Cruising News Magazine Cruising News February 2019 | Page 22

Christmas at Sea in Southeast Asia
Celebrate the festive season in style
on an exotic cruise through Malaysia,
Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and
Cambodia, roundtrip from Singapore.
This 23-night ‘Christmas at Sea in
Southeast Asia’ fly, cruise & stay
package also includes airfares,
accommodation, a city tour and bonus
onboard credit to spend on Sapphire
Princess.
The flight departs Australia on 5
December 2019, arriving in Singapore
for two nights in a 4-star hotel including
breakfast. Have a day at leisure to
discover this fascinating island city-
state, blending high-rises, Chinese shop-
houses, Victorian buildings, Buddhist
temples, Arab bazaars and duty-free
shopping.
In the evening, embark on a bumboat
along the Singapore River to view
the sparkling night scene while dining
on local cuisine. See centuries-old
godowns, Clarke Quay, Boat Quay, the
ultra-modern Marina Bay Sands, and
then drop into the historic Long Bar at
Raffles Hotel.
The next day, board the Princess Cruises
ship for a three-week sailing adventure.
First port of call is Port Klang, where
passengers can take a day trip to Kuala
Lumpur or Klang Town. Attractions
include Crab Island, Raja Mahadi Fort
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and the Tugu Keris Kris Monument.
The second stop is Penang, near
George Town, a cosmopolitan
Malaysian city that is perhaps the
best-preserved city in Southeast Asia.
It boasts a European-style esplanade
and a wealth of temples, mosques
and Chinese clan houses. Listed as a
UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site
in 2008, this virgin paradise has no
shortage of cultural sights and natural
scenery.
Christmas Eve is spent in Phuket, blessed
with beautiful beaches, bargain
shopping and coral islands to snorkel
and dive. Then spend Christmas Day
and the next two days at sea until the
Sapphire Princess docks in Benoa, Bali.
At this out-of-town port, you can take
a shore excursion to a sacred temple
in the forest, watch Balinese dancers or
admire the roadside plantations and
steep hillsides of terraced rice paddies.
In Nha Trang, this Vietnamese seaside
resort boasts white-sand beaches
and colonial-era waterfront hotels
and cafes. North of the city, the great
Cham Tower complex attracts visitors to
meditate while contemplating views of
the Cai River.
The next port of Phu My is the gateway
to Ho Chi Minh City, home to the tunnel
network at Cu Chi, used by the Viet
Cong during the war. Take a walk along
the Saigon River, see the Reunification
Palace and War Remnants Museum,
or brave a cyclo ride through the busy
streets to the Botanical Gardens.
Another major stop is Laem Chabang,
gateway to Bangkok. This enchanting
city on the Chao Phraya River is a
magical place to explore golden
temples with priceless Buddhas or
enjoy a canal cruise. In Ko Samui,
be charmed by the powdery white
beaches, Buddhist temples or wats.
Priced from $4,639 per person twin
share, based on an inside cabin, the
‘Christmas at Sea in Southeast Asia’
package includes return economy
airfare ex Perth to Singapore; two
nights’ four-star accommodation in
Singapore including breakfast; river
cruise with dinner and Raffles Hotel visit;
the 21-night Southeast Asia Solar Eclipse
cruise aboard Sapphire Princess; and
bonus US$85 onboard credit per twin
cabin. Upgrade to an outside cabin
(obstructed view) for an additional $350
per person. Twin share prices from other
Australian cities start from $4,959pp
ex Melbourne, $4,999pp ex Adelaide,
$5,029pp ex Brisbane and $5,069pp ex
Sydney.
For further details visit www.
worldwidecruisecentres.com.au.