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Casino cruise ship operator Genting Hong Kong's brand Dream Cruises said it was forced to cancel its two-night voyage, which was due to leave Hong Kong on Friday, as the government imposed a 14-day social distancing measure from Friday.
Local authorities said on Wednesday that the local COVID-19 situation had "quickly evolved" since Tuesday, including new cases of Omicron variant infections that could not be traced by source.
Dream Cruises stressed in a statement on Wednesday that the cancellation of travel on the Genting Dream vessel (file photo) was "due to government instructions and not as a result of COVID-19 related events on board the vessel."
It's the same day that Genting Dream's two-night cruise, which was scheduled to depart on Wednesday, was also canceled.
Dream Cruises said affected customers can transfer to another Genting Dream Cruises scheduled until April 27, although the "blackout" dates, which apply on Feb. 2 and 4 and Easter, April 15 and 17, will apply.
The Hong Kong government recently specifically mentioned a ban on so-called "cruise to nowhere" as part of its COVID-19 measures.
Hong Kong bars, sports facilities and public entertainment venues will also be closed for 14 days.
Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yueh-Yueh said on Tuesday that the country's recent rise in the number of Omicron variant COVID-19 cases had made it less likely that the country would establish a quarantine-free travel plan with mainland China. That would also likely affect the possibility of quarantine-free travel protocols with Macau.