Norwegian Cruise Line announced that it would be getting rid of its mask mandate for all voyages starting next month. The cruise line operator said that guests can still wear masks, but they will not be required on board their vessels.
In a post published on the company's website, Norwegian Cruise said its cruises are already operating with a 100% vaccination rate for all guests and crew members, which means that masks will no longer be necessary onboard.
The company clarified that it acknowledges that added protection is provided by masks, which is why it is still recommending that guests wear them when indoors or when outside their rooms. Norwegian Cruise also recommends mask-wearing for guests participating in outdoor activities where physical distancing is not possible or cannot be maintained.
Norwegian Cruise said its vaccination requirement will still be in force, and all guests must be fully vaccinated - at least two doses no less than two weeks prior to the departure of their voyage. Guests will be required to show proof of vaccination at the terminal before they are allowed to board.
Guests will no longer be required to undergo COVID-19 testing prior to embarkation. However, they still need to present proof of a negative antigen or PCR test from a verified third party.
The tests had to be taken no more than two days before boarding for voyages originating from the U.S. and three days for voyages departing from other countries. Test kits will be provided for guests without negative tests at their own expense. The company said this should significantly streamline the check-in process and reduce wait times for its customers.
A spokesperson for the company said children under the age of 4 would be allowed to board even if they are not vaccinated. As a safety precaution, the cruise line will only allow up to 5% of the total guest occupancy on each cruise to be unvaccinated children. The decision is in line with the recommendations and guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The easing of its COVID-19 protocols comes as coronavirus cases around the globe are slowly decreasing following a significant spike over the past few weeks due to the spread of the Omicron variant. Last month, the company was forced to cancel some of its voyages because of the surge in new cases in some countries.
Norwegian Cruise said masks will still be required for its European cruises to comply with the region's regulations. Guests on their European voyages will be required to wear masks at all times except when they are inside their rooms or when they are eating or drinking.
