cruise to nowhere singapore royal caribbean

ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE SINGAPORE: CRUISE TO NOWHERE

Cruise to Nowhere, started November 2020 and have been approved to offer cruises from Singapore designed to restrain cross-boundary covid 19 transmissions. Go on an intriguing and extravagant cruise to nowhere and set forth ready for the honor-winning and widely-praised cruise ship boat of Royal Caribbean Cruise. Experience deck-defying experiences like simulated skydiving and surf sessions, game-changing onboard amusements that dazzle, culinary experiences that are both wow-worthy and crave-worthy, and limitless opportunities for the entire family to make the most of every minute aboard.

Savor far-flung flavors from far-flung destinations including Chops Grille’s American steakhouse classics, Izumi Japanese Cuisine’s freshly hand-rolled sushi, and Jamie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver’s Tuscan favorites. Then, at Bionic Bar, conclude your dinner – or start your night – with some robot-crafted concoctions from the future.

Note:  Please verify the cruising itinerary for the cruise terminal. See below for detailed information on check-in, baggage drop-off, driving directions and parking at this terminal. 

Here’s a detailed information on where to board Royal Caribbean cruise in Singapore:

Royal Caribbean Directions to the Singapore Cruise Terminal:

Coming from aye (towards changi airport).

• Take Exit 2 on MCE/Central Boulevard
• Keep right towards Marina Boulevard
• Turn right at Marina Boulevard to Marina Coastal Drive
• The destination is on your left after Marina South Pier

Coming from MCE (from Changi Airport)

• Take Exit 3 on MCE/Marina Coastal Drive
• Turn LEFT onto Marina Coastal Drive
• Destination is on your LEFT after Marina South Pier

Public Transport

• Board the train along the East-West Line towards Pasir Ris or towards Downtown Station if coming from the Downtown Line
• Alight at Tanjong Pagar Station (Exit C) or Downtown Station (Exit C)
• Board bus 402 at the bus stop, near International Plaza (03223) or near Marina Bay Financial Centre (03391)
• Alight at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore
• Board train along the North-South Line towards Marina Bay Station
• Alight at Marina South Pier Station
• Walk 600 m alongside the sheltered linkway to Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore

For your comfort and convenience, we recommend that you arrive at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore for ship check-in formalities beginning at the boarding time stated in your cruise documents but no later than 2 hours prior to the scheduled sail time.

Baggage Drop Off

Porters will be available to receive baggage to be checked prior to check-in at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore.

Parking (DriveCruise – Enjoy a local convenience)

The DriveCruise service allows you to park your vehicle at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore carpark, at a discounted rate.

* All rates and prices are subject to change.

** Royal Caribbean is not responsible for theft or damage to vehicles.

WELLNESS CHECK & NEGATIVE TEST

Your well-being and safety are our utmost priority. Being said that, guests have always been asked some common questions about their health. Implementing wellness checks for all, ensuring healthy guests and crew before the ship sails.

A negative covid test is required as proof that you have tested negative. One being healthy, all will be in safety. Committed to fully testing crew and all its passengers.

GET MESMERIZED BY WHAT YOU SEE, IT IS THE SPLENDIDNESS AT THE SEA

Forget all of your worries, look at the fine sky and fresh breeze ahead. This moment is for you to indulge without anything holding you back. World-class dining, outstanding entertainment, and never-ending activities – with complete peace of mind, you will be able to enjoy all of these.

Are you ready for your ultimate ocean getaway? Check out our deals!

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In 2010, the company took a major step forward to break into the cruise business. Stamford Discovery Cruise Center(SDCC) was launched the same year, offering both regional and international cruises.

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Ultimate Guide to Singapore’s Cruise to Nowhere on Royal Caribbean

If you have never been on a cruise or if the concept of cruising for a vacation doesn’t attract you, then this post is meant just for you. Even till a few weeks back, I would have never imagined going on a cruise for vacation. However, experiencing Singapore’s “Cruise to Nowhere” on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of Seas has completely changed my views about cruising. At first, the concept of cruising with “no destinations” felt absurd and the perfect hot-spot for breeding the pandemic. Travel-starved for 14 months, this was the only semblance of travel I could afford living in Singapore. With international borders still closed, I am happy to have experienced this mini-getaway that did wonders to my mental health. Also, thanks to Singapore’s exemplary management of the pandemic so far, I was never concerned about health and safety.

Before going on Royal Caribbean’s Cruise to Nowhere, I had no idea what to expect from it. A few positive reviews from friends inspired me to book this cruise as I was desperate for some change. But little did I know, I needed to plan a few important things that would make this cruise experience better. Although spontaneous getaway is good, you definitely don’t want to miss these insider tips to make this cruise vacation even more amazing. So if you want to find the ultimate guide to planning the perfect “cruise to nowhere” vacation in Singapore, continue reading below.

Table of Contents

REVIEW OF QUANTUM OF THE SEAS

Things to know before booking the cruise to nowhere, 1. what is the itinerary of cruise to nowhere.

As the name suggests, Cruise to Nowhere sails with no fixed destinations. Typically the first day starts off from the Marina Bay Cruise Center in Singapore when the cruise departs at 8pm. Next few days it sails on the sea and finally returns back to Singapore on the last day. During our 4-nights cruise, we had sailed far away from Singapore, Malaysia, & Indonesia and for most parts there was no land in sight. The vast expanse of the endless ocean merging with the horizon and the sound of waves gently breaking against the hull of the ship will make you feel relaxed throughout the entire trip.

2. HOW MANY DAYS FOR CRUISE TO NOWHERE

This is entirely dependent on you. Currently Royal Caribbean Cruise to Nowhere in Singapore is having options of 2-3-4 nights cruises. Depending on your schedule as well as your mood, you can opt for either one of these options. The cruise to Nowhere has so many events that you will never feel bored even if you decide to go for the maximum 4 nights option.

Back in January when I had booked this cruise for March, only options available were 3-nights (starting on Mondays) and 4-nights (starting on Thursdays). Currently, Royal Caribbean has 2 nights options which is ideal for people who are seeking a cruise experience on a budget. Since our main purpose of the trip was to celebrate our wedding anniversary and go on a weekend trip to avoid extra leave days from work, we chose the 4-nights option.

3. WHERE TO GET THE BEST DEALS FOR CRUISE TO NOWHERE

I am not a cruise expert but while planning, the official site of Royal Caribbean was the best site for finding the best deals. They are currently running amazing promotions where kids sail free, 50% discount over regular rates to name a few. During our booking, we availed Chinese New Year sale promotions which was fabulous. Being flexible with dates will also help in saving a lot of money. So, to get the best deals, I will highly recommend to book from their official site.

4. ACCOMODATION OPTIONS IN ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE

There are 4 types of Staterooms (rooms in Cruise) one can choose during sailing.

• Interior Room ($$) – Big & comfortable rooms for family with wide array of amenities with no external view.
• Ocean View Room ($$) – An upgrade to Interior room with ocean view window.
• Balcony Room ($$$) – As the name suggests, you get amazing views of the ocean from the comforts of your room’s balcony.
• Suites Room ($$$$) – If you are in the mood to splurge, then suites is the ideal option for celebrating an occasion! There are two kinds of Suite available on board. Junior Suite (267 sq. ft. room with 81 sq. ft. balcony) and Grand Suite (543 sq. ft. room with 259 sq. ft. balcony). The Grand Suite is the most expensive splurge with a mezzanine level, a king sized bed, two bathrooms, a spacious living and dining area and a huge balcony. Some of the rooms even come with a private jacuzzi.

Depending on your budget and number of members traveling together, you have to decide on the staterooms. If your sole purpose is to experience cruise life on a budget, the interior room is your best option. While those who wish to splurge, balcony or suite rooms are ideal. Since this was my first “cruise vacation” celebrating our wedding anniversary, I was looking for a junior suite. Unfortunately, suite rooms were completely sold out for our preferred dates. So we settled for balcony room and to my surprise it was big & perfect for a couple! I am extremely happy with the balcony room as I got to enjoy the lullaby of endless waves crashing!

Cruise Tip: If you have missed booking the room of your choice due to unavailability, fret not, as you will get another chance to try your luck. Just a week before sailing, Royal Caribbean will email you with the option of bidding. Provide your best bid and you can end up securing one of your dream rooms at a much cheaper price!

5. ROOMS WITH BEST VIEWS FOR CRUISING

Once you decide on the kind of staterooms, you will need to decide the location of the stateroom . There are 3 options; Aft (back of the ship), mid-ship (center of the ship) & forward (front of the ship)! Next, you will need to decide on the floor of the deck! If you are prone to seasickness and want to be at the center of all attractions, mid-ship will be your preferred choice. Usually lower decks close to the dining places tend to be more expensive while upper decks are cheaper in general. If you opt for balcony rooms , any deck from 10th & above in mid-ship will be best for views of the ocean While 13th deck may seem close to most attractions of the cruise, it can also get busy and noisy!

Another great tip to decide your stateroom is looking at the options of rooms given on the cruise planner. If you look carefully, certain staterooms with specific symbol can accommodate more number of people. For example, a triangle can accommodate 3 people even though you are paying for 2 guests. This will ensure you are securing a bigger room. Make sure to avoid selecting the rooms which has obstructed views from the balcony if you are keen on that aspect. Finally the lower the numerical value against the stateroom, the better the room size will be. For instance, 1D option will be better than 2D in terms of size.

While booking for balcony rooms, you can either select your own room or let the system automatically select best available rooms. If you are totally unsure of your choices, then latter may seem the best fit! Since I had done my research and was keen on certain aspect of the room, I chose the room of my choice looking at the cruise map of the room as mentioned above.

Cruise Tip: Since the cruise will be sailing North of Singapore in the first few days, select your balcony room facing west i.e. left of the cruise. This will ensure amazing views of the ocean from the balcony while avoiding the harsh sun during the daytime. In addition, you will get to experience amazing sunset views as well as breakfast views from the comforts of your balcony.

PRE-BOARDING TIPS FOR CRUISE TO NOWHERE

Since this was my first cruise experience, I was completely unaware of the things to expect inside the cruise. But since this was an all-inclusive cruise vacation, we did not have to worry about detailed planning. However, few of the things mentioned below will come very handy for a hassle-free experience during your cruising.

1. COVID-19/PCR TESTING

As travel is slowly restarting, PCR tests is the new norm. On Royal Caribbean “Cruise to Nowhere”, the cost of swab tests for PCR is included in the cruise package. One will need to test negative to be eligible for boarding.

Once you have booked the cruise, approximately 10 days before sailing, you will receive email with instructions for scheduling PCR test. The swab tests are done at Raffles Convention Center at Raffles City Shopping Center. You will need to create an account on TrustOne web or download the TrustOne App where you can view the test results within 24 hours of testing. Generally the PCR test opens 3 days before sailing date. We took our tests 2 days before sailing and received the negative test result the next day.

The PCR test can be a bit uncomfortable but definitely bearable and quick. The entire process takes less than a minute. Staying calm and relaxed will ease the process. Previously, they did another test after disembarking. However, this has been discontinued.

2. THE APPS YOU WILL NEED FOR CRUISING

For pre-boarding and planning, these are the 3 apps that you will need:

• TustOne App – As mentioned before, you will need this app to schedule and view the PCR test result.
• TraceTogether – You can either carry your TraceTogether token or if you are like me, you can use this app for contact tracing. Every guest on board also receives a “Tracelet” (bracelet for tracing) which you are to wear at all times.
• Royal Caribbean App – The most used app before and during the cruise. With negative PCR-test result, one has to answer the health questionnaire before checking-in. This app has everything you need from checking-in to the day wise activity schedule as well as for monitoring any in-cruise expenditure. Once you link your booking, you will be able to start the check-in process and also select the boarding time.

Cruise Tip: Boarding time opens at 2 pm until 7pm at an interval of 30 mins to ensure safe distancing. Bear in mind, the sooner you get on board, the earlier you can connect to the ship’s wifi which will allow you to book the entertainment and dining options which tend to get filled up quickly. You can also start enjoying the cruise amenities immediately after boarding.

3. PLAN YOUR CRUISE EVENTS BEFORE SAILING

Royal Caribbean app will be the most useful app during your cruise for booking entertainments, shows, dining and other activities. However once you have logged onto the app with your given confirmation dates, the events don’t show up until the very day of the sailing. If you are a planner like me, this may frustrate you.

To overcome this issue, all you need to do is change the date of sailing closer to your sailing time. Keep in mind to select the dates that correspond to the same nights of cruise for better planning. For instance, if you are sailing on 1st- 5th April, then under your account, “select a different sailing” as shown in the photo. On next page select “Get more details on ships we support” and select “Quantum of the Seas” under Supported Ships. Among the several dates shown, select the one matching most close to your itinerary. I opted for the 25-29th March (4-nights cruise) to have a detailed views of the events, categorized by days and time with full details.

This tip will come in very handy if you want to plan or know things in advance. Trust me, you will save plenty of time on board if you have this valuable information before hand. This will help you to know the exact timing of the shows that you may want to book and plan your trip better.

Cruise Tip: You can book all the shows staged on the venues of Royal Theatre, Two70 and Music Hall only after boarding. The shows are available on a first-come-first-served basis. Therefore, the earlier you book your check in, the higher the chances of your getting the preferred time slots.

4. NO NEED FOR BEVERAGE AND DINING PACKAGES

Royal Caribbean cruise package involves complimentary dining for over 11 different restaurants on board. Barring a couple, the food is delicious and good in most restaurants that one can save money on food & drinks package. If you are keen to trying some of the speciality restaurants, that I highly recommend, paying separately will be the best option.

On boarding, you will receive 2 bottles of drinking water. For the remaining days, it’s best to carry your own water bottles and fill them during your meals at restaurants. Alternatively Café Promenade and Sorrentos serve water upon request. Alcohol is not complimentary in the package. Although one can opt for drinks package to have alcohol any time of the day, I did not see the need. The alcohol pricing and quality is similar to that of USA. So for every meal you can have a very good wine at ~10$ while the package is ~65$ per person/day.

Cruise Tip: During room service, which is complimentary, request glasses of water for free. Avoid bottled water as it will cost you additional money. Also, they stop serving alcohol after 10:30 pm on board just like in Singapore. It’s best to carry your own alcohol and every person can carry two bottles of alcohol which you can consume in room even after 10:30pm. If you carrying your own alcohol (highly recommended), carry them in your hand luggage as you will not be allowed to carry them in check-in luggage.

