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Cruise to Nowhere: A first-timer’s booking guide

First time cruising? Here's all you need to know about booking a cruise to nowhere- room types, locations, travel insurance and more.

Back in October 2020, the STB gave Genting Cruises and Royal Caribbean the green light to sell cruises to nowhere. 

These sailings (only open to Singapore residents) take place under strict safety protocols, with mandatory COVID-19 testing and 50% capacity caps. It’ll take the cruise industry a long time to exorcise the memories of Diamond Princess, but barring that infamous false alarm in December, the cruises to nowhere have been rather uneventful thus far. 

While I must have flown more than half a million nautical miles in my lifetime, I’ve yet to clock any on water. It’s not that I dislike sailing; I just never found a rewards program that lets me do it for free. But with air travel suspended indefinitely, a cruise may be the only cure for cabin fever (yes, I have a lot of sea jokes- have you seen the pirate movie? It was rated arrrrr). 

And so I booked a Royal Caribbean cruise for the end of January, reasoning that capacity restrictions and enforced social distancing made this the best opportunity for a crowd-hating misanthrope like me. 

Although I know my way around airlines and frequent flyer programs, cruising is a whole new ball game. Seasoned hands may scoff at this, but as a first-timer, I’ve found the booking and planning process to be less than intuitive. Believe me, there’s a lot of terms, procedures, and packages to get familiar with, and they don’t make it easy for newbies. 

So if you’re a cruise noob like me, I hope you’ll find the following series of guides and reports useful. 

Let’s start at the beginning: what do you need to know about booking a cruise?

What stateroom should I book?

After you’ve chosen your dates, the first order of business is to select a stateroom (this is the collective term used for rooms and suites). On Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas, staterooms are divided into the following categories:

Which stateroom to book is a question of budget and preferences.

Interior Rooms are the cheapest, but as the name suggests, lack a view of any kind (although on Quantum they’re equipped with virtual balconies , so that might be an interesting experience too). 

They’re best for those who intend to spend most of their time outside enjoying the various activities onboard, or for those who are really particular about sleep quality (since there’s no window, your stateroom can be completely black at night). They obviously aren’t a good choice for those with claustrophobia, or on longer voyages. 

Ocean View Rooms give you a (non-opening) window to look out of. This is great for those who need natural light, but don’t want to pay the premium for a balcony. 

Balcony Rooms are the next step up, and provide guests with a private space for fresh air and ocean breeze. I’d wager a Balcony Room would be more important on a scenic cruise, so don’t feel too bad if you can’t get one on the cruise to nowhere- there isn’t much to see. 

In case you’re worried that your balcony’s view will be obstructed by a lifeboat or some other piece of equipment, Royal Caribbean explicitly labels such rooms on the booking page. They’ll appear as a separate category, with a commensurate reduction in price. 

Finally, we have suites, which Royal Caribbean further subdivides into three categories:

Suites are much more than just larger rooms; passengers also receive additional benefits as follows:

Given the way benefits are assigned, I don’t see much point in booking a Junior Suite unless you really want the extra space. Junior Suites are “suites lite”, and don’t get:

• Lounge access (with free alcohol in the evenings)
• Concierge service (which I’m told is important for securing reservations)
• Free Wi-Fi (all other suites get access for two devices)
• Access to Coastal Kitchen except at dinner (the special restaurant reserved for suites passengers)

Since it’s my first time cruising, I figured I might as well get the full fat experience. So I booked a Grand Suite, which cost S$2,257 nett for a four-night cruise. Royal Caribbean tells me that I’ve snagged a fantastic, limited time 50% off deal, but I’d take this with a pinch of salt. I still see the offer available on the website, with a countdown timer that gets suspiciously reset each time it expires. 

A final point about pricing: I don’t find Royal Caribbean’s way of displaying prices to be very transparent, because they wait till the very last step to add on the mandatory gratuities. 

These cost US$14.50 per person per night for guests in Junior Suites and below, and US$17.50 per person per night for guests in Grand Suites and above, so be sure to factor that into your costs too. 

Should I bid for a RoyalUp upgrade?

If you find the price of your desired stateroom too steep, you can always book a lower category and try for an upgrade through the RoyalUp program. Emails about RoyalUp go out roughly 2.5 months before departure, but you can always visit this webpage at any point to check your eligibility. 

The interface will be familiar to those of you who have bid for airline upgrades before (it’s run by Plusgrade, which Singapore Airlines also uses ). You drag a slider bar to adjust your bid, and the system tells you the strength of your offer (it’s obviously calibrated to nudge your bids higher).

All bids are priced on a “per guest” basis, based on two guests per stateroom for the entire length of the cruise. In other words, even if you have three or four people in the room, the amount you pay will be based on two guests. 

Minimum bids apply. For my particular cruise, the minimum bids to upgrade from a Grand Suite were:

If you’re looking to make the jump to a Star category suite, do remember that this category receives complimentary gratuities, specialty dining and deluxe beverage packages. Assuming you were going to buy a dining and beverage package (we’ll talk about that more in the next post), the minimum bid you should place for a Star suite is:

Gratuities + Specialty dining package + Deluxe beverage package + Whatever amount you’d otherwise pay for a bigger room

Some illustrative pricing from my four-night cruise (yours may be different):

• Gratuities: S$95 per person
• Specialty dining package: S$135 per person
• Deluxe beverage package: S$55 per person*

*Based on sales price. Royal Caribbean holds frequent package sales, which I’ll cover in the next post

After you place your bid, you wait. RoyalUp bids may be accepted anytime up to 48 hours prior to departure , and once the bid is accepted, it cannot be cancelled (you can go back and cancel/modify it as many times as you want prior to acceptance, however). 

