Manila to Singapore Cruise: Hong Kong
In this final post of a multi-part series, Bethany explores Hong Kong on her Manila to Singapore Cruise on Crystal.
Welcome to the last stop on this fabulous journey…a long layover in Hong Kong. Because I had such a long layover, I was able to find a local tour to get me out of the airport and see a bit of Hong Kong as I made my way home from Singapore to Tampa. Follow along as I explore Hong Kong.
Manila to Singapore Full Itinerary
Below is the full itinerary for the trip. This post includes details about Hong Kong. Looking for info on other stops? Check out the ‘Links’ section at the end of this post!
- February 23-25: Manila, Philippines
- February 26: Boracay, Philippines
- February 27: Puerto Princesa, Philippines
- February 28: At sea
- March 1: Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
- March 2: Muara, Brunei
- March 3-4: At sea
- March 5-7: Singapore
- March 8: Hong Kong
See You Later, Singapore!
After a phenomenal cruise and some time in Singapore, I am finally ready to head back home. The long journey home started early in the morning in Singapore, where I boarded the first of the three flights ahead of me. This first flight was the shortest of the three, about 3 hours and 45 minutes from Singapore to Hong Kong. This was my first time flying on Singapore Airlines, and I absolutely loved my comfortable business class seat.
After seeing the beautiful sunrise as we departed Singapore, I enjoyed a delicious waffle with fruit compote. This was one of many fantastic options I could pre-book from the “Book the Chef” menu, available for business class passengers on Singapore Airlines.
Layover in Hong Kong
I had about an 11 hour layover in Hong Kong, so I had booked a tour with ToursByLocals to help pass at least some of that time! It was great to get out of the airport for a bit and see a small part of Hong Kong. I booked a tour of nearby Lantau Island. The first part of the tour was the Po Lin Monastery. This Buddhist monastery was founded in 1906 by three monks visiting from the Chinese mainland.
Near the monastery is a large bronze sculpture of Buddha, called (appropriately!) “The Big Buddha.” This statue was completed in 1993. It is 112 feet (34 meters) tall, weighs over 250 metric tons, and is constructed of 202 bronze pieces. There are 268 steps to climb to reach the Big Buddha. The Buddha’s right hand is raised (representing the removal of affliction) and his left hand rests open on his lap (a gesture of generosity).
My guide also took me on a walking tour through nearby Ngong Ping Village, a small area with some shops and cultural exhibits.
Unfortunately, the highlight of the tour was supposed to be a cable car ride to get from Hong Kong to Lantau Island, but the cable war was out of service for yearly maintenance. So, my guide had to improvise a bit and most of the tour was by taxi instead. We were in a “Lantau taxi” for most of the tour. There are three colors of taxis here in Hong Kong (red, green, and blue), and only the blue ones are allowed on Lantau Island. We took a local ferry back from the island to an area near the airport, and from there we took a double-decker bus back to the airport itself.
Heading Home
Once back at the airport, I still had plenty of time to kill before my evening flight departed. I got lots of steps in by walking through the very large airport. I stopped to snap a few selfies with some new “friends” I made along the way. Finally, it was time to board flight #2 of 3…Hong Kong to San Francisco.
I boarded my flight and settled into my comfortable Polaris (business class) seat. This flight was about 12 hours long, so I had time to have a couple of meals, watch a couple of movies, and get some sleep.
Final approach into San Francisco was absolutely spectacular! The clear skies and setting sun provided a wonderful backdrop to some stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge and of the entire city of San Francisco.
I had about a 3-and-a-half hour layover in San Francisco before boarding my third and final flight. This last flight was just shy of five hours en route from San Francisco to Tampa. I was glad to arrive in Tampa safe and sound. It was about 36 hours from first takeoff in Singapore to final touchdown in Tampa. Plus, the “spring forward” time change happened while on my last flight, so I actually lost another hour with that time change!
Conclusion
My day in Hong Kong, during a long layover on my way home, was a nice way to end an absolutely amazing trip. Although the main highlight of the tour I booked was unavailable, it was still a nice day as I had the chance to see some of Lantau Island. A long journey brought me safely back home to Tampa, already chomping at the bit to start my next adventure!
Links
Check the main page for this cruise to read more about my adventures:
Click the button below for more information about Crystal:
