where does cruise to nowhere go

What is a Cruise to Nowhere?

Wide open expanse of blue ocean with the water being disrupted by a cruise to nowhere

If travel is all about the journey rather than the destination, then why not take a trip to nowhere? Yes, really. Consider a short cruise vacation where the ship itself becomes the destination. A cruise to nowhere sails out into international waters for a short duration of generally 2 to 3 days, allowing passengers with limited time to enjoy a quick, fuss-free getaway, before returning to the point of embarkation without any intermediate port calls.

So why would one consider a cruise to nowhere? The reasons are manifold. Firstly, it’s an ideal opportunity for first time cruisers to sample the cruising life without committing to the extra time and expense of a longer sailing. Even seasoned cruise travelers opt for cruise vacations simply to try out newly launched or upgraded cruise ships, or because their time is limited. The lower cost compared to a longer journey is a very obvious motivating factor too.

Cruise to nowhere rules for US based ships

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Sadly, cruises to nowhere out of US ports officially came to an end in 2016 due to U.S. government regulations. It states foreign flagged ships may not operate roundtrip sailings from an American port without at least one stop in a foreign country. It actually relates to immigration laws governing the mostly foreign cruise ship workers who hold D-1 visas. This visa gives the holder the right to work for the cruise line on international voyages out of the US but not on American soil. Although a ship may sail into international waters, it is deemed to be a ‘domestic’ trip because “they do not land in a foreign port or territory” according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This is a law which actually dates back more than 100 years (called the Jones Act) but has only recently been properly enforced. The only large-sized ocean cruise ship flagged in the US with an entirely American crew is Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America which sails exclusively in US waters around the Hawaiian Islands.

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While the cruise to nowhere from a US port is officially no more, it’s not quite the end of the story. The concept is still very much alive with American cruisers, thanks to having the world’s largest cruising region right on their doorstep. The ease at which cruise ships can get to the Bahamas, Caribbean and Mexico quickly means there are a plethora of short cruise vacation options.

People are still taking a cruise to nowhere legally by simply creating their own limited time DIY version. They book a conventional 3 day cruise for a quick getaway and simply stay onboard during their vacation days while the hordes head ashore to explore for the day. While this may sound like a wasted opportunity to some people, it is actually a very shrewd way to optimize limited time – especially for cruisers who may have already previously visited the destinations the ship calls at.

1. You get free reign of the cruise ship

Once the ship empties as the crowds disembark on shore excursions, the once crowded swimming pools and restaurants become much more agreeable. Those who stay behind will find space and quietude to top up their suntan and sip a frozen cocktail poolside after grabbing the best sun loungers. Plus, you’ll likely be able to bomb down the water slide to your heart’s content without the long lines.

2. Partake in daytime activities and classes onboard

Cruise lines continue to offer daytime activities during port days, which again will be less crowded than usual, and all the more rewarding for it. Art and crafts, game shows, lectures and cooking demonstrations are just some of the varied options.

3. Have a lazy lie-in, there's no pressure on this cruise vacation

A DIY style cruise to nowhere means enjoying days without the routine of rising early for breakfast and then rushing ashore to make the most of a few hours on land. Spend an extra hour or two in bed and enjoy a laid back day at leisure, including a lunch buffet without the long lines.

A woman with a sun hat lying on an air mattress in the pool on a cruise ship

4. Take advantage of cut-price pampering for certain onboard activities

Cruise lines invariably offer eye catching deals for spa treatments on port days to entice people to skip the shore excursions. Oftentimes they reduce prices by as much as 50 percent off.

These short sailings generally take place on mid-sized to larger ships with all the frills, so you’ll be hard pushed to fit in everything during a short two or three-day sailing. All ship amenities and entertainment are open from restaurants and bars, kids clubs, pool deck games, wellness and the casino. In fact, the main purpose of cruises to nowhere was to enable guests to gamble in the casino or shop for duty free gifts once a ship reached international waters.

1. You get a feel of what cruising is like

Legally operated overseas cruises to nowhere and short weekend cruises are essentially marketed as sampler cruises to first-timers to test the waters without committing the time and expense of a longer cruise. You’ll have time to sample what onboard life is all about without having to plan your day around in-port shore visits. It’s a great opportunity to make full use of all shipboard amenities – a languid afternoon lazing by the pool deck, a fine meal in a specialty restaurant, some blissful spa time at sea, or a movie screening under the stars. By the time you set foot back on dry land, you’ll likely already know whether the cruising life is for you.

2. It can be a weekend getaway with a difference

If you happen to reside within easy reach of a main cruise port , a quickie cruise to nowhere makes for an intriguing ‘staycation’ option. When that next long weekend comes around, hop aboard for some well-deserved R&R on the high seas, without having to take additional days off work. It certainly beats the hassle of a long drive to a hotel or the seemingly never-ending airport security lines. When it comes to optimizing your precious time off, a local short cruise takes some beating.

3. Cruises to nowhere are great for budget travelers

The much reduced price tag is an obvious lure for a quick getaway short cruise. It’s not difficult to find a cruise at a great rate. These short sailings are often used to fill a one-off scheduling gap or perhaps a new port deployment, and are priced to fill capacity with much cheaper rates than a longer sailing. Once you factor in the cost of a hotel room, entertainment, and dining on land it’s a no-brainer if your budget is tight, even when compared to conventional all-inclusive resorts.

4. They are perfect for themed & occasion cruises

A weekend cruise is a popular option for a special celebration on the high seas, such as a family milestone like a birthday and anniversary, or a bachelor party. In fact, short cruises minus port calls are often specifically promoted as ‘party cruises.’ For many short voyages that remain at sea, the big focus is on a shared interest such as cuisine, art or with a musical flavor, rather than immersing in local life during a shore visit.

1. Plan your onbard activites ahead of time

While being spontaneous and a little impulsive is all part of the travel experience, you’ll need to be focused with a pre-cruise game-plan to make the absolute most of the limited time. You’ll be boarding a floating mini-city so acquaint yourself as much as possible with the ship layout beforehand. All cruise lines display detailed maps online for all their ships so arm yourself with a print-out before arriving at the port. Better still, save a tree and download their cruise line app which will also give you updates on shipboard events, amenities, add-on services and weather conditions.

The railing onboard of a cruise ship with the view of the ocean.

2. A quick getway means travelling light

Make the experience as seamless and stress-free as possible and pack accordingly. For a short and sweet 3 day cruise, a few choice items of smart casual wear and something for the pool is literally all you need. They are no formal nights on these quick getaway cruises so you can forgo the ball gown and dinner jacket. It pays to pack everything into a handy mid-size suitcase that you can easily wheel on and off the ship yourself, rather than waiting around for ship porters to deliver it to your cabin.

3. Act fast when making shipboard reservations

If you want to sample a dish at a specialty restaurant, book a spa treatment or bag a front row seat at one of the live shows, you’ll likely need to act fast. Make this one of your first tasks as you step aboard. Again, some cruise lines allow you to make reservations via their official app. Needless to say, the sooner you arrive for embarkation the sooner you can start maximizing your enjoyment and exploring everything the ship has to offer.

As mentioned, sailing out of a US port has its own unique limitations but the huge variety of conventional short cruise options lasting from 2 – 4 days is unmatched. Florida and the Gulf Coast are the main gateways to your next quick getaway to the sunshine, serving the Bahamas, the Caribbean and Mexico , while the SoCal ports of Long Beach and San Diego unlock weekend cruises to Baja. Elsewhere, a little detective work could also pay dividends. If you have a specific ship in mind, start searching for dates around the time it may be repositioning to a new port, or due to come out of a dry-dock refurbishment, as a short 2 or 3 day cruise may be offered to fill in a scheduling gap. Last minute changes, be it an operational or weather-related issue, could also free up dates for an extra short sailing.

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Cruises to nowhere are perfectly legal in many regions around the world and is an interesting option to combine a long haul vacation with a few days at sea. Cruise itineraries in Europe do include regularly scheduled short cruises with no port calls, and you can easily search and find a cruise to book online. Many of these are not technically a roundtrip cruise to nowhere itinerary as they may depart one cruise port and arrive at another but feature no port calls en route. For example MSC Cruises sails the short journey from Genoa to Marseille – a great option to include it in a planned European vacation that includes both Italy and France.

One of the biggest markets for a short cruise without any port calls is Australia. Lines including Carnival and Celebrity Cruises operate cruise to nowhere programs, which are often marketed as ‘sampler cruises’ to entice new customers. These generally depart from Sydney and Brisbane with seasonal sailings also from Fremantle. They often have a specific theme such as food and wine, live music or comedy cruises. MSC Cruises also schedules overnight ‘party cruises’ to nowhere in South Africa.

A cruise ship from the MSC cruise line doing a cruise to nowhere

For many travelers, the humble short cruise has been the initial springboard for years of adventurous cruise vacations. Although a cruise to nowhere is technically no more for Americans, the concept is still very much alive and continues to unlock the joys of cruising for a growing number of new cruise converts. These quick getaway cruises punch well above their weight, packing in a lot of excitement and fun experiences during vacation days at sea. They are designed to immerse passengers in the shipboard life yet offer as much relaxation and quietude as you like.

Check out these articles for more information on short cruises:

Why You Should take a 3-Day Cruise
The Best Ports & Destinations for Short Cruises
13 Top Tips to Master a Short Cruise

The Top 5 Short 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.

Spacious and beautiful interior of the 2-bedroom stateroom in Royal Caribbean

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.

Spacious Bathroom with Shower in Stateroom of Royal Caribbean

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!

A girl watching Stunning ocean views from balcony on Royal Caribbean

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.

Girl Enjoying breakfast on balcony on Cruise to Nowhere on Royal Caribbean

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.

View of the pools on top deck of Quantum of the Seas on Royal Caribbean

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.

Magnificent views of Cruise to Nowhere on Royal Caribbean from North Star

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.

A man rock climbing on cruise to nowhere

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.

Girl watching Sunrise from top deck of Quantum of the Seas

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!

Indoor sky-diving on Cruise to Nowhere on Royal Caribbean

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)

A man surfing on the quantum of the seas

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!

Beatles Maniacs singing the evergreen classics of Beatles on stage in Cruise to Nowhere

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 and Feathers performance on stage in Royal Caribbean Cruise

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!

Spellbinding acrobatic magic of duo at Royal Caribbean

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.

Jogging Track of Royal Caribbean's Quantum of Seas

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.

The stunning Shopping mall on Deck 4 of Royal Caribbean Cruise to Nowhere

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.

The beautiful dining hall that serves complimentary meals to guests in Royal Caribbean

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.

The buffet options of food at Windjammer in Royal Caribbean

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.

Robots making cocktails in Bionic Bar at Royal Caribbean

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!

Girl enjoying the views of Singapore skyline from Royal Caribbean Cruise

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.

Girl Enjoying Ocean views during Jacuzzi time in Solarium on Cruise to Nowhere on Royal Caribbean

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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Review of Cruise to Nowhere on Royal Caribbean's Quantum of Seas. Find all the insider tips for planning best cruise vacation in 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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Cruise to Nowhere: A guide to Royal Caribbean’s dining, beverage, internet packages, and more

Royal Caribbean offers a bewildering assortment of food, drinks and internet packages to cruise passengers. Here's what you need to know.

In less than a week, I’ll be setting sail on a four-night Royal Caribbean cruise to nowhere.

As a first-timer passenger, there’s an awful lot to learn in a short period of time, and believe me, they don’t make things simple for noobs. I’ve already written a detailed post about booking a cruise , so let’s now look at the planning decisions you’ll need to make before boarding.

The Cruise Planner

Once your Royal Caribbean booking is confirmed, a six-digit reservation ID will be generated. You’ll need this to login to the Cruise Planner , the centralized hub for all your onboard reservations.

For the unprepared, the Cruise Planner can be a minefield, full of upsell opportunities designed to lighten your wallet. It’s helpful to remember some of the basics:

Most meals onboard are free (see dining section for more details)
Some drinks onboard are free (water, basic drinks at breakfast)
Most entertainment and activities onboard are free

In other words, you could still have a smashing good time on a cruise without spending an additional cent.

But for those of you who want a little something extra, here’s where you book it. Scroll down on the Cruise Planner homepage, and you’ll see seven different categories:

Shore excursions don’t apply since this is a cruise to nowhere, and spa & fitness is pretty self-explanatory. I’ll focus on the other five categories below.

A few general points before we begin :

The cut-off time for bookings via Cruise Planner is 11.59 p.m Eastern Standard Time, 2 days before your departure (e.g if you sail on 28 January 2021, you must book by 25 January 2021 11:59 p.m EST). Any later than that, and you’ll need to make reservations onboard
All purchases require payment upfront, but can be refunded to your credit card up to 2-4 days before you sail (it depends on what you purchased; read the fine print). Beyond that, you may be able to get a refund in onboard credit (again, read the fine print)

Dining Reservations

Let’s start with the big draw of cruising: the food. Dining venues on Royal Caribbean ships are split into two categories:

Complimentary

As the name suggests, all complimentary dining venues are included with the cost of your ticket (although their menus may contain items which require an additional supplement, e.g lobster), and all specialty dining venues will require an upcharge.

Here’s the list of dining venues on Quantum of the Seas.

Reserving Complimentary Dining

You may have heard of the Main Dining Room (MDR), the primary complimentary dining location. On Quantum of the Seas, American Icon Grill, Chic, Silk and The Grande all make up the MDR. Even though they’re different venues, they all offer the same menu (I’m assuming they have different names because once upon a time they served different cuisines).

But how do you go about making an MDR reservation? I didn’t see any listing for American Icon Grill, Chic, Silk, or The Grande in the Cruise Planner, which confused me to no end.

I later figured out that “My Time Dining” meant MDR, and I’d have to select this to make a reservation.

