Travel Bits: March 2024

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Gearing up for my next trip...... 


In less than a week's time, I will be going on my planned vacation. This will be my second trip of the year. After this, I have no other trips either planned or confirmed for 2024. I am still trying to come to grips with the astronomical increase in travel costs. Thus, I have been searching and waiting for discount deals on flight tickets and accommodations, but no luck so far. And so, the search and wait continue.

The coming trip is a relatively short and unadventurous 5 days/4 nights return cruise from Singapore to Penang and Phuket. I had booked this cruise sometime in the middle of last year, paying a lot less than what I would need to pay if I am to book a similar cruise itinerary today. And, I love the ship, Spectrum of the Seas. Sadly for me, this ship will leave Singapore next month (April 2024) for its new home ports in China. Thus, this will very likely be the last time I cruise on Spectrum unless it returns to be home ported in Singapore again sometime in the future.

This being my last probable cruise on Spectrum, I intend to fully enjoy the short vacation. Explore the ship, work on my journals onboard, eat, watch the shows, spend time on the balcony enjoying the sea breeze and sip on a margarita or two. 

Returning to Penang and Phuket for port visits after two years will also be fun. Local hawker food in Penang and foot reflexology by the beach in Phuket are what I am looking forward to. After this trip, I am not even sure when I will be going on a vacation again this year. A trip to Japan is likely sometime later in the year but that is still very much in the planning phase.

Just to add that I do have a confirmed trip booked for 2025. Its an 8-nights return cruise from Singapore to Bali and Lombok. That will be on a Royal Caribbean ship that I have never sailed with before. The Anthem of the Seas. New travel experiences await.

Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand (2022)


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