NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line announced that it expected to resume operations from the United States beginning August 7, 2021, with week-long sailings from Seattle WA to Alaska, one of the top cruise destinations.
The news followed the temporary waiver of the Passenger Vessel Services Act, which allows cruising to Alaska to resume upon receiving the pending Conditional Sailing Certificate from the USA's CDC agency (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
In partnership with local governments and guided by the protocols of the SailSAFE health and safety program, which includes that all crew members and passengers must be fully vaccinated to embark, travelers will be able to explore the “Last Frontier” with NCL.
During the summer months, guests can recommence their cruises to Alaska with week-long journeys aboard Norwegian Bliss. The ship will sail revised itineraries from August. 7, 2021, through October 16, 2021, offering 7 to 13 hours of port time in Juneau, Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, and Skagway. On select cruises, passengers will have the opportunity to take in the views of Glacier Bay National Park or Holkham Bay Glacier Fjord.
Passengers will benefit from the opening of the 2nd cruise pier in Icy Strait Point, which NCL’s parent company (NCLH-Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd) developed via a partnership with Alaska Native-owned Huna Totem Corp. Initially scheduled to open during the last year's summer cruise season, the expanded Wilderness Landing on Icy Strait Point caters to tourists in search of individualized experiences with the wildlife and native peoples of Alaska. The new enhancements include upgraded restaurants and retail, as well as shore trip offerings, including the largest ZipRider zip line in the world, Southeast Alaska's most accessible coastal brown bear viewing platforms, fishing adventures, whale watching, and walking trails along with Alaska’s first gondola connecting the Wilderness Landing development to the Adventure Landing and Historic Hoonah Packing Company Cannery.
Next year, the passenger experience will continue to evolve via the opening of the Mountain Top gondola which is expected to provide vehicle-free access through the treetops and unlock additional areas of exploration and views of icefields, the Fairweather Range, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, the homeland of Huna Tlingit people.