Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that it expects to resume cruises from the United States starting August 7, 2021, with week-long voyages from Seattle to Alaska, one of the top cruise destinations among its passengers.
The news comes after the temporary waiver of the Passenger Vessel Services Act, which allows cruises to Alaska to resume once the CDC has issued a Conditional Sailing Certificate. In collaboration with local governments and guided by the robust protocols of the SailSAFE™ health and safety program—whose most prominent requirement is that all crew and guests must be fully vaccinated to embark—travelers will once again be able to explore the “Last Frontier” and all its beauty with NCL.
“Seattle has always been our second home, and we are thrilled to return to this homeport and to take our guests back to Alaska,” said Harry Sommer, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line. “Twenty years ago, we were the first to offer Alaska itineraries from Seattle, and we continue to celebrate our great relationship with our partners in this spectacular destination. We have long looked forward to announcing the resumption of cruising from the U.S. We are very proud to be sailing for the first time in over a year from our special homeport of Seattle to the breathtaking state of Alaska.”
This summer, travelers can restart their Alaskan cruise adventures with week-long voyages aboard the Norwegian Bliss. Sailing from August 7, 2021, through October 16, 2021, it will offer between seven and 13 hours of port time in Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Icy Strait Point, Alaska. On select sailings, passengers will also have the opportunity to enjoy the serene views of Glacier Bay National Park or the glacial fjord of Holkham Bay.
The enhancements include upgraded shops and restaurants, as well as expanded shore excursions, including the world’s longest ZipRider zipline, Southeast Alaska’s most accessible shoreline grizzly bear viewing platforms, whale watching, fishing adventures, and hiking trails, along with Alaska’s first gondola connecting Wilderness Landing with Adventure Landing and the historic Hoonah Packing Company cannery. In 2022, the guest experience will continue to evolve with the opening of the Mountain Top Gondola, providing easy, vehicle-free access through the treetops, unlocking additional areas for exploration and spectacular views of the icefields, the Fairweather Range, and Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, the ancestral homeland of the Huna Tlingit people.
“Alaskans are ready to welcome visitors from around the world, where they can personally experience the scenic and cultural wonders that can only be found here,” said Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy. “I am grateful for the teamwork and careful planning of Norwegian Cruise Line, Alaskan local governments, our congressional delegation, the tourism industry, and the state public health team in delivering a cruise season that promises to be safe and rewarding for everyone.”.
Norwegian Cruise Line will continue its proposals to redeploy its fleet, working with each destination and leading experts from the SailSAFE Global Health and Wellbeing Council. The Council will regularly evaluate the robust protocols of the SailSAFE health and safety program and make science-based decisions to protect passengers, crew, and the destinations it visits.
