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The first cruise line to sail in the Caribbean since the global shutdown of cruising back in March has officially resumed operations.
The SeaDream 1 officially set sail from Barbados on Saturday November 7th for a seven day cruise with port stops in Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
(Image: SeaDream Yacht Club)
SeaDream Yacht Club is the first cruise line to set sail in the Caribbean onboard the SeaDream 1. The cruise line specializes in small ship cruising with specialized and intimate sailings.
The 110 passenger yacht had been sailing in Norway and then had a quick stop in the UK before crossing the Atlantic to Barbados. The ship has successfully navigated the pandemic under strict health and safety protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
(Image: SeaDream Yacht Club)
According to the SeaDream Yacht Club website, SeaDream 1 has 7 itineraries planned before the end of 2020 all departing from Bridgetown, Barbados for 7 day voyages.
Passengers can expect a new boarding process as the cruise line has strict health protocols for preventing COVID-19 onboard.
(Image: SeaDream Yacht Club)
All passengers are required to be tested for COVID-19 twice before boarding the SeaDream 1.
The first test required by Barbados requires passengers to present proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR swab test no older than 72 hours prior to entering the country. This is also required by SeaDream.
The second test comes right before boarding the ship. The method of testing once again is the more accurate PCR swab test.
(Image: SeaDream Yacht Club)
According to TPG, the boarding process took 48 minutes from the time of arriving at the pier to being onboard the cruise ship.
Once on the ship, Gene Sloan from The Points Guy noted that staff and passengers are not required to wear masks. Since a COVID-19 free ‘bubble' has been created, the extra step of masks is not required.
Cruising Returns Around The World
Large ship cruising has already returned to Europe. MSC has has lead the way with large ship cruising calling on multiple international ports with two cruise ships. They have yet to report a single case of COVID-19 on board after 7 successful cruises.
Costa has resumed operation on three cruise ships in Italy and also has yet to report a single case of COVID-19.
A total of 10 cruise lines have now resumed operations.
U.S. Cruising Return
The ‘no sail order' has officially been dropped by the CDC in exchange for a conditional sailing order.
Large cruise lines in the U.S. are scrambling to receive a conditional sailing certificate which will allow them to return to sailing by January.
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