/ Posted on 27 May, 2021 9:31
After a 15-month freeze, cruises out of Hong Kong will likely restart end of July – at the earliest – with strictly regulated cruise-to-nowhere itineraries for vaccinated residents.
In announcing its decision on May 26, the Hong Kong government said that participating cruises must adhere to a set of health precautionary measures specifically designed for cruise travel. These measures include sailing with a fully vaccinated crew that must undergo a Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) nucleic acid test shoreside and obtain a negative result every 14 days; having all passengers to obtain a negative PCR test result within 48 hours prior to boarding; and reducing passenger capacity to no more than 50 per cent.
The Spectrum of the Seas in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong government is targeting end-July to restart its cruise sector, giving the green light to two cruise lines to resume short sailings from the city.
Genting Cruise Lines will be offering 2- and 3-night Super Summer Seacations on the Genting Dream, the flagship of Dream Cruises fleet that features accommodation in the Balcony Staterooms and the all-inclusive, all-suite The Palace. The crucial experience gained as the first cruise line to resume in Asia with Explorer Dream and World Dream in Taiwan and Singapore, respectively, provides invaluable first-hand knowledge on how to operate cruises in the safest possible environment and it is our goal to also be the first to resume in Hong Kong, said Kent Zhu, president of Genting Cruise Lines.
Talks about protocols for cruising s restart in Hong Kong are underway Hong Kong residents may be able to take cruises to nowhere from the territory as early as this summer.
Jen Eveland | May 25, 2021
This is according to remarks by Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau to repoters on Monday.
Yau said cruise ships would need to sail from Hong Kong without calling at other international ports, and sufficient precautions will need to be taken, with crew members required to fulfil quarantine, testing and COVID-19 vaccination measures. Meanwhile, passengers must also be vaccinated, a necessity which he said is becoming a new norm for any resumption of travelling in the long term.