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It’s been a while since I used my passport, as is the case with so many other Singaporeans who were with me, getting ready to get cleaned up so we could board the ship for a cruise.
Of course, the main question on my mind, even as I was packing my bags the night before for my Genting World Dream cruise, was how different the cruise experience would be now that SafeEntry and social distancing are part of our everyday reality.
And while certain things are definitely different from before, like the constant wearing of masks, they strangely didn’t detract from the vacation experience. In fact, some would say that the Covid-19 changes made the cruise experience even better than before.
What to expect is different from before
Fewer people on board, but spaced pre-boarding test and landing times
The World Dream cruise can generally take up to 3,400 people on board, but for cruises to nowhere at the moment, it is limited to 1,700 people for each trip to ensure safe distances between people are maintained.
A swab test is mandatory before boarding, and to manage the traffic flow, you will get a predetermined time interval for your test that starts from 10am Boarding officially begins at 2pm and the ship only takes off at 9pm However, if you get a space early, you can check your luggage and catch a free shuttle to Vivocity before the ship’s doors open.
Disembarkation is also carried out at assigned times (15-minute time slots) starting at 9 in the morning and is done by level. Guests will be led in an orderly manner to the test booths, and you will not have to wait for the results before you can leave; they will contact you if something is wrong.
The Covid-19 testing requirement
Although not technically disembarking on foreign land, the ship passes into international waters: we sail in the Straits of Malacca, along Penisular Malaysia, hence the need to put your passport to use after it has been languishing in our drawers for A while.
This is also the reason why two nasal swabs are required, before boarding and after landing. And he would expect to endure long hours waiting his turn. However, the setup at Marina Bay Cruise Center is very efficient, making for a pleasantly seamless experience. There is almost no queue when I arrive at my designated spot, and in half an hour, including the test result wait time, I am completely cleaned up and armed with negative test results, ready to board the cruise.
The swab test is also much less painful than you had imagined. Maybe it’s because the rapid antigen test is administered, the slightly less invasive test. And I am inclined to think that the person who is cleaning you matters too. I hardly felt anything during my second test (taken after disembarkation), while the feeling that my nose was invaded remained for 10 minutes after the first swab.
There are also special cubicles for the kids taking the test and the parents I spoke to on the cruise were pleasantly surprised that the swabs were armed with stickers and candy to convince the little ones to take the test. “In fact, I was concerned that we would not be able to board the cruise if my two-year-old was uncooperative during the test, but fortunately the staff were well prepared and the test went off without a hitch,” he said. Kelly Ong, 41, who was on the same ship as me.
MICE pods by your side all the time
At first glance, it looks like the elongated, slimmer version of the TraceTogether tabs that every Singaporean should be armed with. For this pink gadget, GovTech issues it to help track how much accumulated time you might have spent with other passengers on the ship.
And it is mandatory to carry the MICE pod with you at all times on board the ship. Upon exiting the collection counter, you are reminded that a $ 25 replacement fee applies in the event you lose it too. It also beeps if there are too many people gathered too close together, although I never heard it ring the entire time I was on board.
Touch, touch, touch wherever you go
SafeEntry scanning may not be available, but to help track the movements of guests on board in the event of an outbreak, you are expected to enter with your unique room card every time you enter a public area, even if you are in He passed.
This meant that, from my room to the restaurant on level 16, I had to touch my card a total of four times. It was a bit of a hassle while doing it, but actually, it wasn’t much different from the SafeEntry scan you have to do to enter different stores in a mall. Only you can’t just take out your phone, you have to use the “identity cards” you have issued for the cruise.
No more than five people in a group and reservations are required for use of the pool and facilities
Social distancing rules don’t change just because you’re on a boat. The current rule of no more than five people at a table applies, so you will have to split into two tables if you are on board with a larger group during meals.
And just like in hotels, you will have to reserve a space to use the pool and jacuzzis; only two people are allowed in each of the four hot tubs on board. The same reservation rule applies for the gym as well (90 minutes per slot), so if you have limited time on the cruise, I suggest you make a reservation as soon as you get on the ship.
For the rest of the facilities such as the rock wall, the high elements field and the water slides, reservations cannot be made, but the lines are not too long.
Cruise ship ambassadors who double as safety distancing officers
While you won’t see the red shirts our social distancing ambassadors are known for, there are still people around to make sure you keep a safe distance from others – cruise ambassadors dressed in black polo shirts.
And you’ll see them mostly in the buffet areas where people crowd during meals, constantly reminding them to safely keep separate.
One way to escape Singapore for now
While there is definitely some fear involved, especially around the Covid-19 test that everyone must take, it was a pleasant experience, one that took me by surprise. While some friends praise me for the virtues of cruising, being able to explore a whole new country appealed to me more in the past.
However, in the current situation, it’s nice to be able to escape the city (and work, you have to pay for the on-board wifi, so it’s a useful excuse), even if only for a few days. And because there are half as many people as there would normally be on the ship, there are hardly any large crowds of people, except in restaurants during meals.
And with many different activities on board – swimming pools, ropes courses, miniature golf course, outdoor movie showing, and even dance classes – there are plenty to keep you busy.
I’m not the only one who thinks that. Cruise partner Jayner Teh, who like me is on the ship for the first time, decided to book the cruise with her boyfriend to take a break from work. “It’s better than we expected. There are a lot of things to do, like eating and even shopping,” he said.
He added that the service on board had been excellent and that he is already thinking of booking a cruise for his entire family. “It is a good option to leave Singapore for a short period of time.”
For the frequent cruiser Ong, who usually takes a cruise trip three times a year, she shared that although she was also hesitant, her husband reasoned with her that the malls these days are more crowded than the ship. And her husband, Fey Lim, said she actually prefers the cruise experience during a pandemic because “there aren’t as many people as there used to be.”
Well, the concerns still remain. If the risk of infection is higher if you are on board a ship that has someone who has tested positive for Covid-19, recent events have shown that cruise companies are fully prepared for such situations, and in the event that disability to travel continue. plagues us next year, you’ll probably see me on another cruise again to escape the hustle and bustle of work and everyday life.
