Passengers boarding Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings NCLH.N ships won't have to take COVID-19 tests from next month unless required by local law, the US cruise operator has said as the crucial summer sailing season gathers steam.
Details
Cruises setting sail from the United States, Canada or Greece's Piraeus will still require pre-cruise COVID testing, and all of the company's guests aged 12 and above have to be fully vaccinated.
The decision comes as several countries lift testing requirements for incoming international air travelers, with people now living with the coronavirus and returning to old routines across the globe.
Norwegian Cruise, the parent of Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, runs ships departing from several countries including the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, New Zealand and Sweden.
Carnival, Royal Caribbean And Shares
Last week, rival Carnival Corp's CCL.N Holland America Line said guests on three voyages departing from Amsterdam and traveling to Norway would not need to undergo pre-cruise COVID testing or provide a negative test result at embarkation.
Royal Caribbean Group RCL.N said on Wednesday 6 July that it is not making any changes to its pre-departure testing requirement for the time being.
Shares in Norwegian Cruise declined 9.4%, while Royal Caribbean and Carnival lost 5.9% and 6.5% as wider US markets retreated ahead of minutes from a Federal Reserve meeting. .N
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