Encore Singapore to Hong Kong Ports

[cruiseryder]

We will be aboard Encore in February and wondered if anyone can comment on a couple of the ports please.

 

Laem Chebang: We have visited Bangkok on land tours a couple of times and thought it may be possible to get to Pattaya which I believe is 30/40 minutes away. Does Seabourn run a shuttle to port entrance (or Pattaya). Is it easy enough to get a taxi. We only want 4 hours or so, mainly to get off the ship as it seems the port is very commercial.

 

Hoi An: We would like a half day tour to Hoi An but most of the tours seem to be full day . It looks like we can walk off the ship into Da Nang.

 

Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

[EbonyJ]

1 hour ago, cruiseryder said:

 

 

Laem Chebang: We have visited Bangkok on land tours a couple of times and thought it may be possible to get to Pattaya which I believe is 30/40 minutes away. Does Seabourn run a shuttle to port entrance (or Pattaya). Is it easy enough to get a taxi. We only want 4 hours or so, mainly to get off the ship as it seems the port is very commercial.

 

 

We were on the Encore in February.  A free shuttle was provided from the port to Pattaya right in the central shopping area. The journey was around 30 minutes each way.  I think they ran every hour.   

[FlyerTalker]

It is easy to get a taxi to Hoi An and back.  Depending on your wishes, you may have a driver that will stay and wait for you (for a round tip price) and some may just do one ways.  For all of your stops in Vietnam, your best taxi companies are Mai Linh (dark green color) and VinaSun (white with red/green trim - but beware of copycats with similar colors), both with similar rates.  A bit higher cost are cabs from G7 (silver with red/blue trim) and VinaTaxi (yellow) - both reputable.  Cabs are quite cheap compared to European or US taxi rates.

 

My preference is VinaSun, but have never been unhappy with Mai Linh.

 

One thing you will want is to get Vietnamese dong for your smaller purchases, as any exchange of dollars by a cabbie or vendor will be at a lousy rate.  Or be sure to take plenty of ones and fives so you don't have to worry about change from your twenties.

 

 

 

 

[Sir PMP]

You don't want to miss Hoi An, fabulous village.

[cruiseryder]

Thanks All, a big help with planning. Thanks for the tips on currency too.

[ajpeter]

On the way to pattaya there is a splendid wooden temple with fantastic woodcarving not to be missed.

 

[ssummer]

4 hours ago, ajpeter said:

On the way to pattaya there is a splendid wooden temple with fantastic woodcarving not to be missed.

 

True! The Temple of truth , very beautiful!

[ssummer]

Any suggestions for Sihanoukville , also a stop in this itinerary...? A difficult one for me....

 

Edited October 29, 2023 by ssummer

[frantic36]

9 hours ago, ssummer said:

Any suggestions for Sihanoukville , also a stop in this itinerary...? A difficult one for me....

 

 

I haven't been there for 6 or 7 years but sadly it was a dustbowl in the city full of construction. I didn't hear great reports from people who stayed in the city. 

 

We took a taxi to a hotel on the beach which I had organised a day rate with prior. We enjoyed our day at the resort. It was modern and the beach was lovely with a nice pool in the resort. The road out to the resort was in bad repair. The hotel organised for a taxi to return us to the ship.

 

I found my best resource for the current state of Sihanoukville the trip advisor forum.

[EbonyJ]

On 10/29/2023 at 1:07 PM, ssummer said:

Any suggestions for Sihanoukville , also a stop in this itinerary...? A difficult one for me....

 

Hi.  Please take a look at a company called Ann Tours.  We used them for 5 days  in Cambodia and they were superb, but we know people who have also used them for Shore Excursions who recommended them to us in the first place.  For Sihanoukville they offer 4 different shore excursions.  They are also based in Vietnam, so they would certainly help with any trips there.  They are very approachable and helpful, so if you drop them an email they will come back with suggestions for you.  Just give them the dates and times the ship is in port and they will do the rest.  We have always dealt with someone called Tony. 

On 10/28/2023 at 12:35 PM, cruiseryder said:

 

 

Hoi An: We would like a half day tour to Hoi An but most of the tours seem to be full day . It looks like we can walk off the ship into Da Nang.

 

Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

I am sure they would also be able to help with Hoi An too. 

 

Hope this helps!  

 

 

[cruiseryder]

Thanks EbonyJ. We are now looking at possibilities. We are travelling with friends who just want to stay in Da Nang, Do you recall whether Seabourn provide a shuttle from the port or is it walkable? Thanks for your input.

[EbonyJ]

1 hour ago, cruiseryder said:

Thanks EbonyJ. We are now looking at possibilities. We are travelling with friends who just want to stay in Da Nang, Do you recall whether Seabourn provide a shuttle from the port or is it walkable? Thanks for your input.

Sorry our cruise did not have a stop in Da Nang , so have no experience on this port (with Seabourn).  We have docked there before but had a private day excursion to Hoi An and the Marble Mountains (great tour).  A quick search says the port and and Da Nang is approx 35 minutes and 20 km away so not walkable.  I imagine that they may put on a shuttle, but not sure if you would take a chance on waiting to find out?   

