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New York Cruise Guide > Cruise Destinations > Nowhere

Cruises to Nowhere from New York

A cruise to nowhere is a perfect quick vacation. All the fun of cruises without going to another port. Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival offered short cruises to nowhere from New York.

A cruise to nowhere is a 2-night or 3-night cruise out into the ocean and back. It's a great little get-away ... luxury accommodations, all the food you can eat, entertainment, dancing, casinos, swimming pools, and constant activities. Escape on a little cruise to nowhere.

We recommend a cruise to nowhere for anyone who isn't sure they'll like cruises. These trips are short and inexpensive, but you can sample all the fun stuff that cruises have to offer: spas, unlimited dining options, plush cabins, sports, and entertainment.

The shortest cruises currently available from New York are 4-day cruises .

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Cruises to Nowhere

What is "Cruise To Nowhere" and does it mean that a cruise ship is going nowhere? We give you the ultimate list of all cruise ships sailing the always very special "cruises to Nowhere" with departures from ports in the USA, Australia / New Zealand, Europe / England UK, Asia, South America. This review is integrated with Party Cruises .

Here you will find information on Cruise To Nowhere deals as itineraries/departure dates, prices, and ports. Itineraries are always roundtrips, without any call ports on the route. This internal link goes directly to the cruise schedule - if you wanna skip the intro info.

"Cruise to Nowhere" - what is, where to find it, why Nowhere cruise deals

What is a Cruise to Nowhere? Well, strangely enough, by definition, it's a unique itinerary on which a cruise ship is going to absolutely Nowhere! However, it will definitely not stay in the port all the time, instead, it will sail without any destination to a specific point at sea to allow its passengers to experience a very short but most romantic, exciting, and not always cheap cruise vacation on a floating resort at sea.

What are Cruises to Nowhere (the definition)? As a concise overview - it's an always round-trip special cruise itinerary with no other call ports than your disembarkation port, which happens to be the same as your embarkation port (the cruise ship port of departure).

Why take a Cruise to Nowhere? Three very big reasons - and the first one is that it is very short as duration (its cruise length is 1 or 2 night, rarely 3- or 4-night), so by this variable is more like mini cruise deals (but not all of them are round-trips, and they usually visit other ports). Being a short cruise is an important issue, considering your business schedule, right? The second one is it's from the category of very cheap cruise deals - the no-call-ports itinerary and the duration are major determinants of cruise prices - port charges, fuel consumption, etc. The third one is it's one of the very special types of cruises - rare to be found (as a number of sailings per year), offered by a very limited number of passenger ships (excluding trips by smaller boats and floating hotel-casino ship deals), extremely popular, departures only from the world's biggest cruise ports of the world's most developed countries - like USA, UK, Australia.

What is a Cruise to Nowhere as length and prices?

And finally, about the real deals - what is from where, when, and for how much. As to the cost of cruises to Nowhere, the prices are always per person (based on double occupancy), we will give you only the cheapest cruise rates in US dollars on the lowest cabin category by ship (it's usually an Inside stateroom), all prices are indicative and may change due to availability. So, compare sailing dates and prices, pick your port of departure, book it! Be aware, that availability is a strong issue on this one - early booking is a must! It really goes to Nowhere, but it is a so so so special deal - and we all like "special" very much!

It's usually 1- or 2 nights (2-3-day cruise deals), but some lines (like P&O, for example) offer longer itineraries of 3-4-nights, on which you'll have a themed program pre-scheduled for your voyage (more often "Food & Wine", but also "Lifestyle", "Comedy", "Art", etc).

As to the price, one thing is absolutely sure - it's a cheap deal. Nowhere cruises are always cheaper than all other trips with itineraries including stops in ports of call. One of the main reasons for that is the sort length. The price really depends online and ship, but also on the time of booking (availability), cabin grades, departure port, and mostly on how much are you willing to spend while on board. What does the last statement mean? Well, your ship will have - absolutely for sure - a big Casino, a specialty (reservations only) fancy restaurant, lots of bars and lounges to buy expensive drinks and whatnot, and of course - a whole district of pretty lined-up duty-free shopping boutiques, where, as far the money spending is concerned, only the sky is the limit! As to all the rest on-board activities and amenities - they are all included in your rates (remember, all rates are based on double occupancy). But as a general rule, cruise prices on cruises to Nowhere rarely exceed the amount of US $200 per night per person. And this is a great deal, considering the type of your short cruise ship vacation and all that's included (plus the cabin, open-seating dining in the Main Dining Rooms, 24-hour room service, etc, etc).

What do you do on Cruises to Nowhere?

Remember these six words - "you spend money to have fun"! It could be your special romantic short cruise break or a weekend getaway dinner cruise to dining with your beloved one in a classy restaurant at sea, it could be your "gambling night" at sea, it could be your best "party cruise deal" ever to spend some quality fun time with your friends or colleges, or it could be simply your "me and the sea" special time to relax and enjoy the vastness of the ocean and the beauty of the modern cruise ship man-made miracle.

The long list of onboard activities includes also the trivia of games and contests, both fine and casual dining options (themed buffets), big and top-fun pools and pool contests (including kids-only pools), sports contests, fine art auctions, music and dancing experiences, huge-theatre excitement with nightly grand-style live show productions, movies, revues, comedians and magicians, Casino gambling tournaments and gambling lessons, ship tours (bridge, galley, etc), dance lessons, educational lectures, shopping sales promotions with special offers, and absolutely not the last are the fitness (and Yoga) classes and the Spa treatments in a huge wellness center on board.

Who goes on Nowhere cruises and what the ships look like?

This type of cruise is perfect for first-time cruise travelers to sample the "life on board" - to get a sense of what a cruise and a cruise ship is like avoiding the big-money spending on a long and expensive trip. It's the perfect opportunity to sample new cruise ships (no matter new-built or newly refit/refurbished).

As to the "Nowhere ships" - they all are BIG. All cruise ships for Cruises to Nowhere are from very big to hugely-big - their owners and crew know best how to gather huge crowds and are absolutely the best in keeping these crowds happy. Still, most of the departures are from New York City - with its unlimited capacity to keep the ships full of passengers. Prior to 2017, the major player in the NYC market was NCL - with 2 new ships (launched in 2013 and 2014).

Why cruise ship lines offer Nowhere deals?

The very itinerary explains it all - on its short cruise break itinerary, the cruise ship will leave its port to sails on an ocean (or on a river, by smaller ships and river cruise boats), then will return to the same port. And all this for what reason.

I mentioned earlier something about a special "point at sea". This location allows the boat to open its duty-free stores and casinos for passengers to spend their time and mostly their money enjoying all there is to be enjoyed on a very big ship without being obstructed by the "law of the land" or distracted by ports of call.

At the same time, your ship will sail calmly on a looping course to take you back to your embarkation port, offering you the chance to have an unforgettable night (or two or three or four) of the best fun and special memories from a special vacation.

Cruises to Nowhere 2021-2022 schedule

Most of these special roundtrip itineraries are offered as departures from some of the world's largest cruise ports. Just follow the ship links from the table to see regularly updated indicative prices per person (with double occupancy) to compare. These CruiseMapper links will show you the boat's individual "itinerary-schedule-current position" page, also listing the cheapest rates on the lowest cabin category currently available for booking.

Note: Due to COVID -related international travel restrictions, in 2021 several major companies started their passenger shipping operations with "nowhere cruises" available for booking by the country's residents only. Those included AIDA Cruises ( AIDAsol and AIDAprima from Kiel Germany ), Princess Cruises ( Regal Princess and Sky Princess , from Southampton ), DCL-Disney Cruise Line ( Disney Magic from Southampton, London-Tilbury , Liverpool , Newcastle ), RCI-Royal Caribbean International ( Quantum of the Seas from Singapore , Spectrum of the Seas from Hong Kong China ).

Cruise to Nowhere USA

Cruises to Nowhere from US ports by major cruise companies and on larger ships will not be offered anytime soon. The news became fact in 2016 when the few passenger shipping companies offering such deals canceled all scheduled voyages which itineraries didn't include a foreign port of call. This new policy was implemented after a change made in the enforcement of the US embarkation law.

