More from the Cruise to Nowhere series:
10 things to know before, during and after your Royal Caribbean cruise to nowhere
Cruise to nowhere Singapore guide: Dream Cruises vs Royal Caribbean vs staycation at hotels
Royal Caribbean Specialty Restaurants Review Part 1: Wonderland
The first cruise ship that sets to return in Singapore will be Dream Cruises’ World Dream (aka Genting Cruise Lines) on November 6, 2020 followed by Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas on December 1, 2020 (the first Royal Caribbean cruise to resume in Asia).
While a typical cruise itinerary would involve port calls, both ships from Dream Cruises and Royal Caribbean departing from Marina Bay Cruise Centre will have only sea days and will not stop at any other places due to Covid-19 precautions.
Both companies have worked closely with Singapore’s Tourism Board to restart sailing and to ensure passengers are safe on board. You can expect strict social distancing, reduced capacity capped at 50%, COVID-19 testing and etc (more details below).
Besides, all sailings until March 18, 2021 are limited to Singapore residents.
If you have trouble deciding whether to go for Dream Cruises, Royal Caribbean, or even a staycation at a hotel in Singapore, here are the essential details that can help you to make up your mind.
The Ships
Dream Cruises’ World Dream
Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas
| Dream Cruises | Royal Caribbean | |
| Ship | World Dream | Quantum of the Seas |
| Capacity | 3,376 passengers / 1,688 passengers at 50% capacity 2,000 crew | 4,905 passengers / 2,452 passengers at 50% capacity 1,500 crew |
| Maiden Voyage | November 2017 | November 2014 |
| Cost | USD 960 million | USD 935 million |
| Size / Weight | 25th largest in the world by tonnage | 13th largest in the world by tonnage |
Is cruise to nowhere cheaper than staycation?
In comparison, a 3-night staycation in a 5-star hotel in Singapore could cost around SGD 1,500 to SGD2,000, excluding food.
Did I mention, all the meals on board the cruises – with the exception of premium dining options, room service and select beverage – are included in your fare?
| Cruise / Room Type | 2 Nights (per pax) | 3 Nights (per pax) | 4 Nights (per pax) | Other costs | Total for 2 pax including other costs, taxes and discounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dream Cruises / Balcony | From SGD 419 | From SGD 669 | Not available | SGD 60 for Covid-19 test SGD 21 per pax, per night for gratuity | 2 nights – SGD 1,042 3 nights – SGD 1,584 |
| Dream Cruises / Suite | From SGD 1,149 | From SGD 1,649 | Not available | SGD 60 for Covid-19 test SGD 26 per pax, per night for gratuity | 2 nights -SGD 2,252 3 nights – SGD 3,574 |
| Royal Caribbean / Interior with Virtual Balcony | Sold out | From SGD 374 | From SGD 509 | SGD 54.15 per pax for tax and port fees USD 14.50 per pax, per night for gratuity | 3 nights – SGD874.62 4 nights – SGD 1,034.62 |
| Royal Caribbean / Balcony | From SGD 590 (2 Nights for opening cruise only) | From SGD 469 | From SGD 534 | SGD 54.15 per pax for tax and port fees USD 14.50 per pax, per night for gratuity | 2 nights – SGD 1,293.18 3 nights – SGD 1,054.62 4 nights – SGD 1,224.06 |
| Royal Caribbean / Suites | From SGD 860 | From SGD 629 | From SGD 804 | SGD 54.15 per pax for tax and port fees USD 14.50 per pax, per night for gratuity | 2 nights – SGD 1,757.18 3 nights – SGD 1,184.62 4 nights – SGD – 1,574.06 |
World Dream’s balcony stateroom. Both ships have similar modern looking rooms
Things to do on board
Now that you know how much it would cost, how about what can you do onboard? This is crucial as the cruise to nowhere will not have port call – that means no stops at Phuket, Penang, Hong Kong, Bali and etc. Fret not, there are plenty that you can do on board!
