Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is to extend its mandate for all passengers to be vaccinated “indefinitely”
All passengers sailing on Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises are required to be fully vaccinated.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conditional sailing order expects 95% of guests on cruise ships sailing in US waters to be vaccinated. That policy was extended last week to January 15.
Chief executive Frank Del Rio (pictured), said extending NCLH’s 100% vaccination policy gave the three cruise lines “a competitive advantage”.
Speaking on an investors’ call, he said: “We’re going to announce very soon that we have indefinitely extended our 100% vaccination requirement.
“I think that today that continues to be a competitive advantage to our three brands.
“I think that our three brands emerge from this Covid crisis in a much better standing in the consumer’s eye because of our strong early stands on health and safety, vaccinations.”
He added the cruise firm would “continue mandating a 100% vaccination as long as the science dictates that’s what we ought to do”.
The US this week approved the Pfizer vaccine for children aged five to 11, and Del Rio said he expects the vaccine will be approved for up to four year olds early next year.
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