Quantum of the Seas Adjusts Protocols

Photo Credit:  Travel Weekly

According to a Reuters news story, Singapore's health ministry on Thursday reported 24 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, the highest daily number since mid-September, with 17 of the fresh cases linked to a cluster at Changi Airport. This has prompted changes onboard Royal Caribbean Quantum of the Seas which is sailing short cruises to nowhere out of Singapore.

Singapore Raises Alert Level

Further Restrictions Under Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) 

"Over the past two weeks several clusters of infections have emerged, coupled with a pattern of local unlinked community cases. These developments have demonstrated higher attack rates and secondary transmission occurs in “mask-off” settings, households, and at eateries. Given this, the Multi-Ministry Taskforce announced additional measures and restrictions under Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) to minimize transmission of the virus in a swift and decisive manner. These measures are additional measures to what was announced on 4 May 2021. 

To reduce risks of community transmission, indoor “mask-off” activities such as dine-in F&B establishments will cease. Other activities which will also not be allowed during this period include strenuous indoor exercise class or strenuous individual and group indoor sports and exercise activities. In addition, personalized services which require masks to be removed (e.g. facials and saunas), singing, and the playing of instruments that require intentional expulsion of air (e.g. wind or brass instruments) will also not be allowed. The following measures will take effect from Sunday, 16 May 2021 through to Sunday, 13 June 2021."

Royal Caribbean Adjust Protocols

Royal Caribbean quickly responded to the change in the alert level by notifying guests booked on Quantum of the Seas from May 17 - June 13 of the following changes:

• Guest capacity is reduced to 25 percent occupancy. 
• Groups are limited to two guests. This means that at most, the ship will have 1,025 passengers aboard. 
• All restaurants are closed and guests will get room service options or "grab and go" from select restaurants aboard. 
• Capacity for live entertainment shows will be reduced to a maximum of 50 guests and live singing will not be available. 
• Permitted onboard activities, like those in Seaplex, Activity Zone and Pool Zone, will continue to operate at reduced capacity and with enhanced social distancing measures. 
• Masks will be required in the indoor pool.

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Diary South Australia to Asia Cruise

       15 Day Australia - Asia Cruise

While onboard Majestic Princess in January 2019, we looked at cruises for 2020.  Princess Cruises was still celebrating their 50th Anniversary with a sale which included onboard credits.   We looked at several possible cruises, but hadn't made up our mind.

Our table mates were from Australia, which got us talking about traveling back to that part of the world.  In addition, there was a respositioning cruise which included Southern Australia, Malaysia, and Singapore.  We try to stay current with travel trends so that we can advise our clients based on personal experiences.  Majestic Princess is Princess Cruises newest Royal-class ship, which entered service in 2017.

As usual, we arrived 2 days early so that we could get acclimated to the time change and avoid departure day anxiety should flights be delayed.  Our pre-cruise stay was at Crowne Plaza Melbourne in the Central Business District.  It was 15 minutes away from the airport and 15 minutes away from the cruise terminal.

Bookmark this page - we will be adding day by day reviews as well as links to our photo albums.

Be sure to follow us on our other social media accounts during the cruise for live posts.

Due to Coronavirus outbreak Princess Cruises modified our cruise itinerary.

Please see Princess Cruises Notices & Advisories for latest Information about all modifications.

February 15, 2020 at 5:20PM PT Our team continues working to finalize itinerary changes and to communicate these changes to you as soon as the details are confirmed. Due to current port restrictions and closures and lack of predictability regarding port availability in our Southeast Asia itineraries going forward, we have made the decision to cancel additional Asia voyages on Sapphire Princess and Majestic Princess. All booked guests will receive a full refund, back to the original form of payment, of their cruise fare, Princess Air, pre- and post-cruise hotel packages, prepaid shore excursions and other prepaid items, and taxes, fees, and port expenses. As these cruises have been cancelled so close to departure, each guest will also receive a Future Cruise Credit. We will provide complete details to all guests booked on impacted voyages via email and Cruise Personalizer. Please continue to consult this Itinerary Modifications page for changes that may impact your voyage. Please minimize calling our Princess call center for itinerary change information as we work through all the travel changes and subsequent impacts on itineraries. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Majestic Princess Voyage Cancellations Voyage Departure Date Departure Port 8005F February 22, 2020 Fremantle (Perth) to Singapore Other voyages cancelled on Majestic Princess: 8007 March 12, 2020 Sinagpore to Hong Kong 8009 March 23, 2020 Roundtrip from Taipei (Keelung) 8009A March 23, 2020 Roundtrip from Taipei (Keelung) 8010 March 28, 2020 Roundtrip from Taipei (Keelung) 8010A March 28, 2020 Roundtrip from Taipei (Keelung) 8011N April 2, 2020 Roundtrip from Taipei (Keelung) 8011B April 2, 2020 Roundtrip from Taipei (Keelung)

