Posted on 12/17/2021 1:10:01 PM PST by Capt. Tom
Norwegian Cruise Line updates its protocols by notifying guests to wear a mask indoors except while eating or drinking and outdoors when social distancing is not possible. In an email sent to booked guests, Norwegian Cruise Line has updated its onboard mask policy to ask guests to wear masks while indoors as well as outdoors when social distancing cannot be maintained. This is an abrupt change from the line’s fully-vaccinated “cruise mask-free” policy, and has been made without warning.
Norwegian Cruise Line “Asking” Guests to Wear Masks Guests booked on sailings of Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Breakaway, and Norwegian Gem have received notification emails that the health and safety protocols onboard their upcoming sailings – as early as tomorrow, December 18, 2021 – have been changed.
Masks should now be worn on board in indoor areas unless passengers are actively eating or drinking or while in passengers’ staterooms. Masks must also be worn in any outdoor areas where social distancing cannot be maintained.
While the email’s language does say they are “asking” guests to wear masks and does not use the word “required” this amounts to a direct change of the line’s “cruise mask-free” policy in recent weeks, a policy for NCL’s fully-vaccinated sailings that many cruise passengers have appreciated.
The email goes on to reiterate the cruise line’s vaccination and pre-cruise testing protocols, which have not been changed. Guests who do not comply with the requirements listed in the email will be denied embarkation for their cruise without any refund or compensation.
The line’s official website has not yet been updated about this change in protocol and there is no confirmation as to whether this is a fleet-wide change or how long the protocol may be in effect.
Short Notice Changes
This notification email has been sent to guests just days, even hours, before their cruises set sail, including the December 18, 2021 sailings of Norwegian Escape from Port Canaveral and Norwegian Joy from PortMiami, the December 19, 2021 sailing of Norwegian Breakaway from New Orleans, and the December 19, 2021 sailing of Norwegian Gem from New York. Additional ships may also be impacted by this change.
Norwegian Breakaway recently made headline news for multiple COVID-19 cases onboard, a total of 17 documented cases out of roughly 3,200 passengers and crew. The cruise with those cases returned to New Orleans on schedule and debarked as normal on December 6.
According to the CDC Cruise Ship Color Status, updated with data from December 16, no Norwegian vessels have “red” status indicating a severe outbreak. All four ships where passengers have confirmed receiving the notification email of new protocols – Breakaway, Escape, Joy, and Gem – are listed as “green” status which indicates no reported cases of COVID-19.
No Compensation Offered At this time, Norwegian Cruise Line is not offering any refunds, future cruise credits, rebooking options, or other compensation for affected passengers who may wish to change their travel plans because of the dramatic change in protocols. It is possible that the line may change that policy in the next few hours, as this is a developing situation.
Stay tuned to Cruise Hive for further updates and more details as they become available.
Yup—that is blatant bait and switch.
That is why you should never obey tyrants—it just encourages them to double down...
Obedience to your masters is a very bad habit.
You need to bend them to your will, not submit to theirs.
It is my pleasure to stay at home and celebrate my freedom.
(It does not hurt that we have a lot of property for doing our happy dance. :-) )
From another recent Cruise Hive article this afternoon- "So, where do passengers need to wear a mask on board a Royal Caribbean ship? Basically, in all areas inside the ship. This includes the casino, shops, and bars and restaurants unless actively eating or drinking."~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Looks like the omicron virus fear is ramping up. -Tom
LOL - the floating petri dishes are now asking their guests to wear cloth petri dishes on their faces.
I agree. Masks are nasty. I don’t even own one.
It may not be a big deal to you...( that’s your privilege)....
....but my husband refuses to do it!.....and I agree!
It is great that you’re jumping in on some great cruise deals. That’s the spirit! But I am so sorry to hear about your wife’s condition. Praying for more great cruise adventures ahead for the two of you.
Masks from boxes that advise NOT FOR USE IN HEALTHCARE SETTINGS...
Yup, Norwegian. That’ll work.
But thanks for saving me a ton of money.
Masks are fomites.
And there are other bugs in addition to CoupFlu out there.
From todays Cruise Hive 12/18/21-
"Carnival Cruise Line updated its protocols on December 17 and sent notifications to guests detailing some changes due to the Omicron variant. It comes as two other major cruise lines have also tightened measures to make sure guests and crew remain safe."
No obedience involved in my case. I got jabbed 100% voluntarily. Because with my daily aerobic exercise routine, that 1/2 CC of clear liquid injected was so trivial to my body, I have zero side effects after 9 months from the jabs. I expected exactly that. I have not even had a minor cold in 2 decades. Daily exercise has not only kept me from getting sick, it has kept my muscle strength up, my energy levels are amazing, my balance at age 81 is good enough to join a ballet class.
I am sorry you both have reached the conclusion to skip cruises. There was not one iota of any problems during our cruises in September 2021 and November 2021. Not only that, we both enjoyed getting away from household chores for a few days, and the prices were record breaking good deals.
Based on that experience, we booked 2 more cruises in the next 2 months. $525 for 2 on a 4 day cruise with all taxes and gratuities included for a balcony cabin, was a great deal for repeat passengers, from Carnival cruise lines.
Thank you kindly. Life is indeed very short, and I try to enjoy every day the almighty gives me. My wife’s trials & tribulations fighting stage-4 cancer has reinforced my opinion about how short life is. But she is a fighter and doing good for nearly 4 years after diagnosis. She loves cruises, and we intend to do a short cruise every other month.
Social distancing on a half full ship which is 1/3 of a mile long is never a problem. Masks will not be required outdoors, if we just find lounge chairs away from others, which has been ridiculously easy. When was in the gym working out during cruises in September & November this year, the gym was barely 10% occupied. Social distancing was never a problem.
Sounds like you will have some good cruises coming up with reduced number of passengers.
I can’t see them filling those cruise ships with the protocols they have in place now.
And they need full ships to make money. -Tom
I feel very bad for the cruise lines when I see the ship we just boarded is only half full.
But the cruise companies are deathly afraid of CDC who could shut them down completely again.
Just take advantage of uncrowded voyages at bargain basement prices. The adverse side effects from covid jabs are statistically lower than any hospital procedure. If my wife on Medicare with stage-4 cancer can handle 3 shots of covid vaccines, 99.99% can handle them without any serious side effects. With 240,775,382 Americans already vaccinated, how many Americans have experienced adverse effects? It is less than 0.01% meaning the jabs are 99.99% safe.
Do NOT miss out on these bargain priced uncrowded cruises due to over-hyped fear of covid vaccines. Life is too short to not enjoy what one likes.
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