LIVE: 14-Day Asian Holiday Cruise on Holland America's Volendam

[Mtn2Sea]

Myanmar does sound fascinating. Thanks for the report.

[chrispb]

Day 7 & 8, Myanmar

 

Myanmar is a fascinating place. Visit soon if you can, before it becomes overrun with tourists.

 

It's already overrun - hotels were gazumping badly when I went. Not sure if that's still going on, I believe new laws were being made to stop that nonsense.

 

So glad you enjoyed your visit:)

[travelinjones]

I am enjoying your Live From and looking forward to our Volendam in May. I am curious did they replace just the Showers in the Ocean View cabins on deck 2? We will be on Navigation Deck in a Vista Suite and would love to have the walk in shower. The tubs in the R and S Class ships are just so high and when your 4'11" they are actually hard to get into :eek:

 

 

All of the outside, ocean view and lanai cabins have the new double-size showers replacing the tub showers, we were told. All suites have new shower tub combinations.

[erewhon]

All of the outside, ocean view and lanai cabins have the new double-size showers replacing the tub showers, we were told. All suites have new shower tub combinations.

 

Thanks for this information.

[suekay]

I'm so glad I stumbled across this thread as we almost booked this cruise but were put off by the thought of getting a visa for Port Blair which we had no interest in visiting (we finished up booking Rhapsody Singapore-Dubai sailing in May). You've certainly wetted my appetite for Volendam and your itinerary. Thank you:)

[sailorbill34]

Hi...thanks for all the information and updates ...very interesting.

 

We join the Volendam shortly after you leave and have just been allocated our cabin number. By the looks of it, it is next door to what is marked as the laundry on Main Deck (deck 2) but you said earlier this had now been removed....do you have any idea what has replaced the laundry....just in case I need to get on to HAL to see about a possible cabin change.

 

Many thanks

 

Rick

[travelinjones]

Hi...thanks for all the information and updates ...very interesting.

 

 

 

We join the Volendam shortly after you leave and have just been allocated our cabin number. By the looks of it, it is next door to what is marked as the laundry on Main Deck (deck 2) but you said earlier this had now been removed....do you have any idea what has replaced the laundry....just in case I need to get on to HAL to see about a possible cabin change.

 

 

 

Many thanks

 

 

 

Rick

 

 

It is unmarked but the steward said it is a crew stateroom - we are across the hall in 2618 and our friends are in 2616 and we haven't heard any noise.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

All of the outside, ocean view and lanai cabins have the new double-size showers replacing the tub showers, we were told. All suites have new shower tub combinations.

 

Thank you for the update, I am sure this will be great news for those wanting the shower only. I have run across many travelers that they do not need a H/C cabin nor do they want to take one away from someone that needs it but they just are not able to get into a bathtub especially those in the R and S Class that the tubs were to high. The Vista Class is definitely much lower for a tub so hopefully the tub height is like that on the Vista and Signature Class.

Thanks again for finding out this information :)

[Krazy Kruizers]

Just catching up on this "Live" thread.

 

Absolutely wonderful.

 

Interesting about the removal of 2 laundry rooms.

 

I guess with so many people now getting free laundry HAL figures people will take advantage of that perk instead of doing laundry themselves.

[sailorbill34]

The Jones.... now that's what I call good service....thanks very much for the prompt and reassuring reply...

 

Rick

[travelinjones]

We're off the ship

and at the airport -- the cruise doesn't end until Tomorrow (Monday) morning but we are catching a flight departing just after midnight to start the journey home. We have more notes to share on the fabulous time we had in Langkawi, Malaysia (a nice surprise), and the overnight that we spent in Kuala Lumpur (from Port Klang), NewYears Eve on the ship, hawker stand dining in Singapore, and a day trip to Batam, Indonesia from Singapore.

 

It was a great cruise!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile apps

Edited January 4, 2015 by travelinjones

[Mtn2Sea]

Wishing you safe travels home!

[dockman]

Day 7 & 8, Myanmar

On Day 2 in Myanmar we intended to hire a taxi to explore on our own, but we were tired and sore from 6+ hours of bumpy bus riding the day before. We decided to sleep in, and then enjoy the relatively quiet ship on Sunday.

This is an intensive cruise itinerary, so you do need to pace yourself.

