Off-the-Beaten-Path Cruise Vacation: A Comfortable and Perfect Getaway (Cruise Food, Fun, and Tips Guide)

Duration: 4 days Time: September Cost per person: 3000 yuan With whom: Friends Activities: Gourmet food, shopping, cruising, budget travel, […]

Duration: 4 days
Time: September
Cost per person: 3000 yuan
With whom: Friends
Activities: Gourmet food, shopping, cruising, budget travel, saving money
The author visited these places: Shanghai
Published on 2019-10-24 at 21:45

Since childhood, I have had an inexplicable yearning for the sea. Perhaps it’s because I grew up inland, or perhaps it’s because the sea is always described as so magnificent in books. Whenever my travels involve the sea, it brings me immense joy. It is for this reason that I chose to travel by cruise ship for this trip, waking up each day to the sight of the sea.

Many people are unfamiliar with the travel method of cruises. When they heard about my choice, many friends found it curious and innovative, asking various questions about cruises. After this trip, they urged me to write a travelogue to share the food, fun, and tips on the cruise with everyone.

Actually, regarding the choice of a cruise as a vacation method, I would like to say that cruising is the most relaxed and comfortable way to travel. As long as you choose the right cruise and route, a perfect and comfortable holiday will definitely make you linger. Moreover, during holidays, popular tourist cities and attractions in the country are crowded with people, making it feel more like you’re going to see people rather than scenery. By choosing a cruise, you can perfectly avoid the crowds and start a comfortable and enjoyable holiday.

## Cruise and Port Selection
For this cruise trip, I chose the MSC Mediterranean Cruises’ Splendida. It is a cruise ship from a 300-year-old European sailing family and one of the world’s largest family-owned cruise companies. All supporting facilities have been newly upgraded and improved.

As for the boarding port, I chose Shanghai. Since I had planned to spend a few days in Shanghai beforehand, I booked the Mediterranean Splendida departing from the Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal. The transportation from downtown Shanghai to the terminal is very convenient, with both subway and bus accessible, taking about an hour each. However, it is recommended to take a taxi, as it is more convenient and faster.

## Boarding Instructions and Precautions
① Essential documents: In addition to the ID card, remember to bring your passport, as it is required for customs clearance when boarding the cruise.
② Boarding: Upon arrival at the terminal, there are signs and staff to guide you on how to go through security checks and check in your luggage. The luggage check-in service is very convenient. Before boarding, place your luggage in the designated check-in area, and after boarding, the service staff will deliver it to your room door. On the night before the final return, pack your luggage and place it outside your room door, and the service staff will deliver it to the customs exit. After disembarking and going through customs, you can directly pick it up, which is incredibly convenient!
③ Precautions: Before departure, you can follow the cruise’s official account, which will have detailed travel tips and items to bring, helping you to pack your luggage comprehensively.
④ After boarding: Collect your room card. After boarding, be sure to keep your room card safe, as it is your identification on the cruise and can also be used for payment. After boarding, around 4 PM, everyone must participate in the safety drill. Each person has their designated area, which is indicated on the room card. Follow the prompts to go to the designated area for the safety drill.
⑤ Onboard Internet: Since the itinerary includes going out to the open sea, it is necessary to purchase data or onboard WiFi in advance.
⑥ Onboard Activities: Remember to carefully check the cruise daily newspaper placed in your room each day, which will detail the opening times of various venues, exciting activities, and important information such as time, weather, port, and boarding and disembarking times.

## Check into a luxurious balcony room
For this trip, considering factors such as comfort, view, and cost-effectiveness, we ultimately booked a superior balcony room. Originally, I thought the room would be small, but it was surprisingly spacious. There are two single beds in the room, which can be combined into a large bed. All facilities in the room are complete, with everything you need, and the space is reasonably utilized, including air conditioning, sofa, dressing table, coffee table, wardrobe, bathroom, TV, and even a minibar – it’s fantastic! However, to promote environmental protection and conservation, items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, and waterproof slippers are not provided, so you need to prepare them yourself.

The room’s space is well utilized, with a double sofa included. Together with family or friends, you can enjoy the sea breeze while sitting on the sofa, chatting, and having tea – it’s the epitome ofOn an afternoon, sitting on the balcony for afternoon tea, with the slightly salty fresh sea breeze brushing across your face, eating dessert and looking at the boundless sea, you feel completely relaxed. At this moment, all troubles, work pressures, and life’s hardships disappear, leaving only peace and tranquility.

The bathroom is also quite spacious, with a shower area separated by a curtain for a simple wet and dry separation. The mirrored tiles on the side of the washbasin make the entire space look cleaner and more spacious. It’s worth mentioning that the room’s sockets are American standard three-prong sockets (two flat and one round) and also have USB ports, so regular mobile phones can be charged directly. If you carry electrical appliances with Chinese three-prong plugs, you need to bring your own adapter or universal converter.

