Norwegian Cruise Line announced changes of the COVID-19 testing policy for guests boarding cruise ships from the U.S. and non-U.S. ports. Starting January 17, 2022, guests will be allowed to board with one negative COVID-19 antigen or PCR test result. 

Some important changes in the management were announced this week by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. Oceania Cruises co-founder, president and CEO Bob Binder, is transiting to another role, vice chairman of NCLH. To be more specific, he will now report to Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of NCLH. 

Norwegian Epic is NCL's first cruise ship that will experience the beauty of Haifa for the first time in the history of the company. The ship has been most popular among the Israeli market, for Mediterranean cruises to the port of Civitavecchia in Rome. Its first cruise is scheduled for November 2022, 11-day-itinerary, visiting Limassol, Rhodes, Kusadasi, Istanbul, Patmos, Piraeus, Naples, Livorno and Rome. 

A week ago Crew Center published a letter sent by a crew member from the Norwegian Breakaway seeking information when NCL will allow its crew shore leave. Crew Center received a subsequent letter, this time from a crew member aboard the Norwegian Epic.

Several cruise ships had to adjust itineraries after Panhellenic Maritime Federation (PNO) announced a 48-hour general strike beginning November 10. The strike by the port workers is expected to put all major Greek ports on hold suspending ferry service and cruise ship arrivals.

NCLH is extending the vaccine mandate for passengers "indefinitely," the company's CEO said on Wednesday. All guests, without exception, are obliged to be fully vaccinated in order to sail on the three of the company’s cruise lines: Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. 

Letter from Norwegian Breakaway crew member - Can you imagine how it feels not being able to get off in ports while guests can?

Since I have worked on land, I have attended so many focus groups related to large corporations and other government entities attempting to figure out how to maintain long term employees. Just as the cruise industry, I presently work in a high burnout profession where the turnaround is 5-10 years.

Norwegian Cruise Line has informed travel agents about the recent change in itinerary of the transatlantic cruise from Europe to the USA onboard Norwegian Getaway. The 17-day voyage departing from Rome (Civitavecchia) on December 5, 2021 will be modified and the cruise ship will skip the Royal Naval Dockyard in Bermuda and stay overnight in Miami.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings announced that it has been named by Forbes World’s Best Employers for 2021.