Cruises to Nowhere Extended as Singaporeans Seek to Go Anywhere

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is extending the season for one of Asia’s largest cruise ships, because of what it said was “overwhelming demand” for its voyages to nowhere among Singapore residents with few options for travel outside of their small island city-state.

Its Quantum of the Seas ship, outfitted with attractions like surf and skydiving simulators, will continue sailing from Singapore through October, after first extending the season through June, the company said in a statement on Thursday. In a nod to the ongoing pandemic, the ship operates with reduced capacity, a mask mandate outside staterooms, and other social distancing measures. More than 50,000 people have sailed from Singapore with Royal Caribbean since the program began.