7 restaurants and 13 bars, a feast for the taste buds. It has been jokingly referred to as a ‘sea pig farm,’ which gives you an idea of the cruise ship’s food – even those who are on a diet won’t be able to resist eating! The cruise ship has two buffet restaurants, two specialty restaurants, and three paid restaurants, totaling seven restaurants, with four free restaurants providing authentic fresh global delicacies 24 hours a day. The ship gathers global cuisine, including Chinese and Western styles, so no matter which you prefer, there will always be something to satisfy you.

The Pago Pago buffet restaurant and the Bora Bora buffet restaurant, as the names suggest, are places for buffet meals and are also where breakfast and late-night meals are served daily on the ship, with different national theme cuisines every night. However, although the food is delicious, do not waste it.

My first dinner on board was at the Reggia restaurant, located on the 5th and 6th floors, with an open space and an elegant dining environment. There is also a chef’s recommendation every night. The restaurant offers both Western dishes like grilled steak and roasted lobster, as well as Chinese dishes. The lobster is huge, with thick, tender, and smooth meat, and a bite is full of happiness. The steak is cooked just right, with abundant meat juice and rich meat aroma, poured over with special sauce, wow, it’s amazing! There is a wider range of Chinese dishes to choose from, including stir-fried dishes, soups, fried rice noodles, etc., which will definitely satisfy your appetite.

Have a glass of champagne, savor it slowly, occasionally look at the sea view outside the window, occasionally chat with friends, or quietly enjoy the delicious food, and start the cruise dining and entertainment journey.

If you are a meat lover, you can go to the steakhouse on the 7th deck of the deck to experience authentic American steak. The steakhouse is a typical American-style restaurant with a comfortable and pleasant decoration style and a very good environment. There are old American photos and decorations in the restaurant, and walking in here, it feels like you are really in an American steakhouse.

A delicious and authentic steak meal starts with pre-meal bread. The freshly baked pre-meal bread is chewy and soft, emitting a sweet aroma. Spread butter on the bread and take a bite. The outside is crispy while the inside is fluffy and soft, with the delicious fragrance of butter, bringing great satisfaction.

A well-done steak, although without blood, is extremely tender and juicy. When you eat it, in addition to being fragrant and tender, you can also feel the fragrance of beef tallow. Paired with fragrant, crisp asparagus and tangy, delicious shredded sour radish. When it enters your mouth, it doesn’t feel greasy at all. Instead, the meaty fragrance of the steak and the delicate fragrance of asparagus blend together, giving people an incomparable taste experience.

If you are not used to Western cuisine, then you mustn’t miss hot pot, right? The Haizhongge Hot Pot Restaurant is a hot pot specially created by the MSC Splendida in collaboration with Asian star chef Liang Ziguang. Located on the 16th deck of the cruise ship, the scenery is extremely beautiful. Eating hot pot while enjoying the sea view is truly a life enjoyment. The moment the pot base is served, it already makes people salivate. Not to mention the aroma that directly penetrates people’s noses. It’s really tempting. The characteristics of this restaurant are carefully selected high-end ingredients such as wagyu beef, abalone, and lobster, various pot bases and exquisite marinated cold dishes. Order your favorite pot base. After a short wait, it’s the spicy taste that enters your mouth. Although it’s a bit hot on the tip of the tongue, you still can’t help but take another bite after another. It’s truly unforgettable.

In addition to main meals, don’t forget about afternoon tea! The 270-degree viewing corridor on the 15thThe lounge, located at the bow of the entire cruise ship directly in front of the captain’s studio, offers a noble view. On a peaceful afternoon, sitting on the sofa with the boundless sea behind and lazy sunlight shining on the rippling sea surface, while in front are desserts emitting a sweet aroma. Leisurely and simple, it’s time to slow down and enjoy a pleasant afternoon tea.

With such a rich day, the night must be even more colorful. Thirteen bars show European charm. Each has its own characteristics and styles, including piano bars, jazz bars, wine bars, coffee bars, and basically everything you can think of. There are also singers and bands from all over the world who bring different styles of live music performances every day. Rich entertainment projects ensure non-stop fun.

People who have never been on a cruise may think that spending several days and nights on a cruise ship at sea will be very boring. In fact, it’s not! There are many fun and exciting projects on the cruise ship. Some describe it as a sleepless maritime entertainment metropolis. Whether you are quiet or active, there are projects suitable for you to play and have fun.

Here, the maritime theater has world-class song and dance performances and the only opera performance at sea, “Carmen”! The wonderful shows every night should not be missed. For example, this “Magic Show” immediately attracts the attention of everyone in the audience from the very beginning.