A few things to think about. 

First, just because the system lets you place a bid for a particular stateroom doesn’t mean there’s availability. RoyalUp is a way for the company to hedge against last minute cancellations, so if everything goes as planned, that stateroom may never become available. 

Second, there are situations where an upgrade may not be an upgrade, if you know what I mean. That’s because you have no control over the new stateroom’s location- your ocean view room may be upgraded to a balcony room, but it may be near the elevators (noisy), or on a higher level in the forward area (more movement and worse for those prone to seasickness), or have an obstructed view. 

Third, your check-in timing may change. You could have snagged the earliest available 2 p.m check-in slot (the earlier you board the better, because certain restaurants, entertainment and activities can only be reserved onboard), but your upgrade may cause you to be bumped to a later timing. 

What location should I choose?

Once you’ve selected your stateroom, you’ll be prompted to make three further choices:

• Aft, Mid-ship or Forward
• Specific stateroom

Here’s the general rule: if you’re prone to sea sickness, pick the lowest level in the mid-ship area. It’s all about physics- the most stable part of the ship will be found here. While modern ships are remarkably stable, movement is more noticeable towards the forward areas and on higher decks. Being mid-ship also means you’re at the centre of everything, and don’t have to walk too far from your room to get to the pool or dining areas. 

If you’re a light sleeper, you may prefer to be way from the pool deck and entertainment areas. Look for a cabin that is both above and below other cabins (use the deck plan to find this), because the last thing you want is to be one floor above the theatre. Avoid rooms near elevators and service areas. And while the drone of the engine may provide soothing white noise for sleep, rooms located low and to the aft may get unwanted vibrations or noise when the anchor drops. 

If you value a view, then an aft stateroom will give you great views when pulling away from the port. They also tend to have larger balconies (I’m not sure if this applies to Quantum of the Seas specifically though).

The forward area is for those without who love the view on the way into port (keep in mind, the ship returns to Singapore in the wee hours of the morning), and don’t mind a bit more turbulence throughout. If you’re on a lower deck in the forward area, you may have to deal with the sound of water smacking against the front of the ship, and potential noise from bow thrusters. 

For what it’s worth, I don’t think it matters whether you’re on the port or starboard side of the ship (and before anyone asks, posh does not come from “ p ort o ut, s tarboard h ome”- that’s a debunked urban legend ).  It especially doesn’t matter on these cruises to nowhere. With all due respect to the Straits of Malacca, it’s not something I’d pay to see. 

Ultimately, the “best” cabin is a highly subjective thing. It really depends what you’re looking for: privacy vs access, great views vs stability, cost vs features.

What about travel insurance?

When cruises to nowhere were announced back in October, Royal Caribbean announced that it would offer up to  S$25,000 of medical coverage for COVID-19 related medical expenses on these sailings. 

More details were supposed to be found here , but I can’t find any reference to the S$25,000 coverage anymore. Instead, it simply says:

This means you’ll be on the hook for any medical expenses incurred off the ship, so protect yourself accordingly. 

Does travel insurance cover cruises, much less cruises to nowhere? I sent this question to as many underwriters as I could, and here’s a summary from those which replied:

The good news is that the vast majority of travel insurance policies cover cruises to nowhere.

While only some of them (Sompo, NTUC Income) provide coverage for COVID-19, it’s less important in this case than if you were going overseas. Think about it: should you somehow test positive while on board, the ship will turn around and head back to Singapore immediately. 

Once you’re back in Singapore, your usual medical insurance will kick in, and in line with the MOH’s revised guidance in October 2020, government subsidies and insurance coverage will be applicable. 

In other words:

• Cost of medical treatment onboard= Covered by Royal Caribbean
• Cost of medical treatment while in Singapore= Covered by your own medical insurance

Travel insurance in this case is primarily needed for things like lost luggage (insofar as luggage can be lost on a cruise to nowhere), lost travel documents (maybe a seagull steals them), or if you fracture something or sustain some non-COVID malady while onboard. It will also cover scenarios where you can’t cruise because you fall sick (e.g food poisoning), or if there’s a bereavement in the family. 

What card should I use to book cruises?

Royal Caribbean cruise bookings are processed in SGD and code as MCC 4411 Cruise Lines , so you can use the following cards to earn the most miles on your booking:

If you use the DBS Woman’s World Card, do monitor your points balance as you may need to appeal for the bonus 9X points to be manually credited. If you hold an AMEX Platinum Charge card, you can use the S$400 lodging credit to offset the cost of the cruise, provided you book it through the American Express Travel Concierge. 

Once you’re onboard the ship, all charges are in USD, so you’ll want to use a card that gives you bonuses on foreign currency spending .

So there you go! Those are some of the things I learned while booking, and hopefully it helps you along the way too. 

Of course, booking is only the first step. There’s a whole lot of planning still to come, such as food, drinks and internet packages, and how to go about making reservations. I’ll touch on this in the next post. 

Once again, I’m hardly the expert on cruising. If you’ve done this before and have tips for newbies, do share them below- anything else first-timers should know when booking?

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Review: royal caribbean royal genie experience, review: royal caribbean spectrum of the seas grand loft suite, 30 comments.

Am onboard now in Grand Suites and its really nice. WIFI is fast enough for Netflix. For booking, theres a price match so good to check prices periodically and contact RC if the prices drop for the difference to be converted to onboard credits or to upgrade if the spread to the desired class narrows.

