Quantum from Singapore, different?

[Ru2on]

My daughter and i are spending five nights in Singapore, Almost booked an add on spur of the moment five day cruise from Singapore on the Quantum but then read the very bad reviews based on its China sailings pretty much saying if you are a Westerner dont do it

 

Is the ship experience going to be the same when its based in Singapore?  Will anything be altered before it starts its Singapore season.  

Complaints were things like 

Lack of coffee available (i really  neeed my coffee)  no specialty coffees available 

All Food only catering for the Asian Market

Things that dont normally cost having a cost or only available for suite guests

Pushing Shoving Arguing 

English speaking tours and activities canceled ,

reviews basically saying ship totally catering to Asian Market only and if you are a Westerner..find a different ship/company.  Has me a bit concerned as I am not familiar with that area of the world ..so would leaving from Singapore be the same sort of cruising ?

 

[awestover89]

In my experience, Singapore and China cruises couldn't be more different. I don't think I'd do a cruise out of Shanghai again, but I wouldn't hesitate to do Singapore again.

 

We did Quantum from China and Mariner from Singapore, so ships were very different, but the attitude of the passengers was very different, and much more pleasant on the Singapore cruise. For what it's worth, we didn't have any issues with the food or English tours/activities on the China cruise, but there was a lot more of the ship that catered to suites in China. The biggest downside of our cruise from China was the pushing/shoving/general rudeness. We didn't see any of that in Singapore.

[Biker19]

28 minutes ago, Ru2on said:

Is the ship experience going to be the same when its based in Singapore?  

Unlikely, but we won't know for sure till after her dry dock in Nov.

[Ru2on]

I received an email today to inform me that my cruise is a culturally enriching cruise and to be aware that the entertainment etc will be spoken in the main passengers language, chinese.  Also informing me 

quote “Due to the high demand for activities on Culturally Enriching cruises, there is a minimal charge in order to reduce waiting times on Ripcord® by iFly®, North Star®, and SkyPad” 

Seems like cruising from Singapore on this ship may be very similar to cruising. From China?

[Joseph2017China]

On ‎8‎/‎20‎/‎2019 at 2:31 PM, Ru2on said:

My daughter and i are spending five nights in Singapore, Almost booked an add on spur of the moment five day cruise from Singapore on the Quantum but then read the very bad reviews based on its China sailings pretty much saying if you are a Westerner dont do it

 

Is the ship experience going to be the same when its based in Singapore?  Will anything be altered before it starts its Singapore season.  

Complaints were things like 

Lack of coffee available (i really  neeed my coffee)  no specialty coffees available (Asians drink Tea, but coffee is available on the ship but maybe not as much - think of this, when an Asian goes to the USA on a ship, they have issues finding Tea)

 

All Food only catering for the Asian Market.  (Food is based on the majority, not the minority - if you go to Asia, you should expect Asian Food....however, there is the regular food that is available.)  Seriously, why would you go to Asia and not eat Asian food?

 

Things that dont normally cost having a cost or only available for suite guests - (Ships in Asia always must follow a different set of rules, that are not the same....China is part owner, and therefore, will set pricing caps, and rules on how to collect revenue....but on the other hands, some things are cheaper, so it balances out but no one ever complains when one item is cheaper, but focus only on the item that is charged!!!! )

 

On ‎8‎/‎20‎/‎2019 at 2:31 PM, Ru2on said:

Pushing Shoving Arguing - (if you go to another country, you must understand it is different culture....but on a good note, this is a stereotype that really isn't as bad as it sounds....more like someone booked an Asian cruise, and did not realize they were in China, so looking for the typical things to complain about.)

English speaking tours and activities canceled , (All excursions have a limit before they will do it....but most ports you do not need an excursion.  Taxi's are always available, and your handy iPhone will be your friend. Just do things yourself, and have fun....it's a new country to explore)

 

reviews basically saying ship totally catering to Asian Market only and if you are a Westerner..find a different ship/company.  Has me a bit concerned as I am not familiar with that area of the world ..so would leaving from Singapore be the same sort of cruising ?

 

 

If you are going to Asia, it is different.   Each area is also different.  So Singapore is a great city/country to visit, and it will be different than Shanghai.  However, you must realize when you travel that there are two types of people.  Those that go to Asia, and actually realize they are going to Asia, and then the others, that want to look at Asia out a window, and expect everything to be the same as in the their home country. 