If you pick Traditional dining, you’ll be seated in Chic or The Grande on deck 3. If you pick My Time dining, you’ll be seated in Silk or American Icon Grill on deck 4.

If you’re a suites passenger, you’ll have access to Coastal Kitchen, a “better than MDR” dining experience. This cannot be booked in advance, however, and you’ll need to make reservations once onboard.

Reserving Specialty Dining

In addition to the complimentary dining options, guests can choose to pay an upcharge for meals at specialty dining venues. This only covers food; drinks will be charged at a la carte prices (unless you have a beverage package )

You’ll be asked to select a specific time and date, and you can get a full refund to your credit card if you cancel at least four days prior to boarding. Within four days of boarding, cancellations must be made onboard after departure and will be credited to your shipboard account. Cancellations with less than 24 hours of notice will be charged a minimum of US$10- although this didn’t seem to be strictly enforced (I didn’t get charged, but don’t blame me if you do).

Buying Dining Packages

If you intend to mostly stick to the MDR and just want to try the odd specialty restaurant, don’t bother with packages.

However, if the food’s a highlight and you really want to sample all there is, consider a dining package, which can save you money compared to making individual specialty dining reservations.

These are the packages currently offered:

Don’t ask me why the 3-Night dining package is priced exactly the same as the UDP (maybe it’s the decoy effect ), but in any case I booked the latter. This includes all dinners plus lunch on sea days (days the boat is out of port, which for cruises to nowhere means every day except the day of boarding). You’ll also save 40% off bottles of wine under US$100 and 20% off bottles above US$100.

I reasoned that all I had to do was eat one dinner at Wonderland and one at Chops to break even, and those were restaurants I wanted to try anyway. I’ve heard mixed reviews of Jamie’s Italian (their outlet at Forum Mall is dire), but I’ll probably grab lunch there too, and I’m fairly confident I’ll more than recoup my cost.

You might think the next step after buying a UDP is to go on a specialty restaurant booking spree, but nope. The UDP gives you one complimentary specialty dining reservation upfront, for the first night of the cruise. You can choose the time, but you won’t know which restaurant it is until you board the ship (and can change it once onboard, subject to availabilty).

Otherwise, you’ll need to wait until you board to make the rest of your reservations . If you want a guaranteed seat at a guaranteed time at a guaranteed restaurant, you’ll need to make an a la carte specialty restaurant booking (and pay accordingly).

For example, I could pay S$74.79 per person to guarantee a seat at Wonderland on 29 January 2021 at 6.30 p.m, or I could wait until boarding and try to make the same reservation with my UDP. That slot may or may not be available; that’s the chance you take.

The UDP sounds like a gamble, but the good news is that just like a la carte specialty dining, you can get a full refund to your credit card up to four days before boarding (or in shipboard credit after that). Dining packages which are completely unused can be refunded up till the end of the first day of the voyage. I suppose this would come in useful if you boarded the ship and found that you couldn’t get any reservations at your desired restaurants.

By the way, the same applies to the Chops + 1 package. You’ll get a guaranteed reservation at Chops Grille for dinner, and can reserve a further specialty dining restaurant for free once onboard (you can’t book Chops Grille again).

Taste of Royal and Sushi & Sake are basically set lunches. For both, you’ll receive a letter in the stateroom the day before your reservation, confirming the time and location of your lunch.

Beverage Packages

First things first. The tap water on a cruise ship is drinkable. You can boil it if you want, but the stuff’s safe to drink out of the tap. Other free drinks on offer include milk, tea, coffee (not the premium stuff, that requires an upcharge), lemonade, iced tea, juice (at breakfast, not fresh squeezed) and hot chocolate (instant).

For those who want more, the following packages are available. All prices shown below (except the Cafe Select Coffee Card) are per day , and you must buy the package for the entire duration of the cruise. The prices here reflect a 40% discount off the usual price; watch for Royal’s sales emails:

With the exception of the deluxe beverage package (which must be purchased for all guests of legal drinking age in the same stateroom), beverage packages can be purchased by individual guests. For example, my roommate can buy a classic soda package without the need for me to buy one (sharing is not allowed, obviously).

Here’s the full details of what exactly each package contains.

Important point: No one should be paying full price for the Deluxe Beverage or Refreshment package. Royal Caribbean runs frequent sales on these packages, and you’ll receive notification by email.

Given that all packages are refundable, there’s no harm in making a pre-emptive booking to lock in the price, and rebooking if you see a lower price later on.

Also note that if you’re booked in a Star Class suite, you already receive a Deluxe Beverage Package. If you’re booked in a Sky Class suite, you will have access to the Concierge Club which serves free alcohol during the evening happy hour (5 to 8 p.m). Since I’m in this category (Grand Suite), I decided not to buy any beverage package.

Internet Packages

Cruise ship Wi-Fi has improved by leaps and bounds, and Royal Caribbean likes to boast it has the fastest internet at sea with its VOOM service (six times faster than other ships, apparently).

Royal Caribbean offers two types of Wi-Fi packages:

Surf + Stream

As the names suggest, Surf is for basic internet tasks like emails and chat, while Surf + Stream is for more heavy-duty uses like video streaming and video chat. I’ve heard that Netflix works without any issues, but it does depend on weather conditions and where you’re located.

If you’re booked in a Sky or Star Class suite, you will receive 2x Surf + Stream logins, valid for the whole length of your cruise.

Everyone else will have to purchase access. All prices shown below are per day , and you must buy the package for the entire duration of the cruise. I saw these prices during one of Royal’s 40% off sales, so keep a lookout for when they come back.

Just like drinks packages, Wi-Fi packages frequently go on sale, so don’t pay full price.

Last I heard, Royal Caribbean was testing a chat feature for its app that lets you message each other for US$1.99 per day. This could be a more economical alternative if all you need is to keep in touch with your partner, but I don’t know if it’s launched on Quantum yet.

Onboard activities can be classified into two types: paid, and free. The following paid activities can be reserved ahead of boarding.

It really boils down to what you’re interested in, but for what it’s worth I only booked iFly. North Star (an observation capsule that lifts you 300 feet above sea level) might make sense if you’re sailing somewhere interesting, but I doubt the Strait of Malacca would have anything worth seeing.

iFly and North Star reservations opened 12 days before departure, so don’t panic if you don’t see them listed yet. Reservations for both can be cancelled, but you must give at least 12 hours notice (or else there’s a US$25 no show fee).

Free activities run throughout the day, and bookings are generally not required. These include:

Art auctions (they serve free champagne)
Arts & crafts classes
Bumper cars (bookings required and can be done on board)
Dance classes
FlowRider (but private sessions are chargeable)
Rock wall climbing
Scavenger hunts
Trivia quizzes

It seems like laser tag and escape room games have been temporarily suspended due to COVID-19, a shame because those seem like really fun activities.

Entertainment

All entertainment must currently be booked on board, and takes place across three main venues: Royal Theater, Two70, and Music Hall.

Here’s the schedule from a December sailing. The timings and shows are subject to change, but this should at least help you plan your mealtimes.

While reservations are required for all shows, it’s free seating once the doors open.

For guests in Star and Sky Class suites, as well as Pinnacle Club members, doors open 30 mins prior to showtime
For all other guests, doors open 20 mins prior to showtime

Odds and Ends

All charges onboard the ship are billed in USD. That creates some confusing listings in the Cruise Planner, such as pre-purchasing arcade credits.

You’re paying S$ 108.80 for US$ 100 of credits; although they really should make it more clear.

Unlike hotel staycations, there’s no need to book the swimming pool ahead of time. You do, however, need to reserve the gym. Counterintuitively, you won’t find it under “spa & fitness”; navigate to the “onboard activities” tab instead.

Your friend the Cruise Compass

A Cruise Compass is a schedule of what’s happening on each day of the sailing- activities, shows and special events. As per my understanding, physical Cruise Compasses are no longer left in staterooms every night, but you can still request them from guest services. Do it; it makes planning that much easier.

Here’s a copy of my Cruise Compass from a March 2021 sailing.

Concierge Service

If you booked a Star or Sky Class suite, you’ll have access to a concierge who can help you book dining reservations, onboard activities and spa services in advance. The concierge should reach out ~5 days before departure to introduce him/herself (I got my mail late at night on 23 January for a 28 January departure).

Here’s the key points:

It’s unclear from the mail whether they’re able to reserve shows in advance, or specialty dining for those with the UDP, but I’ll find out and update this section.

While that sounds like a lot to mull over, the main decisions you’ll need to make are:

Am I happy with the free food, or do I want more options?
Am I happy to pay a la carte prices for drinks, or will I drink enough that a package makes sense (remember- you need to buy it for the whole duration of the cruise)
Am I happy to disconnect, or do I need internet?

I’ve written so much and haven’t even gotten to the all-important preboarding COVID-19 testing- look out for that in the next post!

Any other tips for pre-cruise planning?

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Cruises to Nowhere

What is "Cruise To Nowhere" and does it mean that a cruise ship is going nowhere? We give you the ultimate list of all cruise ships sailing the always very special "cruises to Nowhere" with departures from ports in the USA, Australia / New Zealand, Europe / England UK, Asia, South America. This review is integrated with Party Cruises .

Here you will find information on Cruise To Nowhere deals as itineraries/departure dates, prices, and ports. Itineraries are always roundtrips, without any call ports on the route. This internal link goes directly to the cruise schedule - if you wanna skip the intro info.

"Cruise to Nowhere" - what is, where to find it, why Nowhere cruise deals

What is a Cruise to Nowhere? Well, strangely enough, by definition, it's a unique itinerary on which a cruise ship is going to absolutely Nowhere! However, it will definitely not stay in the port all the time, instead, it will sail without any destination to a specific point at sea to allow its passengers to experience a very short but most romantic, exciting, and not always cheap cruise vacation on a floating resort at sea.

What are Cruises to Nowhere (the definition)? As a concise overview - it's an always round-trip special cruise itinerary with no other call ports than your disembarkation port, which happens to be the same as your embarkation port (the cruise ship port of departure).

Why take a Cruise to Nowhere? Three very big reasons - and the first one is that it is very short as duration (its cruise length is 1 or 2 night, rarely 3- or 4-night), so by this variable is more like mini cruise deals (but not all of them are round-trips, and they usually visit other ports). Being a short cruise is an important issue, considering your business schedule, right? The second one is it's from the category of very cheap cruise deals - the no-call-ports itinerary and the duration are major determinants of cruise prices - port charges, fuel consumption, etc. The third one is it's one of the very special types of cruises - rare to be found (as a number of sailings per year), offered by a very limited number of passenger ships (excluding trips by smaller boats and floating hotel-casino ship deals), extremely popular, departures only from the world's biggest cruise ports of the world's most developed countries - like USA, UK, Australia.

What is a Cruise to Nowhere as length and prices?

And finally, about the real deals - what is from where, when, and for how much. As to the cost of cruises to Nowhere, the prices are always per person (based on double occupancy), we will give you only the cheapest cruise rates in US dollars on the lowest cabin category by ship (it's usually an Inside stateroom), all prices are indicative and may change due to availability. So, compare sailing dates and prices, pick your port of departure, book it! Be aware, that availability is a strong issue on this one - early booking is a must! It really goes to Nowhere, but it is a so so so special deal - and we all like "special" very much!

It's usually 1- or 2 nights (2-3-day cruise deals), but some lines (like P&O, for example) offer longer itineraries of 3-4-nights, on which you'll have a themed program pre-scheduled for your voyage (more often "Food & Wine", but also "Lifestyle", "Comedy", "Art", etc).

As to the price, one thing is absolutely sure - it's a cheap deal. Nowhere cruises are always cheaper than all other trips with itineraries including stops in ports of call. One of the main reasons for that is the sort length. The price really depends online and ship, but also on the time of booking (availability), cabin grades, departure port, and mostly on how much are you willing to spend while on board. What does the last statement mean? Well, your ship will have - absolutely for sure - a big Casino, a specialty (reservations only) fancy restaurant, lots of bars and lounges to buy expensive drinks and whatnot, and of course - a whole district of pretty lined-up duty-free shopping boutiques, where, as far the money spending is concerned, only the sky is the limit! As to all the rest on-board activities and amenities - they are all included in your rates (remember, all rates are based on double occupancy). But as a general rule, cruise prices on cruises to Nowhere rarely exceed the amount of US $200 per night per person. And this is a great deal, considering the type of your short cruise ship vacation and all that's included (plus the cabin, open-seating dining in the Main Dining Rooms, 24-hour room service, etc, etc).

What do you do on Cruises to Nowhere?

Remember these six words - "you spend money to have fun"! It could be your special romantic short cruise break or a weekend getaway dinner cruise to dining with your beloved one in a classy restaurant at sea, it could be your "gambling night" at sea, it could be your best "party cruise deal" ever to spend some quality fun time with your friends or colleges, or it could be simply your "me and the sea" special time to relax and enjoy the vastness of the ocean and the beauty of the modern cruise ship man-made miracle.

The long list of onboard activities includes also the trivia of games and contests, both fine and casual dining options (themed buffets), big and top-fun pools and pool contests (including kids-only pools), sports contests, fine art auctions, music and dancing experiences, huge-theatre excitement with nightly grand-style live show productions, movies, revues, comedians and magicians, Casino gambling tournaments and gambling lessons, ship tours (bridge, galley, etc), dance lessons, educational lectures, shopping sales promotions with special offers, and absolutely not the last are the fitness (and Yoga) classes and the Spa treatments in a huge wellness center on board.

Who goes on Nowhere cruises and what the ships look like?

This type of cruise is perfect for first-time cruise travelers to sample the "life on board" - to get a sense of what a cruise and a cruise ship is like avoiding the big-money spending on a long and expensive trip. It's the perfect opportunity to sample new cruise ships (no matter new-built or newly refit/refurbished).

