There is good news for passengers aboard Norwegian Dawn as well as those about to set sail on the ship’s next cruise.

Test results have shown no cases of cholera and the ship is now cleared to resume service ahead of schedule, albeit with itinerary modifications due to the two lost days and being quarantined.

Embarking guests are also being offered significant compensation for the inconvenient changes and delay to their sailing.

Norwegian Dawn Ready to Sail

After the ship was initially quarantined due to gastrointestinal illness and unable to debark as planned in Port Louis, Mauritius, Norwegian Dawn has now been cleared by local authorities after additional health testing confirmed there were no cases of cholera onboard.

“Despite previous reports and speculations, there were no confirmed cases nor any evidence of cholera on board the vessel,” a statement from Norwegian Cruise Line read. “Although only six guests were being monitored due to mild symptoms of a stomach-related illness, the government of Mauritius required testing in an overabundance of caution, thereby delaying the ship’s original disembarkation.”

Because the test results have come back earlier than expected, new plans are now in place for embarkation to give guests as much time aboard the ship as possible.

“Now that the ship has been cleared ahead of what we previously communicated, we are happy to advise that you will be able to board the ship earlier than originally thought,” the email notification to guests read.

Embarkation will now take place on Tuesday, February 27. Norwegian Cruise Line has arranged transfers from local hotels to the embarkation port from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for guests who were staying in the accommodations organized by the cruise line, while guests who made their own hotel arrangements should plan to arrive at the cruise terminal from 1-3 p.m.

All guests need to arrive at the embarkation port no later than 5 p.m. for check-in and the ship’s departure.

“We appreciate our guests’ patience during this time, as we navigate this fluid situation,” said David J. Herrera, Norwegian Cruise Line President. “We greatly value our onboard leadership team and crew, as well as our global shoreside team for going above and beyond to ensure the comfort of our guests during this unanticipated event.”

Itinerary Changes

Due to the two-day delay in embarkation, it is still necessary to make adjustments to Norwegian Dawn‘s next sailing, now a 10-night voyage instead of a 12-night cruise.

“Regrettably we are unable to call on Madagascar,” the email explained. “We have maintained the integrity of the remaining highly valued ports of call such as Richard’s Bay, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, South Africa.”

The ship will still be visiting Pointe des Galets, Reunion as the first port of call, followed by three days before reaching South Africa. Each port of call in South Africa has been adjusted, largely to give guests even more time ashore.

At Richard’s Bay on Sunday, March 3, for example, Norwegian Dawn will now be visiting from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., an extra 90 minutes in the morning compared to the original 9 a.m. arrival time. Likewise, the ship will arrive at Port Elizabeth 30 minutes early on Tuesday, March 5 – at 5:30 a.m. instead of 6 a.m.

The visit to Mosselbay on Wednesday, March 6, is trimmed by one hour, however, as the ship will now leave at 4 p.m. instead of 5 p.m.

The visit to Cape Town remains an overnight call, with the ship now arriving at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 7 and not leaving until 8 a.m. on Friday.

All shore tours booked through Norwegian Cruise Line for the now-cancelled calls in Madagascar will be fully refunded back to guests’ onboard accounts, while tours for the remaining ports of call will be adjusted to the new port times as necessary.

Travelers who have made independent tour arrangements will need to contact their tour operators for adjustments or refunds as needed.

Further Compensation

Due to the shortening of the cruise, Norwegian Cruise Line is providing additional compensation for guests.

All travelers are receiving a pro-rated refund of their cruise fare based on the shortened duration, as well as similar refunds of pre-paid options such as beverage packages and gratuities. Those refunds will be processed back to the original form of payment.

Guests will also receive a $200 (USD) non-refundable onboard credit per stateroom, as well as a 20% discount in the form of a future cruise credit (FCC) based on the cruise fare to be used on any future sailing through December 31, 2025.

Impacted guests can also submit receipts for $75 per person, per day reimbursement covering meals while staying in Port Louis, Mauritius due to the embarkation delay.

