Insignia - May 2023 - Post 1

On 17th May I flew to Singapore to join Oceania's Insignia for fifteen days, disembarking in Bangkok. The ship, on a six-month world cruise, with only 450 passengers aboard, was very comfortable and spacious with excellent food and service throughout. The service staff, mostly from the Philippines, Indonesia and India were unfailingly friendly, cheerful and obliging. An excellent trip!

View from my Singapore hotel.

Insignia at Chan May, Vietnam

My very comfortable cabin.

Waiting to sail from Singapore.

Some of the wonderful bar staff.

Lots of service staff throughout. No waiting for your drink here. (Other companies take note!)

The beautiful ship's library.

The main dining room. Tables for one were always immediately available.

Excellent food throughout.

Approaching the wharf at Halong Bay, Vietnam, on my cabin tv.

Alongside at Halong Bay.

Coming alongside at Chan May, Vietnam.

A rather run down resort at Chan May but with a beautiful beach.

Insignia - May 2023 - Post 2

Lots of comfortable seating around the ship.

My daily haunt during the lovely hot weather. One very welcome difference on this ship (as opposed to those I usually sail in) was that the music on deck was appropriate for the age of the passengers and played at a moderately soft volume. Unlike the latest nightclub rubbish or movie soundtracks that are played at a deafening volume with total disregard to what passengers actually want, on most ships. 

Three of the excellent bar staff.

This delicious fillet steak and grilled lobster tail sandwich was one of the always available food options at the inclusive pool grill.

A nice birthday surprise from my cabin stewards.

The ship was able to sail upriver into Ho Chi Minh city, as opposed to the more remote Phu My that's used by most cruise ships.

Alongside in Ho Chi Minh city.

An unfinished and abandoned apartment building - a victim of covid.

Sailing downriver.

Insignia - May 2023 - Post 3

Because the weather was so warm and the buffet restaurant food was so good (on a par with the main restaurant), I took many meals on the buffet verandah.

The excellent Executive Chef (R) cooking fresh fish on the verandah.

Beautifully moist and tender roast suckling pork.

More of the superb service staff.

A shoreside tender off Koh Samui.

Twice, I dined in the speciality Italian restaurant, Toscana. Food and service were superb and it was included in the fare. Above is one of the waiters with the olive oil selection.  

 

Because of this ship's relatively modest size, she was able to berth upriver in the main docks of Bangkok, instead of the more remote Laem Chabang, Bangkok's main port for large ships.

Passing the Royal Thai Naval Academy.

Before flying home, I spent a day and night at the very comfortable Airport Novotel hotel.

Japanese-style hotel pods in the basement of Bangkok airport.

A very comfortable flight home with Thai Airways.

The full world cruise.