Norwegian Cruise Line Protocol Updates

Norwegian Cruise Line Updates

Updated October 3, 2022

Today, Norwegian Cruise Line announced it will eliminate COVID-19 requirements …

What You Need To Know

• Norwegian Cruise Line announced that it has updated its global health and safety protocols by removing all COVID-19 requirements effective October 4, 2022 including:
• Testing
• Masking  
• Vaccination
• With the easing of the Cruise Line’s health and safety protocols, NCL will continue to follow the travel guidelines as required by the destinations it visits.
• Please see the resources below for more detailed information about the country requirements.

Resources

• Cruise Travel Requirements by Country
• For more information about the required travel documentation they will need for their NCL voyage – www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/cruise-travel-documents 
• Sail Safe
• Cruise Line Vaccine & Testing Requirements

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(Last Update: September 28, 2022)

 Norwegian Cruise Line has updated its health & safety requirements.

Statement

Effective for sailings beginning September 30, 2022, all COVID-19 travel requirements, including vaccination, mandatory use of ArriveCAN, and any testing and quarantine/isolation protocols will no longer be required for travelers entering Canada by land, air or sea. Although Canada has lifted its COVID-19 travel requirements, including those specific to cruise passengers, all guests must still meet the following NCL embarkation requirements to board their upcoming cruise.

 

What You Need to Know

 

Embarkation Requirements:

• All guests ages 12 years and older, must provide proof of ONE of the following:
• Proof of completed series of one-dose or two-dose vaccination regimen.
• Proof of a negative COVID-19 antigen or NAAT test (i.e., PCR) taken within three days of the embarkation date.
• Guests 6 months to 11 years are welcome aboard with no restrictions.

Important Note: While Norwegian welcomes unvaccinated guests, it is the responsibility of the guest to be aware of any local protocols and/or travel restrictions in place at the visiting destinations at the time of sailing.

Norwegian Oceania and Regent to Wed

Norwegian Announces Marriage With

Prestige Cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line published a press release on Tuesday announcing that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Prestige Cruises International, Inc, parent company of Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, in cash and stock for a total transaction consideration of $3.025 billion, including the assumption of debt.

"The combination of three distinct brands, each serving a different market segment, under one umbrella immediately creates an industry-leading cruise operator with an unmatched growth trajectory and a portfolio of products that allows us to appeal to guests at every stage of their life cycle. We are fully committed to retaining the brand propositions, guest experiences and cultures of the Norwegian, Oceania and Regent brands that have allowed each to realize such success."  ~Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line's CEO

Following the announcement, they also had several meetings with investors, media, and their travel partners to discuss the transaction in further detail.  What does this mean to you as a cruise enthusiast?

The Courtship

It is important to note that both company's senior management forged relationships during the courtship, prior to this transaction being entered, and sought to understand the philosophies that drove each individual company.  As stated by Norwegian's CEO, Kevin Sheehan, these distinct brands serve different market segments and have loyal followings.   It is critical that the brand cultures don't change and that guest experiences are preserved.

The Wedding

The actual consummation of the deal will not occur until some time later this year, most likely in Q4 2014.  Until then, customers and travel partners should expect "business as usual".   If you are really interested, all the legal-ESE can be found in the actual press release.

In the industry briefing, it was clear that both companies had taken this merger seriously and done their due diligence.  This was "day one" and too early to answer many questions that were lurking in people's minds, but assurances were given that in due time there would be answers.  

The Honeymoon

After the deal becomes official, there may be some changes as one might expect.  Indications were that both companies have some best practices and that the intention was to learn from each other.   Prestige for example has already merged two companies, Regent and Oceania, so some of those past experiences will come in handy with this new entity. Customers and travel partners should benefit in the long run from the merger.

There is a definite life-cycle that cruise guests follow.   Using these three brands as an example customers going on their first cruises would typically start out on Norwegian.   As they mature and have families, Norwegian would still most likely be a fit.  As the kids get older, couples may want to cruise on their own and have a more upscale experience.  Oceania could be the cruise line of choice for those guests.   Later in life, Regent, with their all-inclusive experience, might become the preferred cruise line.   There should not be a need to go outside this new family of cruise lines to meet goals of any specific cruise vacation.  (There could be exceptions to that, such as river cruising).

