NORWEGIAN Cruise Line’s (NCL) Norwegian Jewel carrying 280 Australians on board has arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii, with disembarkation to follow today once enhanced screening protocols have been completed. The cruise line said the health screening will go ahead despite no confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 on board the ship....
NORWEGIAN Cruise Line’s (NCL) Norwegian Jewel carrying 280 Australians on board has arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii, with disembarkation to follow today once enhanced screening protocols have been completed.
The cruise line said the health screening will go ahead despite no confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 on board the ship.
Once passengers have been cleared of the disease, they will be flown home by charter flight to their respective countries.
Norwegian Jewel departed Sydney in late Feb on a 23-day cruise to Fiji, but was left stranded at sea after multiple ports in the Pacific refused to let the vessel dock.
In negotiating the agreement with Hawaiian Government to allow the disembarkation to happen, NCL President and Chief Executive Officer Harry Sommer said he was very grateful to the US state with which the line already enjoyed a rich history.
“We are so very thankful to our Hawaiian partners and friends, especially Governor David Ige, Attorney General Clare Connors and Hawaii Department of Transportation Director Jade Butay and Deputy Director Derek Chow for their assistance in developing a coordinated disembarkation plan which keeps both guests and Hawaii residents safe and secure,” he said.
“We have been sailing the Hawaiian Islands for over 15 years, drawing well over 100,000 travellers to the state each year and we look forward to returning and to continuing to celebrate the culture, history and people of Hawaii,” Sommer added.
Norwegian Jewel was the last vessel in the line’s fleet with guests aboard at sea, with all ships to be soon berthed around the world until the crisis is over.
