Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings announced today another round of cancelations, extending the suspension of its global cruise operations by another month. The latest cancelations will affect all cruises on Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania and Regent Seven Seas through June 30. NCLH said it continues to work through its safe return-to-service plan to meet the CDC requirements of the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order.
Tom McAlpin, president and CEO of Virgin Voyages, announced today that the company will require all passengers and crew to be fully vaccinated before sailing. In an interview on Good Morning America, Mr. McAlpin said that vaccination stance was to “ensure we’re providing the safest travel experience”. Virgin Voyages hopes to sail set sail from Miami in July with Scarlet Lady, depending on CDC guidance.
Today Viking announced that the company will restart limited cruise operations in May 2021 with three special sailings along the coast of England. These cruises will be offered exclusively for UK residents and will include eight-day ocean itinerary—England's Scenic Shores—sailing roundtrip from Portsmouth, with departures on May 22, May 29 and June 5, 2021.
A fire has broken out on the cruise ship MSC Lirica today in the port of Corfu, Greece. Plumes of black smoke and flames were seen rising out of the cruise ship, which has been moored in Corfu since January 30. MSC Cruises reported that there are no crew injuries on the MSC Lirica. Firefighters and Coast Guard boats rushed to the scene to help put out the fire.
Important Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) and the Government of India represented by Director General of Shipping Mr. Shri Amitabh Kumar, during the Maritime India Summit (MIS) held from 2nd-4th March 2021.
Croatian Institute for Public Health announced that it will prioritize maritime personnel to receive Covid-19 vaccines in the third phase. According to the director of the Institute Dr. Vladimir Mićović, the vaccination of Croatian seafarers should start in May 2021.
The Greek cruise operator Celestyal Cruises, plans to resume cruise operations on May 29 with a 7-night 'Idyllic Aegean' voyages on the smaller vessel Celestyal Crystal. With the summer season approaching Celestyal Cruises is encouraged by the continued progress being made in containing the Covid-19 global pandemic, especially with the growing and effective launch of vaccines around the world.
The Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines announced that 879 Filipino crew members from the cruise ship Norwegian Joy arrived in Manila. According to DFA press release the first batch of 586 Filipino seafarers arrived from Aruba on 06 March, at the NAIA Terminal 1. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings arranged two chartered flights for the first repatriation group - Wamos and a TUI flight from Aruba. The second batch arrived on Monday, 08 March said DFA Undersecretary Sarah Lou Y.
Virgin Voyages unveiled today the name of the third cruise ship Resilient Lady which will sail its maiden voyage from Piraeus (Athens) in Greece. Resilient Lady is scheduled for completion on 1 July 2022, offering 7-night itineraries around the Mediterranean and Adriatic Sea. The launch of the third vessel next year will expand Virgin Voyages’ presence in Europe with its second sister ship Valiant Lady sailing out from Barcelona.
The residential community at sea Storylines will not proceed with the idea of implementing sleeping pods for crew members after overwhelmingly negative responses to the survey.
