Seven weeks on a DONE4 plus a cruise with hand luggage only.

[dragonman]

Dear reader, this report comes to you from the F lounge in Sydney as I wait for the BA 16 flight to Singapore. It starts here but was born months ago when I discovered AFF and FT. Now armed with the advice of the many I will travel this route: SYD–SIN-NRT-FCO-LHR-DXB-LHR-TXL-LHR-HEL-ROV-HEL-JFK-DFW-YUL-MIA-ORD-LAS-LAX-SYD.

The eagle eyed will have noticed that this cannot be a DONE4 alone. Thanks to the advice of Simon, KiwiFlyer and QF009 and many others the DONE4 originates in NRT on Xmas day. Today the trip to SIN is using points (in F as it was the only way to get there on points). LHR-TXK-LHR is also on points and HEL-ROV-HEL is a paid for flight. There will be 7 legs left in SWP and Asia to be done some time in 2008.

Check-in was completely painless and Express exit through customs/security took maybe 5 mins total. The F lounge is great (as usual) and for lunch the bacon and zucchini soup was great. Sadly the schnitzel and roast potatoes are no more and the hamburger instead was just ok. If you choose to endure the trip reports you will see a sad lack of commentary on grog (I am allergic to alcohol) but the coca-cola is fine.

So I ask some questions as it nears time to board. Do you wish to read hotel reports along the way? Is it cool to report on the cruise (5 days from Singapore around the Straits of Malacca).

The hand-luggage only is as result of figuring out that I might have to spend 24 hours of my trip all-up hanging around baggage carousels. That and the fact that BA lost my daughter’s luggage on a DONE 4 last year. It will take some creativity but I think I have it under control.

 

[adrian]

Having flown 50 plus sectors this year, mostly on long haul (including 3 DONE4's, plus others), and having spent countless hours at luggage carousels, my dream is to fly with hand luggage only. Good luck! Not sure about being on a cruise though with hand luggage - look out for the formal dinners - I once dragged a suit around the world for 7 weeks, only to use it once....

 

[Keith009]

Hotel and cruise reports would be good too.
At the end of the day it is your TR and so make what you want out of it.

 

[NYCguy]

If you choose to endure the trip reports you will see a sad lack of commentary on grog (I am allergic to alcohol)

OY GEVALT! Can't you have desensitisation treatment or something? I mean, sure, you're alive, but WHY?

Anyhoo, I look forward to your trip report, alcohol or none.

 

[sr81]

Bring it on dragonman, give us all the dry details. Having never been on a cruise I am interested as to how they stack up to a quick flight followed by serious beach time.

I completed my DONE4 early this year and watch out for those 777's on the LHR-DXB run. You will amazed as to how old these planes have gotten and wowed by the tiny J ptv screens in rather large brackets.

Good luck and enjoy swanning past the F pax waiting for their suitcases.

 

[simongr]

Good work - I have always been tempted by a cruise but more tempted by liveaboard diving Great work on the hand luggage only - it is a real joy

Looking forward to the hotel info as well

 

[NM]

I would find seven weeks out of suitcase hard enough, let along out of hand luggage! Well done (if you survive).

However, I did not that in KUL its generally cheaper to buy new shirts, underwear and socks than to have them laundered at the hotel.

 

[Mwenenzi]

posted in error

 

[dragonman]

SYDNEY to SIN (SYD-SIN) on BA 16 in F

I had been looking forward to my first F for quite a while now and in the end it was very good if not great. Flight boarded on time. Seat 2A was chosen after reading SeatGuru and at the seat were blankets pillows a sheet and shortly after arrival pjs and a nice sort of soft cube that unzips around the middle with toiletries.

I knew that there were better F services around but when I came to book this was it. The BA staff were super professional and obliging without being servile if you know what I mean. Coke (and hereafter remember not cocaine just a soft drink) and canapés arrived, and the half-full F cabin got fed oh maybe 1 and a half hours after take off. Having eaten not that long ago in the F lounge, I chose smoked salmon as as entrée and braised chicken as a main. Both were good. I delayed desert (apple crumble and ice cream) until much later. There was no sign of anything approaching a caviar service. Drinks were refilled continuously and the offer of pastries sandwiches was always there.

Having heaps of room is the great novelty I guess but being oldish BA there are a few minor issues for me. The IFE is considerably inferior to the QF avod system. The screens are small and in bright daylight almost impossible to see. The other thing that I found odd is a halogen reading light on a stalk that kind of hangs over your left shoulder. Sort of imagine a one armed drunk Dalek and you get the picture.

Anyway off the plane at 9:40 through immigration (no queues) at 9:45, money from an ATM by 9:50 and arrived at PAN PACIFIC Hotel by 10:25.

 

[Evan]

I would find seven weeks out of suitcase hard enough, let along out of hand luggage! Well done (if you survive).

