Review of a Asian cruise Singapore to Hong Kong on Celebrity Millennium
Introduction
This review is of a cruise we did on the Celebrity Millennium from Singapore to Hong Kong with port stops in Laem Chabang Thailand from where we visited Bangkok, then 3 port stops in Vietnam, those being, Ho Che Minh ( Saigon), Tien Sa from where we visited Danang and Halong Bay from where we visited Hanoi before arriving in Hong Kong.
Itinerary
We did this cruise onboard one of Celebrity Cruises millennium class ships the apply named Celebrity Millennium.
Celebrity is normally our cruise line of choice so we are familiar with the product they offer but its fair to say these days itineraries play as big a part in terms of choice of cruise but this particular one ticked both boxes.
The Ship
Celebrity Millennium as previously mentioned is a millennium class ship. She made her maiden voyage on the 1 July 2000 so she is the oldest ship in Celebrities fleet but has in fact relatively recently been fully refurbished. However we did this cruise before that refurbishment even so it was our opinion she was still a great ship to sail on.
She carries 2218 passengers and just over a 1000 crew on 11 passenger decks and in 975 staterooms ranging from Suits, Balcony Staterooms, Outside to Inside Staterooms.
On this cruise we had reserved a Balcony Stateroom
Newly refurbished Balcony Stateroom
Pre cruise and fabulous Singapore
Singapore is one of our favourite cities in the world so again the fact this cruise was starting from there was a major plus point on us choosing it as it gave us a excuse, not that we needed one, to spend some time there.
So four-day before embarkation we flew direct from Glasgow to Singapore via Dubai on Emirates Airlines.
Emirates is a airline we have flown on a number of times now and have never at any issue with. The plus points for us is they operate regularly services from both Glasgow and Edinburgh so we have plenty of choice if we are heading to the Middle East, Indian sub continent, Asia or even Africa. On top of that the in-flight service has always been good.
So the flight left Glasgow at 10 PM , we live in Edinburgh but Glasgow Airport is only just a hour along the motorway so we have the choice of both airports, the flight lasted basically 16 hours in total with a 1 hour transfer in Dubai.
The transfer at Dubai was a bit rushed but we made it so with time difference factored in we arrived on time in the early evening into Singapore.
Funny enough I am one of the lucky ones in that I never suffer from jet lag. Must have been all those long unsociable work shifts I did in my previous life who knows.
We had arranged a prebooked transfer from the excellent Changi Airport, its like the country we always find the place runs like clockwork can only speak from our experience which has on every occasion been perfect. Likewise on this occasion less than 50 minutes after landing we were in the taxi and heading to our hotel.
It was a typical hot and humid Asian night under the bright lights of Singapore.
Marina Bay Sands
For this trip we had decided to treat ourselves and had reserved a Club Room at the iconic Marina Bay Sands Hotel which features on nearly every poster of Singapore.
Marina Bay Sands Hotel
Check into the hotel was very efficient and we were quickly in the lift heading to floor 19 and our room that was simply perfect. You can choose to have a city view or like us a Gardens and sea view, if you do pick this one you also get a balcony, city views only have a window.
The other bonus of the club room is that club guests have there own cocktail bar next to the iconic Rooftop pool as well as a closed section of what is a residents only pool.
You can also choose to have breakfast by the pool also.
You don't however need to be a resident to see the pool or get a idea of the view as there is a cocktail bar for none residents at one end however it can get busy and the drinks can be expensive.
View from our room
Enjoying the pool
Logistics Manager in the pool
Marina Bay Sands Rooftop pool
Rooftop pool
Singapore
After a good nights rest we were up early and had breakfast next to the pool before the inevitable dip and of course the must do pictures of the pool and City view from it.
We then changed and headed downstairs, Marina Bay Sands is a resort in itself with a huge shopping mall , numerous restaurants, entertainment venues, casino etc etc. But we were in fact meeting up with a old friend. My Logistics Manager Christine had a pen pal as a young girl ( Remember those days when we actually wrote letters and sent them by post !! )
That pen pal was a young Singapore girl who like us has grown up married had children.
