Genting HK has made good on its plans to launch cruises to nowhere. The company’s Genting Cruise Lines arm struck a deal with Singapore to offer the meandering cruises as a way to get people’s minds off the COVID-19 pandemic, and has now made a splash with its first official sailing out of the country, following a similar introduction in Taiwan this past July. There was apparently no shortage of interest, either, for this first trip. 

The World Dream set sail this past Friday on its first trip with around 1,400 passengers, about half of its maximum capacity and reportedly the maximum allowed due to anti-coronavirus policies. Those policies also include social distancing procedures in all public areas, increased food and beverage handling rules, 100% fresh air ventilation in the staterooms and public areas, as well as the ship’s inclusion of a new medical facility. That facility includes a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine, which can reportedly detect bacteria and viruses much quicker than other methods.

Apart from the PCR machine, all guests and crew will be tested regularly, as well. Before gaining access to the ship, all guests will have to pass a COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test, and those who are seven years old or older will have to carry a MICE Pod token, which monitors wearers to ensure they adhere to social distancing guidelines. That requirement stems from orders passed down by Singapore’s Ministry of Health.

The cruises are going to be short – only around two or three nights.  However, they should offer some much-needed relief and give people the ability to step away from the stress caused by being on lockdown. However, the cruise industry has often been seen as a breeding ground for the virus, with large quantities of people confined to smaller spaces where the virus can be propagated more easily.