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| Laid back freighter cruise? Illustration: MARIS |
BEHEMOTHS continue to stride the seas. In 2012 alone, several more goliaths joined the scene, like the 4,000-passenger Disney Fantasy with its elaborate Aladdin musical, the Oceania Riviera, Carnival Breeze and Celebrity Reflection. And 2013 and beyond is filled with fresh surprises. Think the Norwegian Breakaway and Royal Princess.
The newest Queen Elizabeth arrived October 2010 to carry on the Cunard baton with a reassuring heft of 92,000 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 and continues to wear the crown –though Royal Caribbean may set a new record in 2016, with another Oasis-class ship in the works.
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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 just shy of 6,300 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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| Crystal Symphony: Sydney |
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.
Movement is not just on the open seas; Asian river cruises are gaining traction as well. More than a dozen boats joined the river flotilla in 2012, many of which head through Asia. Expect trips through Vietnam and Cambodia, along the Mekong River from Uniworld’s 60-passenger River Orchid, as well as mega-trips to the Arctic Circle aboard Compagnie du Ponant’s Le Soléal.
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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 50 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.
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.
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 2013 and 2014 touching the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
What are you looking for in an Asian cruise?
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| Royal Princess/ photo: cruise line |
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.
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 excursions (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.
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| Oasis of the Seas/ photo: cruise line |
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. A suggested guideline for stateroom and dining service tips could be: stewardess in the region of 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.
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-$13 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$11.50 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.
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| Superstar Aquarius cabin/ photo: cruise line |
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$25 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 upwards of US$200 for a degustation menu with premium wines, on Silverseas ships.
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.
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| Seabourn Odyssey/ photo: cruise line |
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.
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 shipboard 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.
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| Hebridean Princess cabin/ photo: cruise line |
Silversea cruises revamped its 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.
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. Mid-size 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.
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| Freighter option with MARIS/ photo: cruise line |
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 multi-purpose 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 Belgium, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Korea, China, and Hong Kong; the 12-week voyage costs about 8,000 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, Shanghai, Korea and Japan. 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, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and China before heading back to USA.
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).
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| Crystal Serenity stateroom/ photo: cruise line |
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.crystalcruises.com) operates two vessels – the 1,070-passenger Crystal Serenity, which includes a casino, theatre, library with more than 3,000 books, CDs and DVDs and cabaret club and the 922-passenger Crystal Symphony, whose recent US$23 million refurbishment saw the addition of a new casino and nightclub.
The Auckland-Los Angeles “Asia Pacific Adventure” cruise runs 29 January to 6 May, 2013, priced at US$33,835 touching New Zealand, Bali, Jakarta, Penang, Singapore, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Kobe, Russia, and Alaska.
Another, more affordable Asia voyage example is the “Spice Islands & Beyond” Bali-to-Singapore cruise 23 February to 7 March, 2013 for 14 days at US$3,905 with stops in Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Langkawi.
An example of an entirely different Asian experience is the “Reefs & Rainforests” trip from 11 February, 2013 for 12 days with visits to Brisbane, Whitsunday Island, and Bali, priced at US$4,290 per person. For all Crystal Cruises be sure to check their free air programme to see if you qualify for complimentary airfare.
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| MS Volendam/ photo: cruise line |
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 22-day “The Enchantment and Wonders of the East” cruise that visits Singapore, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur, Colombo, Cochin, Male, Mahe and Port Louis. This trip runs January-February at US$1,749 and up.
Also on offer are shorter cruises, for example the four-night “short break” trip that leaves in April 2013 and covers China (Shanghai), South Korea and Japan with inside rooms starting at US$639. 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 1996 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/ photo: cruise line |
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 208 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$5,799 from Singapore to Hong Kong taking in stops along the way in Bangkok and Ko Kood (Thailand) and Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Halong Bay (Vietnam). One departs 25 November, 2013. 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 Quest, which joined the fleet in June 2011 and is virtually identical to Seabourn Sojourn and Seabourn Odyssey.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises (www.rssc.com, formerly Radisson Seven Seas Cruises) has three ships, two of which 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 cruises include a 17-night Bangkok, Cambodia, Singapore, Penang, Phuket, Galle, Colombo and Cochin voyage in early April, 2013. All-inclusive fares start at US$12,999 and include a three-night land programme, unlimited excursions, gratuities, all drinks including wine and spirits, 24-hour room service and mini-bar.
