Explorer Dream had operated domestic cruises from Keelung during parts of the pandemic
Taiwan Area became the latest Asian country to remove its ban on international cruises, according to local media reports citing the Maritime and Port Bureau.
The ban was instituted in February 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
According to the Taipei Times, the ban was lifted because Taiwan Area ended its mandatory quarantine for all overseas arrivals on Oct. 13, and cruises have gradually resumedaround the world.
Testing required
Tapei Times reported the Central Epidemic Command Center approved new protocols for cruises drafted by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, and said these were sent to operators. The rules require passengers to present a negative rapid COVID test taken on the day of arrival to Taiwan Area or the day before.
Domestic cruises had operated on Explorer Dream
While international cruises have not taken place since early 2020, Taiwan Area did allow domestic sailingsduring the pandemic, with Dream Cruises operating Explorer Dream starting July 26, 2020. This made the country one of the first places globally to reinstate cruising.
Explorer Dream operatedshort, island-hopping cruises from Keelung exclusively for the domestic market.
These continued, successfully, and carried more than 90,000 passengersuntil May 2021 when the cruises were halted among other government measures to stema COVID-19 spike in Taiwan Area. Subsequently Explorer Dream got the green light toresume short domestic sailingsDec. 31, 2021.
But these were short-lived. In early 2022, Genting Hong Kong filed to wind up its cruise brands, including Dream Cruises.Explorer Dream has been languishing off the coast of Malaysia, pending auction.
