Genting Cruise Line, which operates three distinct ship-based holiday brands - StarCruise, DreamCruise and CrystalCruise - says DreamCruise is ready to resume cruise services to Taiwan. The company added in a press release on Sunday that its cruise ship Explorer Dream (pictured) will offer a new "island hopping" schedule for the Taiwanese market.

Dream Cruises will offer new cruises at ports and islands in Fenghu, Matsu and Kinman as well as Hualien.

Genting Cruise Lines is a division of Genting Hong Ltd., a casino cruise ship operator and Asian land casino investor.

"It is a great honor for Genting Cruise Line to continue its long and fruitful partnership with Taiwan, which will begin to embark on a path of recovery together due to the COVID-19 pandemic and bring hope to the global cruise industry," Kent, Genting Cruise Line's president, said in a release

Genting Cruise Line confirmed to GGRA earlier this year that it was cutting salaries for senior staff because of the negative impact on its business caused by the novel coronavirus.

The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to have a long negative impact on the cruise industry, observers say, as it has already forced a number of cruise lines to cancel travel and suspend operations.

Genting Cruise Lines said it had "completely rechecked and improved" all health, hygiene and operational protocols "to ensure the safest environment for all aboard" in preparation to welcome the first passengers on the reopened service

The company also said it will implement social distancing procedures in dining, entertainment, and public places, as well as measures to ensure fresh air circulates in theaters and public places. The returning Explorer Dream will carry only a third of its normal maximum passenger load, according to media reports. Several locations on board, including casinos and spas, will also remain closed. 안전한 카지노사이트

Before resuming sailing, Explorer Dream and its crew had to observe a 21-day quarantine period. The crew also had to take nucleic acid tests to prove they were free from COVID-19 infection, as required by Taiwanese authorities.