Under an act passed over 100 years ago, foreign-flagged vessels are not allowed to operate voyages leaving roundtrip from US ports without at least one port call in a foreign country. In a June 2015 statement, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency announced the reasons for the changes. D-1 visa holders (crew visas) were not eligible for working on "Cruises to Nowhere" as they are eligible to serve as crewmembers only if they intend to land in a US port (temporarily) and to depart from a US port with the cruise vessel. Although nowhere cruises do enter international waters, CBP maintains that crewmembers don't actually depart from the USA because "they don't land in a foreign port or territory".

Among the canceled sailings were Carnival's 2-night cruises from Norfolk Virginia (2016, on Carnival Sunshine ) and NCL's 2-night cruises from NYC New York (2017, on Norwegian Breakaway ). Still, the change applies only to foreign-flagged cruise ships, most of which have as flag states countries like Bahamas, Panama, Bermuda. By the new regulations, the only way for "Cruises to Nowhere" to be permitted is for the companies to employ an all-American crew for the vessel. Otherwise, each itinerary (long or short) must include at least 1 foreign port of call before the ship returns to the USA with the crew who are not American citizens. Currently, the only large-sized ocean cruise ship with an entirely American crew is NCL's Pride of America .

Cruise to Nowhere NYC

Operated as special voyages until 2017, the 1-2 night cruise to Nowhere NYC deals were inclusive of shipboard dining, entertainment, numerous activities, and modern amenities. The "nowhere" ships made their special itinerary out of New York City calling on no other ports. Ships simply sailed far enough from the US shore to start providing duty-free shopping and gambling for their party-loving passengers.

Package deals included pre- and post-cruise hotel stays and airport-ship transportation. These deals were perfect for first-timers to sample the onboard fun, including dining, Spa, Casino, staterooms, lounges and bars, activities, amenities, etc. Most NYC Nowhere cruises were by NCL's Norwegian Gem ship - offered when the liner adjusted its Bermuda schedule for the summer. Then joined Norwegian Breakaway, and just before closing the market - the Royal Caribbean "WOW ship" Quantum of the Seas (leaving from Bayonne NJ). Quantum's prices were comparatively high ($300 pp per day), but the ship is truly unique and new (launched 2014).

China Cruises to Nowhere

On May 8, 2019, China's Ministry of Transport officially approved nowhere cruises leaving roundtrip from homeports Sanya and Haikou (Haidian Island) . The deal allows China-based liners to operate on itineraries not visiting a foreign port.

However, the Ministry imposed as requirements that the cruise company must include a Chinese investor (with majority stake), the vessel to be not older than 30 years, and onboard gambling is forbidden. China-flagged ships are treated on an exclusive basis. Passengers' boarding documents and customs clearance on these voyages are simplified - only national identification cards (or entry/exit documents) are required, and travel agents can submit group customers' documents.

Singapore Cruises to Nowhere

In early-October 2020, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) began to develop new health and safety protocols that are expected to allow cruises to nowhere leaving roundtrip from Singapore.

The new proposal came after Singapore Airlines announced in September that they would offer 3-hour "flights to nowhere" (sightseeing roundtrips) from Singapore's Changi Airport. However, Singapore Airlines later canceled the program due to active criticism from local environmental campaigners.

STB hired DNV-GL (Hovic Norway-based risk management company and accredited registrar and classification society) to create a compliance and certification scheme ("benchmarked against global health, safety and hygiene standards") to help shipping companies who want to restart voyages out of Port Singapore as the country was still in lockdown due to the pandemic/Coronavirus crisis.

STB's Regional Director of the Americas (Rachel Loh) advised that cruise shipping companies would need to pass an audit for certification to return to cruising. His report added that ships would only be allowed to accommodate ~50% of their max passenger capacity for the first 3 months of operation.

There is no official date for when "Singapore cruises to nowhere" will commence but all operators homeporting in Singapore were eager to restart operations after voluntarily ceasing voyages since March 2020.

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Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises to Nowhere Cruises

If you’ve never cruised, a good way to get a glimpse into this revolutionary vacation style is by taking a cruise to nowhere – especially with Norwegian Cruise Line. These cruises are usually between one to three days long, giving you just a sample of what life onboard is like. Norwegian Cruise Line offers a handful of these sailings each year, leaving from popular ports like New York, Los Angeles and New Orleans. If you find that cruising is something you can get used to, be sure to book a future cruise onboard – just let the onboard staff know to coordinate with your Cruise Web consultant, and you’re set. These cruises are also great for those in need of a quick break. Once you board your ship, even if it’s just for one night, you’ll leave all your troubles on land and let your mind and body move to the sway of the ocean. You may not be gone long, but you’ll still get that much needed break.

Things to Do on a Cruise to Nowhere with Norwegian Cruise Line

Just because you won’t be stopping in any ports doesn’t mean you won’t have a packed schedule. Norwegian Cruise Line’s cruise ships have lots of activities and venues to visit. Featured below are some of the best ways to make the most of your cruise to nowhere with Norwegian Cruise Line:

• Specialty Dining You’ll never go hungry on a Norwegian Cruise Line cruise ship; there are several dining venues on board, from hot dog carts on some ships to fancy dinner theaters. Norwegian also pioneered the specialty restaurant, so you’ll find a wide array of options onboard.  

• Get Active Balance your meals with a game of basketball or a Zumba class. Many of Norwegian Cruise Line’s ships have mini golf courses and state-of-the-art gyms, and some even have obstacle courses that will really get your blood pumping.  

• Laugh it off Get in some good laughs at the ship’s comedy club. Most sailings have a comedian onboard who performs a couple of times each night. Select Norwegian cruise ships also have The Second City improv comedy troupe.  

• Get Lucky Once the ship has set sail, you can take advantage of the casino. Each ship has a large selection of slot machines and table games. Whether you bet on red or black, you’ll have a blast.  

• Pamper Yourself Feel the stress melt away as you enjoy a massage, facial or body treatment at the ship’s spa. You can also get gussied up at the ship’s salon with a mani/pedi, new hairstyle or makeover.  

• Sightseeing  Before or after your cruise, be sure to spend at least an afternoon touring the city in which your ship docks. If it’s New York, you can’t go wrong seeing a Broadway show; if you’re in Los Angeles, head to the Getty Museum in Malibu; if it’s New Orleans, the French Quarter is always a blast. Each port has something special to offer.  

Top 10 Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises to Nowhere Cruises

Norwegian cruise line cruises to nowhere departure ports.

Learn more about each of the possible departure ports for a cruise to nowhere cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line. Your Norwegian Cruise Line cruise to nowhere cruise could leave from any of the following cities:

Photo Gallery for Norwegian Cruise Line Cruises to Nowhere Cruises

Check out our photo gallery of cruise to nowhere cruising photos from Norwegian Cruise Line. Keep in mind, this is just a sample of the sights waiting for you on a Norwegian Cruise Line cruise to nowhere cruise vacation.

Spice H2O outdoor theater

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• What is a Cruise to Nowhere?

If travel is all about the journey rather than the destination, then why not take a trip to nowhere? Yes, really. Consider a short cruise vacation where the ship itself becomes the destination. A cruise to nowhere sails out into international waters for a short duration of generally 2 to 3 days, allowing passengers with limited time to enjoy a quick, fuss-free getaway, before returning to the point of embarkation without any intermediate port calls.

So why would one consider a cruise to nowhere? The reasons are manifold. Firstly, it’s an ideal opportunity for first time cruisers to sample the cruising life without committing to the extra time and expense of a longer sailing. Even seasoned cruise travelers opt for cruise vacations simply to try out newly launched or upgraded cruise ships, or because their time is limited. The lower cost compared to a longer journey is a very obvious motivating factor too.    

Cruise to nowhere rules for US based ships

The do-it-yourself cruise to nowhere from the us, why take a cruise to nowhere, maximize your cruise to nowhere with time-saving hacks, how to find a cruise to nowhere, taking an overseas cruise to nowhere, the first step to a rewarding life of cruising.

