Book a Disney adventure on the Disney Adventure with Traveloka

The inaugural Disney Cruise Lines journeys from Singapore will be available for booking on the Traveloka app from Q424, the the Southeast Asian travel platform has announced. The launch of Disney Cruise Line on Traveloka further strengthens the company’s commitment to promoting Singapore's diverse experiences and attractions, Traveloka said.

The Disney Adventure is scheduled to start voyages in late 2025, with a home port in Singapore. Voyages on Disney Adventure will feature Disney-themed dining options and thrilling onboard activities at seven themed areas.

Caesar Indra, President of Traveloka said: “The launch of the first Disney Cruise Line’s fleet in Asia presents an exciting new opportunity for travel enthusiasts to experience a world of adventure. With ticket sales estimated to start in Q424 on Traveloka - we encourage customers to follow our social media and register their interest in our app to get the latest updates on the Disney Cruise Line.

"Whether it's a family vacation, a romantic getaway, or an adventurous escape, Traveloka is committed to providing enhanced benefits and fulfilling holiday dreams. This launch marks a significant milestone in our mission to enrich our customers' travel journeys. Traveloka will be providing not just Disney Adventure tickets but a variety of other packages, including Fly-Cruise, Singapore vacation anchoring Disney Adventure, and many more, to cater to different segments and customers' needs.”

Disney Imagination Garden

The emotional heart of Disney Adventure, the Disney Imagination Garden is an enchanted valley, a charming garden, and an open-air performance venue all in one.

Disney Discovery Reef

Shop and dine in a retreat that evokes aquatic characters and nautical stories from Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios.

San Fransokyo Street

Inspired by the eclectic world of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Big Hero 6, San Fransokyo Street has the atmosphere of a vibrant street market and boasts interactive games and activities, shops, cinemas and more.

Wayfinder Bay

At Wayfinder Bay, guests will be called by “the line where the sky meets the sea” to an oasis under the sun. The poolside retreat will reflect the Pacific Islands-inspired artistry of Disney Animation’s Moana.

Town Square

Town Square celebrates Disney royals. This fantastical forest hosts shops, lounges, cafes, restaurants, and entertainment venues with a royal Disney princess theme.

Source: Traveloka. The Town Square will celebrate Disney royals.

Marvel Landing 

Marvel Landing is where heroes unite. This area will offer Avengers-level adventure, with all-new attractions and experiences that showcase imaginative representations of favourite superheroes.

Toy Story Place

Toy Story Place is a whimsical, interactive playland with themed food venues and water play areas set in the world of Pixar’s Toy Story movies.

In addition to standard cruise passes, Traveloka will offer packages designed for Southeast Asian travellers, including Muslim-friendly packages later.

Beyond the cruise, travellers can design their own adventure with Traveloka. They can embark on the full Lion City experience by leveraging Traveloka’s exclusive deals for iconic attractions.

Guests can immerse themselves at the S.E.A. Aquarium, home to over 100,000 marine creatures, or wander through Gardens By the Bay, featuring the majestic Supertrees and vibrant floral displays. Wildlife enthusiasts can enjoy the Singapore Zoo's interactive exhibits and animal shows, or visit the Singapore Bird Paradise, where exotic birds can be viewed amidst lush greenery.

Details

Book at Traveloka's website or app.

Norwegian Cruise Line releases new APAC itineraries.

Source: Norwegian Cruise Line website. Norwegian Spirit.

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced new 2020 and 2021 itineraries for 12 of its 17 ships.

Within the Asia Pacific region, Norwegian Spirit will sail a variety of port-intensive itineraries within North Asia. 

Beginning May 9, 2020 and opening for sale on May 1, 2019, Norwegian Spirit will feature 11 to 15-day itineraries will feature bucket-list worthy destinations including calls to Shanghai and Beijing, China; Osaka, Okinawa, Mount Fuji (Shimizu) and Sapporo, Japan; and Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan.


According to the company's website there are also cruises available within Southeast Asia.

In early 2020, as part of the company’s Norwegian Edge programme, Norwegian Spirit will undergo an extensive multimillion-dollar revitalisation including new venues, updated staterooms and public spaces.