So thats who we were meeting Christine and her had met before but I was meeting her for the first time she was then going to spend the day with us enjoying her home city.
Once the emotional meeting was done we all headed off out into Singapore for the day.
It truely was a wonderful day for so many reasons meeting our friend and enjoying a fabulous city.
Pen pals Christine and Khayati
The next two days were spent simply enjoying all Singapore has to offer including a visit to Raffles Hotel Long Bar for our Singapore Slings something we always do when visiting. We also visited the Botanical Gardens which are truely spectacular and well worth doing if you have not been before.
For some more indepth suggestions and recommendations on what to see and do in Singapore please have a look here; Singapore
Logistics Manager in Singapore
Display in the Botanical Gardens
Marina Bay at night
Visiting the Gardens in the Bay
Colourful Singapore
Logistics Manager in China Town Singapore
Singapore Sling at Raffles Long Bar
Day 1 Embarkation Day
So on the morning we were to join the ship I woke up like a 5 year old on Christmas Day full of anticipation and excitement.
I got up early and headed for breakfast before a last dip in the pool it was whilst doing this I looked down from the hotel..... and there she was the Celebrity Millennium docked already at Singapore Cruise Terminal waiting on us to board.
Your first sight of the ship just before you cruise is always good.
Millennium docked in Singapore
So once we had checked out of the hotel we got a taxi from the hotel and set off on the 5 minute transfer to the Singapore Marina Bay Cruise Terminal.
Once we arrived the baggage handlers were quickly on the scene and our cases were passed on, we then made the short walk into the terminal which is very well sign posted and overall we were pleasantly surprised at how orderly and efficient it all was. Without really having to queue we were at the check in desk and minutes later had the all important Sea Passes in hand.
Job done, we headed along and up the long walkway towards the ship and that golden moment of being back onboard.
Marina Bay Cruise Terminal
Inside the terminal
Millennium docked in Singapore
Once we were onboard and with our glass of welcome bubbles in hand we began to wander the ship, we had cruised the Millennium class before so the layout was familiar and welcoming. For this cruise we had booked a balcony stateroom with Select dining, we do prefer the Select dining option as it gives us the freedom to dine when we want and since we are not big fans of the theater productions we are not restricted by trying to fit there start time into our schedule.
Later we headed up to the pool deck and found a spot to relax in the ship was only about 50% full at this point so quiet. This was probably down to the fact that it was in fact staying in dock overnight on our first night onboard and not setting sail till 5 pm on Day 2. So I think guests who had not experienced Singapore before were taking the opportunity to do so.
Millennium Pool Deck
Relaxing on deck
Glad to be back onboard
Just after 2 pm the cabins are ready announcement was made and we made our way to our room on Deck 8 midship where the military operation that is the Logistics Manager's unpacking procedure swung into action.
Once that was completed we went for a walk that inevitable ended with us at our favourite bar at Sea, the Martini Bar.
Logistics Manager at the Martini Bar
It was here we first met up with a staff member who became a friend and someone we have sailed with again and we are still in contact with. The only and only Agus, or as he says Aberdeen Angus !!
Agus
I will take a moment to say for anyone who recognises Agus and has sailed with him, I can confirm that during these current Pandemic times as I type this that he is back home in Bali with his family and is safe and well, and like most of us just waiting on word so he can get back to sailing again soon, we hope to see him in 2021.
Anyway on that first day of this cruise we chatted with him and also met at the same time two other couples who we never knew at the time but who we ended up enjoying some memorable times with on this cruise. This is another reason I enjoy cruiseing, simply meeting people chatting and enjoying some great times with them.
Later we enjoyed our first dinner in the MDR before some nightcaps back at the Martini Bar the ship was again quiet as many of the quests were still exploring Singapore.
Celebrity Millennium dining room
Day 2 Singapore
So after a excellent night's sleep we awoke still in Singapore but knowing that later today we would set sail.
