Boarding a Cruise Ship during Covid Singapore Style

OzsTravels Cruise to Nowhere, Cruises, Singapore , , , 2 Comments

I was not really sure what to expect when Boarding a Cruise Ship during Covid. It was not as challenging as I expected

Baggage Drop Off

03 Dec 2020 was the first time I had left Singapore since 06 Mar 2020, this is longest period of time I have spent in Singapore in one block. Definitely needed a change of scenery.

Departure Hall

I am on board the Quantum of the Seas on a Cruise to Nowhere. So far so good, except of a couple of things. Drinking water is not that easy to get, guess I am used to there always being bottles of water available in your cabin and bars that are open most of the time. More on the bars shortly.

The other slight issue was my luggage, it was held due to there being a bottle of wine inside. No issue with that, just that there was no message letting me know, I ended up calling guest relations and finding out that way. One tip that I learnt after checking in is that I could have wheeled my bag on board myself and that way would not have had the issue, would have just shown the bottle at the security checkpoint when the scanned my bags… Will remember this for next time.

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Cruise to Nowhere

OzsTravels Cruise to Nowhere, Cruises, Singapore , , , 9 Comments
Cruise to Nowhere

What a year 2020 has been, lots of change in everyone’s existence, most not for the good, which has made it difficult to want to post. Time to change that.

On 03 Dec 2020 I am departing Singapore on a Cruise, but to where…. Well nowhere. The Singapore Tourist Bureau and the Singapore Government has team up with a couple of cruise lines, Dream Cruises and Royal Caribbean, to enable Singaporean Residents, like me, to get a few days “out of the country” on a Cruise to Nowhere.

My cruise is a 4 night 3 day long trip around the Straits, apparently we are only allowed to go as far as 6 hours cruising away from Singapore, which is probably around 120 to 150 nautical miles (200 to 280 kms or 140 to 175 miles).

Whilst we are not stopping at any ports, I am still looking forward to seeing the islands and the Straits around Singapore. The last time I sailed into Singapore on a vessel it was a submarine, they don’t have windows, so did not see anything. A very different experience to cruising on-board the Quantum of Seas in a Junior Suite.

It will also be an interesting trip as I get to experience @WineBear007’s first time “at sea”. Though the Straits around Singapore are some the most protected and therefore flat waters around. I doubt there will be any issues other than slow service when it comes to drinks, but even that will probably not an issue considering that the Ship is only allowed 50% occupancy with 100% of the crew.

In order to be passed fit to board the Ship all passengers and Crew have to have been in Singapore for at least 14 days prior to sailing and also have passed a Covid rtPCR SARS-CoV-2 test no more than 3 days prior. I am going in for mine on 30 Nov 2020. Fingers crossed I pass that.

More to come..

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Butcher Steak House Moscow

OzsTravels Food, Moscow, Russia , , , , , 3 Comments
Butcher Steak House Moscow

Butcher Steak House Moscow, Стейк Хаус Бутчер, was the Moscow Steak Joint that I chose for dinner on my second night in Moscow.

Butcher’s tagline is a bit interesting, doubt that there are many places in the world where you could get away with it.

Butcher Steak House Moscow – a chain of steak houses for the real men!

Moscow, Moscow Russia, Butcher Moscow
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Oz in the Moscow Metro

OzsTravels Moscow, Russia , , 2 Comments
Oz in the Moscow Metro

When in Moscow you need to check out the Moscow Metro. It is considered one of the most attractive, if not the most attractive, underground train networks in the world.

Moscow Metro Map

The first line, a 11km 13 station line, was opened in 1935. As of 2019 the it has evolved into a 393km 263 station network that is apparently the busiest in Europe.

Moscow, Russia, Oz's Siberian Trek,

What makes it worth exploring is the themed stations, a number have monuments to different parts of Russia and Russian life.

Ploshchad Revolyutsii

The first station we visited was Ploshchad Revolyutsii which is the Moscow Metro station in Red Square. This is one of the more popular stations for due to the 76 bronze sculptures that represent the Russian People.

  • Moscow, Russia, Oz's Siberian Trek,
  • Moscow, Russia, Oz's Siberian Trek,
  • Moscow, Russia, Oz's Siberian Trek,
  • Moscow, Russia, Oz's Siberian Trek,
  • Moscow, Russia, Oz's Siberian Trek,
  • Moscow, Russia, Oz's Siberian Trek,
  • Moscow, Russia, Oz's Siberian Trek,
  • Moscow, Russia, Oz's Siberian Trek,
  • Moscow, Russia, Oz's Siberian Trek,

Each sculpture has a lucky spot. For luck you rub the nose of the dog of Border Guard with his Dog sculpture. To improve your finances, rub the Rooster’s comb, if your love life is in strife rub the shoe of the school girl.

Have no idea why these became urban myths, saw many people nonchalantly rubbing the various statues, for some it looked like a habit for some of the regular commuters.

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Lost in Moscow Russia

OzsTravels Moscow, Russia , , , , , 2 Comments
Lost in Moscow Russia

As a part of my Siberian Trek I had one full day in Moscow so it was time to get Lost in Moscow Russia. Definitely not enough time. Another problem was that it was raining, not exactly good weather to explore and take pics.

Moscow, Russia, Oz's Siberian Trek,

Still the rain was not going to stop me from exploring Moscow.

Pamyatnik Marshalu G.k. Zhukovu

  • Moscow, Russia, Oz's Siberian Trek,
  • Moscow, Russia, Oz's Siberian Trek,

This is a monument to Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov, Hero of the Soviet Union, he was the Soviet General who accepted Germany’s surrender at the end of World War II.

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002ЩА Irkutsk to Vladivostok Day3

OzsTravels Russia, Trans Siberian Railway , , , , , 0 Comment
002ЩА Irkutsk to Vladivostok Day3

002ЩА Irkutsk to Vladivostok Day3 was my 7th and last full day (and bit) on board the Trans Siberian Railway.

002ЩА Irkutsk to Vladivostok, Russia, Russian Railways, Oz's Siberian Trek, Siberia, Siberian Trek, Trans Siberian Railway,

Vladivostok is 7 hours ahead of Moscow so 002ЩА arrived, on time, at 7:05am local, which is 12:05 Moscow time. Coast to coast in Australia there is only 2 hours difference between the East and West Coast, helps to put into perspective the size of Russia.

002ЩА Irkutsk to Vladivostok, Russia, Russian Railways, Oz's Siberian Trek, Siberia, Siberian Trek, Trans Siberian Railway,

Day 3 was from Svobodnyy to Vladivostok a distance of 1525 km. It was overcast with a few specs of blue, no rain. My first Siberian Trek is nearly over.

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