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Crispb - I figured on that.

Strangely enough, we are doing another cruise later in 2015 out of Singapore on a P&O ship, which goes via Semerang, Lombok, Bali (Benoa), Dilli in East Timor, then across to Papua New Guinea islands, then lastly it docks in Brisbane (closest city to where I live), so that should be interesting to.

We thought it Bali looked interesting, we might fly back sometime & stay (not in Kuta) but at Nusa Dua, the resorts look better, perhaps have 10 days there.

Danny8826 - thanks for the advice. After I read you reply I researched Princess cruise website regarding shore excursions, and there it was 2 hrs to get into Ho Chi Minh City, wow 4 hrs out of the day, going into the city then back out of the city.

Oh well we are only doing this south east asian cruise "once", then after that its going to be somewhere else on this planet.

Philwil - thank you for your information & advice.

Strangely enough, last night I researched Princess cruise website, looked up shore excursion section, then clicked on details of the excursion, and it showed a lot more re each excursion.

For example - in Ho Chi Minh City, the size of the ship depends on where it will be berthed, and this is what I found out......

(a) small ships get to Saigon Ports, the city central, eg. Seaborn, Silversea, Nautica Oceana get right to Nha Rong Port, just 5 minutes walk to city central.

(b) Larger ships get to the Ports in District 07 & Nha Be, like 7 Sea Mariner, Ocean Princess...it takes 15 to 30 minutes to the city centre.

© Large Ships, like Diamond Princess, Amzara, American Holland - dock at Phu My Port, about 100 kms away from Saigon, that takes 2 hrs to drive to the city.

I guess being on Sapphire Princess, which I think is considered a "large" ship, that we fall into catergory ©

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I am always trying to ascertain where the cruise ships berth or moor

At Ko Samui, I have an idea it might be at Nathon (no doubt tenders are used), then they bus you around to Chaweng Beach (where I would like to have a swim/coffee/shop, etc.....not sure how long that would take in a bus or car.

In February 2015, my wife & I will be flying to Singapore, then boarding Sapphire Princess on a 11 day cruise around Sth East Asia.

I did a web search on Princess shore excursions, and found a couple for Ho Chi Minh City on Princess Cruise website, and are as follows -

* Best of Ho Chi Minh City - guided tour of city's historic landmarks, visit to the National History Museum, and the Thien Hau Temple in Chinatown. Yes, and obligatory stop of a lacquerware factory.

Then lunch is included at ? on this tour.

My question - has anyone done this tour, if so, did you like it, were the places mentioned worth seeing, and what was the lunch like ? (I like vietnamese food - we have Vietnamese Restaurants where I live)

Last question, how long does it take to travel from where the ship berths to get into the city itself?

Would love to hear from you guys, you have so much good information to share.

We will visiting Ko Samui on the Sapphire Princess in Feb 2015, and we have decided to do "Chaweng Beach on your Own" excursion - as my wife & I are both "beach persons" (love to swim). I like the idea of swimming, coffee at a nearby cafe, a "little" bit of beach shopping (if you know what I mean)

We have visited Thailand before on a couple of occasions.

Some years ago, probably 10years ago, my wife & I were returning from the UK visiting our son & his family, who used to live in London. We always tried to have a stop over somewhere to break the journey, and one trip we stayed 3 nights at Pattaya.

I still remember us walking some of the streets (restaurants, nightclubs, etc) close to our resort, and the other cruise critic posters are "correct" with young Thai girls (or they may have been males (you Bangkok chic boys) in nearby bars, asking me if I wanted a girl for the night. I couldn't tell their sex, but my wife certainly gave the big glaring look to the them, but they didn't care.

I say, give Pattaya a big wide berth, no much there.

Sorry, I just read your posting - I see the dates are different. However, does your cruise visit the same ports? - if so I would love to communicate with you before/after your cruise.

TxnAquarian - My wife & I are booked to do a 10 night cruise on Sapphire Princess, starting & finishing at Singapore. The departs Singapore 13th February 2015, and visits Penang, KL, then back to Singapore, then to Ko Samui, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, then disembarking at Singapore on the 23rd February, 2015.

My cruise sounds similar to yours, are they the same?

