2024 Grand World Voyage with The Inside Cabin

[oakridger]

6 hours ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

Good Morning Vietnam!

 

I loved that movie and we sure do miss Robin Williams who was from the Bay Area. 😔

 

 

~Nancy

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Back on the ship after a wonderful day touring Da Nang and Hoi An.  Our late departure allowed us to enjoy an amazing dinner in Hoi An.

 

I was able to join some friends who grew up in Vietnam and we explored many of the areas they used to live.

 

We started off with local sandwiches called Bánh Mì

 

 

Here are the places we visited and the highlights

 

Local temple - Chua Buy Dai Sun

 

China Beach

 

Dragon Bridge

 

Marble Mountain

 

Than That Trung Son Temple

 

Salted Coffee and local coffee shop "Coffee Nâu"

 

Old Town Hoi An

 

Ordered at tuxedo and got measured at noon

 

Noodle Lunch at Hanh Bun

 

Visit local house

 

Boat ride on the local river - It started and ended serene, but with encounted over 100 boats in a Spring Break party atmosphere half way thru the tour

 

 

Hair Cut - one of the best I have ever received.

 

Shopping in Hoi An

 

First fitting for tux at 5 PM - 5 hours after order

 

Dinner at Ms Vy's Morning Glory - Deep Fried Whole Red Snapper

 

Pick up the completed tux at 8 PM

 

Stop by Dragon Bridge at night

 

 

Back on ship at 9:42 - All aboard 10:30

 

 

 

Edited March 19 by The-Inside-Cabin

[The-Inside-Cabin]

We had an unusual "pillow gift" tonight.

 

Two gallons of water!

 

 

I am not sure what happened, but I speculate that they may have received a big order with no place to store the giant jugs - so off to the cabins!   Maybe they ordered 100 cases of water - assuming they were 16 oz - but they showed up as gallon jugs!

 

 

 

Edited March 19 by The-Inside-Cabin

[Toad]

I can’t believe you got a tux in a day! Amazing.

[Hogladyrider]

WOW kiddos on the tux that is just amazing would never happen that fast here in the states and for the price you paid as well!

[RuthC]

Tux looks good. Will you be wearing it later on in the cruise? 
I want to see pictures if you do. 

[cunnorl]

 You certainly pack a lot in a day!  Tux looks great! 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

19 minutes ago, cunnorl said:

 You certainly pack a lot in a day!  Tux looks great! 

It helped having a late departure.   Also having local tour guides were essential.   To see anything interesting in Da Nang is probably a 2-3 mile walk from the port gate.    
 

You couldn't walk out of the port.   Free golf carts took you to the main port gate but there isn't much there.  

 

Arranging a guide driver in advance will help.   Taxi drivers don't speak much English. 

 

Google translate helps your experience as many signs and placards aren't in English. 
 

We were last here in 2016 and the place has really changed.   Lots more tourist infrastructure.   Great port 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

We rarely go on HAL excursions so I can't comment directly about what led to everyone receiving this note this evening.   

 

I was told that a few days ago they called in the World Stage for  a tour to head to the dock and no one got up and left - Everyone on the tour was already long gone and already ashore.  
 

Currently you don't need a "dot" to get on the bus - only your room key.    Until they deny boarding an excursion bus without a "dot".  I doubt much will change.   We'll see what happens!

[00649]

If you dont mind sharing what is the price of the tux you had made.Years ago I had one made in Hong Kong along with some shirts and an off white cotton suit. Also had a pair of snakeskin shoes made.This was all same day service and if I remember correctly the total cost was under 500 us dollars.Love your reviews and pictures, they help so much when we will visit there in 2026.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

The tux jacket and pants was $345.   I got a discount since I knew people who knew people.   

[Hygge!]

25 minutes ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

We rarely go on HAL excursions so I can't comment directly about what led to everyone receiving this note this evening.   

 

I was told that a few days ago they called in the World Stage for  a tour to head to the dock and no one got up and left - Everyone on the tour was already long gone and already ashore.  
 

Currently you don't need a "dot" to get on the bus - only your room key.    Until they deny boarding an excursion bus without a "dot".  I doubt much will change.   We'll see what happens!

Sounds like they are trying everything to control the folks who believe they can do want they want. They tried different procedures in 23 - none of which worked. A for effort.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Arrived Phu My around 6 AM. 
 

Heading to HCMC for a private food tour - 8 people 

 

Xin Chao Private Vietnam tours

 

container port.   We are at the dot

 

 

 

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

We drove thru Phu My enroute to HCMC.   I was last here in 2018.   Much bigger now.  I spotted a mall within a couple miles from ship.  
 

