ITINERARY
ITINERARY
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Singapore, Singapore
Multi-cultural cuisine, old and new architecture, natural and manmade attractions – Singapore is a real melting pot. Here, markets sit in the shadows of designer malls…
ARRIVE IN PORT: 23:59 (DAY 1)DEPART FROM PORT: 14:00 (DAY 2)
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Snapshot of Singapore
This tour is an easy introduction to Singapore’s best bits. First, you’ll drive through Little India – a bite-sized version of India squeezed into a district. As you’d expect, it’s got temples, markets and colourful street decorations galore. Next, you’ll pass through the Colonial District, which is sprinkled with reminders of Singapore’s time under British rule. One of its most famous landmarks is the grand, whitewashed Raffles Hotel, where the city-state’s national cocktail – the Singapore Sling – was originally created in 1915. After, you’ll get to see Singapore’s natural side with a visit to the Gardens by the Bay. You can crane your neck and peer up at the magnificent supertrees, or stroll along the aerial walkway for a close-up view of the futuristic gardens. And the view is even more impressive at your last stop. You’ll look out over Singapore and Sentosa Island from the top of Mount Faber.
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Singapore by land, air and sea
You’ll see Singapore from every angle on this tour. On land, you’ll visit the UNESCO-ticked Botanic Gardens. This huge, 74-hectare site is divided into different areas, including a rainforest, a lake and a healing garden filled with medicinal plants. Then you’ll hit the water for a boat ride, this unique vessel once carried cargo between ships and the riverside quays, but now carries passengers along Singapore’s historic waterfront. You’ll see Clarke Quay, where brightly painted bars and restaurants have taken up residence in once-abandoned warehouses. And you can marvel at Singapore’s old-meets-new skyline, where colonial-era buildings rub shoulders with 21st-century high-rises. Then you’ll take to the skies on the Singapore Flyer. The observation wheel trumps the London Eye at a whopping 165 meters tall, so you’ll be eye-to-eye with some of Singapore’s skyscrapers. And you can take in the 360° views of the cityscape from your air-conditioned glass capsule.
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Wonders of Singapore - The city in a garden
Today, you’ll learn the reason behind Singapore’s nickname – the City in a Garden. It might be a metropolis, but the city-state breathes easy, thanks to the hundreds of parks and nature reserves that share space with the skyscrapers. Your first stop is at the 156-year-old Botanic Gardens – one of only three botanic gardens in the world that have been given the UNESCO nod. On the way to our next stop, you’ll drive down Orchard Road – Singapore’s shopping artery. This leads down to the waterfront, where the Gardens by the Bay are in sight. You can wander the canopies of the one-of-a-kind supertrees, which are covered in thousands of different plants. And then step inside the huge, climate-controlled domes nearby. They’re both world record-breakers – the Flower Dome is the biggest glass greenhouse, while the Cloud Forest Dome houses the highest indoor waterfall.
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Laem Chabang (for Bangkok), Thailand
Laem Chabang’s sat on the southern coastline, overlooking the Gulf of Thailand, and is home to the country’s largest port. A gateway to the Chonburi Province, it’s got…
Time in port: 07:00 - 18:00Show Top Things to Do
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Panoramic Bangkok
After this trip, you’ll know Bangkok’s standout sites like the back of your hand. Once you’ve boarded an air-conditioned bus, you’ll head into the city’s Chinatown neighbourhood for the start of your panoramic tour. You’ll clock the Wat Traimit temple first of all, and will also pass the rainbow-like bouquets of the Flower Market. The grand city hall, the crimson Giant Swing and the royal Wat Suthat temple are all worth keeping an eye out for, and you’ll make your first photo stop at the ‘iron castle’ – Loha Prasat. This towering monastery was built for a princess in the 1800s, and its exterior is peppered with spiky black spires. Democracy Monument and the colourful Grand Palace are the next sights you’ll see, and you’ll also pass the Wat Pho temple, which is home to a huge reclining Buddha statue. Hop off for a photo at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall to round things off, then board the bus for the return journey.