Sadly, cruises to nowhere out of US ports officially came to an end in 2016 due to U.S. government regulations. It states foreign flagged ships may not operate roundtrip sailings from an American port without at least one stop in a foreign country. It actually relates to immigration laws governing the mostly foreign cruise ship workers who hold D-1 visas. This visa gives the holder the right to work for the cruise line on international voyages out of the US but not on American soil. Although a ship may sail into international waters, it is deemed to be a ‘domestic’ trip because “they do not land in a foreign port or territory” according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This is a law which actually dates back more than 100 years (called the Jones Act) but has only recently been properly enforced. The only large-sized ocean cruise ship flagged in the US with an entirely American crew is Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America which sails exclusively in US waters around the Hawaiian Islands.

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While the cruise to nowhere from a US port is officially no more, it’s not quite the end of the story. The concept is still very much alive with American cruisers, thanks to having the world’s largest cruising region right on their doorstep. The ease at which cruise ships can get to the Bahamas, Caribbean and Mexico quickly means there are a plethora of short cruise vacation options.

People are still taking a cruise to nowhere legally by simply creating their own limited time DIY version. They book a conventional 3 day cruise for a quick getaway and simply stay onboard during their vacation days while the hordes head ashore to explore for the day. While this may sound like a wasted opportunity to some people, it is actually a very shrewd way to optimize limited time – especially for cruisers who may have already previously visited the destinations the ship calls at.

1. You get free reign of the cruise ship

Once the ship empties as the crowds disembark on shore excursions, the once crowded swimming pools and restaurants become much more agreeable. Those who stay behind will find space and quietude to top up their suntan and sip a frozen cocktail poolside after grabbing the best sun loungers. Plus, you’ll likely be able to bomb down the water slide to your heart’s content without the long lines.

2. Partake in daytime activities and classes onboard

Cruise lines continue to offer daytime activities during port days, which again will be less crowded than usual, and all the more rewarding for it. Art and crafts, game shows, lectures and cooking demonstrations are just some of the varied options.

3. Have a lazy lie-in, there's no pressure on this cruise vacation

A DIY style cruise to nowhere means enjoying days without the routine of rising early for breakfast and then rushing ashore to make the most of a few hours on land. Spend an extra hour or two in bed and enjoy a laid back day at leisure, including a lunch buffet without the long lines.

4. Take advantage of cut-price pampering for certain onboard activities

Cruise lines invariably offer eye catching deals for spa treatments on port days to entice people to skip the shore excursions. Oftentimes they reduce prices by as much as 50 percent off.  

These short sailings generally take place on mid-sized to larger ships with all the frills, so you’ll be hard pushed to fit in everything during a short two or three-day sailing. All ship amenities and entertainment are open from restaurants and bars, kids clubs, pool deck games, wellness and the casino. In fact, the main purpose of cruises to nowhere was to enable guests to gamble in the casino or shop for duty free gifts once a ship reached international waters.

1. You get a feel of what cruising is like

Legally operated overseas cruises to nowhere and short weekend cruises are essentially marketed as sampler cruises to first-timers to test the waters without committing the time and expense of a longer cruise. You’ll have time to sample what onboard life is all about without having to plan your day around in-port shore visits. It’s a great opportunity to make full use of all shipboard amenities – a languid afternoon lazing by the pool deck, a fine meal in a specialty restaurant, some blissful spa time at sea, or a movie screening under the stars. By the time you set foot back on dry land, you’ll likely already know whether the cruising life is for you.

2. It can be a weekend getaway with a difference

If you happen to reside within easy reach of a main cruise port , a quickie cruise to nowhere makes for an intriguing ‘staycation’ option. When that next long weekend comes around, hop aboard for some well-deserved R&R on the high seas, without having to take additional days off work. It certainly beats the hassle of a long drive to a hotel or the seemingly never-ending airport security lines. When it comes to optimizing your precious time off, a local short cruise takes some beating.

3. Cruises to nowhere are great for budget travelers

The much reduced price tag is an obvious lure for a quick getaway short cruise. It’s not difficult to find a cruise at a great rate. These short sailings are often used to fill a one-off scheduling gap or perhaps a new port deployment, and are priced to fill capacity with much cheaper rates than a longer sailing. Once you factor in the cost of a hotel room, entertainment, and dining on land it’s a no-brainer if your budget is tight, even when compared to conventional all-inclusive resorts.

4. They are perfect for themed & occasion cruises

A weekend cruise is a popular option for a special celebration on the high seas, such as a family milestone like a birthday and anniversary, or a bachelor party. In fact, short cruises minus port calls are often specifically promoted as ‘party cruises.’ For many short voyages that remain at sea, the big focus is on a shared interest such as cuisine, art or with a musical flavor, rather than immersing in local life during a shore visit.

1. Plan your onbard activites ahead of time

While being spontaneous and a little impulsive is all part of the travel experience, you’ll need to be focused with a pre-cruise game-plan to make the absolute most of the limited time. You’ll be boarding a floating mini-city so acquaint yourself as much as possible with the ship layout beforehand. All cruise lines display detailed maps online for all their ships so arm yourself with a print-out before arriving at the port. Better still, save a tree and download their cruise line app which will also give you updates on shipboard events, amenities, add-on services and weather conditions.

2. A quick getway means travelling light

Make the experience as seamless and stress-free as possible and pack accordingly. For a short and sweet 3 day cruise, a few choice items of smart casual wear and something for the pool is literally all you need. They are no formal nights on these quick getaway cruises so you can forgo the ball gown and dinner jacket. It pays to pack everything into a handy mid-size suitcase that you can easily wheel on and off the ship yourself, rather than waiting around for ship porters to deliver it to your cabin.

3. Act fast when making shipboard reservations

If you want to sample a dish at a specialty restaurant, book a spa treatment or bag a front row seat at one of the live shows, you’ll likely need to act fast. Make this one of your first tasks as you step aboard. Again, some cruise lines allow you to make reservations via their official app. Needless to say, the sooner you arrive for embarkation the sooner you can start maximizing your enjoyment and exploring everything the ship has to offer.

As mentioned, sailing out of a US port has its own unique limitations but the huge variety of conventional short cruise options lasting from 2 – 4 days is unmatched. Florida and the Gulf Coast are the main gateways to your next quick getaway to the sunshine, serving the Bahamas, the Caribbean and Mexico , while the SoCal ports of Long Beach and San Diego unlock weekend cruises to Baja. Elsewhere, a little detective work could also pay dividends. If you have a specific ship in mind, start searching for dates around the time it may be repositioning to a new port, or due to come out of a dry-dock refurbishment, as a short 2 or 3 day cruise may be offered to fill in a scheduling gap. Last minute changes, be it an operational or weather-related issue, could also free up dates for an extra short sailing.

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Cruises to nowhere are perfectly legal in many regions around the world and is an interesting option to combine a long haul vacation with a few days at sea. Cruise itineraries in Europe do include regularly scheduled short cruises with no port calls, and you can easily search and find a cruise to book online. Many of these are not technically a roundtrip cruise to nowhere itinerary as they may depart one cruise port and arrive at another but feature no port calls en route. For example MSC Cruises sails the short journey from Genoa to Marseille – a great option to include it in a planned European vacation that includes both Italy and France.  

One of the biggest markets for a short cruise without any port calls is Australia. Lines including Carnival and Celebrity Cruises operate cruise to nowhere programs, which are often marketed as ‘sampler cruises’ to entice new customers. These generally depart from Sydney and Brisbane with seasonal sailings also from Fremantle. They often have a specific theme such as food and wine, live music or comedy cruises. MSC Cruises also schedules overnight ‘party cruises’ to nowhere in South Africa.

For many travelers, the humble short cruise has been the initial springboard for years of adventurous cruise vacations. Although a cruise to nowhere is technically no more for Americans, the concept is still very much alive and continues to unlock the joys of cruising for a growing number of new cruise converts. These quick getaway cruises punch well above their weight, packing in a lot of excitement and fun experiences during vacation days at sea. They are designed to immerse passengers in the shipboard life yet offer as much relaxation and quietude as you like.

