Genting Dream cruise returns to S'pore for half a day to let 2,800 passengers vote in GE2025

A cruise ship with 3,000 passengers on board sailed back to mainland Singapore for half a day to allow Singaporeans on the ship to vote in the 2025 general election.

Dream Cruises had informed its guests in advance on Apr. 17 that the Genting Dream will be making a special return to Singapore between 7am and 6pm in order to allow Singaporeans to vote, Resorts World Cruises said in a statement to Mothership.

The ship is scheduled to depart again at 6pm on Saturday.

The cruise was originally scheduled to depart from Singapore's Marina Bay Cruise Centre at 8pm on on Friday, May 2 and return at 12pm on Sunday, May 4.

2,800 out of 3,000 passengers are Singaporeans

It made the detour back due to Polling Day.

Voting is compulsory in Singapore.

Singaporean passengers were able to disembark to vote once the cruise ship arrived at Marina Bay Cruise Centre.

They can return to the ship anytime before the gate closes at 5pm.

Dream cruises said about 2,800 passengers are Singaporean.

A hassle for the foreigners on board

A 70-year-old Singaporean passenger told Shin Min Daily News that she had booked the tour package in March.

When Polling Day was announced, she originally wanted to cancel her booking.

However, she later learned that the cruise ship would make special arrangements to return to mainland Singapore so that Singaporeans could vote, so she did not cancel.

Other Singaporean passengers acknowledged that the detour back to Singapore might be a hassle for some foreigners who were also on the cruise, but were appreciative of the special arrangement to accommodate voters.

Shin Min reported that passengers and members who have paid in full will receive S$100 in cruise credit per room.

Top photos via Resorts World Cruises & Shin Min Daily News