N’wegian returns to the seas

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings on Monday announced the launch of its first voyage since the pandemic brought the industry to a halt last year.

The company said its Norwegian Jade set sail from Athens, Greece, with a fully vaccinated population onboard as well as additional health measures, including universal testing prior to boarding.

“Our long-awaited Great Cruise Comeback has officially commenced,” CEO Frank Del Rio said.

He added that the company has announced further plans to resume cruising that extends into April 2022, for all 28 ships in its fleet.

“We continue to see incredible pent-up demand for future cruise vacations and I look forward to welcoming our loyal guests back onboard,” he said.

The line’s first post-lockdown US cruise will leave from Seattle on Aug. 7, headed to Alaska, the company said.

Shares of Norwegian rose more than 2 percent in morning trading Monday.

The cruise industry was among the first sectors to be hit hard by the coronavirus.

Some of the earliest outbreaks outside China occurred on cruise ships, leading to at-sea quarantines and the deaths of some passengers.