where does cruise to nowhere go

• What is 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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

Table of Contents

REVIEW OF QUANTUM OF THE SEAS

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

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

2. HOW MANY DAYS FOR CRUISE TO NOWHERE

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

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

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

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

4. ACCOMODATION OPTIONS IN ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE

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

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

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

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

5. ROOMS WITH BEST VIEWS FOR CRUISING

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

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

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

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

PRE-BOARDING TIPS FOR CRUISE TO NOWHERE

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

1. COVID-19/PCR TESTING

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

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

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

2. THE APPS YOU WILL NEED FOR CRUISING

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

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

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

3. PLAN YOUR CRUISE EVENTS BEFORE SAILING

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

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

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

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

4. NO NEED FOR BEVERAGE AND DINING PACKAGES

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

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

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

5. PREBOOK WIFI ON CRUISE PLANNER BEFORE DEPARTURE

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

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

THINGS TO DO ON QUANTUM OF THE SEAS

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

1. THE NORTH STAR

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

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

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

2. ROCK CLIMBING

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

3. THE SOLARIUM

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

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

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

4. DODGEM CARS

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

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

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

5. WATCH EVERY SUNSETS & SUNRISES

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

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

6. RIPCORD BY iFLY

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

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

Cost: US$40 (Free for suite guests)

7. BOOGIE BOARDING / SURFING

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

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

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

8. LIVE PERFORMANCES / SHOWS

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

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

The BeatleManiacs

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

Sequins & Feathers

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

Starwater Show

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

Gold Art Duo

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

9. MUSIC & DANCE

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

10. RUNNING TRACK ON TOP DECK

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

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

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

12. SHOPPING & SPA

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

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

FOOD & DRINK OPTIONS ON QUANTUM OF THE SEAS

Complimentary dining.

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

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

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

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

SPECIALITY DINING

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

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

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

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

FINAL DAY OF CRUISE TO NOWHERE

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

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

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

IS A CRUISE TO NOWHERE WORTH IT?

Hell YEAH!! ABSOLUTELY YES!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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26 comments.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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?

• royal caribbean

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Great post. For Grand Suites and above, the concierge can reserve all Coastal Kitchen meals (B/L/D) and shows (1-2 days before).

Can you get the concierge’s help to reserve all this before boarding day (eg by email?) or do you have to still wait till you get on board and then contact the concierge for help to reserve ?

thanks! i’m trying to find out what the concierge can and can’t do- if they’re able to get priority access to things like specialty dining/shows even before boarding then it’d be very useful indeed

The concierge will help you to book all dining and shows before everyone else as they can only do it after they complete the muster drill. You should request for his help when you get the email and also ask him to contact you when the show schedule is out.

But in terms of actual seating its first come first serve unless you are in Star class.

Apart from these 2 benefots its the same as everyone else – via the app on board.

I’m currently on the 21 Jan sailing and it’s quite empty, so most of the shows can be reserved easily as long as you get onboard and book for all 3/4 night at the same time. Also, it can all be booked via the app so no need to go to the concierge or guest services. Restaurants are mostly empty as well except izumi which is constantly full for lunch. I had dinner at the coastal kitchen on night 2-4 and it’s pretty decent but quite crowded so reserve early with the host at the entrance of the kitchen. Jamie’s …  Read more »

thanks for the info! is there anything that can’t be booked by the app and requires you to physically go to the venue?

When can i book the shows and bumper car? Immediately on board or 6pm?

Just came back from the 21 jan cruise and I would suggest the following – take the 3 nights plus lunch dining package, food will be a main activity for 4 days – First thing you get on board is to book all your restaurants at the times you want. Also book your shows at the times you want but I guess you have reserved seats due to atas suite status – Must try ( Chops Grille, Jamie and Wonderland) . Izumi is a real disappointment. Just try once for lunch. – Chops menu to try besides steak, lobster and …  Read more »

thanks for the tips! skinny dipping is mandatory on any milelion trip.

Wait really? You mean me and my wife can go skinny dipping and it’s allowed in this adult’s pool?

But wouldn’t there be many perverts around?

Out of morbid curiosity, and of a deep desire to know about all things Milelion so that we may be better fans – when you were picking between cruise ships, what made you decide on the Royal Caribbean (Quantum) as opposed to the ship on the opposing dock (Genting Dream)? Was there anything in particular on Quantum that made you go, “if I’m gonna catch the Covids it’ll be worth it on THIS boat!”

