If you had a Dream, you should try your best to fulfill it. Going to Europe for Cruise and sailing on board the Biggest Cruise Ship in the World had always been one of my Dreams. I had book for the Royal Caribbean Cruise ($3139 each) for and the Singapore Airline Flight (S$1395 each) from Misa Travel. I had been able to fulfill two of my Dreams by killing two bird with one stone, the next one will be Africa Safari when the Ebola Virus dies down.
24th May 2015 (Sunday) Barcelona, Spain
We took Singapore Airline Flight SQ 378 from Singapore to Barcelona, Spain on 24th May 2015 (Sunday) at 0140 hrs, there is a two hours transit in Milan, Italy and we manage to arrive at 1100 hrs just half hour before the Check In to the Cruise Ship. The Taxi only take about half hour to get from the Airport to the Cruise Terminal and the trip cost €39 (S$58). I had subscribe WiFi Connection on board for 7 Days for two device for US$22.50 per day (S$31). We check into Room 572 at Deck 7 which is locate at Starboard Forward of the ship at 1300 hrs,
Ocean View State Room with Balcony
Bath Room and Toilet
I was not aware that there are free buffet lunch provided at Windjammer Marketplace at Deck 16 Aft as I did not spend time reading the Cruise Compass Daily Guide, we went to Beef Burger, Chicken Club Sandwich at Jonny Rocket at Deck 6 Aft for US$21 (S$29). The Mineral Water was not free on board, I had to purchase 12 One Litre Bottle at US$50 (S$68). The Es Galatzo Nature Reserve which I had book on-line had been cancelled due to operator boat maintenance, I had to change it to the Flamenco Show at Son Amar instead at the Shore Excursion Counter located at Royal Promenade at Deck 5 Centre.
The Boat and Fire Drill were conducted at 1630 hrs at the Emergency Assembly Area, all Guest are require to attend to be demonstrate on the donning of Life Jacket and the Evacuation Procedure. This is something that was not done when we took Star Virgo five years ago to Penang and Thailand, so Royal Caribbean Cruise had done well in this area as compare to Star Cruise. The Ship depart Barcelona, Spain at 1800 hrs and head for Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
We had Pork Chop and Carrot Cake for Dinner at American Icon Restaurant at Deck 3 Aft at 1830 hrs, the dinning hours had been set to two hours by default but we usually only took about one hour with half hour waiting time included. I am also not aware that Tooth Brush and Tooth Paste were not provide on board, I had to purchase it from the shop on board at US$11 (S$15). We went for the Ocean Aria Show at Aqua Theatre at Deck 6 Aft at 2045 hrs, it was an amazing display of Acrobat by the performers and it is a show worth watching. The reservation had been made on-line before we went on board and we had to be there at least 15 minutes before the show to ensure our seats are reserve for us. All the show on board is about 45 minutes duration and we return to our room at 2200 hrs and rest for the night.
25th May 2015 (Monday) Palma de Mallorca, Spain
We have Scramble Egg and Sausage for breakfast at American Icon Restaurant at Deck 3 Aft at 0700 hrs, the breakfast is a la carte with semi buffet style for the restaurant while we can also choose full buffet style breakfast at Windjammer Marketplace at Deck 16 Aft. The ship arrive at Palma de Mallorca, Spain at 0800 hrs and we assemble at Amber Theatre at Deck 4 Forward for our Shore Excursion to Flamenco Show at Son Amar (S$93 each) at 0915 hrs.
The day trip was about 4 hours, we left the ship at 0930 hrs and return at 1330 hrs. We visit Bellver Castle at 1000 hrs, we had Tapas and Sangria Wine at 1200 hrs while we watch the Flamenco Show at Son Amar Theatre. We went for Bingo at On Air at Royal Promenade at Deck 5 Centre at 1545 hrs, we brought the US$48 (S$65) Package which give 30 Tickets and a T Shirt. We did not manage to win the Grand Suite Prize which worth S$67,000, so we decided to try our luck at the Casino Royale later by playing the Slot Machine.