5. PREBOOK WIFI ON CRUISE PLANNER BEFORE DEPARTURE

If you wish to enjoy your favorite Netflix shows or stream music nonstop or share your live stories with the world, you will require good internet. While the cruise has public wifi, the speed is really slow for seamless streaming. It is best to purchase the wifi on the cruise planner few days before the departure. Few weeks before sailing, you will receive email promotions about VOOM Surf+ Stream packages. You can avail 10-20% discount on packages that range from 1 to 4 devices. We booked the package for 2 devices, one for each.

Cruise Tip: The cut-off time for online booking on cruise planner for internet, dining, beverages packages is 3-days before the sailing. Once you miss this time frame, you cannot avail the discounts. Also if you wish to save money on internet packages, you can book just for 1 device and click the “forget wifi network” and toggle between your devices under the same internet package.

THINGS TO DO ON QUANTUM OF THE SEAS

The number of activities and events that are available on this cruise is truly incredible. There are activities for all kind of travelers, be it adventure seekers or leisure travelers. The scale and extravaganza of everything will leave you in awe if you are cruising for the first time making you wonder how is it possible to have all these activities inside a huge moving vessel. You can choose to jam-pack your days with tons of activities or take it slow and easy. I have mentioned some of the activities that are worth trying and experiencing for an unforgettable experience.

1. THE NORTH STAR

For the most incredible views on the cruise, get on the North Star! Seeing the cruise and ocean 300 feet high above the sea level simply feels amazing.

This ride takes about 7 mins and you can have 360 views of the incredible expanse. Each ride takes in six people at a time, with allocated standing spots one metre apart. Book the ride through the app as soon as you embark using the Royal Caribbean App.

Cost: US$20 per person Tip: After the ride, while getting off the stairs, the views are amazing for clicking some photos.

2. ROCK CLIMBING

For all those who want an adrenaline rush, rock climbing on a cruise may seem exciting. Although avid climbers may find it underwhelming, it is a very different experience to climb on top with the views of ocean all around. A fun and safe experience to give it a try if you have never tried rock climbing before, especially for kids over 6 years.

3. THE SOLARIUM

There are 3 pools on the cruise but Solarium is the adults-only indoor pool (16+ years only)! With floors to ceilings glass windows, Solarium is located at the front of Royal Caribbean on the top deck. This place is perfect for couples and friends who want uninterrupted time soaking in the jacuzzis while gazing at the stunning ocean views.

The rules for these indoor pools are strict and you may have to wait in queue to get inside the pool due to safe distancing measures. There is also a bar and two jacuzzis at the front for magnificent views of the ocean. If you just want to chill, there are plenty deck chairs to lounge with drinks and views. Don’t forget to collect your pool towels before entering the Solarium!

Cost: Free Tip: Best time to soak in for views is around sunset. We saw some of the best sunsets from the Solarium. There are doors at the extreme end of the Solarium where you can go out to get a side view of the cruise and enjoy the evening breeze with a glass of wine.

4. DODGEM CARS

For all the thrill seekers out there, you can enjoy the fun of bumper cars on the cruise. It’s fun for both kids and adults to drive and bump into each other.

This is inside the SeaPlex, an indoor entertainment center on the 15th floor. It hosts many activities like dance class, crossbar challenge, basketball, foosball, table tennis and an arcade.

Cost: Free Tip: Since there are limited spaces, it is best to book the activities at the opening time at 9AM.

5. WATCH EVERY SUNSETS & SUNRISES

Never before this cruise, I had known how blissful it is to watch the sunrises and sunsets onboard the cruise. If your room is facing the East, don’t miss the sunrises! While we watched few sunsets from our west-facing room, our favorite was to watch rising or setting sun from the top deck or from the Solarium. The 360 degree uninhibited views of the ocean will ensure you will enjoy the surreal moments without fail.

Cost: Free Tip: If you are lucky enough, you may even spot few dolphins!

6. RIPCORD BY iFLY

If you have always fancied to sky-dive but never mustered the courage yet, this is your chance! Ripcord by iFLY helps you to experience the indoor version of sky-diving providing all the thrill and excitement of free-falling.

Since I have already ski-dived before, I passed on this activity. But, definitely one of the coolest experiences on board that you may want to try out (kids over 3 can also experience this).

Cost: US$40 (Free for suite guests)

7. BOOGIE BOARDING / SURFING

Another amazing experience to try is surfing on the 12-meter simulator of waves! If you have always wished to surf but never had the opportunity, this FlowRider surf simulator is ideal activity. With 100,000 liters of gushing water, surf like a pro or balance to stay upright on the board! This activity is sure to pump-up all the adrenaline junkies.

This activity is open for 7 hours from 9:30AM-5PM and entrance is subject to capacity. The first and last half an hour is set aside for advanced surfers. I couldn’t get a chance to surf as the queue for this activity was long as it is a popular activity.

Cost: Free for group sessions, US$69 and above for private sessions. Tip: To secure a free spot, queue for this activity before they open in the morning.

8. LIVE PERFORMANCES / SHOWS

The array of entertainment shows and live performances in this cruise is simply spectacular. The theatrical performances will make you wonder if you are watching on land or on a cruise. Been deprived of live performances for more than a year, watching every show on the cruise was a special delight. With cutting-edge high-tech acoustics and revolving, multi-functional stage shows, you will feel like watching shows in Las Vegas! Definitely book the shows first thing on board through the app and recommend watching them all.

Cost: Free Tip: Since seating is on first-come bases, arrive 15-20 mins before show to secure best seats!

The BeatleManiacs

If you are a fan of Beatles then this event is for you. Although I am not a big fan of Beatles, I loved watching this first live performance after more than a year. Some of the classics will make you swoon and singalong.

Sequins & Feathers

With extravagant costumes, sets and choreography, these performers will take your breath away. This particular performance made me feel I was watching one of the Las Vegas shows live on the cruise. Everything was so dazzling and amazing that you will be thoroughly entertained.

Starwater Show

This was my second favorite live performances because of the amazing songs and spectacular performances. The talented artists and every-changing stage will keep you enthralled throughout. A spell-binding visual treat, “Starwater explores the nature of human emotion through a fusion of live performance artistry and groundbreaking technology”. Definitely a must watch performance!

Gold Art Duo

The winner of Ukraine & America’s Got Talent, this duo will make you believe in the impossible. With body as flexible as a ribbon, they flawlessly creates a spellbinding performance of magic, comedy, aerial and complicated acrobatic. If you have time for watching only one performance, then this is your MUST-WATCH!

9. MUSIC & DANCE

Apart from the above four live performances, the Royal Caribbean’s Cruise to Nowhere has several other musicals and dance shows that will keep your days busy and making the late nights excited. Honestly there were far too many options than that we could attend. One of the musical shows that we enjoyed a lot is Piano Bar Entertainment by Paul O’Shea late nights at Schooner Bar. Another one was Live Jazz with Orchestra at Boleros. The relaxing atmosphere with good music was perfect to wind down the busy eventful days.

10. RUNNING TRACK ON TOP DECK

Although there is a fully functional gym on cruise, the joy of running on the jogging track of Quantum of Seas is unparalleled. If you are a fitness freak, you will absolutely love running on the amazing track on deck 15 either during sunrise or later in the evening.

The cold breeze sweeping you while running and the views of the vast endless ocean all around makes running a lot more fun. It’s also a perfect way to keep a check on the unlimited calories from all the gourmet food on cruise.

As soon as you’re out in international water, you can hit the casino. This is a pretty decent sized casino and entrance is based on the capacity. With cards being shuffled, stacked chips and poker machines paying out, this casino has all the feels of Las Vegas. There’s everything from the slots to blackjack, roulette to poker, all at a manageable minimum bet.

12. SHOPPING & SPA

Finally if you are in the mood to get pampered, then visit the onboard Vitality Spa. One of the largest spas at sea, you can avail medispa services to a full-service spa and beauty salon. I pampered myself with a manicure & pedicure and thoroughly enjoyed the experience overlooking the ocean views.

Also for all the shopaholics, Cruise to Nowhere has an array of international brands that will provide amazing retail therapy. Brands like Tiffany, BVLGARI, Coach, Michael Kors, Salvatore Ferragamo etc have retail stores as well as events that keep the shoppers engaged.

FOOD & DRINK OPTIONS ON QUANTUM OF THE SEAS

Complimentary dining.

Royal Caribbean’s Cruise to Nowhere is an all inclusive package with a wide array of food options. The complimentary food options are plenty with variety of cuisines like Indian, Italian, Asian, Chinese, Mexican, Japanese. There are many food options available for vegetarians as well as gluten-free.

We opted to have our most meals in Main Dining Room & My Time Dining Room . These served continental breakfast, and changing menu for lunch and dinner with amazing views of the ocean. Sorrento’s Pizza was perfect place for quick bites pizza while Solarium Bistro was ideal for munching some snacks in the late afternoon. You can reserve most of these places on the Royal Caribbean app or walk-in to get your seat.

Windjammer is an all-you-can-eat buffet hall with a wide array of cuisines. It’s open during every meal times (breakfast, lunch and dinner). This particular restaurant was a hit-or-miss one for the food options for me but all the desserts that I tried was simply fabulous.

One thing you shouldn’t miss while cruising is having the complimentary Room Service . We opted to have Breakfast from our balcony overlooking the ocean and it was such a treat. If your room is facing the West, it’s best to have breakfast in the balcony as the harsh rays of the sun wont disturb you.

SPECIALITY DINING

Apart from all the complimentary restaurants, the cruise offers many speciality dining options. We treated ourselves with lunch at Jamie’s Italian and it was just amazing. The gourmet Italian lunch experience with wine was worth the extra splurge of US$30 per person, where we got to choose one dish from every category! It was so much food that we stuffed ourselves & spend the afternoon napping after the sumptuous meal.

Since we love sushi, we had our last dinner at Izumi Sushi and it was the perfect end to the cruising vacation. The wonderful maki rolls & sashimi paired with sake was a wonderful change to our palette. The food was amazing and the service was top notch to make this whole dining experience wonderful.

Although we had heard great reviews about Wonderland , we were not able to secure any reservation to this restaurant. With limited capacity and open only for dinner, this restaurant is hard to book onboard. If you are keen to dine in this creative themed restaurant, I would strongly advise to call (+65 6305 0033) and make reservation the moment you have booked your cruise.

There are many bars and lounges on the cruise that are ideal to get your favorite cocktails and drinks. Almost every main decks have bars with good options for drinks. I loved the  Sky Bar  by the pool and  Sunshine  in the adults only Solarium. If you are up for something fancy, don’t miss out the chance to get your drinks made by the robots at Bionic Bar . It’s just a wonderful experience to watch the robotic arms work in perfect synchronization and mixing the ingredients to get you the perfect cocktail!

FINAL DAY OF CRUISE TO NOWHERE

The day before disembarkation, each room will receive a luggage tag with a number on it! Based on the number on the tag, each room will have an allotted time for disembarkation. On the final day, the cruise arrives at the port at 6:30am and disembarkation begins as early as 7am until 10am to ensure safe distancing measures. Our luggage tag was 33 and hence we stayed on the ship till 9:30am.

Since we had a late departure, we were able to enjoy the breakfast at the cruise along with some time photographing the Singapore skyline from the top deck. There’s no fixed pattern how the numbers were allocated but we were glad to receive a late slot and enjoy some more time on the cruise.

Few weeks ago, after disembarking, every guests had to undergo an antigen testing. However, this test is no longer needed as more and more residents of Singapore are getting vaccinated.

IS A CRUISE TO NOWHERE WORTH IT?

Hell YEAH!! ABSOLUTELY YES!!

Let’s be real… after 14 months of being stuck in Singapore, this was the closest semblance to vacation that I could have. Sailing far away from the lands and seeing the vast ocean with sounds of waves crashing against the ship helped me disconnect from the real world and feel completely relaxed.

Not once throughout the cruise I was worried about the pandemic as Singapore government and cruise management have demonstrated exemplary measures to ensure safety and public health. We had to do gazillion times temperature screenings and contact tracing but it was worth every bit for this wonderful holiday. The stress free enjoyment and relaxation that was possible on this “Cruise to Nowhere” was beyond words. The joy of watching live performances, movies on board, listening to musicals and get to eat amazing food and unwind at pools were far worth the fact of not having a destination.

Although I have never been on a cruise before, this sailing gave me the best experience of a cruising life minus the hop-off-destinations. I am glad I was introduced to cruise life in this manner as I got to explore and experience everything that was offered on board and I truly loved it. This was definitely once in a lifetime experience and Royal Caribbean’s Cruise to Nowhere is the only vacation we can have before the international borders open!

Planning to go on a cruise to nowhere? Comment any questions you have below & I will be happy to clarify!

I hope this detailed guide to Cruise to Nowhere in Singapore has inspired you!

For further reading on other Singapore inspirations, discover : 🏨 The Hotel with the Best View in Singapore – The Ritz Carlton Millenia 🌳 Best Photo Spots in Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

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26 comments.

I can see it. I love the days at sea, although really for me, I love the ports too. Great review, gives a real feel for what it is like.

So true! I love ports and those charming towns as well. Miss traveling to such places so much.

I have never done a cruise before, but now I feel like I have after this great post. I honestly never heard of a “cruise to nowhere,” but I can see how this was almost therapeutic, given the current situation in the world.

Thanks so much Shelley! I had never ever imagined before I would end up going for such a “vacation” but so glad this happened as this is the only “travel feel” we can avail given the current situations.

I’ll be honest in that I am not a cruise person at all. However, I would love the North Star view and the Many gorgeous sunrises and sunsets from the deck. The concept of a cruise to nowhere is interesting and certainly makes sense during these pandemic times.

I feel you Ildiko.. I was just like you too but past one year with no traveling, I had only this as an option & thoroughly enjoyed this little getaway.

Wow! I am impressed with this cruise. I honestly have never had a desire to go on a cruise, nor have I been on one, but after reading this article, you definitely have me wanting to book a Royal Caribbean cruise! That is so awesome they have the indoor skydiving and the pools look so beautiful. Great guide Sunetra! 🙂

Thank you so much Taylor. This cruise has changed my mindset and given the scenario, it was the best vacation I had in last 14 months!😅 Can’t wait to travel again once Singapore opens its borders.

I really enjoyed following your cruise adventure on Instagram and this is so nice to have everything break down in one post! Thank you Su! I would definitely like to do one one day *w*

Aww Thank you so much Marina and I hope this guide will help more people from Singapore to enjoy the only “vacation” we can have.

A cruise to nowhere sounds like such a bonkers idea! Like you, I’ve never really felt compelled to experience a cruise. However, the cruise to nowhere looks like such a relaxing escape! What a great way to relax and recharge while still feeling like you’re getting a vacation. The ship looks incredible! Maybe I’ll be tempted to try a cruise after all! Thanks for the great guide!

