Royal Caribbean International’s Mariner of the Seas, the largest cruise ship based in Asia, has returned to Singapore yesterday November 10 to start her new season here, where she will be homeported until next March. The 138,279 gross ton ship has arrived at Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore from Hong Kong and has set sail on her first cruise, of five nights to Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Penang and Phuket.

Mariner of the Seas has lined up a total of 29 sailings for this Singapore season, comprising a variety of 3, 4 and 5-night cruises to Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Langkawi, Penang and Phuket, a 7-night cruise to Bangkok (Laem Chabang) (overnight) and Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My), and an 8-night cruise to Shanghai with calls at Ho Chi Minh City (Phu My) and Xiamen and an overnight in Hong Kong.

The season also features festive cruises for Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year with special entertainment, decorations and feasts onboard such as Christmas caroling, the Christmas Show, Santa meet 'n' greet with gifts for kids and the New Year countdown party.  Theme cruises such as the world’s first all-champions Latin dance competition cruise next January, with renowned dance veterans from Asia as judges will also be additional highlights.
 
New shore excursions

This season will also introduce new interesting shore excursions in Southeast Asia such as the ‘Mah Meri Cultural Experience’ with performances, ceremonies and village tour of the Mah Meri indigenous tribe, exploration of Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)’s botanical gardens and nature trails, and a trip to Sunway Pyramid mall and Sunway Lagoon theme park in Kuala Lumpur/Port Klang; island-hopping and exploration of one of the world’s oldest jungles with nature guides in Langkawi; and a Penang food and art trail, on local delicacies from fried kway teow, Assam laksa to tau sar peah biscuits and local street art and wall paintings which are both whimsical and fascinating.