One of the most desired holiday destinations, The Balearic Islands in Spain is limiting the number of cruise ships in the dock. The regional government of the archipelago stated on Monday that the maximum number of cruise ships permitted to dock in the Mediterranean port next year is 518, compared to 594 that arrived there in 2019 before the outbreak.
As a result of putting Color Line's ferry route between Oslo and Kiel on a temporary hold, a large number of employees of the company were released, around 700 of them. Certainly, the biggest reason for these consequences is the emerging of the new Omicron variant and the new restrictions in Norway due to its fast spreading.
After almost two years without cruise ships in the Port of Valparaiso because of the pandemic, finally the first ship opened the season 2021-2022. It was Viking Jupiter, which docked there on Tuesday around 8 a.m. with a capacity of more than a thousand passengers (tourists and crew).
Three guests and 52 crew members onboard Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey of the Seas have tested positive for COVID-19. The cruise ship was scheduled to dock at Curacao today, however due to the current status, the vessel was denied clearance by the port authority, and disembarkation of guests was canceled.
The Omicron variant didn’t leave the cruise industry unconcerned. Another Cruise Line updates the protocols, following the immediate effect. Princess Cruises is the one notifying the guests this time about the changes. One of the changes is wearing masks during all cruises, no matter the length, instead of the previous mandatory wearing masks for 10-day or longer cruises only. The other one is banning smoking in the casino.
The newest vessel was delivered on the 21st of December in Bremerhaven from the shipyard Meyer Werft. It is the second ship in ownership of AIDA Cruises powered by liquefied natural gas and AIDA’s fourteenth ship.
This Monday, on 20th of December, Costa Diadema has made its first stop at the Port of Santos, where a debut ceremony was held on board the vessel. Brazils Minister of Tourism, Gilson Machado Neto participated at this event, highlighting that the country is able to welcome more ships like the Costa Diadema in order to increase the movement of tourists. “We know that Brazil can become the America of maritime cruises.
Despite stringent measures to keep guests and crew safe, Cunard Line says that 10 people on board the Queen Mary 2 have tested positive for COVID-19 as the ocean liner arrived in New York City after her transatlantic cruise from Southampton.
With the recent uptick of COVID-19 in the world Norwegian Cruise Line has strengthened mask wearing protocols and will require COVID-19 testing at the terminal prior to boarding amid the emergence of the highly contagious Omicron variant and following outbreaks onboard their ships.
Carnival Cruise Line updated a number of health and safety protocols that will be valid through January 2022. The company announced that these updates are due to the Omicron variant and notified the guests, without exception aged two and above are required to wear masks indoors, except while eating or drinking; when in their cabins; and during large gatherings outdoors, where physical distancing is impossible.
