Ovation kind of LIVE, Best of Taiwan (8 Nov 2017 - 14 Nov 2017)

[Citymom92]

I did not try the ifly so I can't say anything.

it's what the price list say but i guess if you were the only one that play the Ifly in the time slot (one on one teaching?) you could fly longer...

 

the above is based on our 7.95 bumper car experience ( it seems no one want to pay for bumping around(only 4 people in the game) and we thought that we play longer that 3-4 mins)

 

sorry that I speak/write horrible English, please let me know if you are not sure about the words i use/write.

 

I think your English is quite good! Thank you for a review in a language not your own. I would not be brave enough to try!

 

Regarding the nickel and diming you are absolutely right-so it seems it is noticed by more than just US cruisers. Looking forward to this review!

[kobecat]

I did not try the ifly so I can't say anything.

it's what the price list say but i guess if you were the only one that play the Ifly in the time slot (one on one teaching?) you could fly longer...

 

the above is based on our 7.95 bumper car experience ( it seems no one want to pay for bumping around(only 4 people in the game) and we thought that we play longer that 3-4 mins)

 

sorry that I speak/write horrible English, please let me know if you are not sure about the words i use/write.

 

 

 

I understand perfectly, thank you so much.

 

 

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[little britain]

Great review. So no My time dining when in Asia.....and what is with the Da Dong Wonderland name change? Can you get a photo of the menu please? Does Da Dong mean something to make it more appealing to Asian guest!?

 

 

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[opmet]

I see from the MarineTraffic you are out on eastern Taiwan now. Aren't you suppose to be in Japan. Do tell us what is happening.

 

 

We are now heading to Taichung and the weather is really bad ( rainstorm , lot of white caps)

The ship was sailing toward Japan and South Korea from Hong Kong in November last year,

I guess you have the 2016 itinerary...?

 

Speaking of last year, here is a playlist of some random time lapse...

[urlhttp://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLal1IlP3qNOg_q4UiAnc77K0QAlurn0gF][/url]

 

 

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[opmet]

I think your English is quite good! Thank you for a review in a language not your own. I would not be brave enough to try!

 

 

 

Regarding the nickel and diming you are absolutely right-so it seems it is noticed by more than just US cruisers. Looking forward to this review!

 

 

 

Thank you for all the kind words, I feel like I have to make contribution to this community after taking so much tips and trick from here.

I will try my best to write this review.( I try to write a review in a local forum but ends up with over five hundred dislike.....and sometime I can conclude the day with ten words, I hope the pictures can make it up)

 

 

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[datolim]

I just want to alert you on the terrific terrific sales promotion from the Next Cruise sales office on the Ovation. You get US$200 OBC and 20% discount on your TA price which in my case was already 20% less than the RCL website price. So I ended up net paying US$430 for a 3N cruise balcony.

The $200 instant OBC I cash it out in the casino paying a 5% or $10 charge for this. I only found out about this on the last night about 2 hours before their closing time. Don't have a chance to spend this on board and had I known about this earlier I would have book multiple cruises.

[opmet]

Great review. So no My time dining when in Asia.....and what is with the Da Dong Wonderland name change? Can you get a photo of the menu please? Does Da Dong mean something to make it more appealing to Asian guest!?

 

 

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No my time dining this time( lot of people in queue during 17:00 and 20:00)

 

No idea what Da Dong means...I guess it is a catering group in China( from google)

I will try to get a photo of the menu tomorrow:)

[OceansOfTravels]

I am enjoying your review. We usually don't get too much coverage of the Asian cruises so I am glad to finally get a live review of Ovation from Hong Kong. Thank you for taking the time to write this!

[Biker19]

They are charging for things on the cruises out of China that are complimentary everywhere else.

Fixed.

[opmet]

Day 3, Keelung, Taiwan

 

A beautiful day in Keelung

 

we had breakfast in the buffet. With no plan on what to do/see, we decided to take the shuttle ($10) to the city.

 

Thanks to our travel agent/(Taiwan?) we got some maps and easy card( it is tag on/off card that can be used for transportation/food....) O

 

With that card in hand, It saved some time for us ( we are not familiar with the ticket machine)to take the train from Keelung to Taipei.

random shot while walking to the train station

 

The ride from Keelung to Taipei took 45-60mins.

We walked around with no destination/purpose, after an hour we stumbled upon a dumpling noodle place for lunch

 

 

( The strong movement/wobbling is making me very sleepy, I will continue Day 3 later )

 

random pic of the day

 

 

 

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[opmet]

here is the introduction/menu of Da dong Wonderland as requested

[opmet]

I just want to alert you on the terrific terrific sales promotion from the Next Cruise sales office on the Ovation. You get US$200 OBC and 20% discount on your TA price which in my case was already 20% less than the RCL website price. So I ended up net paying US$430 for a 3N cruise balcony.

 

The $200 instant OBC I cash it out in the casino paying a 5% or $10 charge for this. I only found out about this on the last night about 2 hours before their closing time. Don't have a chance to spend this on board and had I known about this earlier I would have book multiple cruises.

