Taking a cruise for the first time

Hitting up the popular tourist destinations while making a few discoveries along the way gives a vacation the best of both worlds: One where you can visit the landmark destinations everyone talks about, but at the same time, go on a journey of exploration that’s more personal and uniquely yours. At least, that’s what I thought before I had children. Now, with two kids in tow, a whole new list of considerations comes into play.

So What’s the most fuss-free getaway you can take your family on? One where you can spend some quality time with your family without having to please everyone? Well, a cruise might just do the trick.

I’ll be honest, I’d never been on a cruise ship. The thought of travelling on a slow boat to my holiday destination conjured up images of ’80s TV shows such as The Love Boat. That said, some cruises offer great deals, such as the one by Costa Cruise, which lets children below 12 years travel for free. No arguments there.

The Costa Victoria was berthed at Harbourfront and the number of people in the queue, jostling to get registered and board the ship, was a little overwhelming for me. However, things got better once we were on board. That’s when I realised the magnitude of the vessel. It’s essentially a hotel, mall and entertainment theatre that floats. The crew, decked out in their uniforms, greeted us and we were immediately transported to a world with opulent Italian-style deco, music and a carnival atmosphere — which just happened to be the theme of the cruise when we were there. (For those who don’t know, Carnival is a huge festival in Europe that is part parade and part street party and usually involves masks, elaborate costumes and yes, lots of alcohol.)

The Carnival theme is very important to Costa because it differentiates them from other cruises, said cruise director Taziana Angelini. Since Costa is an Italian brand, it’s their “Italian product and style”, she said. “It’s similar to the festivals we have in Italy in February and we recreate it on board the ship,” she added, noting that they usually change the themes every six months or so.

However, we weren’t ready to party yet, as we wanted to check out our cabin first. It was surprisingly spacious, and the room opened up to a balcony that provided us a view of the vast ocean. The ship distributes a daily newsletter that shows you the activities for the day. There are lots to choose from, and since they change daily, you’ll want to refer to that newsletter to plan your day. Our three-day cruise would make stops in Malacca and Penang, with day tours planned (but they cost extra and you have to book early to avoid disappointment).

But first things first. We were rather famished and decided to start our journey with a visit to the buffet restaurant. Be warned: The lines can get long. Thankfully, the selection of international cuisine was good. It caters to all dietary requirements — even vegetarians would have plenty of options. I loved the fact that I could eat and drink to my delight, moving from restaurant to pub to lounge, although alcoholic beverages aren’t free. But food is available around the clock, so you’ll never go hungry.

The next day, we headed for our day tour in Malacca. We were brought around the historical sites such as the famous red buildings and the Church Of St Francis Xavier. There are different tours which usually last for three to five hours. We even got to do a bit of shopping after we decided to break away from the tour group (make sure you let the guides know if you decide to do so though) before it was time to head back to the ship for more on-board exploration.

Just how the crew kept all the passengers entertained throughout the trip was nothing short of a near miracle. “On board, we have people of many nationalities, so the main challenge is to reach out to the various cultures and keep them entertained,” said Angelini. “Some prefer loud and boisterous music and a party atmosphere, while others prefer a quiet vacation so we have to find a balance to keep everyone happy.”

Angelini has a team of about 80 people who are split into different teams, each responsible for a particular passenger demographic. “There are the Adult Animators who create games such as bingo, quizzes and craft or dance lessons. Children Animators take care of the children three years and older, and Teen Animators take care of the teen activities.

“There is a different show every night in the theatre and a full production crew. There are also hostesses of different nationalities who cater to hospitality needs.”

que environment for family bonding: I saw dads playing basketball with their sons, while mums took up outdoor yoga classes with their teenage daughters on the pool deck as couples lounged nearby, sipping cocktails. Parents can leave younger children at the child activity centre (call the Squok Club) while they head to the spa, the casino or the ship’s dance club, where I saw many mothers burning up the dance floor like it was 1999 all over again.

The main event was the Masquerade Party. Ladies wore their best ball gowns and the gentlemen were in suits on. Almost everyone wore masks — they were placed in our cabins while we were out for our day tour — and several had theirs customised at the craft classes earlier in the day. A live band worked everyone into a dance frenzy, while “pirates” and sexily dressed crew members added to the atmosphere.

The next morning, we docked in Penang for the day tour and visited a batik factory, the butterfly park and even a local village, where kids stared blankly at us as the tour guide walked us through, telling stories of kampong life and rising property prices (a fact that seemed to bother him quite a bit). A quick lunch of Penang kuey tiao later, we returned to the Costa Victoria.

At the theatre, the Michael Jackson impersonator and cabaret shows were channelling the best of Vegas entertainment, although it must be said that there’s definitely something distinctly Italian about the way they do things. Perhaps it’s as Angelini said: “We have so many ships with Costa Cruises and we’ve already done thousands of cruises, but the personnel is what truly makes the difference; our smile, our passion ... the Italian Style. It is something that you won’t find on other ships.”

As we made our way back to Singapore, I couldn’t help but wonder: While one can expect kitschy conga line parties and plenty of duty-free goods on board (that’s all part of the clap-along fun one can expect on a cruise), there’s something quite relaxing about just kicking back, having a drink and staring out into the sunset as the ship coasts across the waves. And sometimes, that’s all the fun we really need.