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| Crystal Symphony: Sydney: |
BEHEMOTHS continue to stride the seas. The new Queen Elizabeth arrived October 2010 to carry on the Cunard baton with a reassuring heft of 90,900 gross tonnes offering more cabin comfort and entertainment for over 2,000 passengers. It flies a quintessentially English flag with frilly garden parties, croquet matches and exceedingly “propah” ballroom revelry. But Royal Caribbean has thrown a bawdy counterpunch in the form of the Allure of the Seas that emerged from the Florida waves to launch a lavish Las Vegas-meets-Disney experience complete with parading DreamWorks characters, jazzy Broadway musicals and over 400 slot machines.
Ditch your dinner jacket and don a helmet as you float along a zip wire, rock climb or ice skate on this 225,000-ton mega-ship. Stealing the title of the world’s biggest cruise liner from its sister vessel, floating residence Oasis of the Seas (www.oasisoftheseas.com), Allure of the Seas made its maiden voyage from Fort Lauderdale in December 2010.
Sailing against the trend of smaller scale boutique cruise lines, Royal Caribbean has sent monster ripples through the industry with the launch of these two Oasis-class ships. A whopping 1,187ft long and holding 6,200 passengers, Allure of the Seas has 21 swimming pools, 20 restaurants and 17 bars (including one that doubles as an elevator). Now that’s BIG. You can surf in a wave pool, play mini-golf, jog around the half-mile running track or admire 12,000 plants in the football pitch-size park. Impressive yes, but does size really matter?
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Silversea Cruises clearly thinks otherwise and its Silver Whisper offers an intimate sailing with only 382 passengers while P&O’s latest cruise liner, Adonia, invites a cosy 710 onboard. Then there is the all-apartment ship, The World, which even offers its residents the chance to personalise their voyage with bespoke itineraries.
So on with our Asian cruises guide from the small and the saucy to the big, the bold, and the brash, and a look at some cruise schedules for 2011 and 2012 touching the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
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| Oasis of the Seas cuts the waters |
Championing the cause of good things in small packages was the Hebridean Spirit (now replaced by sibling Hebridean Princess that trawls the waters off Scotland and Norway but not, alas, Asia). With only 70 passengers, the dedicated service and relaxed privacy made this ship a champagne choice. Asian cruises, as anywhere, require careful homework to sort the wheat from the chaff, the wallet bending from the truly wallet shattering. Armed with specific knowledge, an Asia cruise can be a highly enjoyable experience.
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Since my first invitation to speak on the Orient Line’s Marco Polo in 1994, I have cruised around the Indian Ocean on a score of ships, from large passenger liners like the QE2 visiting the region during a world cruise, to small luxury ships like Seabourn Spirit and Silversea's Silver Shadow putting into little-visited ports such as Port Blair in the Andaman Islands.
What are you looking for in an Asian cruise?
Some passengers cruise for exotic destinations. Others go to sea for the thrill of the voyage. Fun can mean professional cabaret every evening, casinos, quizzes and casual dress, or it can mean an elite country-club atmosphere, quiet formal evenings and erudite lecturers.
While glitzy cruise liners boast lavish buffets and spectacular entertainment for hundreds of passengers, queues at ports-of-call can be laborious, as are jam-packed sundecks. On the other hand, a smaller ship with only one bar and restaurant, could limit your activities and, more worryingly, your choice of company.
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| Seabourn beach getaway |
Cruising can cater for everyone – even for merry widows with gentlemen hosts on call for dancing – but first-timers should think carefully about what they get for their dollar before signing up for that “holiday-of-a-lifetime” voyage.
Rates for Asian cruises that really do include all the extras may at first seem high. However, extras like cocktails (plus 15 percent service charge), shore excursion (often more than US$100 a head), and tips of over US$20 per day per couple, can add a lot to the cost of the cruise. The basic component covered by a cruise fare is limited to the voyage, accommodation, meals and entertainment, so do allow for extras when comparing costs. Nasty surprises could include extras for government fees and taxes, port charges, fuel supplements, optional travel protection and incidentals like laundry, spa and salon treatments, purchasing those souvenir photographs and succumbing to the casino and art auction enticements.
Asia cruises – examine the fine print on rates
Minimum fares generally start around US$250 per person per day depending on the ship. Many companies advertise discounts in their brochures and a good cruise travel agent could come up with less than the brochure price because of early or late booking discounts, loyalty programmes and volume pricing. One of the leading cruise bookers is Kenny Wong of Atlantis International (www.ailcruises.com). Based in Florida, Kenny (Kenny@ailcruises.com) can get great deals with all cruise lines reviewed here, and specialises in Silversea Cruises.