Nice! Thanks for sharing. Is it a mad rush to book stuff once on-board?

When you arrive on board, they will release the shows at 6pm for bookings. It is all sold out in minutes due to capacity management.

Also, for the unlimited dining package, it is better to book all the restaurants on the first day as some fill up very quick (chops grill and wonderland mostly)

All people are very nice and you should spend a nice holiday ! We are thinking to do it again 🙂 enjoy !

yup, my plan is to spend the first few hours booking things for the whole cruise. for show bookings, is it necessary to physically go down to the venue to book? or can you book via phone/concierge/app?

You can do all via the apps. Just be sure you well do it at the correct timing. If you are in a suite, you can get the help from the concierge and they will make sure you can have the shows and timing you really want. Also suite ppl get special timing for flow riders, climbing and bumping cars

With GS, the concierge will reach out a week before for reservations. You should book Coastal Kitchen lunch and dinner slots (taking into account your evening program 8 or 10pm shows). With Coastal Kitchen, for breakfast and lunch, you can pick stuff up from Windjammer buffet or order off the menu in an exclusive setting.

A day before, the show timings will be sent and you can make reservations. For the rest (bumper cars etc) you’ll need to board (2pm!), Complete the safety procedures and then use the app.

got it. i’m doing a separate post on planning and this will come in useful. i think i’ll have to learn a lot of stuff along the way though!

Yeah i basically read every cruisecritic, tripadvisor, HWZ post i could find to prep. Have fun and looking forward to your upcoming posts!

A good tip for all is that you can reprice your cabin if it goes lower at any point of time. For this only need to call the hotline and they will do it super fast.

I didn’t know this! Thanks for sharing

one thing is to add on insurance, do check that pre-existing illness are covered. my friend grandpa had to be heli evac out due to heart attack but the insurer did not covered then.

” If you hold an  AMEX Platinum Charge  card, you can use the S$400 lodging credit to offset the cost of the cruise, provided you book it through the American Express Travel Concierge. “ Does this apply for both cruises ?

btw Cruise to nowhere for Sompo is under Area A, not C

From Sompo customer service:

Thank you for your keen interest with Sompo Travel Insurance.

Our Travel Insurance does cover for cruise.

Please select Country/Area Code as Area C (worldwide) during the online quote/application.

Will you be enjoying alone? Or with the lioness?

of course with the Milelioness. someone has to do the hunting.

Book with HSBC card via email/phone and get additional 5% discount! The 5% discount is not applicable for online booking.

Hi Adrian your net cost of S$2,257 is it for 2 person ? I think Royal Caribbean has increased the price for Grand Suite by quite a bit, it cost around S$3.8k now for a four-night cruise for 2 person

2,257 was for 2 people. yes, prices have increased quite a bit already.

Thanks Aaron for the data point

Hello Aaron! Thanks for this post! it was very helpful. May I ask if there are any safety protocols post cruise? i.e. are we free to leave once we disembark? or will we be subject to any quarantine/SHN notices?

when i sailed there was a post cruise ART test at the terminal before you leave. very fast, 5 mins only. but i hear from recent reports that they’ve done away with that.

so you basically go home.

Your guides on the cruises have been very helpful. For purposes of booking transport from the cruise terminal home, approximately what time should we expect to disembark, and in your experience, how flexible is that timing?

S$2257 is really a good price for 4 Nights. When I booked it costed S$2800+ for 3 Nights.

For Jan 2022 I’ve booked 4n at 1700!

Which cabin did you book? Grand Suite again? Are you writing another review?

$1,655 for 4n grand suite.

This is for the entire room and not per pax right ? I am trying to book now for 2 pax, and its $5,672 for 2 pax, 4 niite cruise…price almost double I guess

Thanks for this comprehensive guide ! Qn: How about Chef’s table on qots, any reviews…and is it true there is always discount if purchase on board ? Cheers.

 Assuming you were going to buy a dining and beverage package (we’ll talk about that more in the next post),

*where is the next post?*

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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!

• 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

The do-it-yourself cruise to nowhere from the us, why take a cruise to nowhere, maximize your cruise to nowhere with time-saving hacks, how to find a cruise to nowhere, taking an overseas cruise to nowhere, the first step to a rewarding life of cruising.

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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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.

• 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.

Spice H2O outdoor theater

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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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New York Cruise Guide > Cruise Destinations > Nowhere

Cruises to Nowhere from New York

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

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

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

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

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The Rough Guide to Moscow Paperback – July 9, 2001

There is a newer edition of this item:.

All this is writ large in Moscow’s architecture and streetlife. The Kremlin’s cathedrals are Byzantine, like its politics. Ministries and hotels the size of city blocks reach their apotheosis in the "Seven Sisters" – Stalin-Gothic skyscrapers that brood over the city like vampires. The streets and metros resemble bazaars, with kiosks and hawkers on every corner. BMWs cruise past babushki whose monthly pensions wouldn’t cover the cost of admission to a nightclub (the city has more casinos than any capital in the world). Fascists and Communists march together, bankers live in fear of bombs and life is up for grabs. From all this, Muscovites seek solace in backstreet churches and shady courtyards; in the steamy conviviality of the bathhouse; and over tea or vodka. Discovering the private, hidden side of Moscow is as rewarding as visiting the usual tourist sights.

• Print length 468 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Rough Guides
• Publication date July 9, 2001
• ISBN-10 1858287006
• ISBN-13 978-1858287003
• See all details

Editorial Reviews

About the author, excerpt. © reprinted by permission. all rights reserved..