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Temples and Thai Cuisine
Temples are the order of the day on this trip, and we’ve got some of Bangkok’s best lined up for you. Things get started with a stop at one of the most eye-catching of the lot, Wat Benchamabophit – also known as the Marble Temple. Next, you’ll get to cast an eye over a huge reclining statue of Buddha at the Wat Pho temple, before stopping at a hotel for a spot of lunch. Stack your plate high from the buffet table, which will be filled with tasty Thai cuisine. Once everyone’s hunger pangs are taken care of, you’ll head to the Wat Traimit temple. This place is home to a solid gold Buddha which weighs more than five tonnes, and spent years undiscovered under a coating of unspectacular plaster. After you’ve grabbed a few pictures, you’ll head back to the bus for the trip back to the ship.
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Bangkok On Your Own
This trip’s a good fit for independent sorts, as most of the day’s yours to plan as you please. After the coach plants you in the heart of Bangkok, you’ll have free rein to explore whichever part of the city takes your fancy. The drop-off point, CentralWorld, is a good place to start. This shopping plaza’s one of the biggest on the planet, and lines up a cinema and an indoor ice rink alongside hundreds of stores. Take a cab across town, and you can cast an eye over one of Bangkok’s architectural gems – the Grand Palace. It’s just around the corner from the Wat Pho temple, which is home to the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand – including a 150-foot gold reclining statue. Head to the Chinatown neighbourhood, meanwhile, for some of the best street food in the city. At the end of the day, the coach will take you back to port.
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Phu My (for Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam
Phu My is the gateway to Vietnam’s largest city. Drive an hour and a half north from the port and the new expressway will lead you into the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi…
Time in port: 06:00 - 18:00Show Top Things to Do
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The Mighty Mekong Delta
You’ll leave the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City behind today, as you head out on a tour of the Mekong Delta. This place is a maze of rivers, swamps and tiny islands, where floating markets and villages are the norm. It’s known as Vietnam’s rice bowl, since it produces over half of the country’s grain. Boats are king around here, so you’ll hit the water in a traditional sampan. As you glide along, you’ll pass villages built along the river’s edge, as well as locals going about their daily business. You’ll stop off on Thoi Son Island, where you can tour a family-run coconut candy factory and a local bee farm. At the latter, you can meet the bees and sample the honey they produce, along with exotic jackfruit and dragon fruit. You’ll stop for lunch here, too, before returning to the ship.
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Ho Chi Minh City Highlights
You’ll tick off all the Ho Chi Minh City rites of passage today. After lunch, you’ll start a coach tour of downtown, which checks off the colonial-style Central Post Office and the Notre Dame Cathedral. You’ll also get to snap photos of the Reunification Palace – where the Vietnam War ended in 1975, when north Vietnamese troops captured Saigon. You’ll get to delve even deeper into the country’s past at the Museum of Vietnamese History, which houses artefacts spanning from the prehistoric period to the 19th-century Nguyen dynasty. While you’re here, you’ll watch a traditional water puppet show – expect to see puppet people, dragons and fairies dance across a stage of water. Then it’s off to take in more culture in Chinatown. You’ll make a pit stop at Thien Hau Pagoda – a pretty, Buddhist temple dedicated to Chinese sea goddess, Mazu. And then it’s on to a lacquer workshop, where souvenir-shopping is top of the agenda.
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Historical Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City might be a modern metropolis, but it excels in the history stakes, too. Today, you’ll visit one of the city’s most popular attractions – the War Remnants Museum. This place sheds light on the Vietnam War, with its sobering displays of photos, artefacts and stories. Outside in the museum’s courtyard, you’ll find military equipment like a UH-1 Huey helicopter and a full-sized tank. Next, you’ll board the coach for a panoramic drive around downtown. Here, you’ll pass reminders of the city’s time under French rule, like the canary-yellow Central Post Office and the Notre Dame Cathedral, which is modelled on the famous Paris landmark. You’ll also get a chance to see underneath the pavements with a visit to the Viet Cong’s secret, underground arsenal. After, there’s time to stop at a local market, before heading back to the ship.
