Six Star Luxury Aboard Crystal Cruises' Symphony

Exotic Southeast Asian Itinerary Starts in Hong Kong

Aug 2, 2009

Never been to Southeast Asia? There's no better way to see it than by traveling aboard Crystal Symphony, a floating hotel delivering six-star luxury and exotic ports.

Symphony's "Exotic Asia" itinerary began on April 20 in Hong Kong, one of the region's most fascinating cities. One bit of cruise advice that should be taken to heart is to arrive at least two days before departure 1) to have a mini-vacation before the cruise begins, 2) to adjust to the time change (Hong Kong time is GMT plus 8 hours), and 3) to allow for unexpected flight delays.

Check-In at Intercontintental Hotel

While sightseeing is a huge draw to Hong Kong, a few nights at the luxurious Intercontinental Hotel isn't so bad either. Located on the Kowloon waterfront overlooking Victoria Harbor and Hong Kong Island, a stay at the hotel really sets the scene for the luxury that follows on board Crystal Symphony.

More than two-thirds of the 495 rooms overlook the harbor, providing a splendid view of harbor activity and the nightly "Symphony of Lights" show, the laser/light extravaganza from 43 buildings on the Hong Kong Island and Kowloon waterfront skylines. Highly recommended is to enjoy the scene with a "NIne Dragon Cocktail" in the Lobby Lounge.

Star Chefs Ducasse and Nobu Rstaurants

Guests can dine at one of five international restaurants within the hotel, including Yan Toh Heen, offering traditional Cantonese cuisine; contemporary French cuisine at SPOON by Alain Ducasse; and new-style Japanese food at NOBU from Nobu Matsuhisa (there's also a NOBU-inspired restaurant, Silk Road, on board the ship).

Other not-to-be-missed amenities at the hotel are the I-Spa--Hong Kong's first feng shui-inspired spa-- where guests can have treatments that include a mud wrap, marine algae body scrub, or Valrhona chocolate massage; and the new pool terrace featuring underwater music.

Catch Hong Kong Sights: Markets, The Peak, Star Ferry

Even a few days in Hong Kong is enough time to catch some of the city's "must-see" sights. Modern travel writer Pico Iyer described it as "a dream of Manhattan, arising from the South China Sea," and it some ways, Manhattan pales in comparison.The Hong Kong Tourism Board likes to call it "a kaleidoscope of life, a sophisticated fusion of East and West, a city of diversity where new and old meet at every turn."

The many markets in Hong Kong are a prime example. Flowers, birds, goldfish, jade, clothing, and jewelry have been sold at historic markets in Monk Kok and Yau Ma Tei for centuries. Night owls can even shop from 4 p.m. to midnight at the Temple Street Night Market and grab a late-night snack or drink at any of the restaurants and cafés in the area.

Weather permitting (no fog or mist), a visit to The Peak on Hong Kong Island will provide spectacular views of the entire region, Visitors reach it via the Peak Tram, a single steel cable that hauls the tram up the steep side of the mountain. Shop or dine at the Galleria or Peak Lookout, and when you return to low ground, take the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbor to Kowloon.

Plying the waters between these two places since 1888, residents use the Star Ferry for their daily commute, and tourists love it because it offers wonderful views of the skyscraper-dominated Hong Kong Island side and the Kowloon side with the Clock Tower, Space Museum, and Museum of Art.

Hong Kong Cultural Kaleidoscope

To become truly immersed in the city, the Hong Kong Tourism Board has created a for-tourists-only program called "Meet the People" and "Museum Visits." The first includes events like antiques or opera appreciation and Chinese cake-making; the latter allows visitors the oppportunity to visit seven of Hong Kong's most popular museums.

When the time comes for embarkation, Crystal passengers make their way to the Ocean Terminal for check-in and greeting by a member of the crew. Passengers are personally escorted to their staterooms and begin to realize the luxurious experience that is about to begin.

There's plenty of time before dinner to get acquainted with home-away-from-home for the next 11 days, to make reservations at one of the ship's specialty restaurants--Nobu Matsuhisa's Silk Road or Prego, serving Northern Italian cuisiine-- to enroll in an engaging class at the Creative Learning Institute, or to sign-up for a shore excursion at one of the fascinating ports on this "Exotic Asia" cruise.

Read more on Crystal Symphony's "Exotic Asia" cruise, including days-at-sea and ports in Vietnam and Thailand.

The copyright of the article Six Star Luxury Aboard Crystal Cruises' Symphony in Hong Kong Travel is owned by Margaret Johnson. Permission to republish Six Star Luxury Aboard Crystal Cruises' Symphony in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.