Eastern Flavours 2

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 the oldest funicular railway in south east Asia 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 a guided walk 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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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 Rang Yai Island 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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Surf & Turf Steakhouse

As its name suggests, this à la carte eatery specialises in the likes of marbled steaks and meaty lobster tails. You’ve also got other meat and fish options, as well as plenty to satisfy a vegetarian palate. This is one of the ship's speciality restaurants, so there's a charge to dine here – plus, we recommend you make a reservation in advance.

47°

Marella Discovery 2’s main eatery is a big, stylish venue, finished in the colours of the sand and the sea. Daytime meals here come with a side-order of sea views, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows, and a grand double staircase leads up to a separate eatery.

Flavours of Colombo

On this trip, you can enjoy a tour of Colombo’s highlights, followed by a buffet lunch featuring traditional Sri Lankan dishes. Like many capital cities, Colombo is a patchwork of modern skyscrapers and age-old monuments. As your coach weaves through the Fort and Pettah neighbourhoods, you’ll see colonial buildings like the Town Hall and the Old Parliament, interspersed with colourful markets and green gardens. You can hop out at Asokaramaya Temple to take a closer look – this Buddhist shrine is teeming with brightly coloured statues. You’ll also have the chance to spend a few rupees on local crafts, before tucking into a buffet lunch. The menu includes dishes like seafood salad, Singapore noodles with chicken, and freshly caught fish

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The history of Colombo

This tour gives you a glimpse of Sri Lanka’s past and present, thanks to Colombo’s varied architecture. Newly-built skyscrapers rub shoulders with colonial relics – you’ll start your day with a drive-by of the whitewashed Clock Tower, the grand Old Parliament, and the tranquil Gangaramaya Temple. The Cinnamon Gardens and Independence Square are on the list, too. But the highlight is Sri Subramaniya Kovil. Covered with statues of Hindu deities, this intricate temple’s the most impressive in the city. After your tour of Colombo’s busy streets, find out more about its history at the National Museum. Open since 1877, this treasure trove’s home to ancient art and sculptures, as well as weapons and paintings from Colonial times. Round off the morning with refreshments at the Taj Samudra Hotel.

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Surf & Turf Steakhouse

As its name suggests, this à la carte eatery specialises in the likes of marbled steaks and meaty lobster tails. You’ve also got other meat and fish options, as well as plenty to satisfy a vegetarian palate. This is one of the ship's speciality restaurants, so there's a charge to dine here – plus, we recommend you make a reservation in advance.

47°

Marella Discovery 2’s main eatery is a big, stylish venue, finished in the colours of the sand and the sea. Daytime meals here come with a side-order of sea views, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows, and a grand double staircase leads up to a separate eatery.

Goa at a Glance

This tour throws Goa’s history and beaches into one package. First, you’ll spend time at the small-but-mighty Goa Chitra Museum, which houses more than 4,000 artefacts. It’s split into two sections – one looks at transport, the other peers into the agricultural history of the state. You’ll find farming tools, local pottery and decorative marriage palanquins – a type of wheel-less carriage. After your history lesson, you’ll get to chill out on one of Goa’s best stretches of sand. Utorda Beach won a TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award in 2018. It’s an uncrowded swathe of white sand, sprinkled with palms and a few beach shacks. You’ll have lunch at one of these laidback eateries. Then you’re free to sunbathe for an hour, before heading back to the ship.

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Crocodile Dundee

You’ll need to keep your eyes peeled for crocodiles on this tour, as you sail along the Cumbarjua River. It’s the only place in Goa that you can see these huge reptiles in their natural habitat. And it’ll also give you a taste of traditional, tourist-free Goa. You’ll be joined in the mangroves by fishermen searching for their daily catch. The waters are brimming with fish and molluscs, which keep the crocs and riverside villages well fed. And the locals are quite happy to share, as they see the crocodiles as the guardian spirits of the community. They’re not the only wildlife you can spot, either. As you cruise along the backwaters for a few hours, there’s a good chance you’ll pass otters, flying fish and kingfisher, too.

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Marvels of Mumbai

You’ll see Mumbai’s eastern and western sides on this tour. First, you’ll pay a visit to the Gateway of India. The arch was built in 1911 as an entry point for passengers arriving from England, but it also marks the place where British troops left India following the country’s independence. Next, you’ll move on to Dhobi Ghat, which is over 100 years old. It’s basically a giant human-powered washing machine, so you’ll see hundreds of washers – or dhobis – cleaning clothes in the open-air water tanks. After absorbing the atmosphere, you’ll head to a very different sight, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station. This extravagant Gothic building’s a prime example of colonial-era architecture, with Victorian, Hindu and Islamic influences. Later, you’ll see more buildings built during British rule at Colaba Causeway, which is overflowing with stalls and shops. It’s a great spot for stocking up on souvenirs, as well as sampling some of the local delicacies.

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Mumbai's markets

You’ll need to put your bartering hat on for this tour, as you’ll visit three of Mumbai’s biggest markets. First, you can get your haggling hat on at Colaba Causeway. This area’s streets are filled to the brim with shops selling jewellery, clothes, handbags and handicrafts. And you can buy coconut water, baked goods and fruit from some of the vendors, too. After, you’ll visit historic Crawford Market. It’s Mumbai’s main wholesale market for fruit, so you’ll find stalls stacked with mountains of mangos and grapes. Produce aside, you can check out the Norman-style façade and its decorative friezes, which were designed by Lockyard Kipling – the father of author Rudyard Kipling. Your last stop is in Bhuleshwar. This place is packed-full of bazaars, selling everything from jewellery to food. On your way back to the ship, you’ll also drive past the famous Gateway of India monument.

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Surf & Turf Steakhouse

As its name suggests, this à la carte eatery specialises in the likes of marbled steaks and meaty lobster tails. You’ve also got other meat and fish options, as well as plenty to satisfy a vegetarian palate. This is one of the ship's speciality restaurants, so there's a charge to dine here – plus, we recommend you make a reservation in advance.

47°

Marella Discovery 2’s main eatery is a big, stylish venue, finished in the colours of the sand and the sea. Daytime meals here come with a side-order of sea views, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows, and a grand double staircase leads up to a separate eatery.

Mystical Muscat

You’ll tour some of Oman’s highlights on this trip, including an enormous mosque, a bustling souk, and Muscat old town. The first stop is the Grand Mosque. Outside, it’s completely white, but on the inside, it’s filled with intricate murals and big crystal chandeliers. A single Persian carpet covers the 4,000-square-metre floor, making it one of the largest ever made. Next, you’ll have an hour’s haggling time at the Muttrah Souk. This indoor marketplace is the oldest in Muscat and its stalls are packed with colourful jewellery, pottery and spices. After you’ve picked up some souvenirs, you’ll head off to the Bait Al Zubair Museum for an insight into Omani heritage, before a tour of Muscat old town. Two enormous forts and the Al Alam Palace dominate the skyline here. The latter is the official residence of His Majesty, Sultan Qaboos.

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Fascinating Oman

From a mosque to a market, you’ll see some of Muscat’s best bits on this full-day tour. Your first stop will be one of the world’s largest mosques, called the Grand Mosque. Inside, it’s really elaborate – one single handmade Persian carpet covers the entire floor space of the huge prayer room, while massive crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling. From the tranquillity of the mosque, you’ll be taken to the Barkha Fish Market, where locals haggle for the catch of the day. Next, you’ll stop off at the Al Thowarah hot springs and the Nakhl Fort, an enormous castle that sits on a rocky outcrop surrounded by palm trees. Then a buffet lunch is served at the Al Nahda resort before heading back to the ship.

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