SeaDream Yacht Club devised a tentative plan to resume sailings in the Caribbean on November 8 to islands that are open to tourism.
Passengers from the USA would likely have to take a total of three COVID tests before boarding the superyachts, SeaDream's executives revealed in a Zoom webinar on Thursday, September 3.
The line has operated a successful short cruise season in Norway for Scandinavian guests. SeaDream emerged unscathed by the virus, although there was a scare when a traveler tested positive after he returned back home to Denmark (later, it was determined the test was a false positive). All passengers and crew members who were onboard SeaDream I subsequently tested negative.
According to Emilio R. Freeman, vice president-destinations and revenue management, the company was looking at 7-day roundtrips from Barbados to destinations in St. Vincent & The Grenadines and Grenada.
SeaDream Yacht Club, which operates two 112-passenger vessels, wants to visit places that are already open and off the beaten path where large cruise ships do not go, Freeman said.
As for testing, SeaDream executives said it was likely that passengers, especially those from the United States and other high-risk places, would have to arrive in Barbados with proof of a negative COVID-19 test result within the past 72 hours and then get tested again at the airport. The cruise line would test again prior to boarding. SeaDream Yacht Club revealed its rapid-result testing could test 50 people per hour.
Onboard, temperatures will be checked on a daily basis. According to SeaDream executive, Andreas Brynestad, each cabin had its own supply of fresh air and the air did not recirculate. Brynestad added that even if U.S. residents were still considered high-risk when cruising resumed, the company could operate successfully without Americans onboard.
President Bob Lepisto highlighted SeaDream’s “Ultimate Booking Assurance,” allowing for a full refund or 120% future cruise credit (FCC) for cancellations forced by travel restrictions until the departure date through June 30, 2021. In case there are no travel restrictions, passengers can cancel anyway and the cruise line will move their funds to a future date.