Bill introduced by Senators from Florida and Alaska has been blocked

[kollegekreed]

Good.

[At Sea At Peace]

20 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

Proposing to have 100% of crew vaccinated, and setting out the details of how to accomplish this, and then actually accomplishing this are a few different things.  The Philippines, which supplies 1/3 of all cruise ship crew, have vaccinated about 1% of their population.

 

I noted what NCL proposed to do for the CDC to allow resumption of USA port based cruises under a myriad of additional limitations and protocols.  The CDC hasn't even responded.  I did not know that they, as you suggest, would be have or try to use 1/3 Philippine crew that were unvaccinated?  I don't think that that would be the case.  Why wouldn't they pull from a crew base that was, or that they would, have or get vaccinated for the slow, limited return to cruising from USA ports?

[chengkp75]

14 minutes ago, At Sea At Peace said:

 

I noted what NCL proposed to do for the CDC to allow resumption of USA port based cruises under a myriad of additional limitations and protocols.  The CDC hasn't even responded.  I did not know that they, as you suggest, would be have or try to use 1/3 Philippine crew that were unvaccinated?  I don't think that that would be the case.  Why wouldn't they pull from a crew base that was, or that they would, have or get vaccinated for the slow, limited return to cruising from USA ports?

What I am saying is that there is a world of difference between just saying the crew will be vaccinated, and the detailed plans of how to accomplish this that the CDC requires.

 

So, everyone in the vaccinated portion of the Philippines are interested in being cruise ship crew?  How do you know whether the relatively young and healthy cruise ship crew are even eligible for vaccination in the Philippines?  And, I'm not saying they need to pick 1/3 of their crew from unvaccinated people, but that Filipinos are 1/3 of all crew, and with only 1% of their total population vaccinated, it would be hard to find enough vaccinated people to hire as crew.  Another obstacle is that only about 40% of Filipinos say they are willing to get the vaccine.

 

And, no, NCL did not say they were going to require vaccinated crew and passengers "under a myriad of other limitations and protocols", because their proposal was that the entire Conditional Sail Order be dropped if they went the 100% vaccinated route.  So, there would be no other limitations or protocols.

 

I just looked at the Philippines' covid vaccination site, and "overseas Filipino workers" are at the bottom of the "B" priority (B5), which with only 1% vaccinated, means they aren't even eligible yet.

Edited April 26, 2021 by chengkp75

[graphicguy]

I know there have been a few Cruise line workers (not sure the line) who have posted their respective cruise line is vaccinating them as the company is requiring them to have the COVID vaccine before they can board their respective ships.  This is happening now, as they're being called back.

 

I don't know their country of origin, as I think only one I saw stated where they were from.  But, it appears that India and the Philippines furloughed cruise line employees are among those who will be vaccinated by their respective cruise line.

[At Sea At Peace]

12 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

What I am saying is that there is a world of difference between just saying the crew will be vaccinated, and the detailed plans of how to accomplish this that the CDC requires.

 

Correct.  If they conditionally are approved for 100% vaccinated crew, they shouldn't attempt to sail without such.  

 

12 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

 

So, everyone in the vaccinated portion of the Philippines are interested in being cruise ship crew?  How do you know whether the relatively young and healthy cruise ship crew are even eligible for vaccination in the Philippines?  And, I'm not saying they need to pick 1/3 of their crew from unvaccinated people, but that Filipinos are 1/3 of all crew, and with only 1% of their total population vaccinated, it would be hard to find enough vaccinated people to hire as crew.  Another obstacle is that only about 40% of Filipinos say they are willing to get the vaccine.

 

For a limited, phased-in resumption of USA port-based cruises on an extremely limited number of ships, the % reliance on the crew be required to be from the Philippines does not have to be the historic 1/3.  Please.

 

12 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

 

And, no, NCL did not say they were going to require vaccinated crew and passengers "under a myriad of other limitations and protocols", because their proposal was that the entire Conditional Sail Order be dropped if they went the 100% vaccinated route.  So, there would be no other limitations or protocols.

 

Sorry, but the offer was 100% vaccinated crew and passengers and sailings "that includes its multi-layered SailSAFE Health and Safety Program developed in conjunction with globally recognized experts, including the Healthy Sail Panel (“HSP”)."