Check out these articles for more information on short cruises:

• Why You Should take a 3-Day Cruise
• The Best Ports & Destinations for Short Cruises
• 13 Top Tips to Master a Short Cruise

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The Pros and Cons of a Cruise to Nowhere

See recent posts by Megan Wood

Before cruising regulation laws changed in 2016 , "cruises to nowhere" were a popular and profitable way for cruise lines to offer quickie two-day vacations that led to, well, nowhere. Essentially, these cruises let passengers enjoy everything onboard the ship without docking at a port of call. It was partially a marketing strategy for the cruise line and partially an easy getaway for cruise lovers. Today, some cruise passengers are still taking cruises to nowhere, but they're doing it legally. Passengers simply stay on the cruise ship when it docks. Whether this sounds like a genius workaround or a waste of money depends on who you ask. Take a look at the pros and cons of a cruise to nowhere.

1.  Fewer crowds. While (almost) everyone else is lining up to exit the cruise ship at port, those who stay behind will find themselves with free reign to use the usually overflowing swimming pools, restaurants, fitness center, and bars.

2. Free meals . If you’re on a cruise ship that includes free dining (the vast majority do) then your meals onboard are already covered. Same goes for those who purchased drink packages. Staying onboard saves dollars on food and drinks.

3. Gambling. Many cruise ships have small (or huge) casinos onboard that are only open in international waters and must close at port. The popular exceptions to that rule are ports in Nassau or Bermuda , where it’s legal to stay onboard and gamble.

4. Lectures, shows, and classes. Most cruise ships cater to those who choose to stay onboard with a selection of activities. Norwegian offers a daytime itinerary that includes culinary demonstrations, live game shows, towel animal folding lessons, and dance demonstrations.

5. Mobility restrictions. Not all ports are easy to navigate, especially for senior or disabled passengers. For some, docking at a port and enjoying the view from the cruise ship is much safer than going ashore.

6. Time to relax. Lots of “cruise to nowhere” passengers simply enjoy having a whole stretch of days in front of them without a schedule. For them, sleeping in, ordering room service, and lounging by the pool is the whole point of a vacation. So why not do it on a cruise ship that’s essentially an all-inclusive resort?

1. Not all cruises. A “cruise to nowhere” can be pretty bleak if you’re on a very low cost cruise ship with few amenities or a smaller specialty cruise that’s designed to dock at smaller ports for maximum immersion in a place. For instance, Viking Star includes shore excursions in their base rates and docks in Barcelona and St. Tropez.

2. Not all cabins. Sure, if you splashed out on a spa suite with a private balcony and butler service, you might be tempted to spend more time soaking up every last minute in the lap of luxury. But for budget-conscious cruisers with Inside Cabins, you’re going to be looking for every excuse to get out of your windowless and cramped cabin and out in to the world.

3. You’re missing out. Proponents of “cruises to nowhere” sometimes argue that they take the same cruise every year and have seen everything they want to see at port. But that can’t possibly be true. For those who need some inspiration, check out our Port Guides .

4. Tourism dollars.  Cruise ships are allowed to dock in specific destinations because they bring tourists and tourists’ dollars. It’s no secret that cruising (like all travel) has environmental and social impacts that can alter a destination. So it seems a little unfair to not get off the boat and spend some money on the local economy.

The Verdict

Overall, we think it’s a huge mistake to stay onboard a cruise ship (if you’re physically capable) for the entirety of your cruise. You’re missing out on experiencing new cultures and trying something different by remaining on the ship. But we also understand the siren call of free buffet lunches and no lines at the free-fall waterslides. As a compromise, we suggest spending at least the morning in port, and then returning to the ship for a late lunch and onboard activities. After all, if you’re just on the cruise ship for amenities, you may as well book an all-inclusive resort on land. We’ve got a few suggestions for you.

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A Guide To 1-3 Day Cruises And Cruises To Nowhere

by Prof. Cruise · Published February 1, 2020 · Updated March 2, 2020

Where did you go on your cruise? Nowhere!

Today’s lecture will cover cruises to nowhere (pictured above) as well as very short 1-3 day cruises. Prior to clicking on this guide, you may not have even known these cruises existed. There’s good reason for that, which I’ll get to later, but first, a brief introduction to short cruises and cruises to nowhere and why cruise lines offer them.

An Introduction To One Night Cruises, Short Cruises, And Cruises To Nowhere

While I now consider anything shorter than 21 days (my longest cruise to date) a “short” cruise, cruise lines also occasionally offer really short cruises, some as short as just one night and some that don’t stop at any ports (cruises to nowhere). Here are three common reasons these cruises are offered:

1. Repositioning Cruises

Often short cruises are offered in order to reposition a ship from one departure port to another (such as the 1 night cruise I took from Seattle to Vancouver and the 3 night cruise I took from Los Angeles to Vancouver).

2. Chartered Or Partially Chartered Cruises

Sometimes short cruises are either fully or partially chartered. Sometimes by celebrity “fan groups.” Which is how I unintentionally ended up on a 2 night Royal Caribbean cruise round trip from Seattle with a stop in Victoria, Canada with…Adam Carolla. But that’s an (R rated) story for another time.

3. A Break Between Two Longer Itinerary Segments

If there is a break between two longer itinerary segments, without the time necessary to sail very far, sometimes a ship will sell rooms for a 1 or 2 night cruise and either visit a nearby port or simply idle or anchor far enough out at sea to open the casino and shops. This, however, is more complicated for ships sailing from U.S. ports. Here’s why…

How is the Passenger Vessel Services Act Relevant To Short Cruises And Cruises To Nowhere?

The Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886 prohibits cruise ships that are foreign-flagged (for which nearly all of them are) from departing from and returning to the same U.S. port without first visiting a foreign port. It also forbids foreign-flagged cruise ships from embarking in one U.S. port and disembarking in a different U.S. port without visiting a distant foreign port outside of North America.

This both explains the odd itineraries on some short cruises (and longer cruises for that matter) and explains why there are so few of them from U.S. ports. For example, my 2 night cruise round trip from Seattle had to stop in Victoria, Canada. It couldn’t just head down to Oregon for a day or sail around the Pugit Sound for a few days and then return to Seattle.

Repositioning cruises starting at a U.S. port MUST either disembark at a foreign port or visit a foreign port outside of North America. While my 3 night cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver and my 1 night cruise from Seattle to Vancouver didn’t stop at any ports (technically making them cruises to nowhere), they both disembarked at a different port outside the U.S., meaning they complied with the The Passenger Vessel Services Act.

“Cruises to nowhere” in their purest form (meaning they start and end at the same port and don’t visit any ports in between) are generally only available outside the U.S.

9 Reason’s To Book A Short Cruise Or Cruise To Nowhere

Despite the length of the cruise, you probably find disembarkation day premature and descending the gangway a cruel form of torment: “but I’ve only been at sea for 68 nights!” I do too. In fact, once my kid finally learns to wash his own hair and find the remote (all I’m really good for anymore) and once my dog takes up residence in his chosen final resting place at our local Fogo de Chão (he’s not concerned about health codes), I plan on never disembarking again. But for now, I sometimes have occasion to book a very short cruise and you might too! Here are 9 reasons to book a short cruise or cruise to nowhere:

1. Transportation

Do you live in Seattle, but occasionally like to spend a weekend in Vancouver (or vise versa)? You could drive, take the bus or train, or…CRUISE there!

2. To Try On Cruising Or Another Cruise Line

Are you curious about cruising, but unsure if you’ll like it? Are you nervous about seasickness or claustrophobia or boredom or managing a dietary restriction or medical condition while onboard? Or are you loyal to NCL, but Royal Caribbean keeps enticing you to stray with her ice skating shows and simulated skydiving?

Why not try on cruising or another cruise line or ship with a short 1-3 night cruise? I mean, at worst you’ll be mildly thankful for puking the whole time as the walls of your interior cabin conspire to suffocate you, because at least it’s better than the food prospects and activity lineup. OR you’ll be banned from your NCL Facebook group, “traitor!,” and will have to join Prof. Cruise’s group because she sets a low bar for entry. BUT, you might just like it. Or love it and find yourself both addicted to cruising or entirely disloyal to any particular line like me.

