sgmn

22 hours ago, bobmacliberty said:

I'll add that the Singapore Metro (called the MRT...Mass Rapid Transit) is VERY clean and felt like the safest Metro that I've ever ridden.  It's a very easy way to get around.

Thank you, did you get a three day card or just tap in and out with debit card ?  The nearest MRT is about 500 yards from our hotel

23 hours ago, aussielozzie18 said:

Visit the National Orchid Garden within the Botanic Gardens

Go to Gardens by the Bay.  Take the free short open bus tour first to get an overview of the site. Go in the afternoon and explore the indoor Cloud Dome & the indoor Flower Dome.  Then Eat at the onsite hawker market - Satay by the Bay - so you can stay for the evening light show at the Supertrees.  An absolute must see.

Go to Clarke Quay for an early dinner then go on a bumboat ride - you cruise under the illuminated bridges & see the Spectra  light fountain show outside the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

Ride the cable car to Sentosa Island.  Lots to see and do there for the day.  Catch the monorail back to Singapore.

Have dinner at one of the hawker markets that is closest to your hotel.  Good cheap food.  Nice atmosphere.

 

 

Thank you, taking notes !! We're staying close to Clarke Quay

23 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

 

We've been in Dec. 2018 for one day and 2 nights, before a cruise. I was very lucky to get the cheapest room at MSB, booked more than an year ahead. It gave us access to the pool on the roof, with amazing views, mainly at night.

 

For those who do not "live" there, the only option to see the views is the Roof Bar. I highly recommend it for an once in a life time experience. We had our roll call there, the vast majority of participants didn't "live" in the hotel.

 

For our short stay, we enjoyed the Gardens by the Bay, at night and in the morning. I went to a mall to buy my daily Dead Sea moisturizer, which I forgot home, while DH went to take pictures of a colorful neighborhood (Emerald Hill Road).

 

I wish we had more time to see the Botanical Gardens (always a favorite for us) and the Orchids. OTOH, the oppressive heat and the very high humidity "killed" us...

 

Thank you Dani, wow Marina Bay, I can only dream, think its £750 a night while we are there. 

Do you recommend just the viewing platform of MBS or the rooftop bar. And we're you there at dusk? Did you have to book the bar in advance?

9 hours ago, livetravelcruise07 said:

Has anyone done the Stay Awhile through Royal? It popped up today through the onboard activities and I am wondering if it is worth it. It's $50 a person and it's a late disembarkation. Let me know what your thoughts are! 🙂 

My recommendation for a late flight home is to book a day room in an airport hotel.   In warm weather destinations its nice to sit by the pool, get lunch, have a room to have a nap, shower in.

Otherwise, if not too late a flight, do the ships tour that ends up at the airport.

12 hours ago, Kay.28 said:

Hi everyone! I'm new to Royal Caribbean cruising. I have seen that the entertainment section gets updated closer to sail date. 

As others have said shows and movies in the entertainment section are free.  A lot depends in the class of ship you are in. Smaller ships you don't need to book entertainment so shows don't show in the planner to book.  The shows on the bigger class ships are spectacular and should be available to book 1-2 months out.

Anthem class use to be free for ripcord and North Star but now has a fee for the extended versions. These though show up under 'on board' activities 

5 hours ago, island lady said:

 

Thanks...joining the ranks of virtual world cruisers until July, when you get to put up with me again.  😄 

Thanks for all your posts. It's been really interesting . Safe travels home

We're on the bcn-s'ton leg with you, so hope to say hi in person then 👋

Has anyone been to Singapore? Need some suggestions on what to see. We are there for four days before a short cruise on Spectrum 

Did you get any snow Graham? Weather reports were that it was hitting the North.

Just rain, rain snd more rain down here. We forced ourselves to do our Thursday outing (NYs resolution to get out more).

