The Best Cruise Getaway experience

Royal Caribbean International, a famous cruise line which even non-cruise goers are almost surely to have heard of, lives up to its reputation as one of the top cruise lines though its commendable service from its crew and an experience beyond imagination. This may be particularly evident for first-timers, as it was my very first time on a cruise and it was memorable to say the least but really, it is a cruise for everyone.
A cruise to nowhere, in other words, just cruising, with its destination, its only aim to reach a most pleasant state of relaxation and fun.
The ship here is the Quantum of the Seas!!

Evidently safety is top priority as upon booking PCR test booking time and requirements etc. will all be briefed. It is straight forward and Royal Caribbean is able to guide everyone through it easily. Apart from the compulsory things that Royal Caribbean will brief mostly through email, it is good to take note that an online check-in is possible and may be more convenient.
*More details on the procedure will be explained at the end of the post.
Moving on, on board Royal Caribbean, many precautions are in place, which although may appear restrictive at first, after getting accustomed to, really just adds to the experience of being on a cruise to
nowhere. However, should things return to the way they were before, the connectivity of the different areas of the cruise without area restrictions will surely be welcomed.

The first things after checking in at the cruise centre and boarding the cruise was of course to head straight to the room. That is where the keycard is found. Usually it will be given at check-in counter.

 

A safety brief has to be attended and it is where your assembly station is at, represented on the card. However, feel free to have a look around your room too at your pace just to make sure everything is in order it is a holiday after all!
Here is an example of an Ocean view balcony room do note that arrangement may vary:
The room was comfortable and the bed may be separated to two single beds as well by outing a request in to the housekeeper.

 

Highlights of this sailing on the Quantum of the Seas are far and wide, with something for everyone. Some notable examples are:

Two70

An area with amazing ocean views as the name suggests, a 270-degree view, with shows that will transform the place with different performances that are sure to amaze you.

The North Star

Which offers just the most magnificent experience of overviewing the whole cruise as well as a vast endless view of the ocean rising you to 300 feet (91.44 metres) above sea level.
 

 

Skydiving(IFLY)

For certain attractions, for example, North star and Skydiving (also known as iFly), advance reservation is highly recommended as it is possible for the attractions to be fully booked, as such please check to make reservations for attractions that you definitely want to experience. This may be done through the Royal Caribbean app which also shows other attractions on board, including a surf simulator, a mountain climbing wall, indoor and outdoor pools with Jacuzzi pools, a well-equipped gym, along with a running track
Rock Climbing

Flowrider

*Please stay tuned to the end of the blog post for useful information for the procedure of boarding and while sailing, including information on the Royal Caribbean app!

In addition, there is the indoor activity space home to bumper cars, a trapeze school, roller skating, a basketball court, gaming. However, do take note that due to safety measures some activities are restricted and prohibited.
 

Apart from attractions, the next highlight would be the dining options, with specialty restaurants which require an additional charge (asking the staff at the entrance has saved me any misunderstandings so far) to options which are included with the cost of stay. The options range from cafes and bars to restaurants, thus it is another form of exploration for the cuisine provided.
With virtually an endless number of options, there is hardly a chance to be bored of the various offered cuisine. Depending on the length of cruise as well as your appetite, you may proceed to try each and every one of the options or if you would prefer to take you time, make a note on which restaurant you would prefer and make your reservations as soon as possible to enjoy each option you have picked out at your own pace.
I believe that part of the charm of a cruise is really the fact that it is really a resort, but, being at sea it provides wonderful vast endless views of the surrounding area with a pleasant breeze generally which depends on the weather and cruise itinerary. For the Quantum of the Seas departing from Singapore, it had been pleasant whereas if it was in colder regions of the world depending on season, an outdoor pool may be the last of any plan.

It is an adventure on board, having different experiences and finding favourite spots, which on my account, one of them would be Jamie’s Italian:

It was a first to be at Jamie’s Italian for myself, I had a garlic bread for the appetizer, a Pasta in this case was Pasta Arrabiata, the main, Lasagne, a side of broccoli(not shown here) as well as Ice cream for dessert. Even though it is on board the cruise, pasta is made on-site as well as per Jamie’s Italian standards. It was a pleasant experience, a memorable one with great service, exemplified with the dessert as the ice cream I ordered was simply amazing. Worth nothing is that vegetarian options are available as well. In my opinion, it is certainly worth a visit although at the time reservation is required and please check if any additional costs are chargeable to avoid any surprises.