When poring over your Asia cruises brochures, always study the small print for extras. While companies such as Silversea, Seabourn and Regent Seven Seas state that tipping is not expected (but it will surely be accepted), some specify what gratuities are required. Crystal Cruises suggests guidelines for stateroom and dining service tips as: stewardess US$5 (single travellers, US$6 per day), senior waiter US$5, waiter US$3, butler US$4, all per guest per day. There is no guidance about tips for the maitre d', head waiter, assistant stewardess and room service personnel, but US$7 per guest per dinner is recommended for those restaurants where a premium is charged.
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| Superstar Aquarius cabin |
Passengers on Legend of the Seas can pre-pay gratuities per person per day of US$3.50 each for the restaurant waiter and stateroom attendant, US$2 for the assistant waiter and 75 cents for the headwaiter. On the Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2 a "discretionary hotel and dining charge" is added to the bill of each passenger (including children) of between US$11-15 a day, according to accommodation grade, plus 15 percent on bar charges and dining room wine. Costa ships add between seven and eleven euros per day (depending on the destination and length of trip) to a passenger's bill at the end of a cruise to cover gratuities. Princess Cruises add US$10.50 per person (including children) per day to the on-board bill and a 15 percent charge is added to bar bills.
Gratuities can be charged to the shipboard account while some ships provide envelopes in the cabins (and guidelines in the ship's daily programme) for tips to individuals at the end of a voyage.
Another expense to prepare for when considering Asian cruising adventures is the tips for staff when you take a shore excursion. Legend of the Seas recommends that the Tour Director be tipped around US$3 and the coach driver US$2, both per guest per day. In addition, some cruise lines require guests to pay port charges and government taxes and this could add as much as US$400 per person. With exchange rates on a trampoline, these notional numbers will vary considerably.
Something new to budget for is the premium payable to dine in a speciality restaurant that features a theme menu (such as Italian, French, Thai or Japanese cuisine). This can range from the US$20 charged for Norwegian Cruise Line's steak restaurants and 20 euros per person plus 15 percent service charge for drinks in the club restaurants on Costa cruise ships, to US$200 for a degustation menu with five premium wines, on Silverseas ships.
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| Seabourn Odyssey |
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) pioneered the concept of “freestyle cruising” which gives guests the option of eating in any one of several restaurants, only some of which attract a premium for extra service and broader variety of food. Their ships are child-friendly too, with lots of activities and attendants to keep children busy while their parents play. Keep them in mind for child friendly cruises for the family. The closest that NCL ships get to Asia is Hawaii, although older NCL ships have cruised in the Indian Ocean in the past, and could do so again. Check the NCL website for updates on their Asia/Orient cruises.
Is Asian cruising for me? Formalities and jamborees
Cruising is a wonderful option for the elderly – and the lazy – since unpacking (and packing) only has to be done once instead of at every destination, and getting back to the cabin at night after a convivial evening doesn’t require a taxi. Cruise ships also carry a doctor who holds daily clinics (for a fee, so have good insurance). The bigger ships with more organised activities are suitable for parents with children, who can be cared for by trained staff. Some, like NCL ships and Star Cruises, positively welcome children and have special meals and club facilities for them. Luxury smaller ships often have nothing special for children to do, and the predominantly older passengers’ tolerance of other people's kids may be low. Be aware that some small ships will not accommodate children below a certain age.
Passengers with mobility problems will find better facilities on ships built after around 2003. These have a range of cabins designed for wheelchair users, and some even have electric hoists to help passengers get in and out of the swimming pool. Special cabins feature ramps and extra wide doors, grab bars and shower stools, raised beds and adjustable hanging rods in the closets and toilets. Some staterooms also feature alarms and communications systems such as vibrating alarms and closed system TVs for passengers with hearing and visual disabilities. All cruise ships have wheelchairs for temporarily disabled passengers (and a steward on hand to push) but these are limited to emergency onboard necessity – embarking and disembarking – not for exclusive use or for shore excursions.
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| Hebridean Princess cabin |
Cruising in Asia is the ideal holiday for solo passengers too, although some ships charge 175 percent of the per person rate for single occupancy of a double cabin. Solo passengers are often invited to dine at the captain’s or chief engineer’s table and since there are usually a good batch of singletons, there are ample opportunities for ship-board romance.
There are often three formal nights on a 14-night cruise and this means a tuxedo or at least a dark suit for men. Informal, smart or elegant casual on other nights indicates that men should wear a jacket and not necessarily a tie. For elegant casual, Star Cruises insist “all gentlemen must have a collar with flap”. Casual nights allow for dressing down, but not shorts, except during the day. The larger ships have buffet restaurants operating in the evenings where dress is casual.