Health Precautions Still Emphasized

While Norwegian Dawn has been cleared to sail, crew members are still taking precautions onboard and guests are urged to do the same to ensure the health and safety of everyone during their cruise.

“As expected, there were no cholera cases onboard Norwegian Dawn,” the email to guests said. “This has been confirmed by the Mauritius government health officials. In addition to the incredibly high level of standards we have on the ship, we have taken additional precautions to ensure the health and safety of our guests and crew.”

The email encourages passengers to wash their hands frequently throughout the day, as well as be cautious about what foods or drinks are safest to enjoy ashore.

All travelers are urged to notify the ship’s medical center if they experience any stomach-related symptoms during the sailing, and they will receive consultations and treatment in the privacy of their staterooms if necessary.

In a decisive response to escalating tensions in the Red Sea, Norwegian Cruise Line has announced the cancellation of select sailings for Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Sky at the end of 2024.

Voyage Disruptions in Conflict-Affected Waters

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has announced the cancellation of sailings for two of its ships due to escalating conflicts in the Red Sea, affecting Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Sky’s planned voyages.

Norwegian Dawn’s sailings between October 27, 2024, and November 22, 2024, have been cancelled. Similarly, Norwegian Sky’s sailings between November 4, 2024, and December 4, 2024, will no longer proceed as planned.

In a detailed statement, the cruise line expressed its ongoing concern for the situation in the Red Sea, where Houthi rebels have been targeting cargo ships with drone attacks and sea mines. 

“We have been monitoring the situation in the Red Sea and despite our best hopes that it would de-escalate, we have made the decision to alter published itineraries scheduled to transit through the region,” the statement read. 

Read Also: The Impact of Red Sea Tensions on Cruising

It continued, “We share your disappointment and want to assure you that this modification was made with great consideration, as the safety of our guests and that of our crew is always our No. 1 priority.”

NCL’s decision mirrors that of other major cruise lines, including MSC Cruises, Silversea, Carnival Corporation, Azamara, P&O Cruises, and Viking Cruises, who have also announced adjustments and cancellations to avoid the conflicted region.

NCL’s Cancelled Itineraries

The recent itinerary cancellations impact two specific sailings aboard Norwegian Dawn, a Dawn-class ship capable of accommodating 2,340 passengers in double capacity and boasting a gross tonnage of 92,250. 

The affected sailings include the “10-Night Greek Isles: Santorini, Istanbul & Mykonos” voyage, which was scheduled to depart from Piraeus (Athens) on October 27, 2024, featuring stops in destinations such as Iraklion, Santorini, and Mykonos, Greece; Kusadasi (Ephesus) and Istanbul, Turkey; and Alexandria, Egypt.

Additionally, the “16-Night Middle East: Egypt, Jordan & UAE” cruise, set to depart from Athens on November 6, 2024, has been cancelled. This voyage was planned to explore key locations across the Middle East, including Alexandria, Port Said, and Safaga, Egypt; Aqaba, Jordan; and Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, incorporating a passage through the Suez Canal.

Norwegian Sky, classified as a Sun-class ship with a capacity to host 2,004 passengers at double occupancy and a gross tonnage exceeding 77,000, has seen all of its November sailings withdrawn following the completion of its “14-Night Transatlantic: Spain & Azores,” concluding in Barcelona on November 4, 2024.

Looking ahead to the resumption of operations, Norwegian Dawn is still scheduled to embark on a “16-Night Africa: Seychelles, Kenya, Tanzania & Oman” voyage, with a departure from Dubai scheduled for November 22, 2024. 

In a similar vein, Norwegian Sky is slated to begin its “17-Night Asia: Maldives, Thailand & Seychelles” itinerary on December 20, 2024. The cruise will depart from Port Louis, Mauritius, and conclude in Singapore.

