Cruise on the Aegean Paradise: Day / Night Cruise From Penang.

While nearly all the main famous cruise ships dock at Penang, there is limited choice if you want to get on a cruise that starts at Penang. Aegean Paradise is one of those few options.

We take an in-depth look at how to take the cruise to nowhere on the Aegean paradise from Penang Swettenham Pier and what to expect when you are on board. You should certainly consider it on your things to do in Penang list.

This article in In-depth so you can use the links below to jump to sections you need.

• About the Aegean Paradise
• Embarkation
• Buying Tickets
• Onboard Experience and Cabins
• Dining and Bar
• Entertainment and Activities
• Onboard Casino
• Safety
• Disembarkation
• Frequently Asked Questions

About the Aegean Paradise

The Aegean Paradise is a seasoned vessel known for its no-frills approach to cruising. While it may not boast the latest innovations or luxurious accommodations, it provides all the necessary comforts for a pleasant journey.

The Aegean Paradise features dining services, entertainment options, a casino, a pool and basketball court and adequate and definitely better than expected cabin facilities, ensuring a comfortable stay while exploring the waters around Penang.

Quick facts Aegean Paradise

Fact	Stat
Built	1990
Weight Tonnage	23,287
Length	174 m (570 ft 10 in)
Beam	24 m (78 ft 9 in)
Draught	6.52 m (21 ft 5 in)
Decks	8

1. 1990: The ship was originally built in Japan as a passenger ferry vessel and launched under the name Orient Venus for the Shin Nihonkai Ferry Company
2. 2005: It underwent a transformation, transitioning into a three-stars-plus cruise ship. At this point, it was renamed Cruise One and operated under First Cruise Line
3. 2012: The ship embarked on its cruise journey with Japan Cruise Line, now bearing the name Aegean Paradise
4. 2016: Now serving as a Day cruise Ship from Penang.

Embarking on the Aegean Paradise from Penang

Your journey begins at the Penang cruise terminal, where you’ll board the Aegean Paradise. The embarkation process is straightforward, once you have the ticket.

You will be given a number, and then follow the escalators up, then down to the dock side where you can board, once on board you hand over your passport and you are good to go.

Once aboard there will be announcements rather than muster drills to make you aware of emergency procedures and its worth reading the notices on the cabin door or around the ship just in case.

Buying tickets

Going to buy ticket on the day seems to be a simple task, Although the entrance to Swettenham Pier looks to be at the front of the port it actually is round to the left on a side road if you are facing the pier

I followed a group around the side and through that way past a police checkpoint and ticket counters. I went with the Aegean paradise tickets counter for on the day tickets which was at the end of the ticket counters. I had already spoken to them on the phone the day previously.

Ticket Price for Aegean Princess

Midweek or Weekend	Advance Booking	Walk in on the day
Mid Week	120 Myr (25 USD)	140 Myr (29 USD)
Weekend	130 Myr (27 USD)	150 Myr (31 USD)

They will issue you a ticket / boarding pass – keep hold of this! but you don’t sort out your cabin here you do that on board later (we will get to it.)

You then follow the escalators past a snack shop budget 7-11 in case you forget anything and a security checkpoint then you head to the gangplank to go up onto the ship.

Upon entry you surrender your passport (I had been told this already so it wasn’t a argument surprise) and then you are free to do what you want. This also is not the place where you get a cabin, you do that one floor down from the embarkation lobby on Deck 2 which we look at below.

Onboard Experience

Cabin Facilities

You go to guest services on Deck 2 and request a cabin with the staff there. As this is mostly used as a day cruise / casino boat the cabins are not in huge demand,

The cabins on the Aegean Paradise are functional and clean, equipped with essential amenities such as air conditioning, private bathrooms, and basic furnishings. They provide a comfortable place to rest and recharge between activities.

I wanted, for the purposes of this guide, to see how well kept the cabins are on the ship, and decided to go for a balcony cabin.

There are inside, window and balcony at different price points which are all relatively cheap.

How Much is a Cabin On Aegean Princess

These were correct as of April 2024.

