2019 - 7N Voyager of the Seas Cruise from HK to Singapore

8 Days Voyager of the Seas Cruise
Hong Kong to Singapore

23 - 30 April 2019

 

After spending 3N in Hong Kong we checked into Kai Tak Cruise Terminal for the 7N Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas Cruise from Hong Kong to Singapore. Enroute the ship docked at Danang, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh. It was an enjoyable cruise with so much activities and food on board to keep one from being bored or hungry! Cruising has been our favorite holiday choice after we have experienced the 31 nights Southern Hemisphere cruise from Singapore to Australia and back to Singapore on the Star Cruise Virgo in 2015. We cannot be bored on a cruise if we take part in the activities that have been organized for us, or even if we do nothing and just relax!

 

We booked our cruise through Hwajing Travel and Tours for RM5,155 for two persons. The price is for the Promenade Interior Room and includes all port charges and a transfer by coach from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur after the cruise. 

 

Day 1 - 23 April 2019

 

Originally the cruise is suppose to depart tonight and docked at Hanoi on 25 April morning. For some unknown reason Hanoi was removed from the itinerary so we stayed extra one night on board the ship in Hong Kong.

 

After checking in we proceeded to bring our own luggage to our room, which surprisingly is quite spacious. We opted to carry our luggage instead of checking in the luggage and waiting for hours for it to arrive at our room.

 

Our spacious Promenade Interior Room

 

After settling our luggage we took our lunch at the buffet restaurant called Windjammer Cafe. This is one of the three restaurants that we can have our meals for free. The other is the Sapphire Dining Room for fine dining on Deck 3,4 & 5 and the 24Hr  Café Promenade for light refreshments 





 

Royal Promenade where some of the activities are held

 

This is the place where we enjoyed the freshly baked pizza everyday

 

Four different pizza flavors are served every day besides cakes, biscuit, fruits, coffee and tea. Our favorite is the pepperoni pizza. 

 

After lunch Lili joined the Welcome Aboard Line Dance Class at Royale Promenade

 

 

We then took a tour of the ship to familiarize ourselves with all the venues for our meals and activities. 

 

 



The 3 levels Sapphire Dining Room where we have most of our breakfast, lunch and dinner

The following are pictures of the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal from the ship. Kai Tak Cruise Terminal is a luxury cruise terminal that opened at the former Kai Tak Airport runway at Hong Kong

 

 

Kowloon Bay as view from the cruise ship

 

The Boogie Boarding, Flowrides that is popular with the young and young at heart.



 

Voyager of the Seas has a large and well equipped gym which we try to use everyday to burn up the extra calorie that we put into our body

 



We had our first dinner onboard at the Sapphire Dining Room which have a fixed table for us.

The menu has a good choice of starters, main course and desert for us to choose from

After dinner we relax at the upper deck (Deck 12) and enjoy the night view of Kowloon Bay and the surrounding buildings 

 

 

Later we go down to the Star Lounge on Deck 5 to listen to Classic Hits by the Switched On band.
 

Day 2 - 24 April 2019

We have our breakfast at the Sapphire Dining Room. Beside the ala carte menu there is a wide selection of yogurt, cheese, fruits, salads and cereal in the buffet counter

 

 

After breakfast we visited the library where you can read or browse the Internet on the computers provided you have purchased the Internet package

 



 

Later we went to the pool deck for the Beginners Tai Chi Class with the Activities Staff Jackie.
 

Warming up for the beginners Tai Chi Class

After that we visited the casino but the gambling has not started because we are not in international water yet.

The entrance floor to the casino is full of "treasures"

We then have our morning coffee break at the  Café Promenade and enjoy the freshly baked pizza

 

 

 

 

Our next activity is the Dingbats Trivia at the Sconner Bar

 

While at the Sconner Bar we witnessed a couple who chose to tie the knot on a cruise. How romantic! Later we found out there is a small chapel in the ship where a simple wedding service can be conducted.
 

A happy couple wedding

Inside the small chapel

 

 

View of the pool side from the highest deck

After lunch at the Windjammer Café we took a nap in our room before we attend the Relieve Back And Knee Pain Seminar at the fitness centre.

 

We learn that a lot of the pain in our body has to do with our feet, how we stand and walk. By analyzing our feet a proper insole is recommended for our shoes.

 

After our dinner at Windjammer Café we attended the mandatory muster drill by gathering at our designated assembly area.

 

Later we attended the magic show by Ziwin Chew, a fellow Malaysian at the La Scala Theatre.

 

Participation by audience

Making bottles of wine appearing from nowhere

Levitating a volunteer from the audience

After the magic show we went to the upper deck to have another look of Hong Kong night scene before we sat sail tonight.
 

Surprise to meet Mr Eng on this cruise. We met him and his wife during our Southern Hemisphere Cruise in 2015. This time he came with a group of friends from Ipoh. 

 

 

For the late night activities we attended the 70's Disco Inferno Street Party with the Cruise Director Ken and the Entertainment Family at the Royale Promenade. 

