NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line to relaunch 5 ships at a time

   May 15, 2020 ,   Cruise Industry

NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line is expecting its entire fleet will be able to resume operations in 5 to 6 months. 

According to Frank Del Rio (shipowner NCLH's CEO), NCL was planning a phased relaunch. He expects it would take up to 6 months to resume fleetwide operations across NCLH's 28 ships across its 3 cruise brands - NCL, RSSC-Regent Seven Seas and Oceania.

All NCL cruises were suspended after the CDC imposed a 100-day no-sail order because of the outbreaks on vessels belonging to multiple cruise ship companies. Both passengers and crew were infected and some liners were turned away from ports. Passengers on 3 NCLH-owned ships had symptoms or tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19) after their voyages were completed.

CDC's no-sail order (imposed on April 15) requires passenger shipping companies to cancel departures through July 24. Booked customers on the canceled voyages received up to 150% FCC (future cruise credit) depending on itinerary/departure date. The FCC can be used through December 31, 2022.

For Coronavirus updates on cruise ship quarantines (infected passengers and crew) and top-pandemic countries (COVID-19 cases and deaths, daily updated statistics) see at CruiseMapper's COVID page.