Voyager of the Seas Review

Immersion in Asian culture, including on the boat

Review for Asia Cruise on Voyager of the Seas
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AJackson
6-10 Cruises • Age 60s

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Sail Date: Aug 2015
Cabin: Large Oceanview Stateroom
Traveled with children

The passengers were 90% Chinese, although of course this was not a homogeneous group (roughly half were from Hong Kong). The overall feeling on the boat was different to other cruises we have experienced: certainly noisier, and less well mannered, with flip flops and shorts in the dining room, including on formal nights. However, Chinese passengers did seem to be making an effort, and a difference (in volume) was noticeable by the end of the cruise. Also, it was enjoyable to see people excited by aspects we might have taken for granted. Chinese passengers tended to be in large groups, which was one of the reasons queues tended to expand from the front. However, this meant that messages about expected behaviour seemed to spread fast. Although the Chinese language sounds quite aggressive because of its staccato rhythms, the people were not aggressive to us. Also, Chinese people tend not to sun bathe so sun lounges were mainly empty for us Brits!

The itinerary we paid for was China, Japan and S Korea. The itinerary we got was Vietnam: only two places, which was undoubtedly lower value for money, especially as we booked the cruise four months previously, before the price dropped. However, we had not been to Vietnam before, and we made the best of the time, organising excursions each day, which was helped by the onboard credit from RC. One possible concern was that part of Vietnam has malaria, but RC staff assured us that the excursions we took - including a river cruise - were not affected.

The ship was of the usual standard. All the facilities we observed were working. The cabin was comfortable and clean. The food was fresh and healthy, indeed the inclusion of Asian food added to the variety. I found more to eat at lunch than had been the case on a previous RC cruise, which was a bit too much American junk food for me. Gluten free food, which I needed, was clearly marked on the menu, and the serving staff went out of their way to ensure the food was still interesting for me despite this dietary restriction. This level of individual attention is remarkable given the large number of diners.

Cabin Review

Large Oceanview Stateroom

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