Far East Cruise | Kosher Cruise to the Far East | Kosher Tours, Cruises and Vacations

We’re happy and excited to present to you a wonderful 20 days’ tour that we have built especially for you, after intense research and in-depth investigation, much thought, and most importantly – in light of our acquaintance with you based upon the experiences that thrilled you on your previous Shai Bar Ilan tours.

Traditions and customs that go back thousands of years, the enchanting contrasts between East and West, large Buddha statues and simple bamboo huts which stand alongside lofty skyscrapers, colorful markets and picturesque villages, as well as the enthralling historical-cultural stories of Southeast Asia. We’ll cruise on the luxury liner MS WESTERDAM on an eye-opening and heart-expanding journey from Singapore to Hong Kong, along the eastern coast of Vietnam, among beautiful pastel scenery, some of which is still untouched by mankind; and all this on a pampering 5* cruise. It’s everything you’ve ever dreamed of.
THE ENJOYMENT STARTS HERE!

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ITINERARY

Day 1

Tuesday: Singapore

Arrival to the special city-state of Singapore. Singapore is a beautiful tropical island – the central island to which no less than 58 (!) Small island are attached.
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Singapore’s strategic location, at the entrance/exit to the Straits of Malacca, one of the busiest sea lanes in the world, is one of the reasons for its economic success. Transfer from airport to hotel. We will meet the tour guide at the hotel.
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Day 2

Wednesday: Singapore

Today we’ll discover the republic of Singapore. We’ll start with the old colonial district and the area around the river. We’ll see some of the new glamorous buildings and tour some of the city’s ethnic neighborhoods – Chinatown, Kampong Glam, the Muslim Quarter and Little India.
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We’ll also learn of Singapore’s Jewish presence – David Marshall, the Prime Minister during Singapore’s autonomy from Britain was Jewish. Singapore gained independence in 1965 and by the 1990s it had become an economic success story.
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Day 3

Thursday: Singapore – All Aboard the Ms Westerdam Luxury Liner

Today’s the day that the serious pampering begins. We board the luxury liner Ms Westerdam, a 5* deluxe floating hotel that’s everything you’ve ever dreamed of. From now on it’s pure luxury as we embark on our magical cruise.
One Minute… You want to know what’s on board?
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The ship is one of Holland America’s newest luxury liners (we at Shai Bar Ilan don’t give up on the newest and best for our clients):
• 11 guest decks
• Restaurants and lounges with panoramic views
• An elegant boutique
• A new bar in the atrium
• A sophisticated and beautifully designed theater with two shows daily
• Handsomely appointed staterooms with Holland America’s unique touch
• All staterooms have a window (veranda rooms are available at extra cost)
• Plush, prestigious Mariner’s Dream beds with quality bedding
• TV with DVD – you can bring your own or borrow free DVDs from the ship’s library
• Freshly prepared, delicious kosher meals daily
The ship also offers:
Music, musician and singers, piano bars, casino, luxury restaurants, a spa, gym, swimming pools and a jacuzzi, and of course, an entertainment crew that is available from morning to night.
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Day 4

Friday: At Sea. Lectures, shows and pampering

An opportunity to truly enjoy ALL the ship has to offer as we sail along the Pacific Ocean. Today we’ll be able to enjoy lectures, movies, shows and entertainment in the ships numerous theaters and entertainment centers.

Day 5

Shabbat: Koh Samui, Thailand. Shabbat Services, Shiur/Lecture and pampering

Today we’ll enjoy Shabbat services and Shabbat meals, as well as lectures and shiurim in the best tradition of Shai Bar-Ilan, and be able to enjoy the ship’s wonderful, pampering facilities as we marvel at the amazing azure waters and scenery.

