Seabourn Sojourn 17-31 Jan, 2016 Singapore - HK

This itinerary was on our 'bucket list', which we're trying to achieve since a health scare prompted us to start being more adventurous.

My wife Rosy and I are both 60+ and have worked and saved hard all our lives. I'll try to provide a balanced view on this fantastic experience.

We decided to pay for Emirates business class, a rare thing as we usually travel on BA using FF points, obtained not through flying but shopping at Tesco (a UK supermarket - food and fuel).

One of the benefits of flying Emirates business class, is the provision of a Mercedes E Class for each leg of the journey, with a 70 mile limit. HK is excluded from this arrangement. We live 120 miles from LHR so had to pay a supplement, but I negotiated a 50% discount, as we only required 1 car and were entitled to one each!

Our car arrived on time on January 14 and we were soon at LHR and in the EK lounge. We enjoyed Champagne and snacks and great comfort. We even met our financial advisor, who unbeknown to us was on the same flight, though he was travelling on to Sydney, via Dubai, what a small world.

The flight was very comfortable and business class offer tremendous space and facilities. There are even onboard cameras, so it's possible to view various angles to the outside including from the flight deck.

Rosy enjoying her Veuve Cliquot Champagne (it's a shame Seabourn don't serve similar!)

Arrival at Dubai

Our Emirates deal also offered a free transfer from Changi Airport, Singapore, to our hotel, the Sofitel So, which was directly opposite the food market, close to Chinatown, the river and most tourist spots.

We received a room upgrade, due to my status with Accor Hotels and so we had a large room with various freebies such as chocolates, free in room snacks, free use of gym and swimming pool.

The ever present RED HOHO bus

Singapore sightseeing

Singapore at night

Daytime sightseeing

Statue Rosy

Chinatown, Singapore

Followed by a long and tiring hike along the southern ridges, a series of often spectacular nature discovery walks, along elevated walkways through rainforest.

Back to Chinatown for Chinese New Year Celebrations

Back to the harbour area

On Sunday morning we woke early to do some final sightseeing and for the 07.00 service at the Anglican Church

Thanks Tim,

Lovely interesting photographs. Look forward to more.

Kind regards,

Tony

After breakfast we pottered around before taking a cab to the port, not very far away, which cost about 10 Dollars, but the driver dropped us at the shopping centre and not the baggage drop off place This was very confusing an a bit of a shambles, with only small Seabourn signs indicating where we should go. Once there we were told to take our bags to the drop off point, then return to immigration.

We joined other cruise ship pax, not just Seabourn, all in the same tedious line. Then we walked to the gangway, not being offered the usual Champagne, but orange juice. We were unimpressed, like many others.

Here is Rosy enjoying some fizz on our balcony

also in our favourite sun spot, the bow of deck 6

My favourite hot tub

Essential supplies in our fridge (sorry about the sandals)

My elegant wife at first formal night

Our first shore excursion - Bangkok

We berthed at Laem Chabang, about 2.15 to 2.30 hours from the city and due to worry about not getting back to the ship on time, we took the ship's shuttle, which used a shopping mall as its drop off / pick-up point.

I had pre-arranged a private tour with Bangkok Tours and we were met on arrival by our fantastic guide, Ms Air, in her resplendent uniform. We were treated to a wonderful day in Bangkok. We used 3 x Tuk Tuks, boats and skytrain and in all transportation but the train we were the only passengers, so it really was a private tour.

Grand Palace

So many tourists but were lead through them all with such efficiency and no lines.

TukTuk to flower market

Then tu tuk to wonderful, authentic riverside restaurant for a Thai lunch. We were treated to a banquet and couldn't possibly manage all the food. I think I tried a Thai beer.

Next we took a Long boat up and down the canals

Our lovely guide

A picture taken for a friend

The next day was another highlight of the cruise, a beach day at Seabourn's private beach, where we enjoyed an array of watersports, cocktails, Champagne, Caviar, a BBQ and massage for those who wanted it, bu it was quite expensive, which didn't affect us as we accidentally left our money on the ship! The weather was superb and we'd have happily stayed for longer.

The entertainer

The free bar

We had an enjoyable lunch with a gentleman apparently well known in USA, who was designing a new cocktail menu to complement the new menus.

Please upload more. Really enjoying this. Thanks for taking the time.

Just as I was editing the duplicated image on the previous page, the phone rang and I missed the 20 minute deadline, so here's the 'actual' bar!

Next Stop Sihanoukville, Cambodia, which generally was a disappointment, not helped by the poor driving by our boat captain, on tour. We had booked a ship tour and we were a bit concerned about our safety and visa requirements, so we decided to let Seabourn take the strain. We visited Ream National Park, by coach, boat and on foot.

The start of the boat section was enjoyable in calm waters. Our group took about 6 of these boats, but ours left last and arrived first due tour captain going to fast in choppy water, the result of which the gentleman behind me and me up front got thoroughly soaked, which ruined my day as I never dried out.

Fantastic pictures - keep them coming 😃

Bees nest

We were greeted by some sweet local children, who sang to us. Rosy took some sweets and handed them out, which went down really well!

Next port was Ho Chi Min City, or Saigon. We had booked a private tour to the Mekong Delta, through Buffalo Tours and once again had a wonderful experience. We originally booked a tour at 10am on arrival day, but as the ship arrived late due to local tides, we changed our tour to the following day at 7am.

The first day we spent touring on our own, after taking the ship shuttle to another shopping mall. We walked for miles in sultry conditions, through the local market, where it was difficult to make ourselves understood, or perhaps they pretended not to understand. Their loss as we didn't buy anything, rectified the next day on our tour.

We did find the Cat Moc Spa, an oasis of tranquility amid all the hustle and bustle, where scooters come from all directions, not just on the roads but the footpaths too.

At the spa we were given a refreshing drink, then given treatment menus. WE opted for Thai massage, but after explaining via diagram what areas we needed treating, we were advised to have Swedish massage. They showed us to a changing room, with shower, then handed us robes and underwear, before giving us 15 minutes in the sauna. We then had our wonderful massages, side by side (so no funny business or happy endings!). They crawled on our bags and I was entranced. Massage was followed by another cool drink and relaxation, prior to us taking a shorter walk back to the ship. The total bill including tip was 800 VND or about 35 USD.

We slept well that night and awoke in good time for a quick breakfast before our Mekong tour.

We were met by our driver + guide in a modern 4-wheel drive car.

The traffic was very challenging, so thank goodness we didn't have to drive!

We visited a local market, which was challenging for me, as all the walkways were designed for Vietnamese people, who are much shorter than I!

We cycled from the market to the river, via local countryside and 'paddy' fields.

A rice field in new growth

Next we took a private boat trip on a large boat, then another on much narrower water, to a rural farm, where we enjoyed a wonderful lunch and bought some locally produced clothing and embroidered pictures.

Our guide

Smaller boats

Lunch

Elephant fish

It was a quite wonderful day and the people were very friendly, but had a good eye for a business opportunity!

Back at the ship

Sadly upon leaving Saigon, the sun stayed there and the temperature dropped, the wind blew and the seas were rough. We didn't see the sun for the next 6 days! It was quite a shock as we had expected much warmer, drier weather for a least the next few days.

Next up Da Nang, Vietnam - a private tour with Tony Ann tours a bit commercial

This was a wonderful photo diary! We have visited some of those places. Thank you so much. A beautiful formal frock your lovely wife was wearing, but I am not so sure about the elephant fish!!!

More please. :)

I'm really enjoying your diary and photos. It is an itinerary we hope to do in the future.

Thanks for sharing

Bev