Cabin Plusses and Minuses - location

• #6164 - designated 25% obstructed; take a look below - not sure how they calculated
• Happy with our balcony, which was a lower priced “GTY” (Guaranteed), i.e., not assigned until close to departure.
• Due to the full capacity and number of children, I’m not sure how we could have found a quieter cabin; but, it was only 5 nights and a relatively expensive cruise for its length.  We were unwilling to pay even more for a special suite.

Crowded?  Kid Friendly?

• Yes, and yes.
• The 5 night Far East cruise was full of families and many children.  I’m not sure if there was a holiday, or just an extended weekend, from Wednesday through Monday.
• This cruise was part of our Only Asia travels, and it was not surprising that the ship carried a high percentage of “locals.”

Entertainment

While only a 5 night cruise, there was only one port day and therefore we had several opportunities aboard to sample and enjoy the entertainment offerings.

• The music and dancing performances were very good; we arrived early to get good seats.
• Acrobatics are becoming a staple of the cruises we experience, and are always worth a 45 minute investment of our time.

Dining (also, see Tips)

• We enjoyed the Main Dining Room (MDR) for most dinners, and got to know our wait staff.  Service was above average, at least.
• Check your Ship App for up-to-date venue hours; breakfast or lunch times vary between port and sea days.

Ports

The original itinerary planned two stops in Vietnam; however, a late change resulted in only one stop.  Given the complexity of our travels and the 6 weeks away from home, limiting port visits allowed some recovery time.

• Prior to the Singapore departure, we had flown in from Tokyo and spent 6 days in this exciting City-Country.
• After completing our 5 day cruise, we stayed in Hong Kong for 3 nights.

• Hue, Vietnam - we had booked a non-RC excursion and were very pleased to have been met at the port with constant text message contact, to allow us to find our private driver.  (One downside to using a non-cruiseline provider is the extra effort sometimes required to connect.) While spending only part of a day in Vietnam, there was a bit of a cultural overload for our senses - becoming acquainted with our driver/tour guide, seeing the countryside and getting a feel for the local way of life, sharing a meal and visiting some historical sites, which I only became aware of their significance later - from research and a documentary.  It was truly impactful to our understanding of the world.