Margaret Rees

In Singapore its a walk through the terminal and shopping centre to the subway system and from there you can go anywhere .

Surprised that no new posts since Monday 18 th so testing if its working OK ? !

We booked via the TUI website ,on line. Last Friday we decided to try and call and ask what was going to happen . We failed to get through despite trying 200 + times on various lines we were given . Then later in afternoon we were sitting with paperwork in front of us and TUI called ! No argument over refund or attempt to pursuade us to do anything else and 7 days later money back on card !

The only thing we wondered is whether they detected our number calling 200+ times and decided to call us ? 

This morning we received a full refund for our Tui  Danube River Cruise. This follows them phoning us 7 days ago and asking us what we wanted . We opted for refund and 7 days later its arrived ! We were due to go on Mon May 11 so refunded before date of travel ! We are happy and I think lucky . Hope others get what they want soon .

An update ! Have been trying almost continuously all day without success . Then sitting there with all the paperwork in front of us got a call from TUI  !! We asked for a refund and apparently it will be back on credit card within 28 days ! We shall see but at least they have finally reached out to us .

Thanks so much I will try those .

Thanks Trigger would you be able to look back and see what number called you and let me know please ? We are getting sooo frustrated here trying to get thru . Thanks 

Triggerdroitwich that is very interesting .We had a river cruise booked for May 11 and have heard nothing ! May I ask did you book on line or through a TA ? Thanks .

Looks like Discovery is on way to Koh Samui ? ? Anyone have any info ?

When we got our £500 we gave it back to them same day as deposit on TUI Danube river cruise for May !

If they had cancelled Cambodia and Vietnam I think that would def have been a very significant change and forced them to offer full refunds etc .

News from friend on board the ship.Apparently they are skipping Cambodia tomorrow due to Coronavirus and going to Vietnam for 2 days instead .

ekco ...How did you book ? We eventually found out that because we had booked through a TUI shop we had to go into a shop to process refund ! We didnt realise we had booked through a shop ! We booked over the phone and the call was routed to the Mansfield shop ,about 150 miles from where we live.We were able to sign for refund in local shop but it was processed through Mansfield ! No one actually told us this ,we only found out when we rang to ask where refund was ? !

If you fly into Bangkok the airport in U-tapeo which is not actually in Bangkok .It is about a 45 min /max 1 hr transfer to ship .

i am glad we started in Laem Chabang as we started with the weaker week and ports got better as we went along finishing on a real high in Koh Samui. We also really enjoyed the long stay over two long days in Langkawi in the middle. It felt like we were there for ages and was very enjoyable. Also if you start in Langkawi the first few days are very hectic after the long flight out . Starting from Laem Chabang is a more gradual start. Hope this personal opinion may help anyone looking to book in future .

Cambodia and Vietnam $US

Singapore need Singapore dollar

Langkawi and Penang and KL we used both US $ and Ringit. 
Thailand we used Baht and US $
There are plenty of money exchanges ,the one in Penang before you exit the terminal gave a very fair rate. 
The ships rate is poor but convenient and if you only need a few is an option.

Sihanoukville is worth getting off ship for . Take a taxi to the temple and see the destruction the Chinese have caused then head to the Sokha beach resort for a few hours.

Now we are home thoughts turned to our £1000 refund for 4 people. We have been checking account for a while but no refund. We rang and were told we had to go to a TUI shop to sign for refund ! Pity nobody told us . We went into local shop and signed so hopefully money will appear overnight ! You 

We have now arrived back at Laem Chabang on time. Captain Chris has been fantastic. Very friendly and visible around ship and got us to all the ports except Mallacca. He is on until end of March but has a week or two off sometime before then to attend a court case as a witness for a murder on a ship 10 years ago !
 

Haven’t seen any town maps. 
we paid far over the odds for taxi to Niki beach because our driver stayed there and waited for us .Another group paid $50 return for 8 people in one vehicle so $6 or 7 per person .It is a bit overwhelming when you leave the tender as so many screaming at you to use them .Just take a deep breath and a few minutes to decide who to use.

Koh Samui was great. The tendering worked well ,they used some large local boats which were more comfortable than the lifeboats.

When we got off the tender we were greeted by hundreds of drivers wanting to take us anywhere. Very like in the Caribbean. We went to a beautiful beach resort called Niki Beach. Very pleasant ,no charge for sun beds, swimming pool etc if you bought drinks.We hired a jetski and it was very good. 
You can easily walk to the town from ship ,no distance at all .Loads of shops ,bars,massage etc.

Really pleased they reinstated the port ,made a lovely final day .

We have had good weather throughout ,no bad days or heavy rain .

Apparently we are going at 16.7 kts and the Captain expects us to be ready to start tendering in Koh Samui tomorrow at 9 am .

Yes try and see The Lady Boys of Bangkok on evening of first Bangkok day. Need to get to Broadway Lounge very early to get seat but great show.

We also get some soot on balcony but not big problem . You 

We were wait listed for the tour as 4 of us and only 2 places available but next day 4 tickets appeared in cabin !

we left Singapore about 6.30 pm The Captain asked for everyones cooperation because you have to hand in your passport when you return to ship and they have to clear everyone with Singapore authorities so takes a while for this process. He wanted to get away promptly to make it to Koh Samui in good time .

For the technical ones reading this .......Our cabin faces over the stern . We have been watching the wash all cruise. The port engine is creating a powerful wash.The starboard one looks rather pathetic by comparison !

Great day today in Singapore. We did In Footsteps of Raffles trip . Actual really good and meant we didnt have to queue for our very enjoyable Singapore Sling at Raffles. We dropped off the tour before return to ship which gave us time for lunch in China Town and to go up to the top of Marina Bay Hotel . We took the MRT back to the ship which was cheap and sooo much more pleasant than London underground .

Now en route for Koh Samui !!

Captain says we will be on anchor by 10 am but he hopes earlier. Think we have been very lucky with itinerary reinstatements.

Make sure you sit by the infinity pool ! We didnt notice it at first and sat by the rather boring pool behind the hotel .The infinity pool is stunning with fabulous view.

We were in Penang today. Walked out of terminal and hired a series of trishaws for our family .$20 pp for an hours tour which was plenty of time to see all the main streets and sights. Guys were great characters and gave good information .Dropped us off at floating market afterwards.