Cruising the royal carribean way

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

IF IT is a totally relaxing vacation on your mind, there is nothing like going on a cruise. You don’t have to think of where, when and what to eat. You can eat at the varied food outlets in the ship anytime or all the time for that matter, and choose from among the countless yummies offered. There’s no reason to be bored because all kinds of activites are scheduled, day and night. As for entertainment, the nightly performances vary - songs and dances, magic tricks, comedy shows, acrobatic stunts...the list goes on.

Rest and recreation are the operative words on a cruise. Somehow, I always equate cruises with Royal Caribbean International (RCI). Maybe it is because I have gone on four of their cruises and each one had been a terrific experience. The latest one I took was just a month ago onboard the Legend of the Seas. Destination: Laem Chabang and Koh Samui in Thailand. With Zenaida Chua of Worldwide Travel as organizer, the trip sponsored by RCI and Airphil Express was “tops” all the way. From the RCI end it was Roy Jingco of Baron Travel (GSA of RCI) who efficiently took charge of our cruise requirements, while from Airphil Express came Eldee Alvaro who acted as tour escort.

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

Since the Philippines is not one of the cruise stops of RCI, our cruise group (mostly travel agents) had to go to Singapore to board the Legend of the Seas. Thankfully, Airphil Express makes travel to Singapore such a breeze (comfortable and affordable, plus its time sked is so convenient). What’s more, Airphil Express lands in the world-renowned Changi airport, and not in the secondary airport for low cost carriers.

We flew to Singapore a day before the cruise and stayed at the five-star Mandarin Oriental Hotel at the Marina Bay area. It sits right next door to the Marina Square mall and is just a short walk from Singapore’s newest landmark, the Marina Bay Sands.

In fact our rooms looked out to that incredible view. A stone’s throw away is the distinctive Esplanade where cultural shows, art exhibits and different kinds of entertaiment/performances are held. Service at the Mandarin Oriental is impeccable and its extensive breakfast buffet is one for the books!

The sked for embarkation the next day was after lunch so we had time for a city tour and a quickie shopping foray in Chinatown. You can be sure that with Zenaida C in the lead, shopping is always on the menu.

The Legend of the Seas is classified under RCI’s Vision class ships which means it is mid-size (2076 passenger capacity), unlike the larger and newer ships in the RCI fleet. It features glass canopies and skylights, floor-to-ceiling windows, an inviting solarium, and all else that spell SUPERB! Though not the most luxurious cruise line in the world, RCI is a class all its own.

Everything is so organized onboard the ship. There’s a daily update on the what-where-when happenings via the Cruise Compass, the ship’s newsletter delivered to each cabin every afternoon. From the info, you can then decide and plan your activities the next day.

The Legend of the Seas left the Singapore port at 5 p.m. on Monday, May 30. We spent the next 36 hours cruising. No, we didnt feel restless or useless during the full day at sea. There were varied activities on board - line dancing, daily trivia, dance classes, table tennis and mini-golf tournaments, movies, games, fitness lectures and demos, and yes, even a sale in the shops.

In the evening there was a very entertaining musical show at the theater. After the show one could choose whether to go dancing, go to the karaoke for a singing session, or just listen to guitar melodies and piano music at the Atrium. Of course the casino was open for anybody who wanted to try their luck at the gaming tables.

We reached our first destination, Laem Chabang (two hours away from Bangkok) early morning on Day 3. Shore excursions were available for those who wanted to see the sights in Bangkok and in nearby Pattaya. My friends and I went all the way to Bangkok, thanks to my Bangkok-based sister Elma and her husband Nop Muangkroot who took us from the ship and brought us to the city.

Day 4 found us enjoying the tropical splendor of Koh Samui island. Again, the cruise desk offered shore excursions but we opted to go on our own. We rented a car and visited the island’s “must sees” which included Chaweng Noi Beach, the gushing Namuang waterfalls, and the rock formations by the beach known as Hinta-Hinyai (Grandfather and Grandmother Rock). And then there was the towering Buddha atop a hill in Big Buddha Bay which we could see from afar.

One more day at sea and then we were back in Singapore. Yes,the five nights on board the Legend of the Seas just flew...and yes, it was a glorious cruise holiday. Come to think of it, the cruise ship is in itself, a destination like no other.

(By the way, RCI will deploy its iconic Voyager of the Seas to Asia in the first quarter of 2012. I’ve been on this ship once before and it is such a “wow!” This early,

I am already thinking of a cruise with the family on the Voyager. However the details as to sked and destinations are not yet available.)