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Norwegian Cruise Line Changes Mask Requirements

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Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that it will remove most masking requirements for all sailings from 1 March 2022.

And in another change to their policy is that a certain number of unvaccinated children under the age of 5 will be able to sail. Previously regardless of age, all passengers had to be vaccinated.

Norwegian Bliss

From March 2022 all aged 5 and over need to be vaccinated but 4 and under do not. However, NCL has said that the under 5’s will not make up more than 5% of passengers on board.

NCL Mask Requirements

As you can see from this announcement below from the NCL website masks are still recommended, but will not be compulsory.

The decision about whether to wear a mask or not will be left up to each individual guest.

Face Coverings
For cruises with embarkation dates through February 28, 2022:
All guests and crew are required to wear masks onboard while indoors, except when actively eating or drinking, or seated at a table in a dining setting, or when in their stateroom. Masks are also required outdoors when physical distancing of at least six (6) feet cannot be maintained.
Effective fleetwide on March 1, 2022:
Our cruises will operate with 100% vaccination of crew and guests age five and over, therefore face coverings are not required while onboard. However, we recognize the added protections provided when wearing a mask covering and recommend that all guests do so onboard when indoors, except when actively eating or drinking, or seated at a table in a dining setting, or when in their stateroom. Mask coverings are also recommended outdoors when physical distancing of at least six (6) feet cannot be maintained. The decision to wear a mask covering when onboard is at the discretion of each guest.
On Europe sailings only:
Local government regulations require all guests to wear masks onboard while indoors except for when actively eating or drinking or when in their stateroom. Guests will be required to wear masks outdoors when social distancing is not possible.
We will continue to monitor public health guidance, including from the CDC, at the time of your voyage and modify requirements accordingly.

NCL Covid Testing Requirements

This is changing too from March 1 2022.

Prior to March NCL has been testing passengers at the embarkation port and has been covering the expense of this. The initial test is an antigen test, which if it is positive will be confirmed with a PCR.

However, from March 1, 2022, NCL passengers will be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 antigen or PCR test result administered by a verified third party or via a medically supervised home test.

This test must be within two days prior to boarding for cruises originating in a U.S. port and three days prior for voyages departing from a non-U.S. port.