The larger the ship, the more entertainment, with lavish shows, parlour games and casinos. Even the small yachts of Seabourn have cabarets and comedians, while Silversea vessels veer towards more classical evenings. All have musicians, either small groups or a bar pianist. Lectures are usually given in the ship's theatre or, in the case of very small ships like Island Sky, in the bar lounge.
Silversea cruises recently revamped their entertainment options in a move away from typical cruise ship entertainment in favour of live music showcases of everything from Motown and opera to an all ABBA revue.
The bigger ships have dedicated smoking lounges while others confine smokers to defined areas on the open deck. The bigger ships sometimes feature “art auctions” with paintings perpetually cluttering up public places, and also have ship's photographers and contrived photo opportunities, which the smaller ships eschew.
Some Asian cruises operate a two-seating policy at meal times. This means a first sitting commencing at 6.30pm with second sitting at 8.30pm. There would be two cabaret performances in the evenings too so that all guests can see the shows. At lunchtime there is a buffet served on deck or in a deckside restaurant, as an alternative to having lunch in the more formal atmosphere of the restaurant. Breakfast is usually a buffet, either deckside or in the restaurant.
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| Tiger Breeze: cargo option |
The peak time for cruising in Asia through the Indian and Pacific Oceans is from October to April and there are three kinds of cruise vessel. Catering for the mass market are the larger liners such as those of Royal Caribbean, Princess and Holland America. Midsize ships are operated by Oceania, Crystal and Celebrity cruise lines. Riding the crest of the wave in the small, luxury cruise ship category are Silversea, Seabourn and Regent Seven Seas. The smaller ships base themselves in the area for the season while the larger ones, such as Queen Victoria, pass through as part of an annual round-the-world voyage. For people with no fixed schedule and who like their own company, there are also passenger-carrying container ships that have taken over from the tramp steamers of old.
Although some container ships do take passengers, the voyages can be long and uncertain. Romance is lost to the crush of containers and dining is reserved to ship’s fare with a handful of passengers and officers. You could also be pleasantly surprised. The chef has his hands free from wall-to-wall buffets and is often able to rustle up genuine delicacies. Cargo ships have basic to excellent accommodations and a huge selection of movies. Most passenger freighters take four to twelve passengers. Tramp ships of yore are giving way to sleeker vessels catering to the well-heeled and there are some excellent freighter ship cruises available.
The best Asian cruises – ships, freighters, floating residences
US-based Maris Freighter Cruises offers a wide range including round-the-world cruises on multipurpose cargo ships (including Rickmers) carrying containers and up to 12 passengers though four to five is the norm. The ships have two double and three single cabins with showers, mini-fridges, TV and DVD/VCR sets and shared facilities include an exercise room and swimming pool. Voyages can be broken up into segments. One itinerary, which starts and ends in Southampton, includes ports in Malaysia, Japan, Korea, China, and Hong Kong; the 10-week voyage costs about 7,000 euros per person. Another round-the-world voyage bookable through the company is the Pearl String Voyage, which can be picked up in Singapore and includes Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Another interesting trip is the North America to the Far East jaunt which starts in either New York City or Long Beach California and travels through Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and China before heading back to USA. Other embarkation points include Houston and Hamburg.
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| Crystal Serenity: Deluxe Stateroom |
Maris Freighter Cruises includes options like CMA CGM Hugo (San Francisco to Dalian, Xingang, Shanghai and Ningbo); MSC Texas and Pacific Link (Los Angeles, Xiamen, Hong Kong, Yantian); and Hanjin Lisbon and Madrid (LA, San Francisco, Pusan in South Korea, Shanghai, Kwangyang in South Korea, and back across the Pacific to Los Angeles). There is a round-the-world option in 105 days touching Kingston, Jamaica (day 45), Panama Canal, Los Angeles (day 55), Shenzhen (day 73), Hong Kong (day 74), Shanghai (day 78), Pusan (day 80), and back across the Pacific. Or, a trip on the ZIM Ontario which leaves from Savannah Georgia stopping in Jamaica, before passing through the Panama Canal and visiting Korea and Shanghai and Hong Kong in China.
Another option for an Asian freighter cruise is from Hanjin San Diego, which accommodates eight passengers and does a 35-day roundtrip from Pusan (Korea), taking in ports in China, Taiwan and Australia. Fares are about 80 euros per day on this German-crewed vessel. All cabins have a sitting room and include a mini-fridge, TV and DVD. There is an additional charge of 225 euros for port and vessel fees. Only four roundtrip passengers are invited aboard MSC Palermo, which sets off from Singapore and takes in Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand on its 49-day trip. There is a swimming pool and gym and it is recommended to tip US$3 per day.