Explore:

For more information or to book a cruise, call +852 2165 6000 (English, Cantonese and Mandarin assistance), contact a preferred travel professional or visit the website.

23 things I learned on a Royal Caribbean cruise

The view from the Viking Crown Lounge, deck 14.

1. Don't pack 3 bottles of sunblock and no cleanser 

2. Everything is US-style. Food portions are American sized, the power points are meant for US-style plugs and the currency accepted on board is the US dollar

3. Read the daily cruise newsletter, placed in your stateroom every afternoon. There are a lot of activities listed, and those which you have to pay for are clearly marked. Highlights are in bold. 

4. Activities are timed so that you can move on to something else starting 15 minutes later. Plan your day accordingly.

5. Arrive early for anything. You are usually allowed to enter. Except for meals, when they open on time. 

6. There will be crowds at meals and after popular activities. Look for another lift, use the stairs or (my favourite) take the lift going elsewhere.

7. Watch movies under the stars in good weather – images are clear and there is a great sound system

8. The performance on the first evening is always worth seeing. Actually the other performances are also excellent too.

9. 'Washy-washy' with Purrell (sanitiser) everywhere, because germs

10. Strategy 1 for getting a seat for the buffet: go early so you are at the head of the queue. There is no strategy 2.

11. Strategy 1 for sitting together for free-seating fine dining: make sure the whole group is already there. There is no strategy 2. 

12. You can order as many dishes as you like for fine dining. 

13. Favourite buffet breakfast food: the upama at Windjammer (deck 11). Dishes containing pork or beef at the buffet are clearly marked. There are Jain and vegetarian sections a little further in.

14. Plus: snacks at Cafe Promenade (deck 5) just about anytime. Minus: no seating available. 

Cafe Promenade is also great if you need to grab a drink.

15. The library (deck 8) has some pretty interesting books, in different languages. Also a book exchange area.

16. Want to follow someone in mass dancing? Deck 5 is a common venue, outside the cafe. This means you don't chat in the cafe.

17. Want to chat? There are deck chairs on deck 4, deck 11 poolside, deck 12 overlooking the pools, and deck 14. There are armchairs in the library and games room too.

17. The best view is at deck 14, at the Viking Crown Lounge. It may be booked for private events though.

18. The poolside movies on deck 11 are really clear even in the daytime. Finding a seat where you have an unobstructed view of the movie may be the challenge.

19. Have fun on board in the games room on deck 7. Tables and chairs are limited though!
The most ergonomic table and chair arrangements for using a laptop are at the library/games room on decks 8 and 7 respectively. Admittedly neither area is meant for using your own laptop.

20. Staterooms are cleaned 3x a day. Please spare a thought for your friendly stateroom attendant.

21. Do remember anyone who gave you excellent service (which is everyone), either with a tip or through a review on social media. An envelope is provided on the last day of the cruise but you can get more at deck 5, guest services.

22. Order wheelchair services early, both for getting on board and leaving the ship. Instructions are not very clear on this point. Your best bet is to enquire at deck 5, guest services.

23. They use facial recognition with photos, but if you don't see the ones you want in the system, you can ask for them. 

Explore:

Browse the album of cruise photos on Facebook

Hashtag: #cruisexperience, #royalcaribbean, #voyageroftheseas

*Royal Caribbean did not sponsor this review in any way. The author would like to thank the crew of the Voyager of the Seas and the staff at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre for being so helpful in making her parents' cruise an excellent one.

More Singapore-homeported sailings for Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean International has committed to its longest-ever deployment in Singapore, from 2017  to 2019. For its 2017/18 season, it is lining up a total of 72 sailings on Mariner of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas. 

This comprises an extended season of 52 sailings on Mariner of the Seas from October 2017 to April 2018, two sailings on Ovation of the Seas in April 2018, and 18 sailings on Voyager of the Seas from April to July 2018. Ovation of the Seas can carry 4,905 guests, while Mariner of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas have capacities of 3,807 and 4,269 guests respectively. These are among the largest capacities in Asia.