 
 

The regular dining options that are included are fine as well with the buffet restaurant Windjammer being my favourite but another highlight to spend your time peacefully would be the café and pizza option which is a snacking option to enjoy some downtime, the Café Promenade connected with the pizza place Sorrento’s. After all it is indeed difficult to resist a slice of pizza every now and then especially when it is already included as part of your cruise package. Enjoy some coffee or tea or both along with sandwiches and cake or some pizza. A refreshing and rejuvenating experience to take a break
before going about your activities again.

 
 

The Quantum of the Seas has been quite the cruise experience as a whole. It has various offerings and attractions but above all that, the experience with the Royal Caribbean staff has been perhaps the main highlight out of all these, the people make the place after all.
Not mentioned here includes the duty free stores, the shopping experience with various luxury brands including Tiffany & Co., Bvlgari, a casino, and also a spa and salon.

To end off, although the number of offerings may be overwhelming, I would like to mention to please take your time to explore and enjoy at your own pace. Being on the cruise after all is about having a great experience, and so, enjoy the sunsets, the sunrise, enjoy just exploring the interior of the cruise, or even just taking a dip in the Jacuzzi and discover a brand new experience that is rightfully yours, and I will look forward to seeing familiar faces on my next cruise holiday.

 

For reference as the processes may be confusing this portion is included for the procedures that are taken after booking.
Please note that the procedures are subject to change, but it should be generally the same. This should apply in the COVID-19 pandemic. We will not be updating this so please only use this for reference, any updates provided from Royal Caribbean will not be reflected here.
The following will be based on my personal experience.
After booking, Royal Caribbean will send emails with documents for your understanding and acknowledgement. These forms about COVID-19 Supplementary Privacy Policy, COVID- 19 Supplementary Terms & Conditions and a Health Acknowledgement. For those who have been on a Cruise before, this is slightly more than the usual Health Acknowledgement Acceptance.
Following that, an email from Royal Caribbean to reach out to me regarding the taking of a PCR test was given. Following the instructions on the email I was able to book a time slot for the PCR test. A Trustone app was recommended to be downloaded for ease of information relaying. The results of the test were informed through the app and it was used for verification of results when checking in at the cruise centre.
*Using the Trustone app is recommended but progress of results may be manually checked on their website and printing a hardcopy on your own for references when checking in is possible as well if preferred.
Arriving 10 minutes before my time slot at the PCR test location, I checked in to the location and proceeded with the instructions from the stuff on site to a room solely for the PCR test. The process was really fast, but the test experience seems to differ from person to person, I found it slightly uncomfortable which seems to be the consensus, however, let’s hope this will be improved for the rest of you who will be going on the holiday following this post!
While exiting, the staff at the exit gave a reminder to download the TraceTogether App or to bring the TraceTogether Token as this is a requirement for the Cruise. The app or token had to be shown before I was free to exit.
After receiving the test results which for me took just 24 hours, you may proceed with the online check-in and just preparation for your cruise experience. I had done my online check in through a computer although I believe this is possible through the Royal Caribbean App too which brings us to the last point.
There is a Royal Caribbean app that will be recommended to you for download in all emails from Royal Caribbean at the bottom of all their emails. Personally I found the app useful for reservation for certain restaurants and attractions etc and having a look at the offerings of the cruise even before boarding.
On board it is easy to use the app for locating where to go although there is a rough directory at the lift landings to show which side of the ship has which attractions, restaurants etc. Usage of the app is highly recommended, more details click HERE.
To Note: Registration and creation of a Royal Caribbean account will be required for online check-in and use of the Royal Caribbean app. As such personal information must be filled up as well as an email address.
Please approach us for the booking of your cruise holidays on the Quantum of the Seas and for more details click HERE.

 

Written by: Staff Li Hao (MR) | JTB Takashimaya Consultant

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