Just came back from 18 – 22 Feb sailing, was told 1,300+ pax onboard, 2,100 pax on CNY weekend. Booked Balcony stateroom with no add-on packages. –      For non-foodies, the complimentary dinning is good enough. We forgot the feeling of hungriness during the entire sailing. –      VOOM WIFI prices shown in the article are actually after 40% discount (I had the impression that the above is regular price and waited for the flash discount but realised it is not and flash discount didn’t happen in the end). Paid 2 devices for 4 days for USD160 onboard. –      Chat feature is available at USD1.99 …  Read more »

thanks for the data points! have added a note that the prices for VOOM are after discount (I think the discount was 30% though, because i’m comparing them to the non-sales prices now).

Hi Aaron, what is this Cafe select card? Does it mean that only americano/black coffee is free, even at Coastal Kitchen and Concierge Club?

Hi, when can you start purchasing UDP? I have booked a cruise for May 2021 but UDP is not an option. Thank you

the UDP appears and disappears. I think they sell limited quantities. keep checking back every few days (I believe right now you should only see 3 night package)

Yes, I am only able to see the 3 night package. Thank you for replying. Will the UDP still be available on board?

The price indicated for beverage in your table is also after discount right? I’m booked for an upcoming trip but the price indicated when i logged in says 40% and then the reflected prices as above.

correct, this is after 40% discount, basically the cheapest I ever saw it go

Hi may i ask if the wifi charges shown on your blog are before or after sales discount? Usually how much discount are given? Thanks!

these are post 40% discount

thanks alot!

Do you think the price of the beverage package will go down once it increases? When I first booked, the Deluxe package was $54.40. Thought it will maintain at the same price. But when I went into the Cruise Planner yesterday, it was $73.44. 🙁 Would like to wait for it to drop again.

Thanks for the comprehensive guide Aaron! We used many of the information within for our own cruise preparations as well! Here’s what we did on the <a href=”https://www.2bearbear.com/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</a>!

Happy Cruising Everyone!

Tom & Kate, 2bearbear.com

thanks for sharing your report! always good to read about more experiences.

2 bear bear , you also have very good writeups and videos! Tq

Hi, if we only buy UDP and not beverage package, what drinks (non-alcoholic) will be served to us when we eat at specialty restaurants? And are they complimentary or we have to pay? Thanks.

free drinks at specialty restaurants- ice water, maybe basic coffee/tea free drinks at mdr- ice water, basic coffee/tea, juice (not the freshly squeezed one), milk, iced tea.

Thanks for the prompt reply! Btw, I still can’t see UDP on my cruise planner. Has been camping for it everyday. 36 more days to sailing~

This is by far the BEST writeup, i really wish the online you tubers (terrible videos) or bloggers could have been this detailed. One thing to point out is that prices change from cruise to cruise per person. My option for the dining and drinking packages were double what they were previously. S

thank you! with regards to the prices, I managed to get these when Royal did one of their 40% off sales. These used to be a *lot* more frequent; I was getting several emails a month. For my latest cruise last week, I only got one opportunity to buy at 40% off; I think they know we Singaporeans have developed a taste for cruising, and are looking to capitalize on that. other people also report that there are fewer sales than before. if there are really zero sales, one option you can do is buy on the first day. they …  Read more »

Can i buy 1 devices Wi-Fi packages but share between 3 devices? (My phone, my ipad & my wife phone) This that possible?

i realised i can use the windows 10 hotspot feature to share. dont know how your phone works, but it worked fine with my laptop. my phone then tapped the laptop to share 1 account.

Is there any free drink near the poolside or where can we get free drinks? Can i wear short in the pool?

Were you able to get reserve seats for the shows via the concierge, prior to boarding?

Keen to know this as well

I received the email from Royal on the discounted packages earlier on. It states 30% discount for deluxe beverage. When i clicked on the email, it redirects to their website and the price shown is $63.92 per day. Is this price before or after 30% discount? I recall seeing the price to be around $70-75 previously. the discount amount doesn’t sum up correctly

Hey Aaron currently my account is showing 30% discount off drink packages. Did you have to hold out long before 40% came along?

i booked it about 3 weeks before my cruise. but it’s also possible that they may not be doing 40% anymore.

Do the Duty free stores on board sell alcohol? and if so, are we able to bring it back to our rooms? Thanks

nope, they don’t sell booze. it…kind of wouldn’t make sense for royal.

Hi Aaron, do they stop serving alcohol at 10:30pm?