“The announcement of Royal Caribbean's longest deployment for the next three years is a reflection of how multisector collaborations like these are vital to developing the local and regional cruise industry. It is these partnerships that enable Royal Caribbean to bring bigger and more innovative ships to Singapore, enhancing the cruise experience for travellers and ultimately growing the industry here,” said Sean Treacy, MD, Asia Pacific of Royal Caribbean Cruises.

Royal Caribbean also announced that it has entered into a second multimillion dollar marketing partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board and Changi Airport Group to promote cruising out of Singapore to overseas guests on Ovation of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas.
The cruise brand’s first collaboration with Singapore Tourism Board and Changi Airport Group has been in place with Mariner of the Seas since August 2015. Projected to bring in over 170,000 overseas fly-cruise visitors to Singapore over three years, the first year’s numbers surpassed the annual visitor target by over 40%.

Source: Changi Airport Group. The Singapore-homeported Ovation of the Seas.

As part of the agreement, marketing campaigns, research studies and channel development activities will be targeted at global markets. In Asia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan will be target audiences.

Said Annie Chang, Director, Cruise, Singapore Tourism Board: “This second collaboration with Royal Caribbean International and Changi Airport Group reiterates our commitment to grow Singapore’s cruise industry and position Singapore as the fly-cruise hub of Asia. That Royal Caribbean is increasing its homeported sailings in Singapore also signals the success of our partnership in driving cruise tourism for Asia – a long-standing relationship we’ve had for the past 10 years.”

According to the Singapore Tourism Board, this latest tripartite partnership is expected to bring in around 45,000 overseas fly-cruise guests to Singapore to sail on Ovation of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas from March to June 2017. The expected numbers are in addition to the current 65,000 overseas guests projected to sail on Mariner of the Seas from October 2016 to March 2017.

With Changi Airport’s strong air connectivity to more than 380 cities worldwide and around 7,000 flights each week, Singapore is well placed to effectively tap into fly-cruise traffic and serve as a cruise hub for the region.

To kick off the partnership, Ovation of the Seas arrived for her inaugural season in Singapore yesterday, with 10 sailings to take place this season. According to Royal Caribbean, more than half of the ship’s bookings have come from overseas, with the five- and 12-night sailings proving to be popular given more exotic destinations offered.

Peh Ke-Wei, Changi Airport Group’s Vice President of Passenger Development, said,“Fly-cruise traffic has performed well in recent years, and Changi Airport seeks to further grow this segment together with our partners, as part of Changi Airport’s aim to grow different passenger segments in Singapore. With these new offerings, visitors to Singapore will have more travel options. Looking ahead, we seek to bring even more new and exciting experiences to our passengers.”

“This tripartite partnership is a tremendous boost for our first Ovation of the Seas season in Singapore as we deepen our commitment to this region with even more attractive cruise products," Treacy said, noting that the new partnership also marks a milestone in the company's 10th year in Asia.

The outlook for cruise tourism in Asia is optimistic*, with double-digit growth in cruise capacity witnessed in recent years.

*According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)’s report – 2016 Asia Cruise Trends (PDF)

Seabourn Encore begins maiden season in Asia Pacific waters

Source: Seabourn. International recording artist and best-selling soprano 
Sarah Brightman officially named the ultra-luxury ship Seabourn Encore.

Seabourn, the ultra-luxury cruise line, formally introduced Seabourn Encore to the world in Singapore. The 600-guest ship is the fourth ultra-luxury vessel to join the Seabourn fleet and the first of two all-suite ships to be designed by hospitality design icon Adam Tihany. The Seabourn Ovation is currently under construction and is scheduled to launch in spring 2018.

"The launch of Seabourn Encore marks the start of a new era of ultra-luxury cruising," said Richard Meadows, President of Seabourn. "This ship is stunningly beautiful and I know guests are going to be absolutely captivated as they step aboard and see it firsthand."

Lionel Yeo, Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board, said the christening was testament to the growing appeal of Southeast Asia as the destination of choice for discerning travellers. "We are confident that Seabourn's guests will enjoy experiencing the rich and diverse offerings of the region, and look forward to welcoming more of Carnival Corporation's ships to Singapore."