 

https://www.nclhltdinvestor.com/news-releases/news-release-details/norwegian-cruise-line-holdings-ltd-submits-plan-cdc-and-will-be

 

Company to Require 100% Vaccination of Guests and Crew During Initial Relaunch Consistent with CDC Guidance on International Travel

Letter to CDC Outlines Company’s Plan to Restart Cruising from U.S. Ports Starting July 4^th with Multi-Layered SailSAFE^TM Health and Safety Program

Company Believes Vaccines Combined with Phased-in Launch and Proven Health and Safety Measures Provide Uniquely Safe and Healthy Environment

 

MIAMI, April 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (“Norwegian” or “the Company”) (NYSE: NCLH), a leading global cruise company which operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands, sent a letter to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) today outlining its plan to resume cruise operations from U.S. ports in July that includes its multi-layered SailSAFE Health and Safety Program developed in conjunction with globally recognized experts, including the Healthy Sail Panel (“HSP”). The Company’s plan is consistent with the CDC’s updated guidance that international travel is safe for fully vaccinated individuals and that COVID-19 vaccination efforts will be critical in the safe resumption of cruise ship travel.

By requiring full and complete vaccinations of guests and crew, the Company believes it shares in the spirit and exceeds the intent of the CDC’s Conditional Sailing Order (“CSO”) to advance mutual public health goals and protect guests, crew and the communities it visits. Norwegian trusts and is optimistic the CDC will agree that mandatory vaccination requirements eliminate the need for the CSO and therefore requests for the lifting of the order for Norwegian’s vessels, allowing them to cruise from U.S. ports starting July 4. The Company looks forward to its continued partnership with the CDC in recommencing operations with 100% vaccinated guests and crew aboard and reduced capacity initially as part of a phased-in launch.

 

“We congratulate the CDC on the steps it has taken to further open travel for vaccinated Americans. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings shares the CDC’s view that vaccinations are the primary vehicle for Americans to get back to their everyday lives,” said Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. ”We believe that through a combination of 100% mandatory vaccinations for guests and crew and science-backed public health measures as developed by the Healthy Sail Panel, led by former Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt and former Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration Dr. Scott Gottlieb, we can create a safe, ‘bubble-like’ environment for guests and crew. We look forward to joining the rest of the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors in participating in this next phase of our recovery.”

 

While the risk of COVID-19 cannot be eliminated in its entirety, over the past eight months the cruise industry has successfully carried nearly 400,000 passengers in more than 10 major cruise markets outside the United States with only a few isolated COVID-19 cases that were effectively identified, contained, and mitigated without impacting the health or interrupting the vacations of others. This was all done prior to the availability of widespread vaccinations.

 

Del Rio continued, “Our robust and comprehensive SailSAFE health and safety program extends well beyond the protocols 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. With vaccine mandates and strict health and safety protocols in place, we believe we can provide a uniquely safe and healthy vacation experience. With our vessels back in operation, we will not only reinstate thousands of American jobs and meet the significant consumer demand for cruising, but also re-contribute billions of dollars to the U.S. economy as the industry resumes cruise operations.”

 

The Company is committed to protecting the health and safety of its guests, crew and communities visited. The SailSAFE health and safety program, with new and enhanced protocols, creates multiple layers of protection against COVID-19, and will be informed by expert guidance, domestic and international governments and public health agencies. These measures, including vaccination requirements, will be continuously refined as science, technology and the knowledge of COVID-19 evolves. Details on the Company’s SailSAFE program can be found here: SailSAFE Health and Safety Program

 

The Company’s full letter to the CDC is below:

April 5, 2021

Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky
Director, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30329-4027

 

Re:  Our plan to join America’s national opening this summer

 

Dear Dr. Walensky:

In the ongoing spirit of cooperation between Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (“NCLH”) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), and out of deference and respect for the career CDC scientists working tirelessly on behalf of all Americans, I write to advise you that NCLH has developed a comprehensive and robust science-backed plan that should become the model for how the travel and hospitality industry operates in a COVID-19 environment and which will be mutually beneficial for the public health mission that you and your agency are dedicated to serving and to NCLH’s various constituencies.