Here are the comparison of the onboard attractions and facilities between the two cruises:
| Dream Cruises | Royal Caribbean | |
| Dining Option | 13 including main dining halls | 13 including main dining halls |
| Bar and Lounges | 7 | 8 |
| Night Shows and Entertainment | Yes | Yes |
| Childcare | Yes | Yes |
| Spa | Yes | Yes |
| Gym | Yes | Yes |
| Waterslides | Yes | No |
| Bowling Alley | Yes | No |
| Mini Golf | Yes | No |
| Ropes Courses | Yes | No |
| Shopping | Yes | Yes |
| E-sports / game consoles | Yes | Yes |
| VR experiences / labs | Yes | No |
| Indoor Sky Diving – additional fees required for Singapore cruises | No | Yes |
| Observation Pod – additional fees required for Singapore cruises | No | Yes |
| Surf Simulator | No | Yes |
| Bumper Car | No | Yes |
| Escape Room | No | Yes |
| Casino (common in cruises except Disney Cruise) | Yes | Yes |
What really sets the two cruises apart
Dream Cruises – World Dream
The Palace
Imagine you’re in a luxury yacht with like minded people, served by attentive crew with impeccable service – that’s essentially what The Palace by Dream Cruises is all about.
On World Dream, suites don’t just mean larger rooms and better perks on board. When you book a suite, your room will be located at an exclusive area for suite stayers only.
It also offers you exclusivity and privacy as this part of the ship has its own dining room, reception area, deck and pools. You will also receive 24-hour dedicated butler and concierge service so everything will be taken care for you while you’re on a vacation.
To sum it up, The Palace is a luxury hotel / yacht in its own within the ship.
The Palace Villa
You will get a dedicated 24-hour butler service at The Palace
The balcony at The Palace
Other attractions such as VR experiences are also available on Dream Cruises’ World Dream
Waterslides on the sun deck
Royal Caribbean – Quantum of the Seas
Unlike some of the other ships on Royal Caribbean’s fleet, Quantum of the Seas doesn’t have offerings similar to The Palace. Having said that, when Quantum of the Seas first set sail in 2014, it was the third largest cruise ship in the world and arguably the most advanced. Hence it is not a surprise that it comes with many revolutionary attractions that were once unheard of at sea.
RipCord® by iFLY® Skydiving Simulator. Additional charges at USD 29 per pax
North Star Observation Pod: USD 12 adults / USD 8 children per pax
Transformational space: Two70 is a lounge with a 270-degree panoramic sea views during the day and a stage at night
Flowrider surfing simulator
Is it safe to cruise now?
With the not so positive headlines involving cruise ships stuck at seas with COVID-19 patients, you might wonder if it is safe to cruise during a pandemic?
Rest assured, Dream Cruises and Royal Caribbean have promised to adopt the highest safety standards, so cruises are as safe as on land (Singapore), if not safer.
Some of the safety measures that will be put in place:
- All passengers must be tested negative for COVID-19 prior to boarding,
- Mandatory temperature screening for all guests,
- Cruises are for Singapore residents only until March 18, 2021
- Reduced capacity at 50%,
- Medical grade cleaning standards including frequent cleaning of high-touch areas,
- Compliance with local regulations on social distancing and face mask requirements
- No self-served buffet or F&B services,
- 100% external filtered fresh air is supplied to indoor areas with no recirculation,
- Upgraded medical centre with isolation ward on board, where doctors are equipped to deal with COVID-19 cases. Royal Caribbean has also said its medical centre has hospital grade ventilators, and
- The list goes on and on.
Also, if you are tested positive prior to boarding, you will get 100% refund in cruise credit that can be used on a later date.
On top of this, Royal Caribbean has stated it will cover COVID-19-related costs up to SGD25,000 per person for onboard medical costs and cost of any required quarantine.
Nowhere Cruise in Singapore is the ideal getaway for now
Besides Hong Kong, there aren’t many options when it comes to travelling for Singapore residents that doesn’t require prolonged quarantine.
If you haven’t booked your year-end holiday, a cruise on either Dream Cruises or Royal Caribbean should definitely be on your radar.
If you have trouble picking one of the two after reading this article, perhaps the reviews on Cruise Critic (World Dream, Quantum of the Seas) can help you to decide.
Book your cruise at:
Dream Cruises
Royal Caribbean
More from the Cruise to Nowhere series:
10 things to know before, during and after your Royal Caribbean cruise to nowhere
Cruise to nowhere Singapore guide: Dream Cruises vs Royal Caribbean vs staycation at hotels
Royal Caribbean Specialty Restaurants Review Part 1: Wonderland
Royal Caribbean Specialty Restaurants Review Part 2: Jaimie’s Italian, Chops Grille and Izumi
Sources including photos: Dream Cruises and Royal Caribbean.
The Credible Blogger 
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