Btw I think some of the packages have a limited quota to be sold, eg. unlimited dining package (added to my cart for few days after I booked the cruise, and then gone), and unlimited 3-4 day fitness package (now I have to purchase the 5-7 day package which doesn’t make sense given I’m going on a 3N cruise only). Not sure if you or anyone’s had the same experience, Aaron?

yes apparently UDP has quota.

Hi Aaron. Can one access the Cruise Planner & browse packages from the app on the phone? I have a reservation but can’t seem to find these packages in the app (been searching round & round for it) although I am able to access all of them from my laptop. Thanks.

Nope. App is for when you are onboard

I see, ok. Thanks! Btw, the UDP today is at $114, a pretty good deal!

hi, this post is really useful! I have an upcoming trip in Aug, wondering if I gotta book all the meals before boarding? From cruise planner, i can book dinner for all the days under My Time Dining, but i don’t see the options for lunch or breakfast. Do I need to book for lunch and breakfast, or i can just drop by the restaurant? Thank you!

Also, saw from your post that the selection for MTD will be American Icon Grill or Silk, how do we know where we should head to? It will show in the app?

It is a centralised welcome area. The staff will assign

Lunch and dinner do not need reservation

ahh, i see, thanks so much!

Is Cruise ID same as Booking ID

Great article as usual Aaron! Anyway, just booked a cruise for an October sailing, just a balcony stateroom. Found this option to purchase ‘The Key’ program for the cruise. Basically a cut-down suite perk. Special times for certain attractions, priority boarding, with included voom package, and the all important ability to book stuff 72 hours before the sailing. Anyone heard or tried this? Is it worth it? It’s about $150 per person and has to be purchased for everyone sharing the room. So…. with my kids.. that’s about a $600 extra. Any tips or experience with this would help heaps! …  Read more »

Is there any difference in price when purchasing just one speciality restaurant (eg. Chops) prior to cruise, or to top up during meal time?

Any idea if dining packages have discount as well?

Hey, Aaron, thanks for the great article. Since you are going again next year, if Mr. Francisco is your Suite Concierge, please help me say one of your reader said Hi to him and thanks him for his service, he’s really professional and helped me booked stuff and answered my question

TQ for a really detailed and informative article!

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

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

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

On that post, someone asked:

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

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

Covid-19 tests and Pre-boarding Process

Photo credit: The Straits Times

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

Royal Caribbean

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

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

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

Dream Cruises

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

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

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

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

Cruise Accommodation

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

Royal Caribbean Balcony Stateroom

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

Dream Cruises Balcony Stateroom

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

Dream Cruises Balcony Stateroom Bathroom

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

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

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

Dream Cruises Palace Suite

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

Photo credit: Royal Caribbean

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grand Loft Suite Stateroom

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

Palace Penthouse living area. Photo credit: Dream Cruise s

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Breakfast at Dream Cruises’ Palace Restaurant

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

Complimentary Dining Experiences

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

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

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

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

Specialty Dining Experiences

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

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

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

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

Umi Uma Teppanyaki

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

Painting our menu at Wonderland

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

Activities On Board

Royal Caribbean’s surf simulator, FlowRider

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

Royal Caribbean’s rock wall

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

Dream Cruises’ water slides

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

Dream Cruises’ high-elements rope course

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

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

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

Places to Chill On Board

Dream Cruises Public Pool

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

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

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

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

Royal Caribbean’s Solarium

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

Dream Cruises’ Palace Private Jacuzzi

On Royal Caribbean’s North Star

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

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

Dream Cruises’ Faith Show

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

Photo credit: Dream Cruises

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

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

Royal Caribbean’s Two70 Violin act

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

Drink Packages for Three-Night Cruise

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

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

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

Royal Caribbean’s Solarium, an adult-only pool

Here’s our take:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

thanks for the update!

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

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

thanks for sharing!

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

Thanks for sharing!

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Inside Singapore's first 'cruise to nowhere,' where vacation-starved guests took turns using the pool and carried contact tracing devices everywhere they went

• Dream Cruises just had its first "cruise to nowhere," a voyage that started and ended in Singapore, with no stops in between.
• It was the first cruise ship voyage in the country since the no-sail order in March and part of a "safe cruise" pilot program.
• Each passenger is tested for COVID-19 before being allowed to board. There's an on-board lab that can produce virus test results in an hour.
• These cruises are for Singapore residents only. Singapore is mostly closed to short-term visitors due to the coronavirus pandemic.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently advises that "all people avoid travel on cruise ships."
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories .

The coronavirus pandemic has hit the travel industry hard and left people around the world starved for a getaway.