3. To Be Fancy

While a fancy cruise suite for a longer sailing might feel like the feather on a canine teaser wand positioned just out of reach as it taunts you, you might be able to afford one for a short 1 or 2 night cruise! The same goes for things like a beverage package, a spa pass, or a cabana or special deck access.

Mr. Cruise and I have always wanted to try the beverage package on Celebrity, but it’s been cost prohibitive on prior itineraries. Excitedly, we’ve just purchased it for a short cruise we have coming up in April.

4. To Avoid Taking Vacation Days

As a professor of cruising, I cruise for both vacation and for work, but I acknowledge that most people my age have real jobs, important jobs that can’t be hastily abandoned in favor of a life at sea. But with short 1 to 2 day itineraries, it may be possible for you to avoid taking vacation days for your cruise.

5. For A Date Night Or Friend’s Weekend Or For “Self Care”

A short cruise for two might actually end up costing you less than a dinner date on land. Plus you get breakfast and lunch, a floating hotel room, live music, production shows, and other activities. Short cruises can also make for a fun friend’s weekend. And if you don’t have any friends, just invite me…you do now! And good luck getting rid of me: “when’s our next cruise?!?!” Or leave your kids with your Mr. Cruise and go solo for some self care. That’s what I did on my last short cruise! #tableforone

6. To Grow Your Cruise

If you’ve always dreamed of a 9-day cruise (pretty random, but whatever floats your boat – I’ll be here all week), you could build one by combining a 7-day itinerary with a 2-day itinerary. A back-to-back can turn a short cruise into a long cruise or a long cruise into a longer cruise.

See my complete guide to b2b’s here .

7. For A Corporate Gathering Or Chartered Group

Would you rather have your next corporate gathering here…

or here…

Corporate gatherings or incentive programs are fairly common on short cruises. On my last one I was joined by several hundred top selling insurance agents in matching green shirts. Don’t worry though, they weren’t there to hock me travel insurance (no, that’s what I’m for: go here to compare plans find the best price on travel insurance for your cruise), they were there to par-tay!

It’s also common for short cruises to be either fully or partially chartered by various groups, clubs, and organizations. You might end up on one of these cruises as a regular passenger (like I was on my cruise with Adam Carolla and 500 of his closest friends) or you might seek one of these out, like this one with Oprah and Gayle King.

8. To Fit A Cruise Into Your Budget

Do you have two seemingly incompatible goals in life, to pay your bills on time AND to cruise often? Short cruises may offer some reconciliation. Starting at just $69 per person per night (based on two person occupancy), these short cruises can be an inexpensive option for those who may not be able to fit a longer cruise into the budget.

9. Because A Short Cruise Is Better Than No Cruise

Hear me out. Short isn’t all bad. For example, the pencil hash mark on my wall labeled with “age 41” measures in at just 5 feet 2 inches, but allows me to shop in the children’s department where unicorn prints and flip sequins are more readily available. And short cruises aren’t all bad either. They’re certainly better than no cruise at all and offer a definitive answer to the question: “how much food can I eat in less than 24 hours without popping my skin?” (Go here to find out.)

How Do I Find A One Night Cruise, Short Cruise, Or Cruise To Nowhere?

If you’re wondering why you’ve never seen or heard of these cruises, there’s good reason. Cruises under 3 nights often won’t be listed on the popular online cruise search and booking sites. Even many cruise lines won’t have them listed on their websites. So, how do you find one? Here are a few good web resources I use to find them (I don’t receive any commission for either of these links, but I have used Cruise Direct to book my short cruises in the past and have always had a good experience with them):

Cruise Critic 1-2 Night Cruises

Cruise Direct 1-2 Night cruises

Frequently Asked Questions About Short Cruises?

Is Muster Drill Required For A One Night Cruise?

I’m not know for brevity, but I’ll try it just this once: yes.

What’s The Crowd Like On A One Night Or Short Cruise?

Normally on Holland America the maître d’ has to stand guard outside the dining room to turn away throngs of geriatric (for which I am one) passengers used to eating dinner at 4pm: “what do you mean you’re not open for another hour and a half – I’ll be half way through my third dream by then!” And the salon offers a daily special on “wash and sets.” And there are dozens of dentures turned into the lost and found, but surprisingly few smart phones: “that’s what an abacus and an Encyclopedia Britannica is for! Now have you seen my teeth?”

But boy oh boy, on my last cruise aboard HAL’s ms Eurodam , a one nighter, even I stayed up past 8pm (necessitated by my goal to eat 7 days worth of food in less than 24 hours) and the ship was hoppin’. Even at the piano bar where the entertainer kept saying “I don’t know that one” before closing to requests and channeling his best Barry Manilow.

Expect a livelier atmosphere and for the crowd to trend a bit younger on very short cruises.

Are There Organized Activities On A One Night Cruise?

Yes, there will be a full slate of organized activities on your short cruise. Here was the lineup on my last 1 night cruise:

Is There Entertainment On A One Night Cruise?

Yes, there will be typical entertainment, including at least one major production show each night in the main theater.

What Is Dining Like On A One Night Cruise?

Restaurants and bars (including specialty restaurants) will be open during typical hours for your short cruise, but there may be a few minor differences. For example, on my last short cruise there was no set dining time option for dinner in the main dining room (MDR). All dining in the MDR was “anytime” dining meaning you could either call ahead to make a reservation for the time you wanted or just show up at any time to eat.

Here was the dining schedule on my last one night cruise on Holland America:

Final Thoughts On One Night Cruises, Short Cruises, And Cruises To Nowhere

Napoleon, not the famous Napoleon of the French revolution, Napoleon…Hill said, “If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way.” While Napoleon Hill may have covertly been describing his life as a conman when he said that, it also applies equally well to short cruises. And as for short cruises, I’m not here to fool you. I’ve actually done them and I’ve (mostly) loved them. I encourage you to give them a try! And with that…

Class Dismissed.

Homework (10 points) : Check out my guide to b2b cruising here , my guide to solo cruising here , and my guide to booking guarantee cabins here .

And be sure to subscribe to the blog to receive new course materials directly to your e-mail. Scroll up to the top right if on a computer or keep scrolling if on a mobile device. And be sure to follow Prof. Cruise on social media.

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Tags: 1 night cruise cruise to nowhere one night cruises short cruise three night cruises two night cruises

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About Prof. Cruise

Given name Sarah, but also answers to Prof. Cruise. Retired after 10 years as a college professor to focus full-time on her primary research interest: travel. With a concentration in cruising.  Home port: Seattle.  Mom of a shaggy-haired dog and a shaggy-haired human.  Lover of books and dessert.  Fancies herself a bit of a comedian – you’ve been warned.

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Cruises to Nowhere

Where's the best place to spend a short vacation? Nowhere! A Cruise-To-Nowhere is the perfect getaway for a couple of days. The ships sail out into the ocean and back without stopping at any other ports. A cruise to nowhere is an excellent introduction to cruising for first-time cruise passengers.

Cruises to nowhere include all the fun of a cruise without big expense or a long time commitment. Pools, a spa, casino, bars, lounges and more food than you can imagine are available on-board.

Some cruise lines have "weekend cruises" that are two-night trips.

Read cruise to nowhere reviews . Find out what other passengers thought of these voyages.

All ships have programs and activities for different age groups of kids. Now the whole family is going nowhere!

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What is a cruise to nowhere?

Heard about something like a cruise to nowhere but is confused about whether something like this exists. The answer is yes! Read on to know more...

Book Your Cruise

Even while it might seem unusual to want to take a cruise that goes nowhere, doing so gives travelers a quick escape. It will expose you to the idea of taking a cruise, give you the chance to try out several food options, and let you see a performance if you've never been on one before. If you've taken a vacation before, this will provide you with the chance to try a different cruise ship or line. In either case, these cruises provide a brief, stress-free getaway that will help you unwind and refresh. These trips run between one and three nights. They sail in international waters and set sail from several different ports. Usually, this is done so that ships can provide casinos and duty-free shopping. A few days later, they make their way back to the same or a different port. These journeys are created so that passengers can fully savor their time aboard.

