Quantum of the Seas sailed from the Marina Bay Cruise Center in Singapore on Tuesday, December 1, in the first Royal Caribbean cruise anywhere on the globe since the industry was shut down in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The “Cruise to Nowhere” is a 3-4 night trip titled Ocean Getaways and is available to Singapore residents only and is travelling at 50 percent capacity with a total of 1,093 passengers.
Passengers were required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test 72 hours before boarding and will have to take a rapid antigen test at the cruise terminal at the end of the voyage.
Passengers had their temperature screened at the terminal, and in accordance with the Royal Caribbean health and safety protocol will have to practice social distancing, wear facemasks, and undergo daily temperature checks during the voyage.
#RoyalCaribbean’s #QuantumoftheSeas is set to depart from Singapore on Dec. 1. The sailing is for Singapore residents only and features no port calls. The ship is expected to operate at roughly 50 percent occupancy and under the company's new health and safety protocols. pic.twitter.com/1JYlBYNwYD
— Cruise Ships Passion (@shipspassion) December 1, 2020
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Quantum of the Seas: Contact tracing apps and wristbands
Guests are also required to use the Singaporean government’s TraceTogether app or TraceTogether contact tracing token which use Bluetooth signals to record other nearby TraceTogether devices. In addition, they are also being required to use Royal Caribbean’s patented tracelet contact tracing wristband which works on RFID technology.
“Singapore residents are adventurous travelers, and we are so excited to give them the opportunity to get away from their daily grind and enjoy a thrilling world-class ocean getaway, with total peace of mind,” said Angie Stephen, managing director, Asia Pacific, Royal Caribbean International, prior to the cruise. “While the cruise experience will be different than it was pre-pandemic, we are committed to providing the signature Royal Caribbean holiday that guests know and love, while keeping the health and safety of everyone on board as our top priority.”
Royal Caribbean is providing COVID-19 protection that includes a 100% credit towards a future cruise should a guest or any member of their travel party test positive for COVID-19 during the three weeks prior to their booked cruise; or a full refund if a guest, or any member of their travel party, tests positive during their voyage. Royal Caribbean will cover COVID-19 related costs up to $25,000 SGD per person in the travel party for onboard medical costs, any required quarantine and travel home.
“With the world, attention turned to Singapore, Royal Caribbean, and Quantum of the Seas on how they will lead everyone safely back into the world of cruising, let’s take a look at how the embarkation process, new safety measures and how cruises will be like in a pandemic,” the Singapore Cruise Society wrote on its Facebook page.
See a photo gallery on the Singapore Cruise Society’s instagram page.
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