5 reasons to go on a holiday cruise
MANILA, Philippines — Looking for a unique way to celebrate Christmas or New Year?
Going on a cruise could be a good option due to the following.
1. Unique experiences
The cruise ship has its own ice-skating rink where Olympic medalists perform. Philstar.com/EC Toledo IV
Able to carry over 4,200 guests, Royal Caribbean recently showed its plethora of offerings during a trip to Malaysia and Thailand from Singapore on board the 15-deck Voyager of the Seas. Offering comfort and luxury on the high seas, these amenities include the Royal Promenade, a boulevard of duty-free boutiques, ice-skating rink and a full-sized sports court with the FlowRider surf simulator, and rock-climbing wall.
FlowRider surf simulator. Philstar.com/EC Toledo IV
Royal Promenade. Philstar.com/EC Toledo IV
2. Visa-free country-hopping
Petronas Towers in Malaysia. Philstar.com/EC Toledo IV
The first stop of the journey was colorful Malaysia, where guests marveled at its rich culture and bustling streets, which offered a wealth of shopping opportunities. Here, they discovered Royal Selangor Visitor Center, and watched skilled craftsmen make beautiful, intricate items out of pewter.
The tour also included a visit to a local batik factory, featuring a vast array of beautiful Malaysian batik with distinctive leave and flower prints. Also in the itinerary was a visit to Beryl’s Chocolate Museum, which offered the guests a taste of the finest Malaysian chocolates.
To cap the tour, they stopped at Creative Fair, Malaysia’s largest one-stop local product shop with a dizzying array of goods, where the guests splurged on beverages, including Malaysian local specialties.
Wat Chalong temple. Philstar.com/EC Toledo IV
After Malaysia, guests marveled at Phuket’s spectacular beaches and natural splendor, as they went on a guided tour of the world-famous Wat Chalong temple and its exquisite pagodas. They basked in the warm sunshine atop Promthep Cape, Phuket’s southernmost hill, where they enjoyed panoramic coastal views of the Nai Harn Beach and nearby islands.
An impressive shell and fossil collection featuring over 2,000 species greeted guests at the Phuket Seashell Museum. Wrapping up the tour was souvenir shopping.
Related video: World's 'most perfect pearl' at the Phuket Seashell Museum
3. 24/7 food
The cruise ship boasts of its mostly-Filipino pastry chefs. Philstar.com/EC Toledo IV
Related video: Tour of a cruise ship's kitchen that feeds 5,000 daily
Related video: Cruise ship waiters perform for guests
The five-day, four-night journey included many dining options aboard the Voyager of the Seas, including Café Promenade, which is open for 24 hours; the elegant Main Dining Room, and Windjammer Cafe buffet restaurant, which serves an array of international cuisine with a selection of Asian dishes. There are also specialty restaurants such as Chops Grille Steakhouse, Giovanni’s Table Italian restaurant, Izumi for Asian cuisine and Johnny Rockets.
Pad Thai vendor in Thailand. Philstar.com/EC Toledo IV
4. Hotel-like comforts
Cruise ship deck. Philstar.com/EC Toledo IV
Guests can relax in style at the ship’s hotel-like staterooms, which range from suites with Jacuzzi to staterooms with real-time views of the ocean and destinations.
5. Chance to meet new friends
Ship captain Pehr Pehrsson. Philstar.com/EC Toledo IV
Voyager of the Seas captain Pehr Pehrsson shared what he loves the most about his job. Phersson received his master mariner license in 1994. He then became an officer on watch for the company in 1999.
In an interview with Philstar.com, Pehrsson shared how much he loves ships.
Related video: Interview with cruise ship captain
"The ships are the destination, we go to many places, but it's really the ships that are the main destination," he enthused. — Videos by EC Toledo IV
Editor's note: The tour to Malaysia and Thailand was hosted by Royal Caribbean to promote tourism in the area. At no stage does the host organization have a say on the stories generated from the coverage, interviews conducted, publication date and story treatment. Content is produced solely by Philstar.com following editorial guidelines.