The speed of change in Russian society inevitably means that certain sections of this book are going to be out of date by the time you read them. Laws and regulations frequently change without warning, especially concerning visas and currency exchange; restaurants, clubs and services come and go; and there is always the possibility of radical decrees from the Kremlin. Yet, despite universally gloomy news reports about Russia, Muscovites are resilient and the city is big enough to absorb a lot of trouble so don t be deterred by run-of-the-mill reports of Mafia killings, horrendous accidents, and so on.

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rough Guides; 3rd edition (July 9, 2001)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 468 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1858287006
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1858287003
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.3 ounces

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Dan richardson.

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Where can I cruise without a passport?

At TPG, we always recommend cruising with a passport, but there are many reasons why you might want to set sail without one.

What if an opportunity pops up on short notice, and you don't have a passport yet? Or what if you forgot to renew yours when it expired? What if it's only a three-night cruise to the Bahamas, and the passport application fee is almost as much as the cruise fare? Or, maybe you have children nearing age 16 and can't justify paying for passports that will only be good for five years.

First of all, do you even need a passport to cruise ? The answer is often but not always. You have options to cruise without a passport because not every sailing requires them. Thanks to an international agreement called the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative , U.S. citizens can cruise on certain itineraries within North American countries using government-issued identification (like a valid driver's license) and proof of citizenship (like a government-issued birth certificate).

The cruises that you don't need a passport for are closed-loop sailings, which depart from and return to the same port within the U.S. One-way sailings from one U.S. port to another or from a U.S. port to a foreign one would require a passport.

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

Before we go further, let's clarify that when we talk about cruising without a passport, we're referring to pricey passport books that some travelers do not wish to purchase. Passport cards can also be used for identification when cruising in all the places we are about to discuss; these cards are a low-cost alternative to traveling with your driver's license and birth certificate.

Let's look at the options for where you can cruise without a passport.

Cruising to Alaska is one of the easiest ways to experience all the state offers. You'll have opportunities to see glaciers and wildlife; stroll the streets of charming coastal towns; eat your fill of local crab legs and salmon; and enjoy nature on a kayak, zip line or hike.

If you're interested in cruising to Alaska without a passport, look for itineraries that begin (and end) in Seattle , San Francisco or southern California ports, such as Los Angeles or Long Beach, California. The most common length for these closed-loop Alaska cruises operated by the major cruise lines is seven nights. Cruises early or late in the season might be only four or five nights, and trips departing from LA are usually 14 nights.

What if you really want to cruise one-way from Canada to Alaska (or vice versa)? Although Canada prefers U.S. citizens who arrive by sea or land to have a passport book, it is not required as long as they have proper identification and proof of citizenship. The U.S., however, requires one of the following WHTI-approved forms of identification for entries by land or sea: passport card, enhanced driver's license, I-872 American Indian card or trusted traveler program IDs like Nexus, Sentri and Fast.

Technically, if you have one of those forms of ID but not a passport book, you can take a one-way Alaska cruise — as long as you don't have to fly to or from Canada.

More complications arise for non-passport holders who book shore excursions that involve crossing from Alaska to Canada. White Pass and Yukon Route train rides are good examples. White Pass and Yukon Route allows cruise passengers to go on the three-hour train excursion without a passport but doesn't allow them to take any longer routes. That's their policy, not a legal requirement.

This means that Alaska cruises are one instance when the passport card would be a handy alternative to traveling with both an ID card and a birth certificate. It opens up one-way itineraries.

Related: The best Alaska cruise for every type of traveler

A cruise to the Caribbean transports you to tropical islands bathed in turquoise waters. Whether you seek warm beaches, cool drinks, water sports or cultural education, you can find a Caribbean cruise to fit the bill.

It's easy to cruise without a passport in the Caribbean: Just book one of the many closed-loop, round-trip sailings departing from a U.S. port. Most major cruise lines offer sailings that range between three and 15 nights from ports like Galveston, Texas; New Orleans; multiple ports in Florida (including Miami and Fort Lauderdale); Charleston, South Carolina; Baltimore; Bayonne, New Jersey; and New York City.

Most Caribbean islands participate in the WHTI, but it's always best to check the details specific to the ports of call included in your itinerary. Don't forget that islands such as Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix are U.S. territories, so visits never require passports for U.S. citizens.

Related: The best Caribbean cruises for every type of traveler

Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory, lying 643 miles off the coast of North Carolina. Hop on a cruise ship for a direct route to the island's famous beaches and golf courses. Spring and summer are the prime seasons to visit, but cruises are possible throughout the year.

Cruising without a passport to Bermuda is also easy. Apart from a few isolated cruises stopping in Bermuda as they come or go from other destinations, there are no one-way Bermuda cruises to confuse the situation. If you plan to sail without a passport, be wary of any Bermuda cruise longer than 10 nights. Those are likely to be point-to-point cruises that happen to include Bermuda.

Passport-free cruises to Bermuda include ample five- to 10-night sailings from the East Coast ports of Baltimore, Bayonne, Boston and Manhattan. Occasional itineraries also pop up throughout the Bermuda season departing from Norfolk, Virginia; Charleston; and the Florida ports of Miami, Port Canaveral (near Orlando) and Jacksonville.

Related: Does it make sense to take a short cruise to Bermuda?

Long known for delightful strands of beach and access to every imaginable form of water fun under the subtropical sun, the Bahamas are the ideal destination for easy and quick cruise vacations.