That’s so true Hannah!! Being traveled starved for more than a year, this escape was therapeutic and truly enjoyable!

This is such a fun concept! It’s a great idea to go on a cruise for a few days even though the international borders are not open!

Good to see that cruises ate happening, even if they are just at sea.

I’ve never actually been on a cruise before. Maybe a cruise to nowhere is a good way to experience the atmosphere on the boat and stop me from being worried that I’d get bored or feel claustrophobic on one. It looks amazing!

So true. This was the best way I could ever experience a cruise life 🙂

I didn’t even know this existed, how neat!!

What a cool experience! The views from the North Star look spectacular. Singapore is definitely on my travel list, post pandemic and I would love to do this! Thank you for the recommendations!

Your photos are always SO SO beautiful – and this looks utterly amazing, I never knew there was so much to do onboard a cruise ship!

Thank you so much Shafinah! Even I was pleasantly surprised and hence loved the experience so much.

This sounds like so much fun! I’ve only been on a cruise once and it was so much fun. I do like this ‘cruising nowhere’ I’ll definitely check it out.

This was my first and I enjoyed it so much! I’m also very glad there was no “destination” involved and hence could enjoy the cruise amenities and entertainment so well.

Great that you were able to go here during these times! Thanks for sharing your experience!

It’s my pleasure. I am indeed glad this opportunity came by for the residents of Singapore as the international borders continue to be closed for leisure travel.

Sounds like so much fun! I still haven’t cruised yet!

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Singapore to resume cruises to nowhere for residents from November

SINGAPORE - Two cruise lines have been given the green light to offer "cruises to nowhere" from Singapore starting in November, following the development of a set of safety guidelines to prevent the on-board spread of the coronavirus.

These will be round trip cruises with no ports of call.

Genting Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International, which are homeported in Singapore, will be part of a "safe cruise" pilot that will cater only to Singapore residents at a reduced capacity of 50 per cent, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said in a statement on Thursday (Oct 8).

Genting Cruise Lines' World Dream will begin sailing on Nov 6, while Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas ship will begin sailing in December.

All passengers will have to be tested for Covid-19 prior to boarding as part of the STB's CruiseSafe programme, jointly developed by global classification body DNV GL.

They will also have to comply with safe management measures, such as mask-wearing and safe distancing of 1m between groups of passengers.

The Straits Times reported last Wednesday (Sept 30) that the STB had appointed DNV GL to create a certification programme for cruise lines that are keen to offer "cruises to nowhere" departing Singapore.

Cruise ships have not been allowed to call here since March 13, when the Republic joined a number of countries in closing its ports to these vessels over fears that they may carry infected passengers. The Diamond Princess, which was quarantined off the coast of Japan in February, served as a cautionary tale of the coronavirus' rapid spread, with more than 700 passengers and crew members found ill.

But with Thursday's announcement, stringent safety measures will be required of cruise operators here to prevent a repeat of a similar incident.

All cruise lines must be audited and receive CruiseSafe certification to sail out of Singapore, the STB said. It added that the programme is benchmarked against global health and safety standards, including those of the World Health Organisation, Cruise Lines International Association and Singapore's own SG Clean national cleanliness initiative.

CruiseSafe standards include:

- Infection control measures at every stage of a passenger's journey, including a mandatory Covid-19 test prior to boarding.

- Strict and frequent cleaning and sanitisation protocols on ships.

- Safe management measures aligned with prevailing national policy at the time of sailing

- Ensuring 100 per cent fresh air throughout the ship, so no recirculation of air.

- Reducing ship capacity to enable sufficient safe distancing.

- Setting up on-board measures to discourage close contact and intermingling between groups of passengers.

- Emergency response plans for incidents relating to Covid-19.

​Regular inspections will be conducted on-board during the pilot sailings, STB said. Cruise lines that are found to be non-compliant will face penalties including fines, suspension of sailings and having their CruiseSafe certifications revoked.

Genting Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International were chosen for the pilot as they have demonstrated the ability to put in place the necessary protocols and precautionary measures, STB said, adding that the two cruise lines are in the process of being certified.

Genting Cruise Lines said in a separate statement that it will be kicking off sailings with a series of two- and three-night cruises, in time for the school and year-end holidays.

All guests aged 13 and above will have to undergo Covid-19 testing before boarding, while those aged seven and above will be required to present their TraceTogether Token or registered TraceTogether app at the time of check-in, it said.

Mr Michael Goh, head of international sales at Genting Cruise Lines and president of Dream Cruises, said the cruise line will provide Singapore residents with more vacation options beyond land-based resorts.

"We are delighted to be the first cruise ship to restart operations here in Singapore and to give a much needed boost to the local tourism industry," he said.

The $100 SingapoRediscovers vouchers , to be issued to all Singaporeans in December, will not be redeemable for sailings.

Royal Caribbean said it will be offering three- and four-night cruises, which are now open for booking.

A check on its website found that three-night cruises start at $374 excluding taxes and fees, while four-night cruises start at $509. A two-night opening cruise on Dec 1 starts at $334.

Those that book before Nov 30 will be allowed changes and cancellations up to 48 hours before the cruise sets sail, it said. Any guest that tests positive for Covid-19 during the three weeks prior to their cruise will receive full credit towards a future sailing, while those that test positive during the voyage will be entitled to a full refund.

Royal Caribbean will cover up to $25,000 per person for Covid-19-related costs, including on-board medical costs, any required quarantine and travel home, the cruise line said.

Strict safety measures, testing for foreign crew

The crew on pilot cruises will be subject to stringent measures beyond Singapore's prevailing requirements for cross-border travel, the STB said.

Those that need to enter Singapore to serve on the ships must first undergo 14 days of isolation in their home country and test negative for Covid-19 before their departure.

They will be tested on arrival and serve a 14-day stay-home notice, after which they will be tested again. Once sailings begin, all crew members will also be routinely tested.

The tourism board said that Singapore is one of the first countries in the world to develop and implement a mandatory audit and certification programme for cruise lines, adding that it aims to set a benchmark for the future of cruising in the South-east Asian region as the lead coordinator for cruise in Asean.

The Government will monitor the outcomes of the pilot sailings carefully in the coming months before deciding on the next steps for cruises, STB said.

To prepare for the eventual recovery of the cruise industry, it has also partnered the Cruise Lines International Association and Travel Weekly Asia to hold a series of training webinars for regional travel agents.

Travel agents are key to the cruise industry, accounting for about 80 per cent of cruise packages sold in the region, it said.

The training will take place in October and focus on rebuilding the demand for cruises by raising awareness of the enhanced sanitisation measures for cruise lines and strengthening consumer confidence.

Ms Kelly Craighead, the Cruise Lines International Association president's and chief executive, said in a statement that the association supports a measured and carefully managed resumption of local cruise itineraries that work within international border restrictions, such as those announced in Singapore.

"We have seen a very limited and carefully controlled resumption of cruise operations in some areas, most notably in Europe and parts of Asia. The successes of these operations, together with the extensive health measures that support them, will help inform the cruise industry's global response to Covid-19," she said.

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The ultimate comparison guide for Singapore’s Cruises To Nowhere

That travel itch isn’t going away anytime soon, and staycations , being literally just Netflix n’ Chill + atas amenities, barely helps to make it better. So, the idea of splurging on a cruise has probably crossed your mind. 

For now, the only companies offering Cruises To Nowhere are Royal Caribbean International and Genting Cruise Lines’ Dream Cruise . But with so many factors to consider, the thought of them may be enough to off-put you from your plans.

To make things easier, we’ve done the homework for you. From prices, room amenities to even activities onboard, we’ve broken down the details into bite-sized pieces for you. 

Price of Cruises to Nowhere

For comparison purposes, we’ll use the lowest rate offered for June. However, take note that Royal Caribbean is offering 50% off cruise fares when you make your booking from now till 3 May 2021 . Kids who are under 12 years old will get to cruise for free.

The table below shows the price per person, non-inclusive of taxes, fees and port expenses. 

*Prices reflected for Royal Caribbean’s rooms are after discount.

Accommodation for Cruises to Nowhere

Finally travelling “out of the country” will be an exhilarating experience, but it fits no purpose if you’re stuck in an uncomfortable room. Here are what the rooms look like, so you’ll be able to find accommodation suited for you.

Quantum of the Seas

Interior stateroom.

For those who are leaning towards Royal Caribbean, you’ll be siked to know that you’ll be travelling on board their newest ship, the Quantum of the Seas .

Even if the basic Interior Stateroom is all you can afford, you’ll be glad to know that they come with a “Virtual Balcony” —  a high-definition 80-inch screen that’s connected to a live camera outside the ship, so you can enjoy the same sights and sounds like someone with a Balcony or Ocean View room.

There’s also an ensuite bathroom and a one-seater sofa. We reckon that this room is perfect for those who’ll be spending most of their time outside .

You’ll get to see the actual sea in the Ocean View Room. Besides getting an unobstructed view of the ocean, you’ll also have an extra sofa to laze on. The room also comes with an ensuite bathroom, toiletries and an in-built wardrobe.

Waking up to the smell of sea breeze with the wind gently caressing your face may be the stuff of dreams, but if you decide on the Balcony Room , it might just become reality.

The room features a private deck complete with a cinematic view of the ocean, and there’s a table and chairs to relax and enjoy a cuppa joe. In addition to the extra space, there’s a sofa which serves as an additional spot for snacking or playing games .

It’s go big or go home for some of us, and perhaps the Suite will be worth going big for. This luxurious two-storey room comes equipped with a living room, dining area and spacious bathroom, so you won’t have a chance to miss home. There’s also a recliner chair for those who want to bathe in the sun. 

On the second level, there’s a loft enclosed with privacy curtains. A vanity table is also provided so that you can be picture perfect for the ‘gram .

World Dream

Dream Cruise’s accommodation selection may be limited, but their rooms don’t fall short. The Balcony Room holds a private deck, along with lounge chairs for you to chill out and soak in the views. 

The place also comes with a queen-sized bed, sofa bed and an ensuite bathroom, so there’s ample space for everyone. 

Palace Suite

This space is titled the Palace Suite and it is truly fit for a king. Over here, the bed is cleverly positioned for you to enjoy the view of the sky, sea and horizon. Coupled with Italian luxury lines and downy duvets, you’ll definitely have a good night’s sleep. 

In the bathroom, you’ll find luxury bathrobes and slippers, along with premium towels and toiletries. To complete the package, there’s a personalised mini-bar with a Nespresso coffee machine and a complimentary red or white wine of your choice.

P.S, a 24-hour butler service is also available.

Activities onboard Singapore Cruises To Nowhere

The North Star is part amusement park ride, part viewing platform — think Singapore Flyer. This mechanical arm will elevate you high above the ship for an unrivalled 360-degree view, 90 metres above sea level. Currently, the Noth Star holds the Guinness World Record for the tallest viewing deck on a cruise ship.

Bumper cars

No matter your age, bumper cars will always unleash the kid in you . Besides this adrenaline-pumping activity, there are other family-friendly options such as ice-skating, rollerskating , laser tag, rock-climbing and even bungee jumping.

Skydiving simulator

Skydiving may be on some of our bucket lists, but if that dream seems too far-fetched, you can always try your hand at iFly, the skydiving simulator on board the Royal Caribbean. With no ground beneath your feet, you can float weightlessly in the air and experience freefalling. 

This one’s for the alcoholics. Though there are other places to get yourself a drink, it’s a once in a lifetime experience to head to the Bionic Bar and be served by actual robots. Simply type your order into the tablet and watch the robotic arms mix your libation of choice. 

16 entertainment decks

It’ll be an irony if we’re on the waters but never in the waters. On Quantum of the Seas, there are 16 entertainment decks , including a top deck featuring a solarium for adults, an outdoor pool, a new indoor pool with a roof system and an H2O Zone kids’ aqua park. There’s also a surf simulator, a rock-climbing wall measuring 40ft above the deck, a spa, a casino, and an outdoor movie screen.

Waterslide Park

For daredevils, you’ll have a whirl of a time at the Waterslide Park . The slides feature heart-racing steep inclines that will put bravehearts to the test, but if you’re more of a fraidy-cat, there are easy-going chutes as well.

Cosmic bowling

We still can’t go to clubs, but with Genting Dream’s Cosmic Bowling alley, you’ll be surrounded by pulsating glow pins, neon balls and ultraviolet lights. Amped up music will play classic favourites, so you’ll also get to groove to the beat.

Rock-climbing wall

There are gyms available on deck, but for some real action, challenge your family and friends at this energy-burning rock-climbing wall . This attraction scales 24ft, so once you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with views for dayyyys .

Golfing is usually associated with a rich man’s sport, so what better way to live the high life than putting your way through a nine-hole course, while on a cruise? Not to worry even if you’ve never golfed before, the course is beginner-friendly, so you’ll have a ball of a time.

Arcades were a great time for the people born in the 90’s. The Dance Dance Revolution and Para Para machines were always the crowd’s favourite. Over here, you’ll get to battle your friends and family and finally decide on who’s the best dancer of all.

Dining for Cruises to Nowhere

Some of us live for food and may be apprehensive of the available food options. After all, you’re to live in a confined space for days. But on Quantum of the Seas, you’ll have 17 dining options to choose from, so you’ll be spoilt or choice.

The ones to note are Cafe Promenade , a 24-hour establishment that’ll satisfy your late-night cravings , Dog House , where you can pile your hotdog with your favourite toppings and Sorrento’s , an authentic New York-style pizzeria experience with traditional pizzas.

Onboard the World Dream, there are three all-inclusive restaurants, one 24-hour snack bar and 15 other cafes and restaurants. Incessantly looking at the ocean waves may have gotten you thinking about HaiDiLao’s boiling soup, so when you find yourself craving for hotpot when onboard the Cruises to Nowhere, you can visit Hot Pot, a buffet situated on the outdoor deck.

Included in the cruise fare are meals at the Genting and Dream dining rooms, The Lido buffet and the World Grill, with the remaining being additional charge venues. 

Cruises to Nowhere comparison guide

To wrap up this article, we’ve included a table of what is included in the cruise fare. That way, you’ll be able to do a fair comparison of what floats your boat better.

If reading this has convinced you enough to book a trip, you can start here: Royal Caribbean International | Genting Cruise Lines’ Dream Cruise

For more articles like this, subscribe to our Telegram channel at @confirmgood .

Natalie Lim

I leave the office at 6PM on the . to rush home and play games. My boss has no control over me!!