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| Bellver Castle at Palma de Mallorca |
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| Flamenco Show at Son Amar Theatre |
The ship depart Palma de Mallorca, Spain at 1600 hrs and head for Marseilles, France. We had Gala Dinner as a Cruise Ship Tradition for the evening, it is due to olden days where the Captain treat the poor during the long voyage when the poor ran out of self brought ration during the last few days of the cross Atlantic voyage. My wife had Chicken Soup, Salmon Fillet and Strawberry Cheese Cake while I had Lobster Cream Soup, Angus Beef Burger and Berry Yogurt for Dinner at American Icon Restaurant at Deck 3 Aft at 1815 hrs.
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| Salmon Fillet |
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| Angus Beef Burger |
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| Strawberry Cheese Cake |
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| Berry Yogurt |
Actually all the guest had to be dress in formal for the dinner but I was not informed before the trip, so it is like back in the days when Boy meet Girl, Girl meet Boy, Boy love Girl, Girl love Boy, Boy and Girl meet Ice Berg, Boy Sink Girl Float.
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| Rose with Heart of the Ocean |
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| Jack in Velvet Pull Over |
The dinner as compare to Star Cruise were not as good, it was a standard Western three course dinner (Appetizer, Main Course and Dessert) throughout the entire duration of the cruise and we had to decide every meal on the eight type of appetizer, main course and dessert from the menu. The Star Cruise had six course Chinese or Western dinner for regular days and a ten course Western dinner for the Gala Night.
We went for the Broadway Show Tell Me on a Sunday at 2045 hrs at Amber Theatre at Deck 4 Forward, I had to book the show at the Guest Service Counter at Royal Promenade at Deck 5 Centre as it is not available for reservation on-line. The ship use the state room TV system to connect to the computer server where we can view the Message, Personal Calender and Account Summary, but we can't seem to change the reservation for show or restaurant which they claim. The Broadway Show was kind of boring to us and we decided to leave 15 minutes earlier before the show end and rest for the night.
26th May 2015 (Tuesday) Marseilles, France
My wife had Mushroom Cheese Omelette and Banana Pancake while I had Fry Egg and French Toast for breakfast at American Icon Restaurant at Deck 3 Aft at 0700 hrs, The ship arrive at Marseilles, France at 0900 hrs and we assemble at Amber Theatre at Deck 4 Forward for our Shore Excursion to Panoramic Marseilles and Aix (S$233 each) at 0900 hrs. Marseilles is the second biggest city in France and it is the fourth biggest port in Europe. We visit the Markets at Provence in the Morning, had Lunch there and visit the Chapel at Notre Dame for Panoramic View of the whole city.
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| Fruit and Vegetable Market |
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| Flower Market |
We had Goat Cheese, Roast Chicken Drumstick, Rosie Wine and Apricot Pie for Lunch at 1200 hrs, the Goat Cheese had a very strong taste which make it hard to swallow but the Roast Chicken Drumstick and the Apricot Pie make up for the meal on the whole. I brought 12 Stainless Steel Fork shape as Sardine Bone €26 (S$39) and Propeller Key Chain €6.50 (S$10), I had a Mocha Flappuccino at Starbucks €6 (S$9).
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| Goat Cheese |
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| Roast Chicken Drumstick with Mash Potato |
The tour take about 8 hours and we are back on board the ship at 1715 hrs. The ship depart Marseilles, France at 1800 hrs and head for La Spezia, Italy. My wife had Seafood Soup, Bake Fish and Orange Cake while I had Potato Cream Soup, Sirloin Steak and Apple Tart for Dinner at American Icon Restaurant at Deck 3 Aft at 1830 hrs. We went to Casino Royale at Deck 4 Centre for Slot Machine and manage to win US$26.50 (S$36). We went for Stand Up Comedy Show at Comedy Live at Deck 4 Forward at 2115 hrs, and again the show prove to be boring and we had to leave 15 minutes early and proceed to the Casino Royale for the Lucky Draw. We lost US$170 (S$230) while waiting for the Lucky Draw at 2230 hrs and again we did not manage to win the S$67,000 Grand Suite prize.