 

Cruise Director Ken leading the dance

 

 

Day 3 - 25 April 2019

 

This morning I woke up early to have a walk on the upper deck. Weather was good and the water was very calm. Do not feel like I am on a ship at all.

 



Very calm sea

After breakfast at Windjammer Café we went to the Beginners Tai Chi Class at the pool deck.

 

Warming up for the Tai Chi lesson

Lili practicing her Tai Chi in a shady corner

Later we attended the Shore Excursions Destination Talk at the La Scala Theatre.
 

We then attended the Champagne Art Auction in the Star Lounge. Many pieces of art by various artists are offered for auction. Free champagne was offered to those who attended the auction.



Auction in progress

Lunch was at Sapphire Dining Room today


After lunch we watched the "Ice Odyssey" Ice Spectacular at Studio B at Deck 3.

We had our dinner in Sapphire Dining Room and met this fine couple from Canada who were originally from Hong Kong. They left Hong Kong even before 1997, when the British returned Hong Kong to China.

After dinner we attended The Captain's Welcome Aboard Speech at the Royale Promenade.

The Captain introduced the senior staff of the cruise ship

The Switched On band performing at the Royale Promenade

 

Later we attended the Headliner Showtime the Hits of Queen with : "Rock Rhapsody" at the La Scala Theatre.
 

Next activity is the Ballroom Dance Class : Cha Cha Part 1 with the Royal Caribbean Dancers at the Star Lounge.

It was then followed by the Battle of the Sexes Gameshow with the Activities Manager Troy. The men and women competed with each other in a number of games. The men were the champion!
 

The final activity we attended is the 50s and 60s Rock N Roll Dance Party with the Switched On Band and the Activities Manager Troy at the Star Lounge.
 

The Switched On Band in action

 

Day 4 - 26 April 2019

Today the cruise ship will be at Danang and will be docking at Chan May commercial port. We had breakfast at Sapphire Dining Room before venturing out to the shops just next to the port. We will not be visiting Danang, Hue or Hoi An as we will be visiting all three places during our Danang Tour in July this year. 

The commercial Port of Chan May where the tour buses are waiting to fetch the cruise passengers for the shore excursion. The shops are on the left and right of the access road.

 

We bought a sim card for USD 7 from one of the shops so that we can access the Internet on the ship when it docked at Danang, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh. We were told the sim card is valid for three months.

Voyager of the Seas at Chan May port

After lunch at the Windjammer Café Lili joined the afternoon Fun Line Dance Class at the Star Lounge while I enjoyed my coffee at the lounge.

 







Having my coffee while watching the line dance

Later we joined the afternoon Karaoke at the Star Lounge.

In the late afternoon we went to the highest deck to take pictures of the sunset and the ship departure from Danang

 

After dinner we went to watch ice skating at Studio B at Deck3. Voyager of the Seas is probably one of the few cruise ships that have an ice skating ring though a small one.

 

The ice skating is free though one needs to register

 We then attended the Open Mic Karoake Fun Time at the Star Lounge

Followed by the Royal Caribbean's Production Show staring the Royal Caribbean Singers and Dancers in: "Broadway Rhythm & Rhyme" at La Scala Theatre.

Later we watched the Western Country Line Dance Party with the cruise Director's Staff at the Star Lounge.

 

Day 5 - 27 April 2019

 

This morning the ship arrived at Nha Trang. We went ashore by the tender boats. Journey is about 10 minutes. I woke up at 5:30am this morning to capture the morning sun as it rises. However, it was obstructed by the thick clouds. I could only capture the sun rays which are magnificent.



 

We walked around Nha Trang town for about two hours before going back to the ship for lunch.
 

View of Nha Trang town from the cruise ship

The theme park Vinpearl Land is at the background and is accessible only by cable car from the mainland. The cable car is reputed to be the longest in the world at 3.32km

Sea horses and other creatures sook in wine in one of the shops 

We rested a while and had Saigon beer to quench our thirst at one of the sundry shops. In the picture is Adeline and her husband Lee from Kuala Lumpur which we met on board the ship. 

View of the cable car to Vinpearl Land from one of the seaside resorts in Nha Trang

Souvenirs shops near the jetty where we board the tender boats back to the ship 

After dinner at Windjammer Café we watched the Headliner Show featuring Jeremy Andrey at the La Scala Theatre.

After the show we adjourned to the Royale Promenade and watched the performance by the Switched On band.

 

 

Tea break before next activity 

Next activity is the Ballroom Dance Class Cha Cha Part 2 with the Royal Caribbean Dancers at the Star Lounge.

This is followed by the If You Know It And Dance It Games Show at the Star Lounge.

Later we listened to the Dance Music with the Voyager of the Seas Orchestra at the Star Lounge.

Voyagers of the Seas Ochestra

The is followed by the Caribbean Line Dance Class at the poolside

We ended the night with the Tropical Dance Party with the Cruise Director's Staff Team and the Switched On Band at the Pool Deck.

