郵輪發現確診病例，新加坡旅游業再受打擊
KYUNGHEE PARK，彭博社
2020-12-11
本周三凌晨，皇家加勒比公司的一艘“無終點”郵輪上發現了新冠病毒的確診病例，該郵輪只得提前一天結束原定四天的航程，返回了新加坡。
這艘“海洋量子號”上大約有2000名左右的乘客。當地時間凌晨2時45分許，船長通過船上的廣播系統向乘客告知了當前事態：一位被確診為新冠病毒陽性的患者已經被隔離，官員們正在追蹤其密切接觸者。
上午8時左右，船長再次廣播稱，一名感覺不適的乘客已被確診為新冠病毒陽性感染者。所有與該乘客有接觸的人已經接受核酸檢測并被隔離觀察，請其他乘客繼續留在艙室。一旦密切接觸者的追溯工作結束，乘客們將被允許上岸，但目前尚不清楚這一過程要持續多長時間。另外，乘客在下船前也必須接受核酸檢測。
該郵輪在一則通知中表示：“我們知道，這不是你們計劃中的旅行，為此深感抱歉。我們再次強調，這樣做既是為了維護您的切身利益，也是為了保護所有旅客的健康。”船長通過廣播系統宣布，會在當天中午11點繼續發布最新消息。
這條新聞不啻于對新加坡的又一次打擊。新加坡是一個面積狹小的島國，經濟嚴重依賴于旅游業的收入。就在上個月，備受期待的新加坡-香港航空旅行“快捷通道”（即互免入境隔離觀察）也因香港確診病例數的增加而被擱置了。
自疫情以來，為了振興旅游業，讓旅客有機會發泄一下旅游的欲望，皇家加勒比公司和云頂公司都開通了所謂的“無終點”航線，也就是郵輪海上航行幾天，不經停任何城市，便返回出發點。而這起事件無疑是“無終點”航線的一個沉重打擊，特別是“海洋量子號”上還有受邀體驗該航線的媒體記者。
允許抽煙，打電話免費
與此同時，其他國家也正在艱難地推動旅游業從疫情中復蘇。由于全球各熱門景區相繼淪陷，日本只得出臺一項政策，號召國人盡量在國內旅游。而在歐洲，今年夏天的旅游消費，也被認為是引發第二波疫情的導火索。
新加坡已經為郵輪公司和旅客制定了嚴格的規定。工作人員和乘客必須接受核酸檢測，郵輪上也強化了消毒和空氣流通措施。另外，郵輪的載客量也被限制在平時的50%。
不過最終的事實證明，僅靠這些措施，尚不足以應付這種已經造成全球6800多萬人感染、奪走了近160萬人生命的病毒。
皇家加勒比公司在通知中向乘客表示，郵輪將向乘客提供免費電話服務，以方便大家更改旅游行程。人們也可以在艙室的洗手間里吸煙——當然，一般情況下這是絕對會被禁止的。這艘船幾乎處于滿員的狀態，而且很多家庭都帶有小孩。
據“海洋量子號”上的彭博社記者稱，郵輪方面給每間客艙門外都放了5瓶1.5升的瓶裝水，而且在早上8點半到9點半之間給大家送了早餐。郵輪方面呼吁乘客耐心等待最新通知。很多人都站在艙室外面的陽臺上，以獲得更好的網絡信號。
皇家加勒比公司在通知中表示：“所有受影響的旅客都將以積分形式獲得相當于一天旅程的退款。此外，我們還將為您提供相當于一天郵輪費用的積分，以便您在未來乘坐郵輪時享用。我們將致力于維護您的健康，并讓接下來的幾天輕松愉快。”
對于已經預訂了周四出發的另一班郵輪的人，則可以取消預訂，并且也可以獲得退款積分。
由于跨國出行幾乎成為不可能，新加坡只能想方設法刺激國內經濟。當地推出了各種在高檔酒店以及在樟宜國際機場宿營的“一日游”套餐，政府還推出了一項國內旅游活動，并撥出3.2億新元（約合2.4億美元）的貸款，鼓勵國民支持本地企業。政府還向所有18歲以上的公民發放了100加元的消費抵用券，這些抵用券也可以用于住宿和觀光旅游。（財富中文網）
譯者：樸成奎
本周三凌晨，皇家加勒比公司的一艘“無終點”郵輪上發現了新冠病毒的確診病例，該郵輪只得提前一天結束原定四天的航程，返回了新加坡。
