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

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Sophie-Claire HoellerNov 13, 2020, 23:04 IST
Inside Singapore's first 'cruise to nowhere,' where vacation-starved guests took turns using the pool and carried contact tracing devices everywhere they went

Travelers waiting to board Singapore's first "cruise to nowhere" on November 6, 2020.Roslan Rahman/Getty Images

  • Dream Cruises just had its first "cruise to nowhere," a voyage that started and ended in Singapore, with no stops in between.
  • It was the first cruise ship voyage in the country since the no-sail order in March and part of a "safe cruise" pilot program.
  • Three and four-day cruises to nowhere will be offered regularly, going forward.
  • Each passenger is tested for COVID-19 before being allowed to board. There's an on-board lab that can produce virus test results in an hour.
  • These cruises are for Singapore residents only. Singapore is mostly closed to short-term visitors due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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

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

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

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

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

Representatives for Dream Cruises did not respond to Insider's request for further information about the trip and any new safety protocols.

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

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

"Super Seacation" on the World Dream ship set sail from Singapore on November 6. It made no stops and returned to port two days later.
Dream Cruises said it has enhanced all of its health and hygiene protocols aboard the World Dream ahead of its first "cruise to nowhere." Dream Cruises

It was the first cruise ship to launch in Singapore since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's no-sail order in March. It was approved by the Singapore Tourism Board, according to the Straits Times, and only Singapore residents were allowed to go.

On October 29, the CDC changed the original March order to "conditional sailing," meaning that cruises can accept passengers once they've made significant improvements to their health and safety measures. (Many companies and governments chose to voluntarily renew the ban until December 31, 2020, as they figure out these new protocols.)

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

The World Dream can typically sleep 3,400 passengers, but sailed at half capacity for its first "cruise to nowhere."
A look on board the World Dream ship. Shutterstock

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

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Passengers were assigned time slots for boarding to avoid overcrowding at check-in.

Passengers were assigned time slots for boarding to avoid overcrowding at check-in.
The World Dream's boarding area ahead of its first "cruise to nowhere." Travis Teo/Reuters

Source: The Straits Times

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

But before they could board the ship, passengers were first required to take a mandatory COVID-19 test.
A man waits for his mandatory COVID-19 test so that he can board the World Dream for its first "cruise to nowhere." Roslan Rahman/Getty Images
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According to the Straights Times, passengers had their results in as little as 20 minutes.

According to the Straights Times, passengers had their results in as little as 20 minutes.
A passenger undergoes a mandatory COVID-19 test ahead of boarding the World Dream for the ship's first "cruise to nowhere." Roslan Rahman/Getty Images

Source: The Straits Times

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

Onboard, the ship also has a clinic that's equipped to produce virus test results in an hour, according to the South China Morning Post.
A medical officer speaks about the available coronavirus tests onboard the World Dream. Stringer/Reuters

Source: South China Morning Post

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

In addition, the ship is outfitted with an intensive care unit in case someone does contract the coronavirus.
Medical staff in the World Dream's new intensive care unit. Roslan Rahman/Getty Images

Source: South China Morning Post

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

After their COVID-19 tests, guests were able to board the ship, but were required to socially distance and wear masks.
Two people boarding the World Dream for the ship's first "cruise to nowhere." Roslan Rahman/Getty Images

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

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

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

In addition to wearing masks and staying away from other guests, passengers also carried an electronic contact tracing device.
A couple wearing masks takes in the view from a balcony on the World Dream. Tyrone Siu/Reuters

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

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

There were capacity limits on all activities. The pool, for example, only allowed 26 people at a time.

There were capacity limits on all activities. The pool, for example, only allowed 26 people at a time.
Only 26 people at a time could use the pool on the World Dream during its first "cruise to nowhere." Roslan Rahman/Getty Images

Tables and chairs were also kept spread apart and guests pre-registered for everything, according to the South China Morning Post.

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

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

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

Source: Dream Cruises

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

The cruise was Christmas themed, with Santa and his helpers making appearances as well as a "Verry Christmas" musical production.
The first "cruise to nowhere" was Christmas themed. Roslan Rahman/Getty Images

Source: Dream Cruises

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

Crew members had to take a series of COVID-19 tests before the arrival of passengers and quarantined for 14 days on the ship before the voyage.
The first "cruise to nowhere" featured a Christmas-themed musical production. Ying Shan Lee/Reuters

Source: Dream Cruises

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

While there were no reports of COVID-19 outbreaks onboard the "Super Seacation," other cruises have not been so lucky.
The SeaDream Yacht Club's SeaDream 1 had passengers test positive for COVID-19 on November 11, 2020. SeaDream Yacht Club

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

The trip was cut short.

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

Cruise ships see infectious disease outbreaks relatively often due to their isolated environment and prolonged close contact between travelers and crew, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Cruise ships could get really crowded pre-pandemic, often leading to infectious disease outbreaks. Shutterstock

According to the Miami Herald, as of November 10, there have been 3,908 cases of the coronavirus and 111 related deaths across 87 vessels.

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

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