Tag Archives: Greece

AIDA Cruises To Sail in Greece From May 23

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AIDA Cruises has announced that it will be offering new cruises in Greece from May 23, 2021, with seven-day cruises departing from Corfu and travelling through the Greek islands to Crete and Rhodes, as well as to Katakolon (Olympia) and Piraeus (Athens).

Guests will be able to enjoy the amenities onboard with multiple restaurants, bars, cultural activities and sports facilities, as well as organized shore excursions to explore the ports of call.

According to AIDA’s press release, Greece is one of the most popular vacation destinations for German travellers. From May 14, 2021, the Mediterranean country will reopen for tourism.

Booking starts on Apr. 20, 2021, with 23 dates to choose from between May 23 and October 24, 2021. The Greek cruises can also be booked as 14-day trips, AIDA said.

In addition to the new offering in Greece, the AIDAperla is sailing on seven-day voyages around the Canary Islands through June.

All cruises are carried out in compliance with AIDA’s enhanced health and safety protocols, as well as applicable laws and regulations.

With a testing strategy for guests and crew members already utilized on several cruises, AIDA said it is its top priority for all guests to safely enjoy their vacation. The enhanced health and safety protocols — tested by SGS Institut Fresenius and confirmed by the classification society DNV — includes a mandatory PCR test for detecting viruses and bacteria before travelling, as well as regular health checks, social distancing and hygiene protocols, medical care including testing capacities onboard and other measures.

With the “AIDA promise,” the cruise company offers guests more flexibility and security in planning. Generous booking options are part of AIDA’s commitment to its guests, ranging from small down payments to free rebooking. The “AIDA promise” is included in the travel price for new bookings up to May 31, 2021, and applies to departures up to March. 31, 2022.

AIDA said that cruises in other destinations will not be possible at this time, with AIDA cancelling the remaining voyages of April through May.

Norwegian Cruise Line Sets Restart Plan With 3 Ships From Greece, Jamaica and Dominican Republic

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Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings today announced it will restart service this July with cruises from Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Greece with the Norwegian Joy, Jade and Gem. 

The Jade will sail seven-day cruises to the Greek Isles from Athens starting on July 25. The Norwegian Joy will sail seven-day itineraries from Montego Bay starting on August 7, and the Norwegian Gem will launch service from the Dominican Republic on seven-day cruises starting on August 15.

The Jade’s Greek Isles program will see a different port call daily, including Iraklion, Rhodes, Mykonos, Olympia, Corfu and Santorini.

Both Caribbean sailings each feature four ports and two days at sea. Sailing from Montego Bay,  Norwegian Joy’s calls include Harvest Caye, Roatan, Cozumel and Ocho Rios. Sailing from La Romana in the Dominican Republic, the Gem will visit Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Maarten and Antigua.

Guests wishing to go ashore will need to purchase a Norwegian Cruise Line shore excursion for sailings taking place in July and August. Norwegian said this policy will be continually evaluated and it will modify requirements accordingly.

The company said the news was part of a two-pronged plan for its long-awaited return to cruising this summer, also including the proposal the company sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC on April 5, 2021, outlining its plan to restart cruising from U.S. ports starting July 4 and requesting the CDC lift the Conditional Sail Order.

All initial voyages will operate with fully vaccinated guests and crew in addition to the company’s robust, multi-layered SailSAFE health and safety program, which includes universal COVID-19 testing prior to embarkation.

The company has also announced the formation of the SailSAFE Global Health and Wellness Council, the company’s expert public health council, chaired by former Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Dr Scott Gottlieb, which will complement the work of the Healthy Sail Panel (HSP).