As to the "Nowhere ships" - they all are BIG. All cruise ships for Cruises to Nowhere are from very big to hugely-big - their owners and crew know best how to gather huge crowds and are absolutely the best in keeping these crowds happy. Still, most of the departures are from New York City - with its unlimited capacity to keep the ships full of passengers. Prior to 2017, the major player in the NYC market was NCL - with 2 new ships (launched in 2013 and 2014).

Why cruise ship lines offer Nowhere deals?

The very itinerary explains it all - on its short cruise break itinerary, the cruise ship will leave its port to sails on an ocean (or on a river, by smaller ships and river cruise boats), then will return to the same port. And all this for what reason.

I mentioned earlier something about a special "point at sea". This location allows the boat to open its duty-free stores and casinos for passengers to spend their time and mostly their money enjoying all there is to be enjoyed on a very big ship without being obstructed by the "law of the land" or distracted by ports of call.

At the same time, your ship will sail calmly on a looping course to take you back to your embarkation port, offering you the chance to have an unforgettable night (or two or three or four) of the best fun and special memories from a special vacation.

Cruises to Nowhere 2021-2022 schedule

Most of these special roundtrip itineraries are offered as departures from some of the world's largest cruise ports. Just follow the ship links from the table to see regularly updated indicative prices per person (with double occupancy) to compare. These CruiseMapper links will show you the boat's individual "itinerary-schedule-current position" page, also listing the cheapest rates on the lowest cabin category currently available for booking.

Note: Due to COVID -related international travel restrictions, in 2021 several major companies started their passenger shipping operations with "nowhere cruises" available for booking by the country's residents only. Those included AIDA Cruises ( AIDAsol and AIDAprima from Kiel Germany ), Princess Cruises ( Regal Princess and Sky Princess , from Southampton ), DCL-Disney Cruise Line ( Disney Magic from Southampton, London-Tilbury , Liverpool , Newcastle ), RCI-Royal Caribbean International ( Quantum of the Seas from Singapore , Spectrum of the Seas from Hong Kong China ).

Cruise to Nowhere USA

Cruises to Nowhere from US ports by major cruise companies and on larger ships will not be offered anytime soon. The news became fact in 2016 when the few passenger shipping companies offering such deals canceled all scheduled voyages which itineraries didn't include a foreign port of call. This new policy was implemented after a change made in the enforcement of the US embarkation law.

Under an act passed over 100 years ago, foreign-flagged vessels are not allowed to operate voyages leaving roundtrip from US ports without at least one port call in a foreign country. In a June 2015 statement, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency announced the reasons for the changes. D-1 visa holders (crew visas) were not eligible for working on "Cruises to Nowhere" as they are eligible to serve as crewmembers only if they intend to land in a US port (temporarily) and to depart from a US port with the cruise vessel. Although nowhere cruises do enter international waters, CBP maintains that crewmembers don't actually depart from the USA because "they don't land in a foreign port or territory".

Among the canceled sailings were Carnival's 2-night cruises from Norfolk Virginia (2016, on Carnival Sunshine ) and NCL's 2-night cruises from NYC New York (2017, on Norwegian Breakaway ). Still, the change applies only to foreign-flagged cruise ships, most of which have as flag states countries like Bahamas, Panama, Bermuda. By the new regulations, the only way for "Cruises to Nowhere" to be permitted is for the companies to employ an all-American crew for the vessel. Otherwise, each itinerary (long or short) must include at least 1 foreign port of call before the ship returns to the USA with the crew who are not American citizens. Currently, the only large-sized ocean cruise ship with an entirely American crew is NCL's Pride of America .

Cruise to Nowhere NYC

Operated as special voyages until 2017, the 1-2 night cruise to Nowhere NYC deals were inclusive of shipboard dining, entertainment, numerous activities, and modern amenities. The "nowhere" ships made their special itinerary out of New York City calling on no other ports. Ships simply sailed far enough from the US shore to start providing duty-free shopping and gambling for their party-loving passengers.

Package deals included pre- and post-cruise hotel stays and airport-ship transportation. These deals were perfect for first-timers to sample the onboard fun, including dining, Spa, Casino, staterooms, lounges and bars, activities, amenities, etc. Most NYC Nowhere cruises were by NCL's Norwegian Gem ship - offered when the liner adjusted its Bermuda schedule for the summer. Then joined Norwegian Breakaway, and just before closing the market - the Royal Caribbean "WOW ship" Quantum of the Seas (leaving from Bayonne NJ). Quantum's prices were comparatively high ($300 pp per day), but the ship is truly unique and new (launched 2014).

China Cruises to Nowhere

On May 8, 2019, China's Ministry of Transport officially approved nowhere cruises leaving roundtrip from homeports Sanya and Haikou (Haidian Island) . The deal allows China-based liners to operate on itineraries not visiting a foreign port.

However, the Ministry imposed as requirements that the cruise company must include a Chinese investor (with majority stake), the vessel to be not older than 30 years, and onboard gambling is forbidden. China-flagged ships are treated on an exclusive basis. Passengers' boarding documents and customs clearance on these voyages are simplified - only national identification cards (or entry/exit documents) are required, and travel agents can submit group customers' documents.

Singapore Cruises to Nowhere

In early-October 2020, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) began to develop new health and safety protocols that are expected to allow cruises to nowhere leaving roundtrip from Singapore.

The new proposal came after Singapore Airlines announced in September that they would offer 3-hour "flights to nowhere" (sightseeing roundtrips) from Singapore's Changi Airport. However, Singapore Airlines later canceled the program due to active criticism from local environmental campaigners.

STB hired DNV-GL (Hovic Norway-based risk management company and accredited registrar and classification society) to create a compliance and certification scheme ("benchmarked against global health, safety and hygiene standards") to help shipping companies who want to restart voyages out of Port Singapore as the country was still in lockdown due to the pandemic/Coronavirus crisis.

STB's Regional Director of the Americas (Rachel Loh) advised that cruise shipping companies would need to pass an audit for certification to return to cruising. His report added that ships would only be allowed to accommodate ~50% of their max passenger capacity for the first 3 months of operation.

There is no official date for when "Singapore cruises to nowhere" will commence but all operators homeporting in Singapore were eager to restart operations after voluntarily ceasing voyages since March 2020.

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The Pros and Cons of a Cruise to Nowhere

See recent posts by Megan Wood

Before cruising regulation laws changed in 2016 , "cruises to nowhere" were a popular and profitable way for cruise lines to offer quickie two-day vacations that led to, well, nowhere. Essentially, these cruises let passengers enjoy everything onboard the ship without docking at a port of call. It was partially a marketing strategy for the cruise line and partially an easy getaway for cruise lovers. Today, some cruise passengers are still taking cruises to nowhere, but they're doing it legally. Passengers simply stay on the cruise ship when it docks. Whether this sounds like a genius workaround or a waste of money depends on who you ask. Take a look at the pros and cons of a cruise to nowhere.

The South Beach Pool on Pride of America

1. Fewer crowds. While (almost) everyone else is lining up to exit the cruise ship at port, those who stay behind will find themselves with free reign to use the usually overflowing swimming pools, restaurants, fitness center, and bars.

2. Free meals . If you’re on a cruise ship that includes free dining (the vast majority do) then your meals onboard are already covered. Same goes for those who purchased drink packages. Staying onboard saves dollars on food and drinks.

3. Gambling. Many cruise ships have small (or huge) casinos onboard that are only open in international waters and must close at port. The popular exceptions to that rule are ports in Nassau or Bermuda , where it’s legal to stay onboard and gamble.

4. Lectures, shows, and classes. Most cruise ships cater to those who choose to stay onboard with a selection of activities. Norwegian offers a daytime itinerary that includes culinary demonstrations, live game shows, towel animal folding lessons, and dance demonstrations.

5. Mobility restrictions. Not all ports are easy to navigate, especially for senior or disabled passengers. For some, docking at a port and enjoying the view from the cruise ship is much safer than going ashore.

6. Time to relax. Lots of “cruise to nowhere” passengers simply enjoy having a whole stretch of days in front of them without a schedule. For them, sleeping in, ordering room service, and lounging by the pool is the whole point of a vacation. So why not do it on a cruise ship that’s essentially an all-inclusive resort?

1. Not all cruises. A “cruise to nowhere” can be pretty bleak if you’re on a very low cost cruise ship with few amenities or a smaller specialty cruise that’s designed to dock at smaller ports for maximum immersion in a place. For instance, Viking Star includes shore excursions in their base rates and docks in Barcelona and St. Tropez.

2. Not all cabins. Sure, if you splashed out on a spa suite with a private balcony and butler service, you might be tempted to spend more time soaking up every last minute in the lap of luxury. But for budget-conscious cruisers with Inside Cabins, you’re going to be looking for every excuse to get out of your windowless and cramped cabin and out in to the world.

3. You’re missing out. Proponents of “cruises to nowhere” sometimes argue that they take the same cruise every year and have seen everything they want to see at port. But that can’t possibly be true. For those who need some inspiration, check out our Port Guides .

4. Tourism dollars. Cruise ships are allowed to dock in specific destinations because they bring tourists and tourists’ dollars. It’s no secret that cruising (like all travel) has environmental and social impacts that can alter a destination. So it seems a little unfair to not get off the boat and spend some money on the local economy.

The Verdict

Overall, we think it’s a huge mistake to stay onboard a cruise ship (if you’re physically capable) for the entirety of your cruise. You’re missing out on experiencing new cultures and trying something different by remaining on the ship. But we also understand the siren call of free buffet lunches and no lines at the free-fall waterslides. As a compromise, we suggest spending at least the morning in port, and then returning to the ship for a late lunch and onboard activities. After all, if you’re just on the cruise ship for amenities, you may as well book an all-inclusive resort on land. We’ve got a few suggestions for you.

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I went on a 2-night 'cruise to nowhere' where I had to carry a tracking device at all times and make a reservation for the pool in advance. Here's why I wouldn't do it again.

I went on a 2-night "cruise to nowhere" that started and ended in Singapore with no stops in between.
I had to carry a tracking device called "Tracey" with me at all times on the ship.
The experience was highly structured; almost every activity, including swimming, needed to be booked in advance.

For the last five months, Singapore has been the world capital of "cruises to nowhere," or cruises that start and end in the same place with no stops in between.

Genting Cruise Lines launched its "cruises to nowhere" in November 2020 for travel-starved Singaporeans after the city-state's borders had been essentially closed for eight months due to the pandemic.

In December, Royal Caribbean started offering similar cruises.

As of April 1, 2021, more than 150,000 people had taken a cruise to nowhere from Singapore, according to press releases from the two cruise lines. Singapore's cruises currently account for about one-third of global cruise volume, according to Annie Chang, the Singapore Tourism Board's director of cruise.

"With no ports of call, the cruise lines have focused on creating on-board experiences that appeal to locals and evoke the joy of voyaging," Chang told Insider.

As a reporter who moved to Singapore for work in December, I'd been hearing about these cruises for months. This month, it was time to see what the fuss was all about.

I booked a two-night "cruise to nowhere" aboard Genting Cruise Line's World Dream, a 1,100-foot ship operated by Dream Cruises.

It has 18 decks and 1,686 staterooms that can accommodate up to 3,376 passengers in non-pandemic times.

During its COVID-era cruises to nowhere, however, the ship has been operating at 50% capacity with a maximum of 1,700 guests.

Before boarding the ship, every passenger had to take a rapid COVID-19 nasal swab test at a facility in the parking garage of the Marina Bay Cruise Centre. The cost of the test is included in the nightly stateroom rates.

The third level of the parking garage had been partitioned into three different sections: a waiting area for the COVID-19 swab, testing stations, and an area to wait for your results after you've been swabbed.

The process was highly organized. In the first waiting area, at least 100 people were waiting in socially distanced rows of white plastic chairs.

While I waited to take my COVID-19 test, a staff member showed me a QR code to scan with my phone so I could fill out a health questionnaire that I would need to show before boarding.

After about 15 minutes, my row of chairs was called to join the queue for the nasal swabs. I checked in and headed to a private cubicle for my swab, which was was quick and painless. Thirty seconds later, I was sitting at the other waiting area awaiting my results.

I was told the results could take up to an hour, but I got mine in under 30 minutes.

After that, it was time to start the boarding process in the cruise terminal, which took about 30 minutes and a lot of walking.

After I stepped inside, I passed through an airport-like security scan.

Then I scanned my passport at a kiosk, which spit out my room key. I waited in line for a few minutes to get my room key activated by a staff member at a counter.

Next, I was directed upstairs where I was given my personal contact-tracing device that's called — I'm not kidding — Tracey.

Tracey is used for contact tracing and to monitor social distancing adherence, according to the cruise line. It does not have GPS, internet, or cellular connectivity.

I was told to carry this tracking token with me at all times while on the ship.

Finally, I was ready to board the cruise ship and make my way to my stateroom.

THE ACCOMMODATIONS: I got to my stateroom at about 6:20 p.m., some 1.5 hours after I arrived at the cruise center.

I paid 458 Singapore dollars, or about $343, for a Balcony Stateroom. The room was surprisingly spacious, with a sofa and a Queen-size bed.

I booked my room about a month before departure, by which time the most affordable rooms had already sold out.

The balcony was small but had enough space for two chairs and a small table.

It was a major asset to have an outdoor space where I could relax without a mask on, as passengers were required to wear face masks at all times on the cruise except when eating or drinking.

I expected the bathroom to be cramped, but it actually had everything I needed: a shower, toiletries, towels, and spare toothbrushes.

My room was also equipped with a coffee and tea station, complimentary water bottles, and a mini-fridge.

As I settled into my room, I downloaded the Dream Cruises app, where I could purchase Wi-Fi, view maps and guides of the ship, and make reservations at the paid restaurants or for shows.

