Post-Trip Recollections - Cruise to Penang and Phuket

Following my first-ever cruise trip in July 2022, I embarked on my second cruise vacation in end-October 2022. Despite this being my second cruise holiday, I had actually booked this trip way back in January 2022 before I even booked my first cruise trip for July 2022. Ah, the irony of life! 😁

Like my first cruise, this trip was also on the same ship, Royal Caribbean's Spectrum of the Seas. Unlike my first cruise, this was a slightly longer trip for 5 nights onboard, 2 nights more than the previous trip.

Deck 15 of Spectrum of the Seas as seen through the glass canopy of the North Star, Phuket, Thailand (2022)

No longer a cruise virgin and having been onboard the same ship just months earlier, I had matured into a seasoned cruise pro. Boarding on sailing day was a breeze, I had my essentials packed and was all ready to enjoy my holiday.

View of Marina Bay Cruise Centre as Spectrum of the Seas pulled out of port, Marina Bay, Singapore (2022)

Cabin Classes

I had booked myself and my partner on a Silver Suite Cabin, also known as Silver Junior Suite or Junior Suite. For me, this cabin class was the most cost-effective for my budget. I got to enjoy junior suite dining options and access to some suite class benefits without having to pay through my nose for the more extravagant and exclusive Gold Suite Cabins.

Simply put, my cabin class qualify us as Sea Pass holders whilst the Gold Suite Cabins guests were further divided into Sky and Star Pass categories; depending on their cabin tiers. Sea, Sky and Star Pass holders have certain privileges not available to guests from all other cabin classes with the Sky and Star Pass holders having even more privileges than the lower tier Sea Pass holders like myself. 😅

A selfie taken in my Silver Junior Suite Cabin, Spectrum of the Seas (2022)

Onboard Entertainments

Unlike my first cruise trip, I did not have time to watch movies on Deck 15 in the evenings despite this being a longer trip. I was simply busying myself attending talks on luxury watches, shopping and dancing most nights away. Fun was the key word during the entirely of the cruise.

This trip, I finally managed to try my hands bouncing around in the Sky Pad on Deck 15 when the ship was docked in Port Klang. And at Phuket, before I disembarked to go to shore, I paid to ride on the North Star for a bird's eye view of the surroundings seas and Patong Beach.

North Star (top left hand corner), Spectrum of the Seas (2022)

Sky Pad at night, Spectrum of the Seas (2022)

Food, Food and more Food

Yes, I am not shy to admit that I ate my way through each day, every day of the cruise. Being a person with a high metabolism rate, I lose weight easily and can thus indulge in the sin of gluttony when the opportunities present themselves. And opportunities for gluttony were aplenty onboard the Spectrum of the Seas!

Food and more food, Spectrum of the Seas (2022)

Salad, self-made from a buffer spread at the Silver Dining Lounge of Spectrum of the Seas (2022)

Shore Trips

I skipped disembarking at Klang when the ship docked at the port, preferring instead to stay onboard to enjoy the food and fun.

But I did disembark at Penang and Phuket. Moving around Penang was a must for me because of the awesome local hawker food whilst I had not visited Phuket for more than 5 years prior to this cruise trip. A short few hours spent along Patong Beach was not much to shout about but at least, I was back in Phuket after so many years.

And of course, I loved Thai cuisine. Thus, it was more eating while I was onshore at Patong.

Shopfront, Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia (2022)

Spectrum of the Seas anchored just off Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand (2022)

Music Hall

I mentioned dancing every evening. That was a bit of understatement. I actually danced past midnight every night. Paired with cocktails in-between each sojourn onto the dance floor, I tried my hands at all sorts of dance moves including krumping, popping, tutting and free-styling. I must have looked like a fool since I am not a good dancer by any stretch of the imagination.

But hey, vacation time is when we let our hair down and do the weird stuffs that we are all too shy to do in our normal daily lives! 😂

Solarium

Like my first trip, I did not have enough time to use the Jacuzzis in the Solarium. I did make a mental note that I shall do so in my next cruise onboard Spectrum of the Seas when I will get to sail from Yokohama to Singapore in August 2023. With 12 nights onboard, I should have ample opportunities to go topless in the Solarium and show off my beautiful tattoos! 😅

Casino

Nope, I am not the typical folk who believe in the dices of luck. Thus, similar to my first cruise trip, I had walks inside the small casino on Deck 3 but did not try my chances at the games on offer.

My Thoughts?

I loved this trip and I loved my experiences onboard this cruise and certainly look forward to my next cruise experience!

Different shows are available onboard every evening, Spectrum of the Seas (2022)

Author's Note

The views expressed in this article were based on my personal experiences and preferences. My trip and expenses were self-paid. This is not a sponsored article.