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| Baked Fish |
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| Sirloin Steak |
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| Orange Cake |
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| Apple Tart |
27th May 2015 (Wednesday) La Spezia, Italy
We have Oat Meal, Scramble Egg and Bacon for breakfast at American Icon Restaurant at Deck 3 Aft at 0700 hrs. The ship arrive at La Spezia, Italy at 0830 hrs and we assemble at Amber Theatre at Deck 4 Forward for our Shore Excursion to Florence and Pisa (S$274 each) at 0850 hrs. We leave the ship at 0905 hrs and I brought an Ice Cream €2.20 (S$3.30) at the Gas Station when we stop for Toilet Break. There were a lot of walking around in Florence visiting the Cathedral and we had Salad, Pasta, Red Wine and Blue Berry Yogurt for Lunch at 1200 hrs. We proceed to Pisa to see the famous Leaning Tower in the afternoon at 1500 hrs and I brought another Ice Cream €4 (S$6) at Pisa.
Cathedral in Florence
Leaning Tower of Pisa
We return to the ship at 1900 hrs. The ship depart La Spezia, Italy at 2030 hrs and head for Civitavecchia, Italy. My wife had Garlic Cream Soup, Tiger Prawn and Tiramisu while I had Vegetable Soup, Pork Shoulder Chocolate Cake, Lemon Cake and Strawberry Yogurt for Dinner at American Icon Restaurant at Deck 3 Aft at 2000 hrs. The serving of dinner was very slow for the night and we only manage to finish the dinner at 2130 hrs, my wife was very disappointed when she knew that we had miss the How to Train your Dragon Ice Skating Performance at 2100 hrs at Studio B at Deck 4 Forward.
Tiger Prawn
Pork Shoulder
Tiramisu
Chocolate Cake, Lemon Cake and Strawberry Yogurt
28th May 2015 (Thursday) Civitavecchia, Italy
We have Mushroom Cheese Omelette for breakfast at American Icon Restaurant at Deck 3 Aft at 0630 hrs. The ship arrive at Civitavecchia, Italy at 0700 hrs and we assemble at On Air at Promenade at Deck 5 Centre for our Shore Excursion to Exclusive Best of Rome (S$480 each) at 0720 hrs. We tour the Vatican in the morning, we were able to go through the express lane and avoid the queue due to our tour operator had already made the reservation as early as three months ago.
Vatican is the smallest country in the world and when you visit Vatican and Rome you are actually visiting two countries for the price of one. It was like Da Vinci Code when we walk around decipher the hidden symbols in the Vatican City. I brought a Book €9.50 (S$14) and Six Key Chain €10 (S$15) at the Souvenir Shop, we proceed to a five stars hotel for our Lunch at 1200 hrs where we had Pasta, White Wine, Red Wine, Champagne, and Pistachio Ice Cream. My wife had Salmon for her Main Course while I had Chicken, we proceed to visit the Colosseum in the afternoon.
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| St Peter Square at Vatican City |
The Colosseum is one of the Seven Wonders of the World like the Pyramid of Egypt and Great Wall of China. I had visit the Great Wall of China twice during my trip to Beijing in Jan 2002 and Nov 2012, with the visit of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Colosseum, I had visited three of the Seven Wonders of the World and the next one should be Pyramid of Egypt (Remaining Three Wonders of the World: Stone Hedge, Machu Picchu, Chichen Itza).
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| Colosseum at Rome |
We are back on board the ship at 1805 hrs. The ship depart Civitavecchia, Italy at 2000 hrs and head for Naples, Italy. My wife had Clam Chowder Soup Cheese Fig and Dates while I had Lamp Soup and Mango Yogurt for Dinner at American Icon Restaurant at Deck 3 Aft at 1900 hrs. We both had Veal of Lamb for our main course as we both feel that it is very appealing. We went for the Headliner Showtime at Amber Theatre at Deck 4 Forward at 2045 hrs, the performance of 60s Music by Skoot is amazing and the crowd start dancing twist to the music toward the end of the show.
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| Veal of Lamb |
29th May 2015 (Friday) Naples, Italy
We had buffet style Breakfast at Windjammer Marketplace at Deck 16 Aft at 0630 hrs. The ship arrive at Naples, Italy at 0700 hrs and we assemble at Amber Theatre at Deck 4 Forward for our Shore Excursion to Capri, Sorrento and Pompeii (S$315 each) at 0715 hrs.