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| Legend of the Seas cabin/ photo: cruise line |
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 four to nine-night cruises like the seven-night “Borneo Explorer Cruise” that stops off in Kota Kinabalu and Brunei, priced at US$720 (16 March, 2013).
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$350. Other interesting trips include a five-night “Fukuoka & Jeju Cruise” that leaves from Tianjin, China, 26 June, 2013, with prices starting from US$979.
Oceania Cruises (www.oceaniacruises.com) 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, spa retreats and arts and craft classes. Menus change on a daily basis. An interesting 17-day Singapore-to-Hong Kong cruise on Nautica departs February 2013, touching the island of Koh Samui (Thailand), Bangkok, Sihanoukville (Cambodia), Da Nang (Vietnam), and Hanoi (Vietnam). Called “Asian Treasures”, it costs US$5,651 per passenger.
An example of a longer cruise is the 25-day “Pearls of the Far East” run from Beijing to Bangkok that claims to serve up a more “in-depth” cruising experience. Ports of call include: Sihanoukville, Saigon, Hanoi, Hong Kong, Taipei, Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Shanghai, Seoul and Beijing (10 March, 2013). Prices from US$5,784.
There are several sailing dates for the 17-day “Empires & Dynasties” Hong Kong to Beijing voyage also on Nautica and priced at US$4,713 per guest. The ship has stops in Taipei, Okinawa, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Shanghai and Seoul. Departures include 4 and 21 February, 10 March and 4 April, 2013.
Oceania’s latest liner is the 66,000-ton Riviera, which debuted in May 2012. Like its sister, Marina, it hosts up to 1,250 persons (double occupancy). Oceania Cruises has several two-for-one offers (mainly in Europe and the US), along with special rates, US$500 shipboard credit and US$2,000 price reductions.
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| Holland America's Zaandam/ photo: cruise line |
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 2013. The 28-day “Thailand, Vietnam & China Discovery”, departs 4 February, 2013, and hits many of Asia’s hot spots from US$1,899 per person.
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 Dubai, Goa, Cochin, Malaysia, Singapore, Jakarta, Lombok , Bali, Colombo, Mumbai and Egypt before returning to Cadiz in Spain, stopping at many ports along the way. This cruise 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 75,338-ton Superstar Virgo with a capacity of 1,870 passengers, runs weekend, two-night and three-night cruises out of Singapore every month. According to the cruise length, ports include Malacca, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, and Phuket and “high seas” (the weekender). There are 11 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 626 cabins operates some of the best 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.
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| P&O Aurora/ photo: cruise line |
Superstar Libra regularly makes short round trips 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 to Sanya and Vietnam.
Short Asian cruises sectors are also available on P&O’s (www.pocruises.com) Asian and Oriental fleet ships the Aurora 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 and babysitting service.
The P&O ship, Arcadia, made her maiden world voyage from Southampton early 2009. Exclusively for adults, she returned to the region as part of a round-the-world cruise in 2010. Check out the 12-night, full-board Singapore-to-Dubai trip departing 13 March, 2014. From US$1,771 per person, this cruise has an interesting route, stopping by Port Kelang (Malaysia), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Mumbai (India), Muscat (Omen) and Dubai (UAE).
P&O liner Aurora sets off 18 February, 2014 on an 18-night cruise from Brisbane to Hong Kong, taking in the Whitsunday Islands, Manila, Shanghai and Xiamen. This promises to be a fun adventure for Asian cruise boffins.
Artemis retired from the fleet in 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: homey/ photo: cruise line |
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 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$4,550) to the 12-day Tokyo to Hong Kong trip (US$4,550) and 10-day Bali-to-Singapore cruise starting at US$4,250.
Looking for a more leisurely pace? Silversea has rolled out a collection of "Grand Voyages" that features a handful of Asia itineraries in 2013. Consider the 40-day "Dragons, Kangaroos & Kiwis" trip from Hong Kong to Auckland aboard the Silver Shadow. The stops include Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand with overnight stays in Ha Long Bay, Ho Chi Minh City, Bali, and Melbourne. The voyage sets sail 25 November, 2013 and prices start from US$15,940 per person.
