Royal Caribbean decided to move one of its ships from Singapore to Miami – Mariner of the Seas.
They strung together three legs, and called it The Global Odyssey –
- Singapore to Dubai via Phuket, India and Oman.
- Dubai to Barcelona via Jordan, a daytime passage of the Suez, Israel and Crete
- Barcelona to Miami Trans Atlantic with only one stop in Gibralta.
So of course I booked. Balconies came up at a great price and after my loyalty discount was around $3,000 per leg – not bad for a solo balcony.
I wasn’t terribly committed at first. I really wanted to see Petra in Jordan. Then people online started talking about a trip to the Taj Mahal. That was it. I was in.
The third leg, I decided, would have to go. As much as I want to go to Gibraltar, too much was happening in 2018 to stretch the dollars out. I was doing a Trans Atlantic in October on the world newest, biggest and ‘best-est’ ship so why would I want to go on an old ship – of a class that was my least favourite.
But, I held out a bit longer before cancelling the third leg – who knew – I might win Lotto.
I didn’t win Lotto – but did get an email from Royal.
“We are so sorry. We have had to cancel the final leg of the Global Odyssey Voyage. There would only be two legs. As compensation all people who had booked ALL THREE legs would get a 50% discount on legs one AND two”.
So my $9,000 bill was now down to $3,000 TOTAL. 30 nights in a balcony! My cheapest cruise ever.
But this was not good enough for some. People still complained – for months. “Their lives had been ruined. It would never be the same again. Royal had ruined them”
So another email – and another 25% Future Cruise Certificate for the cost of the cancelled leg, (and since I was then going through the “Do I, Don’t I,….. Can I afford it, Can I not afford it?” stage on a cruise through the Panama Canal) I was very happy. Another $725 off the price!
So decision made. I was going on the “ALMOST GLOBAL ODYSSEY” as it has become known as!
‘Mariner of the Seas’ is a Voyager class ship. Same as Explorer and Voyager that I have been on. Holds 4,250 passengers and has been in China for the last five years. This class has the huge Promenade up the middle of the ship that has fun things happening in it a lot of the time.
It was to go into dry dock in Barcelona to have a major re fit and change it back for the US market. So there will probably be work happening as we go. And it would be pretty run down.
Then I decided to add a three day cruise on beforehand. It would be cheaper than a few days in Singapore. So …I was back to a three leg journey! And my ‘Glass Block’ were back on track.
I had booked both of my flights on points – so changing them was no worries.
AND another email. Royal would pay change fees or taxes on flights home (up to $400) . And since my points flight from the states had huge taxes and my flight from Barcelona didn’t, I did well there as well.
Yep – Global Odyssey – the gift that keeps on giving!
Day 1 – Fly to Singapore
Day 2 Board the ship
Day 3 Kuala Lumper
Day 5 Singapore to collect the others
Day 7 Phuket
Day 11 – Get off ship and go to Delhi, then Agra, India
Day 12 TAJ MAHAL
Day 13 back to Delhi, then the ship
Day 16 Muscat, Oman
Day 18 Dubai
Day 19 Abu Dhabi
Day 24 Aqaba, Jordan – PETRA
Day 25 Suez Canal
Day 26 Suez Canal – so should be a daytime passage
Day 28 Jerusalem, Israel
Day 30 Chania, Crete
Day 32 Barcelona
Day 34 Fly home.
Much fun to be had.
Getting there.
I booked my flights using points, and flew with Virgin to Brisbane, and then Brisbane to Singapore with Singapore . Business. I love points.
My business class seat was huge. So wide and like huge leather lounge. When I was checking in the lady told me it was an older plane so they were not “true flat bed” seats. sad, but “Oh well”, it was only 9 hours so I would be movie watching anyway.
I reclined and watched. It didn’t go back very far at all, so using my wheelie bag and a number of spare pillows I managed to make a leg bench and had my legs up completely.
After two movies and an OK meal, I got up for a walk and stretch. I had noticed others seemed to be lying better then I was so started fiddling.
“Would you like your bed made now?” said the steward. The seat had a click at the back – and folded forward (kind of like folding down the back of the car) and turned into an almost flat bed! YAY.
Sensational. Another movie in real comfort.
I landed at midnight and had the quickest departure ever.
I had booked the cheapest hotel I could find – in a straight line between the airport and the ship!
I found a single room, with no window for $67 Singapore (about $60 Aust). Perfect.
It was tiny. Had a single bed and a great shower.
I was showered and in bed by 1.00am! The bed was hard and the pillows were like bags of set cement – but the air conditioning was fantastic.
Up at 10.30 and straight out to a taxi, and to the ship – Mariner of the Seas. My fourth ship in this class, having sailed Navigator, Explorer and Voyager before.
While waiting for my taxi, I watched one of the Singapore cleaners. He peddled up to a patch of the road that was perfectly clean, apart from some leaves. Parked his bike and took photos. He then spent 15 minutes sweeping, took more photos and moved 100 m up the road!.
Boarding was pretty painless with the express lanes. And there I was on the first part of this trip – by noon. No huge lines of Pinnacle and Diamond Plus. Not many of them in this part of the world.
This was a three night trip with only one stop. Port Klang in Malaysia. It was Navigator’s last run of a six year stint in Asia. Mainly short trips with lots of shopping and gambling. The cliental was 95% Chinese and Indian. People from Singapore going out for a bit of gambling and shopping. The rest were mainly from the US, who were doing the trip to Barcelona.
I had a promenade room – an inside room with a huge window overlooking the promenade. Noisy at night with big colourful lights hitting the curtains all night. But I had never stayed in one – and now I have!
And all of my Crown and Anchor treats were delivered! I haven’t had that for the last number of cruises.
I meet lots of people in the lounge. It was very easy as there were only a few of us, and went to dinner with some others to Chops.
I slept well.
Next page – Kuala Lumpur.
Click below to get there.