Norwegian Cruises will drop its requirement for negative coronavirus tests in most countries, but not in the U.S.

Norwegian Cruise Line, which has a fleet of 28 ships worldwide, said on Wednesday that it would no longer require passengers to test negative for coronavirus after August 1. , Canada, Bermuda, Greece.

Norwegian, as a participant in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Voluntary coronavirus programAsk vaccinated passengers in the United States to show a negative rapid antigen test within 2 days of travel or a negative PCR test within 3 days of voyage. Next, the CDC evaluates the participating vessels. Color status..

Cruise lines that opt ​​out of the CDC program will receive a status in the “gray” color. This means that the agency has not confirmed the company’s health and safety protocols.

Most major cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean and Carnival, still require negative testing to board. Very few have withdrawn test requirements, but unlike Norway, the new policy does not apply to all voyages. The Netherlands America, one of Carnival’s subsidiaries, completed testing requirements for certain trips from Amsterdam to Norway last week.And last month, the Viking cruise line also denied universal mandatory tests, but said that US and Canadian “selected sea voyages” would still need them. statement On the company website.

The Norwegian announcement, like many other companies, is a huge discount to regain the business lost during the winter Omicron surge, the peak of cruises, and fill unbooked cabins this summer. It starts with providing.

Many cruise lines have revived the full fleet and there are many cabins with bargain fares. Many transactions can cost less than $ 100 a day on a cruise that includes accommodation, dining and entertainment.

According to the company, about 600,000 beds are in operation. Cruise industry newsIncreased by about 40% from the 434,000 beds that were in operation in January.

“As society continues to adapt and return to normal, test policy relaxation is in line with other industries in the travel, leisure and hospitality industries around the world,” the company said in a news release on Monday. Stated.

Headquartered in Miami, Norwegian operates 28 vessels in the brands of Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, in addition to the Norwegian Cruise Line.