Since a few year we have discovered a new way of traveling, cruising is exploring extraordinary places in the most unique way while finding time to recharge, feeling at home away from home.
I got many questions and request of you (friends, customers and followers) about our cruise experiences and finally found the time to share our cruise tips & tricks on my travelblog.
Till now we did two Asian destinations (with Silversea & Seabourn), two European cruises (with Regent & Seabourn) and one Caribbean cruise (also Seabourn). The ships we have chosen were always midsize intimate six star luxury ships with an average of 650 passengers on board. The room categorie we prefer is a spacious veranda suite with balcony, so we can enjoy the fullest of our life at sea.
If you never have been cruising before it can be overwhelming to know how the different ‘life rules’ are onboard, but I can assure you after one journey you always get the feeling of coming home again. Certainly when you choose the same cruise company, the staff will recognize you and make feel even more at home.
Let’s go sailing, let me take you with us on our last ‘Seabourn’ cruise :
ASIAN CRUISE (14 days) from Singapore to Hongkong with the Seabourn Ovation (January 2019)
Pre-cruise
We arrived one day early in Singapore (always do, cause you never know if there will be flight delays, luggage problems etc). After a travel of 14 hours from Brussels to Singapore (with Cathay pacific airways and a 3h stop in HongKong) we arrived at the Swissotel The Stamford. At the airport a private shuttlebus of the Seabourn company was waiting for us and we could enjoy a separate and fast check in at the hotel. As it was our second time in Singapore we didn’t do much of a city seeing, only a walk at the Marina bay and a rooftop dinner at SKAI , a Japanese seafood restaurant on the 70th floor of our hotel to get in the Asian vacay mood.
As it was my birthday I asked my husband for a special gift, a fashion blog photoshoot with @shootmytravel ;-)!
Pictures taken by Ben from http://yellowexposure.com/mywp/galleries/
DAY 1
De day of the embarkation we checked out from the hotel at 12h and again thanks to the good care of Seabourn we got a personalized check in at the OVATION cruise ship (it’s really like at the airport when you arrive at the cruise terminal but it goes really quick, one by one, no waiting times). First thing we did was exploring the ship and get a lovely lunch around the pool with a glass of Champagne to start our journey on board. In the suite our personal concierge was waiting for us to check out our preferenties.
After a Sailaway party on deck we left the harbor with an amazing sight on the skyline of Singapore. I can assure you every time the ship is leaving a port it’s magical, we always are mesmerized by it, covered in goose bumps and sometimes even tears fill my eyes certainly when the live opera music is in the background, the breeze of the full sea is getting closer…it feels like a dream!
Two days of sailing from Singapore to Bangkok (Thailand)
Starting a cruise with two days on board (no stops on land) is for us the best way to get in vacay modus. Life on board is absolutely relaxing and active at the same time. You do what you want the all day long. A range of daytime activities rivaling the most exclusive spas and resorts, attend a fascinating lecture or take a dip in the pool, or just lounge on your private veranda as you read the news on your iPad. A variety of dining options and glittering nightly entertainment in a enticing variety of styles will be your nights out on board.
Breakfast on our balcony @seabourn
DAY 4
Bangkok (Laem Chabang port, Thailand)
For the first stop we have chosen an excursion organized by Seabourn. Excursions are very well planned and private guided by the ship company, but personaly we don’t like to follow a group of 20 persons the whole day, riding hours in a bus and get a short time to visit places. You will see we have chosen other options on our next stops.
After leaving the pier we had a 2 hours journey aboard an air-conditioned motor coach to Bangkok. We visited Wat Traimit Temple in Bangkok Chinatown, well know for it’s solid gold Buddha. A tuk tuk ride along Bangkok’s longest boulevard let us absorb the atmosphere of tis fabulous city. Last stop was the Wat Po temple were we could visit the third-largest reclining golden Buddha of Thailand.
Indulging an enjoyable ride on Thailand’s famous three-wheeled transport, the ubitious tuk tuk.
DAY 5
Ko Kood (Thailand) Beach day on a desert island
Koh Kood is a very peaceful, away from it all type of place, time to kick back and forget about the world, but for those that get itchy feet, there are still plenty of things to do on the beach. The well know and unmissable Seabourn traditional event is the Beach BBQ & Caviar in the surf.
Hopping on a banana boat and heading out to the sea! @seabourn
DAY 6
Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Sure, Sihanoukville would never win first prize in a pretty-town competition, and much of it is now dominated by casinos and tacky commercial centers. But despite the rapid and mostly unwanted development, it has remained the jumping-off point for the best of Cambodia’s white sand beaches.
Wearing lace skirt @essentiel – top @jackyluxury – denim jacket @twinset Ovation @seabourn
Day 8 & 9 Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon
Mekong river
For our two days stay in Saigon, Ho Chi Minh city we took a private guide with @getyourguide
Our local guide Pham doc Minh took us to places where groups don’t come, we have seen the Mekong river and the hidden gems of Saigon city like real locals during the preps of Chinese New Year.
Saigon city
@getyourguide
@seabourn ovation in Ho Chi Minh city
DAY 11
Da Nang (Hue) Vietnam
It’s a pity we only were one day in Da Nang, cause it’s a popular base for many visits to different most see places in the area of central Vietnam. I found a private guide Pieter Janssens, a photographer from the Netherlands but living since years in Vietnam.
He guided us trough the 15th-century town and UNESCO world heritage site of Hoi An. After the walking tour we took the bike for a panoramic sightseeing tour passing rice fields and rural villages.
wearing dress @seeusoon @noconceptstore
wearing @stellanova dress prefall’19
DAY 13
Ha Long Bay Vietnam
Words can only do so much justice to Ha Long Bay in Vietnam-you need to see the sinuous curves of the limestone islands dotting the bay for yourself! The early morning mist over the bay (we specialy woke up at 6 am to see the scenery from our balcony when the ship was sailing in the bay), the grottoes bored into the more than 1900 island walls makes this one of Vietnam’s most see highlights, one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
We booked a kayak adventure tour at the excursion desk of Seabourn, starting with a scenic cruise on board of a private junk and later on visiting the caves on a two-persons kayak.
DAY 14 & post-cruise
Hong Kong, China
Like a colorful kaleidoscope, Hong Kong Island is a picture of diversity, blending ultra-modern skyscrapers, vibrant street markets, neighborhood temples and a synthesis of cultures.
This was our last destination of our cruise, it’s always said to leave the ship.
We stayed at the Kerry hotel and could explore for two more days this amazing city. The first day we booked again a private guide named Angel from @withlocals, she took us to the instaworthy places of Hong Kong (Choi Hung Estate, Nam Shan Estate and the Sai Wan swimming shed). The second day we went strolling around the city (mostly Kowloon area) by ourselves, visiting the typical ladies market and millions of high end designer boutiques.
Wearing : lace skirt @essentiel – denim jacket @Given – scarf @MuchoGusto
Final info : we booked our cruise at our personal travel expert @That’s Travel (a cruise travel agency in Hamburg & South Africa)