Cruising on a budget - Top Tips
Admin
When you embark your passport will be taken by the crew, we didn’t really figure out why until afterwards we saw our passports was processed by customs in Singapore and Thailand to allow us to embark and disembark when we felt like it in Thailand, using only our “sea pass cards” (on-board identity and payment card) and therefore not having to go through at customs every time you leave the boat.
Good clean, and the cabin service is fantastic making your room up 2x per day.
Singapore is great. Food, shopping, friendly.
We did our own thing using a taxi, be sure to agree on a price and destinations before you start, its not really pay per meter. Penang town looked very clean with interesting shops.Kek Lok Si is impressive, worthwhile. Fort Cornwallis was interesting small entrance fee and guided tour.
Stunning views but the cable car was not in operation for 3 hours due to wind. Luckily opened in time. Worthwhile.
Phi Phi island tour booked through the cruise. 60km out by speed boat to Phi Phi. Including snorkeling and lunch. absolutely stunning, worth every cent. Spend a long time in transport (bus, boat) but well worth it. The second day we had in Phuket we enjoyed the the shopping at the JungCeylon mall and buying fake stuff from small shops. Night Life in Patong Beach was not our cup of tea and not recommeded for kids after 9pm, but if like a party there will be plenty of options.