Water World
The open sea beckons—it’s time to dip your toe into its waters
STAYCATION CRUISES: It wasn’t long ago that cruises seemed like a cautionary tale, but they are now poised to be one of the first holiday offerings to resume operations. Pilot programmes such as Royal Caribbean’s Cruise to Nowhere in Singapore have jump-started the trend of staycation cruises, where guests enjoy all a ship has to offer while sailing in international waters. Similar ventures are being rolled out in Australia and the UK from June, the latter to be operated by Cunard Line. royalcaribbean.com; cunard.com REGIONAL SAILINGS: There’s much excitement for the world’s first cruise trip post-pandemic this month, from Israel to Cyprus and Greece, paving the way for other vessels to embark on regional itineraries. One of the most anticipated this year is Silver Moon, Silversea Cruises’ newest ship, which debuts in Portugal next month. It arrives in Asia in November, sailing around India and from Hong Kong to Singapore. silversea.com YACHT CHARTERS: While commercial cruises halted in 2020, it was a banner year for yacht charters and sales. The freedom of travelling at one’s own pace has fostered more interest in yachting lifestyle across Asia: Thailand has even approved yachts for quarantine. Charter company Burgess Asia recommends week-long trips in Indonesia, Phuket and the Maldives aboard superyachts like the 74.5m Lady E or the 44.2m Hemisphere, the world’s largest sailing catamaran. burgessyachts.com