Day 6

Sunday: Lam Chabang, Bangkok, Thailand

Today we’ll anchor at Lam Chabang, near Bangkok, capital of Thailand. After breakfast, we’ll go ashore to visit “Venice of the East”, the city of Bangkok on the banks of the Chao Praya River, and gained its nickname due to the many canals that cross the city.
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The metropolis of Bangkok is filled with colorful temples and traditional floating markets, where East meets West is complete harmony. It is considered one of the world’s most enjoyable cities. We’ll visit the symbols in Democracy Square, represented by the four huge pillars (and 75 smaller ones) and the six gates, works of an Italian sculptor. From there we’ll continue to the royal residence and visit the Grand Palace built by King Rama I in 1782 and considered the premier site to visit in Bangkok. The palace was considered the primary residence of the kings of Siam for generations (The current king Rama X resides in a different palace), and includes numerous beautifully designed buildings, notably the coronation hall and the Wat Pra Khao temple, one of the most sacred temples in Thai Buddhism. Here we’ll also see the Emerald Buddha, the most venerated in Thailand. Near the palace is the Wat Pho temple, the oldest temple in Bangkok with its gilded reclining Buddha, the largest in the world.
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Day 7

Monday: Lam Chabang, Pattaya, Thailand

Today we’ll visit the amazing botanical garden of Nong Nooch, designed in Chinese style, with its vast collection of plants and flowers. We’ll stroll through the enchanting gardens and watch a thrilling folklore show. If there is time, we’ll also tour the city of Pattaya, and favorite seaside resort southeast of Bangkok.

Day 8

Tuesday: Sihanoukville, Cambodia

Today we’ll come ashore at Sihanoukville, Cambodia. In Sanskrit the name means Siha=Lion, Hanou= Jaws, and is named for the former king Norodom Sihanouk. The city’s full name is The City of the Holy Sihanouk.
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There are those who say that Sihanoukville’s four amazing pristine white beaches are the Cambodian response to the wondrous beaches of Thailand – and they’re not wrong! The city lies at the tip of the Cambodian peninsula on the southeastern corner of the Bay of Thailand, and is considered a resort city par excellence, bordering on unique nature reserves and tropical islands. We’ll visit the Rim Nature Reserve and hike on one of the trails along the beachfront, through a dense tropical forest and along a magical river that cuts through it. From there we’ll continue to visit the Sihanouk Waterfalls.
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Day 9

Wednesday: At Sea. Lectures, shows and fun

An opportunity to truly enjoy ALL the ship has to offer as we sail along the Pacific Ocean. Today we’ll be able to enjoy lectures, movies, shows and entertainment in the ships numerous theaters and entertainment centers.

Day 10

Thursday: Pho Mai, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Today we’ll drop anchor at Pho Mai, near Ho Chi Minh City (a.k.a. Saigon) which was once the capital of South Vietnam until 1975, when the forces of the North defeated those of the South and united the country.
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Today, Ho Chi Minh City is the heart and soul of the united country, the largest city in Vietnam, a dynamic and bustling city and the center of the country’s economy, trade and culture. We’ll embark on a tour of the city to discover its origins, when it served as the French colonial capital from 1859. A tour here can be a little confusing because it may seem as if we’re touring some of the magical quarters of Paris… We’ll discover the French architectural influence at the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office, and the legendary Rex Hotel with its fascinating history. We’ll visit the parliament, the war museum and Chinatown. And we’ll participate in an extreme sport: crossing the scooter laden streets of the city ?! We’ll see the many street vendors and little stores selling an endless variety of wares in a city that never rests.
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Day 11

Friday: Na Trang, Vietnam

Rested and contented, we’ll dock today in Na Trang, arguably Vietnam’s most famous resort. We’ll wander about the town and see the renowned Long Son Pagoda, with its mosaic adorned roofs, decorated with dragons with tails of glass and ceramics – an eye-popping art form.
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We’ll climb the 152 steps to visit the giant White Buddha, which is no less than 9 meters tall, and from where there is a magnificent view of the entire area. We’ll continue to the popular Yang Mai waterfalls before returning to the ship to prepare for Shabbat.
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Day 12

Shabbat: At Sea

Today we’ll enjoy Shabbat services and Shabbat meals, as well as lectures and shiurim in the best tradition of Shai Bar-Ilan, and be able to enjoy the ship’s wonderful, pampering facilities as we marvel at the amazing azure waters and scenery of Southeast Asia.