Tiger Breeze (formerly City of London) was built in 1997 in Poland and sails with Russian officers and crew from Singapore to Port Kelang and Madras and back. A 13-day voyage costs US$1,950 per passenger. This freighter has four twin-bedded and four single cabins that are basically furnished and have kettles. There is an outdoor swimming pool and an age limit of 79. In addition to offering an informative website about cruise and freighter travel, Maris also runs a Cruise and Freighter Travel Club, which offers regular newsletters and further discounts on cruises. Freighters and creaking cargo ships may be the bottom end of the Asian cruising pecking order but they can be fun.
Crystal Cruises (www.cyrystalcruises.com) operates two vessels – the 1,070-passenger Crystal Serenity, which includes a casino, theatre, library with more 3,000 books, CDs and DVDs and cabaret club and the 940-passenger Crystal Symphony, whose recent US$23 million refurbishment saw the addition of a new casino and nightclub.
Plan early for the Singapore-to-Hong Kong “Temples and Dynasties” Asia cruise that runs 26 February to 13 March, 2012, priced at US$12,260 touching Bangkok (Thailand), the sun-and-sand playground of Sihanoukville (Cambodia), Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon, Chan May and Hanoi (Vietnam). You’ll also receive US$500 shipboard spending credit.
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| MS Rotterdam |
Another Asia voyage example is the “Kingdoms of Silk and Jade” Hong Kong-to-Tokyo cruise that runs mid-March 2012 for 18 days at US$14,665 with stops in Shanghai and Beijing (China), Pusan (South Korean), Hiroshima, Osaka and Tokyo (Japan). You’ll be treated to US$500 shipboard spending credit.
Or for an entirely different Asian experience try the “Spice Islands and Beyond” trip that sails from 23 February to 2 March and visits Bali, Jakarta, Penang, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Semarang and Phuket. It is priced at US$6,105 per person. For all Crystal Cruises be sure to check their free air programme to see if you qualify for complimentary airfare.
Check its website for money-saving deals such as “As You Wish,” which offers passengers US$2,000 spending credits on several routes, plus you can also bag two-for-one fares on some 2011 voyages.
Italian cruise line Costa Cruises offers short and longer Asia cruises. A typical vessel has nine decks (eight for passengers), and features hand-cut Carrara marble and fine-wood walls. Costa runs cruises all over Asia including a 22-day Indian Ocean cruise that visits Mauritius, Madagascar, Reunion, The Maldives, The Seychelles, Cochin, Mumbai and Dubai. This trip leaves February 2013 and runs at US$2,099 and up.
Also on offer are shorter cruises, for example the four-night “short break” trip that leaves in May 2012 and covers China (Shanghai), South Korea and Japan with inside rooms starting at US$539. It is worth checking out the website as the company runs different Asia cruises every month.
There are dozens of live-aboard boats available for charter in the Maldives and these are popular with divers as well as those who want to visit islands beyond the 90 devoted exclusively to hedonistic tourism. There's a formidable dive centre on board along with a fun-in-the-sun party atmosphere (drinks are included in the fare) on Atoll Explorer. This small vessel (20 cabins, some with balcony, for 40 passengers) has been operating all-inclusive weeklong cruises throughout the Maldives since 1997 and has become so popular it can be booked for months in advance. Cruises are generally taken as part of a Maldives holiday package but can be arranged independently with diving an extra cost. It is the perfect way of cruising around tropical, palm-fringed desert islands in an exclusive, laidback style. One highlight is a visit to the spa at Kandholhudhu. Get a herbal rubdown in a spa pavilion under swaying palm trees or opt for a beauty treatment. This island offers good and accessible snorkelling within the protected house reef. Gawp at small sharks and stingrays. The Atoll Explorer is moored at Kurumba (about a 20-minute boat ride from the international airport).
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| Silver Shadow |
Back to the open seas. One of The Yachts of Seabourn ships visits Asia every year. Seabourn Pride, for example, is an admirable combination of small-ship ambience with big-ship spectacle. With 104 suites, she never has more than 204 passengers, who soon get to know each other at the restaurant, by the pool, in the small casino, or in the bars (most drinks, including in-suite champagne on arrival, are complimentary). There is entertainment by professionals every night in the ship’s theatre or lounge. A typical cruise may run 14 days at US$6,449 from Singapore to Hong Kong taking in stops along the way in Bangkok and Ko Kood (Thailand) and Ho Chi Minh, Chan Mai and Cai Lan (Vietnam). One departs 21 December, 2011. Tipping is not required or expected on board but if you go ashore on an excursion take some money for local guides and drivers. Government and port taxes are extra and could add another US$400 to the cruise cost.
