Norwegian cruise CEO: Fleet should ‘return in earnest’ in spring 2021

The CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line said Thursday that their fleet should “return in earnest” by Spring 2021

The announcement comes after the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said in a statement Wednesday that they would extend their “no sail” order through Oct. 31, a month longer than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) current guidelines, which are set to expire Sept. 30.

Frank Del Rio, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., said that the cruise line may be functioning at a limited capacity at the end of this year.

“[In the] last two months of 2020 [we] could see the return of sailing with a very limited number of vessels,” Del Rio said on the company’s second quarter earnings call, USA Today reported.

Del Rio added that it wouldn’t be until the second quarter of next year that the Norwegian “fleet returns in earnest.” He reportedly said that business is “relatively strong” and the company is seeing demand for cruises in 2021.

“I think we’re all sick and tired of being cooped up in the house,” Del Rio said.
The news comes as several countries continue to enforce general travel restrictions, many of which are imposed on U.S. travelers.

Cruise ships saw some of the first serious outbreaks of the pandemic earlier this year.

As some cruise companies resume operations, several ships have been refused entry at ports around the world over the past several months due to concerns about spreading the virus on land.

This week the Hurtigruten’s MS Roald cruise line reported 40 coronavirus cases this week on the Amunsen, a cruise line based in Norway, after resuming operations.

Updated 5:38 p.m.