There were questions about the loyalty programs as you might expect.  It is too early to determine what changes, if any would be made.  As travel partners and guests, the hope is that loyalty will be rewarded, while still preserving the individual benefits for the given brand within the family of brands.

Married Life

This deal has a life-cycle as well, and all we can do is wait and see.  We've been invited to the wedding feast and anxiously await the day of the event.   We all wish the partners well in their new journey together.  After all, it is in everyone's interest that this new "marriage" live long and be prosperous.   We expect more announcements in the months ahead and we will bring you updates as appropriate.

Congratulations to the entire Norwegian and Prestige Cruises family - we wish you well.

Introducing Seven Seas Explorer

Regent Seven Seas Cruises announced that they have signed a contract with Italy's Fincantieri shipyard to build the most luxurious cruise ship in the era of modern cruising. The new all-suite, all-balcony ship will be named Seven Seas Explorer with delivery scheduled for summer 2016.

"This new ship order represents an exciting time of growth for our company as we build the next generation of cruise ships for the world's most inclusive luxury cruise line," Frank Del Rio, the chairman and CEO of Regent's parent company, says in a statement accompanying the announcement. "Seven Seas Explorer will be the most luxurious cruise ship ever built."

The price tag for this all-suite, all-balcony luxury cruise ship has been reported to be $450m USD making it the most expensive luxury vessel afloat according to the line.
 Ship Statistics

Name: Seven Seas Explorer	Registry: Bahamas
Builder: Sestri Ponente (Genoa) shipyard	Country Built In: Italy
Ship Completion Date: Summer 2016	Number of Restaurants: 6
Number Balcony Suites: 369	Capacity: 738
Gross Tonnage: 54,000	Beam: 102 feet
Length: 732 feet	Draft: 23 feet
Power: diesel-electric engines	Speed: 20 knots

World-renowned architectural and interior design firms Tillberg Design AB, RTKL Associates and ICrave are designing the vessel, which will have the features the line is known for with the following highlights:

• 369 suites ranging from 300 square feet to 1,500 square feet
• six open-seating gourmet restaurants
• signature nine-deck atrium
• two-story Explorer Theater
• three boutiques  
• an expansive Canyon Ranch SpaClub®

"This new ship order is part of our disciplined growth strategy to expand our footprint in the luxury market," said Kunal S. Kamlani, president of Regent Seven Seas Cruises. "Since we purchased the Regent Seven Seas Cruises brand in 2008, the ships have sailed full with industry-leading yields. We strongly believe that now is the right time to expand our fleet as our loyal guests have asked for a greater array of itineraries and our travel partners have proven that there is pent-up demand for a new Regent ship."

Additional information about the new ship will be released in the coming months and we will provide updates as the information is provided to us.   We look forward to welcoming this new ship to Regent's fleet.  Click the following link for more information about Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Taxi Strike Blocks Athens Port

Cruise Lines Unable

to Make Athens Calls As

Taxi Drivers Blockade Piraeus

Several cruise ships were forced to skip planned calls at Piraeus, the port for Athens, Monday, July 18, and again on Tuesday as striking taxi drivers blockaded the port, preventing passengers from getting to their sightseeing coaches.

Yellow Cabs in Athens Traffic on a Normal Day

Reuters reported today that taxi drivers in Athens walked off the job for 24 hours in the latest protest against the Greek government's EU-driven austerity program, which protesters said would hurt only the poor.  The yellow cab drivers are protesting against deregulation of their industry as part of the economic reforms demanded by Greece's international creditors. They join the ranks of the customs officials who are also on strike which is causing a shortage of gasoline at some Athens filling stations.

Four ships were due in Piraeus yesterday: Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas, Seabourn Odyssey, Ruby Princess and Pullmantur's Zenith.

According to a report on Cruise Critic, Royal Caribbean had arranged shuttle transportation for guests in anticipation of the strike, but due to the blockade, guests were unable to disembark the ship and the passengers on Voyager of the Seas had a day at sea instead.

Cruise Critic reports that Seabourn Odyssey did, however, manage to disembark and embark passengers in Athens with all guests back on board in Piraeus and the itinerary unaffected.

