Sapphire Princess: Somewhat Live in Southeast Asia

[ibfern]

Well our time on the Sapphire is coming to an end, so sad! We are off to Siem Reap for .angkor Wat tomorrow will stay four nights and five days.

 

Went to the most traveled lunch, sat with the cute Doctor who cured my assessed tooth! Very nice guy. We were right ne t to the Captains table, moving on up in the world! Lol!

 

Yesterday did a horrible ship tour in Phuket, what a waste. We visited James Bond island, and pee pee island, it was impossible to follow the guide who's English was bad. Pity we missed seeing the lovely beaches and got taken to a gross factory for shopping. My pat, a travel agent, said she got a 20% kickback there, grrrr this is why Princess takes us to these places. I'll send feedback when iget home, as a stockholder I wish they would put a little more into these expensive tours.

 

I will be very selective with ship tours from now on, wish I had not missedPhuket.

 

If anybody has questions, ask away. We will have Internet at the Sofitel in Siem Reap.

Take care,

Amelia

[bcnvcanada]

Thanks for your almost live> You will love Siem Reap.

We just got back from a week there in early December.

The temples are outstanding. Be sure to see Ankor Wat in

the sunrise and sunset as it is something else. Ride in Tuk tuc

they are a hoot. Visit the night market great bargins and everything

is so cheap. And be sure you take

it easy in the middle of the day. Soooo hot. The people of

Cambodia are so kind and do their best to make your vist

wonderful. Thanks again.

[VirVic]

Hi Amelia,

 

I have enjoyed your trip report aboard the Sapphire. It will help immensely in my similar Asia cruise in Feb., 2016 aboard the Sapphire. Thank you so much for taking the time sharing tips especially re: the excursions with both the ship and private excursions. Enjoy the rest of your trip!

[CRUZGAL53]

Well our time on the Sapphire is coming to an end, so sad! We are off to Siem Reap for .angkor Wat tomorrow will stay four nights and five days.

 

Went to the most traveled lunch, sat with the cute Doctor who cured my assessed tooth! Very nice guy. We were right ne t to the Captains table, moving on up in the world! Lol!

 

Yesterday did a horrible ship tour in Phuket, what a waste. We visited James Bond island, and pee pee island, it was impossible to follow the guide who's English was bad. Pity we missed seeing the lovely beaches and got taken to a gross factory for shopping. My pat, a travel agent, said she got a 20% kickback there, grrrr this is why Princess takes us to these places. I'll send feedback when iget home, as a stockholder I wish they would put a little more into these expensive tours.

 

I will be very selective with ship tours from now on, wish I had not missedPhuket.

 

If anybody has questions, ask away. We will have Internet at the Sofitel in Siem Reap.

Take care,

Amelia

 

Have fun in Seim Reap!! :)

[KYteach]

Loved your live reports! We visited Siem Reap in November--and loved it! Along with the temples, be sure to visiting a floating village as it was so interesting. We loved riding on the tuk tuks. Have fun!

[jefa]

Have loved following your live from, as, as I said, I am doing this cruise in Feb. Please carry on posting about your Siem Reap trip, as I am doing that before the cruise, and would love to know how your trip goes

[p0240]

Thank you so much for posting your thoughts, we are doing a Sapphire cruise and have taken your advice re ship vs private tours, while you know about the whole group tour issues, it is so easy to 'just do a ship tour' so your feedback has been so valuable, and have now booked private tours, just needed the inspiration, which you gave!

 

Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip with no migraines, colds or toothache, and arrive home safe, ready to plan the next adventure.

Pat:):)

[westendgirl]

Don't stop now Amelia - we all want to hear about your adventures at Siem Reap!

[LaraTiara]

Thank you again Amelia, for sharing with CC your Sapphire adventures in SE Asia. May you have a pleasant rest of your journey on land and by air!