Would be interested to read your comments

No fuss traveller - thank you for your information. I have downloaded your info for out next trip to Singapore. I love this cruise chat board, you get so much help from other cool cruisers. Keep it up guys.

My apologies for any missing words in my last posting. I am touch typist, and sometimes the fingers move quicker my brain/eyes;)

No fuss travel -

Singapore Flyer is one attraction that we haven't been on yet, and I didn't know there were food stalls under the flyer, or near it.

DW & I have discussed doing the flyer on our next trip to Singapore, which maybe in July/Aug this year (to look after our grandson, whilst his parents are out of the country on business)

In Feb 2015 we are returning again, for a cruise on Sapphire Princess out of Singapore visiting Penang, KL, Singapore, Ko Samui, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City, then back to Singapore. Never sailed on the Sapphire Princess.

We liked the look of this cruise as it gives us time in Singapore before & after with our son & family, and also visit some ports were never been to, eg. Penang, KL, Ko Samui & Ho Chi Minh City.

Then on the 5th June the same year, we fly back to Singapore for 3 nights stay, then board P&O ship "Pacific Jewel" - sailing via Semerang, Bali, Komodo Island, East Timor, then 2 islands in Papua New Guinea, arriving back into Brisbane 21st June, again another cruise which gives us time to visit our son & his family, then visit places we haven't been to yet, and arrive back in Brisbane, with only 4 hrs drive home.

Be interested to hear from anyone who has done one of these above mentioned cruises & what they thought of the ports visiited. We have visited Bangkok many years ago, but none of the other places.

Thank you Jason, how nice of you to say that. I like to think that there are numerous people on this planet, who appreciate helping others whenever they can.

I like to think if I got a buzz out of enjoying something, then perhaps someone else might get a buzz also.

My wife & I always when leaving a jet airliner, say to the staff, "Thank you for looking after us on this flight" - its amazing the smiles you get from saying this to a staff member, who has had to put up with numerous passengers, with likes & dislikes throughout the flight.

I just had a most enjoyable evening - my son, his wife & their two children called over to our place tonight, wore DW & myself out, but we loved it.

The wonderful thing about tripping around the world, is that "each" person will will either enjoy the same attraction, or enjoy something different from other people's choice. That's what makes this planet & travelling so enjoyable.

I have travelled Sth East Asia quite extensively, but I know I haven't seen everything yet. Perhaps I only need to see the "best" or the "most interesting" or perhaps my interests are different, therefore, what I like could be completely different to what other people want to see & visit.

My postings are only designed to give other travellers, both first time & seasoned travellers, "ideas" of something they may not have visited before.

Well, must be off, have a good day or night, wherever you are.

I first visited Singapore about 30 years ago, so different from today. Chinatown felt like Chinatown, and so on.

DW & I haven't been on the Singapore Flyer, however, we will get to do it ( at sunset, of course, when the city lights up, I guess that's the only time)

Just found out we are both required to look after our grandson in Singapore this coming July/August (his school holidays - he goes to the Canadian International School in Singapore)

Because we have covered so much of Singapore, we intend to visit the following places next July/August school period - fly up to Tioman Island (short flight from Singapore) & stay for 5 days. Apparently it has excellent beaches & clear water for diving.

Two trips ago to Singapore, DW & I took a break from Singapore & boated over to the Indonesian Island of Bintan for 5 nights stay, most pleasant. Very nice sitting outside in the twilight enjoying a cocktail/beer looking over the water to the nearby Indonesian kampongs (fisherman's huts built on stilts) The sand on Bintan was very white, and the colour of sea was aqua blue. There is another Indonesian island nearby, called Batam, but it has a naughty reputation, if you know what I mean.

Well, must be off, DW & I are walking down to the beach soon for a swim or might take our stand up paddle boards (on the car) - very calm at the moment, hardly a breeze, so it should be nice for a paddle.

Enjoy your day, wherever you are.

I forgot to mention - in Singapore City (not far from Clarke Quay & the Indochine Restaurant (very nice dining) there is a little bridge across the river, look around to see a little chinese guy with trolley selling icecreams.

They are only $1 SGD each. He has various flavours, and the icecream is placed between two wafers. This has to be cheapest icecream in Singapore,

with city views all around you. Each time I visit Singapore, I try to look up this ice cream vendor.

My wife & I were staying at our son's apartment, very nice gardens, big resort type pool, a driveway where taxi's often used to drop off residents or pick up passengers. The apartments are situated on Bukit Timah Road (with Bukit Timah Nature Reserve not far away for a mornings walk or MacRitchie Reservoir, another nice walk. About 15 minutes walk up the road is the multi storey shopping centre, with supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, wine shops, etc. (very handy for us to walk for our morning latte coffee & do a bit of food shopping). We were fortunate, in that our son, employs a Phillipino house maid/cook, so were spoilt in that we didn't have to cook.

At the nearby shopping centre, are ATM's such as UOB which accepted my ANZ Debit & Visa cards, which allowed me to withdraw SGD's for each days outing, then it was a matter of getting complex courtesy bus ($2 SGD per person) down to Holland Village shops/MRT station, then onto the MRT line, to travel all over Singapore (well most of it) just by following each numbered or colour coded line. We were able change lines etc to visit places like Harbourfront (Sentosa), Singapore Zoo & Bird Park, City (downtown), in fact, you can even get the MRT out to Singapore International Airport.

If your cruise ship berths at Harbourfront, then you are very close to

Sentosa Island, which is a bit "glitzy" if you know what I mean, a bit artificial.

However my choices for a short stop at Singapore on a cruise ship would be

the following -

Gardens by the Bay, Skywalk, stroll through Marina Bay Sands Hotel (has various levels of shops, restaurants, etc, even a watercourse down below for gondola rides)

If those places listed above are not your choice, then consider these places

* Clarke Quay (nice stroll) , Peranakin Museum, Fort Canning Park & Battle Box, Singapore Flyer, Government House, some of the swanky hotels.

* A lot of tourists think they have to go into Raffles Hotel for a Singapore Sling drink, if you do want to do this, go into the courtyard area of the hotel, for the drink. Another very nice place is the Raffles Cafe, for coffe & cake.

* The Fullerton Hotel is my choice for a special occasion.

Hope the above information is of help, take care, and have a good cruise/holiday.

The 2 Domes are approximately $18 SGD per person, and it doesn't take that long to do the walks. If you love plants, flowers etc, you will be in 7th heaven. I would allow 1-2 hours for each.

I believe the cruise ships berth at Harbourfront, near the walkway to Sentosa Island, well that's where I saw a cruise ship berthed when I was there recently.

Remember, there are plenty of taxi's at most attractions to take you back to your cruise ship, which is not far away.

If you walk into Cloud Forest, to view the tropical rhodendrons - I would point out something of interesting, the vast majority of these plants, came from a nursery in Woolgoolga, NSW, Australia (near Coffs Harbour) where a friend of mine grew & supplied them to the Singapore Government.

I would allow 1-2 hrs for each dome, and 1/2 hr for the Skywalk, which goes between the domes.

Fantastic view (day or night) from the Skywalk looking back onto Marina Bay Sands Hotel, which looms above the gardens in the distance.

Jason12 - depending how much time you will have in Singapore, I can give more advice on other issues, sights, transport (MRT/buses or taxi's), places of

interest, eating out, where to get a nice coffee, or where to buy good wine, or wine/beer at a reasonable price.

Attractions - places I thought were good value or interesting (depending on your interests). Singapore is a bit glitzy, if you know what I mean, but believe me there are some great places to visit, and also unusual, that a lot of tourists don't get to see or do.

Jason12 - something I didn't mention was you can buy an Ezi-Link card for $12 SGD, and it only $7 SGD on the card. After buying the card look around on a wall near where you bought the card and you will see a machine that looks like an ATM, but say "Top Up". Make sure you have SGD dollars on hand, then just follow the "easy" instructions, it will tell when to put the card in, then ask how much you wish top us, etc, etc,

Also get an MRT map (small enough to go in your shirt pocket), walk over to the platform you will travel on to your destination, place the Ezi-Link card against the reader, it will recognise which station you got on, it will open its gate allowing you to pass through, then when arrive at your selected station, you pass through the exit gates, and reader beeps & lets you know how much the journey cost, usually only a few Singapore dollars.