 

As you know, NCLH is the parent company of three cruise brands, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. On March 13, 2020, prior to the CDC issuing its first No Sail Order, NCLH suspended all cruise operations across our three brands worldwide in an effort to do our part as a responsible corporate citizen to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Nearly 13 months later, we believe, that in light of the current health trends, buttressed by the more than 650 million vaccines administered worldwide to date, it is time for NCLH to join the rest of the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors in participating in this next phase of our recovery.

 

We congratulate you and the CDC on the important steps taken to further facilitate safe travel for vaccinated Americans, as announced on April 2, 2021. NCLH shares your view that vaccinations are the primary vehicle for Americans to get back to their everyday lives while containing the spread of the virus. We have worked tirelessly to ensure that our resumption of operations is guided by science and prioritizes the health and safety of our passengers, crew and the communities we visit. Most importantly, because our return to service plan mandates that the entire population onboard our vessels be vaccinated, our plan reduces the risk of outbreaks and severe COVID-19 cases. Accordingly, we will not require federal, state or local governments to incur time and/or resources in providing medical assistance to our brands’ guests as we have invested tens of millions of dollars in enhanced onboard health and safety protocols, including, but not limited to, enhanced hospital grade air filtration systems, cutting-edge contact tracing technology and significantly upgraded ICU and quarantine medical facilities. Our vessels are well equipped to handle the one-off case of infection that could occur, and our procedures are well detailed and resourced to treat, address and otherwise handle any isolated case onboard. With these as our guiding principles, we are pleased to outline our plan to safely resume cruising:

1. NCLH will require that all guests embarking from a U.S. port and/or disembarking to a U.S. port provide proof of having been fully vaccinated with an FDA-, EMA-, or WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccine no less than two weeks prior to their departure date;
2. All crew on NCLH vessels will be fully vaccinated with an FDA-, EMA- or WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccine at least two weeks prior to commencement of their duties onboard their assigned vessel;
3. NCLH will also incorporate and operationalize the protocols developed by the Healthy Sail Panel (“HSP”), led by former Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt and former Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration Dr. Scott Gottlieb. These protocols, include universal testing of guests and crew, combined with required vaccines for all guests and crew, thereby creating a safe, “bubble-like” environment; and
4. On or about July 4, 2021, NCLH vessels will begin cruise operations at an initial reduced capacity of 60%, gradually ramping up our fleet departing from U.S. ports and increasing capacity by 20% every 30 days.
5. These stringent requirements will remain in place until public health conditions allow for the implementation of more lenient protocols.

We have published the complete SailSAFE health and safety program on our website and attach a copy to this letter.

 

 

 

By requiring full and complete vaccinations of guests and crew, we believe our extensive health and safety standards share in the spirit and exceed the intent of the CDC’s existing Conditional Sailing Order (“CSO”) to advance public health goals and to protect guests, crew and the communities we visit. Therefore, we respectfully request the CDC lift the CSO for all NCLH cruise vessels departing from U.S. ports effective July 4, 2021.

 

We trust that you will agree that our protocols extend well beyond the protocols of other travel, leisure and hospitality sectors, all of which have already reopened, including hotels and resorts, casinos, restaurants, sporting venues, theme parks and airlines. We believe that a cruise ship with a fully vaccinated population when combined with the virus protection defenses provided by the HSP protocols is one of the safest vacation options available.

 

With vaccine mandates and strict health and safety protocols in place, we are confident of our ability to provide a uniquely safe and healthy vacation environment. These mitigation protocols will minimize, to the greatest extent possible, further infection and spread of COVID-19. With our vessels back in operation, we will not only reinstate tens of thousands of American jobs and meet the significant American consumer’s demand for cruising, but also re-contribute hundreds of billions of dollars to the U.S. economy as the industry resumes cruise operations.

 

We look forward to continued partnership with the CDC in recommencing operations with 100% vaccinated guests and crew aboard. Independent of the pandemic, our primary responsibility remains the safety and welfare of our guests and crew. Recognizing our shared responsibility to health and safety standards — those which exceed the mandated regulations set for other dining, entertainment, travel and tourism enterprises — we embrace these guidelines and view them as opportunities to strengthen public health measures and restore public confidence in our industry and the broader travel sector as a whole.