Day 13

Sunday: Da Nang, Hue, Vietnam

This morning we’ll drop anchor in Da Nang, the “Imperial City” which marks the halfway point between Ho Chi Minh City and the capital of Hanoi. From here we’ll travel to the ancient imperial Vietnamese capital of Hue.
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There are many imperial gravesites in Hue, which are recognized as a World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. We’ll visit the former Forbidden City and the imperial mausoleums. After the visit we’ll return to our ship to spend the night on our floating hotel.
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Day 14

Monday: Hoi An, Vietnam

After breakfast we’ll travel to visit Hoi An, an ancient city which was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, because of its 800-plus beautifully preserved ancient houses dating back more than 200 years.
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We’ll stroll through the alleyways of the charming old city, absorbing the town’s distinct atmosphere, as we discover the Chinese and Japanese influences in the temples and pagodas, and experience the supremacy of a picturesque and delightful small town, which proudly preserves its glorious past.
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Day 15

Tuesday: At Sea

An opportunity to truly enjoy ALL the ship has to offer as we sail along the Pacific Ocean. Today we’ll be able to enjoy lectures, movies, shows and entertainment in the ships numerous theaters and entertainment centers.

Day 16

Wednesday: Halong Bay, Vietnam

A day to remember forever. We dock at breathtaking Halong Bay, one of the Natural Wonders of the World. Its placid waters are dotted with thousands of islets and Karst outcrops that rise up out of the calm waters, creating a vista that is second to none anywhere in the world.
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Halong means “the place where the dragon descends into the sea” for according to tradition when the dragon wagged its tail, it created these magnificent islets in the bay. We’ll disembark and then set sail in a smaller vessel through the enchanting bay where we’ll also witness the lifestyle of the local fishermen.
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Day 17

Thursday: At Sea

An opportunity to truly enjoy ALL the ship has to offer as we sail along the Pacific Ocean. Today we’ll be able to enjoy lectures, movies, shows and entertainment in the ships numerous theaters and entertainment centers.

Day 18

Friday: Hong Kong, Victoria Peak

Today we drop anchor in Hong Kong and bid farewell to our beloved Ms Westerdam which has hosted us during our cruise. We’ll disembark and set out to get to know with the city, a super-modern financial powerhouse which maintains its Chinese traditions.
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Here we’ll discover its Jewish features – along historic, bustling Nathan Road with its sounds and colors in the center of Kowloon, and we’ll head for the top of the city – Victoria Peak – via a funicular that has been operating here for more than 100 years. We’ll continue to visit the Ohel Leah Synagogue before making our way to our hotel to prepare for Shabbat.
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Day 19

Shabbat: Hong Kong

After Shabbat services and kiddush/lunch we’ll enjoy a walking tour of the area near our hotel.

Day 20

Sunday : Hong Kong – Back home

Our amazing cruise and tour has come to an end. We’ll make our way to the airport for our flight home.

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PRICES & DATES

DEAPARTURE: 14.01.20

RETURN: 02.02.20

DAYS: 20

PRICE: $5790$

FLIGHTS: Excluding

Notes:
The prices are for windo... Details

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NEED TO KNOW

Price Includes:

16-day cruise on the Ms Westerdam
Air-conditioned tourist coach
Entrance to all sites mentioned in the itinerary
Kosher half-board throughout the tour including supplies to make sandwiches for lunch
Kosher full board during the cruise
Tips for local service providers
Professional experienced English-speaking guide
Kashrut and Logistics supervisor on the cruise

Price Excludes:

International flights
Travel, baggage and health insurance
Tips for Ship’s staff – $15 per person per day for Window and Veranda cabins, and $16 per person per day for guests in suites (to be paid directly to the ship)
$45 for Vietnamese Visa
Cambodian Visa (to be paid directly upon arrival)
Personal expenses and services
Shows and evening entertainment not included in the above itinerary
Tip for guide (Recommended: $5 per person per day)

Important to Know:

There may be changes to the order of places visited. We will make every effort to visit every place mentioned in the itinerary.
The tour organizers have no control over airline services such as seating, special meal requests, changes in departure times or delays. These remain the sole responsibility of the airline company.