這艘“海洋量子號”上大約有2000名左右的乘客。當地時間凌晨2時45分許，船長通過船上的廣播系統向乘客告知了當前事態：一位被確診為新冠病毒陽性的患者已經被隔離，官員們正在追蹤其密切接觸者。
上午8時左右，船長再次廣播稱，一名感覺不適的乘客已被確診為新冠病毒陽性感染者。所有與該乘客有接觸的人已經接受核酸檢測并被隔離觀察，請其他乘客繼續留在艙室。一旦密切接觸者的追溯工作結束，乘客們將被允許上岸，但目前尚不清楚這一過程要持續多長時間。另外，乘客在下船前也必須接受核酸檢測。
該郵輪在一則通知中表示：“我們知道，這不是你們計劃中的旅行，為此深感抱歉。我們再次強調，這樣做既是為了維護您的切身利益，也是為了保護所有旅客的健康。”船長通過廣播系統宣布，會在當天中午11點繼續發布最新消息。
這條新聞不啻于對新加坡的又一次打擊。新加坡是一個面積狹小的島國，經濟嚴重依賴于旅游業的收入。就在上個月，備受期待的新加坡-香港航空旅行“快捷通道”（即互免入境隔離觀察）也因香港確診病例數的增加而被擱置了。
自疫情以來，為了振興旅游業，讓旅客有機會發泄一下旅游的欲望，皇家加勒比公司和云頂公司都開通了所謂的“無終點”航線，也就是郵輪海上航行幾天，不經停任何城市，便返回出發點。而這起事件無疑是“無終點”航線的一個沉重打擊，特別是“海洋量子號”上還有受邀體驗該航線的媒體記者。
允許抽煙，打電話免費
與此同時，其他國家也正在艱難地推動旅游業從疫情中復蘇。由于全球各熱門景區相繼淪陷，日本只得出臺一項政策，號召國人盡量在國內旅游。而在歐洲，今年夏天的旅游消費，也被認為是引發第二波疫情的導火索。
新加坡已經為郵輪公司和旅客制定了嚴格的規定。工作人員和乘客必須接受核酸檢測，郵輪上也強化了消毒和空氣流通措施。另外，郵輪的載客量也被限制在平時的50%。
不過最終的事實證明，僅靠這些措施，尚不足以應付這種已經造成全球6800多萬人感染、奪走了近160萬人生命的病毒。
皇家加勒比公司在通知中向乘客表示，郵輪將向乘客提供免費電話服務，以方便大家更改旅游行程。人們也可以在艙室的洗手間里吸煙——當然，一般情況下這是絕對會被禁止的。這艘船幾乎處于滿員的狀態，而且很多家庭都帶有小孩。
據“海洋量子號”上的彭博社記者稱，郵輪方面給每間客艙門外都放了5瓶1.5升的瓶裝水，而且在早上8點半到9點半之間給大家送了早餐。郵輪方面呼吁乘客耐心等待最新通知。很多人都站在艙室外面的陽臺上，以獲得更好的網絡信號。
皇家加勒比公司在通知中表示：“所有受影響的旅客都將以積分形式獲得相當于一天旅程的退款。此外，我們還將為您提供相當于一天郵輪費用的積分，以便您在未來乘坐郵輪時享用。我們將致力于維護您的健康，并讓接下來的幾天輕松愉快。”
對于已經預訂了周四出發的另一班郵輪的人，則可以取消預訂，并且也可以獲得退款積分。
由于跨國出行幾乎成為不可能，新加坡只能想方設法刺激國內經濟。當地推出了各種在高檔酒店以及在樟宜國際機場宿營的“一日游”套餐，政府還推出了一項國內旅游活動，并撥出3.2億新元（約合2.4億美元）的貸款，鼓勵國民支持本地企業。政府還向所有18歲以上的公民發放了100加元的消費抵用券，這些抵用券也可以用于住宿和觀光旅游。（財富中文網）
譯者：樸成奎
A Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. ship is back in Singapore on what was meant to be day three of a four-day cruise to nowhere after a positive COVID-19 case was identified on board early Wednesday.
