Bucket List: First Cruise Vacation

South-East Asia, Malacca Strait

This article was originally published in this blog in July 2022 as one of my Trip Recollections articles. The article reminisced my first ever cruise trip and also my first ever visit to Penang's Georgetown as part of the cruise ship's port call.

Even though this was a relatively short 3-nights regional cruise, I really enjoyed the trip. While I had since went on longer cruises including a 12-nights cruise from Yokohama to Singapore, this first cruise will always be fondly remembered as the one that "introduced" me to a cruise vacation. 

A bucket list item well and truly checked. 

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I finally got to enjoy my first ever cruise experience. A short 4-days, 3-nights cruise from Singapore's Marina Cruise Centre to Penang's Georgetown in Malaysia onboard Royal Caribbean's Spectrum of the Seas.

Deck 15 of Spectrum of the Seas, Royal Caribbean Cruise, Straits of Malacca (2022)

Maybe it was my first time on a cruise and also my first time onboard Spectrum of the Seas but everything was new and exciting to me. I watched two performances on the first night of my cruise; "Showgirls" and "The Silk Road". For me, the performances were good and I enjoyed both shows.

Over the next three nights, I also managed to catch two movie screenings on Deck 15 of the ship, where the pools were located. These movies were "Gorilla vs Kong" and "Cruella". Watching the movies in an open-air area reminded me of the times when I was a kid and had watched movies in those open-air drive-in cinemas which were no longer available in modern Singapore. A tinge of nostalgia and a throwback to my childhood years.

The onboard dining were also good and I had sumptuous after sumptuous meals. With my so-called SEA Class Pass (because I had booked a Silver Junior Suite), I also had access to the Silver Lounge located at the Aft part of the ship on Deck 14. Here was where breakfast lunch and dinner were served.

On arrival at Penang, the disembarkation process was relatively straightforward and efficient. However, because the ship only arrived at about 4pm at the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal, we had only a few hours to explore the areas neighbouring the pier since we had to be back onboard by 10.30pm latest. Still, it was an enjoyable few short hours for me in Georgetown where I explored the city by walking around without any fixed plans or maps.

Me and a doggie-theme wall mural, Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia (2022)

We had dinner along Jalan Macalister, a major thoroughfare in the city. After dinner, we headed back to the pier at around 8.30pm by cab and re-boarded the ship. There was still time to head to Deck 14 for some deserts at the Silver Lounge followed by a quick coffee at Windjammer Marketplace also located at Deck 14 but at the forward area.

A selfie to remember my first cruise experience,  Spectrum of the Seas, Royal Caribbean Cruise, Straits of Malacca (2022)

I didn't get to try the fun experience of Skypad during this cruise due to a lack of time but there is always a next time,  Spectrum of the Seas, Royal Caribbean Cruise, Straits of Malacca (2022)

The last day of the cruise was spent lazing around the pool areas on Deck 15 as well more dining. I also took the chance to explore the ship's other attractions. These include the Casino Royale located at Deck 3 and the retail shops along the Royal Esplanade on Deck 4. On all three nights of my cruise, I also spent time at the Music Hall located just next to the Casino Royale. At 12am each night, the Music Hall was transformed from a live-music performance hall into a discotheque where we danced the nights away while sipping cocktails in-between.

Overall, I would rate my first cruise experience as well-above my own expectations. I have another cruise, also with Royal Caribbean and also on the Spectrum of the Seas, booked for October 2022. This will be a slightly longer 6-days, 5-nights cruise where we will also sail along the Straits of Malacca but will be visiting Klang and Penang in Malaysia and also Phuket in Thailand. I can't wait for October to come soon enough. Meantime, I am now planning more cruise trips for 2023 and 2024. I am hooked! 😁

Getting some sun was part of my daily routine while onboard, Spectrum of the Seas, Royal Caribbean Cruise, Straits of Malacca (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.