Singapore, Singapore
Multi-cultural cuisine, old and new architecture, natural and manmade attractions – Singapore is a real melting pot. Here, markets sit in the shadows of designer malls…
ARRIVE IN PORT: 08:00 (DAY 8)DEPART FROM PORT: 20:00 (DAY 9)
Show Top Things to Do
Snapshot of Singapore
This tour is an easy introduction to Singapore’s best bits. First, you’ll drive through Little India – a bite-sized version of India squeezed into a district. As you’d expect, it’s got temples, markets and colourful street decorations galore. Next, you’ll pass through the Colonial District, which is sprinkled with reminders of Singapore’s time under British rule. One of its most famous landmarks is the grand, whitewashed Raffles Hotel, where the city-state’s national cocktail – the Singapore Sling – was originally created in 1915. After, you’ll get to see Singapore’s natural side with a visit to the Gardens by the Bay. You can crane your neck and peer up at the magnificent supertrees, or stroll along the aerial walkway for a close-up view of the futuristic gardens. And the view is even more impressive at your last stop. You’ll look out over Singapore and Sentosa Island from the top of Mount Faber.
Singapore by land, air and sea
You’ll see Singapore from every angle on this tour. On land, you’ll visit the UNESCO-ticked Botanic Gardens. This huge, 74-hectare site is divided into different areas, including a rainforest, a lake and a healing garden filled with medicinal plants. Then you’ll hit the water for a boat ride, this unique vessel once carried cargo between ships and the riverside quays, but now carries passengers along Singapore’s historic waterfront. You’ll see Clarke Quay, where brightly painted bars and restaurants have taken up residence in once-abandoned warehouses. And you can marvel at Singapore’s old-meets-new skyline, where colonial-era buildings rub shoulders with 21st-century high-rises. Then you’ll take to the skies on the Singapore Flyer. The observation wheel trumps the London Eye at a whopping 165 meters tall, so you’ll be eye-to-eye with some of Singapore’s skyscrapers. And you can take in the 360° views of the cityscape from your air-conditioned glass capsule.
Wonders of Singapore - The city in a garden
Today, you’ll learn the reason behind Singapore’s nickname – the City in a Garden. It might be a metropolis, but the city-state breathes easy, thanks to the hundreds of parks and nature reserves that share space with the skyscrapers. Your first stop is at the 156-year-old Botanic Gardens – one of only three botanic gardens in the world that have been given the UNESCO nod. On the way to our next stop, you’ll drive down Orchard Road – Singapore’s shopping artery. This leads down to the waterfront, where the Gardens by the Bay are in sight. You can wander the canopies of the one-of-a-kind supertrees, which are covered in thousands of different plants. And then step inside the huge, climate-controlled domes nearby. They’re both world record-breakers – the Flower Dome is the biggest glass greenhouse, while the Cloud Forest Dome houses the highest indoor waterfall.
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Malacca, Malaysia
Malacca – which is also known as Melaka – started out as a pint-sized fishing village before the 15th century. Although it’s grown since then, and has earned itself UNESCO…
Time in port: 07:00 - 14:00 | Tender to shoreShow Top Things to Do
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Historic Malacca
Malacca’s nicknamed ‘The Historic State’, and this tour reels off a bunch of the region’s most iconic sights. To kick things off, you’ll drive through the city to the aptly named Dutch Square. The colonial architecture here’s a deep shade of red, and a windmill and bright flowerbeds are a nod to the former European settlers. Next, you’ll learn about a different set of predecessors at the ornate Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum – which tells the story of Chinese-Malay ancestors. Pay a visit to the Cheng Hoon Teng temple – the oldest temple in the country – in Malacca’s old town. Things wrap up with a final dose of culture, courtesy of the Villa Sentosa – a living museum which offers a snapshot of how a Malay family lives. Once you’ve had a good nose around, you’ll head back to the port.