We decided to skip the buffet breakfast and instead went to the MDR which is always a more relaxed start to the day. Don't get me wrong the buffet selection is excellent but I am not big on breakfast so a bit of crispy bacon and a slice of melon I am sorted.
After that we again hit the pool deck or to be more accurate the Sunrise Deck ( one up from the pool ) and found a couple of beds towards the aft that were quiet although to be fair most of the morning and early afternoon the ship was quiet as guests caught the last couple of hours in Singapore.
So we had a very relaxing day basically doing nothing, bliss ....
At 4 pm it was muster drill our station was in fact the theater, now I know its not the best 45 minutes of your life but it is what it is.
Then it was time to hit the ocean wave and right ontime at 5 pm the captain slowly moved away from the Quay and we were now heading out to sea.
Singapore fades into the distance as we sail out to sea
After enjoying the sail away we returned to our stateroom to change for the night, I had been in there for about a 30 or 40 minutes when I suddenly realised the ship had in fact
STOPPED !!!
We were sitting stationary in what was to be fair a calm sea with Singapore just over the horizon, after about 15 minutes like that the Captain made a announcement over the tanoy that we were in fact stopped as a result of a medical emergency onboard and they were waiting on a Singapore coastguard and medical team to reach the ship. To be honest they were with us quickly and another 45 minutes later we witnessed the sad sight of someone and there worried partner being stretchered off the ship into the waiting emergency boat and heading back to Singapore. I have often wondered and hoped they made a full recovery such a sad end to what was I am sure a much anticipated holiday.
We then once more set sail but its incidents like this that make me all the more determined to enjoy life as much as I can.
As for us we now had two full sea days to enjoy.
Days 3 & 4 Glorious Sea Days
Now its great to experience new ports and locations on a cruise but I do also enjoy a sea day. As it was the first of these was our first Chic Night onboard and the vast majority on this cruise really joined in with the concept. Which was great to see.
Any way on our first morning at sea we got up to stunning weather blue skys and temperatures in around the 80c mark. However there was also a little bit of movement in the ship with the South China Sea having a swell on, nothing to bad but straight line walking was at a premium 😄 so that bar walk was interesting.
We spent both sea days simply relaxing at the pool and occasionally taking a rest from the sun at the Solarium or Cafe El Bacio my Logistics Managers go to spot... if I ever lose her I know where to find her .... mind you she says the same about me and the Martini Bar.
On Chic Night we were joined for dinner by the two couples we had met on the first day and after that we all had a really good night at the Martini Bar where the in house band put on a show based around music hits of the 70 & 80's its fair to say I lay longer in bed that next morning...... well after all I was on holiday. 🍹
Logistics Manager in her go to spot
Dressed up for chic night
Chic night drinks
Enjoying our days at sea
A view that I long to see again
Sailing the South China Sea
Martini Bar guys
Kadak showing us how to pour a Martini
Logistics Manager and Agus
Day 5 & 6 for us ment Bangkok
On the morning of Day 5 we arrived at our first port stop that was Laem Chabang in Thailand.
Now this was to be a overnight port stop so we decided that we would use it to visit Bangkok a city we had never been to before. The excursion we decided for this was a ships one and involved a overnight stay off the ship in Bangkok so giving us maximum time to experience the city. We had a early breakfast them attended the theater to join our Celebrity Excursion and pick up those stickers that identify cruise excursion passengers the world over. We were then quickly off ship and onto our excursion bus where we met our guide.
Now to describe the port of Laem Chabang one word you are NOT going to use is
" Picturesque " !!! to be blunt this is a commercial port with nothing nearby for cruise toursist's. So your looking at excursion to leave the ship and the vast majority of passengers on our ship choose to go to Bangkok, you can do the city highlights all in a day, but its a full day most of it spent in thick traffic in hot conditions, so thats why we decided to do a overnight trip.
Now you could do it yourself but with the traffic issues and distance involved we decided it was safer this trip to pick a ships excursion. It was a good choice because we were delayed on the way back but had the guarantee that being on a cruise ship tour the Captain and ship would wait on us.
