With international borders around Asia still closed to leisure travelers, the new multi-day itineraries will not feature any shore excursions.

Dream Cruises is slated to become the first cruise brand to restart Singapore services when it launches its “Super Seacation” itineraries aboard World Dream on November 6, well ahead of the year-end holidays. As neighboring countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam are not yet letting in general visitors from abroad, passengers should not expect any port stops and shore excursions. But Dream Cruises says its two- and three-night journeys on the open seas will “evoke the sense of a vacation away that travelers can’t get with a traditional staycation in a hotel.”

These pilot cruises have been given the green light by the Singapore Tourism Board, and both passengers and crew members must adhere to a range of enhanced health and safety protocols. For instance, stringent screening processes will be implemented prior to departure and arrival; guest and crew cabins as well as public areas are now entirely ventilated with fresh air; physical distancing measures will be in place; and buffet services have been modified. A mandatory Covid-19 test will be conducted on all cruise passengers aged 13 and above before embarkation, and each guest aged seven or above is required to present their personal TraceTogether Token or registered TraceTogether App at check-in.

Throughout November and December, Dream Cruises’ two-night journeys will depart the Lion City at 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays, while the three-night itineraries are set to begin on Sundays. The price starts from S$359 per person for a two-night stay in a Balcony stateroom, going up to S$1,029 for a Palace Suite and S$3,179 for a Palace Villa, the highest accommodation category. Thanks to a special promotion, UOB card members will receive a free upgrade from a Balcony stateroom to a Balcony Deluxe cabin, and enjoy a 15 percent discount on all suite categories.

Dream Cruises isn’t the only operator launching “cruises to nowhere” in Southeast Asia. Royal Caribbean has also announced that it will resume sailings from the Lion City later this year, with Quantum of the Seas accepting bookings from December 1. Open only to Singapore residents, Royal Caribbean’s three- and four-night cruises will operate at a reduced capacity of up to 50 percent.

More information here.