Went to a NT property 

Hughenden, country home of Queen Victoria's prine minister Benjamin Disraeli . Weather was bad so only looked around the house and had tea/coffee in the tea room. It has extensive grounds to walk molly so will be back on a sunnier day with her

 https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-berkshire/hughenden

On 2/3/2024 at 4:28 PM, lenquixote66 said:

I would assume that owners of cruise ships were always in it for the money .

But one presumes they want to be proud of their product, if only to get repeat custom 

4 hours ago, NancyIL said:

 

I think andreasfcb was referring primarily to the price of Serenade's Southampton to Copenhagen segment in July.

The western and northern European segments are almost full and hence very expensive now. They were reasonable ( but not cheap) , when we booked our mini about six months or so ago 

Thanks for great info on a destination there's not much about. Hope you'll contine on your Singapore cruise. 

Sorry for you and others on the cruise that you had to miss so many ports

10 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

 

We traveled because we really missed the grands, but our heart wasn't into it. We just couldn't "shake" from our minds what was and is happening here.

 

We simply cannot travel and worry whether will find our home in one piece when we return, or whether there will be flights back.

 

The "mood" is missing, even though our boys are past the "draft" stage and we don't have kidnapped people in our immediate "environment"....

 

When the war started,  our DIL's family were all in Italy  (annual vacation "sponsored" by our in laws 😎), since there was a Jewish holiday / school out. They were stuck in Italy for 2 additional weeks, all the flights to Israel being cancelled, and the only airline still flying was the Israeli one, which gave priority to all those who were called back to fight. The vast majority of the pilots were immediately called for reservist duty, so the number of flights was very reduced.

 

Only our son and his family managed to get back from Italy to Amsterdam....

Thank you for the update Dani.  It's such an awful situation, I wish a sensible solution could be worked out which would give a lasting peace in the whole area. 

Every time I read about Israel in the news I think of you and yours.  So sad that even having breaks is difficult  and not a  solution to the stress of living in a war zone. Prayers to you both and your son 🙏 

16 hours ago, h20skibum said:

We were pulling into our driveway after breakfast, and the grandkids saw a large bird in one of the trees in our front yard.  I look at it, and I say “that is a Cooper’s Hawk”

 

Our granddaughter says “Cooper’s **** !”  (Although what she said was not hawk, but something that rhymes with it.).  Of course, our grandson starts laughing, and he tries to correct her.  She tries again, and it she repeats several times “cooper’s ****, cooper’s ****”.  By now, Susan and I are laughing along with our grandson. 

 

Finally, our grandson says “stop it, the way you are saying it is a bad word.” 

 

I guess they haven’t taught that word in 3rd grade yet.  I won’t put the word there, because I want to pass GO. 

 

My son, when a toddler, had trouble with the word Truck. His Ts came out as Fs.  We had to switch to Lorries instead 

Glad you're feeling better @brillohead

And hope you're sleep is improving Greg @Sea Dog

Happy Cruising @ReneeFLL @Ocean Boy @Arzeena and anyone else off on their holidays 

On 2/2/2024 at 6:12 PM, brillohead said:

If you ever need curly hair advice for that little one, feel free to ask.  I'm a bit of a curly hair expert.  (And now that he's out of the Army, even my son is wearing his hair longer and learning how to style the curls he inherited from his mother!)

Personally I think it needs snipping. He's three in April and it's never been cut. I'm forever tucking it behind his ears or pushing it out if his eyes.  Tempted to send him home with it pulled into a pony tail 🤔 

On 2/2/2024 at 11:52 AM, aussielozzie18 said:

 

I think cinemas will disappear permanently within 10 years.

Pre covid we would go around every 10 days, now it's about once every three months. We've just got out of the habit plus it's so easy and cheaper to stream something 

On 2/2/2024 at 11:49 AM, aussielozzie18 said:

Can’t believe it’s February already.  January seemed to pass in a blink of an eye.  Bon voyage to @Ocean Boy and to those of you who are boarding a ship this month.  

