On Dec 13, we set sail on a four-day, three-night cruise to Port Klang, Malaysia, on Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas. The huge 15-deck, 138,000 tonne ship, which can accommodate up to 3114 passengers, combined luxe comfort with exciting entertainment options and stellar service.
We were allocated a Superior Ocean View Stateroom, with a balcony that afforded us expansive sea views. Our room was, to our surprise, not claustrophobic at all; it was spacious and airy.
We were spoilt for choice when it came to entertainment options. We were treated to the ice show Ice Under the Big Top; moreover, we spent time at the casino watching fellow travellers, and browsed the shopping arcade Royal Promenade that featured luxury brands and duty-free cosmetics. We also signed up for a shore excursion to Kuala Lumpur, where we were given the opportunity to savor local delights like Bak Kut Teh, and shop to our hearts’ content at KLCC.
There were plenty of fitness facilities on board for us to explore as well. On top of activities like ice skating, rock climbing, basketball and mini golf, the ship was also equipped with a state-of-the-art Fitness Center, with a decent range of weight and cardio machines. There were also four pools and six whirlpools, as well as saunas and steamrooms.
The food on board was simply exceptional. We visited Giovanni’s Table, one of their specialty restaurants, on the first night of our voyage, and were treated to a sumptuous five-course Italian meal. The other Dining Rooms also offered quality food (think pan-seared steaks, escargots, tiger shrimps and scallops), with impeccable service to boot. We also sampled the food at the more casual Windjammer Cafe that offers buffet-style meals. To our delight, room service was also free of charge.
While everything on board exceeded our expectations, what impressed us the most was the consistently high standard of service. The crew members, who hailed from many different countries (from Indonesia to Ukraine), were all extremely friendly and went out of their way to help us settle in. It was indeed pleasant chatting with them to learn more about life on the ship.
To sum up, we were mightily impressed with our voyage on the Mariner of the Seas and thoroughly enjoyed everything on board (except for the unfortunate lack of free wifi). We would definitely want to sail the high seas again with Royal Caribbean.
The Mariner of the Seas will be cruising from Singapore to various destinations, including Phuket and Langkawi, until March 2014. More information can be found on the Royal Caribbean website. Alternatively, call 6305-0033 for more details.