Zuiderdam docked at the red heart.   Thus is much closer to Phu My than where we moored in 2018. 
 

 

 

 

 

Blue Dock is port gate.   Outlet mall is a little over a mile away. 

 

Edited March 21 by The-Inside-Cabin

[The-Inside-Cabin]

A great option if you don't want to negotiate your own taxi to HCMC is this excursion. 
 

$60 gets you a round trip to HCMC with time to explore on your own 

 

Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City

Price

$59.95/ Adult

$39.95/ Child

 

Duration

8.5 Hours

 

Departs

7:45 AM

Top 3 Reasons To Book

• Transportation to central Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)
• Free time to explore on your own
• Flexibility to shop, dine or relax as you wish

 

This transfer may suit you if you would like to explore on your own. It consists of a motor coach ride from the ship to Ho Chi Minh City. You will be dropped off at a central location, and the coach escort will advise you of the pick-up time for the return journey. You will have time to shop and explore on your own.

Notes:

Guide service, taxi transfers, entrance fees and lunch are not included in the transfer price. It will be your responsibility to be at the pick-up point at the given return time. An English-speaking escort will be aboard the transfer motor coach to answer questions en route. Travel time to Ho Chi Minh City is approximately 90 minutes each way.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

Saigon food tour in progress.   Here is a short video from our first two stops 

 

 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

On 3/20/2024 at 5:32 AM, RuthC said:

Tux looks good. Will you be wearing it later on in the cruise? 
I want to see pictures if you do. 

Will wear for our next Formal night on the 26th 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

12 hours ago, Hygge! said:

Sounds like they are trying everything to control the folks who believe they can do want they want. They tried different procedures in 23 - none of which worked. A for effort.

I'm not optimistic.   They would need a system that would activate your ticket only if you went to the theater 

[The-Inside-Cabin]

On our way back to the port - Great Day!!!

 

Great Pho lunch.  HERE. - Pho Phu Vuong

Best Pho in Saigon 

 

 

local Beer

 

Grilled Banana and Sticky Rice

 

 

Grilled Banana and sticky rice stand - Our guide, Loc, came here after school when growing up 

 

 

Egg Coffee was our final stop 

 

Delicious!  

 

 

 

 

Edited March 21 by The-Inside-Cabin

[Wehwalt]

There's no good answer to the shore excursion question. If they sticker on exit then people crowd around the exit in anticipation and after that, especially if the buses are at a distance, it becomes an endurance test which those who don't need the seats at the front of the bus will win. That's assuming that they care enough to get the stickers.

Edited March 21 by Wehwalt

[flyingfish123]

How's this for a good answer.  You get up out of your seat too early, you get an electric shock. lol

[The-Inside-Cabin]

10 hours ago, Wehwalt said:

There's no good answer to the shore excursion question. If they sticker on exit then people crowd around the exit in anticipation and after that, especially if the buses are at a distance, it becomes an endurance test which those who don't need the seats at the front of the bus will win. That's assuming that they care enough to get the stickers.

I guess you could assign seats.   I think they do that on multi day bus tours.     But then they know the layout of the bus.   Maybe board like Southwest Airlines in zones.     😀.   
 

I think you're right.   It's a losing battle 

[WriterOnDeck]

Just FYI, I took the transfer, along with enough people for 4 buses (not packed). It was a great day, especially if you have been to HCMC before. Most people headed to the market or the post office areas, and a bunch of us ended up at the rooftop garden at the Rex Hotel for a nice afternoon.

[REOVA]

1 hour ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

I guess you could assign seats.   I think they do that on multi day bus tours.     But then they know the layout of the bus.   Maybe board like Southwest Airlines in zones.     😀.   
 

I think you're right.   It's a losing battle 

They could program everyone's key card that booked a tour to not leave ship (security scan flag) until the tour is called and then reactivate upon exiting the theater. Wouldn't be difficult technology as they already have this flag for quarantine passengers, but then again HAL is not known for technology modifications. 🙃

[The-Inside-Cabin]

28 minutes ago, WriterOnDeck said:

Just FYI, I took the transfer, along with enough people for 4 buses (not packed). It was a great day, especially if you have been to HCMC before. Most people headed to the market or the post office areas, and a bunch of us ended up at the rooftop garden at the Rex Hotel for a nice afternoon.

What time did you arrive in HCMC?   What time did they tell you to meet for the return? Where did they drop you off?  What time did you get back?  
 

Did you get continuous commentary enroute? Or only answers to questions?  
 

I didn't get a current taxi fare quote, but I think it was around $150 USD round trip.