Since we arrived in Singapore a year ago, the borders are closed due to the ongoing pandemic. The only way to use your passport anyway and cross Singapore’s borders is the “Cruise to Nowhere”. Yup, that’s right: Nowhere…
Although normally I would never choose a cruise for a holiday (because I just like more adventure and freedom), this cruise was definitely a great opportunity to get out of the small city-state of Singapore. We booked the 4nights stay on the Quantum of the Seas by Royal Caribbean. And it was actually a lot of fun! Especially because now the ship can only be booked for one-third of its capacity, giving you the right amount of space (I really wouldn’t have enjoyed this cruise if the ship was fully booked!). The staff is super friendly and thoughtful and will make sure that you can enjoy the trip to the max. So if you are in Singapore at the moment, I’d definitely recommend the Cruise to Nowhere.
Read about my tips and experience for a memorable Cruise to Nowhere:
- Booking process
Booking the cruise is very simple: go to the website of Royal Caribbean Singapore and book your cruise. We booked for 4 nights and the option that Royal Caribbean picked your room (which deck and front or back of the ship). However, we did make sure to book a room with a balcony!
Tip: Because of the unpredictable time during COVID-19 I definitely recommend a room with a balcony; if, in the possible event, there is a COVID case on board and the ship goes in “lockdown” you at least have some fresh air!
When you’re booking your room, you can already pre-order your booze package. Included in the alcohol package are all premium spirits, cocktails, wine and beer. All drinks below USD 12 are included and if you d like a more expensive drink, you only pay the extra cost. But you can also order good coffee, fresh juices and bottled water when you are on this package. If one of the persons purchasing the alcohol package, you don’t have a choice and your roommate also has to take the premium package. Make sure you don’t wait too long to decide on your drinks package because the prices only go up. And it is value for money!!
After booking, Royal Caribbean will email you constantly about the options you can pre-book, like spa treatments, skydiving, etc. Apart from the drink package, we only booked the restaurant Wonderland in advance.
- COVID-19 test
A couple of days before your cruise you have to do a COVID-19 swab-test (through the nose). The process is very clear: follow the steps in the emails you receive and make an appointment for the test via the app. For me, the test was actually not that bad!
- What to do during the cruise
There are endless possibilities to do on board of the Quantum of the Seas: surfing, table tennis, wall climbing, origami lessons, spa treatments, quizzes, dance lessons, indoor skydiving, robot cocktail shakers, live music, go for a run on the track at the upper deck, art auctions, wine tastings or shopping. And of course, you can try your luck in the casino 24/7. There’s special entertainment for kids, so they will also have a lot of fun.
Water fun
There is also an outdoor pool (max. 20 people at one time because of COVID) a kids pool and 2 (very hot!) jacuzzies. Shadow spots are very rare outside, so if you – just like us – have a very sunny period, you’ll burn alive. But they also have 2 air-conditioned indoor pools: one for children and the Solarium is adults-only. The view from the Solarium is spectacular! You don’t have to bring your own towels, because they are available at the pools.
Shows
You can book special activities on board via the Royal Caribbean Cruise-app, especially for the shows they offer. There are many options: music, acrobatics, show dance. We went to “Beatlemania”, a Beatles tribute band and the show “Starwater”. This show is a mix of all sorts of dances, live singers, air acrobatics and robot screens. I recommend both shows!
Food
The food on board of Quantum of the Seas was actually not bad; it’s not an easy task to cook for a few thousand guests! There are all kinds of restaurants for breakfast, lunch, dinner and in-between snacks. You can also find a couple of coffee bars serving good coffee and fresh juices.
Tip: You should definitely order breakfast in your room! This roomservice is now free of charge. It’s a great way to enjoy a delicious meal together on your little balcony with an endless sea view.
If you want to spend a bit more on food, you can book a special restaurant. We had dinner at “Wonderland”. The restaurant feels like you have just entered the world of Alice in Wonderland. Dinner is based on the natural elements earth, ice, fire, sea and sun. We liked the presentation, but the quality of the food was not exceptionally good.
Another night we had dinner at Chops Grille. The menu is pretty good, but they serve really big portions! Our friends liked the Chef’s Table, including wine pairing, in the private dining room (for 8 persons).
We had pre-booked Wonderland before the cruise and we made a reservation for Chops Grille during the cruise.
4. What to pack
What to pack for a 4-day cruise:
- Passport (finally!)
- TraceTogether app/token
- Face masks (jup, you have to wear them everywhere on the ship)
- At least 2 swimsuits
- Sunhat/cap
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen & Aftersun
- Cardigan for the aircon indoors
- USB-charger and/or travel adapter (for our cruise it was North American standard, 110 volts AC)
- Speaker
- Walkie Talkies (if you go with friends; for approx. USD 7 pp you can chat via the Royal Caribbean app with each other)
- Powerbank + cable
- Phone charger
- Motion sickness medicine (only if you are very sensitive for motion sickness) and aspirin for your hangover
- Toiletries
- Easy shoes/flipflops
- Pyjamas
- Summer clothes
- Socks (mandatory if you want to do wall climbing)
- Underwear
- Games
- Books
- Sports clothes
- 2 bottles of wine or champagne p.p. (we did not touch our own bottles); take note: no beers or liquor is allowed
- Cash to tip the staff at the end of the trip
For an evening in one of the special restaurants:
- Gentleman: pair of long trousers, shirt and matching shoes;
- Ladies: (cocktail)dress with matching shoes and bag.
4. Don’t forget!
- Don’t forget to download the cruise app to book your activities on board;
- Purchase your drinks package upfront;
- Pre-book a table in one of the special restaurants.
For everyone who is in Singapore during this COVID-pandemic: the Cruise to Nowhere is highly recommended!
Not possible for you to book a Cruise to Nowhere or looking for more adventure during your holiday? Get some inspiration from my blogs about a 3-week round trip in Colombia, tips for Mozambique or Kenia, a roundtrip in Israel, island hopping on the Seychelles or a round trip in Sri Lanka. More tips for Singapore? Read my blogs about the best beach clubs, coolest rooftop bars, most delicious dim sum and dumplings or my favourite Hawker centres.
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