NCL
Norwegian Cruise Line is ending the vaccination requirements for new hires. Starting May 29, 2024, Norwegian Cruise Line is canceling the requirement for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for all newly hired and returning crew members. The news was announced by the global recruiting agency Kouzon Corporation, which partners with all major cruise lines, including NCLH brands.
The Iceland Transportation Accident Investigation Committee released a report on last year's near-miss grounding involving the 140,000-ton cruise ship Norwegian Prima at the port of Reykjavík. According to the report, the Norwegian Prima drifted outside the navigable channel and came within 10 meters of rocks after the vessel experienced winds in excess of 50 knots.
The Mauritius Ports Authority has decided not to let passengers off the Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Dawn ship because of health concerns. The ship, which requested to dock at Port Louis, was placed under quarantine due to stomach-related issues affecting some passengers. This decision was made to prevent any health concerns, authorities said. According to reports in Mauritius, stomach-related illness could be caused by GI or cholera.
In a glamorous ceremony at Port Miami on Tuesday, November 28, Puerto Rican singer and songwriter Luis Fonsi christened the Norwegian Viva, the latest addition to Norwegian Cruise Line's (NCL) fleet. The event included appearances by fellow musicians Pedro Capó and Paulina Rubio, as well as comedian Marcello Hernández from 'Saturday Night Live (SNL).'
As the Israel-Gaza conflict continues to intensify, major cruise lines have made the difficult decision to either cancel or indefinitely postpone multiple voyages to the Middle East. The Israel-Hamas war, which erupted on October 7, has seen violence escalating in the past month. Majour cruise companies have taken proactive measures to revise their itineraries, specifically avoiding the Red Sea and the surrounding region, with sailings impacted until the year 2024.