MSC Armonia and Celebrity Solstice were due in port today.  Solstice is spending the day in Crete today instead.   The impact of the strike on MSC Armonia is not know at this time.

Piraeus is the port city for Athens and has been Athens' port of entry for over two millennia. It is the gateway to the historic temples of the Acropolis,  the famed Plaka shopping district, the scenic drive to Cape Sounion, and the stunning 5th-century B.C. Temple of Poseidon, overlooking the Aegean Sea.

Timing for these industrial actions in Greece couldn't be worse, as it's the height of the cruise season, with three or more ships calling at Piraeus every day. In fact, most of the cruise lines have expanded their European presence this year in response to the increasing demand.

The strike is scheduled to be over in time for Wednesday's anticipated  arrival of Regent's Seven Seas Mariner and two more Royal Caribbean vessels, Splendour of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas.  We will continue to monitor the various events in Greece that can impact cruise vacations to that nation.


We have just completed our own adventure to Greece in June this year, as part of a 12-Night Greek Isles & Mediterranean Cruise on Star Princess.   For the passengers that missed their port of call in Athens, we know they must be disappointed, as we would have been.   We can only offer our images in future columns and on our Facebook Fan page as a substitute for the real thing.

This is a very trying time for the people of Greece.  We wish them well as the government tries to make changes to stabilize the economy and protect the future for generations to come.

RSSC Voyager Baltic Offers

Photos courtesy Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Free Business Class Air
on Scandinavia & Russia Cruises

2-for-1 Fares Plus an Additional Savings of up to $1,000 Per Person

Included Air and Complimentary Shore Excursions

Regent Seven Seas takes you to the Baltic this year aboard the 700-guest, all-suite, all-balcony Seven Seas Voyager. Take advantage of special savings now through March 31, 2010 on one of the most enjoyable European destinations.

Enjoy a picturesque funicular ride and hiking tour to the top of Mount Floyen with magnificent views and photo opportunities of surrounding Bergen and beyond.

Relive Estonia's turbulent past and fight for freedom from Soviet oppression. Spend two days in St. Petersburg, Russia, viewing the ancient city's top attractions including opulent rooms and galleries covered in gilt and carved plaster.

Explore the many bridges of Stockholm or take a ferry to Vasa Museum to learn more about the Vikings and their ships. See magnificent waterfalls as your ship sails through the Norwegian Fjords.

These are just a sampling of the European adventures that await you on the Seven Seas Voyager. <more details>

WLCN Offers Good Thru October Or Longer

OFFICIAL WLCN SALE
BOOKING WINDOW
Starting Oct. 14, 2009

As mentioned in previous posts, there are a number of special offers throughout the month. I'd like to call attention to the following offers which are valid after this week.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE

Booking Window: Oct 13 - 20

CRYSTAL CRUISES

$100 per person discount on most 2009 and 2010 departures

Booking Window: Oct 14 to Nov 7

REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES

$100 per person shipboard credit

Booking Window: Oct 14 to Nov 14

DISNEY CRUISE LINE

7-Night Cruises or Longer Itineraries
$100 onboard credit for cruises sailing Jan. 9, 2010 - Dec. 18, 2010

3-4- and 5-Night Bahamian Cruises
$50 onboard credit for cruises sailing Jan. 3, 2010 - Dec. 19, 2010

Booking Window: Oct 14 to Oct 28

COSTA CRUISES

$50 per cabin onboard credit

Valid for Caribbean and Europe sailings through December 2010.

Booking Window: Oct 14 to Oct 31

SILVERSEAS CRUISES

Savings of $100 per person (max $200 per suite double occupancy) per booking (not per voyage for combination cruises)

Booking Window: Oct 14 to Nov 14

MSC CRUISES

Onboard credits: Inside cabin will receive $ 25 pp (max $ 50 per cabin), Oceanview cabin will receive $ 50 pp (max 100 per cabin), Balcony and Suite stateroom will receive $ 100 pp (max $ 200 per cabin).

Booking Window: Oct 14 to Oct 24

All offers are for New Bookings ONLY and may have additional Terms and Conditions.

Contact us for complete details.