Red Sea Challenges

The Red Sea, a crucial maritime corridor connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean via the Suez Canal, emerged as a hotbed of geopolitical tension at the start of the year. Houthi rebels, supported by Iran, have intensified their efforts to disrupt maritime traffic in recent months.

Utilizing armed drones and sea mines, they have targeted oil tankers and cargo ships, aiming to compromise the safety and security of international shipping lanes also utilized by cruise liners. 

In light of the cancellations, Norwegian Cruise Line has committed to refunding all affected passengers to their original form of payment. 

Guests aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Dawn are being denied debarkation at the conclusion of the current sailing, a 12-night one-way sailing from Cape Town, South Africa to Port Louis, Mauritius.

Local authorities have made the difficult decision to quarantine the ship due to gastrointestinal illness onboard and are exercising an abundance of caution to ensure it is not a cholera outbreak.

Gastrointestinal Illness Onboard Norwegian Dawn

A “small number” of guests onboard the 92,250-gross-ton Norwegian Dawn have developed gastrointestinal illness, which the cruise line describes as “mild symptoms.” The exact symptoms have not been disclosed, but are likely to include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea – common symptoms of norovirus.

Because these symptoms can also be indications of cholera or other, more serious illnesses, however, authorities in Mauritius are requiring additional testing and a 2-day quarantine period before guests aboard Norwegian Dawn are allowed to debark.

“Upon the ship’s return to Port Louis, Mauritius, the vessel’s management team met with local authorities to confirm precautions and actions were being taken to ensure the wellbeing of all on board,” a statement from a Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson said.

“Due to additional testing being required by local authorities before being allowed entry, the government of Mauritius has delayed disembarkation for the current cruise and embarkation for the next cruise by two days to February 27, 2024.”

While port officials sampled approximately 15 passengers for additional testing, there is no information about whether that includes all onboard guests reporting symptoms or if that is just a representative sample to confirm the type of illness. A statement from the Mauritius Ports Authority also clarifies the situation.

“Officers from the Ministry of Health and Well-being this morning took samples from around fifteen passengers on board the cruise ship ‘Norwegian Dawn’ due to a health risk,” the Mauritius Ports Authority said. “These passengers had been placed in isolation on board the cruise ship due to their state of health.”

Read Also: Over 100 Cruise Passengers Ill on Cunard-Operated Ship

It will take approximately 48 hours for test results to be verified. Until that time, guests already onboard the ship must remain there, while travelers who were hoping to board Norwegian Dawn to begin their cruise – a return 12-night itinerary back to Cape Town – must delay their embarkation.

Assistance Offered for Impacted Guests

Norwegian Cruise Line is working with guests onboard Norwegian Dawn to make alternative plans.

“As a result of a decision made by local government officials, we will not be arriving in Port Louis, Mauritius [on February 25] and you will not be disembarking the ship,” a letter delivered to guests’ staterooms read. “We are working closely with all relevant parties to try to expedite disembarkation.”

“We have been informed that we will most likely be able to disembark on Tuesday, February 27, 2024.”

The cruise line has provided telephone access and free internet packages for onboard guests to make necessary arrangements for their travel after the cruise, including adjusting air travel plans or contacting family members.

If passengers had arranged airfare through Norwegian Cruise Line, their flights will be automatically shifted to the new embarkation date and new flight itinerary confirmations will be provided as soon as they are available.

Guests who have made independent flight arrangements will need to contact their airlines or travel arrangements, and work with any travel insurance provider for possible reimbursement options. Norwegian Cruise Line is also offering up to $300 (USD) per person of reimbursement for any travel change fees not covered by insurance or the airline, with appropriate documentation.

Furthermore, all guests being held aboard Norwegian Dawn will now receive a 15% discount (in the form of a future cruise credit) for any published sailing through December 31, 2025.

Guests waiting to board the ship to begin their cruise are being accommodated in local hotels until the ship is cleared and the next cruise can begin.

Norwegian Dawn can welcome 2,340 guests aboard for each sailing, and is also home to roughly 1,000 international crew members.