway for early march. If masks are required, I will cancel.
The same ones where it says right on the box that they aren’t effective against viruses.....
That's what I believe will keep the cruise lines from filling the ships, and not the fear of catching Covid. -Tom
Capt. Tom wrote: “That’s (masking) what I believe will keep the cruise lines from filling the ships, and not the fear of catching Covid. -Tom”
Very interesting comments on cruise critic. There are many who want cruise ships to enforce masking. They will not cruise otherwise.
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