Skip the passport on three- to five-night Bahamas cruises sailing round-trip on most major cruise lines from the eastern Florida ports of Jacksonville, Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades and Miami.

A few longer, seven- to 15-night itineraries stop in the Bahamas on their way into the Caribbean. Departures from Bayonne, Manhattan, Baltimore and Charleston will often get you weeklong Bahamas itineraries, as will sailings from Tampa, Galveston and New Orleans.

Related: Best Bahamas cruise tips for first-timers and repeat visitors alike

Our southern neighbor boasts two coastlines of cruise fun. Like most tropical cruise destinations, the top draws are the beaches and the ocean; however, cruise ports in Mexico also give you access to ancient Mayan ruins, delicious cuisine and an abundance of land activities.

Mexico's Caribbean and Pacific coasts are both accessible to cruisers who do not hold passports. If you want to visit Mexico's eastern shores, you can find three- to 15-night cruises to Costa Maya, Cozumel and Progreso. Sailings depart Florida from Miami, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral; you can also find itineraries from New Orleans, Galveston and Mobile, Alabama.

Western Mexico, often referred to as the Mexican Riviera, includes the ports of Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Ensenada, among others. Cruises with several major lines depart San Diego, San Pedro port in LA and Long Beach for voyages lasting anywhere from three to 10 nights.

Related: The best Mexico cruises for every type of traveler

From water sports to American history and Hawaiian culture, there's a lot to experience on a Hawaii cruise . The best part might be the ability to hop from island to island, sampling the flavors of each as you go.

Closed-loop Hawaii cruises that don't require passports come in two varieties. The short option is to fly to Honolulu and take a seven- or 10-night cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line 's Pride of America. This is the only large cruise ship allowed to operate entirely within the Hawaiian Islands without visiting a foreign port.

Small-ship cruise operator UnCruise Adventures also offers seven-night, inter-island Hawaiian sailings. The American-flagged ships only cruise to and from U.S. ports, so no passport is needed, as would be the case on any domestic trip.

The long-cruise options consist of 14- to 18-night round-trip sailings from San Diego, LA (Long Beach and San Pedro) and San Francisco. You won't need a passport for these closed-loop sailings, but you do need to be prepared for multiple days at sea as you cross the Pacific from California to Hawaii.

Beware of 20-plus-night cruises that are round-trip sailings from the West Coast and would seem to fit the bill for closed-loop cruises that don't require passports. Most of these cruises don't work because they also include stops in French Polynesia, which is outside of the WHTI agreement. Passports are required for the islands in the South Pacific, which means they're required for the entire cruise.

Related: The best Hawaii cruises for every type of traveler

Canada and New England

Cruises up North America's East Coast allow you to take in historical sights of early Americana, stand atop rugged cliffs on the coast of Nova Scotia or revel in the French culture of Quebec.

Mainstream cruise lines operate numerous cruises along the U.S. and Canadian coasts that don't require passports. These depart from the ports of Bayonne, Baltimore, Boston, Manhattan, Brooklyn and occasionally Norfolk. The majority of these New England and Canada cruises are weeklong fall sailings; however, a handful depart at other times of the year or are a touch longer, ranging from eight to 10 nights.

Related: The best cruises to Canada and New England

Some cruise lines also offer one-way cruises in both directions between Canada and New England. These itineraries, like Alaska cruises, might be possible without a passport book. This is the case as long as your plans don't include flying into or out of Canada and your cruise line allows you to cruise with either a passport card or other acceptable form of identification and proof of citizenship.

We checked with a few lines for you. Princess, Holland America and Celebrity all strongly recommend passport books, but they allow one of the WHTI forms of identification. Again, the passport card opens up one-way possibilities, assuming you aren't flying and your cruise only includes Canada and the U.S.

Bottom line

While cruising with a passport is always recommended, it's not required by law in certain circumstances. Closed-loop cruises from U.S. ports that visit Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico are part of an international agreement that allows U.S. citizens to cruise without a passport. In these cases, government-issued identification and proof of U.S. citizenship are acceptable alternatives to a passport book.

Passport cards are an affordable and unquestionable alternative to carrying an ID and birth certificate. If you want to go this route, know they are not valid for travel by air into or out of any foreign country, including Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or Caribbean countries — which is the primary reason most travel advisers urge cruisers to have a passport book.

As we've shown, you have plenty of options for where to cruise without a passport, and many travelers do so without incident. However, anything from engine trouble on your cruise ship to bad weather or an accident in port might necessitate a flight home from a foreign country. This would put you in an awkward position if you didn't have a passport.

Plus, as much fun as simple round-trip cruises are, passports open up additional vacation possibilities in the form of longer, point-to-point and overseas trips. Don't dismiss registering for a passport, even as you consider where you can cruise without one.

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
• 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
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

• Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

Celebrity's Journey to Moscow excursion

By psygist , March 7, 2012 in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

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I will be in St. Petersburg in June on a Celebrity ship. Having been there previously, we would like to do the Journey to Moscow excursion. Celebrity lists it in the shore excursion brochure for my sail date, but it has not been available for booking on their website.

I have called Celebrity twice and both times was told that even though it is listed in the shore excursion brochure, it probably isn't being offered since it is not listed for pre-booking on the website. I have emailed Celebrity twice and received a different response. They responded that they were still working with the tour provider on the details and is not yet available for pre-booking.

Anyone have any experience with this that could offer some advice? It's frustrating that cruise line agents can be so misinformed and inconsistent in what they tell us.