Regent Seven Seas Inclusive Sale

Prices Increase October 1st

Book Regent Cruises NOW

With many 2010 cruises already sold out, time is running out to take advantage of Regent Seven Seas Cruises inclusive special offers. After September 30, 2009, prices will be increasing on nearly half of the voyages. Features of the sale include the following:

Unlimited Complimentary Shore Excursions

Free Air & 2-for-1 Fares

Additional $1,000 per guest savings

Guests will still be able to enjoy Unlimited Complimentary Shore Excursions and Included Air, but 2-for-1 Fares plus up to an additional $1,000 per guest savings will no longer apply on select 2010 cruises effective October 1, 2009.

Contact me NOW to book YOUR cruise as space is limited. Checking my inventory, I see that many cruises are already sold out, and some suite categories are already waitlisted!

Regent Seven Seas Cruise - Information & Itineraries

Offer expires September 30, 2009. Discounts and amenities are per person based on double occupancy. Additional terms and conditions apply - contact me for complete details.

Around the World with Regent

Regent Seven Seas Cruising Around the World

2010 World Cruise
Regent Seven Seas Cruises takes you on a 119-night adventure from exotic locales to lands that transcend time. Discover the rarely visited, including west African treasures Ghana, The Gambia and Cape Verde. Explore the great cities, from Sydney to Singapore and Hong Kong to Shanghai. Each step of this magnificent voyage unfolds new ways of seeing the world aboard Seven Seas Voyager.

San Diego to Fort Lauderdale, 119 nights (Full World Cruise) January 13, 2010

Your world voyage begins with a Gala evening and overnight on board January 13th featuring Jay Leno and The Beach Boys.

Special Offers:

• 2-FOR-1 Fares

• Save an additional $5,000 per guest when booked by September 30, 2009

• FREE Unlimited Shore Excursions

• Seven Seas Society savings available

• $2,000 per suite Shipboard Credit (categories MS-C) or

• $1,000 per suite Shipboard Credit (categories D-H)

Inclusions:

• Gala evening and overnight on board January 13th featuring Jay Leno and The Beach Boys

• Visas for U.S. and Canadian citizens residing in the U.S.

• Ground transfers

• Luggage delivery service between ship and shore

• Commemorative gift

Complimentary events: In addition to the complimentary events on the individual segments, full World Cruise guests also enjoy an Ethnic Fashion Show at Three on the Bund in Shanghai on March 6, a Sunset Cocktail Reception on the Chao Praya River in Bangkok on March 20, and a Vintage Fair at Blaauwklippen Estate in Cape Town on April 15.

2010 World Cruise Segments

San Diego to Sydney, 23 nights (Segment 1)
January 14, 2010

Sydney to Singapore, 19 nights (Segment 2) February 6, 2010

Singapore to Hong Kong, 14 nights (Segment 3) February 25, 2010

Hong Kong to Cape Town, 35 nights (Segment 4) March 11, 2010

Cape Town to Ft. Lauderdale, 27 nights (Segment 5) April 15, 2010

Special Offers on Segments:

• 2-FOR-1 Fares

• Save an additional $1,000 per guest when booked by September 30, 2009

• FREE Unlimited Shore Excursions

• Seven Seas Society savings available

• $200 per suite Shipboard Credit (categories MS-C) or

• $100 per suite Shipboard Credit (categories D-H)

Take advantage of the special offers by selecting your cabin for the Full World Cruise or One or More of the Segments before the offer expires on September 30th. This cruise will be an experience for you to remember for many years to come.

Call me for complete details of the 119 night World Cruise which ends in Fort Lauderdale, FL on May 12, 2010.

Tahiti On Sale - Paul Gauguin

Summer on "Sail" by Paul Gauguin

Regent Seven Seas has announced two special offers for sailings to Tahiti aboard Paul Gauguin.

This is the final season that the ship will be sailing under the Regent flag. In January, 2010, Paul Gauguin Cruises will begin sailing in Tahiti.

See my previous posts for more details about Paul Gauguin Cruises: Luxury Tahiti Cruises at Special Savings and Paul Gauguin Cruises Joins CLIA

Speical Offers Available
Bookings by August 15, 2009

French Polynesia is made up of several series of islands, atolls, and archipelagos, independently surrounded by lagoons and barrier reefs that create unique eco-systems and divine respites for the traveler weary of the usual getaway.