There are plenty of lit up MRT journey maps inside each train. This is one of the safest, convenient, air-conditioned trains in the world.

Well back from visiting my son/wife & grandson in Singapore. Here is a 'small' of things we did -

1. Walked through Bukit Timah Nature Reserve "again" (don't feed the moneys)

2. Did stand up paddle boarding at Silosa Beach on Sentosa.

3. Took our grandson to Singapore Zoo (as one does) - if you visit this great zoo make sure you see the giant Arapiama (not sure of spelling) fish being fed.

(I won't say anymore, it just worth seeing)

4. Visited Gardens by the Bay (again - it really is outstanding) and also the "Skywalk" is a must (remember to take a hat)

5. Peranakan Museum - if you have time, this is a really interesting museum.

6. Marina Bay Sands Hotel Concourse (loads of restaurants, swanky shops, even a water course down below with gondola rides)

7. Singapore Zoo & Bird Park - both worth visiting.

8. Do your own thing - walk around Parliament House, Stamford Raffles Landing site/statue, Fullerton Hotel (very nice), Singapore Cricket Club (all very close to Singapore River) # look out for a local chinese guy near a bridge who sells ice cream (various flavours) for $1

9. If you have time - visit Fort Canning Park - see the site where they are digging up ancient artefacts etc. You can also visit Battle Box in this park

The actual site where the Australian/British generals were directing the battle, just before the fall of Singapore in WW2.

Depending on how long you are in Singapore, it pays to buy an Ezi-Link Card from a MRT Station, then top it up (again at an MRT Station). We used ours all time, all over the Singapore Island, from the zoo, bird park, etc etc, - usually only costing a few dollars each trip. We bring our MRT card home (the balance on the card stays on - and when visit again we use up balance & top up the amount again. A great cheap transport card, on one of the safest, cleanest, cheapest rail systems in the world)

Singapore has a come a long way since the days of the Singapore Sling, its now one of the most modern/cleanest/safe transport- cities in the world

I didn't mean to cause a stir. I agree with a lot of your replies. Dear wife & I haven't been on a P&O ship - 2015 (but we have booked one coming out of Singapore, via Indonesian islands, Timor, then PNG, before returning to Brisbane. I suspect the Pacific Jewel is getting a refit? in Singapore, not sure.

We have cruised on the Pride of America around the Hawaiian Islands (just loved it), then a Sun Princess cruises to the Sth Pacific Islands (very nice), and our last cruise was on the Celebrity Millenium, out of Hawaii, sailing via the Tahitian Islands (Papeete, Bora Bora & Moorea), then to Fiji & Noumea, then back to Sydney (just loved the cruise & destinations, and met some wonderful people & crew)

I didn't see any people of the Celebrity with tatoo's, and most were drinking foreign beers & cocktails not Australian beers. However, having said that, we did come across a few rude people on the Millenium, who treated the ship staff, as if they were their own servants. I found by treating the staff with respect, they treated you with respect & quite often my favourite barman would top up my beer glass a little bit higher than others.

As they say, "You get back what you give".

I agree totally with Carribean Bound - the short walk from where the cruise ship berths (we were on Pride of America back then) will bring to a lovely rectangular shaped beach, with a Marriot Hotel, and of course a Dukes Restaurant for a meal or drinks, I think I had a lava rock beer ( a nice red colour), and dear wife had a cocktail. We swam at this beach. There is a grassed area with coconut palms just before the sand beach, and it has softest green grass I have ever come across.

There are shops for clothing etc, nearby.

I will never forget this little gem of a beach, so relaxing, and such nice swim.

After your cruise ship departs the port there, you will take in the Na Pali cliffs.

Go up to one of the higher decks, with a nice wine etc, and enjoy the beautiful coastline.

I hope for your sake, the civil unrest & killing of citizens in Bangkok has finished when your cruise arrives.

I believe some cruises are just not going to Bangkok at the moment.

Tikiintahit - I forgot to say - "Maruuruu" for all your excellent advice.

P.S. South East Asia (Vietnam, China, Ko Samui, Penang, etc) for our next cruise in 2015. We are looking forward to that cruise, as it starts & finishes in Singapore, where our eldest son & family - live & work, so it allows us to stay with them & catch up on old times with a little bit of cruising in between.