The Gem of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., right, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises Inc. Splendor ships stand near the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach in Long Beach on Monday, April 13, 2020, California, USA, silent.
Tim Rhue | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Norwegian Cruise Line announced its plans to resume summer sailing outside of the United States on Wednesday.
The company’s intentions are focused on travel in parts of the Caribbean and Europe this summer as crossings from the United States continue to be restricted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency has not yet released a set date by which cruise ships can resume operations. Research has shown that Covid-19 can easily spread on cruise lines.
Norwegian, the smallest of the three major cruise lines, proposed plans in early April to resume voyages from its U.S. ports on July 4, but is still pending approval.
The company plans to resume sailing in August with its Oceania Cruises, which travel to Scandinavia and Western Europe, followed by its Regent Seven Seas Cruises, which depart from the UK in September.
The trip to the Mediterranean begins in September. The brand has already announced plans to sail to the Caribbean and Europe in July and August. It adds some ships to the Mediterranean and cancels other trips.
“We are also planning a possible resumption of cruises from US ports while we await further discussion with the CDC on our July 4th restart proposal,” said Frank Del Rio, Norwegian President and CEO, in one Press release.
Earlier this month, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the state would file a lawsuit against the CDC. He demanded that cruise ships be allowed to sail out of the USA again immediately.
The company’s shares closed less than 1%.