Wi-Fi was not included in the room rate. The cheapest internet package was 9 Singapore dollars, or $6.75, per night.

I opted for the "premium" package, which was SG$14, or $10.50, per night and allowed one device to use email, chat, social media, and "light media streaming." The Wi-Fi was slow and spotty.

The ship left Singapore's port at 9 p.m., about 2.5 hours after I boarded. Soon after we left, the captain announced that we'd be navigating out to the Singapore Strait and turning east into the South China Sea.

We would cruise around the South China Sea near Malaysia for about 36 hours before returning to Singapore by 9 a.m. on Friday.

COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS: Coronavirus safety measures were on full display throughout the ship.

In addition to carrying the Tracey tracking device everywhere on the ship, passengers were required to tap in their room keys and get our temperatures checked at various checkpoints as we passed through the ship.

Staff members were standing by throughout the ship to remind passengers to adhere to social distancing measures.

The ship's reduced capacity often made parts of it feel strangely empty.

The pool closed at 9 p.m. And in accordance with Singapore's COVID-19 restrictions, alcohol stopped being served at 10:00 p.m. and alcoholic drinks were taken away promptly at 10:30 even if unfinished.

Singapore's strict COVID-19 restrictions have led to near-elimination of the virus in the community, and I've appreciated the safety I feel living in a country where the pandemic is taken so seriously.

Still, the measures made the cruising experience feel more structured, supervised, and sterile than I had expected.

THE FOOD: My first meal on board World Dream was at one of the free restaurants, Dream Dining Room. My experience there served as my first hint that nearly everything on the cruise needed to be booked well in advance.

Dream Dining Room is a two-level restaurant that offers a Chinese menu on the upper level and a Western menu on the lower level.

My first attempt at dinner around 7:15 p.m. was unsuccessful: The hostess told me there were no tables until 8:45 p.m. so I needed to take a number and come back later.

To kill some time before dinner, I got a cocktail from a bar called Mixt, where I was the only customer.

I had tried two other bars first — the outdoor Sun Deck Bar and the indoor Bubble Champagne Bar — but both appeared to be closed.

Alcoholic drinks were not included in the cruise price, but there were multiple drinks packages available to buy starting at SG$50, or about $37.50.

Back at the restaurant at 8:45 p.m., I opted for the Chinese menu.

It was a set menu, so I didn't have to make any decisions. In fact, I never even saw the menu because I didn't realize it was posted outside the restaurant.

I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of food that was brought to me. There was an oxtail soup, roast duck, a Thai white fish, prawns, mung bean sprouts, and a sweet red bean soup with lotus seeds for dessert. It was all quite tasty.

For breakfast and lunch the next day, I checked out the free Lido buffet, which served a variety of international cuisine with Halal and vegetarian options.

For breakfast, there were pastries, oatmeal, cold cuts, eggs, nasi lemak, and beef rendang. For lunch, there were salads, noodles, and stir fries. The Western options included pizza, pasta, and french fries.

Rather than passengers taking food themselves, cruise staff served you anything you asked for.

In addition to the Lido buffet and the free Dream Dining Room, World Dream had 11 other cafes and restaurants where passengers could eat for an additional cost.

At Prime Steakhouse, guests could order a Black Angus Rib Eye or a Filet Mignon.

There was also a hot pot restaurant, a sushi restaurant, an upscale Chinese restaurant, and a couple of casual cafés.

While some passengers appeared to be eating in the paid restaurants, the majority of guests seemed to opt for the free Dream Dining Room.

The Western menu in particular was very popular, a staff member told me.

ACTIVITIES AND ENTERTAINMENT: World Dream has no shortage of activities on offer. But COVID-19 capacity restrictions meant that getting into some of them, like the pool, was no easy task.

The centerpiece of the outdoor activities was Zouk Beach Club, which had four Jacuzzi's and a swimming pool.

But capacity was limited and time slots needed to be booked in advance — and I didn't realize just how far in advance.

On Thursday, the only full day of the cruise, I approached the pool desk at 10:30 a.m. to book a slot for later on the day. But the pool was already fully booked for the remainder of the cruise. This meant I didn't get into the pool once during the entirety of the cruise.

Other outdoor activities included a waterslide park with six waterslides.

The children's play area, which had a playground and its own shallow swimming pool, was often full of children, making it one of the few areas of the ship that felt "normal."

For adventurous passengers, there was a zip-line course 18 decks above the water.

Other outdoor activities included a rock-climbing wall and a mini-golf course.

As for indoors, bingo was a popular activity throughout the cruise.

There were several arcade areas scattered throughout the ship. I saw very few people in any of them.

Apart from eating, the most popular cruise activity by far seemed to be gambling. Two of World Dream's decks featured gaming areas operated by Genting's casino franchise, Resorts World.

When the gaming areas opened in the evening, they were one of the buzziest spots on the ship.

Every other machine was blocked off for social distancing, and staff members discouraged lingering in the area if you were not playing.

Other entertainment included free shows in the Zodiac theater. There was Faith, a theatrical dance performance, and Vision, an interactive performance by illusionist Vincent Vignaud.

Tickets sold out quickly, but I managed to reserve a seat for an evening show of Vision.

The 45-minute show was entertaining — particularly when the illusionist involved the audience — but often underwhelming when some of the tricks were unsuccessful.

World Dream has 13 other bars and lounges, from cocktail bars to a Champagne bar. Mixt, a cocktail lounge, was deserted whenever I passed by it throughout the cruise.

Several of the bars, including Bubbles Champagne Bar and the Johnnie Walker House, were open — though you wouldn't know if from looking at them, as they were devoid of staff and passengers throughout the cruise.

My favorite was the outdoor Sun Deck Bar, where you could enjoy a cold beer along with a sea breeze.

The atmosphere also tended to be livelier there, in contrast with the other bars.

DISEMBARKATION: World Dream started disembarking passengers level by level at 9:30 on Friday morning. Overall, it was a much quicker and easier process than boarding.

Housekeeping had left a disembarkation notice on my bed the afternoon prior informing me of my time slot.

I was on the 9th deck, so I was scheduled to disembark at 11:30 a.m. However, I got a knock at my door about 45 minutes ahead of schedule at 10:45.

The disembarkation process was pretty straightforward.

On the way off the ship, I tapped out with my room card. In the cruise center, I turned in my Tracey device, scanned my passport at immigration, and went through another airport-style security scan.

I was in a car home a little after 11:00 a.m., well ahead of my scheduled disembarkation time.

I don't expect I'll take another cruise to nowhere — though I also realize I'm likely not the target audience for a cruise to nowhere in the first place.

The whole experience was, of course, heavily influenced by the COVID-19 restrictions. The safety measures are what made the experience possible in the first place — but they also made the experience so structured that it wasn't much fun. Mingling with other people was discouraged, the evenings ended early (except in the casinos), and capacity restrictions made it difficult to see shows or get a spot at the pool.

Still, as someone who only moved to Singapore four months ago, I realize I'm not necessarily the target customer for a cruise to nowhere.

Every other passenger I spoke to on the cruise said they hadn't left the city-state for over a year since before the pandemic began. They booked the cruise because it was a great deal — some people paid as little as 99 Singapore dollars, or about $75, per night — and because they were itching for even the smallest form of travel.

And for most of them, the cruise scratched that itch, even if it it did go "nowhere."

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Cruise to Nowhere Review of Dream Cruises’ World Dream: Things to do Onboard!

Oktoberfest Culinary Workshop Apfel Strudel Making Demonstration

Cruise to Nowhere is still one of the easiest getaways from Singapore. While the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) scheme picks up pace with the announcement of VTL to Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Britain and the United States without quarantine from 19 October onwards, there are still additional costs required for tests. This time, we went “overseas” with a 4D3N Cruise to Nowhere onboard the World Dream by Dream Cruises . Here’s what to expect…

Cruise to Nowhere Dream Cruises World Dream – Is it Safe?

As you can see from the safe cruising guide, there are many measures that Dream Cruise has put in place to ensure your safety onboard . These include

Preventive Measures (Part 1)—Embarkation & Disembarkation – Guests aged 7 & above are required to download the TraceTogether APP or bring along the TraceTogether Token. TRACEY will be issued to all guests upon embarkation. – Mandatory COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test (ART) prior to embarkation for all guests. – Mandatory temperature screening and pre-boarding health declarations for guests aged 7 & above. – Infrared fever screening system at the ship gangway. – Higher frequency with increased levels of sanitization and disinfection at the ship gangway and passenger walkways. – Stringent checks for all embarking individuals including crew travel documents. – Online check-in for guests: receive designated arrival time at the cruise terminal to minimize crowd congestion. – Additional waiting areas for cruise boarding & disembarkation (with staggered times.) – Compliance with all local port and health authorities’ regulations.

Preventive Measures (Part 2)—Guest Accommodations – Higher frequency with increased levels of sanitization and disinfection in guests’ cabins with hospital grade disinfectants, including: (1) Twice daily wipe-down of guest cabins and guests cabin corridors (2) Fogging of vacant guest cabins and guests cabin corridors – Clean and disinfect guest bathrooms with heavy duty alkaline bathroom cleaner and disinfectant. – Timely removal of food items from cabins to prevent spoilage and cultivation of microorganisms and bacteria. – Timely housekeeping cabin turnover; bedsheets and linens professionally cleaned and disinfected at high temperatures. – Injection of diluted cleaning solution into drains to avoid clogged pipes and preventing bacterial growth. – In case of sickness, thorough cleaning and disinfection with hospital grade disinfectant and fogging the cabin after.

Preventive Measures (Part 3)—Common Public Areas – All public areas on board will undergo a two-tier sanitization process with thorough cleansing, fogging and wiping using hospital grade disinfectant. On-board Ship Venues and Cleaning Frequency: Elevators: Every 2 hours Public areas and facilities: 2 – 10 times daily Spa and amenities: Min 2 times daily Other Public Areas: To adjust disinfection frequency accordingly – Common public areas will be sanitized from once daily to 2 – 4 times daily and frequent touchpoints such as handrails, lift buttons, table-tops, door handles etc. will be sterilized every hour or less during peak hours (Embarkation & Disembarkation time, returning from shore excursions, meal periods.) – Frequent usage of heavy-duty neutral PH floor-cleaning agent to disinfect all floor areas of the ship. – Sanitizer dispensers available at various public areas and crew members stationed at key onboard venues to provide hand sanitation. – Guests are to practice social distancing. – All guests are required to wear a face mask except when dining and engaging in sports activities.

Automated hand wash machine on Dream Cruise World Dream

Preventive Measures (Part 4)—Food Hygiene Practices & Standards – F&B restaurants / bar areas, including galleys, will be cleaned and sanitized 3 times daily, during and after service. – Guests are encouraged to wash hands before entry and use sanitizer dispensers available at F&B outlet entrances/exits. – Guest seating will ensure ample spacing; disposable cutlery will be provided, upon request. – Self-service at F&B buffet restaurants will be suspended. All food & beverages will be served to guests by crew members wearing face masks & disposable gloves. – Stringent procurement guidelines will be enforced and product sourcing from highly affected regions will be strictly prohibited.

Preventive Measures (Part 5)—Entertainment & Recreational Activities – The theatre will be sanitized before and after each show; 3D glasses disinfected before and after guest usage (if applicable.) – Cleaning and disinfection of all toys, games and Kids’ Club facilities twice daily and/or after every use. – All duty-free shops and entertainment venues will be disinfected twice daily before and after service. – All recreational equipment will be disinfected every 2 hours before guest usage. – On board venues operating at reduced capacity to provide ample space. – Sanitizer dispensers will be readily available at various venues including entertainment venue entrances/exits. – Spa & Gym facilities will be sanitized prior to and after usage by guests.

Preventive Measures (Part 6)—Fresh Air Ventilation Systems – 100% external fresh air is filtered and supplied to each guest & crew cabin, and onboard public areas. – No re-circulation of air between cabins or within the ship. – Air filters and cooling coils thoroughly checked, cleaned and replaced to ensure healthy air quality.

Preventive Measures (Part 7)—Medical Centre – Isolated wards available in the Medical Centre and cabins can be converted into quarantine rooms if required. – Contaminated items and medical waste will be properly sealed and disposed according to health and safety guidelines. – Used face masks and protective equipment disposed at designated central collection points. – Medical equipment and waste bins cleaned, disinfected and washed twice daily with hospital grade disinfectant. – 2 Doctors including an Infection Control Officer (ICO) will be present on every sailing.

Preventive Measures (Part 8)—Crew Members Practices & Standards – Daily temperature checks. – Reduction of crew movement. – Medical Centre Isolation Area staff related to suspected cases are required to: Adequate Personal Protective Equipment (face mask, eye protection, disposable gloves & disposal outer garment) follow proper hand washing practices before and after work duty update personal health information daily – All Frontline crew are required to wear face masks. – Housekeeping and F&B crew must wear disposable gloves. – Designated crew may also wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) if required. – All crew to use anti-bacterial hand soap for at least 20 sec to sanitize hands. – Provide Training Workshops and pertinent information on health and safety preventive measures. – All crew had passed stringent health screening & quarantine protocols in accordance with local government requirements.

With so many preventive measures in place, we felt that it was thoroughly safe to do a Cruise To Nowhere with Dream Cruises ! For more details of all the measures by Genting Dream Cruise, click here .

Is it too “Troublesome” to do Tests for Cruise to Nowhere with Dream Cruises World Dream

With Dream Cruises, the ART test is simplified . Just follow the scheduled timing on your cruise ticket and take the ART on site at Marina Bay Cruise Terminal. The results will be out within 20 minutes and once cleared, you’ll be able to proceed with the check-in procedures.

ART result on TraceTogether App about 20 minutes after ART was taken

Remember to refresh your TraceTogether app to get the results as it will be about 5 to 10 minutes faster than the notification via SMS.

