Our Pre-Cruise Hotel in Cairns, AU

[5waldos]

Ah websites. This is the description of the hotel that SS has us booked into the night before our cruise out of Australia. Gonna be a long day as they get us from Bangkok to Cairns the morning of our cruise! 😜 I brought this to their attention nearly a week ago so they fixed the picture. But left the description. I am assuming that the actual booking is correct- yes?

 

SIMPLY HOTEL: SHANGRI-LA HOTEL

Code: BKK100

 

Shangri-La Hotel

The Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok, is a 5-star luxury hotel in Silom district, Bangkok. The design and appointments express the welcoming warmth and richness of Thai culture throughout the hotel, from traditional teak dining pavilions to the most up-to-date room features. The hotel has a total of 802 rooms including 72 suites in two wings.

 

[jpalbny]

Looks like a nice hotel! The included transfer from there to the port in Cairns will be a doozy, though.

[canderson]

It's ONLY a 5 hour trip at ~Mach 1 😁

[5waldos]

But it’s included which is a blessing. 

[canderson]

True enough.  A ride in an F16 runs about $8K per hour, so it's about a $40,000 fare.  But they don't serve dinner.  Not even pretzels.

[5waldos]

Guess drinks are out of the question, too. 
 

 

[jpalbny]

6 hours ago, 5waldos said:

Guess drinks are out of the question, too. 
 

 

 

That would be a deal-breaker for me.

[les37b]

Must be a Star Trek transporter D2D fare!

 

Loved the Shanghai Las in Singapore. Maybe you might suggest a quick viewing of that one as you pass by. Shouldn’t take too long! 😀
 

Beam me up Scotty.

Edited April 14, 2023 by les37b

[turtlemichael]

I'm not sure if Silversea provide you with dinner when you are at the Shangri-La, assuming it is the Cairns one rather than the Bangkok one.  If they don't there are a number of very decent restaurants below the hotel on the boardwalk. In my view the best is Tha Fish. Unsurprisingly, it is a fish restaurant! Well worth a try.

[5waldos]

Sounds good turtlemichael- we will actually be in Cairns for 3 days so we have time to try several restaurants. We booked 2 nights on our own at the hotel- for less than half the price that SS offered it for. Then the 3rd night SS takes over. Of course- we will have to find our way to Bangkok if they have booked us there which will cut back on time for meals 😜.

 

(And a moment of serious thought- I really will have to check that SS has only messed up online and not in my actual reservations. The  possibility exists that they put the wrong hotel number in there too which could be a problem. )

[MrsWaldo]

6 minutes ago, turtlemichael said:

 In my view the best is Tha Fish. Unsurprisingly, it is a fish restaurant! Well worth a try.

 

 

Just now, 5waldos said:

\ Cairns for 3 days so we have time to try several restaurants.

 Regular visitor to Cairns. Don't be tempted by Ochre or Dundees.  Both of them are tourist traps. Tamarind in the Casino is a much better option for local cuisine.  

Salt House is good for afternoon cocktail but it can be hit and miss on the meals.

 

If you have booked a club room, be aware the lounge is quite small, and dining options are very much snack only, unless they have done a massive upgrade from November

 

If you plan to do a reef trip. go with Seastar.   If doing Kuranda, train up and cable down, its a love it or hate to place so that will give you flexibility.   

 

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

16 hours ago, MrsWaldo said:

Regular visitor to Cairns. Don't be tempted by Ochre or Dundees.

Any suggestions for Asian food?  Thanks!

[MrsWaldo]

I tend not to do Asian unless in Asia or at home.  I live near major Chinese, Vietnamese, Nepali, Malaysian, Indian subcontinent and Arabic communities, so I am often left going meh.  The one really good Japanese I had as a go to was a victim of the pandemic 

 

Many are Asian fusion in Cairns, eg Paper Crane.  It can be hit and miss.  The wine list is dire.

Golden Boat is supposedly good Chinese, but I haven’t eaten there.  

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Thanks for the tips. 

Depending on who the chef is, we may be desperate for Asian. Chef Pia told us she boards in Broome, so we will miss her....and miss her. 😃

[jillyf]

We have had 3 great meals at Bayleaf Balinese Restaurant. 
We had our first Rijsttafel meal in Holland 50 years ago and were blown away by it.  Always wanting to repeat the experience, we have ordered this each time and it has been delicious. 
It’s in the city so a short taxi ride from The Shangri La Hotel. 

 

https://www.bayvillage.com.au/bayleaf-balinese-restaurant/

[Aussieflyer]

3 hours ago, jillyf said:

We have had 3 great meals at Bayleaf Balinese Restaurant. 
We had our first Rijsttafel meal in Holland 50 years ago and were blown away by it.  Always wanting to repeat the experience, we have ordered this each time and it has been delicious. 
It’s in the city so a short taxi ride from The Shangri La Hotel. 

 

https://www.bayvillage.com.au/bayleaf-balinese-restaurant/

Funny you say that. In a past work life I used to travel to Cairns quite often and have had a few meals at Bayleaf - always enjoyable.

[highplanesdrifters]

Bayleaf menu looks fabulous. Exactly what we're looking for. Thanks for the suggestion. 

[MrsWaldo]

Looks like I have a new place to try.  😁😁