Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has announced today an extension of its previous suspension of global voyages through December 31st, 2020.

Knut Kloster, one of the cruise industry's leading visionaries and entrepreneurs, has died at the of 91. He was the founder of Norwegian Caribbean Lines (today Norwegian Cruise Line) and a short-lived business partner with Ted Arison, founder of Carnival Cruise Line. Kloster was the visionary to convert the SS France to a 2,000-passenger cruise ship SS Norway. The SS Norway was the industry’s first mega-ship to sail during the 80s out of Miami. 

Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas which are all part of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) will further reduce its crew that are currently on board the ships as they enter a cool lay-up manning. The crew level will be below specified by the ship’s minimum safe manning operation, but still sufficient to satisfy maintenance and security requirements.

While we are all aware of the challenges and fears that the COVID-19 pandemic has bestowed upon all of us in the same sense it also shows us what truly is important.

Norwegian Cruise Line announced that the company is working on a comprehensive and multi-faceted set of new and enhanced health and safety protocols to address the challenges of the global pandemic. According to the company, these new protocols will be designed to meet or exceed required global public health standards for guests boarding NCL ships as well as the safety of its crew.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. announced a partnership to create the “Healthy Sail Panel,” a team of cross-disciplinary experts enlisted to guide the cruise industry’s way forward in response to COVID-19.

Mauritian crew members stranded on the cruise ship Norwegian Epic for over 3 months, finally received good news about their repatriation flights back home. A crew member sent us an announcement attached on the crew notice board with details regarding the repatriation flight scheduled on June 28. 

As the cruise industry is suffering its biggest crises in history the cruise companies started to adjust its operational costs any way they can. As a result, a number of employees have already been laid off across all cruise lines. The latest cuts comes from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, with 300 employees on the private island destination Harvest Caye being left without jobs.

More than 200 Mauritian crew members are stranded onboard the cruise ship Norwegian Epic, waiting for a charter flight in order to be repatriated home. As the country has not lifted the ban of its citizens arriving by plane they are desperate after spending more than two months on ship. In order to raise awareness to the government, last night they decided to make a video, beginning the prime minister to allow them to return home. 

Dear Crew, whether you are at home battling through daily tasks, trying to cope with our new reality or still on board, trying to keep sane and healthy, - we are here for you.

Crew Center keeps its hand on crew-news pulse and does an admirable job at helping/supporting whoever we can.