S Iswaran, Minister for Trade and Industry, Singapore, noted that Southeast Asia allows cruisers to take advantage of a year-round favourable climate, pristine coastlines, and diverse cultural and historical sites. "This region is well-positioned to continue benefitting from Asia’s growing interest in cruising. Cruise passenger volumes in Asia have increased by about 40% since 2012, and are expected to keep growing," he said.

Intended by Tihany "to feel more like a luxury yacht", Seabourn Encore features modern design elements and innovations in keeping with Seabourn's reputation for understated elegance, as well as one additional deck and newly expanded public areas. New features include The Retreat, a secluded for-charge sanctuary for guests to stretch out and relax in private cabanas, and Sushi, a one-of-a-kind dining destination found on no other ship in the Seabourn fleet.

With the inaugural voyage, Seabourn Encore is also marking the formal debut of several new onboard partner programmes. Spa and Wellness with Dr Andrew Weil is being introduced in partnership with The Onboard Spa by Steiner, offering guests a holistic spa and wellness experience that integrates physical, social, environmental and spiritual wellbeing.

A new production show, An Evening with Tim Rice, created exclusively for Seabourn in association with Belinda King Creative Productions, will also have its debut on board in the ship's Grand Salon. Seabourn Encore will also feature The Grill by Thomas Keller, a restaurant inspired by the classic American chophouse that first opened on Seabourn Quest last year. All three partner programmes will be rolled out across the entire Seabourn fleet by 2018.

Following the naming ceremony, Seabourn Encore departed on its inaugural voyage, the 10-day Gems of the Java Sea cruise, bound for Indonesia. The ship will then move on to Australia and New Zealand, followed by a reverse of the earlier 10-day Gems of the Java Sea cruise to Singapore, then the 16-day Jewels of India & Arabia cruise to Dubai, and finish her first season with a 19-day Arabian Gems & Holy Land voyage that ends in Athens, Greece on May 5.

Interested?

A veranda suite begins at US$3,999 per person (double occupancy) excluding taxes and surcharges for the 10-day Gems of the Java Sea cruise, which departs Denpasar, Bali in Indonesia on March 22 and ends in Singapore on April 1.

Hashtag: #SeabournEncore

Princess Yachts celebrates 50th anniversary in Singapore with Bentley launch, exclusive cruise

Source: Princess Yachts. The Princess 56 features teak decking, a convertible sunbed, twin helm seats, a wet bar, barbecue and ergonomic dining areas. The craft has a top speed of 34 knots. Below deck, three cabins and a full-beam master stateroom offer the luxury of space.

Princess Yachts, known for its quality craftsmanship, design and engineering pedigree, and refined luxury interiors of its craft, celebrated the latest stage of its 50th anniversary year at the Singapore Yacht Show alongside Bentley Motors, which launched the Bentley Bentayga, billed as the world’s fastest and most impressive SUV.

Hosted at Marina Bay, the celebratory event was the result of a collaboration between Princess Yachts, the Urban Redevelopment Authority, the Public Utilities Board, the Singapore Tourism Board and the Singapore Yacht Show. To mark the event, Princess was granted special permission to cruise around the protected freshwater marina, allowing guests to take in the iconic night-time vista of the Singapore skyline including the Merlion and Fullerton Bay Hotel while enjoying a spectacular laser show.

Princess’ presence at the Singapore Yacht Show and the launch with Bentley marks a move to establish Singapore as a one of the world’s key luxury yachting hubs.

Global Marketing Director for Princess Yachts International Kiran Jay Haslam said: “The professionalism and tireless efforts of everyone involved in Singapore made this one of the most memorable and magical events in our history. Our close collaboration with Bentley Motors and the Fullerton Bay Hotel meant we were able to create an incredible evening, revealing the world’s most impressive luxury SUV from Bentley alongside a private cruising experience on-board our stunning Princess 56 yacht – all within the surrounds of one of the finest hotels in world.”