 

We have greatly appreciated your travel blog, especially with our upcoming cruise! ⚓️

[kjets]

It was great to share this wonderful experience with you and so good to read your review as it took me back onto the Sapphire! Look forward to cruising with you in the future Amelia! Lots a love Steve and Trace xx

[asia cruiser]

 

 

I just return from sapphire princess, sharing above link

[Love2cruise77]

I was on the second segment (12/29-1/8) and I agree that some of Princess tours are not worth the money.

 

Here are the tours we joined:

 

Bali - Elephant Safari & Ubud Shopping

Kuala Lumpur - Best of Kuala Lumpur

Penang - Best of Penang

Phuket - Phang-Nga, James Bond Island Cruise & Panyi Island

 

The one that I disliked the most was the one in Phuket. It should be avoided at all cost. You don't get to visit the island and the lunch provided was a SUBWAY sandwich :confused:. We didn't travel half way around the world to eat Subway sandwich in the bus. A cheaper island drive tour (also full day) would provide a Thai lunch, while the more expensive tour would provide a Subway sandwich snack. The price shown on the website is not the final price that is charged for this tour either. :eek:

[ibfern]

I was on the second segment (12/29-1/8) and I agree that some of Princess tours are not worth the money.

 

Here are the tours we joined:

 

Bali - Elephant Safari & Ubud Shopping

Kuala Lumpur - Best of Kuala Lumpur

Penang - Best of Penang

Phuket - Phang-Nga, James Bond Island Cruise & Panyi Island

 

The one that I disliked the most was the one in Phuket. It should be avoided at all cost. You don't get to visit the island and the lunch provided was a SUBWAY sandwich :confused:. We didn't travel half way around the world to eat Subway sandwich in the bus. A cheaper island drive tour (also full day) would provide a Thai lunch, while the more expensive tour would provide a Subway sandwich snack. The price shown on the website is not the final price that is charged for this tour either. :eek:

 

I totally agree about Phuket, we did the same tour and hated it, we really were bummed out that we didn't get any kind of feel for the island, and the tragedy they endured 10 years ago during the Tsunami because we could not understand a word he said. Nothing, it all sounded like a cartoon. So sad, so expensive. BTW the Subway sandwiches sat in the hot bus for a long while before we got back and we were hungry but they were to warm and soggy for all but the heartiest of souls. This was the worst tour I had ever been on in my life.

[ibfern]

After many planes and delays involving 2 full days of flights, several airports, and 6 hours in the Singapore Crown Plaza attached to Changi Airport (awesome place, very convienent) we finally made it home.

 

Loved Siem Reap, Loved Cambodia, Loved the food, loved the people, loved the hotel (Sofitel), and loved the tour guide and company we used and all the places we visited and 4 days was NOT enough! This place was amazing, goose bump amazing!

 

Shall I write about this here? I need a day to ruminate and do laundry, shop for food, bla bla bla all the crap that needs to be done, but of course I'll probably start writing about it asap because I have so much to share with you all.

 

We used Silk Air, they were incredible and I was surprised how inexpensive and top notch they were. Loved the new planes, the kind Stews, the food was decent and they gave me lots of extra fruit and love! OK there was some delays, but with decent shopping and food at the airport in Siem Reap the time went fast. I discovered Ginger and Black Sesame seed Ice cream, not to be missed! There is a daily run from Singapore to Vietnam (forgot where, tired) to Siem Reap and back to Singapore daily and this is the flights we used, I think they cost about $220 total, and that is in Singapore $.

 

OK more tomorrow...

[TracieABD]

"I totally agree about Phuket, we did the same tour and hated it, we really were bummed out that we didn't get any kind of feel for the island, and the tragedy they endured 10 years ago during the Tsunami because we could not understand a word he said. Nothing, it all sounded like a cartoon. So sad, so expensive. BTW the Subway sandwiches sat in the hot bus for a long while before we got back and we were hungry but they were to warm and soggy for all but the heartiest of souls. This was the worst tour I had ever been on in my life."

 

 

Yuck. Just what you need... food poisoning on the other side of the world (like food poisoning is a good idea anywhere :rolleyes:). I hope others heed your words before they book some of these ship's tours. "

 

Just wanted to update you.... We did not board the Sapphire on the 13th. We got the mack-daddy of all move-over offers and we took it.