From flights to nowhere to fake plane trips complete with boarding , some companies are coming up with innovative ways to give people a taste of going on vacation.

"Cruises to nowhere" are the latest such effort. These are trips on cruise ships that start and end in the same destination, with no stops in between.

On November 6, hundreds of passengers set sail on one such trip, dubbed the "Super Seacation" on the World Dream ship. It was part of a "safe cruise" pilot program, which stipulates that ships can only set sail at half capacity, and are open only to Singapore residents, according to the Straits Times .

Going forward, three and four-day cruises to nowhere on the World Dream will be offered regularly, according to a press release by Dream Cruises .

Keep reading to see what the two-night voyage was like.

"Super Seacation" on the World Dream ship set sail from Singapore on November 6. It made no stops and returned to port two days later.

Fares ranged from around $1,300 for a balcony stateroom for two to $5,433 for a "Palace Villa" suite, according to representatives of Dream Cruises.

It was the first cruise ship to launch in Singapore since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's no-sail order in March.

On October 29, the CDC changed the original March order to " conditional sailing ," meaning that cruises can accept passengers once they've made significant improvements to their health and safety measures.

Many companies and governments chose to voluntarily renew the ban until December 31, 2020 , as they figure out these new protocols.

The first cruise to nowhere was approved by the Singapore Tourism Board, and only Singapore residents were allowed to go, according to representatives of Dream Cruises.

The World Dream can typically sleep 3,400 passengers, but it sailed at half capacity for its first "cruise to nowhere," according to representatives of Dream Cruise.

With 1,100 crew members onboard, there was almost one crewmember per guest.

World Dream is a 1,099-foot, 18-deck ship with 35 restaurants and bars, a spa, a theater, six waterslides, a zip line, a rock-climbing wall, mini-golf, and karaoke rooms, among other things.

Source: Dream Cruises

Passengers were assigned time slots for boarding to avoid overcrowding at check-in, according to The Straits Times.

Source: The Straits Times

But before they could board the ship, passengers were first required to take a mandatory COVID-19 test as well as undergo temperature checks.

They had their results in as little as 20 minutes.

Onboard, the ship also has a clinic that's equipped to produce virus test results in an hour, according to the South China Morning Post.

Source: South China Morning Post

In addition, the ship is outfitted with an intensive care unit in case someone does contract the coronavirus.

After their COVID-19 tests, guests were able to board the ship but were required to socially distance and wear masks.

Dream cruises also said there was "100% fresh air ventilation in guest and crew cabins, as well as public spaces."

No-touch handwashing stations were installed all over the ship, and there were daily health checks on board, according to Cruise Hive.

Source: Cruise Hive .

Buffets were eliminated. Food and drinks were served to guests by crew members wearing face masks and disposable gloves.

In addition to wearing masks and staying away from other guests, passengers also carried an electronic contact tracing device.

These tracing devices are not new in Singapore. As early as June, the country said it was testing wearable tracing devices to track its residents for coronavirus contact-tracing efforts.

Dream Cruises said it also upped its sanitization and disinfection practices for guest cabins, crew member quarters, public areas, and recreational facilities.

Tables and chairs were also kept spread apart, and guests pre-registered for everything.

The ship's exercise classes were also at reduced capacity and enforced social distancing, according to the cruise line, the South China Morning Post reports .

Onboard theaters blocked seats to ensure social distancing and maintain capacity limits. Venues were sanitized after each show, according to a Dream Cruises representative.

The ship didn't skimp on entertainment. There was a laser show called the "Vitamin Sea & Dream," which is the only laser show at sea in Asia, according to Dream Cruises.

The cruise was Christmas themed, with Santa and his helpers making appearances as well as a "Verry Christmas" musical production.

Crew members had to take a series of COVID-19 tests before the arrival of passengers and quarantined for 14 days on the ship before the voyage.

While there were no reports of COVID-19 outbreaks onboard the "Super Seacation," other cruises have not been so lucky.

The first cruise ship to resume sailing in the Caribbean had passengers test positive for COVID-19, despite having been required to test negative within 72 hours of sailing, and again at boarding, according to USA Today .

The trip was cut short.

Cruise ships see infectious disease outbreaks relatively often due to their isolated environment and prolonged close contact between travelers and crew, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

According to the Miami Herald , as of October 2, there have been 3,908 cases of the coronavirus and 111 related deaths across 87 vessels.

The CDC had a no-sail order from March 14 to October 29, 2020. It now requires a phased approach to resuming operations , with the implementation of new health and safety measures, as well as on-board labs.

