We met up at the Grand Marina Bay Cruise Centre, the biggest cruise terminal in Asia, at 12:30pm. It was the first cruise experience for many of us and we were all excited to go on board after check-in and embarkation. The staff on the cruise were friendly and made us feel very welcoming. We then proceeded to our rooms and were pleasantly surprised to find spacious rooms, each complete with a balcony and a spectacular sea view!

After the mandatory safety drill, we went straight to explore the cruise ship where we would be spending the next 4 nights. It was a beautifully decked out cruise ship and we could not stop taking photos at every corner.

We had an early dinner at 5:30pm in the main dining area. It was a delicious three course meal with starter, main course and dessert. There was a huge selection for each course and we were able to order as much as we wanted since onboard meals were already all paid for!

We ended our day with a dramatic ice-skating show which starred a cast of professional skaters from around the world. The dazzling costumes and mesmerising ice dancing choreography had left us all in awe.

Some of us woke up before the crack of dawn and headed to the roof level of the cruise to catch the sun rise. It was an amazing sight, watching the sun gradually peeping out from the far horizon. At 7:00am, everyone gathered at the Windjammer restaurant for breakfast and we were spoilt for choice with the wide buffet spread.

The cruise docked at Port Klang in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and we went shopping at Klang Parade, a local shopping mall. We also enjoyed a session of Karaoke singing and snooker game. After which, we had lunch at a famous Bak Kut Teh eatery in Klang. Malaysian-style Bak Kut Teh has received raving reviews from food enthusiast both locally and internationally. We had a big feast there since the food was really delicious and affordable too!

We returned on board after lunch and relaxed by the poolside where we watched a movie from a giant outdoor screen as the cruise sailed towards the next destination, Phuket. After a heavy buffet dinner at the Windjammer restaurant, we joined in the fun with the other guests at a pool party. There was a DJ spinning club anthems as well as a performance from the bartenders. The crew then taught us how to dance to the party music and it was great fun! The party ended with a live band performance. What a wild night!

The cruise docked at the famous Patong Beach in Phuket. As soon as we disembarked, we wasted no time and went straight to Number 6 Restaurant, known for serving authentic Thai cuisine. Despite the long walk to the restaurant under the scotching sun and the long, snaking queue that had already formed outside the restaurant, we were not the least deterred when it came to enjoying good food.

We spent the rest of the afternoon at the beach swimming, chilling on the sand and taking photos. After that, we visited street markets around the Patong Beach area to shop for souvenirs and local snacks to bring home for our family and colleagues. We also treated ourselves to a relaxing foot and body massage after an afternoon of outdoor activities and shopping.

Being huge fans of Thai cuisine, we decided to go for dinner at another famous Thai restaurant before returning to the cruise. Our final activity for the day was a magic performance at the La Scala Theatre by renowned illusionist John Taylor. It was a great show which embodied entertainment, creativity, humour and mind-blowing illusions.

It was our last full day on the cruise so we spent the morning taking numerous photos at various parts of the cruise. Everyone donned the OWNDAYS t-shirt and tried doing different poses for the photo taking session. It was a great team-bonding time that allowed us to discover the fun-loving side of one another which might otherwise rarely be seen at work. We cheered in unity, “Yeah! Yeah! OWNDAYS!!!” before ending the session.

After lunch, we tried out rock climbing. The rock-climbing wall was a steep forty feet above the deck and it was challenging for us since none of us had any prior experience in this. Nevertheless, the view from above was breath-taking and definitely worth every step we took! One of us eventually made it to the top of the wall, marking it a great end to our maiden attempt at the sport.

The guys in the group then continued on in a mini soccer tournament with the other guests on board while the girls cheered them on at the side. At the end of the game, we were given special medals for taking part in the tournament.

It was our final night on board. We chatted and played card games while enjoying a relaxing buffet dinner by the poolside. This was surely a great way to conclude the trip which everyone had enjoyed tremendously.

The cruise returned to the Grand Marina Bay Cruise Centre and it was time to go home. It was an unforgettable voyage in which we got to experience quality time with our colleagues travelling across the oceans. Thank you OWNDAYS for the memories! We are now fully recharged and ready to take on more challenges!