 

Thank you for your time and consideration.

 

Sincerely,

Frank Del Rio
President and CEO
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings

 

CC:
Hon. Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services
Mr. Ronald A. Klain, White House Chief of Staff
Mr. Jeffrey D. Zients, COVID Response Coordinator
Dr. Nathaniel Smith, Deputy Director for Public Health Services and Implementation Services, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Mr. Andrew M. Slavitt, Senior Advisor to the COVID Response Coordinator
Governor Ron DeSantis, State of Florida
Senator Marco Rubio, State of Florida
Senator Rick Scott, State of Florida
Senator Dan Sullivan, State of Alaska
Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade County
Representative Carlos Gimenez, Florida’s 26th Congressional District
Representative Gus Bilirakis, Florida’s 12th Congressional District
Representative Maria Salazar, Florida’s 27th Congressional District
Representative Ted Deutch, Florida’s 22nd Congressional District
Representative Federica Wilson, Florida’s 24th Congressional District
Representative Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Florida’s 23rd Congressional District
Representative Mario Díaz-Balart, Florida’s 25th Congressional District

 

About Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) is a leading global cruise company which operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands. With a combined fleet of 28 ships with nearly 60,000 berths, these brands offer itineraries to more than 490 destinations worldwide. The Company has nine additional ships scheduled for delivery through 2027, comprising of approximately 24,000 berths.

 

About SailSAFE

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. established its SailSAFE health and safety program in response to the unique challenges of the COVID-19 global pandemic to protect guests, crew and communities visited. SailSAFE is a robust and comprehensive health and safety strategy with new and enhanced protocols to create multiple layers of protection against COVID-19. This science-backed plan for a safe and healthy return to cruising was developed in conjunction with a diverse group of globally recognized experts and will be continuously improved and refined using the best available science and technology.

 

 

[chengkp75]

2 minutes ago, At Sea At Peace said:

For a limited, phased-in resumption of USA port-based cruises on an extremely limited number of ships, the % reliance on the crew be required to be from the Philippines does not have to be the historic 1/3.  Please.

Name a few other countries where crew come from that are likely to be further into vaccinations than the Philippines.  Please.  Just because the US has done moderately well in vaccinations, doesn't mean the rest of the world is following.

 

And, thank you for posting a lengthy recap of the Healthy Sail Panel's recommendations, that are still just that; recommendations, not action plans to accomplish those goals.  And, while they continue to tout the panel's recommendations as actionable plans, but you make my point for me. 

 

"Norwegian trusts and is optimistic the CDC will agree that mandatory vaccination requirements eliminate the need for the CSO and therefore requests for the lifting of the order for Norwegian’s vessels, allowing them to cruise from U.S. ports starting July 4."  Is a quote from their letter above.  They are requesting that the entire CSO be dropped.  What then requires them to meet the proposals in the Healthy Sail Panel, and who determines if they are in fact meeting even these vague requirements, if the CDC does not have any oversight requirements in place?  Are they going to do this out of the goodness of their hearts?

 

  If you want to see what an action plan looks like for the mitigation of an infectious disease on cruise ships, merely look at the CDC's VSP (Vessel Sanitation Program), which has been in effect for decades, and requires a 129 page construction manual, and a 291 page operations manual presenting specific procedures, equipment, and practices, which makes the Healthy Sail Panel's 64 pages look weak.

[harkinmr]

1 hour ago, chengkp75 said:

Proposing to have 100% of crew vaccinated, and setting out the details of how to accomplish this, and then actually accomplishing this are a few different things.  The Philippines, which supplies 1/3 of all cruise ship crew, have vaccinated about 1% of their population.

Oh, but let's not suffer the details.  The CDC should just take them at their word don't you know.

[ziggyuk]

NCL is quite capable of purchasing either the Chinese or Russian vaccine for their crew.

There is already quite a global demand for these vaccines.
https://www.ft.com/content/f5fa265d-6616-4fcf-988a-deaefa532669