Sapphire princess cruise from Singapore
Jan 30th, 2014, 05:15 AM
#2
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I have not been on this cruise. But let me say that an ocean cruise is not a good way to see these countries. A river cruise on the Mekong would give you an introduction to Cambodia, for instance, but generally, the places you would want to visit are not accessible via cruise ship.
Jan 30th, 2014, 05:24 AM
#3
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In Bangkok the cruise ships dock waaaaaaaaay out of town. It is a commercial port area and not very scenic. You would either need a taxi or tour to get into town. It is not like the Caribbean where you walk off and be in the midst of stores and sights. Also there is so much to see in all the port you mentioned one day would NOT do them justice.
Jan 30th, 2014, 11:09 AM
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This is a wonderful forum for land based trip information. I know, because I use these forums every year for itinerary help. But this may not be the best place to ask this question as many posters on this board feel like Kathie and kmkrnn do. Nothing wrong with that, but this is a case of one size doesn't fit all.
We do enjoy both cruise and land vacations to the Asian countries. Our first trip to Asia was on the original 1000 passenger Royal Princess and we combined it with time before the cruise in Beijing and time after the cruise in Bangkok. Loved every minute of the trip. It was a good introduction to this part of the world.
We returned 6 months later on the Sapphire Princess on her maiden run to Asia, spending a week pre cruise in Japan. Fast forward to the present, we will be boarding the Ocean Princess in Singapore in 2015 after a month working our way through Bali, Burma and Bangkok on our own.
The Sapphire Princess is a large ship, I really like her..especially if you can get an aft regular balcony cabin, go for it...the views are wonderful. The ship is well laid out and doesn't feel that big, though my favorite size are the 600 passenger little girls.
The Sapphire will have to dock in the container ports in some places, but there will be shuttles or for Bangkok and Saigon -tour buses with a charge- to take you into town where you can explore independently or the ship will offer the regular tours. Some are excellent some not so much. Do not be afraid of doing something with a small group though.
We have cruised to all three places you are asking about and would go back in a heart beat by sea or land! The cities are very interesting and a ship is a very comfortable way to see them.
No, it is not the same as a land trip where you go for several days to a week or more and explore in depth, but if you read up on what there is in and round each of the places, you will get a good idea of what interest you. Pick several sites that appeal, take the ship shuttle from the port, get taxi or arrange for a car and driver and go visit. It will be fun and you will learn about the city and its people even though you only get a taste of each place. I have never been sorry I visited a port, they have all been interesting! Though there have been times I was glad to get back to the comfort of the ship!
If you like cruising, or are new to it, this is a good sounding itinerary. Are you doing the 7 day version or the 11 day? There will be travel time to Bangkok and to Saigon, but the ship usually offers a bus into both cities so you can do your own thing if you want...which I would recommend, pick several places of interest...there are many good ones in each city and then use the taxis to get from place to place once in town.
If you are not up to going alone, check out the roll call for your cruise on one of the cruise boards...there will be others looking for people to join them on small group tours. These are good too, we have joined some and I have put together some. Read the ships tour information, it will give you some idea of where to start and as I have said some tours are very good. We use them when we want to see something far from the port.
Hope this helps. Happy Sailing!
We do enjoy both cruise and land vacations to the Asian countries. Our first trip to Asia was on the original 1000 passenger Royal Princess and we combined it with time before the cruise in Beijing and time after the cruise in Bangkok. Loved every minute of the trip. It was a good introduction to this part of the world.
We returned 6 months later on the Sapphire Princess on her maiden run to Asia, spending a week pre cruise in Japan. Fast forward to the present, we will be boarding the Ocean Princess in Singapore in 2015 after a month working our way through Bali, Burma and Bangkok on our own.
The Sapphire Princess is a large ship, I really like her..especially if you can get an aft regular balcony cabin, go for it...the views are wonderful. The ship is well laid out and doesn't feel that big, though my favorite size are the 600 passenger little girls.
The Sapphire will have to dock in the container ports in some places, but there will be shuttles or for Bangkok and Saigon -tour buses with a charge- to take you into town where you can explore independently or the ship will offer the regular tours. Some are excellent some not so much. Do not be afraid of doing something with a small group though.
We have cruised to all three places you are asking about and would go back in a heart beat by sea or land! The cities are very interesting and a ship is a very comfortable way to see them.
