Singapore Lifts ban to Welcome Vaccinated International Guests on Cruises
UPDATE (FEBRUARY 2023): With the lowering of Singapore’s Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) to GREEN LEVEL as of February 2023, the preventive measures and/or testing requirements mentioned within this article are no longer in effect. Guests are advised to enquire with the respective cruise lines for updated Testing, Vaccination Requirements and Preventive Measures.
Royal Caribbean FAQ:
What should travelers arriving to the Vaccinated Travel Lane expect on boarding?
Dream Cruises FAQ:
(Keyword Search: Vaccinated Travel Lane)
Singapore opens cruising to VTL guests. PHOTO: SINGAPORE CRUISE SOCIETY
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) shared that they will be welcoming all international guests from countries in the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) to cruise aboard ships currently homeported in Singapore, in compliance with the prevailing entry requirements of the country.
This comes after the Singapore government established Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) with 21 countries, including Australia, the United States and Germany, among others - which will allow vaccinated travellers to enter Singapore quarantine-free.
Big News is: You can fly to Singapore for a cruise, quarantine-free
Previously, due to regulations set out by the country, cruises out of Singapore are only available to Singapore Residents that have not travelled out of Singapore within the 14 days leading up to their cruise. This will no longer be the case. Now with the VTL scheme expanding to more countries globally, the Singapore Government is finally allowing international visitors to board these cruises as well. Given that the cruise lines are ready for you.
If your country of residence is one of the VTL designated countries, you may enter Singapore quarantine free. Otherwise, you may require additional visas/permissions to enter Singapore - or if you have permission to enter any of the 21 VTL nations, you can stay in that country for 14 days before entering Singapore.
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Recap about VTL: Travelling from a VTL country allows quarantine-free entrance into Singapore
If you are in any of the 21 countries in the two weeks leading up to your arrival in Singapore, you will gain quarantine-free access into Singapore. Just a recap, here are the requirements and benefits of the VTL scheme, or you can refer to our article here.
What the process MIGHT look like
We have prepared a 10-step entry process guide (in this case taking Australian residents for an example) of the steps required to enter Singapore for a cruise using the VTL scheme. All visitors must apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) for entrance into Singapore.
This process is subject to change and is provided for guidance only. For up-to-date information, please proceed to the Safe Travel Office (STO) website for the latest information.
Do check out the VTL departure checklist by the Safe Travel Office (STO) here for the latest updated information, as per your departing country.
What ships are sailing from Singapore right now, how is the experience?
As of now, two ships from two different cruise lines are sailing from Singapore right now - Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas & Dream Cruises’ World Dream. These sailings are all operating at limited capacity at the moment, with no port visits.
Quantum of the Seas will depart every Monday for a 3 nights cruise and Thursdays for a 4 night Ocean Getaway cruise, operating until April 2022, while World Dream will depart every Wednesday and Friday for 2 Night Voyages, and Sunday for a 3 Night ‘Super Seacation’ cruise.
Do remember that cruises operating out of Singapore must comply with regulations ashore - such as restricting public consumption of alcoholic beverages from 10:30pm, mask both indoors and outdoors, and prevailing social distancing and group size restrictions.
However, Royal Caribbean confirmed with us that while the restrictions have been lifted, they are still in the works to construct a smooth process for their international guests, and will share more information when they are ready to welcome them.
Dream Cruises on the other hand, has already opened reservations to their international guests.
Please check with the respective cruise lines on their updated measures.
In a nutshell:
Generally, once the cruise lines are ready to accept international guests, this will be most useful for:
Singapore Residents returning to Singapore via VTL, with a cruise immediately following your arrival
Is residing in a VTL designated country, and wish to travel to Singapore for travel/cruise
Particularly for countries close to Singapore, such as Malaysia, Brunei, South Korea & Australia