 

 

I am not sure about cruising with RCL again.... I had a bad encounter with something(What happened onboard, stay onboard so I don't want to talk about that. hits: staff from activity department(outdoor activity)I guess this situation only applies to Asian specifically.

 

I can feel all of the crew members onboard are doing their best to make all guest happy, except one or two....:( I can understand that not everything is perfect....

 

Thanks for reminding me, enjoy you cruise:)

[opmet]

Continuing Day 3

 

We walked around with nothing in our head....

At 15:00, time to take the train back to Keelung. (The train was 13mins behind schedule, It seems to be a common thing)

random shots around the train station of Keelung

 

At 16:00 we met an old friend: Superstar Aquarius (ex.Norwegian Wind)

She is part of a reason of why I am addicted to cruising although she is a floating casino...

 

night market near Keelung

[little britain]

Wow a very different menu in Wonderland! I think I'll pass!

Enjoy the rest of the cruise and thanks for the great photographs.

[opmet]

Picture below was the place to take the shuttle back to pier W16

16:49

17:03

It is walkable from the pier W16 to Keelung train station and it should take 30-45mins.

 

we had dinner in the buffet, it was uneventful...

 

I will upload the cruise compass of day 3 later

 

 

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[Bookish Angel]

No need to worry, your English is good and blessedly concise.:)

 

Thanks for your thoughts!

[datolim]

I am not sure about cruising with RCL again.... I had a bad encounter with something(What happened onboard, stay onboard so I don't want to talk about that. hits: staff from activity department(outdoor activity)I guess this situation only applies to Asian specifically.

 

I can feel all of the crew members onboard are doing their best to make all guest happy, except one or two....:( I can understand that not everything is perfect....

 

Thanks for reminding me, enjoy you cruise:)

Wow it must be a really bad experience to write RCL off on future cruises. Do enjoy the rest of your cruise. Mention of Asians only on a mostly Asian cruise is difficult to comprehend. I have some bad encounter with some non Asian staff myself but maybe it was not so bad or I just have a thick skin.

[opmet]

Cruise compass of day 3

details of the shuttle bus from Keelung to Down town

 

 

 

 

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[opmet]

No need to worry, your English is good and blessedly concise.:)

 

 

 

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

 

 

I am glad you said that .... lol

 

 

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[opmet]

Wow it must be a really bad experience to write RCL off on future cruises. Do enjoy the rest of your cruise. Mention of Asians only on a mostly Asian cruise is difficult to comprehend. I have some bad encounter with some non Asian staff myself but maybe it was not so bad or I just have a thick skin.

 

 

Yes, it is a non Asian staff vs Asian guess problem.... and I think he/she was from a place where a lot of local hate Chinese...

 

 

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[opmet]

Yes, it is a non Asian staff vs Asian guess problem.... and I think he/she was from a place where a lot of local hate Chinese...

 

 

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a quick update about what happened:

I was doing the rock climbing thing last night.

I was told by one of the staff that the first time is free and the second time is $8, third time is $16. ( They put on a serious face when talking to me)

I said ok, I want to do it again for the second time with $8 charge

 

But there should't be any charge for the rock climbing no mater how many times of play....

 

so I ask a lady in the reception, she made a phone call to confirm that no charge will be apply for the rock climbing( unlimited time of play)

 

Later, I realized that they didn't give me a receipt or ask me for the seapass card to do the transaction thing....

 

conspiracy theories are building up through the night .....( I am very emotional and hate people lied to me)

 

until just some 20 mins ago, I met the lady that assist me with the rock climbing last night. She said it was just a joke......

 

A joke that they talk about all the time( charging everything).....perhaps I am taking it too seriously....

 

I am happy to figure everything out and everything is now back to normal....:)

[opmet]

Day 4 Hualien, Taiwan

 

Hualien is located in the west coast of Taiwan...

The weather forecast for today is not looking good so we arranged a private tour beforehand.

 

We had breakfast in the solarium bistro.

At 8:48, we were off the ship.

 

locating our driver was much easier thanks to voom, I was able to contact my driver through whatsapp the night before arriving in Hualien.

 

first stop : Chihsingtan Beach

where the mountains meet the sea

[BillOh]

Thank you for following along:)

 

 

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I haven't been to Taiwan in 30 years, so I am looking forward to your review. As a Native English speaker who never bothered to learn a 2nd language, I commend you for your skills. I'll have no trouble following along.

[opmet]

I am too sleepy to continue day 4 last night.

back in limbo:(

 

I will continue day 4 tonight......

 

 

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[opmet]

Continuing Day 4

after stoping by Chishingtan, we went to Taroko national park and hiked for about two hours....

here are some random shots during our two hour journey:

"Taroko Gorge and its surrounding area are well known for their abundant supply of marble, leading to its nickname, "The Marble Gorge" (from wikipedia)

we had to walk with our umbrella because of the rain...

 

I am very sleepy again.......

 

 

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