First cruise line sets sail in Caribbean waters since March
SeaDream Yacht Club last weekend became the first luxury cruise line to resume operations and sail in Caribbean waters since the global lockdown of the cruise industry in March.
The cruise line, which has a passenger capacity of 112, sailed out of Barbados with 52 guests aboard on November 8.
SeaDream has strict COVID-19 protocols for travellers. Coupled with the negative COVID-19 test results that are required by Barbadian officials, all arriving passengers had to do another test before they board the cruise ship. The onboarding process is also marked by regular sanitisation of both hands and luggage.
Passengers are also subjected to daily temperature checks for the duration of the cruise and will even have to do another test after four days on board.
But once passengers pass the initial tests and are cleared to board the SeaDream cruise vessel in Barbados, they will no longer be required to wear masks. Company officials say the wearing of masks has been eliminated by the rigorous testing required before boarding the yacht.
This decision is being questioned by many in the travel industry, especially since the COVID-19 virus is still being studied by scientists around the world.
The SeaDream is set to make several stops in St Vincent and the Grenadines as well as Grenada where it will make its final call.
The BVI has close ties to both countries. Many persons in the BVI travel to and from St Vincent and the Grenadines on a regular basis.
If this first voyage goes well, SeaDream is hoping to embark on many others in Caribbean waters in the coming weeks. It’s not clear whether they will make stops in the BVI once the tourism industry reopens on December 1.
SeaDream has strict COVID-19 protocols for travellers. Coupled with the negative COVID-19 test results that are required by Barbadian officials, all arriving passengers had to do another test before they board the cruise ship. The onboarding process is also marked by regular sanitisation of both hands and luggage.
Passengers are also subjected to daily temperature checks for the duration of the cruise and will even have to do another test after four days on board.
But once passengers pass the initial tests and are cleared to board the SeaDream cruise vessel in Barbados, they will no longer be required to wear masks. Company officials say the wearing of masks has been eliminated by the rigorous testing required before boarding the yacht.
This decision is being questioned by many in the travel industry, especially since the COVID-19 virus is still being studied by scientists around the world.
The SeaDream is set to make several stops in St Vincent and the Grenadines as well as Grenada where it will make its final call.
The BVI has close ties to both countries. Many persons in the BVI travel to and from St Vincent and the Grenadines on a regular basis.
If this first voyage goes well, SeaDream is hoping to embark on many others in Caribbean waters in the coming weeks. It’s not clear whether they will make stops in the BVI once the tourism industry reopens on December 1.
