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SINGAPORE – Phones have been ringing at Genting Cruise Lines’ offices, and the company has received more than 6,000 reservations for its “cruises to nowhere” in just five days.
Each of these reservations is likely to be for at least two people. A total of 23 Genting Cruise Lines trips, each with a maximum capacity of 1,700 passengers, are scheduled for November and December.
The Singapore Tourism Board announced last Thursday (October 8) that roundtrip cruises without ports of call will be conducted under a pilot program.
Under it, only two cruise lines, Genting Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International, can sail the seas.
Without disclosing specific figures, Royal Caribbean International also said demand “exceeded expectations.”
According to a spokesperson, bookings were up 500 percent compared to the last two weeks. Their first outing on December 1, which is capped at roughly 1,000 guests, is nearly sold out.
Cruises have been suspended since March due to the coronavirus outbreak, and authorities acknowledge that the proximity of guests could turn the ships into groups of infection.
But with the number of local infections declining, companies have been working with authorities to find ways to regain their revenue stream after the tourism industry took a massive hit from prolonged measures to curb the spread of Covid-19. .
Michael Goh, head of international sales for Genting Cruise Lines, said investigative calls started coming in almost immediately after the STB made its announcement.
He told ST on Monday: “The response has been overwhelming. We call it a ‘superestaycation,’ because we offer all three meals, outdoor activities like slides and rock climbing, and even a Christmas musical.
“It’s a complete vacation experience. The ship itself is the destination.”
After Covid-19 spread into migrant workers ‘dormitories, two of Genting Cruise Lines’ ships were used as dedicated quarantine facilities.
Mr. Goh said this was a blessing in disguise as it allowed the company to “gain a lot of knowledge” and use “what we have learned and apply it to our operations.”
Angie Stephen, Royal Caribbean’s chief operating officer for Asia Pacific, attributed the increase in bookings to a “suppressed desire to travel.”
She said the four-night cruise that sails every Thursday night is particularly attractive, as guests will only need to take one day off on Friday to enjoy a long weekend on the cruise.
Starting prices for both companies’ offers range from $ 359 to $ 599 per person, depending on the length of the cruise.
On board, safe distancing measures will be applied and those who are not dining must wear face masks at all times. Passengers will be required to take a mandatory swab test before they are allowed to board the boats.
On Monday, the dining experience of Singapore Airlines’ A380 @ Changi restaurant began with praise, as its more than 900 available seats were filled within 30 minutes of opening reservations.
Diners paid between $ 50 and $ 600 for a three-hour lunch on a plane.
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