In November 2015 when I came to know that a new cruise ship the Royal Caribbean - Ovation of the Seas having a maiden voyage from UK Southampton to Singapore . And the cruise ship will pick up passengers from Singapore and stop over at ports of Vietnam-Ho Chi Minth (Phu My), Hong Kong, Xiamen, Korea (Seoul, Incheon) and Tianjin. I had no hesitation to book and pay in full ($3070 per person) 6 months in advance to avoid disappointment and also to enjoy the early bird discount. The cruising itinerary was as as follows:
Day Date Port Arrive Depart
1. Sun 12 June SG --- 1800
2. Mon 13 June Cruising --- ---
3. Tue 14 June Ho Chi Minth(Phu My)Vietnam 0700 1900
4. Wed 15 June Cruising --- ---
5. Thur 16 June Cruising --- ---
6. Fri 17 June HK-China 0800 ---
7. Sat 18 June HK-China --- 1500
8. Sun 19 June Xiamen- China 1000 1800
9. Mon 20 June Cruising --- ---
10. Tue 21 June Cruising --- ---
11. Wed 22 June Seoul (Incheon) Korea 0900 2000
12. Thur 23 June Cruising --- ---
13. Fri 24 June Tianjin- China 0600 ---
14. Sat 25 June Beijing --- ---
15. Sun 26 June Beijing- SQ807 1630
Singapore 2300
We did our online check-in one week before departure. On the day of departure, checking in at the service counter only took a few minutes. The process was very smooth. We checked in at 12.30 pm and deposited our luggage at the cruise center concourse. Immediately after boarding,we went for lunch at the Windjammer buffet restaurant. We then explored the ship before going to our room. By then, our luggage had already delivered outside our room.
We chose a four persons interior state room with virtual balcony to save some pocket money for shopping knowing very well that we will be spending most of our time out side. The virtual balcony is an interesting feature of the ship. A big TV screen, the size of a window showing the outside scene. So passengers in the room will not be having the impression that they were confined to four walls.
(a large TV screen)
The scene of
Vietnam Phu My port
12 June 2016 Sunday
The cruise ship scheduled to depart the Marina Cruise Center, 1800 hr (6 pm). After boarding, we went straight to the Windjammer buffet restaurant for our first lunch on board. After lunch, we explored the ship before we went to our room 11179 to collect our luggage. The luggage was placed outside our room.
at Deck 4
at Deck 4
of the lift floor
It will be changed
daily
There were many exciting facilities on the ship.
The North Star, a capsule on the roof deck that can carry 10 persons and can rotate 360 degrees that will enable the passengers to have the good aerial view of the surrounding.
There were many activities like Rock climbing, Roller skating, table tennis, Ripcord ifly, Flow rider, Latin and Samba dance classes, Mandarin speaking lessons,Yoga classes, electronic games for the kids etc. I went to the well equipped gym regularly to work out so that I can have higher quota to enjoy food.
in the gym
Windjammer
Singapore flyer, view from the ship
There were four restaurants that serving different type of cuisine. The American Icon Grill served western food. The Chic served mixed food. The Silk served fusion food and the Solarium Bistro served middle east food. All these restaurants required advance booking to reserve the table with no extra cost. There were few paying restaurants like Jamie Oliver that served rustic Italian favourites. The Izumi Japanese Cuisine that served Japanese Sushi, Sashimi and more.
Our first dinner at The Chic.
13 June 2016 Monday
Woke up at 6.00 am and went to the gym to do some exercise. Breakfast was at the Windjammer. I like this buffet restaurant as you can choose what you like to eat and also to gauge your own appetite After breakfast, we strolled at the pool deck to catch some ocean fresh air. We then queue for the North Star to enjoy the sea view. Lunch was at the Cafe @two70.
Omelette, salad, sausage
tomato, mushroom, bread
yoghurt, coffee
Forward
Our lunch was at the cafe @ two 70. We had burgers and salads.
14 June 2016 Tuesday
The cruise ship arrived at Vietnam- Ho Chi Minth (Phu My) container port at 7.00 am and will depart at 7.00 pm in the evening. There was a big ceremonial to welcome the arrival of the Ovation of the Seas. This was the first time such a big ship had docked at the port. There were lion dance and dragon dance to welcome the guest. The time taken from the port to Ho Chi Minth city and back was 3 hours. That was not much time for sightseeing. I had been to Vietnam - Ho Chi Minth and Hanoi before, so I decided to stay on board to relax.
container port
Another dinner at Solarium Bistro that served middle east cuisine.