[WaveSplasher]

On 8/21/2019 at 2:31 AM, Ru2on said:

My daughter and i are spending five nights in Singapore, Almost booked an add on spur of the moment five day cruise from Singapore on the Quantum but then read the very bad reviews based on its China sailings pretty much saying if you are a Westerner dont do it

 

Is the ship experience going to be the same when its based in Singapore?  Will anything be altered before it starts its Singapore season.  

Complaints were things like 

Lack of coffee available (i really  neeed my coffee)  no specialty coffees available 

All Food only catering for the Asian Market

Things that dont normally cost having a cost or only available for suite guests

Pushing Shoving Arguing 

English speaking tours and activities canceled ,

reviews basically saying ship totally catering to Asian Market only and if you are a Westerner..find a different ship/company.  Has me a bit concerned as I am not familiar with that area of the world ..so would leaving from Singapore be the same sort of cruising ?

 

Most of the complaints centered around China cruising. 

 

English is widely spoken onboard Royal ships sailing from Singapore. 

 

English Speaking Tours and Activities Canceled: Cruises from Singapore, shore excursions are mainly in English with only 1 or 2 in Chinese. It will not be canceled unless there is a low take up rate. Activities onboard are all held in English including Bingo, Trivia and etc...

 

All Food Only Catering for the Asian Market: It's a Mix between Asian and Western Food. You will not find 100% Asian Food on the Quantum sailing from Singapore.

 

Lack Of Coffee Available: Never have I seen a Quantum Ship sailing from Singapore lacking in coffee and specialty coffee. There is lots around the ship in the cafe promenade, windjammer.

 

Unfortunately, Singapore has decided to follow the China style of charging for activities on-board like North Star, Bumper Cars(Express Lane) and  IFLY. A bad move in my opinion considering the reason they give is not good enough.

 

Pushing, Shoving , Arguing. You may encounter this from time to time but hey, it happens all over the world.   

[Ashland]

We have sailed on Mariner from Singapore-Shanghai and although we found some of the above situations our cruise was NOT noted as "Culturally Enriching" . We had the same similar food that is always available with RCI, announcements were made in English first, crew was mainly non-Asian, and entertainment leaned more western. This seems to have changed as they are now noting "Culturally Enriching" but I would still love to sail this exact itinerary again.

 

No problem getting a seat by the pool....the casino is where you couldn't find one and some shops had been taken over by higher end options. Shop that sold liquor by the bottle was closed. Any sales in the Promenade were just crazy packed, worse than any black Friday I've ever seen...a madhouse..grabbing and fighting over those $10.00 items !!!

[Ru2on]

Thanks for the replies, they have reassured me, we ended up booking a five day  5 NIGHT SPICE OF SOUTHEAST ASIA CRUISE.   Leaving & returning to Singapore. Will be a whole new experience for me.

 

It is a shame Royal have decided to charge for activities that are apparently free of charge in other parts of the world but I decided to just get ahead of it(hoping to avoid queues) and prebook the activities on my Cruise Planner. 

Unfortunately although the email I have been sent tells me they will be available to book through Cruise Planner they are nowhere to be seen 🤔.  

I do find it quite strangely comical that Royal are advising me that due to the cruise being a Culturally Enriching Cruise they have put a price on free activities .

[Ashland]

1 minute ago, Ru2on said:

Thanks for the replies, they have reassured me, we ended up booking a five day  5 NIGHT SPICE OF SOUTHEAST ASIA CRUISE.   Leaving & returning to Singapore. Will be a whole new experience for me.

 

It is a shame Royal have decided to charge for activities that are apparently free of charge in other parts of the world but I decided to just get ahead of it(hoping to avoid queues) and prebook the activities on my Cruise Planner. 

Unfortunately although the email I have been sent tells me they will be available to book through Cruise Planner they are nowhere to be seen 🤔.  

I do find it quite strangely comical that Royal are advising me that due to the cruise being a Culturally Enriching Cruise they have put a price on free activities .

Keep checking your cruise planner as it may be too early to book onboard activities.

I actually don't find it strange that their charging for these specific onboard things....Organization is key when many onboard don't (will not) understand the concept of standing in line. I could see this getting out of hand if there was no fee.

[bertrande]

On 9/5/2019 at 2:50 AM, Ru2on said:

Thanks for the replies, they have reassured me, we ended up booking a five day  5 NIGHT SPICE OF SOUTHEAST ASIA CRUISE.   Leaving & returning to Singapore. Will be a whole new experience for me.

 

It is a shame Royal have decided to charge for activities that are apparently free of charge in other parts of the world but I decided to just get ahead of it(hoping to avoid queues) and prebook the activities on my Cruise Planner. 