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I will be in St. Petersburg in June on a Celebrity ship. Having been there previously, we would like to do the Journey to Moscow excursion. Celebrity lists it in the shore excursion brochure for my sail date, but it has not been available for booking on their website. I have called Celebrity twice and both times was told that even though it is listed in the shore excursion brochure, it probably isn't being offered since it is not listed for pre-booking on the website. I have emailed Celebrity twice and received a different response. They responded that they were still working with the tour provider on the details and is not yet available for pre-booking. Anyone have any experience with this that could offer some advice? It's frustrating that cruise line agents can be so misinformed and inconsistent in what they tell us.

Having done this one-day trip to Moscow and back on another cruise while in St. Petersburg, I might be able to share some insight. First, from dealing with some Celebrity folks about Europe options, certain of them are limited in their personal experiences and knowledge about this part of the world. Shouldn't be this way, but it is. They know more on the familiar Carib options as that is what is both closer and for which they get more of their calls/question. If they haven't done it, nor is is clear on their computer screen, they can't be of much help.

Second, that excursion to Moscow has been "evolving" during the past few years as they have switched from doing it by air flights to connection by high-speed rail. On trips like this one that is more costly and highly specialized, you will probably need to "press and push" to reach someone who is more likely to know this somewhat of a "needle in the haystack".

It's sad that you've gotten the "run-around", but sometimes the staff is not as informed and experienced as you would like, expect and need.

Do you need any background info for what you would see and do in Moscow , how it works, etc.???

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik . Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 68,189 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

What you said makes perfect sense. Thanks.

I also looked into doing this tour privately, but one tour provider informed me there were no available trains or planes to fit my ship's time in port. We will be there on a weekend so its possible that transportation does not run as frequent. I just wish Celebrity could get their act together and tell me definitively whether they will be offering the Moscow excursion.

Terry, What you said makes perfect sense. Thanks. I also looked into doing this tour privately, but one tour provider informed me there were no available trains or planes to fit my ship's time in port. We will be there on a weekend so its possible that transportation does not run as frequent. I just wish Celebrity could get their act together and tell me definitively whether they will be offering the Moscow excursion. Paul

If your cruise puts you into St. Petersburg on a weekend, that could be another complicating factor. Openings at certain places, rail schedules, etc., could be different for some days of the week. It is possible to do the Moscow trip by some private tour companies, but if there are any weather and/or scheduling complications, that could make things more difficult. Doing it through the cruise ship, makes it "their" problem, not yours!!

Doing the one-day trip to Moscow is very interesting and special. Lots of cruise lines do it now and have the practice down to a "science". BUT, that weekend timing could be delaying their finalization some on schedules.

• 3 weeks later...

I will be in St. Petersburg in June on a Celebrity ship. Having been there previously, we would like to do the Journey to Moscow excursion. Celebrity lists it in the shore excursion brochure for my sail date, but it has not been available for booking on their website.   I have called Celebrity twice and both times was told that even though it is listed in the shore excursion brochure, it probably isn't being offered since it is not listed for pre-booking on the website. I have emailed Celebrity twice and received a different response. They responded that they were still working with the tour provider on the details and is not yet available for pre-booking.   Anyone have any experience with this that could offer some advice? It's frustrating that cruise line agents can be so misinformed and inconsistent in what they tell us.

I was able to book this for a June cruise in the past few days. If you look carefully in the fine print for the excursion, I believe it is because you have to begin the online check-in process since they need your passport/ID information before you can book this excursion. Try to do as much of the online check-in as you can, and I think it should appear for purchase.

It would be nice to know what the actual schedule for the Moscow excursion is. I don't believe it is actually 18.5 hours, but that is just to make sure that you can't book anything else on that day.

I was finally able to book the tour online. They just made it available for online booking the other day. I sure hope they reach the minimum number of guests so it isn't cancelled.

Not sure why it leaves at 9:30. If it indeed is an 18.5 hour tour, we won't get back until 4 am.

I was able to book this for a June cruise in the past few days. If you look carefully in the fine print for the excursion, I believe it is because you have to begin the online check-in process since they need your passport/ID information before you can book this excursion. Try to do as much of the online check-in as you can, and I think it should appear for purchase.   It would be nice to know what the actual schedule for the Moscow excursion is. I don't believe it is actually 18.5 hours, but that is just to make sure that you can't book anything else on that day.

It looks like Celebrity edited the description to say that, for those excursions on a weekend, the actual tour will be shortened by about 2 hours due to less traffic on a weekend.

Terry (or anyone who has been on the Journey to Moscow excursion before):

Can you give me a little detail on the itinerary? The tour description says that we will have a walking tour of Red Square and the Kremlin, as well as visits to the Armoury and one of the Kremlin cathedrals. Was wondering what other Moscow sights we will get to see. Or will the rest be in the form of a panoramic bus tour? Any opportunity for souvenir shopping?

Thanks for any insights you can offer.

• 1 month later...

This was just cancelled for my cruise :( Didn't meet the minimum number of people interested in going.

There might be some options through private tour companies. We used Anastasia for our part in St. Petersburg, but she is doing these Moscow arrangements for friends, two couples, from here in Central Ohio, in late June. I would contact a couple of key, experiences firms such as Anastasia, see what she and others can offer to make this one-day train trip over and back.

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik . Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 82,951 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 70,872 views.