Cruise to Nowhere with Dream Cruises World Dream – Dining Options

Dining is one of the main features of a Cruise to Nowhere. Onboard the World Dream , there are 3 complimentary dining options :

1. Dream Dining Room (Upper) for Asian Cuisine 2. Dream Dining Room (Lower) for Western Cuisine 3. The Lido for International Buffet

World Dream – Dream Dining Room (Upper) (Deck 8)

Deep Fried Bean Curd Roll & Draft Heineken Beer- Dream Dining Room (Upper) Genting World Dream

Dream Dining Room (Upper) serves up Asian Cuisine onboard the World Dream. In general, Dream Cruises has one of the better complimentary asian food as compared to other most other cruises. Except for the one breakfast that was rather disappointing , we were rather satisfied with the rest of our meals here.

World Dream – Dream Dining Room (Lower) (Deck 7)

Breakfast at Dream Dining Room (Lower) for Western Breakfast

Although there were several comments online to say that the Western food at Dream Dining Room (Lower) is not that good, we thought it was still quite ok. Though, not as good as “the other” cruise line, it was still quite decent. The fish that we had were mostly quite fresh and we were impressed with the Oktoberfest menu that we had on the last day – the boiled pork knuckle was delish! Also, at DDR (Lower), you’ll be able to enjoy nice sea views, remember to request for it. Being there 15 minutes before opening hours will almost guarantee a seat of your preferred choice!

World Dream – The Lido (Deck 16)

Buffet rows at the Lido onboard World Dream

We preferred to dine at the Dream Dining Rooms because we’re served at the tables and are able to get refills on any dish that we like. However, for those who are die hard buffet fans, fret not, you still will be able to enjoy buffets at the Lido . We enjoyed the roast beef with loads of fatty bits on one of the evenings and if you head over for breakfasts, don’t forget the now-famous Nasi Lemak! The chili and curry chicken were sedap!

24 Hours Snack Outlet – Right outside the Lido at Deck 16

24 Hours Snack Venue Outside the Lido on Genting World Dream

Beside these 3 dining options, there is a 24 hours snack area right outside the Lido at Deck 16 . Here, you’ll be able to get snacks such as fries and drumlets. Also, after 10pm at night, you’ll get “mains” such as the vermicelli that you see in the picture above. You can choose to dine here or for those who are unvaccinated or prefer to have the snacks in the room, you can choose to take-away as well.

Book with Klook Here: Genting Dream by Resorts World Cruises

World Dream Specialty Dining Restaurants

Genting World Dream Hot Pot Restaurant - Enjoying the Sea Views

There are also several specialty dining options such as Seafood Grill, Prime Steakhouse, Silk Road Chinese Restaurant, Umi Uma and Blue Lagoon for various seafood, steak, Japanese and Singaporean fare. This time, we tried out the Hot Pot option. Why? Because of its al fresco hot pot dining experience that allows you to enjoy views of the vast oceans while gathering around a nice hot pot for beautiful conversations. These specialty dining restaurants come at additional costs but you can buy some F&B credits to help offset the overall bills :

Buy $50 and get $55 Buy $100 and get $120 Buy $150 and get $180 Buy $200 and get $250

What are the Complimentary Activities on Dream Cruises World Dream Cruise to Nowhere?

There are actually many complimentary activities onboard the World Dream . Let’s start from the Sports Activities Centre at Deck 18…

Sports Activities Centre (Deck 18)

Sports Activity Centre Deck 18 of World Dream Cruise to Nowhere

The most popular activities of Rock Climbing and Rope Course are on a first-come-first-serve basis while other activities such as basketball, table tennis and mini golf can be booked in advance. We’d strongly recommend the Rope Course. The course itself can be quite exciting and challenging. Best of all, it ends with a flying fox over the ocean – an exhilarating end to the activity!

Swimming and Water Slides

View of Swimming pool and slides from Deck 18 of World Dream Cruise to Nowhere

During the pandemic, you will need to make bookings for swimming pool slots. For details, do refer to our pre-cruise preparations post onboard the World Dream for all the tips to get ahead of the game. But what we really want to recommend are the water slides! They are on a first-come-first-served basis. Hence, even if you didn’t manage to book any swimming or jacuzzi slots, you’ll still be able to enjoy the thrills and spills of the water slides. There are 5 water slides in total. 2 of which have a sharp drop at the beginning – perfect for thrill seekers. As for the other 3 slides, they are more benign and we particularly enjoyed the one with a “bowl” in the middle where you’ll go round and round before wriggling into a tube in the centre to end off the slide. Probably one of the better water slides we’ve enjoyed at sea!

The jacuzzi experience is a “must-do” during your cruise to nowhere with Dream Cruises World Dream! To have the best experience, remember to check out our tips to booking in our pre-cruise preparations post . To have the best experience, book the jacuzzi at Beach Zouk Club. This is because, you’ll be able to enjoy privacy and a dedicated showering area. Most of all, you’ll be able to take in the sea views while soaking it up in the Jacuzzi. Only the jacuzzis at Zouk Beach Club offers this experience. Choose wisely!

Workshop and Classes at Sea

Genting World Dream Cruise to Nowhere Rose Making Workshop

Besides the more physical activities, you’ll also be able to enjoy complimentary workshops organised by the crew. There are dance classes, quiz and trivias as well as some DIY workshops for you to choose from. We enjoyed the rose-making, keychain making and fun graffiti classes. During some of these classes, you may be able to get complimentary ice cream from the staff as well. Enjoy!

Signature Performances on Dream Cruises World Dream

Select the show that you want to watch and the preferred timing on Dream Cruise App

There were also several comments online that the performances on World Dream is not as good. While there’s some elements of truth to it, we still pretty much enjoyed the shows. In particular, the magic show Vision , by French Magician Vincent Vignaud is not to be missed. We particularly enjoyed his humourous interactions with the audience – several times with Singlish accents as well!

Complimentary Themed Events

As it was Oktoberfest at Sea during our Cruise to Nowhere with Dream Cruises, we were able to enjoy Oktoberfest-themed workshops and performances. There were Apfel Strudel making and a traditional Dirndl workshop to increase our awareness and cooking prowess. There was also a little Oktoberfest dance segment prior to the Faith show. Best of all, we enjoyed the Oktoberfest menu on the last evening where the boiled pork knuckle with the fatty parts were soooo goood!

VR Games at ESC Experience Lab on Dream Cruises Dream World Cruise to Nowhere

VR Motion Simulator Zombie Shooting Game on Dream Cruises World Dream

For paid activities, we tried out the VR Games at ESC Experience Lab at Deck 16 . During Happy Hour promotions (twice daily), you’ll be able to enjoy 2 games for the price of $22 (usual price $15 per game). The 2 must-try games are the VR motion simulator as well as the VR Maze. The VR motion simulator is not for the faint-hearted. The visuals are realistic and you actually control the movement of the avatar via the motion simulator. This means that if you walk, the avatar walks. If you run (away from zombies), the avatar runs as well. An unique experience. As for the VR Maze , the VR goggles are programmed according to the physical maze that you will be walking through. However, the VR environment is so immersive that you will feel as though you’re at the edge of the platform and can feel the elevator’s motion as it descends downwards. So while you’re not physically moving, the VR visuals make you feel as though you are. Definitely worth a try!

Cruise to Nowhere Dream Cruises Beverage Package on World Dream

World Dream Cruises Classic Beverage Package Menu - Soft drinks, Chilled Juices, Still and Sparkling Water

One thing that we’ll definitely recommend would be the Beverage Package on Dream Cruises . For only $142 per person, you’ll be able to enjoy unlimited beers (including draft beers), red wines, white wines, sparkling wines (moscato!), premium coffee (latte, flat white, cappuccino) and water (pellegrino, acqua pannna). Not only that, it gives you the flexibility to check out the various venues around the ship and also have a drink to go along with your meals.

We hope you have enjoyed our coverage of the things to do onboard the World Dream by Genting Dream Cruises! If you have any questions, do let us know in the comments section below. Lastly, stay tuned for our final post for comparisons between the cruise to nowhere by Royal Caribbean Cruise (Quantum of the Sea) and the cruise to nowhere by Dream Cruises (World Dream)!

Check out our video review of Cruise to Nowhere on Dream Cruises

Royal Caribbean Cruise To Nowhere Review Day 4 and 5: Seaplex Xbox, Fussball, Solarium, The Chef’s Table and The Key Farewell Breakfast!

Royal Caribbean Cruise Quantum of the Seas

Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean Cruise to Nowhere: Important Pre-Cruise Preparations!

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Cruise to Nowhere Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean Cruise Day 2: Napkin Folding, NorthStar, Izumi, Wonderland and StarWater

Quantum of the Seas Cruise to Nowhere Day 3: Solarium Bistro, Pop Up Card, Ripcord by iFLY, Gold Art Duo and Accolade Duo!

Quantum of the Seas 5D4N Cruise to Nowhere Day 4: Towel Art Folding, Accolade Duo, MDR, Cafe Two270 and Jamie’s Italian

Quantum of the Seas Cruise to Nowhere Day 5: Disembarkation Day =(

Cruise to Nowhere Review on Quantum of the Seas by Royal Caribbean Cruise!

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Would really like to see you compare Dream Cruise vs. Royal Caribbean! Thanks in advance!

How did you guess that we’re doing a Dream Cruise vs Royal Caribbean Cruise to Nowhere post?! :O

It will be available tomorrow! Stay tuned!

Tom & Kate, 2bearbear.com

Cruise to Nowhere Review on The Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas

Yes, this was the Royal Caribbean Cruise to Nowhere ship that had a suspected Covid-19 case on board.

You might have caught the news of the Cruise to Nowhere that returned early because of a suspected Covid-19 case. Yes, we were on that cruise .

Turns out, it was a false alarm. And despite having our mini-getaway cut from four to three days, there was still loads that went on before disembarking.

If you’re planning a vacation while the travel borders are still closed, here are our thoughts and experience on the Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas — Asia’s largest cruise ship!

Pre-boarding process for a Cruise to Nowhere

Taking a PCR test will be the new norm as travel is slowly reintroduced. On Royal Caribbean cruises, the cost of your swab test is included in your cruise package — you just have to test negative before boarding!

Once you’ve booked your cruise, you will receive instructions to schedule your PCR test via email. You’ll also be prompted to sign up for a few apps before heading down to Raffles Convention Centre to have your swab test taken.

We had ours taken two days before the cruise and received our results the next day.

The test was uncomfortable but honestly still bearable. I heard the experience varies a bit but my tester was really quick and gentle, so no tears on my end. If there’s any advice I can offer though, it’s to breathe slowly through the process so your body stays relaxed!

One of thee apps you’ll need is the Royal Caribbean app . This app has everything you need from checking-in to the activity schedule as well as for tracking your cruise expenditure.

Photo credit: Royal Caribbean

Choose your time slot: Pick from 30-minute intervals between 2–7PM. Checking in by designated time slots ensures that the check-in process is smooth and that the cruise centre isn’t crowded with people. For us, the entire process from health screening to immigration took no more than half an hour!

During check-in, you’ll also receive a Tracelet. We were told to wear it throughout the cruise for contact tracing. It’s not the most fashionable accessory, but well, safety is sexy 😉

Cruise to Nowhere Accommodation

We stayed in a balcony room with views of the endless sea (from S$359/pax for three nights ). Comes with a queen bed, long sofa, en-suite bathroom and a private balcony.

Balcony Room Royal Caribbean - Cruise to Nowhere

I loved starting my morning slow on the balcony watching the waves go by!

However, if you don’t see yourself spending much time in the room, the simple Interior Room is just as cosy, just without the views. Rates for the Interior Room start at S$279/pax for three nights .

Alternatively, pamper yourself with one of their suites ( from S$599/pax ).

Grand Loft Suite Stateroom

The Grand Loft Suite comes with a mezzanine level, a king-sized bed, two bathrooms, a spacious living and dining area and an equally spacious balcony 🤯 Some of the suites even come with a private jacuzzi!

Different suites come with different perks . For example, if you’re staying at the Grand Loft Suite (above), you get complimentary access to all specialty dining experiences as well as free-flow drinks* (alcoholic beverages included) all day, every day! You get a Royal Genie (a personal butler of sorts but better)!

*any drink US$12 and below

Things to Do on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas

For thrill seekers.

Ripcord by iFly

One of the coolest things on the Quantum of the Seas is the skydiving simulator! It’s slightly smaller than the one in Sentosa but still gives you the thrills of free-falling.

Cost: US$40/flight — complimentary for suite guests (Star Class)

The 12-metre simulator will definitely get your adrenaline pumping as you try to keep your balance.

It’s open from 9:30AM to 5PM, but the first and last half an hour is set aside for advanced surfers. So, if you already have prior surfing experiences, head there first thing in the morning to get first dibs!

*Pro-tip: Register when it opens before the crowd pours in, then try out the rock wall right next door while waiting for the advance session to end.

Cost: From US$69 for private sessions, free for group sessions

Rock climbing

Avid climbers might find the wall underwhelming, but I encourage you to still give it a try. The seemingly manageable routes get trickier as you make your way up with strong ocean winds howling at you.

*Pro-tip: Don’t rush up the wall, and check each handhold before pulling on it. Some of the grips loosen after a full day of climbers.

Dodgem Cars

Everybody loves bumper cars because you can drive recklessly — and without a license! It’s fun for both kids and adults to chase and bump into one another.

The bumper arena is located in the SeaPlex, a multi-purpose space that hosts other activities in the day. Here, you can have a friendly game of basketball with your mates or combat each other on the Xbox!

*Pro-tip: Spaces are easily booked out. Head to the SeaPlex when it opens (9AM) to book your activities for the day!

