China’s Ministry of Transport has given approval for cruises to nowhere to sail out of Sanya and Haikou in Hainan.
The cruise industry has sought approval to operate no-destination cruises for years and all that lobbying seems to have paid off for operators in Hainan.
The MOT announced sailings not visiting a foreign port will be allowed under certain conditions in a pilot scheme.
To comply, the cruise line must be majority owned by a Chinese investor and the ship should be under 30 years old.
However one of the main reasons for cruises to nowhere – to allow for gambling in international waters – won’t be permitted.
Cruises to nowhere are classified as sailings that leave a port for international waters but do not call at a foreign port and simply return to the departure port.
They are often marketed as short ‘starter cruises’ aimed at the new to cruise market.
They were a popular short first time cruise option in the US but were prohibited a few years ago due to a little known 100-year old law relating to foreign flagged ships employing foreign crew members.
Cruise lines must also submit their sailing plans two months before the scheduled sailing date, and boarding procedure will be streamlined with just national ID cards required to travel.