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Singapore is launching 'cruises to nowhere'

Oct 9, 2020 • 2 min read

Royal Caribbean will participate in Singapore's 'cruise to nowhere' program © mariakraynova/Shutterstock

First Singapore had plans to launch ‘flights to nowhere’ , which departed and returned to Changi Airport but were later canceled because of environmental concerns. But now another new idea is moving forward: the country will start to allow ‘cruises to nowhere’ from November.

Cruise ships have not been permitted to stop in Singapore since March 13 because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Singapore Tourism Board has now issued new guidelines for cruises through their mandatory CruiseSafe certification program, which requires that boats sail at 50% capacity or lower and embark on a round-trip journey with no ports of call . These cruises will be open to Singapore residents only.

Two companies with their home port in Singapore, Genting Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International, will participate in the pilot program. Genting Cruise Lines’ World Dream will set sail on 6 November, and Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas will launch in December.

‘The government will monitor the outcomes of the pilot sailings carefully in the coming months before deciding on the next steps for cruises," the Singapore Tourism Board said in a statement.

The CruiseSafe protocols include infection control measures at every stage of the passenger journey – including a mandatory COVID-19 test before boarding – and ensuring 100% fresh air throughout the ship. Masks and social distancing are also required, and random inspections will be carried out to ensure compliance.

‘This cruise pilot is a valuable opportunity for cruise operators to reinvent the entire cruise experience in order to regain the confidence of passengers’, Keith Tan, Chief Executive of Singapore Tourism Board, said in a statement. "Singapore remains committed to supporting and growing cruise tourism in the region. We will continue to work with cruise lines and our industry stakeholders to chart a new course for safe cruising."

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Royal Caribbean and others will test how travelers like sailing in big circles with Singapore-based 'cruises to nowhere'

• The Singapore Tourist Board gave permission to Royal Caribbean and Genting to start offering cruises that depart and arrive in its port that don't dock anywhere else, according to MarketWatch . 
• Royal Caribbean will offer three- and four-night trips out of Singapore starting on December 1. 
• The move is seen as a solution to prevent spreading the virus to other ports while also giving passengers a chance to enjoy cruises again.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .

If seeing faraway places is your only reason for taking a cruise, then this newest exercise from Royal Caribbean International and Genting Cruise Lines probably won't interest you. But if you love going on cruises because you just love being on a big boat, then this one's for you.

The two cruise lines just got permission from authorities in Singapore to start sailing out of its port, MarketWatch reports. After a few days, without disembarking anywhere else to mitigate the risk of catching and spreading the COVID-19 virus there, passengers will return to Singapore. They will pay a lot of money to essentially sail to "nowhere," the outlet wrote.  

Some cruise ships began operating again in other markets in August . But since the Singaporean port is a major hub for Asia, MarketWatch author Rupert Steiner pointed out that the island city-state's decision will be regarded as "a big boost."

Related stories

The program, developed by the Singapore Tourist Board, is called CruiseSafe and includes strict new safety procedures to guard passengers against the virus. Working with cruise lines including Royal Caribbean and Genting, the board will try out a small number of trips. 

Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas is offering three- and four-night trips out of Singapore starting on December 1. On its website , the cruise company noted that it's "partnered with top medical minds and the Singapore Government to design our plan."

It also pledges "testing for all," "100% fresh, filtered air," "medical grade cleaning standards," and "upgraded medical facilities and expert care."

Genting's Dream Cruises will commence in November. The company told MarketWatch in a statement: "Working very closely with the Singapore government, Dream Cruises was granted approval by the local authorities to start a pilot based on the company's stringent and enhanced health and safety protocols, complemented by its exemplary safety track record during its first two months of operations in Taiwan."

Cruises are under particular scrutiny right now. There were many widely reported cases of passengers being trapped aboard while the virus spread rampantly among them, resulting in ports stopping the ships from docking and letting people off. Even prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, giant luxury cruise ships have been criticized as massive air polluters . 

The move to sail in circles out of and then back to Singapore is similar to Singapore Airlines offering three-hour sightseeing "flights to nowhere" from Changi Airport, Business Insider reported last month. 

You can read the rest of the MarketWatch story here .

Watch: flight attendants explain how covid-19 has affected their jobs.

• Main content

The Ranting Panda

Of blacks and whites and everything else | singapore | food reviews, lifestyle & travel, cruise review: royal caribbean quantum of the seas, singapore | cruising to nowhere in the midst of the pandemic.

Posted on June 3, 2021 by theRantingPanda in Hotel Review

The Cruise With the pandemic hitting us since late 2019, the last trips I managed to head to were to my favourite coastal town Byron Bay in Australia and a weekend visit to Bangkok in Thailand in early March 2020. Being someone with travel plans throughout the year, the past year has been life-changing.

One definite change will be my view of a cruise vacation. I have always brushed off the idea of taking cruise, since the thought of being stuck on a moving vessel for days does not sound like an exciting proposition. Though living in a small island like Singapore, I decided that it is perhaps time to head out on a cruise since I have developed cabin fever after being stuck in Singapore the past year.

With only 2 cruises to choose from, it is an obvious decision for me – my pick will definitely be Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas. The food options and entertainment facilities onboard RC made this an easy option. Unless of course if you are inspired by Chow Yun Fat in God of Gamblers, Genting’s Dream Cruise will be the more obvious cruise option for you.

The Room Since I am heading to cruise on RC to get out of my cabin fever, a stateroom with a balcony for me to look out to the open sea is a must. On Quantum of the Seas, you can pick from 4 general categories of rooms, namely Interior (no windows), Ocean View (with windows), Balcony and Suite. Did some research online, and there are strong recommendations by some specialised websites on cruises to pick rooms between between Deck 8 to 12, and in the middle section of the cruise as you will be in the middle of both lift lobbies.

The Ocean View Balcony staterooms measures 253sqft, and can sleep up to 4 guests with 2 each on a King Bed and a Sofa Bed; though I will discourage against having 4 adults in the room as it can be a rather tight space.

The balcony is definitely a life-saver, and it is the only spot on the cruise where you can afford to bask in the sun without wearing your face mask. Kudos to the cruise staff, wearing of face mask is strictly enforced throughout the entire cruise, except when you are in the swimming pools or on the FlowRider.

The room comes with a well-sized toilet with a standing enclosed shower. Do note that unless you book a suite, which comes with some lovely L’occitane toiletries, do make sure you bring your own. Unless you do not mind the budget 2-in-1 Shampoo and Body Wash the cruise provides.

Do note that all rooms are serviced and sanitised by a dedicated attendant twice daily including a turn-down service in the evening. The attendant for my room was challenged to do a different towel animal everyday, and he did not disappoint with renditions of elephants, bears, birds, dogs and more!

The Restaurants  For a start, you have to decide if you will be happy with all the complimentary meals onboard the cruise, or you are good to top-up for Specialty Dining which will allow you to book any of the Specialty Dining restaurants for lunch and dinner throughout your stay onboard. These restaurants includes the  Chops Grille  steakhouse,  Jamie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver , fine-dining concept  Wonderland , and Japanese restaurant  Izumi . We heard raving reviews of Chops Grille, and dismal ratings of Izumi, so you have to be prepared that not all Specialty Dining  restaurants will delight your palates. 

Since this is my first time onboard a cruise, with full intention to take life slow, I decided to go with the complimentary dining just so that I will not be pressured to frantically book the restaurants upon boarding since the complimentary dining restaurants will have ample seats for all.  

For all-day ala-carte dining, the  Main Dining   Room  is made up by  American Icon Grill  and  Silk , which both serve the same menu with a legit 3-course menu for lunch and dinner daily.

Some highlights from our meals here includes the Escargot, Prime Ribs, local Singapore favourite Laksa and not forgetting the Chocolate Cake that was surprisingly satisfying.

While the food here does not blow my mind, it definitely did not fare badly as a complimentary dining concept. I also appreciate that the lunch and dinner menu rotate a fair bit each day, just so diners will not get too bored easily.    

If you are a buffet person,  Windjammer  will be the place for you. Serving a wide spread of food options throughout the day, with a view of the sea as it is located high up on deck fourteen of the cruise. That said, I did not enjoy my meals here, both times heading back down to Main Dining Room to have a second meal. It is a little too busy, too packed, and lack the finesse of the  Main Dining   Room .   

In between meals, there are other complimentary dining options which you can visit throughout the day. Strongly recommending you to visit the  Seaplex Doghouse  for some of the good ol’ American sausages. Skip the bread, and just topped your choice of sausages with onions. I returned here daily while cruising. 

And before I forget, you can enjoy some complimentary McDonald’s inspired soft-serve ice cream at Deck 14, next to the indoor pool.  

Another place you should visit is  Sorrentos  for its pizzas! Do not expect the pizza to wow, but they are satisfying to say the least. Pair it with the complimentary coffee and tea, and this is one spot to chill at any time of the day when you are craving for some caffine and to satisfy your hunger pangs. Sorrentos operates to the wee hours, perhaps catering to the gamblers at the casino just one floor down.  

If you are a coffee snob and the complimentary coffee available across all dining concepts is not your cup of coffee (literally), visit  La Patisserie . This is where you find a more proper third wave coffee, though you will need to pay for them.  

The Facilities  This is perhaps the most important consideration for me when I decided to go for a cruise. Yes, I did mention that my main purpose to head to a cruise is to chill and take life slow(er) since I have barely taken any annual leave from my day job for the past year. Though knowing my restlessness, the cruise better have something for me to do whenever I want to head out from my stateroom. 

Starting with activities in the sun, these are located at the upper decks, starting with the best spot on the entire cruise, the  Solarium . This adult-only (yay!) indoor jacuzzi hideout allow guests to bask in the sun through its all-glass facade, and dipping into the hot and cold pools while sipping on your choice of drink from the bar.

Read a book, browse through social media, or just close our eyes and enjoy the serenity Solarium offers. Head here during sunrise or sunset, and enjoy some gorgeous views. Be warned though, the better positioned sundeck chairs gets occupied real quick. 

There are two warm jacuzzi tubs in the Solarium where only one group of people can soak in it at any one point. Be prepared to queue to enter the tub during the day.  

Continuing on Deck 14, head out from the Solarium and you will be greeted with the  Indoor and Outdoor Pools  with  Whirlpools  dotting the area. Just a note, you are required to be masked up as long as you are out of your rooms, and there are only other 2 occasions you can remove your face masks – when you are dining, or when you are soaked in any of the pools. The friendly, but stern, lifeguards and crew on the cruise will readily remind you if you fail to observe this. 

Moving up to Deck 15, challenge yourself to scale the  Rock Climbing Wall . Decided to give it a go during my cruise, and was fighting my acrophobia while scaling the wall. Do recommend you to have a go at this! 

Just beside this, you will find both the  FlowRider  and  Ripcord by iFly  onboard. The FlowRider is complimentary and you must make sure you head up to ride some wave while on the Quantum of the Sea! Admittedly, I was on the FlowRider twice daily, and managed to do some moves before I disembarked. Fun sport, but be prepared for wait times of up to 45 minutes to an hour during peak times. 

Housing all other sports and entertainment activities, the  Seaplex  on Deck 15 has a central court which can be used for all sort of complimentary sports and Bumper Car throughout the day. The Seaplex also houses the Arcade and Gaming Area if that’s what you are keen on. 

There is a  Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Centre  onboard the cruise as well, though the Fitness Centre was closed during our voyage due to heightened alert in Singapore as with the ongoing pandemic. We heard the fitness centre is a haven for gym-goers, and would have visited it daily should it be opened. 

I like the fact that there is ample space on deck 15 to take a stroll around the vessel. For runners, there is an outdoor running track which counts approximately 550m per round. Otherwise, this is also a good spot to catch the sunset as dusk sinks in.

In the evening, there is also movie night at the main outdoor pool, or head to the indoor pool for a quieter moment.

Once the sun goes down, you can head indoors for daily shows at  The Royal Theatre ,  TWO70  and the  Music Hall . You can join in the various daily activities organized by the cruise too, including game shows and trivial. Of course, for the folks looking to win big, you can head to the cruise’s  Casino Royale . Here’s wishing you luck! 

And for the shopaholics, there are various tax-free retail shops and art galleries to tempt you with. Some of the products on the cruise are truly at a discount from the prices in Singapore, just note that everything onboard a cruise are priced in United States Dollars.  

Other Tips To Note  Note that for Royal Caribbean, they do allow you to bring up to a maximum of 12 cans and bottles of non-alcoholic drinks onboard. As they only provide 2 complimentary bottles of water in the room upon check-in, you might want to bring some bottles of water onboard instead of having to pay up for such essentials. Also, for the folks who are keen to sip your wine while onboard the cruise, you can bring up to 2x750ml bottles of wine and champagne per stateroom without corkage fees. 

And yes, make sure you subscribe to Royal Caribbean’s emails once you book your cruise, as there are periodic offers on its beverage and internet packages before you set sail. Book whatever packages that you like, and if a better offer comes along, just cancel your earlier book and rebook them! Just make sure to cancel all your unwanted bookings 4 days prior to boarding (please double check again on the timelines, in case they update this), and you will enjoy your full refunds.  

Another essential must have is an adapter to charge your electronics and phones in the call.   

Rants  As I was on the cruise over a long weekend, it was frankly quite packed with families. I will be more inclined to go for the 3 Nights Cruise package in future which sails from Monday to Thursday, where the cruise will probably be less packed.  

While mask wearing is essential in public space, it is really not ideal for a suntan at the deck with a mask on. I wouldn’t want a visible mask-shaped tan line on my face.    Overall Experience  I am surprising myself by seriously looking at booking my next cruise during the time of writing this article. The affordable price for a balcony stateroom, the decent complimentary dining, the ample facilities to keep me entertained through my 4 nights onboard Quantum of the Sea, and finally a time in the last 12 months to allow me to “travel” aimlessly again, I am now cruising away to book my next  cruise-capade ! 

Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas   Sailing into the midst of nowhere 

For more information, do check out Royal Caribbean  website . 

Ranted by The Rante e 

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13 comments on cruise review: royal caribbean quantum of the seas, singapore | cruising to nowhere in the midst of the pandemic.

This is useful, given that this is during Heightened alert. The dining places are open and we do not need to dine in the room like mainland Singapore?

During HA, the food are served to the rooms at the cruise too. But with the latest news, hopefully we will all get to dine out at restaurants by 21st Jun!

Did you have to pay extra for wifi?

Yupps! Paid for the wifi onboard. Can’t do without some social media! =)

Thanks for the interesting blog, just to clarify on the complimentary dining, besides Chops Grille, Jamie’s, Wonderland and Izumi, all other restaurants are complimentary?