For An Uninterrupted Time

The North Star

North Star Royal Caribbean Cruise - Cruise to Nowhere

For the best views on the cruise, get high up on the North Star! Check out the endless horizon and a top down view of the cruise resembling a giant playground.

It’s a seven-minute ride up to heaven — rising 300 feet above, being on the North Star was a nice break from the busyness below. Each ride takes in six people at a time, with allocated standing points one metre apart.

*Pro-tip: Catch a ride at the beginning of the trip before the ship leaves Singapore’s shores. You’ll get sick views of Marina Bay unlike any other. Cost: Top-up fee required

The Solarium

Solarium with Friends Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean -cruise to nowhere

Located at the front of every Royal Caribbean ship, this indoor pool area is for adults only (aged 16 and above). With floor to ceiling windows, you get to soak in the warm pool with views of the sea. It’s a great place for adults who want an uninterrupted dip away from rowdy kids.

There is also a bar and two jacuzzis, perfect for unwinding after a long day of activities.

*Pro-tip: Be there to catch the sunset — it’s the best place to watch the sun go down with a drink in hand.

Entrance fee: Free

The entertainment doesn’t stop just because the sun goes down. Each night, there are different performances to catch. Check the schedule on the Royal Caribbean app and book your seats early!

Two 70 Dance in a Box - cruise to nowhere

It’s said that Royal Caribbean’s most impressive multimedia performances are shown here. The theatre’s two-storey windows show stunning ocean views in the day, and become massive visual displays by night.

Violin Performance - Things to Do On A Cruise

From music performances to mind-boggling magic shows, we were thoroughly entertained each night with these talented acts.

This magician cum comedy juggler kept us on our toes and gave us stitches from laughing!

What to eat on Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas

Complimentary dining options.

Windjammer is an all-you-can-eat buffet hall with a wide array of options. It’s open during all meal times (breakfast, lunch and dinner). Vegetarian and gluten-free options can be found here too.

Windjammer Serviced Buffet - Things to Do On A Cruise

As we’re cruising in a pandemic, the friendly staff pile food on your plate instead.

The shared dining halls have specific meal timings, and lunch ends at 1:30PM. If you do miss these timings, check out Sorrento’s pizza or Dog House’s crafted hot dogs instead!

Specialty Dining Experiences

These Cruise to Nowhere dining experiences require a top-up (unless you’re in a suite), but I’d say it’s worth the top-up considering how much more it would cost back on land.

Royal Caribbean has nine specialty restaurants ranging from affordable to hella fancy. Here are our top three!

Jamie's Italian with Freinds - Things to Do On A Cruise

Jamie’s Italian: We had one of our best nights stuffing ourselves here. They have an à la carte buffet you won’t find at any other outlet on land.

For ~S$53, you get to choose anything off their menu. Peter, our helpful waiter, told us to pick one from each category. So we got the famous meat plank to share along with one appetiser, pasta, main and dessert each.

The lasagne and the truffle tagliatelle are a must-have!

Wonderland: Inspired by the whimsical world from Alice in Wonderland, this specialty restaurant takes you on a journey from the moment you pick up the menu.

Meals are served course–by–course, however, instead of picking out what you want to eat, your meal is kept a mystery and what you get depends on the elements you pick — Sun, Ice, Fire, Sea or Earth. We had a lot of fun trying to make out the flavours in each dish!

One of our favourite appetisers was the crispy crab cone. It’s fresh crab wrapped in a wanton cone, topped with avocado. We swear we could’ve had 10 of those, but then we wouldn’t have space for our glorious entrees 😂

Terroir Beef Wonderland - Things to Do On A Cruise

We chose the Terroir Beef and the Halibut. The steak was really tender, but the real winner was the fish — it was melt-in-your-mouth perfection 🤤

Courses at Chef's Table - Cruise to Nowhere

Chef’s Table: One of the most exclusive dining experiences on the cruise, this six-course fine-dining meal is prepared by the ship’s Chef de Cuisine.

The best part though, is that each course comes with a sommelier-selected premium white or red wine to pair with the dish.

Not to worry if wine pairings aren’t your forte — the waiters will be beyond happy to explain!

Is a Cruise to Nowhere Worth It?

Some of you may know we were on the cruise with the suspected Covid-19 patient . Thank goodness it turned out to be a false positive ! And although the trip was cut short, we got a sneak peek of what it’s like cruising during a pandemic and I must say, I’d gladly hop onboard a cruise again.

Despite the unfortunate event, the Royal Caribbean team showed that they had everything under control. While waiting for instructions, food was brought to our rooms and the captain kept us updated at expected intervals, so kudos to the team!

Read more: What It Was Like When a COVID-19 Case Was Confirmed on a Cruise to Nowhere

Contact Tracing on Royal Caribbean Quantum of the Seas

During the entire cruise, we also probably checked in and sanitised more than we would’ve on a regular day.

On the Royal Caribbean cruise, each juncture required us to tap our SeaPass, take our temperature and sanitise our hands. Safe distancing was also always practiced and we’d get gentle reminders from the staff before the crowds would form.

Given the safety measures, fun activities and chance to “travel” out of Singapore, I say a Cruise to Nowhere is probably your best bet at a vacation before the travel borders open up again.

Planning to go on a Cruise to Nowhere? Comment any questions you have below!

For more travel inspiration, follow us on Instagram , YouTube , Facebook and Telegram !

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15 comments.

hi thanks for the informative post on your cruise experience. I’m struggling to understand how the Unlimited Dining Package works. Does the cost of $100+ cover for all the meals for all days or is it only for a specific day/meal? Would you have more insights to share?

Hey Jojo! We didnt encounter this during our experience but i found this! https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-is-the-unlimited-dining-package

hope it helps

Do we still get regular 3G/4G Internet on the cruise?

Hi Stephanie! It depends on how far away we are from Singapore! As the ship sails away from mainland, there will be significant amounts of time without 3G/4G. Hope this helps!

Hi, are there any activities for toddlers on the ship?

Hi Sachb, Maybe this link will help! https://www.royalcaribbean.com/sgp/en/experience/cruises-for-kids-and-teens

Hope you guys will do a Royal VS. Dream video/blog! Been wanting to book a cruise for sometime now but can’t decide which to go for.

We’ll be doing an article about this very very soon!

Hi! Great post 🙂 Do we have to book the activities in advance or we can just wait to be onboard to do it? Thanks!

Can you still use the Royal Caribbean App onboard without subscribing to any internet access?

Yes you can! 🙂

Hi! thanks for your great article! May i know how will the Royal Caribbean App work without subscribing to any internet access (e.g. Voom or other data services)?

Separately, will it work if we just apply for data roaming instead of Voom? It seems to be a much cheaper option!

Yup the app will still work! You can still access the ship information from the app and book things as long as you are connected to the ship’s wifi. We believe it works better with the ship’s wifi. Data roaming might not work as well, especially in the cabin corridors.

Hi Leslie, did you get data roaming or voom in the end?

Hi few questions here as we couldn’t find the info online: 1. How much does it cost to get their wifi? Is it worth getting or our usual 3G/4G is good enough?

2. How much do we have to pay for food upgrade? Per person?

3. Will it still be worth going with a 2 year old?

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What’s It Like to Cruise in the Covid Era? To Find Out, I Went Aboard

A “cruise to nowhere” offered one correspondent a chance to understand an interesting trend, and to interview people in person.

By Sui-Lee Wee

Times Insider explains who we are and what we do, and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together.

SINGAPORE — For most of this year, I have been a long-distance foreign correspondent.

I came home to Singapore in January for a vacation but could not return to Beijing, where I was based as a China correspondent for The New York Times, because the Chinese government barred many foreign residents from returning in March. I was sometimes surprised at how much of my work could be done over the telephone, but it always felt unsatisfying as a reporter used to face-to-face interviews.

Then in October, I saw a headline in The Straits Times, a Singapore newspaper: “Cruises to Nowhere: Genting Cruises Gets More Than 6,000 Bookings in 5 Days.” I did a quick search and found we had written articles about people in Britain gazing at docked cruise ships , and a “no sail” ban in the United States. I called my editor, Carlos Tejada, and asked what he thought about my going on a cruise.

I told him that an executive with Genting, the cruise operator, had described the trip as a “super-staycation.” It would leave from Singapore and return three days later. I wasn’t sure whether Times editors would sign off on it — we have strict rules about traveling in the pandemic. Carlos said he would get back to me.

That afternoon I got a WhatsApp message from him.

“You should totally do the story. Just … be careful!” Carlos wrote. He then suggested I review the safety protocols and wear a mask onboard.

Cruise ships are notorious for harboring all sorts of germs, and we had all read those articles about the Diamond Princess in Japan, where hundreds of passengers contracted the coronavirus.

I consulted with our editors and our security expert. I also reached out to three infectious disease experts, who assured me that it was safe to go.

I sent a list of the ship’s safety measures to all of them: slashing capacity by half, requiring passengers be tested before boarding, and allowing only Singapore residents to sail. As I would write in my article, the main reason I felt safe was because I knew that Singapore had the virus under control. Daily community transmission cases were frequently at zero or in the low single digits.

“If there are a bunch of Americans on that cruise ship, it would probably not be a safe cruise ship,” said Amesh Adalja of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. “But if your passengers are coming from places where the virus is well controlled — and Singapore is one of those places — I think the risk goes down.”

But, he warned, “the risk is never going to be zero.”

As my trip loomed closer, I lost count of the number of times jaws dropped whenever I told someone I was going on a cruise.

“I’m dying to interview people face to face!” I would respond, realizing later that was a poor choice of words.

I had spoken to passengers who were about to board the first Genting cruise in November. It was the first time in 10 months I had looked into an interviewee’s eyes, and I had almost forgotten how powerful eye contact is as a means of connection. I was — and am still — doing all of my reporting through the telephone and a mix of scouring the news and social media from China. Those interviews were another reminder that all of the things I used to rely on to report — the sights, sounds and smells — are all lost by my not being on the ground.

Another reason for going on the cruise was the dateline. Datelines are signposts for our readers, telling them that foreign correspondents are out in the world reporting from other countries. In my cabin, I opened my laptop and wrote: ABOARD THE WORLD DREAM, IN THE STRAIT OF MALACCA.

It was a joy speaking to people in person again. Everyone seemed relaxed and happy to talk. (“It’s been ages since I traveled!” one woman told me.) I attended a male strip show and was thankful that we had our masks on because I was laughing so hard. Perhaps it is possible to cruise safely in the Covid era , I thought.

But a week after I published my piece, Carlos forwarded a news alert to me: A passenger on another Singapore “cruise to nowhere” had tested positive for the coronavirus and the ship was returning to port.

I should have known that even with a long list of safety measures, the risk was never going to be zero.

Although it later transpired that the test was a false positive, it was a reminder that until vaccines are widely available, nothing — not least cruises — will ever be normal.

More about Sui-Lee Wee

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budget cruising / Cruise Tips / Cruising / General

A Guide To 1-3 Day Cruises And Cruises To Nowhere

by Prof. Cruise · Published February 1, 2020 · Updated March 2, 2020

Where did you go on your cruise? Nowhere!

Today’s lecture will cover cruises to nowhere (pictured above) as well as very short 1-3 day cruises. Prior to clicking on this guide, you may not have even known these cruises existed. There’s good reason for that, which I’ll get to later, but first, a brief introduction to short cruises and cruises to nowhere and why cruise lines offer them.

An Introduction To One Night Cruises, Short Cruises, And Cruises To Nowhere

While I now consider anything shorter than 21 days (my longest cruise to date) a “short” cruise, cruise lines also occasionally offer really short cruises, some as short as just one night and some that don’t stop at any ports (cruises to nowhere). Here are three common reasons these cruises are offered:

1. Repositioning Cruises

Often short cruises are offered in order to reposition a ship from one departure port to another (such as the 1 night cruise I took from Seattle to Vancouver and the 3 night cruise I took from Los Angeles to Vancouver).

2. Chartered Or Partially Chartered Cruises

Sometimes short cruises are either fully or partially chartered. Sometimes by celebrity “fan groups.” Which is how I unintentionally ended up on a 2 night Royal Caribbean cruise round trip from Seattle with a stop in Victoria, Canada with…Adam Carolla. But that’s an (R rated) story for another time.

3. A Break Between Two Longer Itinerary Segments

If there is a break between two longer itinerary segments, without the time necessary to sail very far, sometimes a ship will sell rooms for a 1 or 2 night cruise and either visit a nearby port or simply idle or anchor far enough out at sea to open the casino and shops. This, however, is more complicated for ships sailing from U.S. ports. Here’s why…

How is the Passenger Vessel Services Act Relevant To Short Cruises And Cruises To Nowhere?

The Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886 prohibits cruise ships that are foreign-flagged (for which nearly all of them are) from departing from and returning to the same U.S. port without first visiting a foreign port. It also forbids foreign-flagged cruise ships from embarking in one U.S. port and disembarking in a different U.S. port without visiting a distant foreign port outside of North America.

This both explains the odd itineraries on some short cruises (and longer cruises for that matter) and explains why there are so few of them from U.S. ports. For example, my 2 night cruise round trip from Seattle had to stop in Victoria, Canada. It couldn’t just head down to Oregon for a day or sail around the Pugit Sound for a few days and then return to Seattle.

Repositioning cruises starting at a U.S. port MUST either disembark at a foreign port or visit a foreign port outside of North America. While my 3 night cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver and my 1 night cruise from Seattle to Vancouver didn’t stop at any ports (technically making them cruises to nowhere), they both disembarked at a different port outside the U.S., meaning they complied with the The Passenger Vessel Services Act.

“Cruises to nowhere” in their purest form (meaning they start and end at the same port and don’t visit any ports in between) are generally only available outside the U.S.