Unfortunately although the email I have been sent tells me they will be available to book through Cruise Planner they are nowhere to be seen 🤔.  

I do find it quite strangely comical that Royal are advising me that due to the cruise being a Culturally Enriching Cruise they have put a price on free activities .

 

Oh I am so disappointed hearing this.  We sailed Ovation out of Singapore and it was not a culturally enriching cruise.  Neither was there a price on the "usual" included activities.  However, right up to I think the start of the short season, nobody at Royal knew if the Royal Suite Class perks would be included (this was way before they standardised that all sailings on Ovation out of Sydney and Singapore would have the RSC system).  In fact, Royal was telling us to expect the same sort of cruise experience as those departing from Chinese ports.  We have a sailing on Quantum booked in December so I am hoping the same thing will happen again - fingers crossed.

[Ru2on]

FYI For anyone following this thread.

 

Three weeks till cruise and just had the North Star appear under paying activities on my Planner.

$10.96 ea.   
Looks like  it is a “culturally enriching” cruise where everything costs.  
 

Still If queueing queue jumping etc is an issue on these cruises I would rather pay the nominal amount and hopefully minimise the issues.  

 

 Really hoping that being a Culturally enriching cruise doesnt mean they wont have the newly introduced Vegan Menu 

Edited October 24, 2019 by Ru2on
Spelling!

[The_Big_M]

Queue jumping wasn't an issue.

 

It was debatable that queuing was an issue. There's no difference between a 6 night cruise in Asia, or 6 night cruise in Australia in terms of demand. Certainly there are more short cruises in Asia, but that doesn't change the actual experience on a night for night cruise.

[ldubs]

On 9/4/2019 at 11:50 AM, Ru2on said:

Thanks for the replies, they have reassured me, we ended up booking a five day  5 NIGHT SPICE OF SOUTHEAST ASIA CRUISE.   Leaving & returning to Singapore. Will be a whole new experience for me.

 

It is a shame Royal have decided to charge for activities that are apparently free of charge in other parts of the world but I decided to just get ahead of it(hoping to avoid queues) and prebook the activities on my Cruise Planner. 

Unfortunately although the email I have been sent tells me they will be available to book through Cruise Planner they are nowhere to be seen 🤔.  

I do find it quite strangely comical that Royal are advising me that due to the cruise being a Culturally Enriching Cruise they have put a price on free activities .

 

Huh, reading this thread with interest.  We will be with our large family group on this cruise.  As long as coffee is available none of the other stuff will bother me.  Lol.   

 

We were on a cruise from Beijing to Singapore some while back and did not encounter any of the things mentioned.  I guess things change.  

[Ru2on]

16 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

Huh, reading this thread with interest.  We will be with our large family group on this cruise.  As long as coffee is available none of the other stuff will bother me.  Lol.   

 

We were on a cruise from Beijing to Singapore some while back and did not encounter any of the things mentioned.  I guess things change.  

Haha  I agree about the coffee, last I was on Royal the coffee was not bad.  The last Princess cruise I did the coffee had the flavour of wheatbix . 

 

I have prebooked the Nth Star for 6.30 on departure night, hoping its a nice time of the evening to do it.

 

 

.

 

[Ru2on]

1 hour ago, The_Big_M said:

Queue jumping wasn't an issue.

 

It was debatable that queuing was an issue. There's no difference between a 6 night cruise in Asia, or 6 night cruise in Australia in terms of demand. Certainly there are more short cruises in Asia, but that doesn't change the actual experience on a night for night cruise.

Glad to hear queue jumping not an issue, really have to query how Royal justifies charging for the onboard activities in some parts of the world and not others.

 

I am looking forward to my cruise,  the experience of travelling in a different part of the world and really keen to explore The Quantum.  

 

 

[Ethanol95]

The one time I sailed on Quantum out of Singapore, I never got a chance to experience North-star cause it was free. You can imagine the line for that everyday, given that there are SPECIFIC hours that it operates. No reservations were taken for North-Star during that sailing. Even though it was a 3 night cruise, if I didn't get to go on it cause of the queue, I'm sure many others didn't as well. Maybe it is not a terrible thing to charge for these activities, as long as its still in a reasonable range.

[snaefell]

On 9/4/2019 at 12:25 PM, Ru2on said:

I received an email today to inform me that my cruise is a culturally enriching cruise and to be aware that the entertainment etc will be spoken in the main passengers language, chinese.  Also informing me 

quote “Due to the high demand for activities on Culturally Enriching cruises, there is a minimal charge in order to reduce waiting times on Ripcord® by iFly®, North Star®, and SkyPad” 

Seems like cruising from Singapore on this ship may be very similar to cruising. From China?