On November 23, 2020, it  advised that "all people avoid travel on cruise ships."

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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.

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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Norfolk Visitor > Cruises > Cruise to Nowhere

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 .

• 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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Tags: 1 night cruise cruise to nowhere one night cruises short cruise three night cruises two night cruises

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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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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:

• 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.  

• 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.  

• 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.  

• 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.  

• 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.  

• 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.

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Do you need a passport to go on a cruise? It’s complicated

Cruising is a wonderful way to explore incredible destinations while also enjoying luxury accommodations and onboard entertainment. However, before you step foot on the cruise ship, it is smart to understand the documentation requirements to ensure a smooth and stress-free experience. So, do you need a passport to go on a cruise? Let’s dive into the details.

Do you need a passport to go on a cruise?

Can I go on a cruise without a passport? Whether or not you need a passport to get on a cruise ship depends on several factors , such as your nationality, the cruise itinerary, and the ports you will be visiting. As a general rule of thumb, if your journey starts and ends at the same U.S. port, you will likely be fine without a passport. This is called a closed-loop cruise, and it allows you to visit several international destinations without ever needing to present your passport.

On the other hand, an open-loop cruise begins in one U.S. port and ends in a different U.S. port. These cruises often require passengers to present a passport before the cruise starts and again after it ends.

Where can I cruise without a passport?

As long as you are embarking on a closed-loop cruise that starts and ends in the United States, there are several places you can visit without a passport. These locations include:

• The Bahamas

While most closed-loop cruises do not require a passport, there are a few exceptions. If you are heading on a closed-loop cruise to any of the following destinations, you will need a passport to disembark the cruise ship and enter the country.

• Trinidad and Tobago

If your cruise itinerary involves any of the above destinations, you will be asked to show your passport before leaving the United States.

What documentation is needed for a cruise?

Suppose you are traveling to a destination where a passport is not required. In that case, you will still be asked to present documents that confirm your identity and citizenship when leaving and entering the United States. If you are a United States citizen over the age of 16, you will need to show a government-issued ID, such as your driver’s license. Additionally, you will need to provide a document that proves your U.S. citizenship. Examples of these documents include:

• State-issued enhanced driver’s license
• Government-issued birth certificate
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad
• Certificate of Naturalization

U.S. citizens under the age of 16 are only required to present proof of citizenship.

The bottom line

Going on a cruise is possible without a passport, but it is important to check the specific documentation requirements with your cruise line as well as the countries you will be visiting on your journey. Also, while carrying a passport isn’t always necessary, it can offer several benefits , including smoother entry processes, flexibility in case of an emergency, and peace of mind during your travels.

The post Do you need a passport to go on a cruise? It’s complicated appeared first on The Manual .

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‘Young Royals’ Stars on Series Finale’s ‘Biblical’ Decision, That ‘Tom Cruise’ Moment and What Part of the Ending They Initially Thought Was ‘Cringe’

By Hunter Ingram

Hunter Ingram

• ‘Young Royals’ Stars on Series Finale’s ‘Biblical’ Decision, That ‘Tom Cruise’ Moment and What Part of the Ending They Initially Thought Was ‘Cringe’ 5 days ago
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SPOILER ALERT: This post contains spoilers from the series finale of “ Young Royals ,” now streaming on Netflix.

Long live the (former) Crown Prince!

In the series finale of Netflix’s queer romance “Young Royals,” Wilhelm (Edvin Ryding) officially abdicates the throne as the future king of Sweden, effectively handing the crown to his cousin/sometimes rival August (Malte Gårdinger). While Wilhelm’s decision has seismic implications for the royal family and the country, it played out in a quieter mother-son moment between Wilhelm and Queen Kristina (Pernilla August), as they drove away from his now-shuttered boarding school Hillerska.

“I think that moment is monumental,” Ryding tells Variety . “What he is doing, it is almost Biblical. Because when he has this calm and collected conversation with his mother, he is trying to say what he has insinuated many times before — that he is not the next king of Sweden. When he finally does that, it helps him so much more than just in his relationship with Simon.”

While it may not have been his true motivation, the personal declaration does serve as a grand romantic gesture when an unburdened Wilhelm chases after Simon’s car –– on foot! –– to share the good news. As if pulled right out of a rom-com, the two smile, shed a few tears and share a kiss before literally riding off into the sunset with each other, Simon’s sister Sarah (Frida Argento) and her best friend Felice (Nikita Uggla).