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Scenic Malacca by road and river
Age-old architecture’s the starting point for this trip, as you pay a visit to Malacca’s berry-red Dutch Square. Pose for pictures in front of the colonial ring of buildings, and bag a souvenir or two from the surrounding shops. Next, you’ll take to the water on a boat trip along the Malacca River. Hop off a little way along, and you’ll have a chance to visit one of the city’s highest points – the Menara Taming Sari. When you reach the top of this needle-like tower, you’ll have panoramic views across the rooftops. Back at ground level, you’ll make a stop at the ruins of A Famosa – an ancient fort built by the Portuguese. And we’ve saved the best for last – a chance to see the modern Malacca Straits Mosque. When the tide comes in, this orange-domed structure looks like it’s floating on the surface of the water.
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Cultural snapshot
This tour’s topped and tailed by a couple of major religious landmarks, with traditional stop-offs wedged in between. You’ll start with a photo stop to the white-and-green Al Azim Mosque in the city’s northern reaches. After you’ve snapped a photo or two of the grand exterior, you’ll make tracks for Mini Malaysia – a cultural park that celebrates the country’s 13 states. Different houses showcase the various styles and traditions of each region, so you’ll get a flavour of life outside Malacca. The nation’s oldest Chinese temple, Cheng Hoon Teng, is next on the to-see list, before you head to the remnants of an ageing Portuguese fort. To finish off, you’ll plot a course for St Paul’s Church. This hilltop relic has stood tall for centuries, and offers sweeping views of the skyline.
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Penang, Malaysia
Penang is often said to be Malaysia’s most popular destination. And, with its melting pot of cultures and top-notch food scene, it’s easy to see why. You’ll disembark…
Time in port: 09:00 - 17:00Show Top Things to Do
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Heights & Sights of Penang
For the best views of Penang Island, you won’t do better than this tour. You’ll start by boarding a coach that’s bound for the foot of Penang Hill, where a funicular railway ferries visitors to the panoramic peak. From the top, you’ll have widescreen views across the surrounding countryside. Snap pictures from one of the walkways or observation platforms, or explore the surrounding gardens. After the return journey in a glass-sided railway car, there’s still time to fit in another sightseeing stop. Kek Lok Si is one of the largest Buddhist temples in Malaysia, and your guide will take you on a tour of the ornate halls and colourful grounds. Once you’re done, your driver will shuttle you back to the port.
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Buddha, Spices & Batik
Penang’s most impressive manmade sites are coupled with natural beauties on this tour. Gaze at one of the world’s largest reclining Buddha statues at Wat Chaiyamangkalaram – it’s the temple’s major showpiece and stretches out for more than 100 feet. Head to the north coast of Penang Island, and you’ll have time to stroll around the Tropical Spice Garden. The pretty grounds at this eco-tourism spot are packed with exotic plants and wildlife. Find your favourite patterns and colours at a traditional batik factory, and soak up the views as you take the coastal road back to the port. On the way, you’ll make a stop at the historic living heritage community at Chew Jetty – a cluster of wooden houses built on stilts. There’s also time to snap a picture or two of the 18th-century garrison in George Town, Fort Cornwallis.
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Penang island tour
Time on holiday’s usually spent lying on a beach, but this tour starts with lounging of a very different sort. You’ll clap eyes on one of the world’s largest reclining Buddha statues at the Wat Chaiyamangkalaram temple, in the heart of George Town. Next, check out the patterned fabrics at the capital’s oldest batik factory. The following stop’s a little more off the beaten track, as you visit a collection of fruit and spice stalls. Your driver will then follow the picturesque country roads towards the coast, where you’ll stop for a picture at Penang Bridge – a huge crossing that connects the island to mainland Malaysia.
