Cruise operator Genting Hong Kong aims to resume China services with ‘cruises to nowhere’ from Sanya by year-end

Cruise operator Genting Hong Kong said it plans to resume service in mainland China by the end of the year with “cruises to nowhere” from Sanya city.

The company has been in discussions with the government of China’s southern Hainan province about the cruises, said Kent Zhu, the president of Genting Cruise Lines, which is a part of Genting Hong Kong. “We have submitted the necessary documents to the ministry of transport for approval, and aim to resume cruises by the end of the year,” he said.

The move comes after a period of misery for the industry. Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, about US$50 billion in economic activity, 334,000 jobs and US$15 billion in wages were lost between mid-March and the end of September, according to Cruise Lines International Association. Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise operator, reported a net loss of US$2.9 billion from June to August. Genting, meanwhile, recorded US$742.6 million in losses for the six months ended on June 30.

The company resumed service in Singapore, after World Dream, a cruise ship under its luxury Dream Cruises brand, started its “Super Seacation” sailings on Friday. About 1,400 passengers embarked on the inaugural trip. The company is offering two-night and three-night cruises on the open seas.

World Dream was operating at 50 per cent of its capacity, and all crew members and passengers aged 6 months and above were required to take a Covid-19 testing.

In recent months, some cruises have indeed set off from some countries, but on board infections led to a rethink over a full-fledged resumption. Some governments are still cautious about lifting bans on cruising – Canada, for instance, extended its ban on cruises through February 2021.