On a tour of the Far East we thought it was a good idea to relax for a few days on an ocean cruise out of Singapore. Right? Wrong! The ship seemed at almost full capacity and full of large groups clearly intending to try and stay together. The very loud parade on the first day set the scene for the four days on board. If we had wanted Disney we could have flown to Florida. We found it very difficult to find a quiet spot to relax. What they called a library was noisy and badly equipped.
We felt like a cash cow waiting to be milked. To pay loaded drink prices and then pay an 18% gratuity surcharge, no matter how quick/slow, good/bad, indifferent, is out of order. Like to book a separate restaurant? That's extra. Like to pay for a couple of excursions of frankly appalling quality? We did. We should have been paid to go on Coach trips that were basically shopping expeditions not us pay for the privilege. Want a bottle of water as you exit the ship for these excursions? That will be extra.
It might be an idea to install a PA system that can be understood as well. We booked dinner for a table of eight prior to sailing. We got a table of two. The cabin was jaded and the balcony scruffy. Hearing that the ship was to go into dry dock soon for improvements didn't help us at all.
Jaded
This exclusion was dreadful. The tour was called Phuket Sightseeing and shopping. We visited a view point at the south of the island then spent our time in traffic jams, visiting a Cashew Nut sales operation, a jewellery sales operation and souvenirs finishing off at a shopping centre in Phuket. We learnt very little about Phuket and the guide was very poor and didn't keep in communication with his group or keep them together.