An unforgettable experience awaits seekers of solitude on board luxury cruise Golden Princess, writes Zuliantie Dzul
“If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears,” wrote author Glenn Clark.
So here I am, “abandoning” my daily, rushed routine and workstation for a four-day cruise to Kobe, Japan from Taiwan. One of the best-known names in passenger cruise liners, Princess Cruises is the third largest in the world.
On May 26, one of their vessels made a maiden voyage to Kobe. You know the saying, “there’s always a first time for everything”, this experience of mine included. I had no idea what to expect, and I keep wondering if I’ll ever get bored relaxing and just sitting around. I get my answer sooner then expected.
SETTING SAIL
The hotel shuttle pulls into Keelung port in Taipei, Taiwan, and there she is. Standing at 53.9m-high, it makes me feel so small, like a kitten next to a lion.
A surge of nervousness and excitement hits me all at same time — just like my first bicycle ride.
Eric Clapton’s Knocking On Heaven’s Door greets me as I enter the vessel. The main lobby, or Piazza-style atrium, resembles that of a luxury hotel. The upper level overlooks a floral mosaic on the lower floor and a white grand piano. The opulence of the interior is undeniable.
It’s quite a walk from mid-ship to my stateroom. The Aloha deck is towards the stern. My room has its own balcony, offering a front-row view of the vast sea. By 4pm, Golden Princess and I are ready to hit the seas.
UNPLUGGED AT SEA
The cold sea breeze caresses my cheeks as I sit on a pool chair at the Horizon Terrace, one floor above my room. Eyes closed, I take a deep breath and inhale. The sun gradually goes down on the horizon in a blaze of red behind thick clouds, inducing in me a calm like the body of water in front of me.
It’s a blessing that the price to use the Internet at sea is expensive (US$100 or RM403 for 100 minutes), so I decide to unplug from the world, with the exception of my digital camera.
The next morning, I wake up to a view of the sea and fluffy white clouds dotting the big blue skies. A whirring sound brings my mind back to the room where I see lifeboats being lowered down to take passengers for an excursion to Ishigaki, a small island in Japan’s southwestern Okinawa Prefecture. This is one stop the ship will make before heading for Kobe, but before I experience Ishigaki, I check out what’s lined up on board.
GASTRONOMICAL PARADISE
Walking slowly down the stairs to the atrium with one hand on the railing, I pretend to be Rose DeWitt Bukater in the James Cameron’s Titanic. But instead of Jack Dawson waiting at the end of the stairs, I see a spread of free desserts awaiting in the 24-hour International Cafe.
I have a sweet tooth, so this is the ultimate heaven. A selection of mousse, tarts and cakes on the shelves leaves me spoilt for choice.
The elegant English afternoon tea is not to be missed. It starts with a serving of fresh berries and cream. Next, three-tiers of delicious warm scones, sweet fruit tarts, cakes, and savoury sandwiches. Every bite is so full of flavour, it feels like firework in your mouth. A pot of aromatic jasmine tea is the perfect companion to this beautiful meal.
It’s definitely a culinary celebration and passengers never go hungry. You can relish the buffet spread at Horizon Court, or opt for one of the three fine-dining restaurants and two specialty restaurants with specially-crafted menu to satisfy your cravings. A pizzeria, burger, hot dog grill and lobster grill and sundae ice cream bar add to the ships culinary craze. I had my fair share of lobsters, sundaes and cakes but with all the walking on board this huge ship, I don’t really feel guilty.
FUN ACTIVITIES
There’s never a dull moment on board either. Golden Princess lives up to the liner’s reputation of being voted the Best Cruise Line Itineraries by Recommend Magazine for nine consecutive years. The Princess Patter is a timetable for all the activities on board. One that cannot be missed is film screenings called Movie Under The Stars ®. This poolside theatre is where passengers can enjoy blockbuster Hollywood movies against a backdrop of sea and sky. Just bring a blanket, grab free popcorn at the ice cream bar, pick the best seat and you are all set.
Of course, you can always find a quieter way to spend your day. The crowd can be overwhelming at times. The sound of splashing in the pool and the constant talking can be unbearable. There’s a place to escape and that’s exactly where I spent most of my time on board, The Sanctuary. True to its name, this oasis for adults promises an intimate setting. Comfortable chairs with small pillows are lined up with a wide expanse of sea for the view. Potted plants, trees, and artificial grass add a soothing green in contrast to the vast blue sea. With a book and my favourite beverage, I find the best seat in the house and engross myself in the pages. Total tranquility at it’s best!
I decide to spend the US$100 on-board credit on The Lotus Spa. After a long walk under the hot sun in Ishigaki, I relax my muscles and treat myself to a foot and scalp massage. The attentive serenity stewards make sure I receive the best and most unforgettable experience.
SERVICE WITH A SMILE
This cruise liner is all about warm and gracious service in an atmosphere of comfortable elegance. The crew of 40 nationalities is a nice cultural shake. Everyone is ever-friendly and always helpful. My stateroom steward always has a friendly smile every time we bump into each other in the hallway. With housekeeping done twice a day, I always come back to a fresh set of towels and nicely made-up bed.
Before I know it, Golden Princess arrives in Kobe. A marching band welcomes us at the pier with scores of music where people taking photos of the ship and waving frantically to the passengers. I join the merriment by waving a small towel from my room, just as they do in the movies!
As I leave the port terminal for Kobe central, I realised how grateful I am to be able to experience this journey. It was lavish yet chilled and though it was over so fast, it was a journey worth the experience.
As it turns out, going solo is not so bad. It’s good to withdraw from the normal routine, especially when you are single and finding your own footsteps. My bucket list has one thing less, now that I’m no longer a luxury cruise virgin!
The service mark for Princess Cruises is come back new and through this journey, I definitely have!