Taiwan's first round-island cruise ship docked in Port Kaohsiung on Friday, October 23, on a 4-day voyage launched as part of the efforts to boost domestic travel amid the COVID crisis.
Genting Cruise Lines/GHK's vessel Explorer Dream embarked the previous day from Keelung, Taiwan, taking nearly 1200 passengers to Kaohsiung and Hualien in the east.
The cruise is among the latest packages from the line to operate domestic tourism in Taiwan due to COVID, the first taking the form of island-hopping itineraries from Keelung to islands like Kinmen, Penghu, and Matsu from July.
The new round-island voyage was provided in response to the market response to island-hopping tours, the company revealed, adding that the campaign will last through the end of November.
Guests can choose from 1- to 5-night itineraries out of Keelung to destinations like Anping in Tainan, Penghu, Kaohsiung, Hualien, and sightseeing sailings to view the "Milky Sea" surrounding Guishan Island off Yilan and Keelung Islet.
The cruise ship, which has a capacity of 3,630 guests, is keeping numbers down in order to practice disease-control measures like social distancing.