Life in Venice of the East Excursion Reveals Timeless Bangkok
Bangkok has long been given the name ‘Venice of the East’ owing to several canals, locally known as klongs that connect the city to the mighty Chao Phraya River. Over the years, the canals have become a large part of the city’s culture. Like Venice, along the canals you will find several exciting points of interest, not to mention you will get to meet and interact with the incredibly friendly Thai people. Guests disembark the ship at Laem Chabang Port on the eastern seaboard and board a coach for the short one-and-a-half-hour ride into Bangkok. Our drop off point is River City Pier, an area of the meandering Chao Phraya River that is lined with shops, bars and restaurants, a lively place where people gather in the evenings to enjoy life along the riverfront.
A small express boat is the vessel used to navigate the smaller klongs. Cruising along the river, our boat passes traditional wooden housing and ancient monuments, including the famous Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) before stopping at the Royal Barge Museum. We disembark here to explore the museum and enjoy lunch seated next to the river. Leaving the boat behind, we board legendary Tuk Tuks, Thailand’s most famous means of transport. Our final destination is the Grand Palace, the official residence of the Kings of Siam since 1782. From here, we then transfer back to Laem Chabang to board the ship.