"Cruises to nowhere" from Singapore will start in November 2020.

Two cruise lines have been given the green light to offer these round-trip cruises with no ports of call.

Genting Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International will cater only to Singapore residents at a reduced capacity of 50 per cent, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said in a statement on Oct. 8.

Both cruises are homeported in Singapore.

Can't use SingapoRediscovers vouchers

The "safe cruise" pilot follows the development of a set of safety guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid-19 on board the cruises.

However, the $100 SingapoRediscovers vouchers that Singaporeans will receive in December 2020 will not be redeemable for sailings.

Start sailing soon

Genting Cruise Lines' World Dream will begin sailing on Nov. 6.

Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas will begin sailing in December.

All passengers will have to be tested for Covid-19 prior to boarding as part of the STB's CruiseSafe programme.

CruiseSafe standards include:

- Infection control measures at every stage of a passenger's journey, including a mandatory Covid-19 test prior to boarding.

- Strict and frequent cleaning and sanitisation protocols on ships.

- Safe management measures aligned with prevailing national policy at the time of sailing

- Ensuring 100 per cent fresh air throughout the ship, so no recirculation of air.

- Reducing ship capacity to enable sufficient safe distancing.

- Setting up onboard measures to discourage close contact and intermingling between groups of passengers.

- Emergency response plans for incidents relating to Covid-19.

They will also have to comply with safe management measures, such as mask-wearing and 1m safe distancing.

The CruiseSafe programme is benchmarked against global health and safety standards, including those of the World Health Organisation, Cruise Lines International Association, and Singapore's own SG Clean national cleanliness initiative.

Background

Cruise ships have not been allowed to call in Singapore since March 13.

Countries around the world closed its ports to these vessels over fears that they may carry infected passengers.

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