- Quantum of the Seas departed on December 1st on a short sailing to begin a new season of cruises from the small South Asian country.
- All guests must undergo a SARS-CoV-2 (rtPCR) test within 3 days prior to boarding and obtain a negative result.
- Guests who have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the past 180 days will not be able to receive a PCR test, and are therefore unable to cruise.
- Guests will be provided another wearable piece of technology called a “Tracelet”, which will assist in contact tracing onboard.
It has been almost nine months, but the first Royal Caribbean cruise ship is back in service with paying passengers in Singapore.Quantum of the Seas departed on December 1st on a short sailing to begin a new season of cruises from the small South Asian country, says the Royal Caribbean blog.
Checking in
Quantum of the Seas is sailing from the Marina Bay Cruise Centre, and the check-in process has added health checks to the normal embarkation day process.
All guests traveling aboard Quantum of the Seas, regardless of age, must undergo a SARS-CoV-2 (rtPCR) test within 3 days prior to boarding and obtain a negative result. Royal Caribbean will cover the cost of your test for sailings departing on or before March 18, 2021.
Booking a test
All tests will need to be booked through Royal Caribbean’s testing provider – Eurofins. Royal Caribbean will email guests 14 days prior to your sailing with information on how to book the test with the testing provider.
Safety precautions
In addition, masks are required in the terminal (and onboard the ship).
Guests will also have to undergo another COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test (ART) at the cruise terminal upon disembarkation at the end of their voyage.
Guests who have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the past 180 days before embarking, or hold a positive serology certificate dated during this timeframe, will not be able to receive a PCR test, and are therefore unable to cruise.
Contact tracing
Something new for Quantum of the Seas is guests must download a contact tracing app on their phone, or collected a token.
Guests have the choice of downloading the TraceTogether app or collected the TraceTogether (TT) token in order to board the ship.
The TraceTogether system
TraceTogether is a digital system which the Singaporean Government had implemented to allow for better contact tracing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore. The system was initially made up of an app, by the same name, and was later supplemented by a physical token. The token and the mobile application work offline but using Bluetooth technology, and records the token ID of others in close contact of guests above a certain time. The token will not record location data etc.
The Tracelet
Guests will be provided another wearable piece of technology called a “Tracelet”, which will assist in contact tracing onboard. Guests will be required to have the Tracelet, TraceTogether Token/App active always throughout the voyage. Crew members will also be required to participate in this contact tracing effort.
It is important to note that children below 7 years old are exempted and are not required to have the TT Token or app with them.
Embarkation
After completing check-in, guests are able to board the ship with a new emphasis on social distancing
Health protocols
Royal Caribbean has added a variety of new health protocols to keep guests and crew healthy onboard.
In each stateroom is a complimentary face mask, as well as hand sanitizer to use.Social distancing markers and reserved chairs to promote social distancing are found all over the ship.
At the Windjammer buffet, guests are served by the waiters there.
Safety drill
Another big change is Muster 2.0, which is a new approach to the cruise ship safety drill.
Instead of going to a muster station and standing in close proximity to others while listening to safety instructions, guests can conduct the safety drill from their stateroom television or in the Royal Caribbean app.
After completing the steps in the eMuster, guests then go to their muster station to confirm they know where it is located and are marked done.In an effort to be be as contactless as possible, guests can also view menus and order items via the QR codes.
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Source: Royal Caribbean blog