 

I guess we will have to save this for another day.

 

Thank you for your live from. It was most entertaining!:)

Edited January 15, 2015 by TracieABD

[ibfern]

PS here is a link to my Facebook, I uploaded pictures of the places we visited, not so much the ship and glad to see somebody else covered that. If interested, here is a link to my facebook and check out the photos if you are so inclined:

 

https://www.facebook.com/ahessoniam

[Woobstr112G]

After many planes and delays involving 2 full days of flights, several airports, and 6 hours in the Singapore Crown Plaza attached to Changi Airport (awesome place, very convienent) we finally made it home.

 

Loved Siem Reap, Loved Cambodia, Loved the food, loved the people, loved the hotel (Sofitel), and loved the tour guide and company we used and all the places we visited and 4 days was NOT enough! This place was amazing, goose bump amazing!

 

Shall I write about this here? I need a day to ruminate and do laundry, shop for food, bla bla bla all the crap that needs to be done, but of course I'll probably start writing about it asap because I have so much to share with you all.

 

We used Silk Air, they were incredible and I was surprised how inexpensive and top notch they were. Loved the new planes, the kind Stews, the food was decent and they gave me lots of extra fruit and love! OK there was some delays, but with decent shopping and food at the airport in Siem Reap the time went fast. I discovered Ginger and Black Sesame seed Ice cream, not to be missed! There is a daily run from Singapore to Vietnam (forgot where, tired) to Siem Reap and back to Singapore daily and this is the flights we used, I think they cost about $220 total, and that is in Singapore $.

 

OK more tomorrow...

 

Glad you made it home safely.....:):):)

 

Bob

[ibfern]

Yuck. Just what you need... food poisoning on the other side of the world (like food poisoning is a good idea anywhere :rolleyes:). I hope others heed your words before they book some of these ship's tours.

 

Just wanted to update you.... We did not board the Sapphire on the 13th. We got the mack-daddy of all move-over offers and we took it.

 

I guess we will have to save this for another day.

 

Thank you for your live from. It was most entertaining!:)

 

Ohh how yummy love those offers! Glad you got a good one, Asia is not going anywhere. enjoy...

[MauiLvrs]

After many planes and delays involving 2 full days of flights, several airports, and 6 hours in the Singapore Crown Plaza...

Wow. After reading your stories ... this was going on our to go list. But, if they can't get T's hip fixed, there is no way she'd be able to manage that kind of travel.

 

A one-way out of LA would cut the flight time way down and we'd get to do the S. Pacific. ... Hum that could be interesting. expensive, but fun and we've never been to the S. Pacific.

 

You airport has a new restaurant and low price fuel ... ;) we'd love to see you photos....

 

Happy you had a great trip and are home safe...

We sail in 83 :D

[icat2000]

After many planes and delays involving 2 full days of flights, several airports, and 6 hours in the Singapore Crown Plaza attached to Changi Airport (awesome place, very convienent) we finally made it home.

 

Loved Siem Reap, Loved Cambodia, Loved the food, loved the people, loved the hotel (Sofitel), and loved the tour guide and company we used and all the places we visited and 4 days was NOT enough! This place was amazing, goose bump amazing!

 

Shall I write about this here? I need a day to ruminate and do laundry, shop for food, bla bla bla all the crap that needs to be done, but of course I'll probably start writing about it asap because I have so much to share with you all.

 

We used Silk Air, they were incredible and I was surprised how inexpensive and top notch they were. Loved the new planes, the kind Stews, the food was decent and they gave me lots of extra fruit and love! OK there was some delays, but with decent shopping and food at the airport in Siem Reap the time went fast. I discovered Ginger and Black Sesame seed Ice cream, not to be missed! There is a daily run from Singapore to Vietnam (forgot where, tired) to Siem Reap and back to Singapore daily and this is the flights we used, I think they cost about $220 total, and that is in Singapore $.

 

OK more tomorrow...

