American cruise line Royal Caribbean International has received Singapore government approval to operate meek cruises from Singapore. These short cruises of 3-4 nights will be operated on one of the most innovative cruise ships in the world - Quantum of the Seas. The start of cruises within the framework of the pilot project is scheduled for 12/01/2020.

The Royal Caribbean Group has partnered with cruise industry partners to form a Healthy Sail Panel of internationally renowned medical and public health experts to develop guidelines for the most reliable protocols in the travel industry. In Singapore, Royal Caribbean works closely with local health and tourism authorities to comply with all requirements and laws, including the CruiseSafe safety certifications that all cruise lines must obtain to exit Singapore.

Prior to resuming cruises, Royal Caribbean will implement a full suite of health and safety measures at every stage of a guest's journey, with strict protocols including: testing and verification; upgraded heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems that improve filtration; strict cleaning methods; reduced capacity for social distancing; qualified medical care and much more. These protocols will be continually evaluated and improved as new procedures and technological advances emerge.

At the moment, cruises will be available to citizens of Singapore. This practice is not new. As we informed you before, other cruise lines have resumed cruises (Full list HERE).

 

MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises have resumed Mediterranean cruises for citizens of Italy and the Schengen area only.

Now, these cruises are not available for Ukrainian citizens due to the growing number of cases and, as a result, closed borders. But this trend shows positive dynamics:

- More and more liners resume cruises;

- The number of cruise companies that resume cruises is increasing;

- Security protocols prove their relevance;

- Lack of virus outbreaks on the liner.

When it comes to the likelihood of getting sick, it's safe to say that cruise ships are some of the safest places imaginable, especially after safety protocols have been implemented. For example, the chances of getting infected in a supermarket, plane, cafe or some hotel are much higher, as confirmed by the results of the Advanced Cruise Ship Inspection Search.