I just returned from 5-night The Spices of SouthEast Asia Cruise on the Legend of the Seas. It was one of the best holidays of my life, one that I will always treasure. My family and I were first time cruisers, and we definately took to life on deck... It was pretty 'suite'. We left on the Saturday, 04 January 2010 and returned on the 09 January 2010. 04/01-departs at 17.00. 05/01-Cruising 06/01-Phuket,Thailand 07/01-Langkawi,Malaysia 08/01-Port Kelang,Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) Intended check-in was from 11.00-15.00. After reading another review, we decided to not go exactly at 11.00 as that's when 'the old and confused' are checking in. We left our hotel at 12.00 for the HarbourFront-Cruise Centre. We were there by 12.15 and greeted by Royal Caribbean (RC) staff. With our luggage in tow we joined the line to check in our main baggage. It was a short wait. If you've completed online check-in and received the stickers for your luggage already it's a quick process. Otherwise, it'll take 2 minutes longer to get your stickers and attach them onto your bags. In case you realised you've forgotten something, there are shops around boasting a variety of essential items. And the not-so-essential ones.. More RC staff are available everywhere to guide you up the escalator toward your Check-In. At the top of the escalator, look around for the RC staff member with a stack of forms. From him, you will get 1.Health Questionnaire 2.Singapre immigration Form 3.Thailand Immigration Form. 3 for each person. There's enough table space to stand around to fill these. To make it easier and quicker, let each person fill their own, but remember to have pens easily accessible for each person. If you've printed/received your SetSail Pass, check-in is a breeze. All you need is your SetSail Pass, a Credit Card and a form of identification(i.e.Passport). It's a short wait unless, like us, you get stuck behind a large tour group. Here you will each be presented with your Sea Pass-your identity for the rest of the cruise and your room card. Thereafter, proceed to Baggage Security Check. After that, you're ready to get onboard. Just before you get on board though, you have to hand in your passport. This is not only to ensure you don't run away but also allows RC to handle the immigration/passport control at certain stops so you don't have to worry about it. You will be issued with a passport receipt which you need to keep with you as you will need to present it in order to get your passport back.

We got onboard at 12.45 and were told to go to the 9th floor for lunch as the rooms would only be ready at 13.00. The WindJammer cafe on the 9th floor served an excellent lunch with something for everyone. It boasts a great balance between meat and vegetarian dishes. However, there were just way too many people. Inside was totally full, so we were forced to sit outside. Inside had the advantage of air-conditioning but the outside had a bit of sanity at least. Before cruising, you are told to carry essential medication and valuables in your hand luggage as your baggage would only be returned to you later on. Advisable not to carry too much hand luggage as if your room isn't ready as yet, you may be carting it around the buffet. Your luggage is left outside your room as soon as it's all been sorted out. My parents and I had booked the cabin with a balcony, cabin 6124. For 3 adults, it was maybe a bit too tight but bearable. Especially since the balcony provided that extra space which we found essential. Our balcony formed the rear of the ship allowing us great views. The bathroom was sufficient but a larger person may have a more difficult time in that shower! An hour before setting sail, a muster drill is done in case of emergency. It is compulsory! Check behind your cabin door for which level is your muster station and your SeaPass for the number of the station. Sufficient announcements given! Another stop on your tour, is the library on the 7th floor. If you didn't have space to carry your own favourite reads, you may find them here. There are beautiful chairs to just make you want to curl up with a good book. To check books out, you just have to write your name and the book you've taken. Another nice place to sit and relax is the 9th floor, on the opposite side of WindJammer. It's the Solarium! With great views, it's the perfect place to sit! The pizza and burger bar offers pizzas, hotdogs, chips and other foods completely free! Check the times they're open on the CruiseCompass that is left in your room every night. In the solarium is a pool and 2 small Jacuzzis. The entire solarium is in a sort of greenhouse. There is another pool on the main deck 9. Dinner is served in the Romeo & Juliet Dining Room, situated on the 4th and 5th floors. It is absolutely beautiful! There are 3 dinner dining options