Norwegian cruise ship hit with COVID-19 wave cancels mid-voyage
Passengers will receive a full refund and a future cruise credit good through March 31, 2023
FOX Business' Ashley Webster speaks with Canaveral Port Authority CEO Captain John Murray regarding the CDC's warning to Americans looking to travel via cruise ship.
Norwegian Cruse Line's Gem ship will return to New York after a 10-night trip to the Caribbean was canceled mid-voyage on Thursday due to "COVID-related circumstances."
THOUSANDS OF US FLIGHTS CANCELED, THOUSANDS MORE DELAYED AS WINTER STORM WALLOPS SOUTHEAST
A spokesperson for Norwegian told FOX Business the ship docked overnight in Philipsburg, St. Maarten, following the decision and would be back in New York "soon." The company did not offer an estimated arrival time or further details on the situation.
The cruise ship Norwegian Gem arriving at Port Canaveral, Florida, on Nov. 11, 2014. (iStock / iStock)
In addition to the Gem, Norwegian has canceled the following 2022 trips:
- Norwegian Pearl cruises with embarkation dates through and including Jan. 17
- Norwegian Dawn cruises with embarkation dates through and including Jan. 18
- Norwegian Getaway cruises with embarkation dates through and including Jan. 19
- Norwegian Escape cruises with embarkation dates through and including Jan. 22
- Norwegian Joy cruises with embarkation dates through and including Jan. 22
- Norwegian Breakaway cruises with embarkation dates through and including Jan. 23
- Norwegian Sky cruises with embarkation dates through and including Feb. 25
- Pride of America cruises with embarkation dates through and including Feb. 26
- Norwegian Jade cruises with embarkation dates through and including March 3
- Norwegian Star cruises with embarkation dates through and including March 19
- Norwegian Sun cruises with embarkation dates through and including April 19
- Norwegian Spirit cruises with embarkation dates through and including April 23
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All Norwegian guests impacted by cancellations will receive a full refund of their voyage fare in the original form of payment for the amount paid. Additionally, passengers will receive a future cruise credit that can be applied toward sailings through May 31, 2023.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCLH | NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE HOLDINGS LTD. | 26.32 | +0.22 | +0.84% |
The latest cancellation comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Framework for Conditional Sailing Order expired on Saturday. The agency has now transitioned to a voluntary COVID-19 risk mitigation program for cruise ships.
The CDC's maritime unit will work closely with participating cruise ships, monitoring COVID-19 preventive measures and onboard cases through daily enhanced data collection and inspections. Meanwhile, ships that operate in U.S. waters and sail on international itineraries that choose not to participate in the program will be designated as gray under the agency's Cruise Ship Color Status webpage, indicating that the CDC has not reviewed or confirmed the cruise ship operator’s health and safety protocols. Those sailing only in U.S. waters will not be listed.