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Upcoming cruises to nowhere will be a safer alternative to land vacations at a comparable price, according to the two cruise lines approved to go ahead with travel in time for the year-end vacations.
Genting Cruise Lines’ World Dream will begin sailing on November 6, while Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas will depart in December.
Genting Cruise Lines will offer two- and three-night cruises, starting at $ 359 and $ 599, respectively. There will be an additional charge of $ 60 for a mandatory nasal swab test for passengers 13 years and older, which will be performed on the day of departure.
Royal Caribbean will offer three and four night cruises, starting at $ 374 and $ 509, respectively.
While there will be no self-service buffets, most activities on the ships will proceed as normal, the cruise lines said.
Angie Stephen, Royal Caribbean Group’s Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific, told The Straits Times that their cruise prices are “in line with, or even slightly less,” than those for hotel stay packages on land. .
And while consumers may be concerned about the possibility of an onboard outbreak after one on the Diamond Princess ship made headlines this year, these cruises are safer than stays ashore, he said.
“It is important for people to realize that the Diamond Princess situation occurred in January and February, when the world had no idea of the impact of Covid-19, let alone how to control it,” he added.
In addition to Singapore’s safe management rules, the approved trips will have additional measures such as pre-shipment inspection, he said. “When you think about it, a cruise ship is a very safe bubble.”
If a case is confirmed on board, Royal Caribbean will use Bluetooth contact tracing to isolate people with whom the infected person had close contact, Ms Stephen said.
Michael Goh, head of international sales for Genting Cruise Lines and president of Dream Cruises, said he has been operating domestic cruises in Taiwan without incident.
Two of its ships were also used to house recovered foreign workers here earlier this year, and the lessons have proven useful for crew training, he added.
The design of its vessels ensures there is no recirculation of air on board, Goh said, adding that consumer education is key to rebuilding confidence in cruise ships.
To provide peace of mind, both cruise lines are offering future sailing credit to guests who test positive for Covid-19 before boarding. Royal Caribbean will also cover up to $ 25,000 per person for Covid-19-related costs, including medical costs on board, any required quarantines, and the trip home.
Dr. Wong King Yin, professor of marketing at Nanyang Technological University, said that the acceptance rate of these cruises would be difficult to predict.
While cruise ships traditionally draw older crowds, operators can take the opportunity to target younger travelers who haven’t considered cruise vacations before, he added.
“This group of people may be less risk averse and don’t mind trying new experiences,” he said.
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