NCL ends pre-cruise testing (for non-U.S. and Canadian departures)

[Turtles06]

Since the following is a pretty major step, I thought it would be of interest to folks here.  NCLH, the parent company of NCL, Regent, and Oceania, has announced the end of pre-cruise testing effective August 1, 2022, except where required by "local regulations" (which NCLH says includes, among others, cruises departing from U.S. and Canadian ports).  Here's the relevant text of the press release:

 

"MIAMI, July 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) (the “Company”) today announced it will no longer require guests to complete pre-cruise COVID-19 testing unless required by local regulations. This policy will go into effect across Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises beginning August 1, 2022. The pre-embarkation testing requirement will remain in place for guests currently traveling on voyages departing from destinations with local testing regulations, including but not limited to the U.S., Canada, Greece and Bermuda. The relaxation of the testing policy is in line with the rest of the travel, leisure and hospitality industry worldwide as society continues to adapt and return to a state of normalcy. The Company continues to strongly recommend all guests be up to date on vaccination protocols and test at their convenience prior to travel."

 

 

 

[danceswithphones]

We can only hope X follows suit. 

[upwarduk]

5 minutes ago, danceswithphones said:

We can only hope X follows suit. 

It will be too late for us, as our cruise sails on 30/07/22.

[terrydtx]

12 minutes ago, danceswithphones said:

We can only hope X follows suit. 

We cruise from Rome on the Reflection Aug 5th, fingers crossed.

[foodsvcmgr]

I would think RCCL and Celebrity would follow suit shortly as they shared the Covid safety panel with NCL chaired by Scott Gottlieb.

Hopefully the results will show minimal increase from pretested sailings leading the US and other holdouts to drop the requirements.

[canderson]

31 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

We cruise from Rome on the Reflection Aug 5th, fingers crossed.

Our Reflection cruise isn't until 31 October, but since it's a TA, I have little doubt that there will still be pre-testing going on.

 

[KKB]

The important part:

This does not currently include cruises sailing from US, Canada, Bermuda or Greece.

Edited July 6, 2022 by KKB

[ebeluga]

Wonder if that also means no weekly testing for the crew...