At 32,000 tons Seabourn Odyssey is three times the size of her sister "yachts" and carries double the number of passengers in 225 suites, 90 percent of which have balconies. Special features of the cabins are granite bathrooms, in-suite bar and flat-screen televisions; there is also a two-storey spa and waterfall and Seabourn Square – a lounge with library and cafe. The youngest ship is the 225-suite Seabourn Sojourn, which joined the fleet in June 2010 and now proudly sails the Asian waters along with sister ships Seabourn Pride and Seabourn Spirit.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises (formerly Radisson Seven Seas Cruises) has two ships that cruise regularly in the region, the Seven Seas Mariner and the Seven Seas Voyager. Both ships carry 700 passengers in suites, each of which has a balcony, and both have casinos, show lounges, fitness centres and enrichment programmes. Seven Seas Voyager departs Singapore on 6 January, 2012 on an 17-night voyage including Semarang, Bali and Komodo (Indonesia) and Thursday Island, Brisbane and Sydney (Australia). All-inclusive fares start at US$10,388 and include unlimited excursions, gratuities, all drinks including wine and spirits, 24-hour room service and mini-bar.
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| Legend of the Seas balcony cabin |
Royal Caribbean International (www.royalcaribbean.com) has 22 ships boasting spacious public areas and friendly atmospheres. For top Asian cruising in the region the line has one of its glitziest and brightest ships (glass lifts, floor-to-ceiling windows, rock climbing wall and nine-hole miniature golf course), Legend of the Seas. With a passenger capacity of 2,074, this 70,000-ton vessel is looked after by a crew of 726. She mainly operates five to nine-night cruises including Pearls of the Orient from Shanghai that stops off in Osaka and Fukuoka (Japan) and Busan (South Korea) and costs US$1,178.
Royal Caribbean is especially nice for short trips including the two-night weekend cruise, which completes a circuit from Singapore to Malacca Malaysia and back at US$422. Other interesting trips include a Night Jewels of Asia trip that leaves from Shanghai, docking at Okinawa, Fukuoka Japan and Busan, South Korea. This trip leaves 14 and 28 July, 2012, as well as 11 August with prices starting from US$1,124.
Oceania Cruises and the line's mid-sized ship, Nautica, which holds 684 guests (with 400 staff), has become a regular visitor to the region. Scheduled activities on board on sea days include wine tasting, culinary demonstrations and arts and craft classes. Menus change on a daily basis. An interesting 18-day Hong Kong-to-Bangkok cruise on Nautica departs February 2012, touching Taipei (Taiwan), Romblon Island (Philippines), Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia), Sihanoukville (Cambodia) and the island of Koh Samui (Thailand). Called “Sultans, Kings and Emperors,” it costs US$5,228 per passenger.
Lovers of longer cruises will appreciate the 25 day Imperial Interludes cruise from Bangkok to Beijing which promises a more “in-depth” cruising experience. Ports of call include: Koh Samui, Singapore, Brunei, Borneo, Saigon, Hanoi, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing. The ship sets sail 26 January, 2012, 10 and 28 February, and 24 March. Prices start at US$5,077.
There are several sailing dates for the 16-day “Dynasties and Rising Suns” Tokyo to Shanghai voyage also on Nautica and priced at US$3,053 per guest. The ship has stops in Nagoya, Kyoto and Hiroshima (Japan), Seoul (Korea) and Beijing (China). Departures include 10 and 28 February, 24 March and 9 April, 2012.
Oceania’s latest liner is the 66,000-ton Marina that hosts up to 1,258 persons (double occupancy). Oceania Cruises has several two-for-one offers (mainly in Europe and the US), along with special rates and US$2,000 price reductions.
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| Holland America's Zaandam: stateroom |
In 2013, Holland America’s MS Volendam heads to Asia for a series of nine new cruises. The majority of the ship’s new routes are 14-day voyages between Hong Kong and Japan. Two longer trips, a 16-day sailing from Sydney to Singapore via Indonesia and a 17-day transatlantic crossing from Kobe to Vancouver begin in December, 2013.
The Zaandam of the Holland America Line has a 14-day Asia Explorer cruise from Singapore that visits ports in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and China (from US$1,599) in January 2012.
Holland America also offers longer cruises on the MS Rotterdam, including the ambitious 90-day Passage to the Far East which leaves from Rotterdam, crossing through the Suez Canal then heading to Lombok and Bali before returning to Cadiz in Spain, stopping at many ports along the way. This cruise costs US$11,000 for an interior room and leaves on 9 January, 2013.
Big player Star Cruises (www.starcruises.com) is dedicated to onboard fun, complete with casinos, cabarets, buffets and a relaxed Asian ambience where “elegant casual” dress is the most that is required for the gala dinner. It is a cruise line entirely dedicated to cruising in Asia, for Asian tastes and exclusively to Asian ports of call. There is a “no tipping” policy but room service, dining a la carte in theme restaurants, beverages, government taxes, port charges and passenger handling fee are extra and there is a fluctuating fuel surcharge.
