After almost two years during which the tourism industry suffered a very severe blow following the corona plague, and after the alarming reports that came from the "Diamond Princess" ship in Japan - it was clear that the cruise industry would be one of the last to come back to life, but now it is happening.
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is back to operating safe cruises after many changes were made to the sailing process, the internal systems and the nature of the activity.
Amir Tiquaresa, deputy captain and general manager of the hotel on the ship, said of the difficult period: "In March 2020 we were with 5,100 guests on board and 200 crew members. We sailed to Puerto Rico, where we were told we could not enter," Tiquaresa recalled.
"It was very difficult. From there we sailed to Fort Canaveral, Florida and organized all the logistical issues for our guests. Now it's all behind us. For three months we prepared the ship to receive the guests. Not only in terms of ordering food and drink, but to train the crew in the protocols The newness of safety. "
The change is already noticeable during the inspection and boarding stages of the ship, which also include an inspection of a vaccine certificate, followed by a quick corona inspection and a 15-minute wait at the terminal next to the ship until the negative result is obtained.
It is mandatory to be tested even before leaving the country, even if you have been vaccinated in three doses.
Test on wet.
Ship pool, Photo: NCL
And what happens if a passenger turns out to be positive?
Nick Wilkinson, NCL's Regional Vice President for Israel, Africa and the Middle East, reassures: "We are not throwing anyone who arrives at the port and suddenly turns out to be positive.
We take care of our guests.
We send him to the hotel with our funding, arrange a new flight for him and he gets a refund for the cruise.
We take care of our guests and do not abandon them.
Without our guests, we are nothing. "
In the past year and a half, they have invested in Norwegian Cruise Line in turning the giant ships into a floating "green island".
Safety and health practices have been rewritten, and now include the possibility that only vaccinated passengers will board the ship.
Which leaves off-deck, for now, children who have not yet been vaccinated.
At this stage there is no recognition of recovering or vaccinated-vaccinated, but a policy discussion is held from time to time.
Recognition now is for two Pfizer vaccines without the need for a booster, two modern vaccines or one Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Sunset from horizon to horizon, Photo: NCL
A laboratory for antigen and PCR tests for Corona has been set up aboard the EPIC, so Corona tests can be performed on the ship before returning home.
The medical staff will be reinforced, and includes three male and female doctors, eight nursing staff and also an officer who conducts epidemiological investigations if necessary.
The advantage of limiting the capacity of the corona is evident in every corner of the ship: the giant ship is prepared to accommodate 4,100 passengers and about 2,000 crew members.
But due to Corona restrictions, and meanwhile until the end of February, occupancy is 50% of passengers on the same number of crew.
So just about every corner has a staff member available.
All staff members are vaccinated and tested routinely once a week.
Upper deck, Photo: NCL
The ships were fitted with "Max 13" or HEPA air filters, which remove more than 99% of the pathogens carried in the air (bacteria and corona virus), and the room cleaning protocol was changed to include ventilation and air circulation for about 15 minutes. Automatic disinfection stations were installed at almost every point on the ship. When boarding the ship and entering the restaurants or the theater hall you will be kindly but firmly asked to disinfect hands, under the eye of the crew member. There is a duty to wear masks everywhere on the ship, even on decks. In restaurants, of course, you can be without a mask, and the upper deck will not wake you if you remove it.
On the upper deck of the EPIC are three pools, three water slides, an outdoor children's playground, a basketball court, a professional climbing wall, a huge gym which also has Pilates and yoga studios, a spa (extra charge) with saunas, a Jacuzzi and a relaxation area.
In addition, the ship features a theater where you can see Broadway-level shows, including the musical "Priscilla Queen of the Desert," a casino, a teens club, a karaoke club, a Starbucks cafe (for a fee) and more.
On the menu: a celebration.
A restaurant on a ship, Photo: NCL
There are 15 restaurants and 17 bars on board.
Among the restaurants are an American meat restaurant, a Japanese restaurant, an Italian-Brazilian restaurant, a French restaurant and more.
Nine of the restaurants are extra charge, and seven restaurants are extra charge.
Among the pubs there is an Irish pub open 24 hours a day, a whiskey bar, a Japanese style sake bar, outdoor bars on the upper deck, an ice bar where the temperature is minus eight degrees and the drinks you get in a glass made of ice, and more.
A new destination every day
The main advantage of sailing is the arrival each day to a different destination, and most of the mooring is right in the heart of the city.
One morning you go out on the terrace and are in the heart of Naples, and another day in the center of Barcelona.
During the Corona period the policy varies from state to state.
Currently, in Italy the descent to the coast is only possible as part of organized tours of the ship, which cost between $ 75 and $ 150 per person (the more expensive tours usually also include a meal or a wine tasting).
We enjoyed a tour of the farm where wine and olives are grown in Tuscany, including a visit to San Gimignano.
In Spain the descent to the coast is free, and in the spirit of the period - the guidelines change from time to time.
Starting at $ 2,000 for a room with a balcony.
A room on a ship, Photo: NCL
Sample Prices: For an indoor room in July, for a seven-night cruise from Rome to Rome or from Barcelona to Barcelona, aboard the EPIC ship, you will pay about $ 1,374 per person.
For a room with a balcony on the same cruise you will pay about $ 2,046 per person.
For the same cruise in the spring and Passover months you will pay in an indoor room about $ 1,052 per person, and in a room with a balcony about $ 1,605 per person.
The author was a guest of Norwegian Cruise Line
