The Royal Caribbean 'Cruise to Nowhere' Experience

December 2020 - Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas

With destinations on mind and flights booked, there was only one big hindrance - the pandemic! For all avid travelers like me, this year has indeed put a halt on all the wishful travel plans I have set. So when the opportunity arose to travel through the high seas instead of the open air, I said yes to the invitation.

After several months of being put on hold for operation due to the pandemic, the Royal Caribbean Quantum of the Seas has set sail from Singapore to 'nowhere' on December 1st. This is the cruise line's first attempt to resume sailing back to operations.

This was my first cruise experience so I didn't know what to expect. I have always wanted to try it although with a destination port and not during the pandemic would have been preferable, still it was a good experience.

I have been thrown a lot of questions about this cruise experience so here are more information about it:

WHAT ARE THE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES OBSERVED?

1. Only 50% of the guest capacity were given the chance to board. There were only about 1,100 guests which makes the cruise experience almost exclusive as it is less crowded compared to its normal operation with full guest capacity on board.

2. Only Singapore residents were allowed to board. Singapore's local community cases are very low which all the more makes it one of the safest place in Southeast Asia (at least in my opinion).

3. All guests were required to do a PCR test 72 hours before boarding. If you were found positive on the test, your companions on the trip won't be allowed to board too. Please check for the refund conditions posted on their website.

A rapid antigen test is conducted as soon as guests arrive back in Singapore. Both tests were covered by the cruise line.

4. Social distancing, sanitation, safety measures are STRICTLY observed on board.

"SORRY, I'm taken" signs in places not allowed to be occupied.

Markers to indicate where to stand.

There were a lot of staff to marshal people to keep

a safe distance of 1 meter from each other.

Sign to indicate which places you can occupy.

Sanitation points at each entrance of every places. You are not

allowed to enter the premises unless you have sanitised your hands.

Temperature of each guests are taken too.

A crew actively cleaning and sanitising public surfaces

that people touch.

5. All guests were required to wear masks at all times. Each room is provided with masks and a bottle of hand sanitiser too. For contact tracing, all guests were asked to check in on premises using the room key card, wear the trace together wristlet and have the trace together app installed on their mobile phones.

Room Key Card and the TraceTogether Wristband

6. Some entrance and exit points are closed. The flow of where people will enter and exit the premises are controlled.

WHAT CAN YOU DO ON BOARD?

Apart from indulging on a wide selection of food, guests can entertain themselves by watching shows on the theatre, go to the gym or go for a run on the outdoor running track on the upper deck, swim, play at the casino, shop, do outdoor wall climbing, experience i-Fly, go for a massage, ride bump cars, go for some classes, join trivia night games, listen to live music - there are a lot to do on board and no chance for you to get bored. If nothing on the "few" above mentioned activities excites you, you can just enjoy the view of the sea from your room balcony or from the deck. (Tip: Book the balcony room!).

My favorite spot was the Solarium indoor pool.

The North Star

100-meters-above-sea-level-view of the ship from the North Star.

At our room's balcony

A must try: Fifteen-course degustation dinner at The Wonderland.

This must be booked prior boarding and not included in the room rate price.

Dancers at the Royal Theatre wearing masks too

(L) Most of the activities must be booked from the Royal Caribbean app on your phone. Slots and number of people allowed on some of the activities are limited too and were done in batches. (i.e. Theatre shows, North Star)

(R) Cruise Information for the day is displayed on the screen near the lifts.

HOW MUCH IS THE COST?

Since this was a promotion and the first sail date for Royal Caribbean, we managed to get a good deal of about SGD 500+ per person (2 persons sharing a balcony room) for 3 days and 2 nights. The cost* includes meals, complimentary drinks of water, tea and coffee, entertainment shows and the PCR and rapid antigen tests. Please check their website for more accurate pricing and sailing date information.

*This doesn't include some of the restaurants, activities (like i-FLY), massage, classes, liquor and internet.

The Balcony Room

HOW IS THE SERVICE?

If I were to rate it, I will give them a 10/10. All staff were friendly and very attentive to each guest's needs. They were all smiles, polite and just excited to be back to work again after a long period of time. The whole check-in/check-out process was very smooth, fast and well organised. Most importantly, the utmost preparedness and implementation of the safety measures the team has put into was very impressive.

CAN YOU FEEL THE WAVES ON BOARD?

Yes, sometimes. So if you are sensitive and get easily nauseated by such, please do bring medicines with you. Be on the look out for some dolphins too! We saw a bunch of them happily jumping and cruising with us!

WHERE IS THE CRUISE GOING?

NOWHERE! There will be no port of destination so you will only be floating around the sea for three days.

IS IT HIGHLY RECOMMENDED?

Absolutely! Especially to those who haven't experienced what it's like to be on a cruise but ONLY if you are willing to take the risk. Being one of the few people to have had a first-hand experience to go on a cruise amidst the pandemic, I cannot guarantee that you won't get infected. So please go at your own risk. I probably share the same sentiment as with the other people who just really want to travel again even if it means just being out in the open sea.

*DISCLAIMER: This post is a personal blog based from my experience of the Royal Caribbean's Cruise to Nowhere on December 1, 2020. This is not, in any form, related or sponsored by Royal Caribbean.

All photos posted on this blog are mine.