About 2,000 passengers aboard the Quantum of the Seas vessel were informed of the development by the ship’s captain over the public announcement system at about 2:45 a.m. local time. The passenger who tested positive was isolated while officials traced their contacts.
Around 8 a.m., the captain told passengers that one passenger felt unwell and tested positive for COVID. All those found to have contact with the person have been tested and quarantined. Other passengers were told to stay in their staterooms. Once contact tracing has been completed, they will be allowed to disembark, but it’s unclear how long that will take. Passengers will also have to take a rapid COVID test to leave the ship.
“We know this isn’t exactly how you planned to spend your cruise, and we are terribly sorry,” a note sent to passengers on Wednesday read. “Again, this is for your benefit and to ensure all guests remain healthy and well.” The captain, in an announcement over the ship’s loudspeaker, said an update would be provided at 11 a.m.
The news is another set back for Singapore, a tiny island nation whose economy relies heavily on the tourist dollar. Just last month a highly anticipated air travel bubble between Singapore and Hong Kong that would have replaced quarantine with COVID testing was scrapped due to rising case numbers in Hong Kong.
Royal Caribbean International and Genting Cruise Lines have been running cruises to nowhere -- voyages that depart and arrive back in the same destination after a stint sailing around offshore -- as the city state aims to bolster its tourism sector and give residents an outlet for their wanderlust. The positive case is a blow to that push, with reporters invited on board the Quantum of the Seas to experience the new initiative.
Smoking, Free Phone Calls
It comes as other countries struggle to revive and reinvent their tourism sectors for the COVID era. Japan has had to rein in an initiative that encouraged residents to travel domestically after tourist areas saw an uptick in virus infections. In Europe, the resumption of vacation travel in summer is thought to have fanned the current second wave.
Stringent protocols for cruise operators and passengers to permit the Singapore pilot voyages were established. These included testing of crew and passengers, increased sanitization and fresh air circulation measures. Cruises were also required to sail at a reduced passenger capacity of 50%.
Ultimately, those proved insufficient to combat a virus that’s now infected more than 68 million people globally and taken the lives of almost 1.6 million.
Royal Caribbean in its note to passengers said that free phone service would be provided in order to help people adjust their travel plans. People are also being allowed to smoke in their bathrooms, even though this is normally prohibited. The cruise, almost at full capacity, has a large number of families on board with small children.
Five 1.5 liter bottles of water have been left outside staterooms and breakfast was delivered between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., according to a Bloomberg reporter who is on board. Passengers are being urged to be patient and wait for updates. Some that have rooms with balconies are standing outside to try to get better internet access.
“All impacted guests will receive a refund in the form of an onboard credit for the day missed,” Royal Caribbean said in its note to guests. “Additionally, we will provide you with a future cruise credit for the value of one day’s worth of cruise fare paid to be used on a future sailing. We are dedicated to maintaining your well-being and making the next few?days?relaxing and enjoyable.”
Those who had booked on another cruise that was to depart Thursday can cancel and will receive a refund credit.
With international travel all but off limits, Singapore has been trying to come up with ways to stimulate its domestic economy. On offer are daycations at hotels plus luxury overnight camping at Changi Airport, and the government has launched a domestic tourism campaign, with S$320 million ($240 million) in credits set aside to encourage residents to support local businesses. The S$100 vouchers, which have been sent to all Singaporeans aged 18 and above, can be used for attractions, hotel stays and tours.
財富中文網所刊載內容之知識產權為財富媒體知識產權有限公司及/或相關權利人專屬所有或持有。未經許可，禁止進行轉載、摘編、復制及建立鏡像等任何使用。