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Phuket, Thailand
The island of Phuket does plenty to earn its nickname of ‘the pearl of Thailand’. Like a pendant on a necklace, it’s strung to the southwest coast of the mainland bya…
Time in port: 07:00 - 17:00 | Tender to shoreShow Top Things to Do
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Phang Nga Bay Discovery
Pack a camera for this trip – some of the panoramas have to be seen to be believed. You’ll board a boat at Royal Phuket Marina, before setting off for the island-dotted waters of Phang Nga Bay. The green-capped karsts look like semi-submerged mountain peaks, and you’ll pass the cave-lined edges of Hong Island and Panak Island on your journey. You’ll coast past Khao Phing Kan – a beach-brushed spot that’s better known as James Bond Island, after Sir Roger Moore filmed a handful of 007 beach scenes here. Snorkelling and sunbathing are on the cards when you drop anchor at Kai Nui Island, and you’ll sail across to Island Escape Resort for a barbecue lunch beside the beach. After a final tanning stint on the sand, you’ll head back to Phuket.
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Panoramic Phuket
You’ll get picked up at the port in the morning, and your driver will make a beeline for one of Phuket’s top attractions to kick things off. The Wat Chalong temple’s one of the grandest and most-visited religious sites on the island, and you’ll have free time to look around the impressive interiors. Next, you’ll get to see how one of Phuket’s signature products is made at a cashew factory. Spend time exploring the cultural melting pot of neighbourhoods in Phuket’s old town, then hop onto the bus for a panoramic drive back to the port. On the way, you’ll pass the Heroines Monument – an homage to two of the city’s bravest ancestors – the sprawling Mukarrom Mosque Bangtao, and the picturesque beaches of Surin and Kamala.
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Phi Phi Islands by speedboat
You’ll experience a proper slice of paradise on this trip, as you skip between the postcard-worthy Phi Phi Islands. After you’ve coasted across the Andaman Sea to this pretty archipelago, you’ll stop off at Bamboo Island for a spot of snorkelling and sun worshipping. Next, you’ll visit the biggest island of the lot – Phi Phi Don. After a bit more beach time, and another snorkelling session, you’ll head to a luxury waterfront hotel for lunch. The island’s smaller sibling, Phi Phi Leh, is next on the agenda. Enjoy swimming in the blue lagoon – the rocky backdrop here is like Thailand’s version of Vietnam’s famous Halong Bay. You might even be able to take a photo from the boat of the sandy sweep from the Leonardo DiCaprio film The Beach. After a wedge of free time, you’ll hop back onto the boat for the return trip to Phuket.
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Langkawi, Malaysia
There’s a paradisal quality to Langkawi, which is anchored off the west coast of Malaysia, in the Andaman Sea. Things are pretty laidback in the island’s premier town,…
Time in port: 08:00 - 15:00Show Top Things to Do
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Cable car mountain ride
The main attraction on this trip is Langkawi’s mountain-scaling cable car. To start the day, though, you’ll spend time at the Rice Garden Museum. View the traditional tools that are used to tend paddies, and learn about the island’s history of rice cultivation. Next, you’ll visit the Oriental Village – an entertainment and shopping complex that’s themed like a local settlement. It shares the same postcode as the cable car’s base station, so you won’t have to walk far to start your ascent. Take a seat in one of the gondolas, and you’re ready to begin the steep climb up Machinchang Mountain. The sweeping panoramas are only bettered by the views from the top, so remember to pack your camera. You’ll be able to see the tree-blanketed hills melt into the Strait of Malacca from up here, and when you’re back at ground level, there’s a wedge of free time to grab a bite at the Oriental Village.
