Norwegian Breakaway was called to assist in the rescue of approximately 200 migrants overnight near Italy, resulting in a four-hour delay that means the ship has had to forfeit the planned port visit to Catania, Sicily on Tuesday, October 10, 2023. The port visit was to have been from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., but the ship is enjoying a day at sea instead.

Norwegian Breakaway Assists in Migrant Rescue

At roughly midnight on Monday night, October 9, 2023, the Italian Coast Guard reached out to Norwegian Breakaway with a request for assistance. A boat with approximately 200 migrants was adrift and intervention was essential, and Norwegian Breakaway was the closest vessel able to respond.

The 145,655-gross-ton cruise ship responded and diverted to reach the troubled migrant boat to support the efforts of two Italian Coast Guard vessels as the rescue was underway. A nearby cargo vessel also assisted in the rescue.

All souls from the migrant boat were successfully transferred to the Coast Guard ships. None needed to be brought aboard Norwegian Breakaway, though the ship was ready to receive them if necessary.

During rescue operations involving such a large number of individuals in distress, it is common for official vessels to request other ships to stand by in case further assistance is needed. This could be due to poor weather, the need for supplies, the essential speed of the rescue, or other factors.

Delay Cancels Port Visit

Norwegian Breakaway was delayed approximately four hours before the cruise ship could resume course. This lengthy delay – while essential to ensure the safety of everyone rescued – did require the ship to cancel its planned visit to Catania on the eastern coast of Sicily, which had been planned for Tuesday, October 10.

Instead, the ship is enjoying a day at sea en route to the next port stop – Naples, Italy – on Wednesday, October 11. The ship is expected to arrive on time at 7:30 a.m. as planned.

With Catania and Naples approximately 264 miles (425 kilometers / 225 nautical miles) apart, the ship could not extend its planned time in Catania to compensate for the delay without impacting the arrival time in Naples and, therefore, compromising the overall time in that Italian gem of a city.

Norwegian Breakaway is currently sailing a 10-night Greek Isles & Italy itinerary roundtrip from Rome (Civitavecchia). The ship departed on Tuesday, October 3, and has already visited Santorini, Athens, Mykonos, Olympia, and Corfu. Naples and Livorno (Florence/Pisa) will be the final ports of call before the ship returns to Rome on Friday, October 13. At the moment, no other adjustments to the itinerary are expected.

Rescues at Sea

When a rescue is needed at sea, any nearby vessel capable of offering assistance is obligated to do so under the SOLAS Convention – The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea. This international maritime treaty sets safety standards for all ships, as well as guiding how vessels are to respond to other mariners in distress.

No political disagreements, religious differences, racial disparities, legal immigrant status, or other divisive social issues impact SOLAS – vessels are to respond to distress calls to the best of their ability, in any circumstances.

Once refugees are safe and tended to with any essential medical care, water, and food, the proper authorities will determine the next steps. This might include the individuals being repatriated to their native country, granted asylum in another nation, or permitted to continue on their way.

More and more migrant rescues have been happening in the Mediterranean in recent months. Unlike rescues in the Caribbean, which often involve small, makeshift rafts or boats that hold just a few refugees, larger boats are often used by refugees in the Mediterranean.

In late August, Celebrity Beyond assisted in a similar rescue of more than 200 refugees, also called into service by the Italian Coast Guard. The incident took place in the same general region between Sicily and Greece.

In a fresh update, Norwegian Cruise Line has changed its tax payment protocols on board for guests sailing through European waters, at least for one cruise onboard Norwegian Epic.

The changes primarily focus on Value Added Tax levied on purchases made during the voyage through pre-purchased beverage packages and purchases through pre-packaged specialty dining. 

Adjustments to VAT Applications

Norwegian Cruise Line has sent a letter to guests informing them of a change in the additional VAT charges that were announced some weeks ago. 

In September 2023, NCL notified its guests about being forced to include VAT on beverage purchases, specialty dinner packages, and drinks obtained through beverage package purchases while cruising in Europe, especially when the voyage touches Spain and other subsequent countries on the same itinerary. 

The tax was to be applied to all on-board purchases made during the time the ship sailed through Spanish waters or docked at Spanish ports. This fiscal measure extended to other European countries like France and Italy, where each country’s respective VAT rates were to be applied.

However, a recent development has seen NCL taking a guest-centric approach, particularly for its voyages touching French shores. The cruise line has graciously decided to absorb the VAT charges for those guests who had pre-purchased specialty dining and beverage packages, albeit for the French leg of the voyage. 

The move comes as a relief to guests but leaves questions open for similar tax coverages in other countries.

Guest Communication and Implications

On October 7, 2023, during the October 2, 2023, sailing for Norwegian Epic, NCL sent out a letter to its guests.

The letter states: “After careful consideration, we have decided to remove French VAT from qualifying beverage and dining consumption for all guests who pre-purchased these packages for Norwegian Epic’s October 2, 2023, sailing.”

Guests who have already paid VAT charges over all-inclusive consumptions ordered in France will receive a full VAT refund from NCL.

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Although the letter states the removal of French VAT from purchases made through beverage and dining packages, it only applies to those guests who pre-purchased these packages. Guests who purchased packages while onboard are not exempt.

The itinerary includes visits to Marseille and Cannes, now exempted from VAT payments, and visits to Barcelona and Palma De Mallorca, Spain, Naples, Civitavecchia, and Livorno, Italy. The VAT charges would likely still be levied for the ports in Spain and Italy.

While guests onboard will be happy that they won’t be charged VAT over the drinks they order in France, it’s still only two days out of the cruise. Adding to that, the confusion that has been building over why these taxes are levied and will now include why and when the taxes are and are not included. 

The 155,873 gross tons Norwegian Epic will remain in Europe longer than usual, with the ship only sailing its Transatlantic voyage on December 1. This cruise will sail from Civitavecchia to Naples and Livorno, Italy; Marseille, France; Barcelona and Cadiz, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; Ponta Delgada, Azores, and arriving in its winter homeport of Port Canaveral, Florida, on December 17.

From Port Canaveral, Norwegian Epic will sail seven-day cruises to the eastern and western Caribbean, including calls to Great Stirrup Cay, Cozumel, Ocho Rios, San Juan, St. Thomas, and more.

Is Europe Now Turning Against Cruises?

The announcement of the VAT application to pre-purchased packages echoed a broader change in Spain and potentially other European countries in how cruise tourism is regulated. 

The addition of VAT is not a new thing, and guests have had VAT added to onboard purchases while in Europe for decades. However, the situation becomes more complex when it comes to purchases made outside of Europe.

Worth Reading: Norwegian Cruise Line Warns Guests of Onboard VAT Charges

Generally, pre-cruise purchases are exempt from VAT, especially when these purchases are made from the US for European cruises. This exemption applies to drinks, internet, and specialty dining packages purchased from home. 

This could be why NCL removed the French charges, as the French government does not have the same policy as the Spanish. The original aim of the Spanish government was to align the tax payments of guests on board with those vacationing ashore.