As a alternative to Bangkok you can visit the toursist resort of Pattaya from this port its only a 30 minute drive from where the ship docks. But for us Bangkok it was.
The excursion as it turned out was excellent and I can't really praise it enough we got to see all the main temples and sights in Bangkok including the Grand Palace as well as dinner on the River before some free time at night it really was a brilliant two days and one I would recommend if you were considering visiting the city from the ship. For the overnight part they booked us into the Royal Orchard Sheraton Hotel and Towers which sits right on the river and has some fantastic views again the standard of this hotel was simply excellent.
I have covered this two day excursion in full detail on a separate blog you can read it here: Bangkok Excursion
Grand Palace Bangkok
Reclining Buddha Wat Pho
Logistics Manager in Bangkok
Logistics Manager modeling her cover up to gain entry to the Grand Palace
Within the Grand Palace on what was a very hot day
View from our hotel room in Bangkok
Bangkok Cocktail
City at night from a trip along the river
River boat at night
Our Tuk Tuk driver on a night out in Bangkok
Street food in Bangkok
Day 7 Sea Day
Following on after two full on but very enjoyable days in Bangkok and after a good nights sleep onboard we now had another day at sea to enjoy the ship. This is a itinerary where you will find a good balance of port stops that are long full on and very enjoyable then some relaxing sea day time to recharge your batteries before the next exciting port stop.
Therefore thats exactly what we did the weather was still perfect and hot and I spent the day topping up my tan.
At night after dinner we took in the Thearter Show and to be honest it was a good show called Boogie Wonderland.
Millennium Theatre
Boogie Wonderland show
Day 8 Ho Chi Minh City
So we had arrived in Vietnam we had in fact picked up our passport with visa the night before on the ship, Vietnamese Border Gaurds had joined the ship in Thailand and since the Ship had retained our passports during the boarding process they had all been checked and stamped prior to us docking which all ment we had no issues or delays leaving the ship.
We were heading to Ho Chi Minh ( Saigon the locals even still refer to it as that ) which was a good 2 hour bus run from the port.
I was looking forward to this in particular because I was a young boy when Saigon and the American withdrawal from it at the end of the Vietnam war, was all over the news.
So being interested in history I was looking forward to our visit to the city.
On the way there we stopped for a break at a rural location which just shouted out South East Asia, we then made our way into the city which is now a growing modern metropolis. However some of the buildings with a link to the past are still there and it was these that our guide concentrated on. Such as the Post Office building and the Rex Hotel but most of all what is now called Reunification Palace which was the center of the then South Vietnam Government and where the North Vietnamese dramatically claimed victory.
We also got a chance to have some free time in the city before a Vietnamese lunch at a restaurant which was in fact really good, but I do like my Asian food.
After a informative busy and enjoyable day in Ho Chi Minh we retraced our steps and headed back to the ship.
Arriving in Vietnam
Rural Vietnam on the way to Ho Chi Minh
Reunification Palace
Famous tank that crashed through the gates at time of America withdrawal
Post office Buildings
Inside the Post Office
Ho Chi Minh statue
Rex Hotel
Ho Chi Minh
Downtown Saigon
Logistics Manager going local
Departing after a great first day in Vietnam
Day 9 At Sea
So this was another day at sea enjoying the ship and relaxing. At night we met up with our cruise friends and enjoyed another good night of fun at the Martini Bar. Now I don't gamble but just for fun I try my luck in the casino once each cruise on a strict budget, so as a group we did spend a little time there needless to say I gave my normal donation to the Celebrity profit margin.... !!
Sea day
Martini Bar
Martini Bar
Pick your drink
Crush Bar
Casino
Casino
Logistics Manager trying to win our next cruise
You can never watch to many sunsets at sea
Day 10 Da Nang
We arrived here just before 9 am in the morning and again it had been a quiet sail overnight at this point the weather was still perfect and little did we know that was to change.
The ship actually docks at Tien Sa port which is in fact a industrial port which seems to specialise in coal, there was huge stocks of it at the port with several large cargo ships being loaded with it so a busy port but definitely not a picturesque one.