Keep an eye out for the Silversea 2013 “World Cruise” from Los Angeles to Florida departing January, 2014. The entire sailing takes in 52 ports in 115 days. The round-the-world cruise is split into two “World Journeys” – Los Angeles to Singapore; and Singapore to Fort Lauderdale. Or slip into the waters for briefer 10-to-21-day segments. The sailing touches, Mauritius, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Malaysia. The entire trip costs from US$48,114, or US$27,550 for the World Journey 1 segment or US$20,899 for the World Journey II leg (8 March, 2013 until 1 May, 2013).
“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 2013 itinerary doesn’t pass through Asia and the 2014 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/ photo: cruise line |
The Princess Cruise Line has 16 ships, with Royal Princess debuting in June 2013 and Regal Princess coming on board in 2014. Ranging in size from medium to big, the fleet visits the Asian region several times a year. 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 (30,277 tons, 680-passenger) Pacific Princess pops up on her world cruise in Osaka (Japan) bound for ports in Korea, China, Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore, ending in Venice (Italy). You may have missed the starting fun as this 107-day round-the-world frolic launched from Florida on 27 January, 2013. Find a port and hop on. The fare is US$16,563 per person (double occupancy), plus an extra US$1,168 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 25-day round-trip cruise from Sydney (Australia) taking in ports in Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong Japan, and Singapore. The larger Diamond Princess, at 116,000 tons and 2,670 passenger capacity, cruises between Beijing and Singapore, via South Korea, Japan, China, Vietnam and Thailand. It also heads farther afield with its Australia to China cruise from Sydney to Beijing. The voyage takes 24 days with 10 ports of call including Hong Kong, Taipei, Busan (South Korea), Shanghai and Beijing. The 8 March, 2013 fare at US$1,982.48. Another sample itinerary is the extended 38-day roundtrip cruise from Auckland (New Zealand), on the Sea Princess, covering Australia, Tasmania, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Japan (22 February, 2013 with interior rooms from US$3,377.
The renamed Ocean Princess (formerly Tahitian Princess), a smaller vessel with a capacity for 680 passengers, has several cruises of varied itineraries between Sydney and Singapore, and Singapore and Italy, with stops in Dubai, Oman, India, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. Ocean Princess itineraries include the “Asia & Africa” cruise from Singapore to Cape Town with 31 days on the high seas calling in at various points (6 April, 2014).
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| Balmoral from Fred Olsen/ photo: cruise line |
For those who can’t get a month off from work, there are more manageable Asian cruises from the Princess Cruise Line, including a 14-day “Treasures of Asia” cruise from Singapore to Fremantle (Australia) aboard the Dawn Princess starting at US$2,529 for an interior room and sailings 27 May, 20 August, and 15 September, 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.
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 the majority have balconies. There are six room types, each paired with a sea-view restaurant. Those splashing out on a top-category cabin will have access to the exclusive Queens Grill and The Grills Lounge 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 loose 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.
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| The World/ photo: cruise line |
On 4 March, 2014 the Queen Elizabeth sets off on a Brisbane-to-Hong Kong cruise, heading first to Whitsunday (Australia), then Rabaul (Papua New Guinea), Tokyo, Kobe (Japan), Pusan (South Korea), and Shanghai (China), arriving in Hong Kong on the 25th day. Fares from US$7,323 (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 most magnificent 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 Sydney-to-Hong Kong journey, she sails to Brisbane, Yorkeys Knob, Kota Kinabalu, and Shanghai. Fares for this 19-day voyage start from US$3,695 (double occupancy) and the ship sets sail on 14 March, 2014.
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 from Southampton in March 2014.
A newcomer to round-the-world cruising is Balmoral (the newest liner, refitted in 2008), of the popular Fred Olsen Cruise Line (www.fredolsencruises.com) 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 1,350 passengers and lots of entertainment but, according to the company, preserves “the homely atmosphere that is the company’s trade mark”. A 104-night “World Cruise” from Southampton on the Balmoral is priced from £8, 999 departing 5 January, 2014, including Egypt, Oman, UAE, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan, among others.
In January 2014, The Balmoral makes a 49-night Southampton to Hong Kong voyage hitting Spain, Egypt, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India and Singapore at £4,379 for an interior room.
Another Fred Olsen ship, the Black Watch, makes a round the world cruise in January 2014 including stops in New Zealand, Malaysia, Brunei, Papua New Guinea, Australia and Singapore. A trip like this runs to at the very least to £7, 200 or more.
