Seychelles Prepares for the Return of Cruise Ships in November

Island Sky, a Noble Caledonia ship, will be the first cruise ship to return to Seychelles in November.

Last March, the archipelago’s authorities decided to only allow ships with a maximum capacity of 300 people to dock.

Other small cruise ships will call into Seychelles during the season, following the arrival of the 118-passenger Noble Caledonia on 14th November.

During its voyage, Sky will stop at four of Seychelles’ outlying islands.

Principal secretary for civil aviation, ports, and marine, Alan Renaud, said that his department had developed a checklist for cruise lines that identify measures to be taken on board ships to ensure safe operations.

He stated, “The documents outline the respective responsibilities of local agencies and the cruise ships in relation to Covid-19 matters, identification of critical resources and personnel, the passenger and terminal arrangements at ports of call, the contingencies in case of a Covid-19 outbreak, the protection of communities visited by the ship, and, generally, the coordination between cruises and ports in relation to Covid-19.”

During the 2019-2020 cruise season, over 63,000 cruise passengers visit Seychelles on 39 visits. Ponant’s 184-passenger Bougainville was the last ship to call before the season terminated due to the pandemic on 11th March 2020.

“The reopening of the cruise ship season is another milestone for our destination,” Sherin Francis, principal secretary for tourism, said.

“I am pleased that all relevant actors have ensured that all necessary safeguards have been taken to ensure the safe conduct of this exercise.”