Despite that happy ending, Rudberg says Simon was initially hesitant to stop the car for Wilhelm. “But I think Simon, somewhere in his little heart, he feels hope. He is still in love with Wilhelm, and I like to think that he says, ‘Hit me one more time.’”

Let’s start with the most important question: Edvin, how much did you have to run to get the perfect take for that final scene?

Edvin Ryding: Too much! It was so much running. And we had to reshoot it, because I was running in these fancy shoes, so it was not easy to do, and my calves were hurting for like a week after it. But it was nice, because I got to have a full Tom Cruise moment, running at full speed. It was a lot of fun.

Omar Rudberg: And he didn’t even warm up! I think he just went from 0 to 100. It was crazy.

Ryding: I’m lucky I didn’t sprain something, actually.

We have seen so many romantic movies with that big profession of love, where the man runs after the woman or the woman goes after the man. Here, you both get to part of your own big rom-com moment that is not only between two men, but two young men. What was it like filming this?

Rudberg: I mean, it is a blessing. It has been one of my big dreams since I was a kid. I wanted to become an actor, but I didn’t really know how or if I even could act. And we always saw these loving and romantic movies, and it was so amazing. But then you realize those moments are kind of fake in a way! But my inner child would be very happy to see me doing this. It’s just a blessing to be a part of anything that means a lot to people.

Ryding: That specific scene — I know it’s corny, but I love it. It is amazing. If you put an x-ray over it, you see the substance that is in and underneath it. The dialogue they are having about how, “I told my mother this, and I needed this to be said,” and Simon is asking if he did it for him and Wilhelm saying “No, I did it for me.” It is everything Simon needs to hear in order for them to work, finally. So regardless of whether it is corny or not, the 360-degree shot and the music and the kissing and all of that is fun to shoot. But at the end, what you are watching is beautiful, and it has so much substance.

Rudberg: I also feel like there are things that are cornier than “Young Royals.” It has been so traumatic up to this point, so I feel like we can be a little corny at the end.

Edvin, you say in the “Young Royals Forever” documentary (also now streaming on Netflix) that you make playlists for your characters. You try to know them inside and out from day one. So what will giving up being king mean for Wilhelm?

Ryding: I think that moment is monumental. What he is doing, it is almost Biblical. Because when he has this calm and collected conversation with his mother, he is trying to say what he has insinuated many times before, that he is not the next king of Sweden. When he finally does that, it helps him so much more than just in his relationship with Simon. He grows so much as a human being in that moment and he embarks on this new chapter of adulthood, even though he is only 17.

Do you have an idea of what you would like to see him do with this newfound future?

Ryding: When I wrote down who I think he was during Season 1, it was very vivid and detailed about, like, what his dreams would have been and what his interests are. I always envisioned him as this person who wasn’t allowed to have dreams or interests fully. But now, I see him as a very creative person who just needs the space for it. I’ve always seen him as a person interested in fashion, so if I have to say something that would be my prediction for him.

But on the other hand, I feel very happy about the fact that the fans are the future script writers of the show. We are leaving these characters on a note of hope, and I hope the audience trusts that these characters go on to have a healthy life. Our fans have wild imaginations, so I trust that they will come up with brilliant stories for these characters in the future.

Omar, this big romantic climax comes as Simon is potentially leaving behind this life he’s built in Bjärstad. So what does it mean for him to be pulled back into it all?

Rudberg: In this last season, I felt like Simon was fighting with himself, because he is very in love with Wilhelm and he wants to be with him. But he sees the hurting that Wilhelm is going through and that Wilhelm’s family is going through, and that hurts him. Not only that, Simon is fighting with himself because, is he willing to literally lose himself just to be with Wilhelm?

But then he sees Wilhelm running after the car, and I feel like his first thoughts were: “Not again. We’ve already been through this. We’ve already broken up and we are on our way to living a normal life. Why are you running after me right now?” But I think Simon, somewhere in his little heart, he feels hope. He is still in love with Wilhelm, and I like to think that he says, “Hit me one more time.” He decides to walk out and see what Wilhelm has to say, and maybe it will be the last time we ever speak. But then Wilhelm said the right words.

Simon already said his goodbyes in the form of a song that he wrote and recorded for Wilhelm’s birthday. Omar, what was it like to record another song for the show, after the fan-favorite “Simon’s Song” from Season 2, which got a surprising reprise in the finale as well?

Ryding: Well, actually, we hated it from the beginning.

My first thoughts were that this was really cringe. Like, would Simon really write something like this? Would he really use these words? So it took some time for me to like it, because we didn’t even have the time to rewrite it since we were shooting it the next day.