Click Image for Photo Albums

	Port	Blog Posts	Photo Albums / Videos
Wed Feb 12	Travel to Melbourne ORD-LAX-MEL	Travel to Melbourne	Flights to MEL
Fri Feb 14	Melbourne Pre-Cruise Crowne Plaza Melbourne	Melbourne Arrival - Know Before You Go Melbourne 19 Hours Later Journey Through Sea Life Melbourne	Crowne Plaza Melbourne SEA Life Melbourne Aquarium Graceful Rays SEA Life Aquarium Melbourne (MP4) Ocean Kingdom SEA Life Aquarium Melbourne (MP4) Oceanarium - Tales of the Sea (MP4) Sea Horse Pier (MP4) Leafy Seadragon (MP4) Coral Atol - Moray Eel & Lionfish (MP4) Jellies SEA Life Aquarium (MP4) Penguin Playground SEA Life Aquarium (MP4)
Sat Feb 15	Melbourne Pre-Cruise Crowne Plaza Melbourne	Go West Phillip Island Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes Wombats Kangaroos and Wallabies Oh My Cape Woolamai Beach Cowes Phillip Island Gem Getting Close to Smallest Penguins Fairy Penguins On Parade	Go West Tours Brighton Beach Boxes Moonlit Sanctuary Drive to Phillip Island Woolamai Beach Cowes Nobbies & Seal Rock Phillip Island Penguin Parade Brighton Bath Boxes Melbourne (MP4) Feeding Two Wallabies (MP4) Wallaby Feeding Moonlit Sanctuary (MP4) Cape Woolamai Phillip Island (MP4)
Sun Feb 16	Melbourne, Australia View general port information Station Pier Cruise Terminal Station Pier Port Melbourne Victoria, Australia Check In 1:00pm-5:00pm	Melbourne Embarkation Greetings From Stanley Bear Welcome Aboard Dinner	Station Pier Cabin A241 Welcome Aboard Lunch Concerto Dining Room
Mon Feb 17	At Sea		Chopsticks Noodle Bar Princess Theater
Tue Feb 18	Adelaide, Australia Adelaide Cruise Terminal 7:00am – 4:00pm Check In 12:30pm-3:00pm Cleland Wildlife Park 11:30AM - 3:30PM | ADL195A | View Excursion Details for Cleland Wildlife Park	Best Peking Duck Salad at Sea	Cleland Wildlife Park Harmony (2019) Harmony (2020)
Wed Feb 19	At Sea		Hollywood Conservatory
Thu Feb 20	At Sea		Bars & Attrium Casino
Fri Feb 21	Margaret River(Busselton), Australia Water Shuttle Required wheelchair Access Limited   8:00am – 6:00pm Ngili Caves & Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse 9:00AM - 1:00PM | BQB210A | View ExcursionDetailsfor Ngili Caves & Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse		Busselton NgILGI Cave Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse International Cafe Bistro Sur La Mar
Sat Feb 22	Perth(Fremantle), Australia Fremantle (Perth) Check In 1:00pm-4:00pm Disembarked 8:45 AM	Dreaming of Malaysia	Country Comfort Perth Barrack Jetty Riverside Cafe Swan River Cruise
Sun Feb 23	Travel to Chicago Air New Zealand PER - AUK - ORD	Returning from Australia Cruise	Flights to ORD

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Japan Airlines Singapore to Tokyo

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Heading Home

All cruises come to an end, and so it was time to leave Southeast Asia and return home.  The journey began with a 6 hour flight from Singapore to Tokyo, Japan on Japan Airlines.

After leveling off, the flight attendants served beverages and rice cracker snacks.  Our plane was a Boeing 777, so there was an entertainment system in our seats which offered music, movies, games, and more.

In Flight Service

We were served chicken with rice, noodles, salad, fruit and dessert for lunch.  The flight was smooth and on time.

This was the first time we'd flown Japan Airlines and we were definitely fly them again.

Soon we could see the coastline of Tokyo.  We were able to get some amazing photos from the air (see our album).   There was a bit of snow on the ground, but that didn't cause any delays.

Click on the image to the left for more Blog posts about this trip.

Related Album:

JAL Singapore - Tokyo

Additional photos can be found on our Southeast Asia Shutterfly page

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Back to the Future

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Good Morning from Changi


We checked out of the Crowne Plaza Hotel around 5 AM January 25th and headed to the airport. Back home it was 3 PM on January 24th.  If our flights were on time, we would land in Chicago at 3:10 PM January 25th (5:10 PM Singapore time on January 26th).

Our flight wasn't until 8:20 AM, but we didn't know how long it would take to go through immigration and security. We also wanted to get something to eat before our flight.

Breakfast Choices

As is typical on international flights, we would be served multiple meals on our flight from Singapore to Tokyo.  We did want something light in the meantime, however.   A pastry shop was exactly what we were looking for.   Splitting a Palmier was just right.  It was ironic that we were thousands of miles from home and yet found a pastry which was one of our favorites back home.

There were several other choices including local favorites which you could purchase at Burger King or other locations.  Some of these Asian breakfast items can be seen in this photo.

At Our Gate

The immigration and check-in process went very quickly so early in the morning.  By 5:22 AM we were headed to check our baggage and get our boarding passes.  There wasn't anyone in line, so we were done quickly and on our way.

Less than 30 minutes later, we had already had something to eat and were sitting outside our gate.   The gate doesn't open until about an hour before the flight.

Waiting for our Flight

You might not be able to see from the photo, but the security screening occurs right at the gate.  We'd have another hour before the security and airline personnel arrived and started checking passports and hand bags.

Unlike airports in the states, once you pass through security you are now in a controlled waiting area.   There are rest room facilities there as well as limited charging stations.

We sat near one of the charging stations so that our phones were recharged before boarding the plane.  Boarding for our flight began at 7:50 AM.

Allowing 3 hours at the airport before our flight gave us plenty of time to leisurely have something to eat and get to our gate.  We'd rather be early than rushed and stressed.

Click on the image to the left for more Blog posts about this trip.

Related Album:

Changi Airport Singapore

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