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.
"We're going to announce very soon that we have indefinitely extended our 100% vaccination requirement," CEO Frank Del Rio told investors on Wednesday. "I think that continues to benefit our three brands. It's something we want to build on."
Del Rio is strongly convinced about the ongoing strict vaccination policy for guests to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, which was first adopted by the group in April and became a subject, defended by him in the court. The NCL Holdings won the case against the state back in August, with Norwegian Gem as a first ship under full vaccination mandates, sailing from Florida.
Del Rio added that Norwegian’s vaccine mandate will even surpass the timeline of CDC’s Conditional Sail Order for cruise ships, considering the recent approval of vaccines for 5 to 11-year-old children and the potential approval of the vaccine for younger children in the future.
"We're not going to sacrifice the health and safety of anyone in order to add a point or two," to the company's overall load factor, he said. "We will continue to mandate vaccination for as long as the science tells us to."