Ryding: I was on you to tell them to change it. I told you, “You have to tell them! You have to refuse! Refuse!”

Rudberg: Yeah, I had played it for you, and you thought the same thing, right? It was just cringe.

Ryding: I was like, “Why would anyone be moved by this?” I also think that the way we are in that process, we are always critical about what is happening to Wilhelm and Simon. But we just gave into this feeling of trust that this was right, and it is going to pan out.

Rudberg: We had to trust [co-creator] Lisa [Ambjörn] and everyone who was involved.

Ryding: That’s the beauty of this collaboration on the show, because we are able to talk about those kinds of things. And hearing it now, it’s beautiful coming from this 16-year-old boy.

Rudberg: Yeah, this is, like, Simon’s second or third song that he has ever written. But for me, the one who was going to sing it, it was very personal. Singing is very personal for me, and if I don’t vibe with something, I’m probably going to hate it so much. But I had to understand that this is Simon singing, not Omar singing. This is Simon’s writing, not mine. So we just did it.

That day, I didn’t know the lyrics, the melody, or the chords. I couldn’t play the keyboard, so I had to do it acapella, and I had this inner earpiece that is literally hidden in the scene where I can hear the demo. It was a whole hot mess. But now that I’ve seen the whole context of the season, it makes sense. You get that it is Simon writing in his room and from his heart. It is beautiful.

Touch has been Wilhelm and Simon’s form of intimacy since the beginning. How did you settle on that being their love language, and how has that evolved over the series by that final kiss?

Ryding: From the beginning as we were talking about their intimacy, the leading word was curiousness. They were discovering each other, and each other’s bodies and needs. We worked very closely with our director and Sara Arrhusius, our intimacy coordinator, on that. And when we were on set and experimenting with the choreography of those scenes, we realized it just looks beautiful. Them slowly trying to move each other, and even in the scenes that aren’t so intimate, that touch always finds its way through. It just felt very natural for them. We wanted to keep that through Season 1 and 2, and by Season 3, it needed to still be that playfulness and that need to discover and be curious. But also, the comfort because they have chosen each other. I think it is a very beautiful evolution of intimacy throughout the season.

Rudberg: Yes, it really was.

Ryding: Yeah, pretty much. We are always rehearsing or talking about these scenes beforehand, if there is a kiss or a proper sex scene. But at this point we know these characters so well, and we know the way they interact with each other intimately. So I remember shooting that final 360-degree kiss felt very intuitive.

Rudberg: It was not really hard to do the kissing. It was always the energy and the emotion during that final scene and that kiss. This is finally when they get to be together for real, and Wilhelm chooses being free. It’s also the last scene of the series, so I was nervous about how I was going to do it. What do I feel? It was a lot of feelings in that scene.

Ryding: But it was nice for both of us to finally just let go and let it happen.

Rudberg: I was in the car, and I told our director I didn’t know how I was going to do this. I don’t really know what emotion to feel because it was also our last day of shooting. So then, right after one of our last takes, she comes to me in the car and whispers in my ear, “Just remember this is the last time you will ever shoot for ‘Young Royals,’” and then she was just like, “Bye!” I was like, “That’s not helpful!” But I just sat with that, and it worked.

Ryding: It did the trick!

This interview has been edited and condensed.

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Can you go on a cruise with a green card? What US permanent residents need to know about travel documents

Taking a cruise is relaxing, but making sure all your documents are in order for your sailing can be challenging, even more so for United States permanent residents who have a green card. The good news is that if you are a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., you are allowed to travel outside the country and can go on a cruise with your green card.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection , "If you are a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) of the United States, the U.S. government does not require you to have a passport for any travel, including air, land, or sea travel, however, you are even more likely to be required by your destination country to have one."

If you're a lawful permanent resident, you're cleared for foreign travel, but the documents you need for a cruise vacation might vary based on your departure port and destinations visited.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Here are the key points you need to know about travel documents if you'd like to go on a cruise as a green-card holder or other non-citizen resident of the U.S.

Does a green card count as a passport?

A green card and a passport are not the same. While both documents are proof of identity, a passport is evidence of your citizenship while a green card shows that you are legally permitted to live and work in the U.S. as a foreign national.

Can I cruise from the US with just a green card?

As a lawful permanent resident going on a cruise from and back to U.S. home ports, you will need your green card to prove your identity and citizenship status so you can reenter the U.S. at the end of your sailing. You'll have to show the card during the boarding process and again when you reenter the U.S. at the end of your sailing.