The 76,800 ton Superstar Virgo with a capacity of 1,804 passengers, runs weekend, two-night and three-night cruises out of Singapore every month. According to the cruise length, ports include Malacca, Port Kelang, Redang, Phuket, Langkawi and nowhere (the weekender). There are ten restaurants on board with free dining (up to six meals a day) either as indoor and outdoor buffets in the Chinese family restaurant or the Bella Vista for international dining. Other restaurants attract a premium. Her sister ship, the Star Pisces with 693 cabins operates one-night cruises to nowhere regularly out of Hong Kong. These are some of the best short sail options for Hong Kong weekend cruises and Singapore cruises.
Superstar Libra regularly makes a short roundtrips to Thailand from Penang stopping at Phuket and Krabi. There are four to five sailings per month with prices starting from around US$700. The 765-cabin Superstar Aquarius does short trips from Keelung (Taiwan) to various Japanese islands.
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| Hanjin San Diego: roudtrip from Korea |
The SAGA Group has two ships exclusively for those over 50 – Saga Pearl II (which replaced the Saga Rose) and Saga Ruby. The best way to explore Asia is on its “Wonders of the East” round-the-world cruise, which sails from Sydney to the UK. The 67-night voyage leaves 23 February, 2012, and passes through Indonesia, The Philippines, Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, Sri Lanka and India before heading to the Middle East and Europe. The trip costs US$16,742 (double occupancy), and includes overnight flights from the UK to Australia, onboard meals, gratuities, port taxes and up to 600 pounds spending credit.
Short Asian cruises sectors are also available on P&O’s Asian and Oriental fleet ships the Aurora, Oriana and Arcadia as they sail through the region on world voyages. The Aurora is great for family cruising, with a range of facilities for tots to teens. These include a children’s play area, paddling pool, night nursery babysitting service, and the Decibels venue for teenagers ages 13 to 17, including a video wall, computers and a teen disco at night.
The P&O ship, Arcadia, made her maiden world voyage from Southampton early 2009. She returned to the region as part of a round-the-world cruise in 2010. On this ship there are special fares for single cabins equivalent to 170 percent of the per person fare in a shared double cabin. (There is a small discount for cruises booked at www.pocruises.co.uk).
P&O liner Oriana sets off 21 January, 2012, on a 15-night cruise from Dubai to Hong Kong, taking in India, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. This promises to be a fun adventure for Asian cruise boffins.
Artemis retires from the fleet (May 2011), making way for Adonia, which is P&O’s smallest ship with only 710 passengers. With wood panelling, a grand staircase and traditional artworks, Adonia offers a more intimate cruising experience although facilities are still top-notch with eight bars, three restaurants and a dance lounge playing everything from the waltz to the cha-cha.
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| P&O Arcadia: home away from home |
Passengers on other liners speak with awe about the Silversea ships whenever they are spotted in port. The company describes its fleet’s suites as offering the highest ratio of space-per-guest of any fleet, and 80 percent of its suites have furnished teak verandahs. Asia cruises, as indeed all sailings, feature lectures by historians, ambassadors, state leaders, authors and geographers. All four ships offer WiFi throughout. It's not just the sophisticated ambience of a Silversea ship that makes it special; everything – even boarding and disembarking – is smoothly run. Your privacy is sacred, yet camaraderie abounds, aided by a staff-to-guest ratio of almost one-to-one. With all spirits and cocktails (including Pisco Sour), fine wines, three famous brands of champagne included in the fare, and service by intelligent, knowledgeable staff, these ships deserve their awesome reputation.
Silversea offers a variety of short to medium length cruises in Asia from the basic Singapore to Hong Kong jaunt (US$5,398) which makes stops along the coast of Vietnam to the 12-day Tokyo to Hong Kong trip (US$7,438) and 11-day Hong Kong to Bangkok cruise starting at US$6,758.
Keep an eye out for the Silversea 2012 “World Cruise” Florida to Monte Carlo (Monaco) departing 6 January, 2012. The entire sailing takes in 60 ports in 116 days. The round-the-world cruise is split into two “World Journeys” – Florida to Singapore; and Singapore to Monte Carlo (Monaco). Or slip into the waters for briefer 10-to-21-day segments. The sailing touches, Mauritius, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Taiwan and Malaysia. The entire trip costs from US$57, 699, or US$24,122 for the World Journey 1 segment or US$34,003 for the World Journey II leg (Singapore to Monte Carlo, 3 March, 2012 until 1 May, 2012).