We took the Hydrofoil Boat from Naples to Capri and took the Cable Car to the top of the hill for the Panoramic View of the Island. We visit the Garden on the top of the hill and brought an Orange Juice €6 (S$9), the use of toilet also cost €0.50 each (S$0.75) as Capri is an expensive place as compare to Sorrento which we are going to visit later on another Hydrofoil Boat.
Close Encounter with Sea Gull at Capri Hill Top Garden
We had Pasta, Chicken, Champagne, Red Wine, Lemon Cake for lunch at Sorrento at 1200 hrs. The tour guide bring us to a Speciality Shop which sell Wood Painting before we head to our next destination Pompeii by bus in the afternoon. Pompeii is destroy by Mount Vesuvius Volcano in AD 79, we learn the history through the ruin remaining after the archaeologist excavate the site.
Married Couple on Horse Carriage at Sorrento
Corpse cover in Volcanic Ash at Pompeii
We are back on board the ship at 1730 hrs. The ship depart Naples, Italy at 2000 hrs and head for Barcelona, Spain. My wife had Caesar Salad, Thai Chicken Breast and Coconut Cake while I had Cream Mushroom, Prime Rib and White Chocolate Moose for Dinner at American Icon Restaurant at Deck 3 Aft at 1900 hrs. We went for the Blue Planet Show at Amber Theatre at Deck 4 Forward at 2045 hrs, it was another amazing display of Acrobat by the performers and it is a show worth watching too.
Thai Chicken Breast
Prime Rib
Coconut Cake
White Chocolate Moose
30th May 2015 (Saturday) At Sea
We had buffet style Breakfast at Windjammer Marketplace at Deck 16 Aft at 0700 hrs, we saw a group of Dolphins playing at the Starboard side of the ship when we are having Breakfast. I had book for the All Access Tour US$150 each (S$204) the day before at the Guest Service Counter at Royal Promenade at Deck 5 Centre three days ago, we had our buffet lunch at Windjammer Marketplace at Deck 16 Aft at 1100 hrs and assemble at Silk Restaurant at Deck 5 Aft at 1140 hrs for our tour. We start our guided tour around all the restricted area on board the ship from 1150 hrs to 1430 hrs, we were treated to Strawberry Chocolate and Vanilla Ice Cream at the Galley and Champagne, Fruit Punch and Orange Juice at the Crew Bar.
Shrimp Cocktail at the Galley
Strawberry Chocolate at the Galley
The chef in the galley were differentiate by Red, Blue and Yellow Scarf, the Red is for New Chef, the Blue is for Chef who had complete two contracts which over a year period and Yellow is for Senior Supervisor. We proceed to visit the Provision Store, Engine Control Room, Laundry Room, Back Stage, Crew Mess and Crew Bar, Navigation Bridge after that. The Engine Room and Engine Control Room is separated into two different compartment to fulfil the Dynamic Position 3 requirements.
Provision Store for Fruits and Vegetables
Engine Control Room
450 Kg Washing Machine at Laundry Room
Back Stage Prop for Blue Planet Show
Dynamic Positioning Control Console at Port Navigation Bridge
We saw a group of Killer Whale playing at the Starboard side of the ship from our Balcony when we woke up from our afternoon nap at 1700 hrs. My wife had Onion Soup, Seafood Platter and Lime Pie while I had Shrimp Cocktail, Beef Steak and Apple Pie for Dinner at American Icon Restaurant at Deck 3 Aft at 1800 hrs. We went for the Ice Game Show at Studio B at Deck 4 Forward at 2015 hrs.
Seafood Platter
Beef Steak
Lime Pie
Apple Pie
31st May 2015 (Sunday) Barcelona, Spain
The ship arrive at Barcelona, Spain at 0500 hrs. My wife had Pancake while I had Smoked Salmon for Breakfast at American Icon Restaurant at Deck 3 Aft at 0700 hrs. We get off the ship at 0900 hrs and took a Taxi €39 (S$58) to the Airport. We had Muffin, Egg Tart, Potato Chip, Fruit Juice and Cappuccino at the Airport for Lunch before we fly back to Singapore by Singapore Airline Flight SQ 377 at 1300 hrs with two hours transit in Milan Italy. We arrive back in Singapore Changi Airport at 1030 hrs on 1st Jun 2015 (Monday) Vesak Day.