Why go on a cruise to nowhere?

Have you ever wanted to take a quick trip to the ocean and relax? You might just find it the perfect thing to take a cruise to nowhere that you've always wanted to take! We have added some information here, so you should take a look at it.

1. You experience what it's like to go cruising:

cruises that go nowhere are essentially promoted to first-timers as sampling cruises so they can test the waters without investing the time and money of a longer voyage. You won't have to schedule your day around in-port shore excursions, giving you time to experience life on board. It's a fantastic chance to enjoy all of the onboard services, whether it's a leisurely day spent relaxing by the pool deck, a wonderful meal in a specialty restaurant, some lovely spa time at sea, or a movie showing beneath the stars. You'll probably already know if sailing life is for you by the time you land back on dry land.

2. A weekend trip with a twist may be possible: 

A fast trip to nowhere is an intriguing "staycation" alternative if you live close to a major cruise terminal. Get on board for some well-earned R&R on the open seas when the next long weekend rolls around, without having to take any extra time off of work. The stress of a long trip to a hotel or the endless airport security lines is preferable to this. The best way to make the most of your limited vacation time is with a local short cruise.

3. For themed and special occasion cruises, they are ideal: 

A weekend cruise is a well-liked choice for a particular celebration on the open sea, such as a bachelor party or a family milestone like a birthday or anniversary. Short cruises without port visits are frequently advertised, especially as "party cruises." Instead of getting a full sense of the local culture during a land visit, the main focus of many short excursions that remain at sea is on a shared passion like food, art, or a musical flair.

4. For those on a tight budget, cruises to nowhere are fantastic: 

A short sail for a quick holiday is allured by the drastically decreased cost. Finding a cruise at a great price is simple. These brief sailings, which are priced to fill capacity at significantly lower rates than a longer sailing, are sometimes utilized to cover a one-time scheduling gap or even a new port deployment. Even when compared to traditional all-inclusive resorts, it's a no-brainer if your budget is limited after you take into account the cost of a hotel room, entertainment, and dining on land.

How to find a cruise to nowhere

There is an enormous choice of traditional short cruise options lasting between 2 and 4 days. The primary entryways for your next fast trip to the sun are in Florida and along the Gulf Coast, which serves the Bahamas , the Caribbean , and Mexico . In Southern California, the ports of Long Beach and San Diego open up weekend excursions to Baja. A little bit of investigation could potentially be fruitful elsewhere. If you have a particular ship in mind, look for times when it may be repositioning to a new port or about to emerge from a dry-dock refurbishment, as a brief 2 or 3-day cruise may be provided to fill in a schedule gap.

Also, Check: When is the best time to take a cruise vacation ?

A cruise to nowhere is the best option if you want to go on a short and budget-friendly cruise . A cruise to nowhere is usually a 2-day cruise to a  4-day cruise . The person who is going on a cruise for the first time should surely try a cruise to nowhere to check whether he/she can travel on a long cruise trip or not.

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Cruise to Nowhere: A guide to Royal Caribbean’s dining, beverage, internet packages, and more

Royal Caribbean offers a bewildering assortment of food, drinks and internet packages to cruise passengers. Here's what you need to know.

In less than a week, I’ll be setting sail on a four-night Royal Caribbean cruise to nowhere. 

As a first-timer passenger, there’s an awful lot to learn in a short period of time, and believe me, they don’t make things simple for noobs. I’ve already written a detailed post about booking a cruise , so let’s now look at the planning decisions you’ll need to make before boarding. 

The Cruise Planner

Once your Royal Caribbean booking is confirmed, a six-digit reservation ID will be generated. You’ll need this to login to the Cruise Planner , the centralized hub for all your onboard reservations. 

For the unprepared, the Cruise Planner can be a minefield, full of upsell opportunities designed to lighten your wallet. It’s helpful to remember some of the basics:

• Most meals onboard are free (see dining section for more details)
• Some drinks onboard are free (water, basic drinks at breakfast)
• Most entertainment and activities onboard are free

In other words, you could still have a smashing good time on a cruise without spending an additional cent. 

But for those of you who want a little something extra, here’s where you book it. Scroll down on the Cruise Planner homepage, and you’ll see seven different categories:

Shore excursions don’t apply since this is a cruise to nowhere, and spa & fitness is pretty self-explanatory. I’ll focus on the other five categories below.

A few general points before we begin :

• The cut-off time for bookings via Cruise Planner is 11.59 p.m Eastern Standard Time, 2 days before your departure (e.g if you sail on 28 January 2021, you must book by 25 January 2021 11:59 p.m EST). Any later than that, and you’ll need to make reservations onboard
• All purchases require payment upfront, but can be refunded to your credit card up to 2-4 days before you sail (it depends on what you purchased; read the fine print). Beyond that, you may be able to get a refund in onboard credit (again, read the fine print)

Dining Reservations

Let’s start with the big draw of cruising: the food. Dining venues on Royal Caribbean ships are split into two categories:

• Complimentary

As the name suggests, all complimentary dining venues are included with the cost of your ticket (although their menus may contain items which require an additional supplement, e.g lobster), and all specialty dining venues will require an upcharge. 

Here’s the list of dining venues on Quantum of the Seas.

Reserving Complimentary Dining

You may have heard of the Main Dining Room (MDR), the primary complimentary dining location. On Quantum of the Seas, American Icon Grill, Chic, Silk and The Grande all  make up the MDR. Even though they’re different venues, they all offer the same menu (I’m assuming they have different names because once upon a time they served different cuisines). 

But how do you go about making an MDR reservation? I didn’t see any listing for American Icon Grill, Chic, Silk, or The Grande in the Cruise Planner, which confused me to no end. 

I later figured out that “My Time Dining” meant MDR, and I’d have to select this to make a reservation. 

If you pick Traditional dining, you’ll be seated in Chic or The Grande on deck 3. If you pick My Time dining, you’ll be seated in Silk or American Icon Grill on deck 4. 

If you’re a suites passenger, you’ll have access to Coastal Kitchen, a “better than MDR” dining experience. This cannot be booked in advance, however, and you’ll need to make reservations once onboard. 

Reserving Specialty Dining

In addition to the complimentary dining options, guests can choose to pay an upcharge for meals at specialty dining venues. This only covers food; drinks will be charged at a la carte prices (unless you have a beverage package )

You’ll be asked to select a specific time and date, and you can get a full refund to your credit card if you cancel at least four days prior to boarding. Within four days of boarding, cancellations must be made onboard after departure and will be credited to your shipboard account. Cancellations with less than 24 hours of notice will be charged a minimum of US$10- although this didn’t seem to be strictly enforced (I didn’t get charged, but don’t blame me if you do). 

Buying Dining Packages

If you intend to mostly stick to the MDR and just want to try the odd specialty restaurant, don’t bother with packages.

However, if the food’s a highlight and you really want to sample all there is, consider a dining package, which can save you money compared to making individual specialty dining reservations. 

These are the packages currently offered:

Don’t ask me why the 3-Night dining package is priced exactly the same as the UDP (maybe it’s the decoy effect ), but in any case I booked the latter. This includes all dinners plus lunch on sea days (days the boat is out of port, which for cruises to nowhere means every day except the day of boarding). You’ll also save 40% off bottles of wine under US$100 and 20% off bottles above US$100. 

I reasoned that all I had to do was eat one dinner at Wonderland and one at Chops to break even, and those were restaurants I wanted to try anyway. I’ve heard mixed reviews of Jamie’s Italian (their outlet at Forum Mall is dire), but I’ll probably grab lunch there too, and I’m fairly confident I’ll more than recoup my cost. 

You might think the next step after buying a UDP is to go on a specialty restaurant booking spree, but nope. The UDP gives you one complimentary specialty dining reservation upfront, for the first night of the cruise. You can choose the time, but you won’t know which restaurant it is until you board the ship (and can change it once onboard, subject to availabilty).

Otherwise, you’ll need to wait until you board to make the rest of your reservations . If you want a guaranteed seat at a guaranteed time at a guaranteed restaurant, you’ll need to make an a la carte specialty restaurant booking (and pay accordingly). 