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

Which sailing are you on that the Moscow excursion was cancelled? I booked it for my Eclipse cruise June 23 sailing and haven't heard anything

• 2 months later...

soakedbythesea

You have probably figured out now that not only excursions, but many other things aboard ship are misleading, if not downright fraudulent. The ship crew, staff and clerks are all going to do pretty much what they want to, but not only on the Royal Caribbean's Celebrity brand, but almost all cruise ships - the captain can almost get away with murder. Aren't you glad you don't have to work on one of these vessels? Also make sure you don't get involved in any type of dispute, as even some crime gets swept under the ship - well, not all, like the Costa that crashed & tipped over, but not sure even then much will happen, as all passengers signed all their rights away before they got on board.

Hope you have enjoyed your cruise by now and maybe look back here on the board. About the only way to get any knowledge about the ships, excursions, etc. is through sites like this.

As we are sailing a year from now on Celebrity Constellation - Aug 12, we were wondering too about shows aboard, excursions (both ship and private), if you ever got to Moscow, etc. Please write to us at:

john at shifferds dot com - thanks

• 5 months later...

Ywlke,   Which sailing are you on that the Moscow excursion was cancelled? I booked it for my Eclipse cruise June 23 sailing and haven't heard anything

We will be in St. Petersburg in July and want to take Celebrity's tour to Moscow. Please let us know if you liked it or not and how long it was. This is going to be our second time in St. Petersburg but will like to take a private tour on day #2. Did you do something the day after your Moscow tour? We are traveling with our teenagers and worry about them being too tired :rolleyes:

• 6 months later...

Kevin's girl

I thought I would bump this up. We will be on the Brilliance this time next year and are very interested in doing this our. Are there still people out there that have done it? I would love to hear what you thought of the tour, the travel part and what you were able to see while in Moscow. Was it worth the price?

I thought I would bump this up. We will be on the Brilliance this time next year and are very interested in doing this our. Are there still people out there that have done it? I would love to hear what you thought of the tour' date=' the travel part and what you were able to see while in Moscow. Was it worth the price?[/quote'] We just did this tour and really liked it, but this was our second time in St. Petersburg. If this is your first time there I don't know if it's the best choice. You spend most of the day in airports and buses. Our meeting time at the ship was 6:45 AM, followed by a 45 min. long drive to the airport. Then we had to wait for a 10:00 AM one hour flight to Moscow. As you can see we arrived after 11:00 AM followed by another 30 minutes ride to the city. We were taken to the Red Square, to take a subway ride, followed by a coffee and tea break, then to the Kremlin armory museum (where we spend most of our time), also visited the Cathedral of the Annunciation, and back to the Red Square. Were only given half hour for shopping, followed by a really long dinner at a local restaurant. Our flight back to St. Petersburg departed half hour late, arriving at 11:30 PM. It took a while for the bus to pick us up, another 45 min. drive to the port and we were at our rooms by 1:00 AM. This means that if you want to see St. Petersburg the next day, you are going to be really tired. BTW, I'm not complaining, this tour was so popular on our cruise that they had two groups for the first time. Most of my friends were on that group and they had the worst time. Their flight left earlier than ours and although they were taken to more places than us, they ended up on a later flight and arrived in St. Petersburg after 12:30 AM. The problem was that the tour company knew that they were not going to make it on time to the bridges that connect the city to the area where the ship docks. The elevated bridges go up at 1:30 AM in the morning and are taken back after 5:00 AM. Can you believe that our tour guide made fun of the fact that the other bus was not going to make it on time? It was really frustrating for them to watch the bridges go up in front of their eyes. They finally found online a bridge that goes down for periods of 15 min. and were able to go back to the ship after 3:00 AM. Some of them couldn't make it to their tours the next day. Remember, this is Russia, if you don't make it to your tour the next day, you won't be able to leave the ship. My friends tried to take a taxi and catch up with us, but their visa stated a 9:00AM pick up time and had to stay on the ship. We liked our tour, but it is up to you to decide if it's worth it. The time that you actually spend in Moscow is really limited. If by any chance you are given a late flight on your way back, start screaming and demand an earlier flight. The tour company hired by Celebrity is going to buy the cheapest flights to make more money. Just my two cents. I tried to research this tour before our cruise and didn't find too much information. Hope this helps. BTW, I was concern about the planes used for the flights, if you are too, don't be. The flight was great and were even given a sandwich with juice or water. I do have to say that we felt that we were on a PanAm 1970's flight. The attendants were all really young, skinny and beautiful, wore heavy make up and complicated hair styles. I was also not impressed by either St. Petersburg or Moscow's airports. No restrooms close to the gates, two flights leaving at the same time through the same gate, just a mess!! Before our tour I couldn't understand how Edward Snowden could hide for such a long time on an airport, after visiting Moscow's international airport it just made sense. Hope you enjoy your Baltic cruise.

Thanks for the details. I was quite curious about it. Unfortunately it doesn't sound like you got to see so much there. Fortunately as you say it was your second time in SPB, so you can compare and see the differences between the cities. They are very different.

