Norwegian Cruise Line Cancels All Sailings Through End of 2020

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) on Monday announced that it would be extending the suspension of its voyages on all of its cruise brands through Dec. 31, 2020.

NCLH, which includes Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas, will now look to restart operations in 2021 as the cruise industry now embarks on the process to retrain its staff and prepare its ships for a restart that will include new procedures and protocols to keep both its guests and crew members safe.

The news comes just as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an updated conditional sailing order for cruise ships that will allow sailings to restart on Nov. 1. The framework, which can be found in full here, states that cruise lines can now pursue “a phased resumption of cruise ship passenger operations” with “a careful approach.”

It also comes as Canada decided to extend its ban on cruising until at least March 2021.

NCLH, in its statement on Monday, said it would “continue to work in tandem with global government and public health authorities and its Healthy Sail Panel expert advisors to take all necessary measures to protect its guests, crew, and the communities visited.”