LIVE Blog! MILLENNIUM, SE Asia - Dec 8, 2018

[Addicted2Ships]

1 hour ago, uktraveller said:

Hi Andy.  Sending best wishes from BRISTOL for a fabulous cruise.

 

We have sailed Millie in Asia a couple of times now so looking forward to reading all about your trip.

 

😮😮

 

 Hello Bristolian! 

 

I so can't wait. It gives me confidence that you've done Millie more than once 😊

[Addicted2Ships]

The last 36 hours or so seem to have been a bit of a whirlwind. 

 

The flight to Singapore seemed to take forever. That'll be because I was so excited! About 3 hours in to the flight, the captain announced that someone had been restrained so that they were no longer a threat to the plane or passengers and he had considered returning to London, or diverting elsewhere. Luckily that didn't happen! I have no idea what the issue was but lots of passengers were moved because of the incident. Not quite the excitement I was looking for! 

 

I managed to get a couple of pics of the view from the plane. They came out better than most normally do. 

 

Next, I checked in to Amara Singapore. I was at the hotel just over an hour after landing. Not bad going! It is a very spacious Club room. Here are few pics. 

 

And finally, after freshening up, I headed to Chinatown for a quick drink. I was pretty sensible considering the lack of sleep but I visited a couple of bars. Here is a quick glimpse.. 

 

Time now for breakfast and a day of exploring!  More to follow soon. 😊

Edited December 5, 2018 by 1sttimecruisee

[Bruin Steve]

Andy, 

i will be reading along with great interest.  We are boarding the Millennium as you disembark in Hong Kong on the 22nd!  Doing the same itinerary in reverse...

🍹🥂🛳️

[Addicted2Ships]

So yesterday the jet lag caught up with me. In the morning I went on the Singapore River Tour.

The plan was then to visit little China and India but my body wasn't playing along so I returned to my hotel to rest. 

 

The late afternoon and evening was spent at Gardens by the Bay. It is absolutely stunning. The cloud forest especially. 

And the light show was pretty spectacular too. 

The plan was to go to Sentosa to watch the Dancing Cranes light show but I found the signs to Bayfront MRT Station kept taking me in a circle so I gave up and stayed put. My sense of direction is famously bad! 😄

 

After all that I was pretty shattered so I headed back to the hotel and ordered room service. 

 

Today is Universal Studios at Sentosa, followed by Orchard Road and then our unofficial meet and greet at Sky Bar, Marina Bay Sands Hotel. 

 

[Rina155]

Looking forward to following along!  I will be sailing the Millie in April for the Japan Explorer cruise.  Enjoy!

[Addicted2Ships]

Universal Studios was much less busier than I was expecting today. I did  4 of the 5 things I wanted to, arriving at 10.30am and all done by 1pm!

 

I just missed the Waterworld show and didn't fancy waiting around until 2.45pm for the next one. 

 

In order ; I enjoyed Transformers 3D

Revenge of The Mummy

Battlestar Galactica; Cylon, (the most dramatic one)

I then rode the Sentosa Monorail back 

But not before stopping for a quick selfie. It had to be done! 😄

 

Waiting time for rides was much less than advertised. Battlestar for example said a 50 minute wait and I was riding it within 20.

 

Back at the hotel now. Going for a spot of lunch in the Club Lounge before heading out to Orchard Road. After that, it's time to meet some of the Roll Call! Exciting times!! 

 

I am also reliably informed that Millie is in port, all ready for us to join her tomorrow! 

Edited December 7, 2018 by 1sttimecruisee

[Addicted2Ships]

I met up with Graham and Clive from our Roll Call at Orchard Road last night. We found a nice bar with reasonably priced drinks and had a good natter. 

 

The street looked very nice with all of the Disney themed festive lighting, but this caught my eye the most.. 

After that we went to CE LA VI Sky Bar at Marina Bay Sands to meet up with a number of other members of our Roll Call. I hadn't realised just how big the bar was so it took quite some time for us to find each other. 

 

Words cannot express just how stunning the views are from up there. It was breathtaking!

Then it was time for a selfie with the long awaited Singapore Sling 

And finally a group photo with some of our Roll Call

 

Today I get to step foot on a cruise ship for the first time in my life!! 😄

[Rina155]

Really enjoying!  Keep it coming.  Have fun getting on that cruise ship, but be prepared you will get hooked and enjoy it so much that is all you want to do for vacations!

[OhioDogLover]

Have fun.  I will follow along.

 

Ohiodoglover

[dporter]

My BF and I will be on Millennium June 2019 to Alaska and one thing I cannot find information on is the spa, any information you can obtain would be appreciated.  I know they are supposedly making some changes to the spa but knowing what is there now will give us an idea.  Persian Gardens, what does that mean, heated loungers, saunas, steam room? Is that included with a spa treatment or entirely separate? Is it accessible for a fee by the day or do you have to buy for the week?

[lourdest]

Andy, following along.  We will be on the exact cruise on March 2 2019.  Can't wait to read about your adventures.  

Lourdes

[Addicted2Ships]

What a crazy few days!

