Celebrity Solstice - 12/22/2023 - Thailand & Vietnam - Live(ish) Report

[Miaminice]

After visiting the beautiful sight we continued along the colorful and beautifully restored houses, shops, temples and restaurants through the streets and by the riverside.
 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course we did not leave some streetfood like tofu pudding with sweet red beans and grilled banana sticky rice with coconut unattended. I could return to Hoi An just for that alone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Miaminice]

The famous Japanese bridge was being renovated so we could only look at it from the outside, but we visited one of the old restored shophouses.

 

 

 

 

 

[Miaminice]

When it was time for lunch we went to the Home Hoi An Restaurant.
We immediately liked the contemporary and stylish design.

 

 

 

When we looked at the menu of our set lunch on the table, we were speechless and our jaws dropped. Who was supposed to eat all that?

 

 

Slowly but steadily one delight was served after the other. There was almost no room on the table anymore - not to mention in our tummies. The pictures I added don’t even show half of it. And as if that wasn’t enough, our tour agent Rose had told the restaurant in advance that I don’t eat fish and seafood. So even more extra dishes came just for me. Unbelievable…

 

 

 

 

On the way back we could only pass by all the good looking street food. There was just no room anymore. However, we did try a coconut coffee along the way.

 

 

 

[Miaminice]

Before we met our driver again, we had some time to shop. Birgit and I usually bring just one souvenir from our trips. One piece that fits our house or that we actually use at home - always reminding us of the trip on which we bought it. On the way to the temple we had passed an art gallery and a painting on display had immediately caught my attention. We went back and bought it as it matches another painting in our house very well. It will be a reminder of a fantastic trip. A trip to which our fabulous tour agent Rose and her guides, in this case Dao, contributed a lot.

 

 

In good time we made it back to Solstice before we sailed towards Halong Bay, our next port of call.

 

[Texed]

When I was in Viet Nam when I had a different vocation, I never dreamed there was such beautiful places there.  We did visit Hoi An in 2020, so I did get to experience it.  😊

[Happy Texans]

On 12/30/2023 at 11:48 PM, Miaminice said:

Fast forwarding a bit with a heads up…

 

As we speak we are cruising in Halong Bay. 
Our tour guide Rose organised on of the Junk Boats for us. When I say for us, I literally mean for us - only the six of us!

 

Currently she’s in the galley preparing a meal for us. She’s doing it because she also runs a cooking school. She’s just amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Happy Texans]

What tour companies did you use for these great tours besides AnnTours?

 

[Mickey22]

Always enjoy following along on your trips!  Wonderful pictures and some great tour information. Happy New Year!

 

Jane

[Miaminice]

1 hour ago, Happy Texans said:

What tour companies did you use for these great tours besides AnnTours?

 

 

We booked all of our tours in Vietnam with a young lady named Rose Nhung. She does the tours in Hanoi herself and picks guides of her team for the other ports. She is very passionate about her job and very well organised. We can’t recommend her highly enough! This is her Number +84374372918 (also on whatsapp)

Email: Nhungnguyen.ulis@gmail.com

 

She is a gem!!!!!

[louise1955]

On 1/2/2024 at 7:42 PM, Miaminice said:

 

We booked all of our tours in Vietnam with a young lady named Rose Nhung. She does the tours in Hanoi herself and picks guides of her team for the other ports. She is very passionate about her job and very well organised. We can’t recommend her highly enough! This is her Number +84374372918 (also on whatsapp)

Email: Nhungnguyen.ulis@gmail.com

 

She is a gem!!!!!

 

[louise1955]

Hi, thanks so much for your blog!! My husband and I will be on that ship in March on the Singapore to Australia trip. We are also in Aqua class in room #1547. How do you like the ship and your stateroom? I have read mostly positive reviews. Enjoy the rest of your trip!!

[larry_s_taco]

You did so well documenting your trip. It has been fun to follow along. We are going to be on the Solstice early next year. What do you think about the ship?

[cavaaller]

Thank you for another fabulous blog. I admire your planning and your writing skills!

[Viveash]

5 hours ago, cavaaller said:

Thank you for another fabulous blog. I admire your planning and your writing skills!

Another thank you for your informative and enjoyable live trip report. We are on Solstice taking the same cruise to Hong Kong Monday week, so your writings have been particularly helpful.

[Miaminice]

Thank you! But the best is still to come. We just got home and I will write about the last few days - almost the highlight of the cruise - asap.

[kabmab]

Looking forward to the rest of your review.  Always enjoy your reviews, photos and reflections.  Would love to cruise SE Asia again.

[Miaminice]

11 hours ago, louise1955 said:

Hi, thanks so much for your blog!! My husband and I will be on that ship in March on the Singapore to Australia trip. We are also in Aqua class in room #1547. How do you like the ship and your stateroom? I have read mostly positive reviews. Enjoy the rest of your trip!!

