A Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. ship returned to Singapore on the third day of a four-day cruise to nowhere after a positive case of the COVID-19 was detected on board in early Wednesday (Dec 9).

Around 02:45 am local time, the captain of the Quantum of the Seas vessel informed about 2,000 passengers on board that the ship was returning to dock a day early and about the development of the situation through the public announcement system.

At 08:10 am, the captain told the passengers that a passenger was not feeling well and had been tested positive for the COVID-19. The passenger was quarantined and officials traced his contacts. All passengers who found to have been in contact with the person have been tested and quarantined. The other passengers were told to stay in their staterooms.

He also said that all passengers will be allowed cleared for disembarkation once contact tracing has been completed, but it is not clear how long it will take. Passengers will also require undergoing a rapid Covid test before leaving the ship.

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The captain said while announcing over the ship’s loudspeaker, “Again, this is for your benefit and to ensure all guests remain healthy and well. An additional update would be provided at 11 am.”

This news is another setback for Singapore, a country whose economy is heavily dependent on the tourism. In November, a highly anticipated air travel bubble between Singapore and Hong Kong was cancelled due to due to the increase in the number of coronavirus cases in Hong Kong.

The Quantum of the Seas ship was running “cruise to nowhere” with a three-night and four-day itinerary around Singapore, and departed from the Marina Bay Cruise Centre on December 7. The cruise was a part of an acclaimed plan to revitalize domestic travel in Singapore amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Royal Caribbean International and Genting Cruise Lines have been running cruises to nowhere, a sailing depart and return to the same destination after a trip through the sea, as the city state aims to strengthen its tourism industry and provide residents with their wanderlust. The positive case is a blow to this surge, with reporters invited aboard the Quantum of the Seas to experience the new initiative.

With almost banned outbound travel, Singapore has been trying to find ways to stimulate its domestic economy. The Government of Singapore has also launched a domestic tourism campaign and allocated S$ 320 million in credit to encourage residents to support local businesses.