 

I've got myself a drink from the Martini Bar and have popped out on deck for a quiet moment and to update you all. 

 

Embarkation yesterday was pretty painless. I arrived at Marina Bay Cruise Centre around midday and I was in my room around 1.30pm and my luggage was waiting for me. I made a good choice to swap cabins for an angled balcony 6048, slightly more mid-ship than the original sweet sixteen cabin, 6026. Here is a little taster of the room. 

Next I headed up on deck 11 after unpacking and had a dip in the lovely warm pool. 

After dinner, and the show, we hit Martini Bar and very very many Cocktails were consumed! I mean loads!! Ivan created this concoction for me which was rather nice but doesn't have a name. I know it was gin based though.. 

We met 2 lovely couples who were playing a hat game. I have no idea of the rules but it was very funny to watch. Creme de Menthe, Baileys and Tia Maria shots followed, oh dear! And of course, we had to try the hats on and pose! 

 

We rounded off the night in Cosmos on deck 11. A great first night onboard!

 

 

[Addicted2Ships]

Today, I popped into Chinatown with Graham and Clive. What a hot and humid one it's been today! 

 

I will post pics later of Chinatown and of our sailaway at 6pm this evening. Off to the theatre for the show now... 

[Addicted2Ships]

Chinatown was worth a visit today but we were so hot and bothered. So humid out there. 

 

First, we needed to go through immigration again today in Singapore. It could either be done at 11am or you could return to the cruise terminal after 2pm and complete it then, which is what we did. No queues so we were straight back onboard with minimal fuss. 

 

We took a wander round the markets in Chinatown and also the Sri Mariamman Temple, which is very beautiful. 

We then quickly popped across to Raffles Hotel to take a picture of the exterior. We didn't do the Long Bar as $37 Sin is a lot of money when the rest of the hotel is still closed and Singapore Slings are a fraction of the cost elsewhere, and free onboard! 

 

We got back on the ship at around 3.30pm and stopped by Cafe al Bacio for some heavenly sweets and I had a pot of Earl Grey.

 

After muster, we gathered up on Sunset Bar for sailaway. It was nice to meet a few more of the Roll Call that I didnt get to meet at Sky Bar, mainly because it took us all by surprise how vast the bar area is at Sky Bar. 

 

So, that's us pretty much up to date now. 2 sea days now follow us and it's the Connections Party tomorrow, at the unusual time of 9.30. We gain an hour overnight so that will help! 

 

Having problems uploading pics right now so will try tomorrow. 

 

 

[Addicted2Ships]

Connections Party at Cellar Masters shortly. 

 

Current view...bliss! 

 

[Addicted2Ships]

Does anyone want to see the dailies so far? 

[Rina155]

15 minutes ago, 1sttimecruisee said:

Does anyone want to see the dailies so far? 

 

Yes please, but only if it is not too challenging with the internet speed.

[Addicted2Ships]

I've given up on posting the dailies at the moment. The wifi has been tempermental at best. I'm hoping I will have decent wifi in my hotel when we reach Bangkok tomorrow; our first port of call. 

 

There was a great turn out for our Connections Party, 90+ people. I was introduced to the group along with a few other key members. 

 

I had a nice relaxing afternoon up on deck and a little swim. There was a fair bit of movement so I quickly went from being stood in the shallow end to the deep end of the pool in seconds! 😁

 

In the evening we went to Tuscan Grille and it was superb. I ate way too much, (2 starters, a salad, a main and 3 desserts) but loved every second!

The Crab Cake

Belly Pork

Goats Cheese Arugula Salad

Lobster Rigatoni 

And the desserts.. 

Strawberry Shortcake

Limoncello Cheesecake

Pistachio Marble Creme Brulee

 

After dinner we went to the show. It was Elysium and was very good. That was followed by the Silent Disco up in Cosmos. It was so busy up there. So many people got involved in the fun! 

 

Today is an easy day at sea. I may get involved in the line dancing on deck 10. Stranger things have happened! 

 

Really looking forward to Bangkok tomorrow and a faster connection speed! 😊

 

Edited December 11, 2018 by 1sttimecruisee

[Alushar]

Really glad you enjoyed Tuscan it's our favourite

[Addicted2Ships]

As promised, the Chinatown pics from Singapore...

Interesting Grafitti

The Sri Mariamman Temple

Looking so cute with the Christmas hat, I had to!

The famous Durian fruit

The markets

 

[Addicted2Ships]

Good morning from Thailand! 

 

After an early rise at 6am we are currently on the transfer minibus from Laem Chabang to Bangkok. I'm so excited to explore this city! 

 

 

[Addicted2Ships]

The Celebrity Today for Embarkation day, Saturday December 8.

Apologies the last 2 are landscape. They were all taken as portrait so not sure what happened there! 

 

I believe some of the following days may be the same. 

[Addicted2Ships]

Sunday December 9

[Addicted2Ships]

Monday December 10

[Rina155]

Thank you for posting the dailies, I see someone I have followed on YouTube is a part of the entertainment!  I hope she is still on board when I sail as she is quite talented.