David Jackson, Regional Manager for South East Asia & Australasia at Bentley Motors commented: “Together with our friends at Princess Yachts we were able to create a simply spectacular evening. The all-new Bentayga, the world’s finest luxury SUV, was in great company with our VIP guests experiencing a unique and seamless link in terms of both luxury and performance. It was an impressive moment for two iconic British brands committed to unsurpassed design, craftsmanship and beauty, with a simply stunning backdrop in Singapore, together with special guests from all across Asia Pacific.”
Designed, engineered and handcrafted in the UK, each Bentley Bentayga takes more than 130 hours to produce. The first Bentaygas were delivered in March 2016.

Interested?

Register interest in the Bentayga

Find your local Princess Yachts distributor

Bahrain joins Cruise Arabia Alliance

Bahrain has become the latest country to confirm its commitment to the Cruise Arabia Alliance, which now has membership from the UAE emirates Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah, as well as Qatar and Oman. The alliance encourages its members to share best practices and ensure a region-wide level of service and standards offered to both the cruise lines and their passengers.

The announcement was made at the Seatrade Middle East Cruise Forum, which was held in Doha, Qatar and hosted by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA). The announcement was made in conjunction with Bahrain announcing it would be complementing the 2015/2016 cruise season with 68,000 passengers and 32 calls from major cruise lines.

The QTA also stated that Qatar is expecting a three-fold increase in passengers next season. Thirty cruise ships will be bringing up to 50,000 passengers to Doha between October 2016 and April 2017 - up from the eight calls scheduled this season.

Hassan Al Ibrahim, QTA’s Chief Tourism Development Officer, said: “Qatar places huge importance on the cruise industry, both to diversify the tourism sector and Qatar’s overall economy. There are long-term plans to upgrade the country’s infrastructure, all of which will enable us to tap into the potential of cruise tourism by developing Qatar’s ports.

“We are building our infrastructure and human capital; we have a new destination brand that consolidates the industry’s efforts to attract more visitors; and, we are diversifying and enhancing the products and services across the entire industry.

“For our part, QTA is working with partners across the public and private sectors, to plan, regulate, develop and promote the tourism sector, with the aim of achieving growth that is both exponential and sustainable.”

He added: “QTA is committed to providing at least 6,000 rooms on cruise ships for the 2022 FIFA World Cup competition - in the redeveloped Doha Port – reinforcing cruise tourism as one of our most exciting and enduring legacies.”

The Forum confirmed that the Arabian Gulf is now the third most popular winter cruising destination with one million cruise passenger visits expected in GCC countries during the 2015 to 2016 season.

Chris Hayman, Chairman of Seatrade, organisers of the Forum, said: “Over the two days of the Forum, we have repeatedly heard from tourism and ports authorities across the region that the cruise industry has been identified as a crucial area for growth in the coming years and that many see this sector as an engine for sustainable development of their economies, and as an important pillar that supports efforts to limit dependence on natural energy resources as a driver of GDP.”

To achieve this, Hayman highlighted the significance of the Cruise Arabia alliance which is committed to its members working together with the common goal of growing cruise tourism and tackling the challenges faced, whilst taking advantage of the opportunities that will arise in the coming years.

Amongst the challenges discussed is the importance of each destination to create shore excursions that are diverse and offer unique onshore opportunities for cruise line passengers. The question of obtaining visas was also flagged as a challenge but was felt that each destination was developing wider flexibility and this had been well addressed since the last Forum in 2015. Security was also highlighted as a potential challenge as perceptions of passengers unfamiliar with the region had been influenced by international media coverage. However, it was felt that passengers who have visited the Arabian Gulf for themselves understand that it is a safe area with tight security, and can be ambassadors in promoting the region. 

Bhaya Cruises receives TripAdvisor Certificates of Excellence five times in five years

Source: Bhaya Cruises website.

Bhaya Cruises, a luxury cruise operator in Halong Bay, Vietnam, has received a Certificate of Excellence 2015 award from TripAdvisor for three brands: Bhaya Classic, The Au Co and Legend Halong. This is the fifth consecutive year that Bhaya Cruises has been recognised for its services.

