Singapore sets sail towards a safe and gradual resumption of cruising

Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has developed a mandatory CruiseSafe certification for cruise lines and sailings are set to restart with a pilot in November for Singapore residents. The STB’s new CruiseSafe certification programme sets out stringent hygiene and safety measures throughout the passenger journey – from prior to boarding, to after disembarkation. The pilot cruises will start on 6 November and all be round-trips with no ports of call; sail at a reduced capacity of up to 5%; and are only open to Singapore residents Genting Cruise Lines’ World Dream will embark first, with Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas sailing in December. Both are homeported in Singapore. The government will monitor the outcomes of the pilot sailings carefully before deciding on the next steps for cruises. STB’s CruiseSafe was created in consultation with the industry and is benchmarked against global health and safety standards. Singapore is one of the first countries in the world to develop and implement a mandatory audit and certification programme for cruise lines before they can commence sailings. “This cruise pilot is a valuable opportunity for cruise operators to reinvent the entire cruise experience in order to regain the confidence of passengers. As ASEAN’s lead coordinator for cruise development, Singapore remains committed to supporting and growing cruise tourism in the region. We will continue to work with cruise lines and our industry stakeholders to chart a new course for safe cruising,” said Keith Tan, chief executive, Singapore Tourism Board. More information on Singapore’s prevailing requirements for cross border travel can be found here.