Norwegian Cruise Line canceled at least five South Africa sailings. The cruise line’s spokesperson confirmed that Norwegian Jade sailings departing or disembarking in South Africa scheduled between December 3 and January 26, 2022, were canceled.
The spokesperson said that “The safety of our guests, crew, and communities we visit remains our highest priority”. The spokesperson added that “Accordingly, we continue to closely monitor the evolving global public health environment and are ready to adapt as needed”.
The news came after the US and other countries announced travel restrictions on South Africa and other neighboring countries. Also, to prevent the spread of the new variant, the US State Department issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for South Africa.
On Friday, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian Cruise Line stocks tumbled by 10% and more. Then on Monday, Royal Caribbean bounced back by 3.6%, Carnival gained 2.7%, while Norwegian went up by 2%.
President Joe Biden announced that he doesn’t think that there will be more travel restrictions and lockdowns for now. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is considering stricter travel recommendations and rules. This includes narrowing the testing window for travelers and having more quarantine requirements in some cases. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said on Tuesday that “As we have done throughout the pandemic, CDC is evaluating how to make international travel as safe as possible”.
Other Cruises That Haven’t Canceled Their South Africa Sailings Yet
However, there are other cruise lines that haven’t canceled their South Africa sailings yet. Among cruise lines that are also planning to sail in South Africa include Azamara, Crystal Cruises, and Silversea. Azamara scheduled its South Africa sailings in January while Crystal Cruises and Silversea are both launching by February.
According to a press release by Azamara, “We’re reviewing the announcement made regarding the new travel limits to South Africa”. It added that “Should anything change, we will contact booked guests and travel partners immediately”.
