Improvements In Wait Times at Quantum of the Seas Designated COVID Test Site
Swift improvements were made at the test site.
UPDATED: 7 December 2021 with updated communications from Royal Caribbean
More staff were deployed at the testing facility located within the Raffles City Convention Centre PHOTO: SINGAPORE CRUISE SOCIETY
Guests embarking Quantum of the Seas for today’s (December 6, 2021) sailing had an improved experience at the Royal Caribbean’s designated COVID testing facility at Raffles City Convention Centre, after last Thursday’s fiasco involving long lines and excessive wait times.
Additional Manpower Deployed
More staff were deployed at the testing facility located within the Raffles City Convention Centre PHOTO: SINGAPORE CRUISE SOCIETY
When we arrived at the convention centre, it was immediately apparent that extra manpower had been deployed from all involved agencies - from the convention centre staff, Intercruises (the shoreside & port services agency), and from Royal Caribbean’s Singapore Office.
They were seen on the ground to be enforcing access and crowd control at the entrance into the facility, as well as responding to questions that guests may have with regards to the process. This is a great improvement in response to guest’ feedback last week that there were no staff able to answer queries on the flow.
Arrival Time
More importantly, guests are now filtered and given access via their selected check-in time, shown on placards that staff are holding at the various points of access. Guests can mainly enter via Level 1 (the linkway towards TWG Cafe/Swissotel from the Customer Service Corridor in the mall), or Level 2 (from the escalators in the shopping mall), leading towards the main lobby of the convention centre on Level 2. Staff were seen all around to guide guests accordingly towards the testing area.
This is a well thought out plan - where guests could follow set paths to lead towards the testing centre, instead of multiple points of access causing mass confusion.
Access based on your selected check-in time now. PHOTO: SINGAPORE CRUISE SOCIETY
We noticed that guests who arrived way ahead of their selected check-in time were turned away at the entrance.
Queue Management Inside & Outside
Queues inside the testing facility PHOTO: SINGAPORE CRUISE SOCIETY/ROYAL CARIBBEAN CLUB
Queue barriers are now set up at the Level 2 Lobby now, ready to manage the lines if needed, but while we were there, guests did not need to queue at the lobby anymore and were directly ushered up into the testing facility.
Registration for the ART COVID Test PHOTO: SINGAPORE CRUISE SOCIETY/ROYAL CARIBBEAN CLUB
Inside the testing facility, queues were clearly laid out leading them for their registration, then the swab. Singapore Cruise Society understands that the process did not take longer than 45 minutes.
An update from Royal Caribbean
An updated communication was sent via text messages to guests with upcoming sailings on Quantum of the Seas. PHOTO: SINGAPORE CRUISE SOCIETY/ROYAL CARIBBEAN CLUB
Royal Caribbean has finally updated their communications and sent out an SMS earlier today with a statement that now reads “you should only arrive 1 hour prior to your selected cruise arrival window to ensure you have the smoothest experience possible.” “Be sure to arrive to the terminal at your arrival window with your entire travel party once you have all recieved a negative antigen test result.” It added.
This message was received by us on 7 December at around 2pm for a cruise departing later this month.
Moving Ahead
Entrance into the testing facility. PHOTO: SINGAPORE CRUISE SOCIETY
These are steps that should have been already in place last Thursday to manage the expected crowds, but moving forward, it is still great to see Royal Caribbean and all parties involved making rapid improvements to the testing process and guest flow at the designated testing facility.
We continue to urge & recommend all readers with upcoming sailings on Quantum of the Seas to refer closely to instructions sent by the cruise line, and arrive at the testing facility on time: one hour prior to your selected check-in time.
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