A recent COVID-19 spike in Asia has led Singapore to restrict its cruise ship capacity, as well as Taiwan and Malaysia to temporarily suspend cruising operations.
Following a surge in locally transmitted cases, Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center raised the COVID-19 warning to level 2, suspending, among others, domestic cruises operated by Genting brand Dream Cruises’ 75,300-gt cruise ship Explorer Dream, for a period starting from 12 May to 8 June.
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In addition, Malaysia has introduced a nationwide lockdown as of 12 May up to 7 June, as a result from a latest increase in COVID-19 cases. This led Genting Cruise Lines to postpone launch of Star Pisces, which was planned to become the first cruise ship to resume sailings in the country from Penang Port on 13 May.
Meanwhile, a surge in COVID-19 cases in Singapore has brought a month-long partial lockdown (up to 13 June), starting from last Sunday. As a result, Dream Cruises’ World Dream and Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas will continue sailing with bookings limited to two passengers per cabin, which means at about 25% capacity.
On Friday, Japanese NYK Cruises Co informed that its cruise ship “Asuka II”, with 295 passengers and 425 crew members onboard, was returning to Yokohama, after a passenger tested positive for COVID-19. All passengers had tested negative prior to the cruise, but the company conducted another round of tests at its boarding reception on Thursday, which identified the case.