Glad you had a great time in Cambodia. I spent 10 days travelling through the country in 2013. Wonderful time. Silk Air is Singapore Airlines budget airline. It serves the short-haul destinations in the Singapore Airlines Group network. Very good.

Edited January 15, 2015 by icat2000

[jefa]

Yes please ibfern, dying to hear about your trip to Siem Reap. I'm using Silk Air too

[ibfern]

Here are some quick thoughts on this most magnificent of all places I've even visited. Cambodia was absolutely my favorite country I have ever visited, this really surprised me and I hope this helps you discover this incredible place.

Cambodia 2014/2015

We just got back from a 5 day/4 night stay in Siem Reap where we visited the many temples around Angkor Wat, including the main one which is very close to the hotel. We landed in SR just as the sun was setting, I could feel the energy of this place immediately. By the time I got here, my passport was out of spaces (surprise) and the man at immigration gave me a hard time, but it turned out that he was just pulling my leg. I thought he wanted a bribe, and I started to cry and that was enough to elicit my entry.

 

We had left most of our cruise luggage in Singapore (easy storage at the airport, although we used the Crown Plaza connected to Changi Airport for this purpose) so all we had was carry on pieces, that made it easier to get out of the airport once we found our guide, who had sent a stand in because he was ill. We were assured our guide would be with us the following day, and off we went to our hotel, the Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort in Siem Reap. It was a lovely place, we were met with gracious folks offering us non alcoholic drinks and escorted into the seating area where the front desk came to us and checked us in! I was shocked at this luxurious treatment, and as I looked around I was pleased to see greenery everywhere, and lots of smiling faces. I've never checked into a hotel quite like this!

 

Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort

This hotel was lovely, an elegant and organic place with an "old school" feel that evokes peaceful contemplation and is a perfect compliment to the emotional impact of Cambodia, the people, and temples. The location was perfect, slightly removed from the hustle and bustle of Siem Reap but close enough to experience everything the city had to offer.

The gardens and setting of this hotel were lush and inviting. The people who work at the hotel were delightful; everybody so kind and mindful of my requests and needs at all times. From my first encounters with the various people working here, such as in the shop keeper and at the front desk folks, every aspect of my stay was attended to, they were one step ahead of me at all times when it came to anticipating my needs. I can't say enough about the incredible service here!

 

My room was beautiful, every imaginable luxury was available to me, the amenities were top quality (Lavin) and there was always a basket of fresh fruit for me. They provided free Internet so I could keep in touch with my friends and family. The beds were humungous, the pillows and sheets/towels were very luxurious as well. The TV was large, lots of English channels, and just about everything you could want in a room was there. They even sent me home with lovely cotton scarves as a memento of my stay.

The food was fantastic, breakfast buffet had everything including fresh juice, fresh omelets, any type of tea or coffee I wanted, delicious breads and so much more. If I wanted it and didn't see it in the buffet it was brought to me immediately. The bar for late afternoon snacks was fantastic too; the sandwiches and Ice creams were the best. What more can I say? I can't wait to come back to Angkor Wat/Siem Reap and stay here again!

Visiting the Temples

The following morning after a wonderful breakfast, we were picked up by our guide Ny, who would spend the entire 5 days with us. After introductions, and lots of bowing, we were off to see Angkor Thom, one of the largest temples.

Angkor Thom

Angkor Thom is very close to Angkor Wat, and in my opinion it really displays the essence of how these temples were built and what the symbols of the statues mean. We entered one gate and an incredible world of differing temples was contained within the walls of this place including the Elephant Terraces, and different symbolic temples. We rode Elephants here, a lovely experience and something that really evokes the feeling of what it must have been like living like royalty here! All that is contained with in the decorated walls of Angkor Thom were quite beautiful and worth a day of exploration. Don't miss this.