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Experience of Langkawi
From soaring statues to tapping trees, this trip takes in an armful of Langkawi’s best bits. You’ll start with a visit to Dataran Lang – or Eagle Square in plainer terms. This star-shaped platform juts out into Kuah Bay, with a 40-foot statue of a flapping eagle perched on top. The whole thing’s a nod to Langkawi’s name, which is an old Malay mixture of the words helang and kawi – which mean eagle and reddish-brown. Next, you’ll head to a museum that’s packed with thousands of gifts and awards that were heaped on Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister. Things get rural after this, as you visit a rubber plantation on the outskirts of the town. Watch as incisions are made in the bark of rubber trees, and latex is extracted in a process known as ‘tapping’. Last up, you’ll pop to Atma Alam – an art village where pretty batik fabrics are designed and printed.
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Caves and mangroves by boat
You’ll see Langkawi from the water on this tour, as you explore the dense mangroves and wildlife-filled caves by boat. Once you’re aboard, you’ll coast between the grass-tufted limestone peaks that line up on either side of Kilim Karst Geoforest Park. This weaving river’s an animal lover’s dream, so a set of binoculars wouldn’t be a bad idea. When you reach the mangroves, keep your eyes peeled – it’s not uncommon to spot monitor lizards, macaque monkeys and otters here. You might hear the patter of wings when you enter the low-ceilinged bat cave – there’s no sign of Bruce Wayne in this version, though. Wild eagles are native to these parts, and if the situation’s right, you’ll be able to watch them feed once they’ve finished swooping among the lagoons and rocky outcrops.
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Port Klang (for Kuala Lumpur), Malaysia
Port Klang’s hidden from view as you coast along the Malacca Strait – you’ll weave between a quartet of green-tinted islands to make your way to the harbour. It’s the…
Time in port: 08:00 - 18:00Show Top Things to Do
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Kuala Lumpur highlights
You’ll spend the day flitting between Kuala Lumpur’s best bits, ranging from traditional sights to modern marvels. After you’ve been driven into the city centre, the checklist starts with a visit to the National Museum. Here, you’ll be able to witness authentic Malay culture, ancient artefacts and traditional musical instruments. One of the nation’s most visited spots is next on the to-do list – Independence Square. The pristine lawns in the centre were once used as a cricket pitch, and the Malaysian colours fly from one of the world’s tallest flagpoles at the southern end. Check out the bustling lanes of Central Market, before stopping for lunch at a local restaurant. Next, you can pose for pictures at the foot of the city’s most iconic attraction – the twin Petronas Towers. Last on the agenda’s an elevator ride to the observation deck of the KL Tower – a needle-like structure that offers panoramas across the skyline.
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Batu Caves and city sights
Don’t worry about choosing between Kuala Lumpur’s natural and manmade wonders – on this trip you’ll get to see both. The Batu Caves are first on the agenda, and you’ll have time to explore the vast limestone halls which were carved out millions of years ago. After you’ve climbed the 350-step staircase to reach the entrance, you’ll see a gilded statue of a Hindu god towering above you. Inside, the craggy rock faces have idols and shrines dotted between them. You’ll head into the city next for a spot of lunch and a haggling session at the vibrant Central Market. Things wrap with photo stops at a couple of the city’s poster boys – the National Palace and the mighty Petronas Towers.
Petronas Towers Skybridge
Sightseeing and shopping sandwich one of Kuala Lumpur’s main attractions on this trip – the Petronas Towers. Independence Square starts things off – you’ll stop here for pictures with the pristine lawns and historic buildings in the background. Next up, it’s the main event. The twin Petronas Towers were once the tallest buildings in the world, and the views from the upper floors take in the entire city. Head to the double-decker Skybridge – which connects the buildings on the 41st and 42nd floors – for the best panoramas. Capture bird’s eye pictures of the surrounding scenery, then head back to ground level for part three. Suria KLCC is a shopping mall right at the foot of the towers, blending upscale stores and restaurants with attractions like an aquarium and an art gallery. You’ll have a wedge of free time for shopping before catching the bus back to port.
Singapore, Singapore
Multi-cultural cuisine, old and new architecture, natural and manmade attractions – Singapore is a real melting pot. Here, markets sit in the shadows of designer malls…
Arrives: 08:00
