JP/7 /CLUB
---------------------------------------------------------------- On invitation by Club Med and its marketing consultant here, PT Wadhia Bala, a reporter of The Jakarta Post joined part of its first Asia-bound cruise from Bali to Semarang, and wrote the following story. -------------------------------------------------------------------
European "village" in Asia on the "Club Med 2"
By Prapti Widinugraheni [10 pts ML]
PADANGBAI, Bali (JP): As the small boat brought us farther away from the Padangbai port and closer to what was claimed to be the largest sailing cruiser in the world, one could indeed see that Club Med 2 was a truly awesome five-masted, seven-sailed yacht.
"It can be completely powered by sail when conditions of the wind allow, giving it a speed of eight to 10 knots, or can be combined with an engine, giving it a maximum of 15 knots. Either way, the ship runs on a fully computerized navigation system," the Manager, or "Chief", of the Club Med 2 "Village" Janyck Daudet said.
On its Asia-bound cruise, Club Med 2, is sailed in Indonesia, and went on to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Japan. This is a new route for the ship, which formerly plied the route to the New Caledonias between 1991 and 1992.
On its first visit to Indonesia late last month, Club Med 2 made an unscheduled stop at the eastern Bali Padangbai harbor, as unfavorable weather made it impossible for the cruiser to dock at the Benoa harbor which is actually much closer to the Club Med Bali resort.
The cruiser's stops here includes Lombok Island (east of Bali), Probolinggo (East Java), and Bawean Island (off coast East Java).
'Village'
Despite the impressiveness of the boat itself, the most notable part of the Club Med 2 is what happens on-deck.
Daudet said the atmosphere of the 187 meter-long and 20 meter- wide eight-deck yacht, was created in the style of a typical Club Med "village".
This, said Daudet, means passengers can choose to go on shore for excursions or join other activities on board, with the help of 62 young crew members of various nationalities -- known as the GOs or gentils organisateurs (gentle organizers).
The GO's are the backbone of Club Med, providing entertainment, sports instruction, and friendly service to the customers.
Since Club Med 2 is equipped with several bars, pools, and restaurants as well as sports equipment for everything from water skiing to aerobics, passengers only need to hope for enough time and suitable weather to enjoy them all.
The ship, said Daudet, was also equipped with a casino and slot machines. "But once we entered Indonesian waters, the immigration officials sealed them up since they are forbidden (here). We will open them again after we leave the territory," he said.
Young travelers
Despite many similarities between the cruiser and the Club Med villages on shore, Daudet admitted that the cruiser's atmosphere is more formal.
Indeed it may be boring to young people who prefer to walk the country, discover things for themselves and find something new everyday -- unless a romance turns up on board.
So it was not surprising to see that most passengers were elderly French-speaking Europeans, while others were Australian and Japanese.
A French influence was obvious in the emergency drill.
As the first announcement was in French and the second in Japanese, English-speaking passengers wondered aloud if they might be the first to drown in a real emergency.
The food and entertainment added to the western atmosphere, but also posed another `danger' to passengers.
"Be careful you don't end up rolling out of the ship," an Australian passenger joked, referring to the rich, five-course European dinners.
The meals usually consisted of a certain kind of soup, hot and cold appetizers, a main course and delicious dessert.
The nightly entertainment of lively cabarets, songs and other performances were presented professionally by the surprisingly vibrant GO's, despite their hard work all day.
Pace
But the ship had an extremely tight schedule which prevented passengers from enjoying onshore scenery at a relaxed pace.
Take for example the seven-hour, well-organized express trip to Mount Bromo in which passengers could not experience the mountain's famous sunrise.
Those intending to go on the tour had to wake up at 6 a.m. -- after a night's full of disco at the ship's St. Tropez bar -- so they could finish breakfast just in time to catch the last shuttle boat to shore at 7:30.
By 10 a.m., after a dizzy trip from the Probolinggo harbor to the last point reachable by vehicles, we proceeded on horseback, the pace depending both on the condition of the horses and their owners who walked behind them.
The scenery was amazing, despite the plain of fine, dark sand that seemed to stretch off into eternity.
At 11:30 a.m. everyone was at the foot of the more-than-500, steep cement steps leading to the edge of Mt. Bromo's now-extinct crater.
After puffing up the stairs for five to 15 minutes, we were welcomed by what seemed to be a combination of fog from the low clouds and sulfur from the crater.
Depending on the wind, the strong scent of sulfur would occasionally rise from the crater, making breathing uncomfortable.
The thickness of the gas also made it impossible to see anything inside the crater.
So after struggling to take a few good pictures for five to 20 minutes we were ready to return.
Back at the harbor at about 2:15 p.m. the passengers could not wait to get back to the ship to have a late lunch. Thanks to the reliable shuttle boats, this last part of the trip lasted about five minutes only.
Although short, most of the more elderly passengers seemed to enjoy the trip and many expressed admiration over the view.
Asia
On its first debut here as well in Asia, Club Med 2 only carried 65 passengers of the ship's total capacity of 419 passengers and 200 crew.
Daudet admitted that not much profit is expected on Club Med 2's first cruise here.
So why expand to Asia?
Asia's impressive economic growth and exotic magnetism seems to have made it an increasingly favorable market for international cruise lines.
The Club Med's Regional Marketing and Transportation Director for Asia Pacific and the Indian ocean, admitted that the Indonesian market of this US$120 million publicly-owned cruiser is very specific.
"I believe that there are at least one million Indonesians out there that can afford Club Med's services," said Charles Flanagan.
Serran Sianturi, Managing and Creative Director of PT Wadhia Bala -- Club Med's marketing consultant for Indonesia -- said Club Med 2's rates in Indonesia vary between $330 and $440 per person depending on the chosen route.
Deputy Director for Travel and Cruise of the Department of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Thamrin B. Bahri, who also joined the cruise, said that despite its limited market, Club Med's visits here support tourism.
The ship, he added, not only travels across Indonesia's vast seas but gives passengers a chance to cruise inland.
The Club Med tour is a voyage of contrasts. The on-board life is a luxurious, "European" atmosphere that concentrates on food, entertainment and relaxation. The shore activities offer the passengers a chance to enjoy unspoiled beauty of Asia.
These two worlds are blended almost seamlessly together to provide a lucky few with a truly memorable vacation.
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