Royal Caribbean International will start sailing at ports in Malaysia later this month, with stops in Penang and Port Klang. The company announced on Thursday (June 2nd) that it will offer three- and four-night cruises on its Spectrum of the Seas from June 30th.

This marks the beginning of international cruises from Singapore and the end of almost two years of cruises to nowhere - which began in November 2020 - as an attempt to return to safe cruising in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Singapore has abolished cruise ship ports since March 2020.

According to the Royal Caribbean website, the three-night cruise will stop in Penang, while the four-night cruise will stop in Penang and Port Klang. Prices for a three-night cruise start at $ 310, while prices for a four-night cruise start at $ 390.

All guests must have passports valid for six months and should update the MySeachter tracking application before the cruise.

After filling out the form before leaving, they will receive a Blue Passenger Card in the application, which they will show to the Malaysian authorities after disembarking. Travelers can choose to book an excursion on the coast when they disembark or decide to go alone. Coastal excursions include a visit to the Church of St. George in Penang and a trip to the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur.

As part of the agreement with the Malaysian authorities, no additional tests on the Covid-19 will be required upon arrival, as long as the passengers meet the existing requirements of Royal Caribbean.

This includes full vaccination against Covid-19 and undergoing rapid antigen testing under supervision the day before boarding the ship.

Singapore Tourist Board Cruise Director Annie Chang said calls to ports would provide more vacation options, which will hopefully attract more cruisers traveling for the first time and repeating next year as more ports in the region open.

"We have been working closely with various governments in South-east Asia to align on cruise protocols and policies, and are excited to bring back port calls in Malaysia for sailings as a start," she said.

STB worked to establish several ports by the end of the year, with consideration of destinations such as Bali in Indonesia and Phuket in Thailand.

Ms. Angie Stephen, vice president and general manager of Royal Caribbean for Asia and the Pacific, said the cruise line was the first in Singapore to continue with the port.