Don't believe a word of it,we have just returned from Quantums repo cruise from Tianjin to Singapore,we recieved the same email just before sailing & it was totally misleading info.

The passenger profile was totally different to what had been on Quantum previously,very few Chinese,nearly all passengers from Europe,USA or Australia,no charge for Northstar,I-Fly,etc,food pretty much back to normal menus & nearly impossible to get a sun bed!

[Ethanol95]

19 minutes ago, snaefell said:

Don't believe a word of it,we have just returned from Quantums repo cruise from Tianjin to Singapore,we recieved the same email just before sailing & it was totally misleading info.

The passenger profile was totally different to what had been on Quantum previously,very few Chinese,nearly all passengers from Europe,USA or Australia,no charge for Northstar,I-Fly,etc,food pretty much back to normal menus & nearly impossible to get a sun bed!

The demographic of a repo cruise is commonly known to attract more westerners though.. Chinese and Indian passengers are more likely to make up the majority of people, with more westerners in the minority than on a sailing out of China. 

[cekim]

I'm booked for Feb and my cruise planner is taking bookings for Ripcord By Ifly. £ 22.04 per person for 1 minute ride.

[xpcdoojk]

On 9/4/2019 at 1:50 PM, Ru2on said:

Thanks for the replies, they have reassured me, we ended up booking a five day  5 NIGHT SPICE OF SOUTHEAST ASIA CRUISE.   Leaving & returning to Singapore. Will be a whole new experience for me.

 

It is a shame Royal have decided to charge for activities that are apparently free of charge in other parts of the world but I decided to just get ahead of it(hoping to avoid queues) and prebook the activities on my Cruise Planner. 

Unfortunately although the email I have been sent tells me they will be available to book through Cruise Planner they are nowhere to be seen 🤔.  

I do find it quite strangely comical that Royal are advising me that due to the cruise being a Culturally Enriching Cruise they have put a price on free activities .

 

Your cruise should be almost completely westernized on that sailing, except the ports of call.  I would do it in a heartbeat.

 

We sailed from Singapore to China in 2017 and the ship was mostly full of Australians and Americans.  No problem finding coffee.  They did not charge for Ifly, etc.

 

jc

Edited October 24, 2019 by xpcdoojk

[kernow]

It does appear that they are going to charge on all these cruises, even the 9 day or longer ones that they originally said would be exempt. 

 

We are also on the 9 day Feb cruise and also had ifly appear on the planner today for a charge. No mention of North Star yet but I posted earlier on another thread and someone said they have it on their planner for a cruise next month, again with a charge.

[ldubs]

On 10/23/2019 at 9:00 PM, Ru2on said:

Haha  I agree about the coffee, last I was on Royal the coffee was not bad.  The last Princess cruise I did the coffee had the flavour of wheatbix . 

 

I have prebooked the Nth Star for 6.30 on departure night, hoping its a nice time of the evening to do it.

 

 

 

Oh man, I am really out of touch.  I had to look up what you meant by North Star.  I have seen ads for that before but didn't realize we would be up close to it on our upcoming cruise.   I need to find out if our group is booked on this.   

[Ru2on]

1 minute ago, ldubs said:

 

 

Oh man, I am really out of touch.  I had to look up what you meant by North Star.  I have seen ads for that before but didn't realize we would be up close to it on our upcoming cruise.   I need to find out if our group is booked on this.   

From what i read it will take a capacity of fourteen people a time .  Would def think about prebooking with a group of you 🙂

[ldubs]

Just now, Ru2on said:

From what i read it will take a capacity of fourteen people a time .  Would def think about prebooking with a group of you 🙂

 

👍👍👍

 

I need to check with our family cruise planners!  Lol

[ldubs]

On 10/24/2019 at 12:55 AM, snaefell said:

Don't believe a word of it,we have just returned from Quantums repo cruise from Tianjin to Singapore,we recieved the same email just before sailing & it was totally misleading info.

The passenger profile was totally different to what had been on Quantum previously,very few Chinese,nearly all passengers from Europe,USA or Australia,no charge for Northstar,I-Fly,etc,food pretty much back to normal menus & nearly impossible to get a sun bed!

 

We are booked Feb on a R/T out of Singapore.  I'm kind of sorry to hear this about the menus.  I was kind of looking forward to Asian food!  Whatever it is I know we will enjoy.