PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
In May of 2021, the Port of Astoria received a vessel berth request from Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) for a non-passenger carrying cruise ship.
The Port would like to provide notice to the Community that it will be accommodating the non-passenger carrying cruise ship during the months of July 2021 through September 2021. The vessel is scheduled to arrive on Thursday, July 1, 2021 and will remain at berth for sixty-nine days.
This decision to accommodate the vessel was not taken lightly. Public safety is our top priority. The Port has received confirmation from the cruise line that no suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported on board the vessel. In addition, NCL has provided a copy of the vessel’s Maritime Health Declaration and the NCLH NSO Response Plan which includes the protocol for all crew movements to be done in accordance with the CDC’s Interim Guidance for Mitigation of COVID-19 Among Cruise Ship Crew during the Period of the Conditional Sailing Order.
CDC is allowing crew members to disembark from all cruise ships in U.S. waters with certain precautions. Cruise lines with complete and accurate response plans will be able to use commercial travel to disembark crew members from certain ships if the ships meet certain criteria set by CDC including that there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 or COVID-like illnesses on board the ship within the last 28 days.
Although Clatsop County remains in the Lower Risk COVID 19 category, the Port understands that community members remain concerned about the transmission of the disease. Therefore, we will continue to work jointly with the City, County, USCG and Norwegian Cruise Line to take the necessary measures to keep our community safe.
The Port of Astoria has posted a COVID-19 Q&A page on our website. The Q&A page will address frequently asked questions that Community members may have regarding the cruise ship. It will also address safety measures and protocol that are being taken and how the Port will keep the community informed. Detailed information about the COVID-19 protocol and safety measures can be found on the Port website at www.portofastoria.com.