The Avid Cruiser - Fall 2007 - (Page 33)

pre & post cruise stays broke their flights in Tokyo for two or three nights (a good idea if you have the time). And for a journey this far, Business Class air is a necessity. Cruising Southeast Asia is a good alternative for the winter-weary. With the seasons reversed, it’s summer in the Southern Hemisphere, when it’s winter in the Northern Hemisphere. And though travelers might opt for South America or Caribbean cruises during the Northern Hemisphere’s winter, Southeast Asia is a good alternative for those seeking something truly different. “The ports are amazing, and you really can have bragging rights to some of the places you’re going to visit,” Ball says. “It’s just an amazing experience, and cruising is the best way to see the region. If you had to fly between cities, it would be very difficult.” Ships often overnight in key cities, such as Ho Chi Minh City. During my cruise this past February, many passengers dined ashore at good (and inexpensive) restaurants. Pre- and post-cruise stayovers are a must, adding hotel nights in gateway cities such as Bangkok or Singapore. I stayed one night at The Peninsula in Bangkok, an elegant hotel in the heart of the city, and another night at the Ritz-Carlton in Singapore. Ho Chi Minh City turned out to be one of the better experiences of my lifetime of travel. I highly recommend it to anyone capable of making the trip. And if you have even a small sense of daring, hop on the back of a motor bike and pass through one of the world’s most fascinating cities as many of its citizens do — on two wheels. Itinerary: My 10-night itinerary on Silver Whisper sailed from Bangkok to Singapore, with an overnight in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; port calls in Brunei; Kuching and Malacca, Malaysia; and four days at sea. our cruise on Silver Whisper also took us to oil-rich Brunei, where a sultan rules the small Islamic country on the island of Borneo. The sultan’s palace has 1,788 rooms, 297 bathrooms and is managed by Hyatt Corporation, according to my guide. The sultan’s garage houses 3,500 cars, including 500 Rolls Royces. Presumably the most dreaded phrase in the household is “Honey, I’ve lost the keys.” Brunei is the only cruise destination I’ve ever visit where passengers with a high fever are not allowed off the ship. Nurses use an ear thermometer to measure temperatures. It’s quick, painless and even tickles a bit. (Photo above is of the Water Village in Brunei’s capital city Bandar Seri Begawan, home of the Sultan of Brunei.) For videos and commentary of Ralph Grizzle’s Southeast Asia sailing, including a tour of Brunei, go to www.avidcruisertv.com and click on Asia. FALL 2007 Avid Cruiser 33 http://www.avidcruisertv.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Avid Cruiser - Fall 2007

The Avid Cruiser - Fall 2007 Contents The Poop Deck Cruising, Back to Back At The Piazza SeaDream Yacht Club Regent’s Seven Seas Voyager The ‘New’ Crystal Symphony Bay of FUNdy Long Weekend Getaway Silversea Cruises: Silver Whisper Cruising Southeast Asia ‘Awesome’ Alaska Sacred Moments In South Georgia Two Years With A Princess Of Days Gone By

The Avid Cruiser - Fall 2007

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.