Royal Caribbean sailing again with 'cruises to nowhere'

The cruise giant's first cruise in nine months left Singapore at only 30 per cent capacity – and Britons aren't able to board.

Almost nine months after the coronavirus pandemic brought the global cruise industry to a standstill, Royal Caribbean has returned to the water.

Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas departed Singapore on December 1 in the first of its series of short ‘Ocean Getaways’ – also known as ‘cruises to nowhere’. As the latter name suggests, these are voyages that start and end at the same destination, without calling at any ports.

The 4,180-passenger ship set sail at a reduced capacity of 30 per cent as part of the precautions put in place due to the pandemic, with the cruise only open to Singapore residents.

Passengers onboard Royal Caribbean’s first vessel to resume sailing during the time of Covid-19 were required to take a Covid-19 test 48 to 72 hours before boarding, and to be able to prove a negative result.

The cruise giant is covering the cost of tests for sailings departing on or before January 30, 2021, and this may be extended depending on the Covid-19 situation.

Read my story for The Telegraph here:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/royal-caribbean-sailing-cruises-nowhere/