The award, which honours hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Certificate of Excellence winners include accommodations, eateries and attractions located all over the world that have continually delivered a superior customer experience.

To qualify for a Certificate of Excellence, businesses must maintain an overall TripAdvisor bubble rating of at least four out of five, have a minimum number of reviews by travelers and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months.

“We always strive to offer our guests more than just a cruise but a lifetime experience in Halong Bay with impeccable service and a broad range of culture and leisure activities,” said Pham Van Ha, General Manager of Bhaya Cruises. “Positive reviews by travelers on TripAdvisor are not only meaningful gifts but also a great encouragement to our hard working and passionate team.”

Bhaya Cruises currently operates 17 boats with a total of 178 cabins in Halong Bay. Both day and night cruises are offered.

Emperor Cruises offers day cruises in Nha Trang

Source: Emperor Cruises website.

Emperor Cruises is starting day cruises from the coastal city of Nha Trang, with overnight trips to come. According to the company, Nha Trang boasts a growing array of attractions, including the Vinpearl Golf Club as well as up-market hotels like the Intercontinental, Best Western Premier, and Amanoi.

"Emperor Cruises plans to bring tourists to the bay to gaze at the sunset, sip on cocktails, and enjoy romantic dinners while cruising on one of the 29 most beautiful bays in the world,” said Allister Esguerra, Branch Director, Emperor Cruises. 

Emperor Cruises has launched the five-star all-inclusive cruise on Nha Trang Bay and plans to begin overnight cruises on the bay by the end of the year, with eight all-inclusive suites, butlers on board, and limousine services to and from the port. Eighteen suites will be available next year.

The coastal city of Nha Trang, in Khanh Hoa Province in Central Vietnam, lies on the trans-Vietnam highway, 1,278km from Hanoi and 448km from Ho Chi Minh City. The city can be reached from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City by air at Cam Ranh International Airport, 30km from town, or by train from Danang or Ho Chi Minh City.

It takes 40 minutes along the coastal road from Cam Ranh International Airport to reach downtown Nha Trang and another 15 minutes to reach the port where the Emperor Cruise begins. Destinations on the day cruises include a visit to Hon Mieu, snorkelling and diving at Hon Mun, cruising around Hon Mot and Hon Tam, and dropping in at Dam Bay for lunch, before continuing on to Tru Beach for trekking, beach activities, and kayaking. The cruise ends with views of the Bao Dai villas, which are built on a small headland near the city.

“We spent a lot of time, effort and dedication to bring a tourism product to Nha Trang that’s classy and different,” said CEO of Emperor Cruises Bui Duc Long. "We guarantee departure everyday, no matter what the number of passengers are.”

Interested?

Read about the Nha Trang Discovery Cruises

Check out the Sunset Cocktail and Dinner Cruises

Yacht available for Singapore charters

A 62’ (foot) sailing catamaran, the Sunreef62, is available in Singapore for charters. The air-conditioned yacht can accommodate up to 37 guests on a daytime or evening cruise, and up to eight guests on overnight or extended cruises. Managed by Blue Star Yachting, the captain and two crew look after guests throughout the cruise.

The Sunreef62 is moored at the Republic of
Singapore Yacht Club (RSYC), near Clementi.

Sailing options could include a team building exercise during a cruise, or simply to entertain clients. Cruises of several hours take place around Sentosa, Singapore’s Marina Bay; or along the Singapore coast to the southern isles. Longer journeys can be planned, to Malaysia for example.

The saloon area is ideal for entertaining and is fitted with a Harman/Kardon surround sound stereo system, complete with two outdoor loudspeakers, and a widescreen Samsung TV and DVD player. A fully equipped kitchen can be found on board.

Guests are welcome to bring their own food to the yacht or arrange for their own catering to be delivered prior to the cruise for a self-catering fee of S$200**. The fee includes use of the barbecue and kitchen equipment, disposable cutlery and full service by the crew. 

Guests can also choose from several BBQ menus. The self-catering fee does not apply to catering arranged by Blue Star Yachting.

View the rates here.

*Images from Blue Star Yachting.

**Terms and conditions apply. Please visit the Blue Star Yachting website to find out more.