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| Road to Mandalay/ photo: cruise line |
Azamara Club Cruises refurbished the 30,277-ton Azamara Quest in 2007, which carries a maximum of 694 passengers served by a crew of 408. Suite guests benefit from butler service and free access to speciality dining (stateroom guests must pay a cover charge of US$25). Fares are inclusive of tips for housekeeping, dining and bar staff and guests receive complimentary red and white wine with lunch and dinner.
A wide variety of trips from Hong Kong, China, Singapore and India are offered in 2013-2014 aboard the Azamara Voyage, including a 17-night cruise, which departs Hong Kong on 3 February, 2013 and takes in Hanoi, Halong Bay (Vietnam), Hue (Vietnam), Saigon, Bangkok, Ko Samui and Singapore for US$4,599. Also explore the 16-night “Spices, Tea & Rubber Trees” cruise departing from Dubai on 9 November, 2013 and anchoring in Mumbai, Goa, Kochi, Colombo, Malaysia and Singapore for US$3,599.
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$2,520 to US$4,030 respectively.
The Mekong River is also seeing more attention from cruise companies, with expanding services from the likes of Avalon Waterways, Viking River Cruises, Uniworld, and AMAWaterways, which is adding new ships.
Visiting Cambodia and Vietnam over the course of 15 nights, the “Riches of the Mekong” cruise from AMAWaterways (www.amawaterways.com) spends three nights in Hanoi, and three nights in Siem Reap, before continuing on to Tonle Sap Lake (Siem Reap), Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and finishing with two nights in Ho Chi Minh City. For upper Mekong trips into Laos, lookup APT, an Australia-based travel agency that arranges short to mid-length trips on small but charming wooden boats.
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| River Orchid/ photo: cruise line |
You’ll visit markets, temples and villages along the Mekong River aboard Uniworld’s newest ship, the River Orchid, with 30 staterooms and a 60-guest max. The “Timeless Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong” cruise lasts 15 days and departs four to eight times a month in 2013. Prices are cheapest in August, at US$ 4,499.
With two new ships, Avalon Waterways offers customisable cruises as well as set courses, such as the seven-night journey from Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City, making stops in Angkor, the Cu Chi Tunnels of Vietnam, and Kampong Cham. This run is about once a month in 2013, and costs at least US$2,369 plus an extra US$65 in port charges.
For a more intimate getaway, take a peek at the itineraries from boutique cruiser SeaDream Yacht Club, which launches its maiden season in Asia with 18 voyages through 2014. The trips range from 7 to 15 days, and can be combined for a longer holiday. Look for itineraries aboard the 110-guest SeaDream II to unusual destinations such as Pulau Seribu (Indonesia), Jayapura (Papa New Guinea), or the Con Dao Islands (Vietnam). More mainstream stops include Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, East Timor, Hong Kong, Myanmar, Indonesia and Cambodia. The luxury yacht comes prepared with a crew of 95 — nearly a 1:1 ratio — open bar, luxury spa and ocean view rooms. Better still, gratuity is included. Asia cruises depart between November 2013 and April 2014 and start from US$3,999 per person.
Viking River Cruises has introduced six “Longships” to its fleet, with more in the pipeline. In addition to journeys down the Mekong, the company also organizes China trips. For example, the 18-day “China Explorer” river cruise visits 12 cities in China, including Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, Lijiang, Jingzhou, and Shanghai, among others. Several guided tours run the gamut from museums trips to the Three Gorges to a Chengdu’s Panda Research Base. The cruise sails several times in 2013, from US$4,542.
For small hops in the Indian Ocean, Deep Blue Dive Centers operates cruises aimed at divers and sun worshippers. On the 30-cabin Yasawa Princess, round trip journeys from Kurumba last between seven and 14 days. The northern trek drops anchor in Kuda Bandos, Velidhu, Meerufenfushi, Sandbank, Dhiggiri, Hangnaameedhoo, and Malé before heading back to Kurumba.
Farther north in Goa, India, the Goa Tourism Development Corporation runs super quick tours (day, evening) on the Mandovi River aboard the 200-passenger Santa Monica. The “Backwater Thrills” journey departs Tuesday through Friday at 9.30am and travels to the islands of Chorao, Divar and Old Goa, stopping at a spice plantation where travellers enjoy a lunch of traditional cuisine, before returning at 4pm.
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| Costa Cruises, embattled/ photo: cruise line |
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 an international cruise terminal capable of accommodating the largest ships in service as well as Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's new 6,300-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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