 

One note for shore excursions – the police escorts are not available on Sundays, but the Scott Market is open (it is closed on Mondays.)

 

The ship had local Myanmar dancers and musicians onboard for the entertainment show; we did not attend, but thought it was a nice touch for those who didn’t get to see the local dances elsewhere.

 

For those of you who enjoy Happy Hour on your cruises – today was only the 2nd happy hour offered during the entire cruise. (The other was on the first day.)

 

Our friends James and Rick returned to the ship late from their overnight shore excursion to Bagan, saying it was the best trip of their lives. After their flight arrived by to Yangon, they took the night tour of the Shwedagon Pagoda. (I will get them to share more details later on this thread.)

 

For Day 3 in Myanmar, we were originally scheduled to leave at 7 pm, but due to issues with the tides, water depths and currents /local pilots, our all aboard was changed to 4:30 pm.

 

At the last minute, we decided to join the “Transfer to Yangon” shore excursion – they hang wrote us a ticket just before they were about to board the bus. With the early departure of the ship, we didn’t want to worry about getting back to the terminal in time with a taxi.

 

A nice surprise, our transfer guide was our same favorite guide from the Introduction tour on day 1 – Mo-Mo.

 

Once in Yangon, we were dropped at the center of the city by the city hall. We explored the local streets as we walked from there to the famous Strand Hotel, built in 1901. We arrived about 10:15 am and the hotel was quiet. It has some art galleries and a souvenir shop on the first floor. We headed to The Strand Bar, which opens at 10 am but was still very quiet. It’s an elegant bar from another era. We ordered the local beer – it’s called Myanmar beer, and also ordered some appetizers. The bar will give you a Wi-Fi code if you buy a drink, and it was the fastest internet we had experienced in days. By 11:30, the bar was packed and overflowing with tourists. Go early!

 

Next we took a taxi to check out the Shangri-La hotel – very different from the historic Strand. The Shangri-La was formerly a Traders and was recently upgraded to a Shangri-La 5-star hotel after a major renovation. It’s all beautiful gleaming marble. If we were visiting again, we’d book an overnight stay at the Shangri-La.

 

As we walked back to our meeting place (the streets are crowded for walking, but its faster than a taxi can work through the traffic) we stopped in various little shops. The local people in Yangon are very friendly and welcoming to tourists, and are often a little curious about you – especially when you are 2 meters tall like Mr. Jones.

 

We were glad we made this trip again on our last day and got in a little exploration on Yangon on our own.

 

Back at the ship, just as we were about to depart, there was a medical emergency and we needed to wait for the ambulance to make its way to the ship. After it arrived, the captain departed the dock, but then waited at anchor mid-river, until the tide rose enough for our safe sailing.

 

Myanmar is a fascinating place. Visit soon if you can, before it becomes overrun with tourists.

 

 

So it seems that the volendam doesn't offer any kind of comp transfer into the city? Do you have any idea as to cost of a taxi from the port into the city and back? Do you remember what the cost of a transfer to the city from Holland shore excursions costs? thanks

[Krazy Kruizers]

Have a safe travel home.

[Vict0riann]

So it seems that the volendam doesn't offer any kind of comp transfer into the city? Do you have any idea as to cost of a taxi from the port into the city and back? Do you remember what the cost of a transfer to the city from Holland shore excursions costs? thanks

 

We took taxis in to Yangon from the port gate at Thilawa (last February on the Volendam). You had to haggle with the taxi drivers, but we got a price of $60 for 4 in a cab - $15 each. They are rattle-trap old taxis, no airconditioning. The port bus to the gate was free, as you are not allowed to walk in the port. We stayed overnight at Traders Hotel, then had a tour the next day with Tour Mandalay, and they were able to take us directly to the ship upon our return, so I don't know what the cost of a taxi would be back to the ship. I think the port bus stopped running sometime in the evening?

Edited January 8, 2015 by Vict0riann

[OldBoot]

It has been nearly a year since your trip but I am only just reading your report. Thank you for sharing. I'm curious, do you have anything further to add--with the perspective of time elapsed since?

 

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[ROCruiser]

Thanks for reviving this thread, OldBoot. Good to read up and get info to prepare ourselves for our cruise next February. :)