Live: Dec 22 2023 Solstice 12 Night Thailand & Vietnam Holiday Cruise!

[Georgia_Peaches]

Thank you for posting. Following with great interest. Safe travels!

[mchell810]

Glad you are adjusting to the time change. 

[villauk]

The night safari was very good at Singapore Zoo. Unsure if they still offer it?

[mahdnc]

19 minutes ago, villauk said:

The night safari was very good at Singapore Zoo. Unsure if they still offer it?

 

The Night Safari is alive and well.  $560 SGD for a group of up to 7. 

[mahdnc]

On 12/17/2023 at 10:18 AM, desibee said:

If you aren't too wiped from the flight, the Jewel at Singapore Airport is well worth the visit.

 

We decided to take @desibee's advice to see the Jewel.  When she heard about it, my wife wanted to see it (being indoors was a plus). Apparently it is located on the land side of Changi Airport (SIN) so you don't have to go through security to see it.  And apparently, the Jewel anchors a huge land side shopping mall with restaurants and retails stores.  So that is where we went this morning.

 

There are a series of slide walk tunnels that you have to take to get into the large futuristic building that houses the Jewel, restaurant, and stores.

 

 

The Jewel waterfall is 40 meters tall making it the tallest indoor waterfall n the world.  There are some 6-7 different floors in the shopping center from which the waterfall can be viewed. There were several floors from which to watch the water free fall through the air from the oculus in the sky

 

 

 

The horizontal platform behind the waterfall in the photo below is a track for the SkyTrain that connects Terminal 2 with Terminal 3.  It is the only way to see the Jewel from the air (secure) side of the airport.

 

 

The lower floors allowed you to watch the water flow through a huge clear funnel.

 

 

There is a Jewel light show several times every evening.

 

The shopping mall offers baggage storage at a very cheap price (price was good for 3 hours) to further encourage business from airport travelers.

 

 

Edited December 20, 2023 by mahdnc

[mahdnc]

The impressive architecture of the airport was not confined to the Jewel.  Here is a photo of one interior of the airport.

 

[mahdnc]

Knowing that the cab/Grab fare was going to be about $25 each way and because we had time, we decided to take the MRT for the first time.  It turned out to be pretty easy for us beginners and we never got lost.  You could use your phone (ApplePay) to get thru the subway gates which made the process of buying a ticket unnecessary.  All the signage and public address system announcements were done in English.  The subway cars were clean and on time.  If you enjoy people watching, then the subway is a great place.

 

[mahdnc]

On the way to the MRT station, I took some photos of the nearby hotels.

 

First off, here is a photo of the JW Marriott:

 

 

The historic Raffles Hotel is right across the street from us:

 

 

Also historic, the Capitol Kempinski Hotel was a little further away.

 

[Dr. Pam]

Thank you for your ongoing review.  We will be onboard the Solstice out of Hong Kong to Singapore in February.  We are also staying at the JW Marriott hotels during our stay.  I am very interested in your experiences and advice that we can take forward onto our cruise!

 

Happy and Safe travels,

 

:)Pam

[mahdnc]

Tonight we went back out to the waterfront by the Fullerton Hotel.  The area is very pretty and quite popular and it doesn't cost a thing.  It was quite humid and even though the sun was not present, it didn't take much for me to feel pretty tired!

 

The Marina Bay Sands standing behind the Shoppes At Marina Bay Sands (the three red roofs).  The Apple Store is the dome at the extreme right of this photo:

 

Singapore's famous Merlion which is a fish with a lion's head:

 

The Central Business District:

 

The Esplanade (Theatres By The Bay).  The tall building in the left of the photo is the JW Marriott:

Edited December 20, 2023 by mahdnc

[Norwaylady]

So ready for your asian adventure! 

 

Looks like your off to a great start🥰

Will enjoy this as my Christmas entertainment❤️ 

Bon Voyage⚓

[mahdnc]

This morning was the first morning (out of 4 so far) that was sunny with blue skies.  A view from our room:

 

 

There are two cruise ships at the pier this morning although they are barely visible (too small).  The pier is located near the horizon in between the Marina Bay Sands (3 tower building on the left) and the cluster of skyscrapers in the center of the photo.

[mahdnc]

Mein Schiff 5 (TUI Cruises) is the ship on the right while Vasco da Gama (Nicko Cruises) is the cruise ship on the left.  Tomorrow, Solstice will be there!

 

The black sphere in the foreground is the Apple Store at the Shoppes at Marina Bay.

 

 

Edited December 21, 2023 by mahdnc

[dlh015]

Absolutely breathtaking!!

 

We were supposed to overnight there on Cunard...but the pandemic interfered...<sigh>

[mahdnc]

17 minutes ago, dlh015 said:

Absolutely breathtaking!!

 

We were supposed to overnight there on Cunard...but the pandemic interfered...<sigh>

That’s a shame, Singapore is a perfect overnight port especially if there is no embarkation or disembarkation involved.

[mahdnc]

Yesterday’s trip to the airport and back on the MRT only cost us $4.46 SGD according to ApplePay.  A taxi or Grab would have been $40-50 SGD round trip. 
 

 

Since this was our first time using the MRT, it’s not clear to me how quickly MRT charges show up. This charge showed up at 6:21 am today. 

Edited December 21, 2023 by mahdnc

[mahdnc]

My wife wants to see the Botanical Gardens today. So that’s where we are going!  This is our last full day in Singapore. 

 

We are using the MRT again because it’s cheap and easy. 
 

Edited December 21, 2023 by mahdnc

[mahdnc]

7 hours ago, Norwaylady said:

So ready for your asian adventure! 

 

Looks like your off to a great start🥰

Will enjoy this as my Christmas entertainment❤️ 

Bon Voyage⚓

I enjoyed your latest Live thread as I have your previous ones. 

[mahdnc]

The MRT drops you off at one of the entrances to the Botanical Gardens.  Our plans were to walk through the gardens and take the MRT from a different station not too far away.

 

It should be named the Hotanical Gardens because it was so sweltering hot outside.  It hit me that the much of the trip will be like this.  Fortunately there was natural areas of shade throughout the gardens. 

 

 

There is no admission to the Botanical Gardens however there is an admission fee if you wish to see the orchids.

 

 

 

 

 

Posing for photos appears to be more prevalent than what I am used to seeing in the USA.

 

 

 

 

Edited December 21, 2023 by mahdnc

[mahdnc]

Ironically the critters in the park seemed to generate the most interest from the visitors there.

 

 

 

[mahdnc]

There is a nice outdoor amphitheater with a lily pond (with critters).

 

 

 

[mahdnc]

We went to see the orchids which cost extra but was worth it.  The admission is $15 per adult but it is reduced to $3 for seniors over 60, $3 for students, and free for kids up to 12 years old.

 

 

 

 

Many of the orchids were growing indoors inside a large "Cool House".  Cool House is a highly engineered building that is very energy efficient in keeping the interior nice and cool.  It was the highlight of the tour.

 

 

 

[mahdnc]

The JW Marriott has a nice infinity pool on the 18th floor with a impressive views of the city.  It is open from 6:30 am to 9:00 pm.  Towels are supplied at the pool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[hcat]

incredible photos. .esp the gardens and flowers!  and city views

Edited December 21, 2023 by hcat

[villauk]

8 hours ago, mahdnc said:

We are using the MRT again because it’s cheap and easy. 

 

We found that too 👍.