Dinner at Silk
Dinner at the American Icon grill
rosemary chicken
alantic salmon
17 June 2016 Friday
Morning at 8.00am, the cruise ship arrived at Hong Kong Kai Tak cruise center. The ship passengers waited patiently for their turn to disembark. There were about 4,900 people on board. Priority was given for those who join the land conducted tour as their tour coaches were waited at the cruise center parking bay. Passengers who were on free and easy will disembark after the tour group clear the immigration.
There were free shuttle buses that will transport the passengers to the near by shopping malls.
cruise center
Diamond Hill
and Kwun Tong
shopping mall
at Kwun Tong
We took the MTR from Kwun Tong 觀唐 to Sham Shui Po 深水埗 for tim sum 点心 lunch. The food was good and price was reasonable.
We went back to the shopping mall at Kwun Tong and had our dinner at the Japanese restaurant before taking the free shuttle bus back to the ship.
18 June 2016 Saturday
The ship left Hong Kong Kai Tak cruise centre at 1500 hr (3.00 pm) for the next port call at China, Xiamen.
19 June 2016 Sunday
The ship arrived at Xiamen international cruise center 厦门国际游轮码头 1000 hr (10.00 am) in the morning.
It was as usual, those who join the conducted tour will disembark with priority. And those who were on their own will be next. We took a taxi to Zhong Shan Road 中山路 for shopping and lunch. The taxi fare to Zhong Shan street was RMB $20. The ship scheduled to leave Xiamen at 1800 hr (6.00 pm). We took a taxi back to the ship at 4.00 pm.
cruise center
cruise center
土豆牛肉饭
before departure
22 June 2016 Wednesday
The ship arrived at Seoul (Icheon)仁川, South Korea 0900 hr (9.00 am) after two days leaving Xiamen. Icheon was a container port with no cruise terminal building. The ship passengers will have to use the mobile landing ladder to disembark. For those who chose not to join the conducted tour, they can take the free shuttle buses to the near by Hyundai premier outlet shopping mall.
Mobile ladder
up point at
Hyundai premium
outlet gate 3
The ship left Korea, Icheon port at 2000 hr (8 pm) and the next port call was Tianjin, China.
24 June 2016 Friday
The ship arrived at China, Tianjin port 0600 hr (6 am ) in the morning. We had early breakfast on board. The cost of the conducted tour at Tianjin 天津and Beijing 北京was included in the cruising package. The optional tour to Great Wall of China was US $100 per person. We decided to join the optional tour which including transport, admission fee to the Great Wall of China, a good lunch at a hotel and visiting to the old district where the Beijing citizen used to stay.
Tian Jin
The tour guide Mr Will Liu from Bejing greeted us at the Tianjin cruise center. He brought us to tour Tianjin city before stopping for lunch. In history, certain part of the Tianjin city was assigned to foreigners under treaty. These areas were controlled by the British, French, Portuguese, Japanese during the Qing Dynasty 清朝. The Victorian design of some buildings in the district was the influence of foreign culture at that time.
mobile van
terminal building
Palace hotel
our lunch
for the migrant workers
Renaissance hotel after
Tianjin city tour
老许记 at own expense
25 June 2016 Saturday
It was a free and easy day. We paid US$100 per person joining the tour to Great Wall of China. The tour inclusive of coach, entrance fee to Great Wall of China, a sumptuous lunch and a tour of the old Beijing residential area.
noodle with soup
茶蛋
包和饺子
Wall of China
before climbing
fortress 7
fortress 8
back track due to time
constraint
returned to starting point
of China
old residential area
26 June 2016 Sunday
Our last day in Beijing. Visiting to Tian An Men square 天安门广场 and the Forbidden City 紫禁城after breakfast. After tour we will go straight to Beijing International airport at 1.30 pm. We took a quick bite at the Starbucks before boarding. We took SQ 807 which departed at 1630 hr and touched down at Changi International airport at 2300 hr (11.00 pm).
天安门广场
天安门广场
forbidden city
to enter Forbidden City
