241 286
CRUISING
241
June15
T
hey say you can divide the
world into people who love
cruising, and people who
hate it. It’s also been said that
the latter are simply those who chose
the wrong ship for their particular
needs the first time they tried it. And
everyone’s needs are different, of
course, depending on factors such as
age, budget, tastes and so on.
With so many options to choose from
(see Heidi Sarna’s overview in our May
2015 issue)
, why did Roy and I
choose this ship and this route?
Firstly, to take advantage
of Singapore being a cruising
hub: with the new Marina Bay
Cruise Centre just a short taxi-
ride from home, sailing round-
trip is not only convenient but
also saves the time, hassle
and expense of air transfers.
Secondly, I get miserably
travel-sick, and the stability of
bigger ships – this one takes
2,700 passengers – helps
me to keep all that delicious
food down. Thirdly, at around
S$800 per person sharing a
In our last issue, we looked at the pros and cons of the various cruise
routes out of Singapore. Here, VERNE MAREE gives her verdict on
one of the more popular ones, the four-night round trip to Penang,
Langkawi and Port Klang on the super
Sapphire Princess
.
ON THE SAPPHIRE PRINCESS
balcony stateroom – that’s about $200
a day, all in – the
Sapphire Princess
is
more affordable than some others that
ply these waters.
It’s not just about the price, however:
this is a truly gorgeous ship. Though the
Princess line is in the “deluxe” rather
than the “luxury” category, its beautifully
designed
Sapphire
is in mint condition,
with expansive decks, lovely public
spaces and excellent facilities, including
numerous pools, both indoor and out.
Sail Away