However, I did not that in KUL its generally cheaper to buy new shirts, underwear and socks than to have them laundered at the hotel.

Even in KL the laundry is costly but a lot of other places are really just stupid the amount it costs, and since your 7 weeks you will need to regardless if you have checked bags or not so enjoy the freedom of no bags to collect !

E

 

[dragonman]

SYDNEY to SIN (SYD-SIN) on BA 16 in F

I had been looking forward to my first F for quite a while now and in the end it was very good if not great. Flight boarded on time. Seat 2A was chosen after reading SeatGuru and at the seat were blankets pillows a sheet and shortly after arrival pjs and a nice sort of soft cube that unzips around the middle with toiletries.

I knew that there were better F services around but when I came to book this was it. The BA staff were super professional and obliging without being servile if you know what I mean. Coke (and hereafter remember not cocaine just a soft drink) and canapés arrived, and the half-full F cabin got fed oh maybe 1 and a half hours after take off. Having eaten not that long ago in the F lounge, I chose smoke salmon as as entrée and braised chicken as a main. Both were good. I delayed desert (apple crumble and ice cream) until much later. There was no sign of anything approaching a caviar service. Drinks were refilled continuously and the offer of pastries sandwiches was always there.

Having heaps of room is the great novelty I guess but being oldish BA there are a few minor issues for me. The IFE is considerably inferior to the QF avod system. The screens are small and in bright daylight almost impossible to see. The other thing that I found odd is a halogen reading light on a stalk that kind of hangs over your left shoulder. Sort of imagine a one armed drunk Dalek and you get the picture.

Anyway off the plane at 9:40 through immigration (no queues) at 9:45, money from an ATM by 9:50 and arrived at PAN PACIFIC Hotel by 10:25.

 

[littl_flier]

Please include the Cruise Report as well dragonman. Like sr81, I'm a beach man so I'll be interested to see how it compares.

Enjoy the trip and good luck with hand luggage. I admire you, I can't do a two week trip out of hand luggage let alone a seven week trip with a cruise thrown in. At least you can acquire bags along the way.

 

[dragonman]

Please include the Cruise Report as well dragonman. Like sr81, I'm a beach man so I'll be interested to see how it compares.

Enjoy the trip and good luck with hand luggage. I admire you, I can't do a two week trip out of hand luggage let alone a seven week trip with a cruise thrown in. At least you can acquire bags along the way.

That is true - but not until after Europe - too much chance they will get lost by BA or BAA at LHR.

 

[dragonman]

OY GEVALT! Can't you have desensitisation treatment or something? I mean, sure, you're alive, but WHY?

yeah I know I miss out - but boy am I popular at the end of the night - or anywhere near vineyards...

 

[dragonman]

PAN PACIFIC HOTEL SINGAPORE

Almost all my hotels were chosen by reading reviews on tripadvisor.com and then booking on expedia.com. The Pan Pacific is close to the action had excellent reviews and at $180 (incl taxes) a night seemed like a good deal.

It’s a great deal. Large rooms with huge bathrooms separate shower and bath. Flat screen tv with plenty of channels and most importantly a dedicated soccer channel. Good service and an extended 2:00 pm check out – great king-size very comfortable beds. It’s a four star hotel abut pretty close to 5 stars I think. Highly recommended.

 

[drron]

7 weeks with only carryons.Must know my son-2 days right way round,2 days back to front,2 days inside out right way and 2 days inside out back to front-shirts might look a little funny though.

 

[NM]

shirts might look a little funny though.

not to mention the funny way he walks ...

 

[dragonman]

SIN to SIN on Superstar Virgo in Balcony Class

This was a five night cruise with stops at coughet, Penang and Kuala Lumpur. The ship is enormous holds nearly 3000 people and attracts a clientele which is roughly 70% Asian (Singapore, Hong Kong and China predominantly) and 20% Indian and 10% Australian, UK and US.

So this is not a “party boat”. I chose it because its very favourably reviewed on cruisecritic.com and at $1600AUD for 5 nights in a cabin with bathroom and balcony its very good value indeed. The ship has 7 restaurants of which 3 are “inclusive” meaning that they are included in the cost for every one. There are 4 premium restaurants but balcony-class passengers get a $400 SD credit towards food and beverages.

Shore excursions at approx $50SD a piece were good value, the restaurants in particular the Japanese and Chinese were excellent. What impressed most was the organisation. These guys can load and unload 2800 passengers with great ease, and the facilityaat the cruise terminal was able to cope fairly easily as well.

Given that you could pay as much for 5 nights in many hotels, and you get fed and fed well I would recommend this cruise to anyone really.

 

[dragonman]

I have become an expert at washing shirts/underwear/socks in a bathroom sink. No real problem...yet...8 days in.

 

[straitman]

I have become an expert at washing shirts/underwear/socks in a bathroom sink. No real problem...yet...8 days in.

Keep us informed.