Twenty-three of us.
This was our extended family holiday for the first time in 18 years.
The last time we went on a family vacation was to Sydney in 2000.
At that time, there was only one child (my nephew and godson) in the next generation that had been born. In total, including my nephew, there were 10 of us. My father was still alive then.
This time, there were 13 in the next generation ranging from 4 years of age, to almost 19. And my father had passed on about 10 years ago.
If you have never been on a cruise before, know that you are discouraged, nay, prohibited from bringing your own alcohol.
So there is a whole industry to circumvent that.
Well, there are companies who will help you circumvent the Cruise operator's profiteering.
Like this Cruise Kit:
So you can hide your booze in what looks like a shampoo and conditioner bottle.
You can also search on Amazon for "Cruise Runners", or Concealable Drinking flasks.
My Father-in-law was not even drinking alcohol. He was sitting in the Casino, after a run of good luck and pondering his next adventure, when he was asked if he would like a drink. He thought it was complementary offer and said yes. To a coke.
When the drink came all fancied up, he knew it was not complementary.
He tried to pay in cash, but they told him he could just use his Sea Pass card.
So it was charged to his Sea Pass.
He later found out his Coke costs $3.84. That's US dollars!
Because, all transactions on Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships are in US dollars!
And that's about $5 Singapore!
For a Coke!
In comparison, on a short excursion to Sunway Mall (an hour from Port Klang, where were were docked), I got a Pepsi from the supermarket. It costs RM1.50.
Or 50 cents in Singapore dollars. Just a tenth of what my F-I-L paid at the Casino bar. (They were trying to get back his winnings.)
We had wine with our dinner. It was quite reasonable. $8 or $9 for the more affordable wine by the glass. $30 for the whole bottle which is much better value.
In USD.
Not outrageous, and the wine adds to the occasion.
No complaints there.
But... water.
Interestingly, on checking in to our stateroom, we had two bottles of Evian water in our stateroom.
GREAT!
I used the in-room kettle to boil the water, to make tea and coffee (they did supply tea bags but the instant coffee, I brought myself).
The next day, the water was not replenished. My wife suggested just boiling the water from the tap.
I didn't trust the water from the tap. After a shower/bath, I smelled of chlorine. The water felt... over-treated.
So we filled the empty bottles at the restaurants.
And we were not the only ones. We found at least three others doing the same!
Surreptitiously.
Because the ship has a policy against re-filling empty bottles!
There are even signs at the Cafe Promenade at the self-service beverage counter.
Which are promptly ignored by many.
On a shore excursion, I passed a receptable of cold mineral water. I asked if I could have one (I thought it was provided free to those going ashore) I was asked for my Sea Pass card and I knew they were going to charge me for bottled water. At $2 a bottle! (I later found out.) That's 2 US Dollars! Or about S$3!
We already paid $40 (US) per pax for the shore excursion. So a complementary bottle of water is not too much to expect, right?
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| Sunrise as seen from the balcony of our stateroom on the final morning (arriving in Singapore) |
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