No, it is not the same as a land trip where you go for several days to a week or more and explore in depth, but if you read up on what there is in and round each of the places, you will get a good idea of what interest you. Pick several sites that appeal, take the ship shuttle from the port, get taxi or arrange for a car and driver and go visit. It will be fun and you will learn about the city and its people even though you only get a taste of each place. I have never been sorry I visited a port, they have all been interesting! Though there have been times I was glad to get back to the comfort of the ship!
If you like cruising, or are new to it, this is a good sounding itinerary. Are you doing the 7 day version or the 11 day? There will be travel time to Bangkok and to Saigon, but the ship usually offers a bus into both cities so you can do your own thing if you want...which I would recommend, pick several places of interest...there are many good ones in each city and then use the taxis to get from place to place once in town.
If you are not up to going alone, check out the roll call for your cruise on one of the cruise boards...there will be others looking for people to join them on small group tours. These are good too, we have joined some and I have put together some. Read the ships tour information, it will give you some idea of where to start and as I have said some tours are very good. We use them when we want to see something far from the port.
Hope this helps. Happy Sailing!
Aug 28th, 2014, 02:06 PM
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We're taking the 11 day cruise that leaves out of Singapore, on Dec 8th and can tell you how it turns out. Thanks for the advice again cwn, because I've been trying to decide what cabin to take. Our main goal on the cruise is just acclimating to the time change, as we are visiting Thailand several days afterward with a former exchange student. Also, we may be joined by my wife's sister for the cruise part, as her son is taking an engineer semester in Singapore.
Aug 29th, 2014, 08:26 AM
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I also like cruising, but have not done any in Asia. I don't think anyone here recommended you visit the site cruisecritic.com and ask your questions. You'll get many more replies from die-hard cruisers. You might even find folks who are on your exact sailing!
I've often thought of a S E Asia cruise, and Princess would be my cruise line of choice, as she is my favorite in other parts of the world that I've sailed.
I've often thought of a S E Asia cruise, and Princess would be my cruise line of choice, as she is my favorite in other parts of the world that I've sailed.
Aug 29th, 2014, 09:11 AM
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sunnypm,
Sounds like you have come up with a great trip. You will enjoy your cruise time especially with friends and family joining you.
My main requirement for a cabin is a balcony as I like to be able to enjoy the air and sea in my robe reading a book, if so inclined! I also like a covered balcony (SE Asia is hot and sunny) and my favorite cabins on the Sapphire Princess are the aft balconies (not just the suite though they are very nice too). I don't much care for the large uncovered balcony though...just to hot for me.
We have cruised in insides to full suites on Princess. The service is the same regardless of the cabin though the suites do have some nice extras. If you suffer from motion sickness try for lower mid ship but we have only ever really noticed motion in the forward cabins.
Cruise Critic, as simpsonc510 suggested, is a great source. Go to the Roll Call section for your ship and sign in for your cruise. There will probably be a M&G being set up and maybe some interesting small group tours, but you can do all the ports on your own very easily. Not sure which ports you are visiting, we will be visiting some in the spring, I will be glad to answer any questions here as to what we are doing or have done on port days.
Have fun.
Sounds like you have come up with a great trip. You will enjoy your cruise time especially with friends and family joining you.
My main requirement for a cabin is a balcony as I like to be able to enjoy the air and sea in my robe reading a book, if so inclined! I also like a covered balcony (SE Asia is hot and sunny) and my favorite cabins on the Sapphire Princess are the aft balconies (not just the suite though they are very nice too). I don't much care for the large uncovered balcony though...just to hot for me.
We have cruised in insides to full suites on Princess. The service is the same regardless of the cabin though the suites do have some nice extras. If you suffer from motion sickness try for lower mid ship but we have only ever really noticed motion in the forward cabins.
Cruise Critic, as simpsonc510 suggested, is a great source. Go to the Roll Call section for your ship and sign in for your cruise. There will probably be a M&G being set up and maybe some interesting small group tours, but you can do all the ports on your own very easily. Not sure which ports you are visiting, we will be visiting some in the spring, I will be glad to answer any questions here as to what we are doing or have done on port days.
Have fun.
Aug 30th, 2014, 05:33 AM
#8
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We too have planned this cruise but it's for Feb. 2016. We got an offer for a one day sale for any cruise on Princess after I think March 2015 and we chose this one as we want to cruise Asia. I can tell you we were on the Sapphire before and it's a beautiful ship. We all enjoyed it. In fact next month we will be on her sister ship the Diamond for a Japanese
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