9 Reason’s To Book A Short Cruise Or Cruise To Nowhere

Despite the length of the cruise, you probably find disembarkation day premature and descending the gangway a cruel form of torment: “but I’ve only been at sea for 68 nights!” I do too. In fact, once my kid finally learns to wash his own hair and find the remote (all I’m really good for anymore) and once my dog takes up residence in his chosen final resting place at our local Fogo de Chão (he’s not concerned about health codes), I plan on never disembarking again. But for now, I sometimes have occasion to book a very short cruise and you might too! Here are 9 reasons to book a short cruise or cruise to nowhere:

1. Transportation

Do you live in Seattle, but occasionally like to spend a weekend in Vancouver (or vise versa)? You could drive, take the bus or train, or…CRUISE there!

2. To Try On Cruising Or Another Cruise Line

Are you curious about cruising, but unsure if you’ll like it? Are you nervous about seasickness or claustrophobia or boredom or managing a dietary restriction or medical condition while onboard? Or are you loyal to NCL, but Royal Caribbean keeps enticing you to stray with her ice skating shows and simulated skydiving?

Why not try on cruising or another cruise line or ship with a short 1-3 night cruise? I mean, at worst you’ll be mildly thankful for puking the whole time as the walls of your interior cabin conspire to suffocate you, because at least it’s better than the food prospects and activity lineup. OR you’ll be banned from your NCL Facebook group, “traitor!,” and will have to join Prof. Cruise’s group because she sets a low bar for entry. BUT, you might just like it. Or love it and find yourself both addicted to cruising or entirely disloyal to any particular line like me.

3. To Be Fancy

While a fancy cruise suite for a longer sailing might feel like the feather on a canine teaser wand positioned just out of reach as it taunts you, you might be able to afford one for a short 1 or 2 night cruise! The same goes for things like a beverage package, a spa pass, or a cabana or special deck access.

Mr. Cruise and I have always wanted to try the beverage package on Celebrity, but it’s been cost prohibitive on prior itineraries. Excitedly, we’ve just purchased it for a short cruise we have coming up in April.

4. To Avoid Taking Vacation Days

As a professor of cruising, I cruise for both vacation and for work, but I acknowledge that most people my age have real jobs, important jobs that can’t be hastily abandoned in favor of a life at sea. But with short 1 to 2 day itineraries, it may be possible for you to avoid taking vacation days for your cruise.

5. For A Date Night Or Friend’s Weekend Or For “Self Care”

A short cruise for two might actually end up costing you less than a dinner date on land. Plus you get breakfast and lunch, a floating hotel room, live music, production shows, and other activities. Short cruises can also make for a fun friend’s weekend. And if you don’t have any friends, just invite me…you do now! And good luck getting rid of me: “when’s our next cruise?!?!” Or leave your kids with your Mr. Cruise and go solo for some self care. That’s what I did on my last short cruise! #tableforone

6. To Grow Your Cruise

If you’ve always dreamed of a 9-day cruise (pretty random, but whatever floats your boat – I’ll be here all week), you could build one by combining a 7-day itinerary with a 2-day itinerary. A back-to-back can turn a short cruise into a long cruise or a long cruise into a longer cruise.

See my complete guide to b2b’s here .

7. For A Corporate Gathering Or Chartered Group

Would you rather have your next corporate gathering here…

or here…

Corporate gatherings or incentive programs are fairly common on short cruises. On my last one I was joined by several hundred top selling insurance agents in matching green shirts. Don’t worry though, they weren’t there to hock me travel insurance (no, that’s what I’m for: go here to compare plans find the best price on travel insurance for your cruise), they were there to par-tay!

It’s also common for short cruises to be either fully or partially chartered by various groups, clubs, and organizations. You might end up on one of these cruises as a regular passenger (like I was on my cruise with Adam Carolla and 500 of his closest friends) or you might seek one of these out, like this one with Oprah and Gayle King.

8. To Fit A Cruise Into Your Budget

Do you have two seemingly incompatible goals in life, to pay your bills on time AND to cruise often? Short cruises may offer some reconciliation. Starting at just $69 per person per night (based on two person occupancy), these short cruises can be an inexpensive option for those who may not be able to fit a longer cruise into the budget.

9. Because A Short Cruise Is Better Than No Cruise

Hear me out. Short isn’t all bad. For example, the pencil hash mark on my wall labeled with “age 41” measures in at just 5 feet 2 inches, but allows me to shop in the children’s department where unicorn prints and flip sequins are more readily available. And short cruises aren’t all bad either. They’re certainly better than no cruise at all and offer a definitive answer to the question: “how much food can I eat in less than 24 hours without popping my skin?” (Go here to find out.)

How Do I Find A One Night Cruise, Short Cruise, Or Cruise To Nowhere?

If you’re wondering why you’ve never seen or heard of these cruises, there’s good reason. Cruises under 3 nights often won’t be listed on the popular online cruise search and booking sites. Even many cruise lines won’t have them listed on their websites. So, how do you find one? Here are a few good web resources I use to find them (I don’t receive any commission for either of these links, but I have used Cruise Direct to book my short cruises in the past and have always had a good experience with them):

Cruise Critic 1-2 Night Cruises

Cruise Direct 1-2 Night cruises

Frequently Asked Questions About Short Cruises?

Is Muster Drill Required For A One Night Cruise?

I’m not know for brevity, but I’ll try it just this once: yes.

What’s The Crowd Like On A One Night Or Short Cruise?

Normally on Holland America the maître d’ has to stand guard outside the dining room to turn away throngs of geriatric (for which I am one) passengers used to eating dinner at 4pm: “what do you mean you’re not open for another hour and a half – I’ll be half way through my third dream by then!” And the salon offers a daily special on “wash and sets.” And there are dozens of dentures turned into the lost and found, but surprisingly few smart phones: “that’s what an abacus and an Encyclopedia Britannica is for! Now have you seen my teeth?”

But boy oh boy, on my last cruise aboard HAL’s ms Eurodam , a one nighter, even I stayed up past 8pm (necessitated by my goal to eat 7 days worth of food in less than 24 hours) and the ship was hoppin’. Even at the piano bar where the entertainer kept saying “I don’t know that one” before closing to requests and channeling his best Barry Manilow.

Expect a livelier atmosphere and for the crowd to trend a bit younger on very short cruises.

Are There Organized Activities On A One Night Cruise?

Yes, there will be a full slate of organized activities on your short cruise. Here was the lineup on my last 1 night cruise:

Is There Entertainment On A One Night Cruise?

Yes, there will be typical entertainment, including at least one major production show each night in the main theater.

What Is Dining Like On A One Night Cruise?

Restaurants and bars (including specialty restaurants) will be open during typical hours for your short cruise, but there may be a few minor differences. For example, on my last short cruise there was no set dining time option for dinner in the main dining room (MDR). All dining in the MDR was “anytime” dining meaning you could either call ahead to make a reservation for the time you wanted or just show up at any time to eat.

Here was the dining schedule on my last one night cruise on Holland America:

Final Thoughts On One Night Cruises, Short Cruises, And Cruises To Nowhere

Napoleon, not the famous Napoleon of the French revolution, Napoleon…Hill said, “If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way.” While Napoleon Hill may have covertly been describing his life as a conman when he said that, it also applies equally well to short cruises. And as for short cruises, I’m not here to fool you. I’ve actually done them and I’ve (mostly) loved them. I encourage you to give them a try! And with that…

Class Dismissed.

Homework (10 points) : Check out my guide to b2b cruising here , my guide to solo cruising here , and my guide to booking guarantee cabins here .

And be sure to subscribe to the blog to receive new course materials directly to your e-mail. Scroll up to the top right if on a computer or keep scrolling if on a mobile device. And be sure to follow Prof. Cruise on social media.

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About Prof. Cruise

Given name Sarah, but also answers to Prof. Cruise. Retired after 10 years as a college professor to focus full-time on her primary research interest: travel. With a concentration in cruising. Home port: Seattle. Mom of a shaggy-haired dog and a shaggy-haired human. Lover of books and dessert. Fancies herself a bit of a comedian – you’ve been warned.

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Cruises to Nowhere

Where's the best place to spend a short vacation? Nowhere! A Cruise-To-Nowhere is the perfect getaway for a couple of days. The ships sail out into the ocean and back without stopping at any other ports. A cruise to nowhere is an excellent introduction to cruising for first-time cruise passengers.

Cruises to nowhere include all the fun of a cruise without big expense or a long time commitment. Pools, a spa, casino, bars, lounges and more food than you can imagine are available on-board.

Some cruise lines have "weekend cruises" that are two-night trips.

Read cruise to nowhere reviews . Find out what other passengers thought of these voyages.

All ships have programs and activities for different age groups of kids. Now the whole family is going nowhere!

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What is a cruise to nowhere?

Heard about something like a cruise to nowhere but is confused about whether something like this exists. The answer is yes! Read on to know more...

Book Your Cruise

Even while it might seem unusual to want to take a cruise that goes nowhere, doing so gives travelers a quick escape. It will expose you to the idea of taking a cruise, give you the chance to try out several food options, and let you see a performance if you've never been on one before. If you've taken a vacation before, this will provide you with the chance to try a different cruise ship or line. In either case, these cruises provide a brief, stress-free getaway that will help you unwind and refresh. These trips run between one and three nights. They sail in international waters and set sail from several different ports. Usually, this is done so that ships can provide casinos and duty-free shopping. A few days later, they make their way back to the same or a different port. These journeys are created so that passengers can fully savor their time aboard.

Why go on a cruise to nowhere?

Have you ever wanted to take a quick trip to the ocean and relax? You might just find it the perfect thing to take a cruise to nowhere that you've always wanted to take! We have added some information here, so you should take a look at it.

1. You experience what it's like to go cruising:

cruises that go nowhere are essentially promoted to first-timers as sampling cruises so they can test the waters without investing the time and money of a longer voyage. You won't have to schedule your day around in-port shore excursions, giving you time to experience life on board. It's a fantastic chance to enjoy all of the onboard services, whether it's a leisurely day spent relaxing by the pool deck, a wonderful meal in a specialty restaurant, some lovely spa time at sea, or a movie showing beneath the stars. You'll probably already know if sailing life is for you by the time you land back on dry land.

2. A weekend trip with a twist may be possible:

A fast trip to nowhere is an intriguing "staycation" alternative if you live close to a major cruise terminal. Get on board for some well-earned R&R on the open seas when the next long weekend rolls around, without having to take any extra time off of work. The stress of a long trip to a hotel or the endless airport security lines is preferable to this. The best way to make the most of your limited vacation time is with a local short cruise.

3. For themed and special occasion cruises, they are ideal:

A weekend cruise is a well-liked choice for a particular celebration on the open sea, such as a bachelor party or a family milestone like a birthday or anniversary. Short cruises without port visits are frequently advertised, especially as "party cruises." Instead of getting a full sense of the local culture during a land visit, the main focus of many short excursions that remain at sea is on a shared passion like food, art, or a musical flair.

4. For those on a tight budget, cruises to nowhere are fantastic:

A short sail for a quick holiday is allured by the drastically decreased cost. Finding a cruise at a great price is simple. These brief sailings, which are priced to fill capacity at significantly lower rates than a longer sailing, are sometimes utilized to cover a one-time scheduling gap or even a new port deployment. Even when compared to traditional all-inclusive resorts, it's a no-brainer if your budget is limited after you take into account the cost of a hotel room, entertainment, and dining on land.

How to find a cruise to nowhere

There is an enormous choice of traditional short cruise options lasting between 2 and 4 days. The primary entryways for your next fast trip to the sun are in Florida and along the Gulf Coast, which serves the Bahamas , the Caribbean , and Mexico . In Southern California, the ports of Long Beach and San Diego open up weekend excursions to Baja. A little bit of investigation could potentially be fruitful elsewhere. If you have a particular ship in mind, look for times when it may be repositioning to a new port or about to emerge from a dry-dock refurbishment, as a brief 2 or 3-day cruise may be provided to fill in a schedule gap.

Also, Check: When is the best time to take a cruise vacation ?

A cruise to nowhere is the best option if you want to go on a short and budget-friendly cruise . A cruise to nowhere is usually a 2-day cruise to a 4-day cruise . The person who is going on a cruise for the first time should surely try a cruise to nowhere to check whether he/she can travel on a long cruise trip or not.

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New York Cruise Guide > Cruise Destinations > Nowhere

Cruises to Nowhere from New York

A cruise to nowhere is a perfect quick vacation. All the fun of cruises without going to another port. Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival offered short cruises to nowhere from New York.

A cruise to nowhere is a 2-night or 3-night cruise out into the ocean and back. It's a great little get-away ... luxury accommodations, all the food you can eat, entertainment, dancing, casinos, swimming pools, and constant activities. Escape on a little cruise to nowhere.

We recommend a cruise to nowhere for anyone who isn't sure they'll like cruises. These trips are short and inexpensive, but you can sample all the fun stuff that cruises have to offer: spas, unlimited dining options, plush cabins, sports, and entertainment.

The shortest cruises currently available from New York are 4-day cruises .

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Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises to Nowhere Cruises

If you’ve never cruised, a good way to get a glimpse into this revolutionary vacation style is by taking a cruise to nowhere – especially with Norwegian Cruise Line. These cruises are usually between one to three days long, giving you just a sample of what life onboard is like. Norwegian Cruise Line offers a handful of these sailings each year, leaving from popular ports like New York, Los Angeles and New Orleans. If you find that cruising is something you can get used to, be sure to book a future cruise onboard – just let the onboard staff know to coordinate with your Cruise Web consultant, and you’re set. These cruises are also great for those in need of a quick break. Once you board your ship, even if it’s just for one night, you’ll leave all your troubles on land and let your mind and body move to the sway of the ocean. You may not be gone long, but you’ll still get that much needed break.