Like Liked by 1 person

Yup that’s right, enjoy!

Amazing blog 😀😀

Hi! Read your blog, very interesting to read especially when I am going on a cruise soon. I was just wondering, how do you book the various activities/dining? Is it only when you get onboard on day 1 or way before the cruise, you can start to book already? 🙂

Hello! Glad you find the information useful, for the specialty dining you can reserve once you are on board. Otherwise, for the Main Dining Room complimentary dining you can state your time preference on the app before boarding. Activities are mainly queue on board, can’t reserve time slots.

Hope this helps!

The cruise is only suitable for couples or singles due to the safe distancing measures. Not family friendly at all. Attractions are limited to only 2 persons, same goes to dining. Really spoils all the fun.

Yea. The rules onboard the cruise are similar to the rules on land. It changes with the latest measures too.

How much did you pay for 5d4n? Heard the windjammer is close during dinner hours, not sure if it’s true.

Probably about S$1.5k per pax.

Windjammer does not do dinner service, which is served at the Main Dining.

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The Ultimate Cruise to Nowhere review: Royal Caribbean Cruise Vs Dream Cruises

If you could only pick one cruise-to-nowhere getaway, it’d be…

In Dec 2020 when Cruises to Nowhere had just begun, we got to experience Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas .

On that post, someone asked:

So this one’s for David, as well as those who can’t decide which cruise to go for — Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas ? Or Dream Cruises’ World Dream ?

In this Cruise to Nowhere review, we’re breaking down each cruise line’s accommodation, food and activities (including shows) to give you a fair comparison of both cruises.

Covid-19 tests and Pre-boarding Process

Photo credit: The Straits Times

Swab tests are now compulsory on both cruises with slight logistical differences. The good thing is COVID-19 tests are included in your cruise package for both cruise lines.

Royal Caribbean

On Royal Caribbean cruises, you’re required to take a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test at Raffles Convention Centre 72 hours before boarding.

We took ours two days before the cruise and received our results the next day. The process was really quick and straightforward so we were in and out within 15 minutes.

At the end of the cruise, you’ll be given one final swab — there’s no need to wait for results this time and the swab doesn’t go in as deep as the pre-boarding test.

Dream Cruises

For Dream Cruises, an Antigen Rapid Test (ART) will be administered on the day of boarding. A pre-assigned time slot will be printed on your ticket so you just need to show up. Test results will be ready after 20 minutes to an hour.

Our experience through the testing area was quick and smooth too. The whole process was very organised and the only significant waiting time we had between stations was waiting for our results.

Although not as accurate as the PCR test, the ART is a lot less invasive! Instead of the swab going all the way in, it only scrapes the walls of your nose.

Same as Royal Caribbean, you’ll be swabbed one final time upon disembarkation but there’s no need to wait for results before leaving the cruise centre.

Cruise Accommodation

The two cruises offer similar accommodation types from staterooms to grand suites.

Royal Caribbean Balcony Stateroom

The balcony staterooms are pretty similar and are perfect for two.

Dream Cruises Balcony Stateroom

The only difference between these two rooms is the bathroom. Dream Cruises’ comes with a double sink and a wider shower area — great for families with kids.

Dream Cruises Balcony Stateroom Bathroom

Dream Cruises’ Balcony Staterooms: From  ~S$419/pax for three nights Royal Caribbean’s Balcony Staterooms: From  S$469/pax for three nights

For an elevated experience, book a suite for extra perks and access to experiences.

We personally got to experience Dream Cruises’ Palace Suite . Although it’s the cheapest class in the Palace Suite, the perks you get outside the room do give you a nice feeling of being taken care of.

Dream Cruises Palace Suite

Perks include butler service, a basic drink package (coffee, tea and juices) and complimentary dining at all speciality restaurants. Palace residents also get full access to all the private facilities — from a separate pool area to 24-hour dining at the Palace Restaurant!

Photo credit: Royal Caribbean

A comparable room on Royal Caribbean is the Junior Suite. The interior is pretty similar — with space for the room, balcony and bathroom. However, in terms of the suite experience, the Junior Suite is more similar to a bigger balcony stateroom than a suite.

Apart from extra room, WiFi, the Deluxe drink package and access to specialty dining are excluded.

If you’re going for a low range suite experience, then Dream Cruises gives you more bang for your buck!

Dream Cruises’ Palace Suite: From S$630/pax for two nights Royal Caribbean’s Junior Suite (Large Balcony): From S$769/pax for three nights

If “go big or go home” is what you live by, here’s the ultimate experience on each ship:

Royal Caribbean’s Grand Loft Suite is the second highest class and comes with a mezzanine! The suite also fits a king-sized bed, two bathrooms, a spacious living area and an  equally  spacious balcony.

Grand Loft Suite Stateroom

Apart from complimentary access to all  speciality dining experiences , staying at the Grand Loft Suite also includes the Deluxe drinks package which means free-flow drinks all day — alcoholic beverages included! But the best part is that you’re assigned a Royal Genie (personal butler) who will help you with bookings and customise the experience so you have a memorable one on the ship ✨

Palace Penthouse living area. Photo credit: Dream Cruise s

Dream Cruises’ equivalent is the Palace Penthouse. Unlike the Palace Suite, it features a separate living-cum-dining area, with a private step-out balcony. The space can hold up to six guests.

Dream Cruises’ Palace Penthouse: From ~S$786.30/pax for three nights Royal Caribbean’s Grand Loft Suite: From S$744/pax for three nights

For the ultimate experience, here’s what you can expect from the most luxurious rooms of each ship:

Dream Cruises’ Palace Villa is the epitome of luxurious living with two bedrooms, a dining room, a living room, a jacuzzi and three bathrooms. This suite is so big, it can accommodate up to eight people!

On top of the Palace privileges, you’ll be even more spoilt with round-the-clock butler service, and priority access to shows.

Royal Caribbean’s most luxurious suite is their Royal Loft Suite. It doesn’t have multiple bedrooms like Dream Cruises’ Palace Villa, but it boasts a spacious two-floor contemporary design perfect for parties of six. These suites are either located at the front or the back of the ship for utmost privacy.

Upon checking in, you’ll be welcomed with Moët and Chandon in the room. Epic room aside, you also have complimentary dining at specialty restaurants, all-day free-flow drinks and a Royal Genie at your every beck and call!

Dream Cruises’ Palace Villa: From  ~S$1,259/pax for three nights Royal Caribbean’s Royal Loft Suite: From ~S$3673.53/pax for three nights

Breakfast at Dream Cruises’ Palace Restaurant

For foodies, a cruise is the best place to be! From glorious buffet spreads to high-end speciality dining experiences, both cruises boast an array of dining experiences. Here’s how they compare.

Complimentary Dining Experiences

Royal Caribbean’s Windjammer and Dream Cruises’ Lido are where you get an all-you-can-eat buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner. These buffet options are open to all guests (regardless of room class).

In terms of size and variety, Windjammer takes the cake — serving a wide range from burgers to tacos and even vegetarian and gluten-free options! Lido seems quite limited in comparison, but they serve more fried foods and Asian cuisines.

There may be fewer options on Dream Cruises’ Lido but a plus point is that the menu switches up during Themed Night Dinners. On their recent Thai-themed cruise , the buffet spread included popular Thai dishes like Pad Thai, Wok-Fried Crab in Thai Curry and Steamed Barramundi Fish with Lime Juice!

For complimentary dining options, Royal Caribbean has a much better selection. Apart from the buffet, they have four main dining rooms: Sorrento’s pizza, Dog House’s crafted hot dogs, as well as sandwiches and soups at Two70. Dream Cruises only has Lido and two other main dining rooms for complementary options.

Specialty Dining Experiences

Specialty dining requires a top-up if you’re not a suite guest.

For Dream Cruises, speciality dining works on an ala carte basis where you’ll need credits to spend on dining. Purchase these credits onboard, with up to 20% off dining credits when bought on embarkation day!

On Royal Caribbean, you just pay a one-time fee and eat as much as you want — basically paying for a reservation.

Although both cruises have a steakhouse, Dream Cruises serves more Asian cuisine with Korean BBQ, hotpot and Teppanyaki.

Umi Uma Teppanyaki

Something special on Royal Caribbean is their novel dining experiences like Jamie’s Italian ala carte buffet and Wonderland’s molecular gastronomy.

Painting our menu at Wonderland

If food experience is a priority when you travel, we’d say go for Royal Caribbean’s cruise.

Activities On Board

Royal Caribbean’s surf simulator, FlowRider

Free activities on Royal Caribbean: FlowRider, bumper cars, rock climbing, archery, Seaplex activities, Dodgem Cars, outdoor film nights, dance classes, jewellery making, scrapbooking, folding artistry, Yoga classes, Pilates classes, Spin classes.

Royal Caribbean’s rock wall

*Pro-tip: Aim for the first slot of the day or during meal times to beat the crowd as these activities can get packed quickly.

Dream Cruises’ water slides

Free activities on Dream Cruises: Water slide Park, obstacle rope course, rock climbing, mini-golf, life-sized chess, ping pong, SportsPlex, Muay Thai classes, HIIT classes, belly dancing, ballroom dancing, bingo, Cinema at Sea.

Dream Cruises’ high-elements rope course

Paid activities on Dream Cruises: Esc EXPERIENCE LAB — a Virtual Reality studio with eight thrilling game stations. Imagine chasing zombies or shooting down enemy drones (top-up of $4–20/game).

Paid activities on Royal Caribbean: iFly’s indoor skydiving (S$54.40), North Star ride ($27.20) and an arcade.

For activities, Dream Cruises has a lot more variety so it seems like there’s always something to do. You could learn a new sport before breakfast and pick up new dance moves after lunch!

Places to Chill On Board

Dream Cruises Public Pool

There are pools and jacuzzis on both cruises which you’ll have to get a timeslot for. However, the booking systems on Royal Caribbean and Dream Cruises are completely different.

On Dream Cruises, you’ll need to make a physical reservation at the pool itself to get a slot sometime in the day. Whereas Royal Caribbean works on a first-come-first-serve basis with lifeguards limiting and controlling the numbers.

*Pro-tip: Head to the pool first thing in the morning for both cruises to beat the queue.

One perk about cruising with Royal Caribbean is having a kid-free escape like The Solarium, an adult-only pool.

Royal Caribbean’s Solarium

Dream Cruises doesn’t have this for the general public, but if you’re a Palace guest, you’ll have exclusive access to their private pool area at the top of the deck — reservations are required.

Dream Cruises’ Palace Private Jacuzzi

On Royal Caribbean’s North Star

For a nice break from the busyness, take a seven-minute ride on Royal Caribbean’s North Star (top-up is ~S$15.90 or free for suite guests). This observation deck takes you 300 feet above sea level, offering mad views of the endless horizon and a birds-eye view of the cruise below.

Alternatively, both cruises have deck chairs all around that face the ocean. It’s still a great view nonetheless, especially during sunset.

Dream Cruises’ Faith Show

For me, a huge part of the cruise experience is late-night entertainment. If you’re looking to have your mind blown with multitalented performances, Dream Cruises’ acts are definitely where it’s at. With stunning acrobatic acts and quirky dance numbers, I was thoroughly entertained throughout.

Photo credit: Dream Cruises

Dream Cruises also hosts a special show — Dream Boys (only for those 18 and above)! It’s basically their version of Magic Mike, featuring beautiful men and raunchy dance moves, with sprinkles of comedy throughout. The show costs S$50, which is a steal compared to Magic Mike Shows in London (~S$146.38).

Fun fact: These performers have multiple roles on the ship — Muay Thai instructor in the day, Dream Boy by night!

Royal Caribbean’s Two70 Violin act

Royal Caribbean’s Two70 showcases are a great way to just unwind. Enjoy world-class music performances and mind-boggling magic shows before calling it a night.  

Drink Packages for Three-Night Cruise

For some of us, drinks are a crucial part of the Cruise To Nowhere experience — yes, we get it. If that’s the case for you, Royal Caribbean is definitely where you can drink your money’s worth. The Deluxe package at S$163 for a three-night cruise includes all beverages including cocktails, beer, wines and non-alcoholic beverages (basically anything under $12).

Dream Cruises’ full drink package on the other hand only has free flow coffee, tea, juices, and soft drinks. Alcoholic beverages are only free-flow between 5–7PM.

Royal Caribbean Vs Dream Cruises — Which Cruise to Nowhere Would You Pick?

Royal Caribbean’s Solarium, an adult-only pool

Here’s our take:

Rooms — The rooms on Dream Cruises’ World Dream are generally more affordable than Royal Caribbean for a similar room size. However, if you’re going for the ultimate luxury experience, Royal Caribbean takes the win.

Entertainment — This is a tough fight. Both ships have more than enough options to keep you entertained on a three-night cruise. If you’re going for more extremes, you’ll appreciate Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas for its Flowrider and iFly.

Dream Cruises’ World Dream has its epic water slides and more options when it comes to shows and classes. Of course, the star of the show here is the Dream Boys — if that’s your thing.

Dining — If you’re a real foodie, we’d go with Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas for this one.

Cruises are basically our only chance to get away from Singapore for now. And the good thing is cruises do make you feel like you’re overseas! So whichever Cruise to Nowhere you end up with — whether it’s Dream Cruises or Royal Caribbean — you’re bound to have a good immersive break, until travel resumes once again!

We hope this Cruise Comparison was helpful — if you’ve experienced both Cruises to Nowhere, let us know which you prefer in the comment section below!

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Hi, great post on the comparison! Wanna update on something, i just came back from Dream Cruise, they did not do a swab test before disembarkation. So i was only swab once, before boarding. Hope this helps!

thanks for the update!

Hi , thanks for the superb comparison ! I just got back from Dream Cruise World Dream.

An update for you , you don’t have to make reservation for accessing the pool now.

thanks for sharing!

I recently took a cruise on Royal Caribbean and it was amazing! The service was great and the ship was very clean. Dream Cruises, on the other hand, was not as great. The service was not as good and the ship was

Thanks for sharing!

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Tips for Royal Caribbean’s cruise to nowhere

• July 16, 2021

Going on a cruise now is probably the closest thing you can get to a holiday, complete with passport scanning, packing a luggage and walking an aerogate. Technically you’re still in the vicinity of Singapore, but you still get a little bit of the “overseas travel” feels when you wake up to the open seas, so I would recommend going for this.

I’ve been on cruises several times with my family pre-COVID, so I already know what to expect, but this time it was less crowded and quieter due to the reduced capacity – which is good!

