Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings today sent a reminder letter to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) asking them to respond to the company’s previously submitted plan to resume shipping from US ports in July.
“Over the past year, we have worked tirelessly and invested heavily to create a path to resume the momentum, including leading the country’s leading scientific and public health experts. We are confident that with our science-backed SailSAFE program we will provide a unique safe and healthy holiday experience that protects our guests, crew and communities we visit, ”said Frank Del Rio, President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, said. operating the Norwegian, Oceania and Regent brands.
‘We believe that our proposal submitted to the CDC 10 days ago, which includes mandatory vaccinations for all guests and crew, provides a safe and immediate solution to sailing again and the need for the outdated CSO (conditional sail order) from the spacious away. the current form is impossible to operate on and ignores the progress of vaccines.
“Our proposal goes far beyond the CSO’s intent, and will significantly accelerate the path to resumption of the voyage while freeing up the CDC’s valuable time and resources so that it can focus on its many other competing public health priorities, “Del Rio continued. “I remain awaiting further discussion with the CDC and I respectfully request a prompt response to my written proposal to start sailing again in July so that we can join the national reopening of America.”
The company said in a press release that it believes the plan requires mandatory vaccinations for guests and crew on initial trips, in addition to comprehensive protocols including universal COVID-19 testing, sharing the plan in spirit and the intent of the CDCs surpass. CSO to promote mutual public health objectives and protect guests, crew members and the communities visited.
The press release states that the company remains optimistic, the CDC will agree that this plan eliminates the need for the CSO. Therefore, he strongly demands that the order for Norwegian’s vessels be lifted so that they can sail from US ports from 4 July.
Full letter:
15 April 2021
Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky
Director, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30329-4027
Re: We plan to join the National Opening of America this summer
Dear Dr. Walensky:
Last Monday, 5 April 2021, I submitted to you a proposal in which you present the plan of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (“NCLH”) to resume shipping to U.S. ports, in July. Our plan includes our multilayer SailSAFETM The health and safety program was developed in collaboration with world-renowned experts, including the Healthy Sail Panel with a blue ribbon, led by former Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt and former Food and Agriculture Commissioner and drug administration, dr. Scott Gottlieb.
NCLH believes that vaccinations are the most important means for Americans to return to their daily lives while containing the spread of the virus. As such, our robust science-backed plan combines mandatory vaccinations for all guests and crew with several additional low-prevention protocols, including universal COVID-19 testing.
The safety and security of our guests, crew and the communities we visit is our top priority. We realize that our strict vaccination requirements will temporarily prevent some of our most important guest demographics from buying tickets from our brands, including families with passengers under the age of 15, but we believe this is the safest and most effective way to navigate the current public. health environment.
It is frustrating that so far we have not received any recognition of this proposal. I do admit that you have very important public health issues, and you were even reluctant to even write. However, we believe that our proposal should be the model for how the travel and hospitality industry operates in a COVID-19 environment. Our industry supports hundreds of thousands of jobs and contributes billions of dollars to the country’s economy and definitely deserves your time and attention.
As you know, our industry met with your office on Monday, and although we appreciate the dialogue, our proposal was not considered. In the future, we understand that the industry may meet regularly with your office, but remain concerned that such meetings have yielded the non-existent results since last year. While pursuing science and data, as the CDC usually does, you are giving a new perspective on this issue. Our hope is that you and the entire Biden-Harris administration will once again allow us to take responsibility again.
Consequently, I respectfully request prompt response to my written proposal. Americans are looking forward to sailing again and we are looking forward to making our ships possible again on such a timely basis and restoring American jobs.
Friendly greeting
Frank Del Rio
President and CEO
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.