Whether you also need a passport from your home country depends on your exact itinerary and the cruise line you're sailing.

"A green card holder can sail on closed-loop sailings without a passport," a representative from Carnival Cruise Line explained, referencing round-trip cruises that begin and end in the same U.S. city that only visit nearby countries in the Western Hemisphere (e.g., the Bahamas and Caribbean islands).

However, there are exceptions. For example, permanent residents must bring their home country passport if their cruises stop in Canada, Colombia, Bermuda or Greenland. A closed-loop cruise visiting ports in Mexico might require a passport, another cruise line representative told us, so double-check if you're cruising to Puerto Vallarta or Cozumel.

Transatlantic and transpacific cruises and sailings that start in one U.S. city and end in another one (such as full Panama Canal transits) also require green-card holders to carry a passport.

Additionally, some cruise lines might require permanent residents to carry a passport regardless of itinerary, so make sure you check the policy of the line you intend to sail. It's generally a good idea, especially if something goes wrong on your vacation and you have to disembark early and fly home.

You might also need a tourist visa to enter the port depending on that country's rules for travel for citizens of your home country. If you need a visa, you typically will need to carry your home country passport as well.

To determine which ports require visas or passports to enter, you can enquire with your travel adviser or head to the government website or embassy of each country your cruise visits to research visa requirements, forms, information and fees for your nationality.

Related: What documents do you need for a cruise? From passports to printouts, here's what to take

Can I cruise internationally with a green card?

Lawful permanent residents are not limited to cruises from U.S. ports; they can book sailings in Europe, Asia, South America and other international destinations.

To enter another country by air, you will need a passport from your country of citizenship and potentially some travel visas. You'll need your green card to return to the U.S.

For example, if you're taking an Alaska cruise that departs from Vancouver, British Columbia, you will need a home country passport and a green card to go through international customs at the airport. If you're taking a cruise through Europe, you will need your green card, home passport and a visa.

All green-card users should contact the embassy or consulate of the countries on the itinerary to learn about the travel documents that are required. Depending on the ports of call, you might also need a Schengen visa , which allows entry and transit through 26 countries in Europe that are part of the Schengen Agreement. These countries include popular cruise destinations like France, Greece, Italy, Norway and Spain.

Related: Do I need a passport for a cruise?

What if I don't have a green card but want to travel under the Visa Waiver Program?

For those who are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, taking a cruise is still possible. If you are traveling under the Visa Waiver Program, you can use the immigration stamp (I-94W) that you were given when you first entered the U.S. to reenter the country at the end of a cruise. Just be sure that your cruise ends before the 90-day admission period that you were originally given with the stamp.

Additionally, if you're using an immigration stamp to reenter the U.S., you will need to be sure that your cruise isn't too far away, is only visiting nearby islands or the contiguous country, and that the trip does not take you outside the U.S. for more than 30 days.

If your cruise goes beyond the 90-day admission time, you will need to apply for a new admission period. You will also have to talk to the Customs and Border Protection officer about how you were not using the cruise to get around the time limit for Visa Waiver Program travelers.

How do I reenter the US with a green card?

Reentering the U.S. with a green card is simple. You will need your current, unexpired permanent resident card or green card to give to the Customs and Border Protection officer. Additionally, if you have any other documents that prove your identity, such as a U.S. driver's license, a foreign national ID card or a passport, give those to the officer as well. The officer will use the documents to verify your identity and immigration status.

Does cruise travel outside the US affect permanent resident status?

If you are a permanent resident, you can travel outside the country for brief travel and it usually does not impact your status. This can change if you travel outside the U.S. for more than a year, but you're likely not cruising for that long.

Bottom line

If you're ready to book a cruise but only have your green card as a lawful permanent resident, you don't need to worry because you can set sail on the high seas without a U.S. passport. However, you often need a passport from your home country and possibly visas to enter ports of call. You will also need to prove your identity upon returning to the U.S. with your green card and a second form of identification, such as a home country passport.

A select few closed-loop, round-trip cruises sailing from a U.S. port only require you to sail with your green card and not a home country passport, but you must make sure your itinerary qualifies otherwise you can get turned away for having missing documentation. It's always safer to travel with your home country passport, even if it's not required.

Even if you don't have a green card and you only have an immigration stamp under the Visa Waiver Program, you can still take a cruise as long as it's within the 90-day admission period. For either an immigration stamp or green card, it's important to note the length of the cruise and where it goes. You don't want to get held at Customs and Border Protection upon reentering the U.S. for going outside the travel parameters of the type of citizen identification you have.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

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