The next day (with the ship docked at Penang), my husband and I chose sleep over breakfast and only woke up closer to lunch time. We made our way to Windjammer on Deck 14 to partake of the international buffet. The sheer variety of dishes available was mind-boggling, I’m pretty sure I spent at least 15 minutes perusing all the options before finally putting something on my plate! I was also quite impressed by the overall quality and taste of the food. The desserts weren’t too sweet as well and most of the cakes were splendidly moist. Bonus points for that fact that we didn’t see a single pesky fly while we dined.
Once you get onboard, be sure to check the cruise app for the many free activities happening around the ship. One of the activities I attended was the Ladies Pamper Party on Day 2 at 2pm. It was held in a mini-seminar room at the Body & Mind Wellness Centre led by Gayatri (scheduled for an hour but actually only lasted 40 minutes).
She shared and demonstrated some facial skincare tips:
– Recommended frequency of exfoliation (apply in soft, gentle circles for a maximum of 3 minutes) and mask application (to replenish hydration and vitamins) is once a week
– Apply cleanser in an upwards lifting motion instead of in circles
– Toner is used for rehydrating, minimizing pores and balancing skin pH levels (pH5.5) – use alcohol-free ones and pat it onto skin instead of rubbing or wiping
– Essence is used for priming the skin to increase absorption of the serum and moisturizer applied next
– Use ring finger to apply products around eye area and avoid applying heavy products or moisturizer around the eye area (skin is too thin and may sag further or become darker)
Gayatri concluded with the offer of a complimentary skin analysis and consultation that lasts about 15 to 20 minutes per person but an appointment was required. Unfortunately, the time slots were on a first-come-first-serve basis so as the last one in the queue, I was left with very limited options that weren’t ideal. Thankfully, the therapist for my upcoming massage happened to be Gayatri too so she kindly slotted the session in just before my treatment.
Commencing the analysis at 3.30pm, Gayatri used a special camera to take a photo of the side of my face. The programme then analyzed six aspects of my skin. She explained the results and provided some recommendations and tips. It wasn’t particularly insightful though so no major loss if you miss it.
My 50-minute signature massage, the Couture Touch Face & Body Treatment, began right after the skin analysis. This comprised a 25-minute shoulder, back and arm oil massage, followed by a 25-minute facial. Originally priced at USD$189 (not including 20% gratuities), the final cost still came up to a hefty USD$126.80 even after the USD$100 spa credit was deducted.
Anyway, the treatment room was hygienic, plus the bed and face pillow were soft enough such that it was still comfortable when she applied pressure. Even though I typically prefer lighter massages, the slightly harder pressure she used still felt very relaxing (though the strokes could’ve been executed with more finesse).
The facial treatment entailed basic cleansing, exfoliating and a mask application. She used Elemis products, which smelled absolutely heavenly. At the end of it, I was somewhat subjected to an Elemis sales pitch but I held my ground and politely declined.
Next, we set out to explore the various pools on Deck 14. They have two Main Pools, one outdoors and one indoors so you can be assured that a bout of rain wouldn’t ruin your swimming plans. There are a handful of jacuzzi hot tubs beside both pools but these can get crowded quickly. Remember to check out Sprinkles, the hidden soft-serve ice cream kiosk near the outdoor Main Pool! Choose from vanilla, chocolate or a mix of both – it’s completely free (:
Splashaway Bay is a mini water park for the little ones. It is located next to the outdoor Main Pool.
Towards the front of the ship, Solarium is an adults-only relaxation spot with inviting daybeds and soaking pools equipped with jacuzzi jets. I loved how we could get a bright and open outdoorsy feel here but still be in the comfort of an air-conditioned, weather-proof space ❤
Wandering around this area, we unwittingly discovered a secluded look-out point that offered panoramic sea views and a vantage point to admire the ship’s facade.
With all that walking around, we got peckish so we grabbed some complimentary pizza from Sorrento’s Pizza situated adjacent to Windjammer on Deck 14. This is also where you can fill up your water bottles at the designated refill stations.
Shortly after, we headed to Deck 15 for our 10-minute North Star Basic Experience scheduled for 6.45pm. The North Star is a glass-enclosed observation capsule mounted on a mechanical arm that can extend over 90 metres above sea level. This is a paid activity that can be purchased in advance on the Royal Caribbean website.
I initially reserved this experience for 6.30pm on Day 1 but due to poor weather conditions, they ceased operations so we had to visit the guest services counter to reschedule our reservation. I guess it was a blessing in disguise as the weather was perfectly clear on Day 2 and we got to catch the mesmerizing sunset! We were basically lifted super high up above the ship (something to note if you’re afraid of heights), rotated a little to the left and right, and then brought back down.
This time when we returned to the Main Dining Room for dinner, we realized it was possible to order more dishes instead of just having one each per course. We kept to just two starters of deep-fried spring rolls dipped in a Thai sweet chilli sauce (crispy with a yummy filling) and salmon gravlax (this was just two or three thin slices of cured salmon that tasted average).
My husband rehashed his New York strip steak order from yesterday since it was so good. The two other mains we ordered were the Cantonese-style sweet and sour pork (succulent and well-flavoured) and salmon teriyaki (extremely dry and overcooked).
Wrapping up the meal, we got the artisan cheese plate (some pieces tasted like rubber, according to my husband), a lychee tart (just a lychee on top of jam inside a plain butter tart) and mango tapioca pearls (five-spice mango compote atop a bed of soft, easy-to-chew tapioca pearls).
Service generally seemed a little better this time around but there would still be significant periods when there were no wait staff in sight at all to ask for assistance from.
We then strolled over to Two70 Bar to catch the live band, Kinetic. Their setlist included easy-listening pop music and they delivered musically, albeit with a slight lack of emotion.
The main show at the Royal Theatre on Day 2 was Zlwin Chew’s one-man magic act. We caught the 45-minute show at 10pm. It was quite an interactive performance at the start, where he engaged the audiences and even got some of them up on stage to be part of the act. I appreciated his attempt to build stories and meaning around his tricks but these got a little too serious too abruptly midway.
We concluded the night with another live band, Vybes 4, at the Music Hall on Deck 3 and 4. Although their setlist also mostly consisted of pop songs, their style of music was more groovy and soulful with reggae vibes, which we enjoyed very much.
Check out what happened in Part 3! 🡲 or recall what happened in Part 1! 🡰
If this post helped you in some way and you’d like to buy me a coffee, I’d be incredibly grateful (:
Dania Experiences 