A unique experience on a luxury cruise ship.

Nhung Pham is a pioneer in bringing the concept of international travel by plane combined with a 5-star cruise experience to Vietnamese tourists over the past 8 years. Following in her footsteps, I had the opportunity to explore this luxurious ship on a voyage departing from Singapore.

DISCOVER THE LUXURIOUS SHIP FROM SINGAPORE

The cruise ship departed from Singapore, so we flew from Ho Chi Minh City to Changi Airport in the morning, then took a car to Marina Bay Cruise Terminal. At the terminal, I went through the boarding process similar to the airline procedure, presenting my passport and checking in at the counter. The cruise company staff gave me a boarding pass with important information printed on it, such as passenger name, room number, restaurant name, dinner time, table number, and rescue area. After receiving my passport and boarding pass back, I went inside to complete the Singapore immigration procedures at the customs counter.

Stepping out of the harbor lobby, I was overwhelmed by the grandeur of the Voyager of the Seas, measuring 311 meters in length, 15 decks high, and weighing 138,000 tons. The entrance to the ship is on deck 4; past the hand luggage screening station, turning right leads to the photo booth for tourists with the cruise ship as a backdrop.

My room was on the 7th floor, facing the street and overlooking the Royal Promenade on the 5th floor. While not as spacious as rooms on land, the ship's rooms were well-equipped with a double bed, dressing table, sofa, wardrobe, TV, kettle, and toilet. Upon opening the door, I was surprised to find a towel folded into a cute rabbit on the bed – a welcome gift from the cruise ship.

The promenade stretches from the bow to the stern of the ship, lined with fashion, cosmetics, and jewelry shops (only open when the ship is in international waters), the 24/7 Promenade café offering free drinks and pastries, and a customer service counter. Strolling along the promenade, I felt like I had wandered into a Western neighborhood.

On any cruise, before the ship departs, all passengers must gather on the fourth deck to receive an briefing on rescue procedures. After 30 minutes of completing this important procedure, everyone disperses and engages in their free activities.

The ship departed from Singapore port, heading towards Malaysia. The sea was so calm that I didn't even realize it had set sail. Only when I asked the cruise staff did I learn that the ship had been at sea for an hour.

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I went to the Sapphire restaurant on the 4th floor for dinner. Stepping through the restaurant's doors, I was amazed by the luxurious atmosphere and the soothing music. Although the restaurant has three floors, they are connected by a common area. According to the cruise ship's regulations, when dining at one of the three luxurious restaurants on floors 3, 4, or 5, guests are required to wear formal attire and sit at the table number printed on their boarding pass.

The waiters, dressed in suits, greeted me with smiles and guided me to my table. Dinner was a lavish à la carte meal consisting of appetizer, main course, and dessert. The menu changes daily to give guests a variety of choices and prevent boredom.

MODERN MALAYSIA

At 8 am, the ship docked at Port Klang (Malaysia) – about 60km from Kuala Lumpur. We disembarked and took a car to visit Putrajaya – Malaysia's new federal capital. I took pictures of the famous Wawasan suspension bridge, shaped like a sailing ship, and then visited the pink mosque. The mosque, reflected in the lake, is a perfect blend of traditional and modern Islamic architecture, built of pink granite. Next, we saw the new Royal Palace, majestically situated on a hill. In the heart of Kuala Lumpur, my destination was the Petronas Twin Towers – a symbol of Malaysia's prosperity.

We returned to Port Klang before the ship departed at 4 pm, heading to the beautiful island of Phuket in Thailand. The evening of the second day of our cruise was filled with exciting activities. The highlight of the day was the captain's welcome reception in the Royal Avenue lobby. At exactly 7 pm, elegant gentlemen and ladies in traditional attire from various countries raised their glasses in a toast and chatted together. The captain and officers gave speeches and welcomed the guests. I had the honor of taking a commemorative photo with the captain.

PHUKET ISLAND, A PARADISE IN THAILAND

Phuket Island is located in the southwest and is the largest island in Thailand, covering an area of nearly 540 square kilometers.²The cruise ship was too large to dock right at the shore, so smaller boats transported passengers to the island, which was 15 minutes away. We had a great time on the island and returned to the ship anytime during the day (as long as it was before the ship set sail).

As soon as I set foot on the island, I felt the bustling atmosphere. We drove to Chalong Temple, the most famous and sacred of the 29 temples on Phuket Island. Located about 8 km from Phuket town center, the temple was built in the 19th century. Inside, it houses a gilded statue of the revered monk Luang Po Cham, who led the people of Phuket in their fight against the Chinese invasion in 1876. Climbing to the highest tower, I gazed out at the majestic mountains in the distance. In the open space, the gentle tinkling of the wind chimes hanging at the four corners of the tower created a sense of peace.

And of course, I didn't miss the breathtaking sunset over Phuket. The last rays of sunlight stretched across the trees, spilling onto the sea and making the water shimmer with a silvery, crystal-like glow.

ENJOY A WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT ON A CRUISE SHIP

The cruise from Phuket back to Singapore lasted 32 hours. At first glance, it might seem boring, but the continuous sea activities day and night provided me with countless experiences. Early in the morning, I strolled up to the 12th deck, walked along the railing, and ventured out into the expansive area at the bow to catch the first rays of sunlight and breathe in the fresh sea air.

I had breakfast at the Windjammer restaurant on the 11th floor. The buffet-style restaurant offers over a hundred Asian and European dishes, as well as salads, fruits like kiwi, apples, oranges, yogurt, lemonade, and strawberry juice… Seating is flexible, so I went down early to sit by the window, enjoying the sea view while having breakfast.

With some new friends I made on the cruise, I went to the outdoor golf course and tried hitting the ball rolling across the green grass. The sports area on decks 12 and 13 also has jogging lanes, a rock climbing wall, a basketball court, surfing, and spectator stands.

In the afternoon, the Broadway-style musical "Rhythm & Rhyme" performed at the Savoy Theatre on the 3rd floor drew thunderous applause for the dancers' superb singing and dancing. Just passing by the Royale casino, I heard the skillful shuffling of cards, the bustling sound of slot machines, and the joyful cheers of players celebrating big wins. A unique feature of the casino on the cruise ship is that it allows tourists to take souvenir photos freely. At the end of the day, soaking in the warm hot tub on the cruise ship was refreshing and ensured a good night's sleep.

On the final morning of the cruise, the ship docked in beautiful Singapore. It was time for me to disembark and explore the famous landmarks, take photos with the Merlion statue – a symbol of wealth and prosperity in the Lion City – before flying back to Vietnam with a sense of nostalgia!