Midweek or Weekend	Inside Cabin	Window Cabin	Balcony Cabin
Mid Week	100 Myr (21 USD)	130 Myr (27 USD)	200 Myr (41 USD)
Weekend	120 Myr (25 USD)	160 Myr (33 USD)	250 Myr (52 USD)

Through for night cruises and weekends public holidays it might be worth getting there a bit earlier to make sure you get one if needed just in case its busier than expected.

One distinct advantage on this cruise is that you are charged for the room, not per person – so you are not charged for being on your own, (I was as Carmen is off bucket listing Japan as i write this) ,

You pay to get on the 120 or 140 MYR and then you choose if you want a cabin or not to have one space.

The cabins, the one I was in at least, are clean and well kept although of course showing their age somewhat with stiff balcony doors and carpets a little worn

Once i had the keycard, I headed off to find my cabin which was 5057 on the starboard side. Don’t lose this keycard by the way as there is a charge.

The room was much bigger than i imagined it would be with a double bed, a sofa and plenty of storage. It has an ensuite with shower sink and toilet and of course a small but functional balcony – Thought the door to it was really really stiff and took some opening. I could have changed i imagine but didn’t want to waste the time.

You can check out the cabin tour for a balcony cabin below.

The room has a TV with a mix of different language channels, HBO movies, AXN History channel, if you found yourself needing a break from the ship or the weather keeps you inside. I watched the sail off from the top deck as my cabin was on the starboard side of the ship meaning the views heading out are off the mainland, and the views of Penang were on the way back.

All in all i was impressed with the cabin, it is showing its 34 years for sure, but it was clean tidy and everything worked well (even the balcony door after a fashion) and it was a nice place to chill out in for some of the day and I’m pleased i got it.

Dining and Bar Options

Pacific Restaurant

Dining on the Aegean Paradise is uncomplicated, and while not perhaps the same standard and certainly not the same number of options you have on larger cruise ships, it is edible though not the best meal you will have in Penang – At least I certainly hope not !

The restaurant on board is called the Pacific Restaurant and it serves as a buffet with mainly Asian (Malay, Chinese and Thai) food. It is definitely first come first served, I went for lunch about 90 mins after it had opened and there was considerably less options compared to when I took the video of the buffet when i got on board the ship.

With that in mind I went early for dinner and this was confirmed although it was much busier there was much more choice. A nice Malaysian Chicken curry was my dish of choice.

The restaurant is a good size and didn’t get to busy on my trip. Depending if you travel in the morning or evening cruise you will have a choice of dining times.

The Cruise offers dining at the following times.

• Breakfast from 5.30 am to 9.30 am
• lunch from 11. am to 2.30 pm
• Dinner from 5.30 to 9.00 pm
• Supper from 10.00 Pm to 1.30 am

As we mentioned these are all buffets. You can check out our videos for more information on this. If you are hungry between these times the shop on deck 2 offers reasonably priced snacks like chips packet noodles and nuts as well as cold drinks cheaper than the bars.

Also the bars, although i didn’t check this, have food menus as well as drinks on offer, which you can see below. It is mainly finger food but if you are hungry it will fill that hole. Either way don;t expect 3 star Michellin Food and you will be ok here.

Jubilee Lounge

There is also a bar and lounge called the Jubilee Lounge also on Deck 3 which is the entertainment venue as well as the bar venue.

It hosts bingo twice per cruise which, not surprising considering the age range, was really popular, and has a singer during the day singing Beatles songs when I was there, and a semi Vegas ( I have to use the term loosely) style show as you are on your way back into Penang around 5-7 pm.

Pool Bar

On Deck 7 there is an outside pool bar that serves cocktails, beers and soft drinks. Prices will change of course but at the moment its about 24 Myr for 2 beers in cans. Still for Malaysia this is a pretty fair deal for both a cruise ship and a captive audience.

The menu and pricing is, to my research, the same through out the ship but here is an example from the Panorama bar.

The Opening hours of the pool bar are from 10.00 am – 3.00 am

Panorama Bar

This venue is on Deck 8. On Fridays this venue is home to the Disco from 11.pm to 3.00 am. and also karaoke from 7pm to 3.00 am on other days. It is a nice location though figuring out which door leads up there is a challenge.