We generally enjoyed our cruise! However, our focus was really more on the destinations and less the ship.
 

Solstice was fine and the service good as always. She seems a bit worn in places - if you really look out for it. The furniture in the staterooms have a few scratches and so on. BUT we are not really searching for fault and it was nothing that really bothered us. We definitely had a great time because our daytime experiences at the ports were fabulous. The ship - although nice - merely served as our floating hotel. A good hotel 😁

 

Food was OK. Not bad but not great either. However, I do admit and factor in that after so many  cruises it’s just nothing new and the wow factor of the first years is gone. A luxury problem… 😁
 

Live music was good. Can’t say much about the shows because we never go.

[hcat]

On 1/2/2024 at 9:24 AM, Miaminice said:

 

 

 

In good time we made it back to Solstice before we sailed towards Halong Bay, our next port of call.

 

Beautiful ...Hope the painting will be a great reminder of your wonderful trip.!

Edited January 6 by hcat

[Miaminice]

Celebrity Solstice - December 2023 - Thailand & Vietnam - Day 11 - Part 1 Daytime - Halong Bay/Hanoi

 

Sorry for the delay. By the time I‘m writing this we are already back home and the last days of our cruise were so filled with fabulous experiences that I couldn’t catch up with sorting the photos and picking the best to post. We had such a great time and enjoyed so many things that I decided to split the post. 

 

After a beautiful but rainy day in Hoi An the weather was beautiful when we woke up. Perfect for our visit of beautiful Halong Bay.

 

 

We had been looking forward to this day and this part of the cruise. Not just because of the destination but also because we finally got to meet Rose Nhung in person. Rose and I had been in contact since the first time we had planned this cruise some years ago before it was cancelled again and again because of the pandemic. Rose was the Mastermind behind all of our fabulous Vietnam tours and she could not have done a better job. And if we thought we knew what to expect for the two days in Halong Bay and Hanoi, boy were we wrong. She topped it again - outstanding. But sorry, I am getting ahead of myself…

 

Our arrival in Halong Bay was planned for 10am, so we had time to have our breakfast at Blu and then enjoy the scenery and first glimpse into the bay’s beauty from our balcony while Solstice was slowly making our way to the port.

 

 

[Miaminice]

Once the ship was cleared, we took a shuttle to the port terminal where we met Rose. 
 

 

From there we took a van to the port of the Halong Bay cruise ships and boarded our ship, the Nam Cuong.
 

 

It didn’t take long and we sailed out into the bay. Halong Bay is famous for the unique formation of nearly 2,000 thousand limestone islands and islets in an emerald ocean. We made ourselves comfortable on the upper deck and admired the uniquely shaped islands floating by while Rose disappeared into the galley of the boat. When I say we, I have to clarify that I really mean just us - the six of us had the whole ship to ourselves! 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 6 by Miaminice

[Miaminice]

After a short while we reached Thien Cung “Heavenly Palace” grotto.
 

 

Thien Cung grotto is vast and covers thousands of square-meters. Its complex structure consists of many levels, many with high ceilings and walls. Before entering the underworld of the cave, Rose expertly told us about its history and its legends.

Everywhere in the grotto, there are countless stalactites and stalagmites with unique shapes.

 

 

 

Rose pointed out a few which looked like dragons, lions and even Santa’s face. Look at the photos. Can you see them?

 

 

 

 

The massive halls of the grotto appeared to us like a museum of Mother Nature’s fascinating artwork.

 

[Miaminice]

When we went back on board of our ship it was time for lunch. We sat down and Rose presented what she and the ship’s chef had prepared. One delight after the other filled the table and food kept appearing as if by magic. Rose brought spring rolls made by her mother, salads, potato fries, oysters, shrimp, fish, pork and and and… unbelievable! Everything was delicious. When we couldn’t possibly have any more, fruit from Rose’s parent’s farm was served as dessert. To call it a feast would be the understatement of the century. We felt truly blessed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Miaminice]

We were so absorbed by the food that we hardly had time to admire the landscape outside.

 

 

 

However, Rose pointed out some interesting rock formations like the one depicted on the 200,000 VND bill.
 

 

 

 

[Miaminice]

Then it was time to work off some of that fabulous food. We stopped at a pier and had the choice of kayaking ourselves or taking a sampan ride.
 

 

Birgit and I decided to kayak while the rest of our cruise family chose a sampan. I swear, our kayak would have not been so low in the water on other days. A tribute to the magic lunch table.

 

 

We paddled through the emerald green water and entered two beautiful lagoons through caves. The lagoons were once used by fishermen as shelters from the typhoons.

 

 

 

 

Besides the singing of the ladies rowing the sampans to entertain their passengers, gliding through the waters was almost serene.

 

After this post lunch activity we sailed back to the port and started our drive to Hanoi in yet another clean and comfortable van. 

 

[hcat]

trip of  a life time..glad we could

"come along"  Places we will never see in person have been so beautifully shared!