A Canadian media outlet that has come under fire in recent weeks has also found itself on the losing end of a protest regarding their plans to stage a gathering on board a Norwegian Cruise Line ship sailing out of Miami in November.
Why Norwegian Cruise Line Cancelled The Cruise
Rebel Media, a far-right media outlet formed in 2015, had planned for the Rebel Cruise to be held on board the Norwegian Getaway in mid-November. Promoted as “the most rebellious cruise in the world,” the gathering of “like-minded individuals” was to feature panel discussions and opportunities to interact with several of the website’s most provocative and controversial personalities. (Ironically, several of those whom promotional videos touted as special guests were either fired by or poached from the station only days before the cruise was nixed by Norwegian).
Upon catching wind of the group’s plans, an organization called Hope Not Hate launched a petition urging Norwegian to nix the cruise, arguing that Rebel Media “legitimizes and normalizes the same ideas as those aired in Charlottesville” and adding that they wanted “to use [this cruise] to spread [their] hateful agenda.”
Norwegian Changes Its Mind
Originally, Norwegian indicated to Hope Not Hate that they would not be cancelling the Rebel Cruise, pointing out that “all guests who cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line are required to adhere to the Guest Conduct Policy while on board company vessels which, among other things, prohibits verbally abusive or offensive language directed towards anyone on board as well as inappropriate or abusive behavior.”
However, Rebel Media soon posted a notice on their site indicating that “Norwegian Cruise Line has told our travel agency that they are canceling our entire cruise.” NCL confirmed as much in a statement which read, “We recently became aware that one of several affinity groups that booked space on an upcoming sailing was associated with and espoused views that are inconsistent with [our company’s] core values. The company has therefore exercised its right to cancel this group’s reservation and provide a full refund.”
This actually would have been the organization’s second cruise, as they sailed aboard Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam in November of 2016.
Do you believe Norwegian made the right call in cancelling this group’s cruise?