Kashrut on Tours

Only strictly kosher food is provided to our travelers on all our tours. On some of our tours we are able to provide glatt meals. Kashrut is of utmost importance to us and we take special measures to ensure that everything served is kosher.

The meals:

Breakfast is prepared using our utensils. We use local fresh fruits and vegetables, and we use milk products when they are permitted. We use kosher cereals, and bread. We usually serve hard boiled eggs and sometimes scrambled eggs or omelets. At breakfast, we prepare our lunches so that people have their choice as to what they eat for lunch. We bring food from Israel to supplement what is served in the hotel such as cheeses, peanut butter, tuna, etc.
For dinners, we serve either fish or meat (usually chicken) as our main course. In areas where meat is not available nor readily acquired, we will have fish. When possible, we acquire the meat locally from Chabad or other reliable kosher source, and in some cases we fly the meat in from Israel. We try to provide as many meat meals as possible. The main course at dinner is preceded by soup and salad and accompanied by freshly prepared vegetables. Dessert typically consists of fresh fruits.
We do not guarantee Pat Israel and Chalav Israel for all destinations.
In many destinations we have our own dishes and silverware. Where we don’t, we provide disposables at the meals. When we cook in hotel kitchens, we use our own knives, cutting boards, pots and pans, cooking implements and disposable metal trays. All food preparation is done on covered surfaces under the strict supervision of our trained staff/guides who function as our mashgichim.
We make great efforts to assure that our travelers will experience local foods first-hand, while maintaining stringent observance of Kashrut laws on all occasions.
On most of our tours, you will be accompanied by two of our staff members- one a guide for the tour who is knowledgeable about the places you are visiting and will accompany you throughout the day and the second, a person who will deal with the logistics of the tour and provide kashrut supervision in the kitchen.

Hotels:

It is our aim to provide the finest hotel possible in each area we visit. We require our hotels to allow us to work in the kitchen and to supervise the cooking and there are many hotels that are not willing to cooperate. They simply have no desire for us to be “meddling” in their cooking process nor are they happy about our bringing our equipment into their kitchens. We work very hard to find the best hotel in the area that will meet our requirements. Because we are not ready to compromise on kashrut, we may not always be able to use a five star hotel.

Payment Terms, Deposit, Cancellation Fees & Policy:

Remarks
* Fridays and Saturdays, holidays and holidays in Israel, Sundays and holidays abroad are not counted as a working day count.
* If any air tickets are issued or additional services such as a visa are purchased, etc., their prices will be added to the cancellation fees specified above.
* In case of change, cancellation or malfunction related to flights, cruise or transportation, the responsibility lies with the airline or transportation company.
* There may be changes in the itinerary due to changes in internal flight times and other objective reasons.
* The performance of the trip is subject to the conditions and responsibilities as they appear on the website
* Passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the date of return
* We strongly recommend purchasing Travel Insurance.

Terms of Payment
* Registration fee is $ 500 per person
* Up to 90 days before the trip, supplementing 30% of the cost of the trip
* Up to 45 days before the trip, supplementing 100% of the cost of the trip

Terms of cancellation
* When canceling for any reason from the time of registration and up to 90 working days before departure, the passenger will be charged $ 97 only
* Cancellation for any reason from 89 working days to 30 working days before the trip the passenger will be charged $ 1500 + $ 47
* Canceled for any reason from 29 working days to 14 working days before the trip the passenger will be charged $ 2500 + $ 47
* If canceled for any reason from 13 working days before the trip until the date of departure the passenger will be charged the full cost of the trip including all the accompanying costs.
* If visas are issued to the countries of destination and / or flights, the prices will be added to the specified cancellation fees

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Far East Cruise 20 Days

Including Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hong Kong