“We are excited to unveil our initial plans for the resumption of cruise voyages embarking outside of the U.S. with sailings to the Caribbean and Europe. In addition, we continue to plan for a resumption of cruising from U.S. ports and await further discussion with the CDC regarding our proposal for a July 4 restart to participate in America’s national opening. As we prepare for our return to cruising, the health and safety of our guests, crew and communities we visit is our first priority, as demonstrated by the establishment of our robust, multi-layered SailSAFE health and safety program and our Company’s SailSAFE Global Health and Wellness Council,” said Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

“Safe and highly effective vaccines are a gamechanger and to create the safest environment possible, we will require all guests and crew to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccine requirements will be combined with multiple additional layers of protection against COVID-19 introduction, including universal testing, and we will continue to evaluate and modify protocols over time as the science dictates.”

Del Rio continued: “The return to cruising has been much-anticipated by our loyal guests, valued travel partners, the destinations we visit and our team members across the globe. We look forward to once again delivering best in class vacation experiences and also restarting our cruise ecosystem, bringing much needed economic benefit back to our homeports and the destinations we visit that have been significantly impacted by the halt in cruising.”

As Norwegian Cruise Line makes its final preparations to welcome guests onboard, guests will have the opportunity to follow along with its new docuseries, EMBARK – The Series, premiering April 15 at http://www.ncl.com/embark and Facebook.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises will announce details on their voyage resumption plans at a future date. All voyages on these brands with embarkation date through July 31, 2021, have been cancelled.

Norwegian’s Three Cruise Brands Propose Plans to Resume Sailing From the U.S. by July

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Following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) updated Conditional Sail Order, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) has proposed its own plans to resume sailing from U.S. homeports on or about July 4, 2021, with full COVID-19 vaccinations required of all guests and crew.
This applies to the corporation’s three brands — Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises — and is consistent with the Biden administration’s targeted reopening of the country.
Norwegian agrees with the CDC “that vaccinations are the primary vehicle for Americans to get back to their everyday lives,” said Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of NCLH, in a press release. However, the company requests that the government agency no longer limits cruise travel, as mandatory vaccine requirements exceed safety measures in the Conditional Sail Order, thus eliminating the need for it.

“Our robust and comprehensive SailSAFE health and safety program extends well beyond the proto-cols of the travel, leisure and hospitality sectors, all of which have already reopened, including hotels and resorts, casinos, restaurants, sporting venues, theme parks and airlines,” Del Rio said. “With vaccine mandates and strict health and safety protocols in place, we believe we can provide a uniquely safe and healthy vacation experience.”
Del Rio has issued a letter to Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky, director of the CDC, requesting permission to sail accordingly, citing the Healthy Sail Panel, developed in conjunction with Royal Caribbean Group and led by Michael Leavitt, former Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, and Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The proposal includes required vaccinations, as well as SailSAFE health and safety protocols such as COVID-19 testing, physical distancing, reduced capacity (60% to start and increasing by 20% every 30 days) and face coverings, for the time being. Vaccines will be required until at least October 31, 2021, when the company will reevaluate its requirements based on the latest science.

“We can create a safe, ‘bubble-like’ environment for guests and crew.”

“These stringent requirements will remain in place until public health conditions allow for the im-plementation of more lenient protocols,” reads the letter to Walensky.
Until then, passengers must show proof of full FDA-, EMA- or WHO-approved COVID-19 inoculations no less than two weeks prior to embarkation. Since vaccines are not currently approved for children, kids will not be permitted to sail during this initial period.
“We can create a safe, ‘bubble-like’ environment for guests and crew,” said Del Rio. “We look forward to joining the rest of the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors in participating in this next phase of our recovery.” 

While Norwegian’s plans include resumption from the U.S., it is preparing an upcoming restart outside the country, as well, scheduling NCL sailings in the Caribbean and Greek Isles. Norwegian Jade will embark in Athens (Piraeus), Greece, starting July 25; Norwegian Joy will sail from Montego Bay, Jamaica, beginning Aug. 7; and Norwegian Gem will depart from La Romana, Dominican Republic, starting Aug. 15.
“Over a year after we initially suspended sailings, the time has finally come when we can provide our loyal guests with the news of our great cruise comeback,” said Harry Sommer, president and CEO of NCL, in a press release. “We have been working diligently towards our resumption of operations, focusing on the guest experience with health and safety at the forefront.”