 

What I can tell you you is........... you are in for a treat in Ko Kood - one of the best days ever.  Heaven!

[EbonyJ]

Cruiseryder - there is someone on your Roll Call looking for people to join them on a private tour.  Have you noticed this? 

 

If anyone would like to join us for a private tour in Da Nang and Hoi An for $120 usd pp 

[Dunnedg]

On 10/29/2023 at 1:07 PM, ssummer said:

Any suggestions for Sihanoukville , also a stop in this itinerary...? A difficult one for me....

My suggestion would be put a bomb under it.

We did a trip from the ship in Jan 2019. Everyone had the same name for it 5hiteville! We visited a couple of temples a market and a beach but that was it. Sadly it was just a massive building site with the Chinese building dozens of casinos. Only bad stop on the cruise. 
 

[jjs217]

1 hour ago, Dunnedg said:

My suggestion would be put a bomb under it.

We did a trip from the ship in Jan 2019. Everyone had the same name for it 5hiteville! We visited a couple of temples a market and a beach but that was it. Sadly it was just a massive building site with the Chinese building dozens of casinos. Only bad stop on the cruise. 
 

It is kind of a sad place.  We were told by our local tour guide, for our safety, do not hand out money to begging children.  Sure enough, one member of our group (out of the goodness of her heart) did hand out some money and she was mobbed and couldn't get away.  It was actually a dangerous situation and the tour guide was finally able to wrest her away.  At another place, we were on a narrow walk way, and I was literally stepping over beggars.  I felt horrible, not being able to help - even went to confession when I returned home. 

[Dunnedg]

3 hours ago, jjs217 said:

We were told by our local tour guide, for our safety, do not hand out money to begging children.

We were told the same. Some people saved their nightly pillow chocolates, and handed them out and the kids were delighted. It is difficult when you see the poverty. 

[indianbiker]

On 11/1/2023 at 8:49 PM, EbonyJ said:

Sorry our cruise did not have a stop in Da Nang , so have no experience on this port (with Seabourn).  We have docked there before but had a private day excursion to Hoi An and the Marble Mountains (great tour).  A quick search says the port and and Da Nang is approx 35 minutes and 20 km away so not walkable.  I imagine that they may put on a shuttle, but not sure if you would take a chance on waiting to find out?   

 

What I can tell you you is........... you are in for a treat in Ko Kood - one of the best days ever.  Heaven!

EbonyJ thanks for your insights. We are on Encore Feb 17 and will be visiting Ko Kood. It looks like a nice place to snorkel. Is it worth us taking our own gear (this would be the only day we would use it) or do Seabourn provide snorkelling gear if asked?

Regards Glen and Maryanne 

[EbonyJ]

1 hour ago, indianbiker said:

EbonyJ thanks for your insights. We are on Encore Feb 17 and will be visiting Ko Kood. It looks like a nice place to snorkel. Is it worth us taking our own gear (this would be the only day we would use it) or do Seabourn provide snorkelling gear if asked?

Regards Glen and Maryanne 

I didn't see anyone snorkelling that day so not sure if Seabourn provide equipment.  You could use the kayaks and there was a banana boat.  Maybe someone else will chime in to confirm.  You will love it though!  

[AliceandRalph]

We are on the Mar2 sailing HKG-SIN.  Does anyone have recommendations for Hong Kong and Singapore for dining, and Hoi An, HCMC, Bangkok?   Any must see and do for the trip?  

thanks for any insight!

 

[AliceandRalph]

On 2/11/2024 at 6:22 AM, EbonyJ said:

I didn't see anyone snorkelling that day so not sure if Seabourn provide equipment.  You could use the kayaks and there was a banana boat.  Maybe someone else will chime in to confirm.  You will love it though!  

We have been on Seabourn in the Caribbean and they do provide snorkel equipment for the beach day.  

[jjs217]

1 hour ago, AliceandRalph said:

We are on the Mar2 sailing HKG-SIN.  Does anyone have recommendations for Hong Kong and Singapore for dining, and Hoi An, HCMC, Bangkok?   Any must see and do for the trip?  

thanks for any insight!

 

Recommended dining in Singapore would take days to list - may I suggest, for a truly authentic experience, go to a food hall.  A couple of recommendations:  Lau Pa Sat and Maxwell Road.  They are called Hawker Centers.  For authentic Chili Crab, go to East Coast Park.  There are several Chili Crab restaurants located there.

[Able Seaman H]

A video I made on that route a few years ago. The large marble “Moment of Enlightenment” Buddha now takes pride of place as you drive into our property in the UK. Definitely not carry on when boarding the plane !!

[PrincessTraveller]

Really lovely video!  Truly enjoyed, especially how you captured the lovely scenery and real life of the port.  Thanks for sharing.

[Able Seaman H]

My pleasure ❤️

[Miss Merry]

I really enjoyed that, thank you.  Would you mind sharing your ports of call please, not easy to remember I know.  Thank you.

MM