One thing I liked about Royal Caribbean is that the swab test is done a few days before your trip. We booked an appointment to head down to the testing centre at Raffles City and it was quick and easy. For Dream Cruises, you do the swab test when you check in at the cruise centre and it can be quite a long wait in the queue (a friend’s friend waited over 2 hours!).

The check-in process was super efficient and fast. We alighted and got ushered in to scan our bags, collect our Tracelets (these prisoner looking wrist tags you have to wear ALL THE TIME when outside your room on the ship), scan our passports and then onto the aerogate we went into the ship.

Once on the ship, we went to our assembly station for a quick safety briefing then straight to our room where our SeaPass cards (this card that acts as your identification, credit card, key card and also access card) were at the door. This SeaPass card must go with you everywhere because you need to scan in and out of every section on the ship.

Here are some tips I’ve put together to help you if you’re going or thinking of going:

1) Do your check-in via the app before your trip.

Online check-in opens 90 days before your trip so do it as soon as you can, so that you can book the earliest boarding slot which is at 2pm. The cruise only departs at 8pm but you want to get on earlier to maximise your time. You can only board when it’s your official time slot so please don’t be kiasu and show up earlier.

Download the Royal Caribbean app and you can complete 2 of the 3 check-in steps. The last step, the health declaration, can only be done 24 hours before departure.

Within the app, link your credit card and set up your profile too.

2) Buy Wi-Fi and beverage packages at discounted prices before your trip via the website.

Create an account on the Royal Caribbean website and do purchase Wi-Fi and beverage packages up to 48 hours before your trip. They will usually be at discounted prices, like 30-40% off.

For the beverage packages, they have different types like Classic Soda (unlimited soft drinks at S$10.87/day), Refreshment Package (unlimited non-alcoholic drinks at S$27.20/day), Deluxe Package (all non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks at S$54.50/day) and there’s even one for just specialty coffees.

If you want to let your hair down and drink, my suggestion is take the Deluxe Package so you can get free flow alcohol. Every passenger in your travel party MUST purchase the Deluxe Package, so it cannot be only one of you buy it and the rest don’t. Each stateroom can bring 2 bottles of wine onboard btw, just no hard liquor.

The Refreshment Package however, depending on how big your group is, you can just get 1-2 people to buy the package. Then what you do is send these people to go and get drinks for the group (sssshhhh!). But to make it less obvious that you’re cheating the system, please take drinks from different cafes/bars.

The only time you cannot get away with this is at mealtimes, where only those with the packages can order drinks for free. But they serve free water at meals in the main dining hall and the buffet has free coffee and juices so it’s fine!

You will get only 2 x 500ml bottles of water in the room when you arrive. They will not replenish the water after that. You can order from Room Service but there will be a service charge and 18% gratuity. There is a kettle in the room which you can boil water with, but the tap water tastes a bit funny. The water coolers around the ship are also all shut so you can’t refill your bottles. You might be able to refill your water bottle at the buffet restaurant though.

I mean, if you don’t really drink much water then maybe you can just buy one bottle of water a day instead of buying the package so work your sums. One glass of fresh orange juice is US$4.13!

I would say get Wi-Fi for your mobile phone at least, or you will totally not have any connection once out at sea…unless you’re fine with being totally off the grid. You will also need the Wi-Fi so you can contact your friends; otherwise you can stick to each other throughout.

They have Surf and Surf + Stream packages. Basically Surf is mostly for emails and WhatsApp, and Stream has better bandwidth for social media and even Netflix. We purchased the package for 2 devices which cost us S$24.47 per day.

But with this Wi-Fi package, be prepared that there might be moments where the connection becomes weak or totally no connection. I didn’t use my laptop at all so I’m not sure how strong the speed is, but I would say just stick to the phone.

3) Make reservations for specialty restaurants via the app.

All meals are included in your package, so technically you don’t need to fork out extra. The places that you can eat for free are at the Main Dining Hall (called My Time Dinner which is usually at Silk or American Icon Grill), Windjammer (buffet restaurant), Dog House (hot dog stand), Sorrento’s (pizza) and Cafe Promenade (sandwiches, wraps, cookies). There were other complimentary dining places to eat at but they were closed on our trip!

The meal times for the Main Dining Hall is 8.30am to 10.00am for breakfast, 12.00pm to 1.30pm for lunch and for dinner you can choose between 6.00pm and 8.00pm. You can call ahead of your trip to choose which dinner time you prefer.

No reservations are needed to be made for these complimentary dining places, but if you would like to eat at their specialty restaurants like Chops Grille, Izumi, Jamie’s Italian or Wonderland (some fancy sensory experience thing), make the reservation via the app before your trip. They get booked up quite quickly!

We chose not to spend more money on food so we didn’t book any specialty restaurants. To our dismay, the food at the Main Dining Hall was really quite bad – just think mass batch cooking and reheated. Grace and I are not fussy with food at all, plus we are gluttons, so for us to not finish the food really says something.

We felt bad for wasting food so we didn’t return to the Main Dining Hall anymore after the first night’s dinner. Breakfast at the Main Dining Hall was not too bad (there’s free juice!) but the hashbrown was soggy and mushy (noooooooo!).

The buffet restaurant is better because there is a variety so it’s a hit and miss – some taste good, some taste bad. The Indian food was decent, but the Asian soup noodles were either too salty or too bland. The bun of my slider was so hard and the omelettes freshly fried from the egg station were flat and overcooked. We mostly ate our meals at the buffet restaurant, but for dinner the last two nights we had cup noodles and the free pizza in our own room.

You can order from the room service menu but there is a service charge and 18% gratuity.

4) Bring your own snacks

This brings me to my next point of bringing your own snacks. You can only bring packaged food like chips, biscuits, nuts, chocolates, cup noodles. You can’t bring cooked food and fruits. There is NO convenience store onboard so I would highly recommend bringing your own food. In hindsight we should have brought more cup noodles hahahah but I finished the rest of the snacks we brought.

5) Bookings for activities can only be done once onboard.

Although dining reservations can be done via the app prior to boarding, bookings for activities can only be done onboard. Once you get on, faster open up your app and start booking! There are limited slots and they get booked out fast. Free activities include flowriding, rock climbing, bumper cars and some other games within the SeaPlex (their sports centre). There are also movies, trivia quizzes, scavenger hunts, dance classes and movies. You can also book slots to hit the gym.

Pre-COVID, there were A LOT more activities for sure. One thing that was sorely missing were the live performances at night. There used to be musicals, dances, comedies, magic shows, singing etc. but now there’s only one live show and it’s only for the Royal Suite guests.

We didn’t go for any of the activities, except soaking in the jacuzzi (time limit of 10 minutes) at the adults-only Solarium, but we didn’t find ourselves bored because we had the company of each other and we enjoy doing nothing.

If you’re going with friends, I would suggest bringing your own games onboard or you might get bored!

6) Have your TraceTogether app or token ready and also bring a lanyard/cardholder/pouch to carry your SeaPass

The SeaPass must go with you everywhere to scan you in and out. You don’t really need to carry cash since you can charge everything to the SeaPass and they will just bill to your credit card. But… (see next point).

7) Remember everything on the cruise is in USD. Bring USD cash if you don’t want to lose out on the exchange rate.

Just bring US dollars and settle your outstanding bill in cash at Guest Services so you don’t lose out on the exchange rate. For those who want to hit the casino, there is an ATM machine you can draw cash from, but there is a very high commission for card withdrawal, hence bring cash. You can also prepare small notes for tips to the staff.

8) Check your allocated departure time ahead.

Unlike check-in, you will be allocated a departure time between 7.00am to 8.15am. They will only let you know this time on the day of departure itself via channel 23 on the in-room TV, but what you can do is check at Guest Services so you can make arrangements for transport. But to be honest, you can just leave anytime you want between 7.00am and 8.15am. There is breakfast from 6.00am btw.

All in all, I would say it was a good experience – just that the food was really disappointing. I don’t remember the food being this bad to be honest, but that was pre-COVID. But whatever they lacked in, they made up for in service. The service was excellent, no matter where you went, whether it was at the dining hall, the buffet restaurant or the stateroom attendant (aka housekeeper).

I hope this helped! If you have any other questions or if I missed anything out, just DM me on Instagram and I’ll respond there.

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Royal Caribbean will resume sailing in Asia with 'cruises to nowhere'

Royal Caribbean has confirmed it will restart cruising from Singapore on Dec. 1.

The line will base the 4,180-passenger Quantum of the Seas out of Singapore offering three- and four-night "Ocean Getaways" – or cruises to nowhere – for Singapore residents only and operating at half capacity, reports Cruise Critic .

It will be the first Royal Caribbean Group line, which also include Celebrity Cruises, Azamara and Silversea, to resume cruising since  global cruising was paused in March amid the coronavirus pandemic .

The news comes at the same time as Taiwan-based line Dream Cruises – which restarted cruising in Taiwan in July – also announced it would restart cruising in the city state, offering similar short-break cruises from Nov. 6.

"Singapore residents are adventurous travelers and we are so excited to be giving them the opportunity to get away from their daily grind and enjoy a thrilling world-class Ocean Getaway, with total peace of mind," said Angie Stephen, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Royal Caribbean International. "While the cruise experience will be different than it was pre-pandemic, we are committed to providing the signature Royal Caribbean holiday that guests know and love, while keeping the health and safety of everyone onboard as our top priority."

She thanked the Singapore government for its collaboration and support and confidence in Royal Caribbean, adding: "We share their strong commitment and focus to reignite the local economy and bring back jobs and services supporting the travel industry."

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is developing a mandatory CruiseSafe certification program, which sets out stringent hygiene and safety measures throughout the passenger journey – from prior to boarding, to after disembarkation.The pilot cruises for both lines will be:

• round trips with no ports of call
• sailing at a reduced capacity of up to 50%; and
• only open to Singapore residents

The government will monitor the outcomes of the pilot sailings carefully in the coming months before deciding on the next steps for cruises.

Royal Caribbean Group has been working with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and a panel of medical experts to establish the  Healthy Sail Panel , which has drawn up a list of 74 health protocols for the safe resumption of cruising.

In Singapore, Royal Caribbean has been working closely with the local health and tourism authorities to follow all requirements and guidelines including the CruiseSafe Certification standards, which all cruise lines must obtain prior to sailing out of Singapore.

When it resumes operations, Royal Caribbean will be implementing a comprehensive set of health and safety measures that include testing and screening; upgraded Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems that enhance filtration; stringent cleaning practices; reduced capacities for greater physical distancing; expert medical care and onboard facilities; and more.

These protocols will continuously be evaluated and enhanced as new procedures and advancements in technology becomes available.

The line is also allowing passengers to make changes and cancellations up to 48 hours before the cruise begins. As well as included with the cruise are COVID-19 protections which include a 100% credit towards a future cruise should a guest or any member of their travel party test positive for COVID-19 during the three weeks prior to their booked cruise; or a full refund if a guest, or any member of their travel party, tests positive during their voyage.

Royal Caribbean will cover COVID-19 related costs up to $25,000 SGD per person in the travel party for onboard medical costs, any required quarantine and travel home.The line has suspended all sailings worldwide until Nov. 30.

More from Cruise Critic:

• What changes might be coming to cruise onboard entertainment?
• Royal Caribbean Group suspends cruises through Nov. 30
• "This is about survival:" Alaska ports issue plea for 2021 cruise season

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Ultimate Cruise to Nowhere Showdown: Dream Cruises vs Royal Caribbean

Dream Cruises vs Royal Caribbean: Which cruise liner offers the better cruise to nowhere experience?

If you’re looking to escape Singapore on a Cruise to Nowhere, it’s currently a two-horse race between Dream Cruises and Royal Caribbean , the only STB-approved operators. Dream Cruises operates 2-3 night cruises on World Dream; Royal Caribbean operates 2-4 night cruises on Quantum of the Seas. 

But which one is a better choice? Having done both, here’s my take. 

Dream Cruises vs Royal Caribbean: Policies

Before we even talk about the differences onboard, let’s talk policies and practices. Dream Cruises and Royal Caribbean differ in some very important ways:

Your stateroom location could be the all-important determinant of how much you enjoy your cruise. Those prone to sea sickness will want to be mid-level, mid-ship where movement is kept to a minimum. Light sleepers will want to be located away from elevators and entertainment venues. Lazy bums will want to avoid either extreme of the ship (long walking times).

Royal Caribbean lets guests choose their exact stateroom during the booking process; Dream Cruises has no such functionality (you’ll need to call up reservations if you want a pre-assignment). 

COVID-19 testing is a mandatory part of your cruise experience, and both companies go about it very differently. Dream Cruises uses the less invasive (and less accurate) COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test (ART), which is carried out on the day of departure. Passengers will need to arrive early at the cruise terminal to do their test, wait about an hour for the results (in the carpark, not very glam), and board after they test negative. 

Royal Caribbean uses the more invasive (and more accurate) COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, which is carried out between 48-72 hours before departure at Raffles City. Results will be released within 24 hours, and passengers with negative tests can proceed straight to boarding once they arrive at the cruise terminal. 

For those who like their booze, Royal Caribbean permits guests to bring on board two bottles of wine or champagne (750 ml each) per stateroom. These can be enjoyed in the room, or in a restaurant for a US$15 corkage fee (which in my experience, was never charged). Dream Cruises strictly forbids passengers from bringing alcohol on board.

Finally, it’s possible to pre-purchase dining, beverage and internet packages ahead of your Royal Caribbean cruise through the online cruise planner. Dream Cruises lacks this feature, and all package purchases must be done on board. I feel like this puts more pressure on guests, insofar as they have no opportunity to research the packages ahead of time (but not you, dear reader, as I’ll lay them out clearly in subsequent reviews), and it also means a lot more stress on boarding day as you rush to book things up. 

Who wins here? Royal Caribbean, without a doubt. I like the convenience of being able to choose my exact stateroom online, browse the various dining/beverage/internet packages ahead of time, and BYOB. While their COVID-19 test requires you to physically head down to Raffles City, it cuts both ways- on the day of departure, there’s no further wait and you can start enjoying your cruise immediately. 

Dream Cruises vs Royal Caribbean: Price

Cruise pricing can fluctuate dramatically, so take the above quotes with a pinch of salt- it’s always best to do a comparison search with your actual dates.

For May 2021, the lowest rates I could find on Dream Cruises were well below Royal Caribbean. It’s possible to get some discounts on Royal Caribbean fares with HSBC credit cards or AIA Vitality, but my general sense is that Dream Cruises is more budget-friendly. I suspect you’re being cross subsidized by the gamblers.

Dream Cruises vs Royal Caribbean: Staterooms

The stateroom categories on Dream and Royal roughly map to each other. There are interior rooms with no outside view (although Quantum has rooms with virtual windows ), ocean view rooms with portholes, balcony rooms, and suites. 