As a young person, I definitely have to go to the electronic game center that young people like the most. Here, you can fully enjoy the happiness of playing electronic games. The happiness of a game fan is just this simple, hahaha. In addition to different types of electronic games, there is also a comfortable rest area. The experience is superb. There are also F1 simulated racing and 4D cinemas. If you like racing, you can go and experience it. You can choose the difficulty level of the track. It’s quite interesting. Inside the 4D cinema, people will be immersed in the thrilling experience in front of their eyes. From time to time, you can hear the screams of the audience. It’s exciting and fun.

Families with young children need not worry about childcare, as the ship offers child supervision and custody services. Particularly, the LEGO Sea Park, with its rich and varied LEGO courses and children’s activities, will keep the little ones so entertained they won’t want to leave. Parents can enjoy themselves, knowing that they can simply pick up their children at the designated time. However, be prepared for the possibility that your children might not want to leave, haha.

The ship features five pools of varying sizes and several hot tubs, including a lively and joyful main pool, a temperature-controlled indoor pool with a retractable roof, a relaxing warm water massage pool, and thrilling water slides for teenagers offering an exhilarating ‘falling down’ experience. In summary, there are numerous activities to enjoy, so remember to bring your swimsuit. Additionally, the family-friendly water play area is quite spacious, ensuring that families with children can fully enjoy the fun. Moreover, there are many entertainment and recreational activities available, such as table tennis, foosball, and bowling, among others.

For those who wish to experience more exciting activities, it is crucial to plan your time wisely. Apart from using the daily itinerary provided in your room, you can also check the electronic screens next to the elevators on each deck to learn about the operating hours of various activities. Not only is the ship fun-filled, but it is also a shopping paradise, especially for women. The ship’s duty-free shop offers a wide range of products from beauty products and luxury watches to jewelry, leather goods, and bags. You can easily spend hours browsing through the selections without realizing it. The only concern might be your wallet, haha.

Facing the sea, if you’re worried about gaining weight from the daily feasts, consider visiting the gym. Located on the 14th deck, the gym boasts a 270-degree panoramic ocean view and is equipped with over 40 different types of fitness equipment from the high-end brand ‘Technogym,’ catering to various professional needs. However, I simply went for a run and did some light exercise. There is also a 235-meter ocean view fitness jogging path and a multi-purpose sports field where you can engage in football, basketball, tennis, volleyball, and more.

If you prefer not to engage in sports and instead wander around the ship, the Crystal Spiral Staircase in the Grand Atrium is a must-visit. The staircase, crafted from 47,400 Swarovski crystals and consisting of 72 steps, spans across three levels. Under the illumination of lights, each crystal sparkles at every moment. Dress up nicely and take photos here; they are sure to dominate your social media feeds.

Alternatively, during the early morning or evening,Or, at sunset, step onto the deck as the sun’s golden rays cast a warm glow on the cruise ship’s body, transforming from a vibrant display to a serene palette. The day’s remaining warmth is unobstructed, spreading across the sea and the vast wilderness, reaching into my eager eyes and heart. Tonight, can my soul rest with the afterglow of the sunset in the homeland of the sea? Standing at the deck railing, watching the sun slowly approach the horizon, near and far, in the sea and the sky, all bathed in warm colors. I stand by the railing, gazing as the sun finally dips below the horizon, its faint halo still enveloping the world, the orange-yellow warm halo lingering around me, making me feel as if I can hold this warmth in my arms, experiencing the unique tranquility and peace of dusk.

Postscript: If you want to avoid the crowds during holidays or travel with parents and children, taking a cruise is a great way to go. You don’t need to plan your itinerary, buy train tickets or arrange transportation. Here, you can just relax and enjoy without worrying about anything. In our limited lives, we have been chasing dreams and bustling around in life for too long without taking a good break. On the ship, we can have more time to relax ourselves, enjoy personal space, immerse in the sweetness of a two-person world, or accompany our families well. In any case, on a cruise ship, you can find what you want. Now, for those who ask how to board this cruise ship, pay attention. The MSC Splendida will arrive at Shenzhen home port in December this year. Friends in South China can easily take a ship right at their doorstep! Departing from Shenzhen home port, there are different voyages to choose from. You can choose according to your desired destination. Whether it’s Danang, Vietnam or Okinawa, Japan, once you’re on the cruise ship, just play and have fun! To facilitate everyone’s travel, I attach a brief introduction to the sailing route. I hope it helps you. If you want to book a ticket, you can check on their official website or call their official customer service. Wish you all a pleasant trip! [About the Author] Shi Se Gong Zi. Microblog: @I am Shi Se Gong Zi. Travel blogger, food self-media, hotel experience tester.