On our Celebrity cruise, it was sold out, but I didn't come across anyone who took the tour to find out their experiences.

drarill, I had to laugh at the comment about how Snowden was able to hide in the airport ... I had wondered the same thing, but now we know!! LOL

We just did this tour and really liked it, but this was our second time in St. Petersburg. If this is your first time there I don't know if it's the best choice. You spend most of the day in airports and buses. Our meeting time at the ship was 6:45 AM, followed by a 45 min. long drive to the airport. Then we had to wait for a 10:00 AM one hour flight to Moscow. As you can see we arrived after 11:00 AM followed by another 30 minutes ride to the city. We were taken to the Red Square, to take a subway ride, followed by a coffee and tea break, then to the Kremlin armory museum (where we spend most of our time), also visited the Cathedral of the Annunciation, and back to the Red Square. Were only given half hour for shopping, followed by a really long dinner at a local restaurant. Our flight back to St. Petersburg departed half hour late, arriving at 11:30 PM. It took a while for the bus to pick us up, another 45 min. drive to the port and we were at our rooms by 1:00 AM. This means that if you want to see St. Petersburg the next day, you are going to be really tired. BTW, I'm not complaining, this tour was so popular on our cruise that they had two groups for the first time. Most of my friends were on that group and they had the worst time. Their flight left earlier than ours and although they were taken to more places than us, they ended up on a later flight and arrived in St. Petersburg after 12:30 AM. The problem was that the tour company knew that they were not going to make it on time to the bridges that connect the city to the area where the ship docks. The elevated bridges go up at 1:30 AM in the morning and are taken back after 5:00 AM. Can you believe that our tour guide made fun of the fact that the other bus was not going to make it on time? It was really frustrating for them to watch the bridges go up in front of their eyes. They finally found online a bridge that goes down for periods of 15 min. and were able to go back to the ship after 3:00 AM. Some of them couldn't make it to their tours the next day. Remember, this is Russia, if you don't make it to your tour the next day, you won't be able to leave the ship. My friends tried to take a taxi and catch up with us, but their visa stated a 9:00AM pick up time and had to stay on the ship. We liked our tour, but it is up to you to decide if it's worth it. The time that you actually spend in Moscow is really limited. If by any chance you are given a late flight on your way back, start screaming and demand an earlier flight. The tour company hired by Celebrity is going to buy the cheapest flights to make more money. Just my two cents. I tried to research this tour before our cruise and didn't find too much information. Hope this helps. BTW, I was concern about the planes used for the flights, if you are too, don't be. The flight was great and were even given a sandwich with juice or water. I do have to say that we felt that we were on a PanAm 1970's flight. The attendants were all really young, skinny and beautiful, wore heavy make up and complicated hair styles. I was also not impressed by either St. Petersburg or Moscow's airports. No restrooms close to the gates, two flights leaving at the same time through the same gate, just a mess!! Before our tour I couldn't understand how Edward Snowden could hide for such a long time on an airport, after visiting Moscow's international airport it just made sense. Hope you enjoy your Baltic cruise.

Thank you for posting your experience. You have given me a lot to think about. It just seemed like a good idea, now I need to think really hard about it. I would hate to have our second day messed up in SPB.

We did Celebrity's Journey to Moscow excursion in July 2012. We had been to St. Petersburg before so decided to do something different. Interestingly, this excursion had been cancelled on some of the previous cruises that summer as a result of not enough people signed up. There were about 20 people on our excursion.

In a nutshell, I recommend the excursion and would do it again, but there are some caveats:

1. I would probably not go to Moscow if this was my first time visiting St. Petersburg. SP is full of wonderful sites so I would spend my two port days there seeing all the city sites, including the Hermitage, as well as visiting one of the palaces outside the city.

2. If you go to Moscow and plan on taking a tour in SP the next day, be aware (as someone else posted) that the tour returns to the ship very late and you might have difficulty getting up early enough the next morning for your SP tour. Our flight didn't land back in SP until after midnight and we were unable to cross the bridges before they rose. We didn't return back to the ship until after 2am, but because we anticipated that this might happen, we booked an afternoon private car in SP. We actually ended up enjoying being out late in SP with the bridges up as our bus and guide drove us around the city late at night and it was a surreal experience, especially during the white nights of summer.

3. We thought the time in Moscow could have been better organized, allowing us more time to see Red Square and the Kremlin buildings, but we were prevented from doing so due to horrendous traffic around Moscow, a very long-winded local tour guide, and too much time spent stopping for a coffee break (which was entirely unnecessary IMO). We also had almost no time to shop and the time spent in Red Square was much too short. Again, I mostly blamed this on our guide who talked too much rather than allowing us free time to wander around. I ditched the guide and our group before we were actually dismissed for free time so that I could wander around Red Square and make a few purchases from a street artist (local art and crafts on the street are of high quality and inexpensive IMO).

4. The dinner, while served in a beautiful, elegant setting, was mediocre at best. Lots of alcohol, but I've had better beef stroganoff in a school cafeteria.

Having provided you with these caveats, I still would take the tour again. It was a fascinating and magical experience. From the very interesting airport and airplane experience, to having the opportunity to visit the Kremlin sites and Red Square, it was worth it for us. It was a whirlwind of a tour, lasting about 18 hours from the time we left the ship until we returned.

I hope this helps others make a decision about this tour.

• 3 years later...

I was finally able to book the tour online. They just made it available for online booking the other day. I sure hope they reach the minimum number of guests so it isn't cancelled.   Not sure why it leaves at 9:30. If it indeed is an 18.5 hour tour, we won't get back until 4 am.

We are on May 21, 2017 Eclipse and want to do the same tour.

There are several trains per day even on weekends and holidays. If it is the weekend I would say you are better off flying as traffic will be a little better than on a weekday especially in the morning. There are probably several flights an hour. The train is modern and comfortable but not especially scenic.

Since you need a visa anyway you could also consider arranging a Moscow tour guide to meet you at the airport and arrange your own transport to Moscow. An airport taxi should be easy to arrange in St Petersburg or use Uber. Aeroflot tickets are easy to buy online.

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