| Japan cruise restart

INTERNATIONAL cruise ships will once again be able to dock at ports in Japan, under detailed new protocols announced by the country’s transport minister Tetsuo Saito.

Guidelines will see the crew conduct testing and isolation measures if cases are suspected on board, and report the status to quarantine officials prior to docking.

It’s almost three years since cruise ships have been able to visit Japan, after an outbreak of COVID-19 occurred on a vessel as it approached Yokohama in Feb 2020 in the very early stages of the pandemic.

Saito said he hopes businesses will abide by the guidelines “so that guests can safely enjoy their cruise experience in Japan”.