For example, I could pay S$74.79 per person to guarantee a seat at Wonderland on 29 January 2021 at 6.30 p.m, or I could wait until boarding and try to make the same reservation with my UDP. That slot may or may not be available; that’s the chance you take. 

The UDP sounds like a gamble, but the good news is that just like a la carte specialty dining, you can get a full refund to your credit card up to four days before boarding (or in shipboard credit after that). Dining packages which are completely unused can be refunded up till the end of the first day of the voyage. I suppose this would come in useful if you boarded the ship and found that you couldn’t get any reservations at your desired restaurants. 

By the way, the same applies to the Chops + 1 package. You’ll get a guaranteed reservation at Chops Grille for dinner, and can reserve a further specialty dining restaurant for free once onboard (you can’t book Chops Grille again). 

Taste of Royal and Sushi & Sake are basically set lunches. For both, you’ll receive a letter in the stateroom the day before your reservation, confirming the time and location of your lunch. 

Beverage Packages

First things first. The tap water on a cruise ship is drinkable. You can boil it if you want, but the stuff’s safe to drink out of the tap. Other free drinks on offer include milk, tea, coffee (not the premium stuff, that requires an upcharge), lemonade, iced tea, juice (at breakfast, not fresh squeezed) and hot chocolate (instant). 

For those who want more, the following packages are available. All prices shown below (except the Cafe Select Coffee Card) are per day , and you must buy the package for the entire duration of the cruise. The prices here reflect a 40% discount off the usual price; watch for Royal’s sales emails:

With the exception of the deluxe beverage package (which must be purchased for all guests of legal drinking age in the same stateroom), beverage packages can be purchased by individual guests. For example, my roommate can buy a classic soda package without the need for me to buy one (sharing is not allowed, obviously).

Here’s the full details of what exactly each package contains. 

Important point: No one should be paying full price for the Deluxe Beverage or Refreshment package.  Royal Caribbean runs frequent sales on these packages, and you’ll receive notification by email. 

Given that all packages are refundable, there’s no harm in making a pre-emptive booking to lock in the price, and rebooking if you see a lower price later on. 

Also note that if you’re booked in a Star Class suite, you already receive a Deluxe Beverage Package. If you’re booked in a Sky Class suite, you will have access to the Concierge Club which serves free alcohol during the evening happy hour (5 to 8 p.m). Since I’m in this category (Grand Suite), I decided not to buy any beverage package. 

Internet Packages

Cruise ship Wi-Fi has improved by leaps and bounds, and Royal Caribbean likes to boast it has the fastest internet at sea with its VOOM service (six times faster than other ships, apparently).

Royal Caribbean offers two types of Wi-Fi packages:

• Surf + Stream

As the names suggest, Surf is for basic internet tasks like emails and chat, while Surf + Stream is for more heavy-duty uses like video streaming and video chat. I’ve heard that Netflix works without any issues, but it does depend on weather conditions and where you’re located. 

If you’re booked in a Sky or Star Class suite, you will receive 2x Surf + Stream logins, valid for the whole length of your cruise.

Everyone else will have to purchase access. All prices shown below are per day , and you must buy the package for the entire duration of the cruise. I saw these prices during one of Royal’s 40% off sales, so keep a lookout for when they come back. 

Just like drinks packages, Wi-Fi packages frequently go on sale, so don’t pay full price. 

Last I heard, Royal Caribbean was testing a chat feature for its app that lets you message each other for US$1.99 per day. This could be a more economical alternative if all you need is to keep in touch with your partner, but I don’t know if it’s launched on Quantum yet. 

Onboard activities can be classified into two types: paid, and free. The following paid activities can be reserved ahead of boarding.

It really boils down to what you’re interested in, but for what it’s worth I only booked iFly. North Star (an observation capsule that lifts you 300 feet above sea level) might make sense if you’re sailing somewhere interesting, but I doubt the Strait of Malacca would have anything worth seeing. 

iFly and North Star reservations opened 12 days before departure, so don’t panic if you don’t see them listed yet. Reservations for both can be cancelled, but you must give at least 12 hours notice (or else there’s a US$25 no show fee). 

Free activities run throughout the day, and bookings are generally not required. These include:

• Art auctions (they serve free champagne)
• Arts & crafts classes
• Bumper cars (bookings required and can be done on board)
• Dance classes
• FlowRider (but private sessions are chargeable)
• Rock wall climbing
• Scavenger hunts
• Trivia quizzes

It seems like laser tag and escape room games have been temporarily suspended due to COVID-19, a shame because those seem like really fun activities. 

Entertainment

All entertainment must currently be booked on board, and takes place across three main venues: Royal Theater, Two70, and Music Hall. 

Here’s the schedule from a December sailing. The timings and shows are subject to change, but this should at least help you plan your mealtimes. 

While reservations are required for all shows, it’s free seating once the doors open. 

• For guests in Star and Sky Class suites, as well as Pinnacle Club members, doors open 30 mins prior to showtime
• For all other guests, doors open 20 mins prior to showtime

Odds and Ends

All charges onboard the ship are billed in USD. That creates some confusing listings in the Cruise Planner, such as pre-purchasing arcade credits.

You’re paying S$ 108.80 for US$ 100 of credits; although they really should make it more clear. 

Unlike hotel staycations, there’s no need to book the swimming pool ahead of time. You do, however, need to reserve the gym. Counterintuitively, you won’t find it under “spa & fitness”; navigate to the “onboard activities” tab instead.

Your friend the Cruise Compass

A Cruise Compass is a schedule of what’s happening on each day of the sailing- activities, shows and special events. As per my understanding, physical Cruise Compasses are no longer left in staterooms every night, but you can still request them from guest services. Do it; it makes planning that much easier. 

Here’s a copy of my Cruise Compass from a March 2021 sailing. 

Concierge Service

If you booked a Star or Sky Class suite, you’ll have access to a concierge who can help you book dining reservations, onboard activities and spa services in advance. The concierge should reach out ~5 days before departure to introduce him/herself (I got my mail late at night on 23 January for a 28 January departure). 

Here’s the key points:

It’s unclear from the mail whether they’re able to reserve shows in advance, or specialty dining for those with the UDP, but I’ll find out and update this section. 

While that sounds like a lot to mull over, the main decisions you’ll need to make are:

• Am I happy with the free food, or do I want more options?
• Am I happy to pay a la carte prices for drinks, or will I drink enough that a package makes sense (remember- you need to buy it for the whole duration of the cruise) 
• Am I happy to disconnect, or do I need internet?

I’ve written so much and haven’t even gotten to the all-important preboarding COVID-19 testing- look out for that in the next post!

Any other tips for pre-cruise planning?

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Great post. For Grand Suites and above, the concierge can reserve all Coastal Kitchen meals (B/L/D) and shows (1-2 days before).

Can you get the concierge’s help to reserve all this before boarding day (eg by email?) or do you have to still wait till you get on board and then contact the concierge for help to reserve ?

thanks! i’m trying to find out what the concierge can and can’t do- if they’re able to get priority access to things like specialty dining/shows even before boarding then it’d be very useful indeed

The concierge will help you to book all dining and shows before everyone else as they can only do it after they complete the muster drill. You should request for his help when you get the email and also ask him to contact you when the show schedule is out.

But in terms of actual seating its first come first serve unless you are in Star class.

Apart from these 2 benefots its the same as everyone else – via the app on board.

I’m currently on the 21 Jan sailing and it’s quite empty, so most of the shows can be reserved easily as long as you get onboard and book for all 3/4 night at the same time. Also, it can all be booked via the app so no need to go to the concierge or guest services. Restaurants are mostly empty as well except izumi which is constantly full for lunch. I had dinner at the coastal kitchen on night 2-4 and it’s pretty decent but quite crowded so reserve early with the host at the entrance of the kitchen. Jamie’s …  Read more »

thanks for the info! is there anything that can’t be booked by the app and requires you to physically go to the venue?

When can i book the shows and bumper car? Immediately on board or 6pm?