“Travel By Design” is the option offered by the all-apartment ship The World. Sailing the globe year-round, its “floating residences” of varying size can be rented or even bought. For a minimum of six nights, passengers can cruise from and to wherever they fancy on the ship’s itinerary at a price that is for two people sharing and includes dining, select beverages, gratuities and port charges. The concept sold is an adventurous but relaxed lifestyle. The 2012 itinerary doesn’t pass through Asia and the 2013 route has yet to be announced. Previous voyages have stopped off in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Manila, Papua New Guinea, Sydney, Bali, Singapore, Yangon and Dubai.
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| Queen Elizabeth is back |
The Princess Cruise Line has five ships, big and medium-sized, visiting and cruising within the Asian region. Onboard atmosphere is bright and cheerful. Sample the 24-hour buffet every day included in the fare, or splash out on a meal at a speciality restaurant. Segment fares are available on world cruises and are competitively priced. Dawn Princess weighs in at 77,000 tons and carries 1,990 passengers. The smaller (30,200 tons, 670-passenger) Pacific Princess pops up on her world cruise in Iwo Jima (Japan) bound for ports in Korea, China, Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore, ending in Venice (Italy). This 107-day round-the-world frolic starts in Florida on 13 January, 2012. The fare is US$24,695 (double occupancy), plus an extra US$1,109 for government fees and port taxes.
The 77,000-ton, 1,990-passenger ship Sun Princess operates cruises to and from Australia. She makes other cruises in the region with a 21-day round-trip cruise from Freemantle (Australia) taking in ports in Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. The larger Diamond Princess, at 116,000 tons and 2,670 passenger capacity, cruises in both directions between Beijing and Singapore, via Japan, China, Vietnam and Thailand. It also heads farther afield with its Australia to China cruise from Sydney to Beijing. The voyage takes 23 days with 11 ports of call including Hong Kong, Taipei, Shanghai and Beijing. The ship sets sail on 4 February, 2012 and the fare costs from US$2,995. There is also an extended forty-day roundtrip cruise from Sydney, on the Sea Princess, that covers Australia, Brunei, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Guam and Papua New Guinea. The cruise leaves 6 March 2013 with interior rooms starting at US$6,500.
The renamed Ocean Princess (formerly Tahitian Princess), a smaller vessel with a capacity for 670 passengers, has several cruises of varied itineraries between Shanghai, and Osaka or Singapore before leaving the region bound for ports in Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore Malaysia, Burma and India on her way to Cape Town. Ocean Princess itineraries include the “Africa, India and Southeast Asia” cruise from Singapore to Cape Town with 30 days on the high seas calling in at various points. The cruise departs 6 April, 2012.
For those who can’t get a month off from work, there are more manageable Asian cruises from the Princess Cruise Line including a 16-day Bangkok to Beijing cruise starting at US$2,000 for an interior room and sailings 25 October, 2012, and 17 April, 2013.
Ocean cruise line Cunard has been in operation since 1840 and runs a number of famous ships, notably Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and the new Queen Elizabeth – the third Cunard ship to be named Queen Elizabeth. Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) made its last transatlantic crossing in 2008.
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| Balmoral from Fred Olsen |
Cruising on a Cunard Queen has great social prestige and snobbery pervades the atmosphere. Passengers dine according to how much they’ve paid, with restaurants and even some bars being off-limits to those who haven't paid top whack. Yes, it's the old-fashioned first, second, third class system in operation.
In October 2010, the new Queen Elizabeth said toodle-oo to its home port of Southampton and set sail on its first maiden voyage to the Canary Islands. The Italian-built vessel made its first round-the-world cruise in March 2011. Continuing the illustrious legacy of its predecessors, the ship combines art deco glamour with an air of old-style decorum. Pop in your monocle and admire the rich wood panelling, cool marble floors, intricate mosaics and gleaming chandeliers. There are 1,046 staterooms of which 738 have balconies. There are nine room types, each paired with a sea-view restaurant. Those splashing out on a top-category cabin will have access to the exclusive Britannia Club where you can dine at any time. It would be a frightfully spiffing idea to bring along your stiff upper lip for a game of croquet or bowls before an English garden party on deck nine. There is WiFi access in every room and while you play tennis with pros, your kids can let lose in the Play Zone. Tiny tots (and lascivious grandpas) can hang out with the team of British nannies. You can’t get more English than that.
On 10 January, 2012 the Queen Elizabeth sets off on a round-the-world voyage from Southampton (UK), heading first to New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco before turning her sights on Asian waters. She arrives in Auckland (New Zealand) on the 41st day of the cruise then continues to Australia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, India and Dubai. Fares start from US$20,994 (double occupancy).