Here’s how they measure up in terms of size:

As a general rule, Royal has larger non-suite staterooms, but slightly smaller entry-level suites .

I stayed in a Balcony stateroom on both Royal and Dream, and even though the difference in room size is perhaps 20-30 sq. ft., it’s definitely noticeable. I’m trying to use shots from similar angles in the respective staterooms, but do note I was on the port side for one voyage and starboard on another, hence the door and balcony are reversed. 

The Quantum of the Seas stateroom feels slightly wider, and has more storage space thanks to two wardrobes and an additional credenza. On the other hand, the World Dream room is more modern, (it launched in 2017 vs 2014 for Quantum), with features like 2x USB ports on each bedside and notably faster Wi-Fi. 

Both rooms have excellent beds and soundproofing, so a good night’s sleep shouldn’t be an issue either way. 

The balcony on World Dream is extremely cramped. You can tell by the fact they couldn’t even place the two chairs perpendicular to the railing. 

In contrast, the balcony on Quantum was relatively more spacious (note how the chairs are perpendicular to the railing, and there’s even space for an ottoman), and it felt more pleasant spending time out here. 

Rooms on both ships were clean and made up twice a day, although I found Royal Caribbean to be a bit more personable in this respect (the cabin attendant personally introduces him/herself on the first day).

Dream Cruises vs Royal Caribbean: Food

Both Quantum of the Seas and World Dream have a wide variety of dining options, and some concepts will overlap. For instance, both have a main dining room and a special one for suites guests, both have a steakhouse and a Japanese restaurant. However, not all concepts will have a corresponding equivalent- World Dream has a hotpot and a specialty Chinese restaurant, while Quantum of the Seas has a molecular gastronomy fine dining restaurant and a specialty Italian joint. 

Here’s a rundown of how things map across ships:

In general, Dream Cruises caters to a more local audience, while Royal Caribbean will appeal to international palates. 

Complimentary Dining

Complimentary dining on Dream is served across two main locations: the Dream Dining Room Lower and Dream Dining Room Upper. The Upper section serves Chinese food, while the Lower section serves Western food. 

Unlike other cruise liners, Dream does not have “traditional” dining where you show up at a fixed time every night. It’s strictly first-come-first-serve, which means the potential for waits. Also, since you get a different table every time, you can forget about receiving anything other than anonymous service. 

On Royal, the complimentary dining is split across four different restaurants- American Icon Grill, Chic, Silk, and The Grande. They all serve the same menu, and where you’re seated is a function of whether you’re on My Time Dining or Traditional.

Regardless of which you choose, they endeavor to put you at the same table each night so you can have the same waitstaff and build a rapport. Our waiter was fantastic- by the second day he had figured out our preferences, and automatically brought extra portions of what he thought we’d like (and was spot on). 

I found breakfast to be the most underwhelming meal on both cruise ships, but at the very least Royal offered more options. On Dream, you had the same Western breakfast every day, with the only variable being a special that rotated between french toast, waffles, and pancakes.

The Chinese selection had more variety, but still relied heavily on oily carbs. 

Royal’s menu stayed the same each day, but they had nine different options plus a wide choice of sides. 

The star of lunch and dinner on Dream were the fish dishes. I was surprised by how good they are, and thankful they didn’t use cheap dory or some other bottom feeder. Instead, we had seabass and snapper, both cooked to perfection. 

The rest of the stuff on Dream, sadly, was cheap and unappetizing. I’d actually have been perfectly happy just going for the mains and skipping everything else. 

If your tastes veer more Chinese, you’d be able to enjoy a rotating menu of several dishes at each seating. It goes without saying that the Chinese option on Dream were much better than Royal’s. 

On Royal, lunch focused on fast-casual options, like burgers, quesadillas, pasta and sandwiches. 

Dinner was the real highlight, with choices like Steak Diane, Mojo-Marinated Grilled Pork Chop, and a surprisingly delicious prime rib. You can order as many appetizers, mains and desserts as you want, and we never left hungry. 

In the battle of the buffets, Windjammer trounces Lido. Not only does the layout feel more inviting (cuisines are grouped by islands, instead of an assembly line, and there’s much more room for people to move around while browsing), but the variety and quality at Windjammer put Lido to shame. 

Frankly, the food at Lido was depressing. I’m going to quote from my review here:  

Think industrial cafeteria food, then imagine it a hundred times worse. Then picture it served in a chaotic, cramped environment with screaming kids and dirty tables, and you’ve only started to conceptualise the hell that is Lido. 

The options were low quality, heavily reliant on carbs, fried food and processed items, and presented in a bland and unappetizing way. Dire. 

In contrast, the options at Windjammer may not have been steak and lobster, but they were certainly higher quality than Lido. There were also a few stations that would assemble your item to order, like burgers or pasta. 

Other free food options on World Dream are extremely limited- in fact, outside of the MDR and Lido, I can’t think of any other venue that had complimentary dining. On Royal, you’ll be spoiled for choice with pizza at Sorrento’s, hotdogs at the Dog House, healthier options at Solarium, sandwiches and soups at Two70, and random surprises like soft serve ice cream by the pool. 

Specialty Dining & Beverage Packages

Dream and Royal differ in the way they price specialty dining.

On Dream, specialty dining works purely on an a la carte basis. When you board the ship, you’ll be offered a Day One “embarkation offer”, where you can buy dining credits at the following prices:

• Pay S$50 get S$55 credit (9% off)
• Pay S$100 get S$120 credit (17% off)
• Pay S$150 get S$180 credit (17% off)
• Pay S$200 get S$250 credit (20% off)

In addition to this, certain set meals at places like Umi Uma and Hotpot will also be sold at a 20% discount (which you can further pay for with discounted dining credits, saving even more). When I was sailing, KrisFlyer members received a 20% discount off all food at specialty restaurants as well. 

On Royal Caribbean, things work differently. With the exception of Izumi (which uses an a la carte model), you pay for a reservation , during which you can order as much as you want at a particular restaurant. You can also buy an Unlimited Dining Package (UDP), which lets you eat at as many specialty restaurants as you wish (it cost S$135 for my four-night cruise). 

Both Dream and Royal have beverage packages, which I’ve tried to map to each other below:

Drinks packages are generally cheaper on Royal. If you opt for a la carte pricing, it’s more or less comparable, with the exception of hard liquor. A shot costs S$15 on Dream Cruises, versus S$12 on Royal. 

Remember: the key with Royal Caribbean is to wait for sales. Opt-in to their email communications (you can always unsubscribe after the cruise) so you’ll know when beverage and dining package are going on sale.

If in doubt, just lock in something first- you can always cancel without penalty prior to boarding. 

Chops Grille vs Prime Steakhouse

In this category, there’s just no contest. Chops Grille is an amazing place to get a steak, and Prime Steakhouse is an amazing place to waste your money. 

Let’s talk prices first. Chops Grille costs S$31 for lunch and S$68 for dinner. You’re technically allowed one appetizer, one soup & salad, and one main course + unlimited sides, but in practice the staff are more than happy to bring multiple items. 

At Prime Steakhouse, a steak alone already costs you S$55 (I’m adjusting for the 20% discount available from buying credits on embarkation day, and adding in the 18% gratuity). Once you factor in a starter and sides, you’re definitely going to be shelling out more on World Dream. 

Does that extra money buy you quality? Like fun it does. Here’s Chops Grille’s ribeye…

…and here’s Prime Steakhouse’s version. 

Visually speaking, the Chops Grille ribeye looks so much more appealing, with a lovely char and juicy-looking marbling. In contrast, the Prime Steakhouse ribeye looks anemic and although there are some grill marks, the sear isn’t anywhere as impressive. 

Flavor wise, it’s a home run for Chops Grille. While both steaks were cooked to a proper medium rare, the Chops Grille ribeye had an amazingly juicy interior, perfumed with roasted garlic and dotted with melting fat. The Prime Steakhouse ribeye lacked the distinctive marbling you’d expect, and was even chewy at times. 

Izumi vs Umi Uma Teppanyaki

Quantum may walk the steak contest, but World Dream takes the Japanese restaurant category. 

I wonder how much of it is due to the fact that Izumi is a victim of Royal Caribbean’s arcane sourcing procedures. Because it’s a US-based cruise liner, it’s subject to FDA regulations, one of which is all raw fish must be frozen and sent to the USA for inspection. I don’t need to tell you what freezing does to sashimi, salmon sashimi in particular. It was a watery, unappetizing mess.

Even ignoring the sashimi, the rest of the menu at Izumi was plain bad. The ramen was soggy and tasteless, the rolls were sticky and unappetizing. 

In contrast, Umi Uma’s teppanyaki was the highlight of my meals onboard World Dream. They use fresh prawns (Royal only has frozen), and the difference is night and day. My set menu of surf and turf wasn’t cheap (~S$100), but I really enjoyed it. 

Other Specialty Restaurants

The specialty restaurants on Quantum of the Seas are somewhat inconsistent. During my first visit, Chops was phenomenal, Jamie’s and Wonderland dreadful. During the second, Chops was average, Jamie’s was pretty good, and I didn’t bother returning to Wonderland because I felt ripped off the first time. I think they’re all worth trying at least once, but it’s really a case of YMMV. 

It’s not like the specialty dining on World Dream was any better though. Hot Pot’s “premium” set was a mix of cheap, fatty pork (80% fat, 20% meat), and bulked up with cheap items like fish and beef balls. It wasn’t enough food for one person, but ordering additional items was extremely expensive (S$5 for a single portion of mushrooms, $6 for beef balls, $17 for pork belly). 

Last point: be careful when ordering wine on World Dream. Two times at two separate restaurants, I ordered a sparkling brut from the wine list. Both times, I was served Moscato; the bartender had mixed up the bottles. I’m willing to believe it was a genuine mistake, but as a safety precaution, always ask to see the bottle. 

The winner for dining? Royal, hands down. On Royal, the question always was “how many more meals can I squeeze in?”  On Dream, the question was “what’s the least bad thing I can eat?”

Dream Cruises vs Royal Caribbean: Entertainment

All shows on Quantum of the Seas are free, and there’s a wide range to choose from:

• Comedy Juggling by Steve Rawlings (comedy)
• Gold Art Duo (acrobatics)
• Sequins and Feathers (cabaret)
• Starwater (musical)
• Viktoria Stryzhak (violin recital)

I managed to catch all of them (review here ), and while some were better than others, the overall standard was very high. Starwater was a particular highlight- a blockbuster original musical with top notch costumes, singing and production values. It’s the kind of thing I’d have paid money to see outside. 

Also fantastic was Sequins and Feathers, a tribute to cabaret shows throughout the ages. 

World Dream, on the other hand, only has two free shows:

• Dream Variety (variety show with singing and acrobatics)
• Vision by Vincent Vignaud (magic show)

A third show called Dream Boys is available, but this will cost you S$50. What was especially surreal was the way the cruise director casually sauntered onto stage after the magic show finished, told the kids in the audience about the upcoming video game tournament, then in the same breath started pitching Dream Boys to the adults. 

“It’s not just sexy, it’s also funny,” she tried to explain, as if the main obstacle to attendance was the lack of a healthy dose of comedy to accompany the acts of wanton carnality. 

Get used to these pitches; they’re a frequent feature onboard World Dream. Dream Boys also got a shout out immediately after the suitable-for-all-ages Dream Variety show, and I swear the grandmother in front of me swallowed her dentures when she saw the trailer. 

As for the free shows, well, I didn’t particularly enjoy any of them. The Dream Variety show was a strange mash up of English and Chinese dance numbers and songs, and I suppose it may appeal to the older generation, but it wasn’t for me. 

Likewise, Vincent Vignaud’s magic show felt a bit like Gob from Arrested Development (he was so campy I half expected Final Countdown to start blasting), but not in a good way. In my opinion, a solid magic performance is more than just technical competence; it’s about having the charisma and humour to engage the audience. I didn’t get any of that here, and it didn’t help that many of the illusions weren’t that hard to figure out (one of them was a carbon copy of Mark Shortland’s phone smashing routine on Fool Us).

I realise it’s all subjective, but if you ask me, Royal Caribbean wins the entertainment round hands down. 

Dream Cruises vs Royal Caribbean: Activities

Both cruise lines go all out to ensure that guests don’t get bored. 

On World Dream, you’ll find an elevated rope course that culminates in a zipline ride 18 decks above the ocean. There’s also a mini-golf course, five waterslides, a LAN gaming hub, and a VR game studio (do the early bird 1-for-1 games; never pay full price). 

Quantum of the Seas, on the other hand, has a wave pool and skydiving simulator, bumper cars, an observation capsule, and more swimming pools (including the lovely Solarium, exclusively for adults). There even used to be laser tag and escape room games, but those have been suspended due to COVID. 

Both ships also have kid’s clubs, and dance classes/trivia sessions throughout the day.

Do note that the pool on World Dream requires reservations, and getting one means standing in a long, slow moving queue (there’s no digital booking option). With Quantum, it’s first-come-first-serve, and the lifeguards will enforce social distancing restrictions. 

I think the options are solid on both; it boils down to what you’re more interested in. 

Dream Cruises vs Royal Caribbean: Wi-Fi

Both Dream Cruises and Royal Caribbean offer Wi-Fi onboard, at the following prices:

Dream Cruises is cheaper if you just have a single device, but by the time you go up to four, Royal Caribbean becomes the better deal. As mentioned earlier, Royal Caribbean holds frequent sales in the run up towards departure, so pay attention to the prices in Cruise Planner. You can always cancel and repurchase plans without penalty, so lock in deals when they appear. 

In terms of internet speeds, my experience was that Dream Cruises was better. That said, I realise this is highly dependent on weather conditions, the route your cruise sails, and how many people are on board, so you’ll need to take these results with a pinch of salt. 

For what it’s worth, I was able to do Whatsapp video calls on both ships without too many issues, and for Royal Caribbean, YouTube videos were able to load quickly enough at 480p. 

Dream Cruises vs Royal Caribbean: Overall Vibe

Dream Cruises knows that a sizeable proportion of its clientele come to gamble, and it’s not shy about appealing to that.  In fact, it’s hard to find a byway on the ship that isn’t lined with slot machines or some other game of chance, assaulting you with their bright lights and constant din. 

Even if you’re not a gambler, the gambling is almost impossible to ignore. On embarkation night, a ship-wide announcement was made over the PA informing everyone we were now in international waters, and the casinos (that’s plural; World Dream has more than one) had opened. If you wandered through the main concourse, you’d almost certainly run into one of many jackpot bingo sessions (cost of entry: S$20). 

