NCL Substantially Eases Vaccination Requirements For Children. Will Oceania Follow?

[njhorseman]

I know that not a lot of children cruise on Oceania and that NCL needs to find ways to fill its ships, but with the summer cruise season not far off will Oceania adopt the same protocols just announced by NCL? If not it would be the most substantial difference in protocols between the two sister lines to date. Until now any differences have been insignificant. 

 

https://www.ncl.com/sail-safe?intcmp=pdt_sl_SAILSAFEVAC

 

Effective for sailings March 1, 2022 and beyond

For all cruises departing and/or returning to US ports:  All guests age five and over, as well as all crew, must be fully vaccinated, at least 2 weeks prior to departure, in order to board. While we welcome unvaccinated children ages four and under onboard, it is the responsibility of the guest to be aware of any local protocols and/or travel restrictions in place at the visiting destinations at the time of sailing.

For all cruises departing from and returning to non-US ports only:  All guests age twelve and over, as well as all crew, must be fully vaccinated at least 2 weeks prior to departure, in order to board.   While we welcome unvaccinated children ages eleven and under onboard, it is the responsibility of the guest to be aware of any local protocols and/or travel restrictions in place at the visiting destinations at the time of sailing.

 

 

Edited February 15, 2022 by njhorseman

[PhD-iva]

I vote that children sail on NCL, and I will sail on O and RSSC.

[Flatbush Flyer]

22 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

I know that not a lot of children cruise on Oceania and that NCL needs to find ways to fill its ships, but with the summer cruise season not far off will Oceania adopt the same protocols just announced by NCL? If not it would be the most substantial difference in protocols between the two sister lines to date. Until now any differences have been insignificant. 

 

https://www.ncl.com/sail-safe?intcmp=pdt_sl_SAILSAFEVAC

 

Effective for sailings March 1, 2022 and beyond

For all cruises departing and/or returning to US ports:  All guests age five and over, as well as all crew, must be fully vaccinated, at least 2 weeks prior to departure, in order to board. While we welcome unvaccinated children ages four and under onboard, it is the responsibility of the guest to be aware of any local protocols and/or travel restrictions in place at the visiting destinations at the time of sailing.

For all cruises departing from and returning to non-US ports only:  All guests age twelve and over, as well as all crew, must be fully vaccinated at least 2 weeks prior to departure, in order to board.   While we welcome unvaccinated children ages eleven and under onboard, it is the responsibility of the guest to be aware of any local protocols and/or travel restrictions in place at the visiting destinations at the time of sailing.

 

 

Oceania just changed it’s SailSafe FAQs for 3/1 onward and it’s still 100% vaccine for all - no exceptions. 
Given that you can generally count little kids on one hand on an O cruise, it just wouldn’t be worth all the cancellations they’d see from folks who are VERY happy with the 100% rule.

[PhD-iva]

Just now, Flatbush Flyer said:

Oceania just changed it’s SailSafe FAQs for 3/1 onward and it’s still 100% vaccine for all - no exceptions. 
Given that you can generally count little kids on one hand on an O cruise, it just wouldn’t be worth all the cancellations they’d see from folks who are VERY happy with the 100% rule.

+1!

[Host Jazzbeau]

The better question is 'Will NCLH regret their early announcement joining the CDC voluntary program, now that the draconian details have been released – and reject it?'  Their voluntary program was already excellent, and gives them freedom to adapt to changing circumstances.  And the only downside that I see is your ships will all be 'grey,' rather than all being 'yellow' for no good reason.

[njhorseman]

28 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

The better question is 'Will NCLH regret their early announcement joining the CDC voluntary program, now that the draconian details have been released – and reject it?'  Their voluntary program was already excellent, and gives them freedom to adapt to changing circumstances.  And the only downside that I see is your ships will all be 'grey,' rather than all being 'yellow' for no good reason.

Can you report yourself to yourself for hijacking this thread ? 😁

Seriously...the issue has already been brought up and discussed in a different thread earlier today.

[njhorseman]

45 minutes ago, PhD-iva said:

I vote that children sail on NCL, and I will sail on O and RSSC.

 

43 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Oceania just changed it’s SailSafe FAQs for 3/1 onward and it’s still 100% vaccine for all - no exceptions. 
Given that you can generally count little kids on one hand on an O cruise, it just wouldn’t be worth all the cancellations they’d see from folks who are VERY happy with the 100% rule.

 

41 minutes ago, PhD-iva said:

+1!

Tough crowd tonight....😲

[Host Jazzbeau]

14 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

Can you report yourself to yourself for hijacking this thread ? 😁

Seriously...the issue has already been brought up and discussed in a different thread earlier today.

I think the two questions are related.  The meta-question is:  is NCLH making decisions on its own, or is it following CDC 'requirements'?  If the latter, then there's no point in asking people here what they think, because everything depends on what CDC decides.

[njhorseman]

22 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

I think the two questions are related.  The meta-question is:  is NCLH making decisions on its own, or is it following CDC 'requirements'?  If the latter, then there's no point in asking people here what they think, because everything depends on what CDC decides.

Disagree.

This has nothing to do with the CDC. It has everything to do with filling cruise ships with paying passengers.

Certainly the decision on non-US cruises has absolutely nothing to do with CDC guidelines because the CDC has no authority outside the US.

The problems with the CDC guidance and why NCL now realizes they shouldn't have jumped in without seeing the actual guidelines have little or nothing to do with vaccinations and everything to do with the onerous testing reporting and quarantine requirements that single out the cruise industry and burden it with unwarranted restrictions.