Over here it's known as the longest most miserable month. Christmas is over, skies are grey and it's cold. Most companies pay wages around 20th Dec so its a looooong time till next payday.  And everyones trying to be super healthy and lose those Xmas pounds.

But it over now and I shouldn't wish my life away. 

Love the Crown Lounge when its in Viking Crown at the top of the ship.  Love the views and easy to 'overflow' into the main VC if CL is busy.  

Best lounges in the fleet IMO. Better than buried down in the lower levels with no window or views. 

21 hours ago, Jimbo said:

Why hold off, The sailing(April 24th, Singapore to Dubai) that OP was talking about doesn't have be changed, it doesn't go through the Suez Canal.

As far as I know Silverseas from West to east cancelled the cruise from dubai (and obviously through the Suez Canal) and picked it up in Mumbai when they went round Africa last month . Pax were disembarked in Athens. So I would want to know if its going to Dubai before changing course .

3 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Toby ended off the week on a high note by winning the Best of the Best competition on the Flowrider.  The first one to sign the board.  Thanks to his cheering squad of @Ozark_Kid (John and Sharon) and @FromSea2ShiningSea (Marty and Helen) ascwell as friends of mine who were also on this sailing along with a bunch of new friends he met on board.

Wow many congratulations,  how cool is that!

Thanks to all who contributed in giving us a glimpse of this new class. Very interesting review.

Safe travels home 

10 hours ago, Waynetor said:

Princess has announced they are by-passing the Suez on their w/c.  They are skipping some Australian ports. and all the southern Asia ports on their 121  night voyage. After Perth they go to Africa, make 2 ports and they head up Africa's west coast to the Med. Sea.  They are also re-working a w/c departing in April from Australia to miss the Suez.  HAL is doing similar changes

Think it's all of Carnival family of shipping lines including Cunard and P@O.

Was thinking of booking SIN to DXB on Serenade but waiting to see what's happening 

Yesterday our day out was to Cliveden. 

The house has burnt down twice and has been rebuilt. It has had some famous owners including the Waldorf-Astor family. Three generations of the family ashes  are in the Chapel in the grounds which are extensive, running down to the Thames. 

One of the cottages in the grounds was the scene of the famous '60s profumo scandal 

Which was made into a mini series " the trial of Christine Keeler'  a few years ago

Great for walking molly through the extensive grounds 

Here's a view from a distance

the grounds just in front of the house (which is a leased as a luxury hotel)

the walk contines down to the Thames

On 1/31/2024 at 10:02 PM, cruiselvr04 said:

Yesterday we did take the ferry to Manly and enjoyed the afternoon at the beach.  On our walk there we picked up a picnic lunch.  We don’t get in further than our knees as it’s cold!  I forgot it was the Pacific.  Hopefully when we get up to the GBR the water will be warmer.  
 

In the a.m. we did our work out and climbed the South pylon museum steps.  We saw climbers on the bridge and decided our climb of 200 steps was a good choice.
 

Today we’re planning a trip to the Queen Victoria building, maybe China town and then the Royal gardens.  Tonight is the the Sydney opera “The magic flute”. 
 

Today the “Queen Elizabeth” is parked outside our door.

Enjoying your holiday report, please keep it coming 🙂 

Just read your won't have Internet, hope to hear your views when you get home.

Have a wonderful cruise

On 1/31/2024 at 11:29 AM, Ocean Boy said:

Except  when you hear your dog (or cat) being sick at 2am then it's a problem that has to be sorted straight away. Luckily in the very rare times it happens (two nights ago) Gary deals with it 😬

On 1/31/2024 at 2:04 PM, Ocean Boy said:

Thanks. Just in case I am going to have my travel umbrella so that I can at least explore the island. Between that, a bathing suit, and water shoes I am going to make this work. I don't care so much about just lounging in the sun.

Enjoy OB, at least if you're in the sea (my fav place in the world), you're already wet, so rain won't really matter

Have a great holiday