 

The Switched On Band

 

Day 6 - 28 April 2019

 

This morning I woke up early again at 5:30am to watch the sun rise and try to capture it on my camera. But unfortunately I still cannot see the round sun coming up from the sea as it is again blocked by the thick clouds. However, the view of the sun rays is still stunning.



 

This morning the ship docked at Ho Chi Minh City. After breakfast we took the shuttle bus to the port gate to book a van for a day tour. We managed to get a group of 10 to share the van for USD25 each. The van is supposed to take us to six places but because of the rain we have to skip the Unification Hall, formerly the President Palace.

Our first stop is the souvenir outlet making and selling typical Vietnamese souvenirs like lacquer ware, trinkets boxes, mother of pearls art pieces and vases.

Our next stop is the Post Office which though a tourist attraction is still a functioning Post Office.

 

Souvenir shops beside the Post Office

The Post Office that is full of tourists despite the rain

Next to the Post Office is the Notre Dame Cathedral which is the one of the biggest Catholic Churches in Ho Chi Minh. However, it is closed for renovation during our visit.

 

Our next destination is the War Remnants Museum. It is a unique museum in Vietnam to systematically study, collect, conserve and display exhibits on war crimes and consequences inflicted on the Vietnamese people by foreign aggressive forces. Photographs of the atrocities committed during the war were displayed. The War Remnants Museum is one of Ho Chi Minh's most enticing and tourist sites.

Tanks used during the Vietnam War

The US has been accused of war crimes during the Vietnam War

The War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City

Our last stop is the Ben Thanh Market where we had our lunch and bought some local products.

The clothing section of the Ben Thanh Market

We had the Vietnamese noodles for lunch together with Adeline and her husband 

We sat on the typical Vietnamese stool which is very short. The table is a make shift table using a large tray and two plastic chairs! 

The Ben Thanh Market

In anticipation of traffic jam in Ho Chi Minh City we left early to go back to the ship by 4pm and enjoyed our freshly baked pizza at Café Promenade. While waiting for the ship to depart from Ho Chi Minh we went to the highest deck to enjoy the cool breeze before we go for our dinner.

After dinner we watched the Royal Caribbean Production Show starring the Royal Caribbean Singers & Dancers in : "Music in Pictures" at the La Scala Theatre.

Later we listen to music and songs by the Penguin Duo at the Star Lounge.



The Penguin Duo performing at the Star Lounge

This is followed by the performance by the Switched On Band at the Star Lounge

 

Day 7 - 29 April 2019

After breakfast we relaxed at the sports deck and later joined the table tennis competition.

Lili in action

 Later Lili joined the morning dance exercise at the pool deck


Morning Dance Exercise



Some prefer to sun bath

 Later we joined the Be The Genius Trivia at the Scooner Bar

This is followed by the Napkin Folding Class by the housekeeping Team at the Scooner Bar.

It was followed by the Towel Folding Demonstration with the housekeeping team at the same venue.

We had lunch at the Sapphire Dining Room where we met a fine Chinese couple from St. Francisco who came with a group of 50 on a gospel cruise. They have their meetings and fellowship in the ship's meeting room. It is wonderful to be able to have a group of believers coming together on a holiday, more so on a cruise.  

 

Roy Lee and Ruth Lee from St Francisco

After lunch we watched the "Ice Odyssey" Ice Spectacular for the second time at Studio B, Deck 3

Later Lili attended the Hip Hop Dance Class with the Royal Caribbean Dancers at the Star Lounge.

We took a walk on the upper deck before we had our dinner. The weather was good and the sea was calm.
 

We had our dinner at the Sapphire Dinner Room tonight where we had a little surprise when the staff at all the three decks come together to perform for us.

The guests from Deck 4 and 5 of the Sapphire Dining Room joining the celebration 

The Sapphire Dining Staff singing for us

 

Later we watched the Headliner Show featuring : The Aussie Boys - The New Sound from the Land Down Under.

We ended the night by attending the Jazz Cabaret with Royal Caribbean Singers and the Voyager Quintet at the Star Lounge.

Tonight being the last night on the ship we spend some time lazing at the upper deck enjoying the cool air. The picture below was taken at mid-night and it was all quiet on the upper deck.

 



Day 8 - 30 April 2019

This morning we arrived at Marina Bay Cruise Centre at about 5am. The passengers started to depart from the ship from 6:30am onwards. We took our own sweet time to depart at 8:30am after our breakfast.

The following pictures of the scenery in Singapore was taken at 6:30am when it was still quite dark.

 

After we departed from the Voyager of the Seas we waited at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre for our coach provided by Hwa Jing & Tours to take us back to Kuala Lumpur. We were told there will be a group of us taking the coach but it turned out we were the only two passengers in the coach going back to Kuala Lumpur.

 

We have the whole bus to ourselves

Overall it was a fantastic holiday. We spent 5 nights in Guangzhou, 2 nights in Shenzhen, 3 nights in Hong Kong and 7 nights on the Voyager of the Seas cruising from Hong Kong to Singapore with stops at Danang, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh.