Cruise to nowhere on Aegean Paradise - 11 June 2016

I bought a Groupon voucher for a one-night cruise on Aegean Paradise, at $25 per pax. The ship was brought into service by New Century Tours (NCT), to replace Leisure World. On 11 June 2016 (Saturday), mum and I checked in at NCT counter in Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. Jeckson and sis drove us to the terminal. We were given a cruise ticket, ferry ticket and a transit pass.

We took the 6.30 pm ferry by Batam Fast to Nongsapura, from where another ferry transferred us to Aegean Paradise. The entire duration was an hour and a half.

We boarded the ship from deck 1, same floor as the massage centre and salon. A spiral staircase brought us to the Reception Counter on deck 2 (same floor as the boutique shop), where we queued to get our cabin keys and paid $100 for it. As part of the Groupon promo, we were upgraded to a Balcony cabin no. 5076 located on deck 5.

We were pleasantly surprised by the tastefully furnished cabin. The ship was owned by a Turkish operator before it was bought by NCT only recently; hence, it still retained some of its luxury.

It was already 8 pm when we went for our dinner at Pacific Restaurant (deck 3 aft). Not much selection but was glad to have my favourite tom yum 'lala' (soft-shelled clams).

After dinner, I returned to the cabin to relax at the balcony. I could see the lights of Singapore and even spotted the Singapore Flyer.

At 10 pm, mum and I went to the Jubilee Lounge, hoping to catch a Russian cabaret show. It started off with a Filipino guy singing, followed by an elder Chinese man and two ladies. By 10.30 pm, there was still no sign of the cabaret show starting. We decided to make a move.

At 11 pm, we had supper at the same restaurant. Ate oyster congee with some side dishes, and toasted bread with peanut and margarine. There was cheng teng too and it was very nice.

Went to the gym on deck 7. I walked on the treadmill overlooking the Sun deck for almost 15 minutes before an attendant came in and told me that shoes must be worn.

Returned to the cabin for shower before heading to the casino to look for mum at about 1.15 am. We slept at 2 am and woke up at 9 am for breakfast. There were fried kway teow, lor mai gai and char siew pao. Prior to our breakfast, we booked our return ferry, which was scheduled to leave at 12.30 pm but which was delayed by 45 minutes.

Mum lounged at the balcony for a short while...

We checked out at 11.45 am, had our lunch at Pacific Restaurant. I was surprised that there were even hawker dishes such as pig's intestine. Much of the food catered towards the 'elderly' Asians.

We wandered around the casino before our ferry departed at almost 1.30 pm. It was drizzling.

Goodbye Aegean Paradise! We reached home at about 4 pm. Overall, it was a good experience at an affordable price. More photos...

There's even a swimming pool, not seen on Leisure World. Hope they will maintain it.

Deck plan

Vesak Day

Long absence of more than 3 years. As usual, time flies in a slow blink of eyes as what my philosophical friend puts it. Went to Kadampa Centre this morning to attend a prayer on liberation and Bodhisattva Vow. How did I get acquainted with the school? Through sis. Today is a significant day as I make a vow to undertake the path to enlightenment. The resident teacher is a British. Had lunch at the school before going to the temple at Waterloo Street. Home sweet home.

My First Overseas Assignment

I suppose I'm fated to Hainan Island, doubted as the Hawaii of the East. This I can truly agree when the sun is out and the ocean shimmers with sparkling diamond. Led a tour to Hainan from 05-10 October. Was raining from Day 1 to 4; one moment it was rain, the other moment it was sunny. Typhoon season marked my first overseas assignment! Mr. Sun finally showed his face on Day 5 for the whole day, so that my group had a happy ending after all.

My clients were good people, mostly elderlies, with only two 1987's girls who were friendly. Never before have I PR with so many people (25 in total) and for so long hours (from morning call to end of day). I hate meal time as I had to sit with the tour guide and driver because we simply have nothing to talk about. Our meals weren't as fantastic as those clients, and one aunty sent twice of their leftover food for us.

Rainy weather on the first few days had greatly dampened my already anxious mood, to the point I hated morning call so much because it's time to get on stage!

Company-paid tours aren't as good as what some clients may think. Firstly, I can't sleep well knowing that I'm on 24-hour standby. Secondly, I have to wake up at 6am instead of my usual 8.15am. Thirdly, I don't end my day until at least 8pm. Fourthly, I have to assign rooms taking into consideration requests for adjoining room. Lastly, I brought my loads of clients to the wrong flight check-in zone and made them walk a mile with my company's flag flying high.

Back to office again tomorrow. Have to face stupid computer and idiotic phone.

Cheapo

One female client called today asking for discount for a group of 5 people going to Turkey. I know by hard that my company follows a strict discount policy, I don't really know how to put it nicely to the customer. If she studies business, I can simply say "no" so as to reduce "brand dilution." But I can assume. So I could only say "I would want to give you discount but I can't."

Had my manager over to handle the call and she sounded stern and no discount means no discount. The customer kept telling us she could easily go to another competitor of ours. Now I can think of a good answer to call upon next time: "we do not compete on price alone. if we simply give discount, we will lose the trust of customers who don't even ask for it!"

Price consistency is very important, and now I thought of some agencies that collapsed because they were too desperate to close the sales.

One walk-in customer inquired on some cheap tours to Taiwan, and later Beijing. Our 5 days Beijing already costs almost S$1,500 by SQ. Her expression was so funny when I told her about the price. She immediately brushed away the itinerary, without even the slightest interest in reading the itinerary. Wasted my pen ink and paper. She walked away and now I realised I should sell the right thing to the right customer.

Called a customer who initially wanted to come down to book a Maldivian package. 2 hours passed and he still hasn't appeared. So I gave him a call and he said he got a better quote. I asked how was the quote like. He told me S$2,588 + S$300 plus taxes for 8 nights at Adaaran villa. I was amazed at that price. Usually a night stay would cost around S$800. When I worked out if we can give him a similar quote, my manager told me: "call him and tell him we can't match that price."

Maldives is one of my dream destinations. S$2,588 albeit is a bargain, is so expensive to me. I will rather go on a cruise and sail on the ocean, even when I'm asleep.

TTG Asia - Leader in Hotel, Airlines, Tourism and Travel Trade News - Voyager of the Seas to embark on maiden Asia-Pacific foray

TTG Asia - Leader in Hotel, Airlines, Tourism and Travel Trade News - Voyager of the Seas to embark on maiden Asia-Pacific foray

Voyager of the Seas will be home-porting in Asia next year onwards... counting down to 14 July 2012 - Shanghai, Fukuoka, Okinawa, Jeju!

Going California gym inquire about the package tomorrow.

Hainan next month for tour leading. Really don't feel like going there. It's going to be my third time. I'm not a Hainanese!

So tired

is the only two words I can think of now.

Today's my 9th day of work. Finally I'm off tomorrow.

Have been dreading over the long hours of work and lack of play.

Funny customers

NATAS travel fair this weekend but I'm stationed in office. Lots of calls coming in, some silly questions from customers. One inquired about turkey and wanted to know if December will snow. Even though I know I am not a fortune teller, I said it will "confirm snow" in the hope that the customer will buy from me.

Another fellow on the phone asked me about the itinerary for 5 days 3 nights Tokyo, Mt Fuji and Yokohama. She's a very price-sensitive customer seeking dates with 1-for-1 promotion.

Me: Day 1 check in at airport. Day 2 reach Tokyo, go Mt Fuji and later Yokohama. Day 3 Tokyo city tour. Day 4 Tokyo free at leisure. Day 5 return to Singapore.

Woman: Oh! Actually very short hor.

Me: Because you're asking for 5 days mah!

Woman: Oh, ok thanks.