Dozens of cruise ships with COVID-19 cases are under observation by the U.S. authorities during their cruises, and several of them are reportedly denied port in the Caribbean. Over 60 cruise ships are monitored after "reported cases of COVID-19 have met the threshold for CDC investigation," the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. One of the denied, the Carnival Freedom, was turned away from the Caribbean island of Bonaire.
This holiday season Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings celebrated the big comeback and acknowledged crewmembers' crucial role and hard work in the company’s return to cruising with a holiday bonus. All crew members on board the NCL, Regent Seven Seas and Oceania Cruises ships received a $100 holiday cash bonus which will be deposited to their December account.
All the cruise ship visits to the Cayman Islands have been cancelled until further notice. The Christmas cruise of Holland America’s MS Nieuw Statendam is one of them, scheduled to visit Grand Cayman on 28th of December, 2021. Officials have confirmed on Wednesday that the cruise stop will not happen because of the public anxiety over the expansion of COVID-19 cases on the cruise ships, especially with the new Omicron variant threat.
A welcoming ceremony for the new Viking expedition vessel into the fleet was held on Wednesday at Fincantieri’s VARD shipyard in Soviknes, Norway. Viking Octantis is the company’s first purpose-built cruise ship, allowing the line transporting of the guests to all seven continents.
Watchstanders in New Orleans received an emergency call from Carnival Valor on Wednesday morning at 11:23. The ship was located south of the Southwest Pass, Louisiana, asking for a man to be airlifted because he was experiencing internal bleeding symptoms, similar to a stroke. According to the Coast Guard, the man they medevaced is 53 years old and is in stable condition, as reported.
As a reaction to the recent situation with the COVID-19 and the fast spreading of the new Omicron variant, Royal Caribbean International has decided to voluntarily pause new bookings for all cruises scheduled through mid-January 2022. With this proactive effort, the cruise line limits the capacity onboard while still providing safe, enjoyable cruises to already booked passengers.
Princess Cruises announced on Wednesday that their newest cruise ship under construction Discovery Princess has completed her successful sea trials this month. After accomplishing the 5-day test, the vessel has returned to the shipyard to get the final touch and prepare for her debut in March, 2022.
MSC Cruises flagship MSC Seashore arrived today in Port Miami with dozens of people who tested positive for COVID-19. In a letter the cruise line informed guests onboard that 28 people tested positive for the virus.
At around 7.30 pm on Wednesday, December 22, “Man Overboard” alarm was sounded on board the MSC Seashore as the cruise ship was returning to Miami from a 5 Nights Caribbean & Bahamas voyage. According to our source, the person is a 15-year-old child who fell off a balcony from Deck 16 and landed onto the promenade on Deck 8.
One of the most desired holiday destinations, The Balearic Islands in Spain is limiting the number of cruise ships in the dock. The regional government of the archipelago stated on Monday that the maximum number of cruise ships permitted to dock in the Mediterranean port next year is 518, compared to 594 that arrived there in 2019 before the outbreak.