The other new Cunard vessel, Queen Mary 2, seems cast from the same mould being billed since her launch in 2004 as "the grandest ocean liner ever built." At 151,400 tons, she carries a maximum of 2,592 guests in shameless luxury (Queen's Grill accommodation), to bargain basement, actually Deck Four inside cabin (Britannia accommodation). As part of her 2012 cruise around the world, also from Southampton, she sails to Australia, Japan, Bali, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and India. Fares for this 108-day voyage start from US$20,994 (double occupancy) and the ship sets sail on 10 January, 2012.
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| The World: Floating Residence |
The annual round-the-world voyage of the old Queen Elizabeth 2 was taken over by Queen Victoria. The 90,000-ton ship offers 900 staterooms (639 of which have balconies) for 2,000 passengers on 12 decks. She pushes off in October 2013.
A newcomer to round-the-world cruising is Balmoral (the newest liner, refitted in 2008), of the popular Fred Olsen Cruise Line fleet. She made her debut with an unusual itinerary, starting her voyage in February 2009 in an easterly direction from Dover, England. She made a more conventional westerly circumnavigation beginning from Dover January 2010, bound for Freemantle. At 43,537 tons, Balmoral has 738 cabins for 1,440 passengers and lots of entertainment but, according to the company, preserves “the homely atmosphere that is the company’s trade mark”. Early-savers fares for an inside cabin start at about £133 a day per person. A 26-night “World Voyage” from Singapore to Sydney on the Balmoral is priced from £3,469 departing February 2012 including Chan May (Vietnam), Hong Kong, Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia) and then Cairns, Hamilton Island, and Brisbane (Austalia).
In January 2013, The Balmoral makes a 17-day Southampton to Southeast Asia voyage hitting Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand (and somehow even Cuba) for £7,149 for an interior room.
Another Fred Olsen ship, The Black Watch, makes a round the world cruise in January 2012 including stops in Malaysia, India, Vietnam, Singapore and the Philippines among many other ports of call. A trip like this runs to at the very least £9,600 or more.
Azamara Club Cruises built the 30,277-ton Azamara Quest in 2000, which carries a maximum of 694 passengers served by 408 crew. Suite guests benefit from butler service and free access to speciality dining (stateroom guests must pay a cover charge of US$15). Fares are inclusive of tips for housekeeping, dining and bar staff and guests receive complimentary red and white wine with lunch and dinner.
Between 26 March, 2012 and 12 April, 2012, she heads off into the sunset on a 17-night “Indonesia and Philippines Voyage” between Hong Kong and Singapore. For US$4,299 you’ll get to visit Manila, Balikpapan (Borneo), Palapo (Sulawesi), Komodo (Indonesia), Benoa (Bali) and Semarang (Indonesia).
A wide variety of trips from Hong Kong, China, Singapore and India are offered in 2012-13 including a 14-night cruise, which departs Hong Kong on 3 April 2013 and takes in Hanoi, Halong Bay (Vietnam), Hue (Vietnam), Saigon, Bangkok, and Singapore for US$3,299. Also explore an 11-night trip that leaves from Madras (Chennai) on 12 December, 2012 and puts in anchor at the Andaman Islands, Myanmar, Phuket and Singapore for US$2,199.
For an entirely different kind of cruising consider a river cruise. The Road to Mandalay river cruiser by Orient Express has long been a luxury traveller favourite. It offers a series of trips, all consisting of cruises up and down the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar (Burma). The ship itself exudes the understated luxury that is the Orient Express trademark, unfortunately (or thankfully) ersatz cruise ship entertainment is entirely absent from the Road to Mandalay replaced by occasional more subtle cultural performances. Cruises leave every week on trips ranging from three to eleven nights, which run US$2,400 to US$5,730 respectively.
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| Road to Mandalay cabin |
As Asian cruising increases in popularity, Singapore is set to become Asia's main cruise hub now that its new facilities are handling the biggest cruise liners in the world. Capacity doubled in 2010 thanks to two berths at a new international cruise terminal capable of accommodating the largest ships in service as well as Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's new 6,200-passenger Oasis-class ships. The new facility complements two existing berths at the Singapore Cruise Centre at Harbourfront. The terminals are a 15-minute drive from each other.
Several cruise lines, such as Star Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Costa Cruises, P&O, Princess and Silversea have made Singapore the home port or 'marquee' port for Asian ship deployments. Royal Caribbean and Silversea also opened offices in Singapore to play a more significant role in Asia. Singapore is a significant port of call for a variety of ships, including Cunard's Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria, and ships from Princess, P&O, Oceania, Holland America and Crystal cruise lines. That’s the long and short of Asian cruises. Don your hat, pour on the sun-block, and head off for some wild adventures. Or hop on a tramp ship and do an Asian freighter cruise in less wallet-pinching style.
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