Things to Do on a Cruise to Nowhere with Norwegian Cruise Line

Just because you won’t be stopping in any ports doesn’t mean you won’t have a packed schedule. Norwegian Cruise Line’s cruise ships have lots of activities and venues to visit. Featured below are some of the best ways to make the most of your cruise to nowhere with Norwegian Cruise Line:

Norwegian Cruise line things to do Cruise to Nowhere specialty dining Ocean Blue

Specialty Dining You’ll never go hungry on a Norwegian Cruise Line cruise ship; there are several dining venues on board, from hot dog carts on some ships to fancy dinner theaters. Norwegian also pioneered the specialty restaurant, so you’ll find a wide array of options onboard.

Norwegian Cruise line things to do Cruise to Nowhere Fight Klub

Get Active Balance your meals with a game of basketball or a Zumba class. Many of Norwegian Cruise Line’s ships have mini golf courses and state-of-the-art gyms, and some even have obstacle courses that will really get your blood pumping.

Norwegian Cruise line things to do Cruise to Nowhere Laugh it off Second City

Laugh it off Get in some good laughs at the ship’s comedy club. Most sailings have a comedian onboard who performs a couple of times each night. Select Norwegian cruise ships also have The Second City improv comedy troupe.

Norwegian Cruise line things to do Cruise to Nowhere Casino Get Lucky

Get Lucky Once the ship has set sail, you can take advantage of the casino. Each ship has a large selection of slot machines and table games. Whether you bet on red or black, you’ll have a blast.

Norwegian Cruise line things to do Cruise to Nowhere Pamper yourself Spa

Pamper Yourself Feel the stress melt away as you enjoy a massage, facial or body treatment at the ship’s spa. You can also get gussied up at the ship’s salon with a mani/pedi, new hairstyle or makeover.

Norwegian Cruise Line street corner in the French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana

Sightseeing Before or after your cruise, be sure to spend at least an afternoon touring the city in which your ship docks. If it’s New York, you can’t go wrong seeing a Broadway show; if you’re in Los Angeles, head to the Getty Museum in Malibu; if it’s New Orleans, the French Quarter is always a blast. Each port has something special to offer.

Top 10 Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises to Nowhere Cruises

Norwegian cruise line cruises to nowhere departure ports.

Learn more about each of the possible departure ports for a cruise to nowhere cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line. Your Norwegian Cruise Line cruise to nowhere cruise could leave from any of the following cities:

Photo Gallery for Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises to Nowhere Cruises

Check out our photo gallery of cruise to nowhere cruising photos from Norwegian Cruise Line. Keep in mind, this is just a sample of the sights waiting for you on a Norwegian Cruise Line cruise to nowhere cruise vacation.

Spice H2O outdoor theater

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IMAGES

Cruise to Nowhere: 7 Reasons Why We Loved It
Cruise to Nowhere: 7 Reasons Why We Loved It
Dream Cruises' World Dream Review
The Ultimate Cruise to Nowhere review: Royal Caribbean Cruise Vs Dream
The Ultimate Cruise to Nowhere review: Royal Caribbean Cruise Vs Dream
Singapore's first 'cruise to nowhere' sets sail

VIDEO

Harborless Haven: The Enchanting Cruise to Nowhere
🔵 Nowhere Collocations

COMMENTS

What Is a Cruise to Nowhere, and Why Aren't They ...
A cruise to nowhere is very much what it sounds like: boarding a cruise ship for a short voyage into international waters before returning, without calling on any ports. As recently as 2015 ...
What is a Cruise to Nowhere?
Yes, really. Consider a short cruise vacation where the ship itself becomes the destination. A cruise to nowhere sails out into international waters for a short duration of generally 2 to 3 days, allowing passengers with limited time to enjoy a quick, fuss-free getaway, before returning to the point of embarkation without any intermediate port ...
Ultimate Guide to Singapore's Cruise to Nowhere on Royal Caribbean
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.
Cruises to Nowhere Tips
In the U.S., Carnival Cruise Lines and Norwegian Cruise Line are the only two companies to offer regularly scheduled cruises to nowhere. For the former, look for cruises out of Long Beach ...
Cruise to Nowhere: A first-timer's booking guide
Here's all you need to know about booking a cruise to nowhere- room types, locations, travel insurance and more. Back in October 2020, the STB gave Genting Cruises and Royal Caribbean the green light to sell cruises to nowhere. These sailings (only open to Singapore residents) take place under strict safety protocols, with mandatory COVID-19 ...
Cruise to Nowhere: A guide to Royal Caribbean's dining, beverage
A few general points before we begin : The cut-off time for bookings via Cruise Planner is 11.59 p.m Eastern Standard Time, 2 days before your departure (e.g if you sail on 28 January 2021, you must book by 25 January 2021 11:59 p.m EST).
The Ultimate Cruise to Nowhere review: Royal Caribbean Cruise Vs Dream
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.
Cruises to Nowhere
But as a general rule, cruise prices on cruises to Nowhere rarely exceed the amount of US $200 per night per person. And this is a great deal, considering the type of your short cruise ship vacation and all that's included (plus the cabin, open-seating dining in the Main Dining Rooms, 24-hour room service, etc, etc).
The Pros and Cons of a Cruise to Nowhere
Exterior on Caribbean Princess. Before cruising regulation laws changed in 2016, "cruises to nowhere" were a popular and profitable way for cruise lines to offer quickie two-day vacations that led to, well, nowhere.Essentially, these cruises let passengers enjoy everything onboard the ship without docking at a port of call.
Cruise to Nowhere Cruise Guide and Reviews
RJ by rsmrjoh. Sail date: Mar 04, 2016 / Traveled as: Family (older children) Ship: Anthem of the Seas / Destination: Cruise to Nowhere. Some of the employees were rude, the breakfast was a disaster had to wait quit a while for bacon and pork sausage, eggs and bacon was nasty, only one person per omelette station, no salt and pepper shakers on ...
What It's Like to Go on a 'Cruise to Nowhere' From Singapore: Photos
Genting Cruise Lines in November 2020 for after the city-state's borders had been essentially closed for eight months due to the pandemic. In December, similar cruises. As of April 1, 2021, more ...
Cruise to Nowhere Review of Dream Cruises' World Dream: Things to do
Cruise to Nowhere is still one of the easiest getaways from Singapore. While the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) scheme picks up pace with the announcement of VTL to Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Britain and the United States without quarantine from 19 October onwards, there are still additional costs required for tests. This time, we went "overseas" with a 4D3N ...
What is a Cruise to Nowhere?
By Haiyan Ma. A cruise to nowhere is a short cruise that allows you to set sail for a few days in international waters, without visiting any ports of call. This gives you just enough time to enjoy ...
Singapore introduces 'cruises to nowhere' for travel-starved locals
The World Dream's first "cruise to nowhere" will begin on November 6, while Quantum of the Seas will set sail in December. Prices and onboard amenities for Singapore's two cruises have not ...
Cruise to Nowhere Review on The Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas
Read more: What It Was Like When a COVID-19 Case Was Confirmed on a Cruise to Nowhere. During the entire cruise, we also probably checked in and sanitised more than we would've on a regular day. On the Royal Caribbean cruise, each juncture required us to tap our SeaPass, take our temperature and sanitise our hands.
Cruise to Nowhere Reviews
1 - 10 of 430 Cruise to Nowhere Reviews. Very Disorganized. Review for a Cruise to Nowhere Cruise on Norwegian Breakaway. wayne098. 6-10 Cruises • Age 60s.
Cruise To Nowhere: Is It Worth Your Money And Time?
World Dream cruise-to-nowhere is the more budget-friendly option, with prices starting from S$379 (per room) for a 2-night cruise. However, that price only covers your cabin and meals at the designated complimentary restaurants. There are likely to be additional charges for shipboard activities or meals at other restaurants.
Cruise to Nowhere, 2024, 2025 and 2026 Cruises to Nowhere
To learn about alternative cruise vacations, please call 1-800-377-9383. A cruise to nowhere may seem a little crazy, but it's actually a great opportunity to get away for a quick time and to really experience cruising and all that cruise ships offer. It's also a chance for first time cruisers to find out what cruising is all about, go to a ...
Cruise to Nowhere Cruise Reviews
Sail date: Mar 04, 2016 / Traveled as: Family (young children) Ship: Anthem of the Seas / Destination: Cruise to Nowhere. Beautiful ship, attentive crew. Loved the spa and spa crew. Was disappointed with the shopping, however. Too many high end stores, and no standard souvenier or clothing shops.
Why You Can't Take a Cruise to Nowhere Anymore (And What to Ta
2 Night Bahamas Cruises: These itineraries stop at one port in the Bahamas (often Nassau or the cruise line's private island), which is the closest you'll get to a cruise to nowhere anywhere in the United States. 3-4 Night Bahamas Cruises: Most of these cruises stop in Nassau and the cruise line's private island, and occasionally you'll ...
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…
What's It Like to Cruise in the Covid Era? To Find Out, I Went Aboard
Passengers aboard a "cruise to nowhere" in Singapore watched the "Verry Christmas" show, an acrobatic performance with a yuletide theme. Ore Huiying for The New York Times. But, he warned ...
A Guide To 1-3 Day Cruises And Cruises To Nowhere · Prof. Cruise, Ship
Today's lecture will cover cruises to nowhere (pictured above) as well as very short 1-3 day cruises. Prior to clicking on this guide, you may not have even known these cruises existed. There's good reason for that, which I'll get to later, but first, a brief introduction to short cruises and cruises to nowhere and why cruise lines offer ...
Cruise to Nowhere
A cruise to nowhere is an excellent introduction to cruising for first-time cruise passengers. Cruises to nowhere include all the fun of a cruise without big expense or a long time commitment. Pools, a spa, casino, bars, lounges and more food than you can imagine are available on-board. Some cruise lines have "weekend cruises" that are two ...
What is a cruise to nowhere?
A cruise to nowhere is the best option if you want to go on a short and budget-friendly cruise. A cruise to nowhere is usually a 2-day cruise to a 4-day cruise. The person who is going on a cruise for the first time should surely try a cruise to nowhere to check whether he/she can travel on a long cruise trip or not. Tags: cruise lines.
Where does a cruise to nowhere go?
A cruise to nowhere is when a ship leaves and returns to the same port without stopping at any port on her journey. All major cruise lines stopped cruises to nowhere from the United States in 2017 because of The Jones Act. Very rarely a cruise line will sell a cruise to nowhere departing and returning from a port outside of the United States.
Cruise to Nowhere from New York
A cruise to nowhere is a perfect quick vacation. All the fun of cruises without going to another port. Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival offered short cruises to nowhere from New York. A cruise to nowhere is a 2-night or 3-night cruise out into the ocean and back. It's a great little get-away ... luxury accommodations, all the food you can eat ...
Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises to Nowhere Cruises
Take a cruise to nowhere with Norwegian Cruise Line. 2024, 2025 and 2026 Norwegian cruises to nowhere are a fun, quick getaway aboard Norwegian's activity-filled ships. ... You'll never go hungry on a Norwegian Cruise Line cruise ship; there are several dining venues on board, from hot dog carts on some ships to fancy dinner theaters. ...
Find Cruise Deals to Nowhere (2024 / 2025) at iCruise.com
3 cruises. $245. Apr 2026. 2 cruises. $350. May 2026. 1 cruises. $233. Find the best deals on cruises to Nowhere for 2024 & 2025 at iCruise.com. Compare top cruise lines for cruises to Nowhere starting at $278.
Three-Year World Cruise Turns Into Cruise to Nowhere
The much ballyhooed three-year world cruise that was to offer a unique chance to live at sea has turned into a cruise to nowhere. CNN is reporting that it saw copies of a video and statement sent ...

Cruise to nowhere rules for US based ships

1. You get free reign of the cruise ship

2. Partake in daytime activities and classes onboard

3. Have a lazy lie-in, there's no pressure on this cruise vacation

4. Take advantage of cut-price pampering for certain onboard activities

1. You get a feel of what cruising is like

2. It can be a weekend getaway with a difference

3. Cruises to nowhere are great for budget travelers

4. They are perfect for themed & occasion cruises

1. Plan your onbard activites ahead of time

2. A quick getway means travelling light

3. Act fast when making shipboard reservations

Check out these articles for more information on short cruises:

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Latest price updates

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

REVIEW OF QUANTUM OF THE SEAS

2. HOW MANY DAYS FOR CRUISE TO NOWHERE

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

4. ACCOMODATION OPTIONS IN ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE

5. ROOMS WITH BEST VIEWS FOR CRUISING

PRE-BOARDING TIPS FOR CRUISE TO NOWHERE

1. COVID-19/PCR TESTING

2. THE APPS YOU WILL NEED FOR CRUISING

3. PLAN YOUR CRUISE EVENTS BEFORE SAILING

4. NO NEED FOR BEVERAGE AND DINING PACKAGES

5. PREBOOK WIFI ON CRUISE PLANNER BEFORE DEPARTURE

THINGS TO DO ON QUANTUM OF THE SEAS

1. THE NORTH STAR

2. ROCK CLIMBING

3. THE SOLARIUM

4. DODGEM CARS

5. WATCH EVERY SUNSETS & SUNRISES

6. RIPCORD BY iFLY

7. BOOGIE BOARDING / SURFING

8. LIVE PERFORMANCES / SHOWS

9. MUSIC & DANCE

10. RUNNING TRACK ON TOP DECK

12. SHOPPING & SPA

FOOD & DRINK OPTIONS ON QUANTUM OF THE SEAS

SPECIALITY DINING

FINAL DAY OF CRUISE TO NOWHERE

IS A CRUISE TO NOWHERE WORTH IT?

PIN FOR LATER!

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Cruise to Nowhere: A guide to Royal Caribbean’s dining, beverage, internet packages, and more

Royal Caribbean offers a bewildering assortment of food, drinks and internet packages to cruise passengers. Here's what you need to know.

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