“Sunscreen Is Your Only Worry” Norwegian In Trouble Over Coronavirus Cruise Sales Pitches

Allegations against Norwegian Cruise Line have surfaced, accusing the company of downplaying the threat of the coronavirus to customers. According to Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office, Norwegian gave “misleading and potentially dangerous sales pitches” to customers to entice them to still go on their cruise.

Leaked Emails

A whistleblower leaked emails between Norwegian’s management that revealed one-liners that customer service was to use when speaking to worried customers. Such lines included, “the only thing you need to worry about for your cruise is do you have enough sunscreen,” and “the coronavirus can only survive in cold temperatures, so the Caribbean is a fantastic choice for your next cruise.”

Moody said in a statement, “We are in the thick of a public health crisis like our modern world has never experienced. My Consumer Protection Division is conducting an extensive investigation to get to the bottom of the disturbing allegations against Norwegian Cruise Line. Let this serve as a warning to anyone seeking to mislead consumers during these challenging times. I will do everything within the power of this office to hold accountable those who would prey on Floridians during this health crisis.”

Norwegian’s Response

Norwegian Cruise Line has 30 ships still at sea but is fully cooperating with Moody’s investigation. The company released a statement in response to the allegations, “We remain committed to operating with integrity and providing our guests with the best possible vacation experiences across the globe. We are aware of the article in question and are looking into the matter.”

Norwegian has suspended cruises to and from the US in response to the coronavirus outbreak but plans to resume operations on April 12.