Cruise lines enhance preventive steps

GENTING Cruise Lines has introduced enhanced preventive measures onboard its Dream Cruises and Star Cruises fleet, with an increase in safety levels for the cruise industry due to the continuing Covid-19 situation globally.

As the health and safety of its guests and crew remained its top priority, Genting Cruise Lines said various precautionary measures with stringent health screening processes in accordance with regional government policies had been implemented from the onset of the pandemic.

As a result, the company stated that there had been no reported case of Covid-19 among guests or crew while on board or transmitted via any of Genting Cruise Lines ships to-date.

In order to further provide peace of mind and better understanding of the implemented precautionary measures for future cruising guests, Genting Cruise Lines has outlined detailed preventive steps for the recommencement of its Dream Cruises and Star Cruises ships in the near future, which is set to become the new norm for preventive standards for the fleet.

These include stringent health screening processes and protocols prior to embarkation and disembarkation, thorough sanitisation and disinfection, enhanced hygiene practices for guest cabins, various public areas and recreational activities on board as well as monitoring the health of its crew members besides food and beverage safety.

Genting Cruise Lines president Kent Zhu said with the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak regionally and globally, many guests as well as crew had developed higher awareness and expectations with regards to safety and preventive measures on cruise ships.

“As a responsible cruise company, it is our duty to adopt a proactive approach to meet besides striving to exceed the growing expectations and concerns of the public.

“As such, we have carefully reviewed our prevention and response plan with the Covid-19 pandemic in mind, to devise and provide enhanced and comprehensive measures across our fleet.

“We have taken the opportunity during this hiatus to also implement comprehensive crew training to reinforce effective cleaning procedures, health and hygiene protocols and efficient guest interaction, which we will adopt as the new safety norm for our fleet and we hope for the industry too.”

Zhu added: “For instance, all of Genting Cruise Lines ships allow for 100% external fresh air to be filtered and supplied to each passenger cabin as well as public areas.

“This ensures a constant and healthy flow of fresh air throughout the vessels.

“In addition, isolation wards are available in the medical centre and cabins can be converted into quarantine rooms if required.”

To boost confidence in future guest reservations, Genting Cruise Lines has launched “Cruise As You Wish” programme in which all new and existing Dream Cruises and Star Cruises bookings prior to or on Oct 30 this year will have the flexibility to cancel up to 48 hours before sailing and receive 100% future cruise credit to be redeemed for any Dream Cruises or Star Cruises embarking on or before March 31,2021.

“With these detailed preventative measures shared to the public along with our “Cruise As You Wish” programme, it is our hope that future cruise guests will be well-equipped with accurate information and comprehensive understanding of the safety and health protocols as well as flexible booking options across our fleet, ” said Zhu. Genting Cruise Lines also announced that it would further collaborate with China Cruise and Yacht Industry Association (CCYIA) to contribute to the publishing of a white paper on the cruise industry’s prevention and response plan against Covid-19, thus providing a comprehensive and unified standard for the industry to ensure the safety and well-being of all guests and crew members.

In endorsing the measures, Asia Cruise Terminal Association (Acta) said the association and all its members pledged to support Genting Cruise Lines’ procedures throughout its member ports located across the region, including in China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan aside from Malaysia.

Among the measures are pre-boarding health declarations for all guests, infrared temperature screening at the ship gangway, two-tier sanitisation process at all public areas on board, social distancing in guest seating in the dining and entertainment areas, and twice daily temperature checks for crew members.

With these new standards and practices in place, Genting Cruise Lines is optimistic that the cruise industry will rebound from this temporary setback and regain the confidence of all passengers when operations resume.

Genting Cruise Lines is a division of Genting Hong Kong consisting of three distinct cruise brands — Star Cruises, Dream Cruises and Crystal Cruises — providing a range of products from contemporary cruises to ultra-luxurious vacation experiences spanning sea to air.