Tien Sa is a 30 minute drive from our destination for the day Da Nang city.
We once more picked up our excursion stickers in the Millennium Theatre before quickly transferring to our bus for the tour into Da Nang. Once out the port the drive into Da Nang was uneventful however we could see in the distance this is a mountainous region of Vietnam.
Once in Da Nang we visited a temple and a large Pegoda structure as well Da Nang Cathedral and the unusual Dragon Bridge across the river. We then had some free time and we decided to grab a local coffee in one if the Coffee House's
Once we regrouped and were back on the bus we began our journey back to the ship it was then we realised the weather was turning, just outside the city it was noticeable that there was mist now rolling down off the hills making them disappear, by the time we reached the port the ship was engulfed in a thick fog and the temperature had dropped considerably. We changed for dinner and as we made our way to our favourite spot for pre dinner drinks the Captain came over the tanoy to inform us that the weather forecast was not good, in fact we were heading out of port and into a storm !! The outside decks would be locked and we were informed that there would be a swell nothing that the ship could not handle but that it would be noticeable. As we slowly pulled out of Tien Sa port and into open sea almost immediately the South China Sea began to ramp up its best rock and roll playlist !!!
Let's just say it became a challenge to walk in a straight line but we have have been through worse. Anyway it did not interrupted our night as we headed for dinner in Sushi on 5 a Speciality Restaurant that we know well and enjoy. Once more the meal was excellent but it normally is.
Later after a few nightcaps we returned to our room and eventually fell asleep as the ship rocked and rolled towards Halong Bay.
Sailing into Tien Sa
Small local fishing boats welcome us into Tien Sa
Da Nang Cathedral
Market in Da Nang
Pegoda in city center
Dragon Bridge in Da Nang
Sushi on 5
Day 11 & 12 Halong Bay & Hanoi
So after a very wet windy and rough night at sea as we neared Halong Bay the weather improved, we were pleased about that obviously but none more so than the fact we had received a invite to experience the sail into the Bay and past the islands from the helicopter deck. So just after 7 pm we made our way forward and joined the other lucky guests on deck.
The sea was now calm but it was still overcast and now much cooler than it had been only a few days previously highlighting the difference in weather you can get between North and South Vietnam. The sail into Halong Bay did not dissapoint and as we edged our way in to it the experience was everything I had been expecting and then some.
Sail into Halong Bay
Halong Bay
Halong Bay
One of the islands in Halong Bay
Helicopter Deck
We finally arrive in Halong Bay
Hanoi So after we completed our sail in the Bay the ship dropped anchor at its mooring in the bay. This was a tender port for cruise ships when we were there however I now understand that they have a new dock and the ships no longer need to tender. For us this was also going to be a second port that we would be staying overnight in, therefore like in Bangkok we had decided to use our time here to visit Hanoi the capital of Vietnam. It is a 3 hour drive away from Halong Bay and again you could have opted to do it in a day but we chose again to do a Celebrity overnight trip to the city giving us more time there and therefore able to see more sights.
Of course some other cruisers were staying more local and doing tours and trips in and around the islands in the bay, but for us it was Hanoi.
So we caught the Tender from the ship and were soon on our way to Hanoi, the journey was well, interesting the roads are crazy and you also quickly notice that here in the North of the country there was much more political advertising, it was everywhere.
After 3 hours we entered Hanoi, where we immediately made our way towards the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum which was to be our first sight, it really was a very interesting visit and one that I would call unique. Later we visited the Old Quarter of Hanoi where we got to experience the madness of Tuk Tuk ride along these packed and crazy roads finally we visited the Hoan Kiem Lake before we got to enjoy a performance at a Water Puppet Theater.
I have completed a separate blog with a more detail regarding this full excursion that you can access here: Hanoi Excursion
To accommodate our overnight stay in the city Celebrity had again picked a great hotel the InterContinental Hanoi Westlake. It sat on a lake within the city it was excellent.