Explore the Society Islands aboard Paul Gauguin this summer with up to 74% savings, third guest sails FREE; BOOK by August 15, 2009.

7 Nights Roundtrip Papeete

Fares from $1,995 per guest: September 12, September 19 and September 26

Itinerary: Papeete, French Polynesia * Raiatea, French Polynesia * Taha'a (Motu Mahana)French Polynesia * Bora Bora, French Polynesia (Overnight) * Moorea, French Polynesia(Overnight) * Papeete, French Polynesia (Overnight)

Society & Cook Islands

14 Nights Roundtrip Papeete

Fares from $4,995 per guest & FREE AIR from LAX August 29

Itinerary: Papeete, French Polynesia * Huahine, French Polynesia * Cruise the Pacific Ocean, Int' Waters * Aitutaki, Cook Islands * Rarotonga, Cook Islands * Cruise the Pacific Ocean, Int'l Waters * Tubuai, Tuamotu Archipelago * Cruise the Pacific Ocean, Int'l Waters * Taha'a (Motu Mahana), French Polynesia * Bora Bora, French Polynesia * Rangiroa, French Polynesia (Overnight) * Moorea, French Polynesia (Overnight) * Papeete, French Polynesia (Overnight)

Special One Week Sale by Paul Gauguin

July 27 - August 2, 2009

Explore the Society Islands aboard Paul Gauguin this fall with up to 67% savings, Select Balcony & upper suite categories only; Valid from July 27, 2009 to August 2, 2009.

7 Nights Roundtrip Papeete
Balcony & Upper Suite Fares from $2,995 per guest: October 24, October 31

Itinerary: Papeete, French Polynesia Raiatea, French Polynesia Taha'a (Motu Mahana), French Polynesia Bora Bora, French Polynesia (Overnight) Moorea, French Polynesia (Overnight) Papeete, French Polynesia (Overnight)

Society & Marquesas Islands
14 Nights Roundtrip Papeete
Fares from $3,195 per guest Cruise Only December 5

Itinerary: Papeete, French Polynesia * Cruise the Pacific Ocean, Int' Waters * Fakarava, French Polynesia * Cruise the Pacific Ocean, Int' Waters * Fatu Hiva/Hanavave, Marquesas * Atuona, French Polynesia * Vaipaee, French Polynesia * Taiohae, French Polynesia * Cruise the Pacific Ocean, Int' Waters * Cruise the Pacific Ocean, Int' Waters * Huahine, French Polynesia * Bora Bora, French Polynesia * Taha'a (Motu Mahana), French Polynesia * Moorea, French Polynesia * Papeete, French Polynesia (Overnight)

For more information about Paul Gauguin or these French Polynesian itineraries, call or email me. You can also visit my website.

Final Sale Days for Several Great Deals

Oceania Cruises Fifth Anniv. Sale
Now Thru March 31st



Oceania Cruises is celebrating their Fifth Anniversary with two fantastic offers:

European Collection

Enjoy $2,000 Price Reduction Off 2 for 1 Cruise Fares with Free Airfare per stateroom on 18 of Oceania's 2009 European Collection Sailings!

Winter Collection

Enjoy Up to $1,500 Price Reduction Off 2 for 1 Cruise Fares with Free Airfare PLUS $500 Shipboard Credit and Free Prepaid Gratuities per stateroom on Most 2009-2010 Winter Collection Sailings (including new itineraries)!

Now is your chance to give Luxury Cruising a try. Click on the links above for a sample of the cruise itineraries. Call me for complete details before the sale ends.

FREE Unlimited Shore Excursions
during select 2009 Cruises
Simply book by March 31, 2009

Yes, you heard me - Free Unlimited Shore Excursions! With this offer from Regent Seven Seas Cruises this is an all-inclusive deal on one of the premier luxury cruise lines afloat. More details about this offer can be found here (or click the banner to the right).

Take the worry out of booking a cruise vacation by taking advantage of our Exclusive CruiseAssurance Job Loss Protection

Use the tools in the right-hand navigation pane to search for a cruise vacation or learn more about these and other exciting offers.

The cruise lines are doing their part to stimulate the economy. The rest is up to you. Call or email me today - I love talking about cruises and helping plan the right vacation for you.