Want to take in a relaxing show? Sure, but before that, a message from our sponsors. Did you know you can buy scratch cards and win fantastic prizes? Yes, and we’ve got people wandering the aisles now selling them, so be sure to flag them down! 

It was just relentless, and come to think of it, even the kid’s games in the arcade were predominantly games of chance. Start them young, why don’t you?

Some will say I’m nitpicking; that getting annoyed with gambling on Dream Cruises is like complaining that a cow moos too much. Perhaps so, but I want everyone to go in with their eyes open. For all its ancillary attractions and activities, Dream Cruises is, first and foremost, a floating casino. If you like that, you’ll have a great time. If not, you’ll find it grates after a while. 

Royal Caribbean, on the other hand, had a decidedly more family-friendly theme. You won’t find male strippers here, and the vice is strictly contained within a single casino area. You could spend a week onboard and never come across it. It could just be me, but I found that a lot more relaxing. 

No prizes for guessing that Royal Caribbean was my favorite of the two cruises to nowhere; the food was better, the service was better, the shows were better. By the end of day 2 on Dream, I couldn’t wait for it to be over; with Royal, I didn’t want it to end. 

For those who want more details, here’s my complete reports for World Dream and Quantum of the Seas. 

What else would you like to know about Royal Caribbean vs Dream Cruises?

• quantum of the seas
• royal caribbean
• world dream

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Dream Cruises is run by Genting. Not surprising at all. The cruise line is just an excuse to run a casino.

With $500 vs $1200 for the same package (3 nights, balcony), yeah, no surprise winner here.

Waiting for the “Mandarin Orchard vs. Mandarin Oriental” or the “Economy to Japan vs. Business to Japan” showdowns 😉

actually, throughout April, Dream Cruise balcony room shoots up to S$1,044, so be careful!

That is a very fair warning to people who haven’t tried either indeed. If the price is the same, pick Quantum of the Seas. If you’re able to book Dream for $500 though I’d consider that to be a decent deal (then again I spent most of my time on both ships on the balcony reading my first books in years). But yes, avoid Lido at all cost (unless it’s 3am and you’re hungry), lol. Meanwhile I wouldn’t mind some better promotions to have another trip with the Quantum of the Seas. At the current price point, I’d rather revisit …  Read more »

I will use Air India to New Delhi and SQ A380 to New Delhi to replace the latter metaphor LOL

I found the shows on Dream quite bad.. But there’s some free lounge performances that were decent. (Singing)

Outdoor activities were good coz I love thrill stuff. (The flying fox over the water was the highlight). Waterslides were a bit different coz i hate the water lol.

Food I found the western options on Dream quite ok. The chinese one sucked. lol.

And yes. They heavily advertise casinos yet don’t have the brains to open up more tables lol. can be a 1hr wait to play your games

Soups at the Western were really appalling. Chinese was tolerable for me, and dim sum for breakfast simply beat Lido or western. Was trying to be cheapstake on World Dream and didn’t go for any paid F&B/activities. Would be interested to know free activities on RC also.

I don’t like chinese soups at all mostly except for the common ones like lotus or peanut lol..

Western was ok but some soups were indeed weird.

VR is a must to go for. The rest I didnt pay too lol

VR games were really really short though. surprisingly so.

P.S Aaron you need to remind Dream Cruise goers to bring swimming spectacles for waterslides.

The casino is a joke.. thats all I can say… There is no vibe at all. Partner cannot even stand behind/next to u.. really a big joke.

western free food was decent actually. But chinese is really just common stuff you can find outside.

Cant comment on lido/breakfast as I didnt eat those.

It’s due to safe distancing…Even though there may not be safe distancing ambassador onboard to fine you, photos uploaded to social media can cause greater reaction…

3N Dream cruise actually has 3 shows (though the 1st on boarding day may not be regarded as show, just singing only).

I don’t count the singing performances- royal has those too e.g. beatlemaniacs, live music at boleros

BTW is RC only available on their official website? Meaning cannot use SRV.

RC is on klook as well, but can’t remember if it’s SRV eligible I think not.

Saw it, but don’t understand why prices of 3N vs 4N are 289 vs 619…

Looks like I am joining AIA vitality!

definitely worth joining even for the base level discount. 10% off your cruise will certainly be more than the $8 monthly fee.

I always take Dream Cruise Palace category, which I feel it’s more worth the price. As Palace guest, I have the following perks: ( 1.Priority on boarding & disembarking , swab test 2.Unlimited wifi, unlimited all kinds of drinks including alcohol drinks, 3.Daily free meal from those paid restaurant for both lunch & dinner, 4.Butler service (1 butler serve about 10 Palace guest) 5.Daily pressing service, 6.Delegated poor, gym, 7.Better seating for daily entertainment show 8.Delegated gambling room (I don’t gamble thought) I wanted to try Royal Caribbean, but I find their tier of suite rooms are too complicated. Different …  Read more »

how is the palace restaurant? i heard the food is much better than MDR. do they have upcharges for items like lobster or is it included?

The palace restaurant is good for breakfast, with good selection from western, to dim sum or porridge. But they do not serve lobster.

Usually I take lunch & dinner at those paid restaurant which is available for palace guest for free.

As Palace guest can only visit each restaurant for free once during the sailing, you can have free lobster from Seafood Grill by Mark Best & Prime Steakhouse. As two of the restaurants are at same location and serve the same menu.

Royal Caribbean offering kids cruise free and would probably be cheaper if the pricing is based on 4pax/cabin. would paint a different picture compared to the pricing based on 2pax/cabin.

For similar price point I can get Palace suite on dream cruise or junior suite on RCL, the choice goes easily to dream cruise for the perks. But of course if I can get grand suite on RCL for same price then I would go for grand suite LOL

“Other free food options on World Dream are extremely limited- in fact, outside of the MDR and Lido, I can’t think of any other venue that had complimentary dining.”

Did you mean “Dream Dining Room and Lido”?

Thanks for all the cruise reviews, it’s interesting to see how they have changed. My last cruise was when SuperStar Virgo was still a new ship…

I use mdr and dream dining room interchangeably! Because it’s the same basic concept

Thanks for the detailed analysis. By the looks of the screenshot you took of the cruise planner it seems that we are booked on the same 4 night cruise at the end of March.

Are you having trouble booking things at the moment? For example the dining options / packages were only loaded for me yesterday and I still don’t have any activities to book such as the gym apart from the Northstar and iFly.

RC said this was because it is one of the extended sailings but are you having the same problem?

dining packages were loaded late, yes. I didn’t see them at the time of booking, they only appeared a couple of days ago.

for activities, i only see northstar and ifly (plus sushi and cupcake class). gym has not appeared yet

Lol you are just nitpicking cos of the casinos.

Now no more premium drink package included with Dream Cruise’s Palace Level Benefits unless one has booked one before Early Feb. Now it’s only Happy Hour at Palace Lounge between 5-7pm when it comes to alcoholic drinks.

i heard! it’s a shame, all day booze was one of their biggest selling points (RC only gives that on their top tier suites)

Just came back from a RC cruise in the Jr Suite category – we got a 4N deal for $800 pp! Service was impeccable, food was seriously good at Coastal Kitchen (and pretty good at Windjammer and the other free spots too), performances were OK, though production values were generally very high. But the ship is decked out beautifully, very tasteful – and I loved the chic Solarium! For the price we got, it was an amazing experience, certainly suited to our preferences.

solarium is probably my favourite place on the ship! sadly it was a lot more crowded than my last visit, but if you go during off peak it’s still tolerable.

I’ve always been a bit iffy about junior suites, because they’re like suites lite- no concierge club, no concierge service (to book shows), no free internet or all-day coastal kitchen. but glad to hear you still found it enjoyable!

不用比较，根本没得比，Royal C 就像五星级酒店，另外一艘就是食堂。服务员水平的距离也差不多那样。水平的问题。

When you say this “ you can always cancel and repurchase plans without penalty, so lock in deals when they appear”, do you actually lose money because your bank would have to convert to USD the initial payment and then back to SGD for the refund?

Thanks in advance!

you may lose a few bucks, yes. but if you’re cancelling and rebooking, i’m guessing it’s because you found a cheaper package, and your savings should outweigh whatever forex losses.

Hi Aaron, thank you for your reply! I plan to get the Deluxe Beverage Package at 30% off but am wondering if I should wait for the price to drop to 40% off. Thing is, not quite sure (1) if it will even drop to 40% off; and (2) if the 10% difference (approximately 100 bucks) will outweigh the forex losses.

You were absolutely right about the magic show by Vincent Vignaud. We just came back from a 4 day 3 night stay at Dream Cruise and went to his magic show. Not only was he neither entertaining nor funny he picks on audiences to entertain the crowd because he lacked humor.

Be careful when you attend his show – you can get picked on and be humiliated. We wished we had read your review earlier so we did not have to waste our precious vacation time to watch his incompetence in magic and engaging the audience.

yeah i mean, look. I don’t want to question the man’s craft, because he certainly does magic a lot better than me. but if you ask me “was I entertained”, then the answer is probably not. The best magic performances I’ve gone for are those where the magician has the charisma to engage and hold the audience’s attention. In this case…I think there might have been a language barrier, but he didn’t seem comfortable with that part of the job.

True that. Everything aside, we are really glad to have found this useful site that gives more comprehensive (and honest) reviews that are not obviously written in favor of the respective cruises/restaurants. We’ll definitely be using this more often for our staycations/future travels! Once we can actually get out of Singapore…

Aaron, I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your review. It was painstakingly detailed and done with a lot of heart. Thought you should know your effort and passion got through to your audience. Best wishes!

thanks samantha! hope you had (or will have) an enjoyable cruise. i’m also hoping they bring in a new RCL ship at the end of the year, just for a change of things to do.

Is the purchase considered online ? Hence WWMC?

you may need to appeal, based on past data points.

do you mean appeal to DBS?

Very useful review Aaron, thanks for the effort. Just to update that RC now requires both PCR and ART. Plus they stealthily removed priority boarding for suite passengers, informing you only one week before boarding of this change and leaving us stuck with a tragic 5:30PM boarding time. Was looking forward to the sky loft we booked, but this has been a truly depressing start to a much awaited holiday.

thanks for the update! actually even when i sailed in january 2021 there was no priority boarding for suites passengers. you really have to chiong the earliest booking slot the moment online check in opens up.

Thank you for the unbiased review. I’ve sailed on both ships (just came back today from the World Dream) and I agree with you about practically everything. I read and watched other (sponsored) blogs and YouTubers praising the food on World Dream like it was one of the highlights, but you called it out as it is. The Lido was really a cheap cafeteria (reminded me of cookhouse food), the Chinese breakfast was mainly carbs with barely any protein. We visited the 24 hour snack corner once and didn’t go back, the food was just over fried and not palatable. …  Read more »

thanks wjin! I suppose food is a highly personal thing, but yeah, I just couldn’t gel how someone could rave about Lido food. It just confounded me to no end. Re: Vision, Yeah I think the crowd plays a part too. My crowd was kind of dead so it was all on him to carry the show. I haven’t tried the suites on world dream yet, but having done both balcony and suite on RCL I’d tend to agree- I had a great experience both times. Having a suite was of course nice, but I didn’t enjoy my balcony trip …  Read more »

Thanks for the comprehensive post! It helped us in our preparations as well. Post-trip, we have also written a post on <a href=”https://www.2bearbear.com/genting-world-dream-cruise-to-nowhere-important-pre-cruise-preparations/”>pre-cruise preparations for World Dream Cruise to Nowhere</a>. Hope this helps those who are going on their next trip!

Happy Seacation!

Tom&Kate, 2bearbear.com

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Royal Caribbean Opens Bookings for 2025-26 Sailings from Singapore

• May 17, 2024

Royal Caribbean International opened bookings for its 2025-26 season in Singapore with the Ovation of the Seas set to be based at Marina Bay. 

From October 2025 through March 2026, the Quantum Class ship will visit destinations like Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and more on three- to eight-night voyages.

The three-and-four-night sailings take guests to the UNESCO World Heritage Site George Town in Penang, Malaysia and Phuket, Thailand.

 Travelers who want more time to explore Southeast Asia can take advantage of the longer itineraries, such as a five-night cruise with an overnight in Phuket tand an eight-night getaway to Bali to visit temples of Celukan Bawang in Bali and Lombok, Indonesia.

“Ovation is a ship packed full of adventure, and with the new season’s line-up of holidays, friends and families can choose to holiday their way between short getaways to Penang and Phuket and longer sailings to Indonesia or with nights out in Phuket,” said Angie Stephen, senior vice president, International, Royal Caribbean International. 

“Singapore is the gateway to explore many of Asia’s most loved destinations, and it’s the combination of all the region has to offer and the unparalleled Royal Caribbean experiences that has made Southeast Asia a central part of tens of thousands of memorable holidays over the course of 15-plus years. And that will only continue for years to come.”

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Institutional investors have a lot riding on royal caribbean cruises ltd. (nyse:rcl) with 82% ownership, key insights.

Institutions' substantial holdings in Royal Caribbean Cruises implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price

The top 5 shareholders own 51% of the company

Recent sales by insiders

Every investor in Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. ( NYSE:RCL ) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. We can see that institutions own the lion's share in the company with 82% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

And last week, institutional investors ended up benefitting the most after the company hit US$38b in market cap. The gains from last week would have further boosted the one-year return to shareholders which currently stand at 91%.

In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Royal Caribbean Cruises.

View our latest analysis for Royal Caribbean Cruises

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Royal Caribbean Cruises?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

Royal Caribbean Cruises already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Royal Caribbean Cruises, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Royal Caribbean Cruises. The company's largest shareholder is Capital Research and Management Company, with ownership of 25%. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 9.9% and 6.4% of the stock.

To make our study more interesting, we found that the top 5 shareholders control more than half of the company which implies that this group has considerable sway over the company's decision-making.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily.

Insider Ownership Of Royal Caribbean Cruises

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own less than 1% of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.. But they may have an indirect interest through a corporate structure that we haven't picked up on. It is a very large company, so it would be surprising to see insiders own a large proportion of the company. Though their holding amounts to less than 1%, we can see that board members collectively own US$214m worth of shares (at current prices). It is good to see board members owning shares, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying.

General Public Ownership

With a 12% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Royal Caribbean Cruises. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Private Company Ownership

Our data indicates that Private Companies hold 5.5%, of the company's shares. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the company.

Next Steps:

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Royal Caribbean Cruises (of which 1 shouldn't be ignored!) you should know about.

But ultimately it is the future , not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future .

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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4 Night Penang & Phuket Cruise

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