Just came back from the 21 jan cruise and I would suggest the following – take the 3 nights plus lunch dining package, food will be a main activity for 4 days – First thing you get on board is to book all your restaurants at the times you want. Also book your shows at the times you want but I guess you have reserved seats due to atas suite status – Must try ( Chops Grille, Jamie and Wonderland) . Izumi is a real disappointment. Just try once for lunch. – Chops menu to try besides steak, lobster and …  Read more »

thanks for the tips! skinny dipping is mandatory on any milelion trip.

Wait really? You mean me and my wife can go skinny dipping and it’s allowed in this adult’s pool?

But wouldn’t there be many perverts around?

Out of morbid curiosity, and of a deep desire to know about all things Milelion so that we may be better fans – when you were picking between cruise ships, what made you decide on the Royal Caribbean (Quantum) as opposed to the ship on the opposing dock (Genting Dream)? Was there anything in particular on Quantum that made you go, “if I’m gonna catch the Covids it’ll be worth it on THIS boat!”

Just came back from 18 – 22 Feb sailing, was told 1,300+ pax onboard, 2,100 pax on CNY weekend. Booked Balcony stateroom with no add-on packages. –      For non-foodies, the complimentary dinning is good enough. We forgot the feeling of hungriness during the entire sailing. –      VOOM WIFI prices shown in the article are actually after 40% discount (I had the impression that the above is regular price and waited for the flash discount but realised it is not and flash discount didn’t happen in the end). Paid 2 devices for 4 days for USD160 onboard. –      Chat feature is available at USD1.99 …  Read more »

thanks for the data points! have added a note that the prices for VOOM are after discount (I think the discount was 30% though, because i’m comparing them to the non-sales prices now).

Hi Aaron, what is this Cafe select card? Does it mean that only americano/black coffee is free, even at Coastal Kitchen and Concierge Club?

Hi, when can you start purchasing UDP? I have booked a cruise for May 2021 but UDP is not an option. Thank you

the UDP appears and disappears. I think they sell limited quantities. keep checking back every few days (I believe right now you should only see 3 night package)

Yes, I am only able to see the 3 night package. Thank you for replying. Will the UDP still be available on board?

The price indicated for beverage in your table is also after discount right? I’m booked for an upcoming trip but the price indicated when i logged in says 40% and then the reflected prices as above.

correct, this is after 40% discount, basically the cheapest I ever saw it go

Hi may i ask if the wifi charges shown on your blog are before or after sales discount? Usually how much discount are given? Thanks!

these are post 40% discount

thanks alot!

Do you think the price of the beverage package will go down once it increases? When I first booked, the Deluxe package was $54.40. Thought it will maintain at the same price. But when I went into the Cruise Planner yesterday, it was $73.44. 🙁 Would like to wait for it to drop again.

Thanks for the comprehensive guide Aaron! We used many of the information within for our own cruise preparations as well! Here’s what we did on the <a href=”https://www.2bearbear.com/cruise-to-nowhere-quantum-of-the-seas-royal-caribbean-cruise-day-2-napkin-folding-northstar-izumi-wonderland-and-starwater/”>Quantum of the Seas Cruise to Nowhere</a>!

Happy Cruising Everyone!

Tom & Kate, 2bearbear.com

thanks for sharing your report! always good to read about more experiences.

2 bear bear , you also have very good writeups and videos! Tq

Hi, if we only buy UDP and not beverage package, what drinks (non-alcoholic) will be served to us when we eat at specialty restaurants? And are they complimentary or we have to pay? Thanks.

free drinks at specialty restaurants- ice water, maybe basic coffee/tea free drinks at mdr- ice water, basic coffee/tea, juice (not the freshly squeezed one), milk, iced tea.

Thanks for the prompt reply! Btw, I still can’t see UDP on my cruise planner. Has been camping for it everyday. 36 more days to sailing~

This is by far the BEST writeup, i really wish the online you tubers (terrible videos) or bloggers could have been this detailed. One thing to point out is that prices change from cruise to cruise per person. My option for the dining and drinking packages were double what they were previously. S

thank you! with regards to the prices, I managed to get these when Royal did one of their 40% off sales. These used to be a *lot* more frequent; I was getting several emails a month. For my latest cruise last week, I only got one opportunity to buy at 40% off; I think they know we Singaporeans have developed a taste for cruising, and are looking to capitalize on that. other people also report that there are fewer sales than before. if there are really zero sales, one option you can do is buy on the first day. they …  Read more »

Can i buy 1 devices Wi-Fi packages but share between 3 devices? (My phone, my ipad & my wife phone) This that possible?

i realised i can use the windows 10 hotspot feature to share. dont know how your phone works, but it worked fine with my laptop. my phone then tapped the laptop to share 1 account.

Is there any free drink near the poolside or where can we get free drinks? Can i wear short in the pool?

Were you able to get reserve seats for the shows via the concierge, prior to boarding?

Keen to know this as well

I received the email from Royal on the discounted packages earlier on. It states 30% discount for deluxe beverage. When i clicked on the email, it redirects to their website and the price shown is $63.92 per day. Is this price before or after 30% discount? I recall seeing the price to be around $70-75 previously. the discount amount doesn’t sum up correctly

Hey Aaron currently my account is showing 30% discount off drink packages. Did you have to hold out long before 40% came along?

i booked it about 3 weeks before my cruise. but it’s also possible that they may not be doing 40% anymore.

Do the Duty free stores on board sell alcohol? and if so, are we able to bring it back to our rooms? Thanks

nope, they don’t sell booze. it…kind of wouldn’t make sense for royal.

Hi Aaron, do they stop serving alcohol at 10:30pm?

Btw I think some of the packages have a limited quota to be sold, eg. unlimited dining package (added to my cart for few days after I booked the cruise, and then gone), and unlimited 3-4 day fitness package (now I have to purchase the 5-7 day package which doesn’t make sense given I’m going on a 3N cruise only). Not sure if you or anyone’s had the same experience, Aaron?

yes apparently UDP has quota.

Hi Aaron. Can one access the Cruise Planner & browse packages from the app on the phone? I have a reservation but can’t seem to find these packages in the app (been searching round & round for it) although I am able to access all of them from my laptop. Thanks.

Nope. App is for when you are onboard

I see, ok. Thanks! Btw, the UDP today is at $114, a pretty good deal!

hi, this post is really useful! I have an upcoming trip in Aug, wondering if I gotta book all the meals before boarding? From cruise planner, i can book dinner for all the days under My Time Dining, but i don’t see the options for lunch or breakfast. Do I need to book for lunch and breakfast, or i can just drop by the restaurant? Thank you!

Also, saw from your post that the selection for MTD will be American Icon Grill or Silk, how do we know where we should head to? It will show in the app?

It is a centralised welcome area. The staff will assign

Lunch and dinner do not need reservation

ahh, i see, thanks so much!

Is Cruise ID same as Booking ID

Great article as usual Aaron! Anyway, just booked a cruise for an October sailing, just a balcony stateroom. Found this option to purchase ‘The Key’ program for the cruise. Basically a cut-down suite perk. Special times for certain attractions, priority boarding, with included voom package, and the all important ability to book stuff 72 hours before the sailing. Anyone heard or tried this? Is it worth it? It’s about $150 per person and has to be purchased for everyone sharing the room. So…. with my kids.. that’s about a $600 extra. Any tips or experience with this would help heaps! …  Read more »

Is there any difference in price when purchasing just one speciality restaurant (eg. Chops) prior to cruise, or to top up during meal time?

Any idea if dining packages have discount as well?

Hey, Aaron, thanks for the great article. Since you are going again next year, if Mr. Francisco is your Suite Concierge, please help me say one of your reader said Hi to him and thanks him for his service, he’s really professional and helped me booked stuff and answered my question

TQ for a really detailed and informative article!

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I've taken 4 Disney cruises without kids. Here's why they're actually the perfect adults-only getaway.

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• Disney cruises offer the perfect getaway for adults without children.
• From animation classes and private islands to Broadway-style shows, I never run out of things to do.

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Its ships are home to some of the most exciting, highly themed lounge options I've encountered, and I love the Broadway-quality productions. While on board, I'm able to do as much or as little as I want.

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