Spectrum of the Seas
We all remember being marooned at home due to the pandemic. With international travel back in full swing, many of us have been scouring the internet to book trips and reclaim overdue vacations.
Our local beaches and resorts make for great weekend escapes. But consider hopping on a cruise to sail the high seas instead. For those dreaming of a luxurious getaway, Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas has 20 dining options and various thrilling activities on deck for leisure cruisers to discover.
We got to tour the Spectrum of the Seas – here’s what we experienced on our day there.
Complimentary amenities & dining options
If you’re a typical city-dweller, you may have forgotten how to take some much-needed time off due to your busy schedule. So, picture taking a slow and scenic route on an all-inclusive cruise vacation, with nothing but the blue skies and sea around you.
On Spectrum of the Seas, you can check in at one of four accommodation types, which give you complimentary access to multiple adrenaline-pumping amenities and seven delectable dining options.
Spanning 1,139 feet in length – around the height span of KL Tower, sans its antenna – and accommodating up to 5,622 guests, the cruise ship looks more like a permanent feature at Port Klang Cruise Centre rather than a transportation mode for travellers.
Step inside the cruise ship, and you’ll think you’ve walked into a glitzy shopping mall instead. With 11 speciality restaurants and various luxe retailers onboard, travellers will want to plan ahead of their trip to settle on a place to celebrate special occasions.
We spotted Jamie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver and Leaf & Bean, two eateries you can explore on the cruise besides complimentary options such as The Cafe @ Two70.
We dropped by the latter for brunch, and dined on smoked salmon bagels, sweet muffins, and piping-hot coffee that recharged us after our 1-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur to Port Klang.
Rest assured, if you do want to stretch your legs beyond the deck, the cruise makes ports of call at the following cities around Southeast Asia, after departing from Singapore:
- Port Klang and Penang in Malaysia
- Phuket and Bangkok in Thailand
- Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam
Stops depend on the scheduled itinerary you opt for. Rates start from around ~RM1,069 (USD240) for a 3-night cruise, which lets you alight in Penang for an evening before cruising back down to Singapore.
Flowriding, rock climbing, & indoor badminton
Indulging in a myriad of exciting activities may just be what we all need after being isolated from the world due to the pandemic.
Besides the indoor and outdoor pools complete with thrilling waterslides, another highlight for beach-starved guests is the FlowRider Surf Simulator, which lets you surf on constant waves while having an open view of the sea.
Else, there’s the SeaPlex with indoor sport activities such as tennis and badminton, and even a Rock-Climbing Wall, so you can challenge your fam or friends.
If your idea of a relaxing vacation is spending some me-time, the Solarium is an adults-only lounge area with comfy loungers and glass roofing so you can soak up the sun over a good book or a refreshing drink.
Sail the high seas with Spectrum of the Seas
It’s safe to say that we have all been itching for a vacation.
While we Malaysians have to make a trip to neighbouring Singapore to board Spectrum of the Seas, this cruise offers first-time cruisers a change of scenery from their pre-pandemic vacation plans. So if you find yourself facing booked-out hotels, don’t exclude a cruise sea-cation – it has something to offer everyone, not just retired folks.
Things to do in Penang:
- 8 breakfast places in Penang
- 7 beautiful colonial mansions in Penang
- Queens Waterfront is a new lifestyle hub in Penang
Other places to check out around Malaysia:
Photography by Khairul Shafit.
Cover image adapted from: TheSmartLocal Malaysia
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