Angkor Wat

This is an incredible place, one that I could have spent days and days at. We did a sunset here and it was beautiful and quite thought provoking. While I sat in awe of this magnificent place, I found myself surrounded with Monkeys. What a delight to experience them in their natural habitat, I sat quietly and videoed them, much to my delight. The sunset was amazing, I was able to sit quietly and contemplate the magnificence of this place. Sunrise was another incredible experience, although many people come here to witness the sunrise over Angkor, I found a quite place where I was able to meditate and take in the Majesty of this temple as the sun illuminated it. This was a once in a lifetime moment that I shared with many others but somehow felt a peaceful solitude that comes from being connected to earphones playing my favorite music on my cell phone! This is when technology really enhances my experiences.

Angkor Wat was built first as a Hindu temple than later converted to a Buddhist temple and was completely awe inspiring. Surrounded by a moat, this is the largest religious temple in the world and it is a working temple filled with orange clad monks. I have never been to such a place in my life; this evoked such deep contemplation and meditation I did not want to leave. A day was not enough time to see it all, a week would not be enough either, but this a personal depending on how much time you have and want to spend here. I must return here someday, 5 days was not enough time!

Bayon Temple

This Temple was quite magnificent, surrounded by lush vegetation that at times overtook parts of the temple. I found a lovely lady (the first of several) who was making prayer strings and was able to purchase one for a small donation and she blessed me and boy did I feel this blessing! Bayon Temple was located in the exact center of the walled city of Angkor Thom and one of the highlights of our 5 days in Siem Reap. It contained many smiling faces in the statues adorning this temple, it is called the Mona Lisa of all temples because of these smiling faces. The temple was surrounded by amazing bas-relief scenes of legends and historical events, these stone stories reminded me of ancient Egyptian story reliefs called standards. I found myself saying what an incredible temple this was over and over as I described each of the temples, such is the feelings evoked in each place I visited.

Ta Prohm

We visited this temple early in the morning before any other tourists visited, making it the most serene of all temples for us. It is called the King of Trees because it is in pristine untouched condition, covered with crumbling stones and over powering trees. This was a very large temple, almost as large as Angkor Wat, and has not been repaired at all. The only thing done to this magnificent temple has been to build wooden stairs around the temple, as well as stairs climbing up to the top and down to the depths of this most sacred place. We were blown away by its majesty and loved seeing it in its natural state of dis-repair. Do not miss this temple, try to see it as early as you can for the most perceptual impact.

Preah Khan

This is a beautiful temple, which is striking in its long corridors where one can see door after door going into the temple. There are many rooms connected to this temple, one can explore for a long time and barely see anybody else. I came upon an old lady making prayer ties and she blessed me with a beautiful red prayer tie, which was quite a touching experience. I was practically in tears at the intensity of vibrations throughout this sacred place. There are many statues intact here, it requires at least a full morning to explore and if you are lucky enough to meet the beautiful old woman, give her a donation and take her blessings. This is a great place to meditate and contemplate.

Bakong

Bakong is yet another beautiful temple close to Siem Reap and Angkor Wat. This temple has a library connected to it, as most of them do, and is easy to access. The temple itself is very high, you can climb the stairs up to the top and the reward is a beautiful Buddha statue. The stairs are steep, but definitely doable if you take your time and wear proper shoes that grab onto the rocks. Do not wear flip flops unless you don't want to climb to the top. Although this is not a huge temple, its tallness is striking and the assent is well worth it. Across the street from this temple are a group of miniatures of many of the temples in this area, It is a great place to orient yourself with these temples and see the big picture. This would certainly be on my must see list!

[RAL54]

Welcome home Amy!!!

 

Steve and I are sitting in the airport in Ft. Lauderdale waiting to fly home. Great trip in Caribbean, but so tame to your exotic adventures. Look forward to touching bases later.

 

Hugs,

Robbie

[ibfern]

Welcome home Amy!!!

 

Steve and I are sitting in the airport in Ft. Lauderdale waiting to fly home. Great trip in Caribbean, but so tame to your exotic adventures. Look forward to touching bases later.

 

Hugs,

Robbie

 

Call me when you get settled so we can plot and plane nexts years cruise! A

[icat2000]

Thanks for your comprehensive review. I would go back in a heartbeat to Cambodia. I feel the same about Vietnam too.