available: the 1st sitting fixed 18.00 every night, the 2nd sitting fixed at 20.30 every night or the My Time Dining Options which allows you to select your dining time every night. You just need to confirm what time you'll be coming every night by stopping at the MTD table outside the dining room. The food was absolutely amazing! The menu caters for everyone, and clearly displays vegetarian and vitality/healthier options. Each night there is at least 1 seafood starter and main, the same for vegetarian. The waiters and assistant waiters are extremely helpful and attentive. Offering bread twice and regularly refilling water glasses, there's nothing to find fault with. Of notable mention were Sashko, Bilal and Jane who were extremely friendly and helpful. Some of my best meals were Spinach Salad, Eggplant with Parmesan(Parmesano del Melanzane), Chili concane, Pavlova with Strawberry compote and Mango, Custard & Coconut ice cream. Yummy!!! We finally got to meet the dream team on the final night, with Jai Ho(remix) playing in the background, the chefs were introduced to us. :) On the first day, the spa holds a competition giving out treatments. My mum and I had filled it in during the day and gone for the draw which was at 19.30. Only 8 people showed up and with 5 prizes to give away, my mum & I both won. However, the prize only offers a % reduction on a treatment. So, it was still too steep for the South African Rand. The Spa also has a Sauna & Steam Bath which is open to all passengers even if you don't have a treatment. Breakfast is available between 8.00 and 11.00 in the WindJammer Cafe. A good walk after breakfast, or even at night after dinner is on the 10th floor Jogging Track. It's just what you need after those tight meals. On your way around, you can also pick up Daily Sudoku and Daily Trivia from the library. RC does offer tours at the different ports. However, they are way too pricey for the activities they offer and not worth it! There are enough taxis available at every port offering way more reasonable prices and allowing you to pick and choose what you'd like to do. At Phuket & Langkawi, we asked the same taxi to wait and pick us up at a certain time. Set the price before and haggle a little! PHUKET-anchor off Phatong Beach. No port so ferry required to get to the island. If you plan on leaving before 10.00 tender ticket numbers are required. Read the Cruise Compass! After 10.00, it's straight onto the ferry, no ticket required. Keep SeaPass on you always as it is required for getting on and off ship. Phuket was quite enjoyable. As soon as you get off though, you are bombarded by taxi drivers shoving tourist attractions in your face. From Elephant Riding to Butterfly Parks, they've got it all. They are quite persistent so try not to let any of them get too attached. And definitely do haggle for the price! We decided to leave the attractions and just go shopping! It's a 30-40 minute drive to the Central Shopping Centre. Was very nice and picked up a few nice things. Along Phatong Beach, on the opposite side of the streets are some nice shops and worth a walk through. LANGKAWI-dock directly at the Star Cruises Terminal. Took a taxi to Kuah (30 minute drive). There are 2 shopping centres, a few minutes apart, both with large variety of shops. Found it more reasonable than Phuket. PORT KLANG-dock directly at Star Cruises Terminal. Is 45 minutes-1 hour away from central KL. Since this was our 4th visit to KL, we opted to just visit a shopping centre near this port. We went to Bukit Tinggi (20-30 minute drive on very rough potholed roads). Was a very nice centre, reasonable and many restaurants. If you've taken the PrePaid Gratuities option (which I recommend), then the night before last you are given the envelopes to go and give to 1.Stateroom Attendant 2.Waiter 3.Assistant waiter 4.Head Waiter. These are just vouchers representing the suggested gratuities. When we booked online we picked this option. However, they do offer it to you while on the cruise so you can fill in the form and give it in at the Pursers Desk (4th level). Since there is only one envelope for waiter you would assume you would have the same waiter every night. However, this wasn't the case with us. We decided to give the waiter who served us 3 out of the 5 nights. However, there were 2 others who were particularly friendly and attentive to us, so we gave them something as well. Departing was quite easy. Check out is between 7.00 and 8.00. The night before you are given tags for your baggage and told to leave it outside your room. The colour of the sticker determines time and place of check out. For eg., ours was light blue, which meant at 7.40 we had to meet in the Theatre to wait for clearance. It was extremely organised and systematic. Was a great experience and I'm sure this won't be the last RC sees of us!