Anthem of the Seas FlyCruise - Day 12: Sea Day Preparing the Return | Journeys
Not too much effort to prepare all the documents required before leaving Anthem of the Seas
Our last day on Anthem of the Seas. PHOTO: SINGAPORE CRUISE SOCIETY
In an instant, 11 days have passed and today is our last day onboard the beautiful Anthem of the Seas. Today’s to-do list is quite intensive as we prepare for our return journey back to Singapore. Depending on which country you are flying back to, certain aspects may be different, but should revolve around something similar.
Captain’s Corner
Before we start any of the administrative work, we headed down to Two70 to join Captain Tony, Hotel Director Angel and Cruise Director Mark on a question-and-answer session. You always get to learn something new at these interactive sessions with members of the ships’ team, hence we always make time for it.
Many questions, as usual, surrounded the daily operations of the ship, crew welfare, and weather related concerns guests had.
If you have an existing cruise, you should not miss out on this activity. We arrived at the session around five minutes before it started, but seats on the main deck were already filled. Hence, you should try to arrive early to get the best possible spot.
Disembarkation COVID Test
In the days leading up to your disembarkation, Guest Services would inform you to register for your COVID-19 disembarkation test. This is for international guests who require the test to return home across international borders. This test is also conducted together with consecutive cruisers who are joining the next cruise. It is normally held on the last sea day of your cruise.
Entering via a Category 4 lane, Singapore requires a PCR test taken 48 hours before your flight departure. Hence, this test was the best option for us. Moreover, it was complimentary!
When registering for your test, you would select your preferred time, and it is conducted at Deck 2 next to the Medical Centre on Anthem. You would present your QR code to both the ship’s officers stationed there, as well as the medical staff. The test is conducted by Eurofins.
After the swab, it took about 6 hours before receiving the results via email. We were told to contact Guest Services if you do not receive it before the evening.
We are negative for the virus, and ready for our journey home.
Do note that Royal Caribbean will no longer provide complimentary disembarkation tests from January 2022 onwards, and you will have to find your own testing solutions after you disembark.
Singapore: ICA SG Arrival Card
To return back to Singapore, the Immigrations and Customs Authority requires all passengers in advance to declare their travel history, health status and other relevant information no more than 3 days prior to arrival in Singapore.
This is mandatory for all arriving in Singapore, regardless of citizenship. We have confirmed with ICA that regardless if you have disembarked the ship, you will have to declare all ports that you have visited on your cruise.
Because St Kitts & Nevis and Antigua were in the Category 4 list, we will be arriving back in Singapore with a 10-Day Stay Home Notice at a Dedicated Facility (a.k.a. Quarantine at Hotel).
NOTE: If you are able to stay within a VTL country for 14 days after your last non-VTL port of call, you will be able to return to Singapore quarantine-free. We will be doing another article to highlight this.
Singapore: Booking your On-Arrival PCR Test
It is also prudent to book and prepay for your on-arrival PCR test using Changi Airport Group’s SafeTravel Concierge. We simply had to enter our travel information, arriving flight information and pay using a credit card. It was SGD$125 per person.
Disembarkation Questionnaire
In the days leading up to our disembarkation, Guest Services sent a QR code for us to fill up a form with our plans after disembarkation. They wanted our mode of transport, airline, flight number and departure time.
This is so that the team could assign you the appropriate departure group and luggage tags. If you are in Sky/Star suites, The Key, or Pinnacle guests, you would automatically receive the first luggage tag - the Red Coloured ones.
That’s All
If you are a Singapore Citizen, that’s all the three documents (Negative PCR, ICA Declaration, On Arrival PCR Booking) that you need to return back to Singapore. If you are a permanent resident, you should also check the validity of your re-entry permit. For other passholders, additional steps may be required.
As usual with any other cruises, we checked our bills for discrepancies, and placed our luggage outside at 11pm. It’s honestly the most reluctant thing we want to do on a cruise.
Our next article is Day 13 and the Anthem of the Seas will arrive back in Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey. We will head straight to John F. Kennedy Airport for our flight back home departing at noon.
Preamble: Anthem of the Seas 12 Night Southern Caribbean FlyCruise
Day 1: Embarkation at Cape Liberty
Day 5: Philipsburg, St Maarten
Day 9: Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis
Day 11: Sea Day Holidays Special
Day 12: Sea Day Preparing the Return
A Note on Pandemic Travel
All international travels conducted by the Singapore Cruise Society will be done in accordance with prevailing health and border control measures of our home & the destination country. Our admins and staff have been advised and will follow a strict set of health guidelines set out based on current measures published by the cruise lines and local authorities.
READ MORE