InterContinental Hanoi Westlake
On our second day in the city we visited the French Quarter before spending some time at the Presidential Palace. Finally we visited the notorious prison the Hanoi Hilton where many US POW's were held during the Vietnam War. All in this was a busy, interesting and very enjoyable excursion that despite the long journey I would recommend.
Millennium in Halong Bay
Logistics Manager on the tender
Government adverts and flags on every location
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Yours truly outside the Mausoleum
Mausoleum and Square
Old Quarter
Traffic in the Old Quarter
Hoan Kiem Lake
Another part of the Lake
Water Puppet Theater
More of the Puppet show
Puppet operator's
Yours truly outside the Hanoi Hilton
Hanoi War Museum
On our return to Halong Bay the bridge there was looking impressive
So after our journey back to the ship we arrived just after dark and the suspension bridge at Halong Bay was fully lit up and looked impressive as we tendered back onboard.
That night we met up with our friends again and swapped stories about our various excursion in and around Halong Bay and Hanoi.
As we set sail the sea was now moderate but it was wet and windy as we left Vietnam heading for Hong Kong.
Day 13 Sea Day
So this was to be our last day at Sea before reaching Hong Kong where like at Singapore we were to have a night onboard before leaving the ship.
Today the weather was dull overcast and cool. So no sun deck today.. It is one feature of this cruise is that you can go throught the full gambit of weather.
Instead of the sundeck I spent some time in the Solarium whilst my Logistics Manager went to the last day sale at the shops but as it was she never actually bought anything. In the afternoon they had a film on in the thearter and we took that in, it did pass a few hours before we returned to our stateroom for the dreaded packing.... never a good feeling that activity.
At night we met our cruise friends for a last dinner together on the ship and then of course headed to our favourite bar to enjoy the fun with the guys there.
Logistics Manager
Back at our favourite bar
Day 14 and 15 Hong Kong
So on Day 14 we finally reached our final destination Hong Kong. The ship docked at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal which was the site of the old airport. We in fact arrived in the middle of the night so I can honestly say I never witnessed the sail in.
We still had one last night on the ship but fact was we had planned a full day of sightseeing that day.
We were in staying on in Hong Kong for a further 3 days after that but on our first day there after breakfast in the MDR we headed ashore and picked up a taxi from the rank at the Terminal and made our way to the train on the Island that takes you to the top.
After that we got another taxi over the island to Stanley where got some lunch and after a little more time there we made our way to another iconic Hong Kong location Aberdeen Harbour where we took a boat trip around the harbour. When that was completed it was time to make our way to the Star Ferry terminal and back across the bay to Kowloon from where we watched the light show. On that finishing we enjoyed a excellent meal in the city and then it was time to head back to the ship to say our goodbyes.
Logistics Manager in Hong Kong
A view from the top of Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Bay and Kowloon from the Island
Old train that used to take you to the top of the island
Iconic restaurant at Aberdeen Harbour James Bond fans should remember it
Aberdeen Harbour
Yours truly at Aberdeen Harbour
Star Ferry
Disembarking
So the day you dread on all cruises arrived but on this trip it was not as deflating as some because we staying on in Hong Kong and even after that were breaking our long flight home with a few days in Dubai.
On the last morning we again had breakfast in the MDR and then simply walked of the ship for the last time picked up our cases in the terminal and caught a taxi to our hotel all a very straight forward easy process which is always good.
Conclusion
Well that was our Singapore to Hong Kong cruise on the Celebrity Millennium, it was a excellent cruise, which just had for us the correct amount of port stops versus sea days. If you want to visit the major cities on this itinerary then be prepared for some long transfer journeys but honestly don't let that put you off because all the cities are different and really well worth the effort. The other thing worth mentioning is that know matter which way you do this itinerary, like us Singapore to Hong Kong or vice versa be prepared for the change in weather its a feature of the region especially in February when we did it.
But overall it is a very good cruise itinerary.
I hope you have enjoyed my review of this cruise if you have please feel free to share the blog on Social Media or like and follow my page on Facebook at Travel the world and Smile Happy travelling with Davie
