Sailing on the sea has its own charm. Many travelers are not aware of cruising and it remains the least explored type of vacation. There are many cruise liners to choose from. Let me start with my latest and most fun experience, the Spectrum of the Seas by Royal Caribbean. This cruise sails from Singapore to Malaysia, Thailand or just around Singapore. We opted for the 3Nights ocean getaway cruise which sails from Singapore’s Marina Pier. We took Singapore airlines flight from Mumbai to Singapore and were lucky to travel in a double decker Air Bus aircraft. That was a different experience too.
The Spectrum of the Seas was a massive 15 floored master piece. Luxury could be felt in the minutest of things on board. There was plenty to do and see for everyone. The 14th deck was the activity hub. The multiple indoor and outdoor pools, jacuzzies, Solarium were flanked by activity zones. One could enjoy free games like basketball, football, badminton, table tennis, table football, car dashing, archery, rock climbing and many more. There were paid activities like I fly; the gravity defying flying experience, Skypad jumping, surfing on artificial waves and VR video games for some adrenaline rush. Each night there was extravaganza of special drama and dance performances. Live musicals events, movie nights and much more. The dazzling Show Gals dance and Silk Route drama were mesmerizing. Besides this one could enjoy numerous activities like fun games, origami, card making, take up language or Bollywood dance lessons, learn photography, magic tricks, participate in quiz shows etc. Many simply enjoyed romantic or animated movies on big screen while they swam in the open-air pool or sun bathed by the pool deck. While the Royal casino was a place where each one wished to win or try his/her luck. One complete deck is lined with shops like Tiffny, Bvlgari, Louis Vuitton for the shopping lovers.
There were numerous restaurants offering buffet menu and fine dining. One could dine at anyplace as per the food preference or ambience liked. The Indian counter offered reasonably good variety of dishes and special Jain counter was also there. Kids hogged on the continuous flow of ice creams and pizzas. To have an unforgettable, hassle-free experience, one has to plan the daily calendar in advance and register for different activities and get reminders for the same on the Royal Caribbean app. So, overall if you are travelling with kids and are not interested in sightseeing then this is the best option for you. While traveling to Singapore one must be either be vaccinated or carry a RT PCR negative report. All the travel and personal verification documents must be stored in the handset as immigration forms have to be filled on SG Arrival Card, Air Suvidha sites before arrival and departure respectively. The mandatory antigen test (ART) for Covid has to be done on the day of cruising and an activated trace together app has to be maintained in each traveller’s mobile else a token has to be purchased from a local community centre without which entry in not permitted inside the Cruise terminal.
For those who are not looking for a family vacation with lot of onboard activities but for country or island hopping, there are cruises like the Aquamarine which sails from the port of Piraeus, Athens and takes you on a memorable journey to the marvelous Greek islands. Cruising on Aquamarine is a wonderful experience in itself. It is not as luxurious as the Royal Caribbean cruise but is perfect for visiting hideaway islands which are not accessible by road. You wake up to breath-taking views of a new island every morning. The cruise sails at night and docks at another island the next morning. You can disembark the cruise using tender boats to reach the islands and join a guided island tour.
The first stop for us was at Mykonos. Its capital Chora specifically. The numerous, iconic windmills and white houses looked spectacular. The ancient windmills were perched on small hillocks and had cylindrical white structures with triangular thatched roofs and fans on top. The shore led to an area known as ‘Little Venice’ because houses were built right up to the water edge. Enjoying local drink Ouzo or sea food delicacies at such a beautiful venue becomes memorable in its own right. The next day, the ship docked near the port of Skala at Santorini, the most beautiful Greek island in the Aegean Sea. From there we took a cable car to reach a place called Fira/Thira. The cable car station was too crowded and had long queues. From the cable car the bright, small white houses looked like a white wonder and provided a wonderful contrast to the rustic black, barren volcanic cliffs below them. On the other side of the mountain was hidden the most attractive village of the world Oia. It had a mesmerizing and unique white and blue theme. The whole mountain top was occupied by small, white houses, restaurants, hotels and blue roofed churches or pools. They were interconnected by narrow lanes and steps going up and down covering the entire landmass. There were no demarcations or boundaries. An evening at Santorini is very dreamy. The view of the setting sun from cliff and ships docked in the Agean Sea is simply outstanding. Besides these popular islands the cruise also sails to Kusadasi (Turkish island) Crete, Patmos in the Aegean Sea. Each day is a different experience and you eagerly wait for the surprising mixture of culture, historical sites and natural beauty which each place has to offer.
Another interesting cruise which we had experienced in the past was the Super Star Libra which sails from the city of Penang, Malaysia and takes you to the picturesque islands of Krabi and Phuket in Thailand. Just like the Aquamarine, it docks at different islands and you get an opportunity to take day excursion tours and enjoy the beautiful beaches at Krabi and Phuket. As the sight-seeing places are far from the docking area, the import factor here to be kept in mind is time. Usually, the cruise docks in the morning and sails off by 11pm so you have to be back on board before the time limit else you would be stranded on the islands which can be a scary experience. Time just flies as you immerse yourself to the delightful views of the Phi-Phi Island, James Bond Island, Phan Nga Bay, Maya Bay and enjoy snorkelling, scuba diving activities too. When you are back on board, the Salsa, Tango dance extravaganza and acrobats set the mood further for yet another thrilling experience the following day.
These international cruise liners have been serving since ages and are very well aware of the food likings and comfort of the international travellers. They have staff representing various countries and speak with the guests in the local language making them feel comfortable. These cruises are huge and thus can accommodate more people, restaurants, shopping and gaming arcades besides the mandatory casino. The newly launched Indian Cordelia cruise cannot be compared to these when it comes to luxury or services. But can be opted by first timers who don’t wish to spend on reaching the international cruise terminals located in other countries. Smaller cruises have issues of stability and can make you feel dizzy if the weather goes bad. Motion sickness is also an issue on smaller cruises. The swimming pool also gets wavy. Surprisingly Cordelia had salt water in its swimming pool which was annoying. Another important factor that has to be kept in mind while choosing the cruise liner is the type of stateroom that you choose as it can affect your comfort level. Interior cabins/staterooms are cheaper but are very cramped up especially the bathrooms and there is no way that you can dry your wet clothes. They are preferred by budget travellers. Others who want privacy and little spacious king/queen beds should opt for unobstructed ocean view staterooms preferably with a private balcony. Imagine what can be better than enjoying the sun set over the horizon from the comfort of your room. Those who can splurge on a suite, may find a jacuzzi or private hot tub too. So, cruising can be equally rewarding and a great way to explore the world. Besides there is something romantic in being close to the ocean, in enjoying the sound of the waves whispering in the ears, feeling the salty sea breeze against the skin, watching the clear skies and stary nights. My dream Cruise is the one that sails from Alaska and takes you to the land of icebergs, Artic animals and frozen beauty. I will plan it soon… hope you have decided to experience one too.
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