It lives up to its name and wraps around the ship from port to starboard and it has both a bar, plenty of seating and TVS around. The Air Conditioning is also fantastic here which is a welcome relief after the sun deck below it.

Karaoke is popular and there was a steady stream of singers, of mixed quality, belting out Chinese songs. what they lacked in talent they certainly made up for in effort.

Entertainment and Activities

Jubilee Lounge

As we mentioned above the Jubilee Lounge on Deck 3 acts as the entertainment venue for the Aegean Paradise and has a how for both the morning and evening sailings

The two shows timings are as follows.

• Morning Sailing: 2.00 pm – 3.30 pm and another at 6-7pm ish
• Evening Sailing: 10.45 to 12.30

The cruise, at least when i went on it was majority Chinese so you can expect the entertainment to be catering for that. Although the afternoon singer was giving Beatles songs a good go.

The Observation Deck

On the very top of the ship on deck 8 you have the Observation deck which is a great place to hang out when leaving and coming back in to Penang at Swettenham pier to get selfies and take in the views, It is however hot up there with no shade.

Swimming Pool

The Aegean Paradise also has a small swimming pool ,though still big enough to swim in it, on deck

There were no sun loungers when i was there but it did have chairs and tables. It also has a couple of hot tubs just above it as well although these were closed off.

It is open from 12pm to 3.00 am officially but was empty when i got on, and then filled up around 2 pm, I presume from sea water but i didn’t check.

No one used it, so unlike other cruises if you did want to go for swim on the Aegean Paradise then you would not be fighting for space, you would most likely have the whole pool to your self. Take that Royal Caribbean!

Gym

The Gym is no longer on the Aegean Paradise, having been replaced, i think, with a small cafe and games room at stern called the Poseidon cafe. This seems an odd choice, as no one used it but then maybe no one used the gym either.

Shopping and Gift Shops

On deck 2 you will find the shopping arcades and gift shops. I found just one shop. The shop as you can see in the video is fairly basic but the prices are reasonable and you can buy snacks like nuts, chips and noodles to take up to the cabin, if you have one, of the pool deck to chill out.

It has cold drinks cheaper than the bars as well if you just want to chill on the upper decks or the cabin. It also sells a small selection of cologne and perfumes as well as cigarettes and some t-shirts and other clothing items as well as gift items.

Arcade and internet

The Internet cafe and arcade is no there any more and small games are in the Poseidon Cafe on deck 7 but the selection, as you can see on the is very small.

Wellness and Spa, Sauna and Beauty Salon and Clinic

There is a small massage / beauty salon on board on deck 1 that does massages for a reasonable price ( see below) and a salon. i didn’t check if they were open for customers when i was on board but the lights were on.

Jogging track

The Aegean Paradise also has an outdoor Jogging Track around the top with views of the pool deck as well as the ocean outside if you want to work off that buffet lunch or dinner. T

There is no shade on it so you may end loosing the weight pretty quickly if you spend to long up there! It is HOT. I only saw one person using it for exercise the whole trip.

Basket ball Court.

Surprisingly for a ship of this size Aegean Paradise has a hall basket ball court on Deck 8 near the Jogging Track though being 35 degrees and with an age of 70 plus there was no one playing on it.

Also not sure how or if you can get basket balls or what happens if they go over the side. I presume you don’t have to go get them back!

Atrium

The center of the Aegean Paradise has a three story atrium from deck one to deck 3 and it is a nice place to people watch. Again for a ship of this age it is holding up really well.

Luggage Storage

If you need to on deck 1 there is also a left luggage office where you can drop off any bags you want if you don’t have a cabin to store them in.

Wifi

Although you are still close to Malaysia you are far enough away from land to lose Wi-Fi signals for some of the journey. (about 3 hours in the middle from what I could tell)

The boat offers Wi-Fi at a cost of 20 MYR (about 5 USD) for the duration of the cruise or 10 Myr for an hour, although this only worked really on deck 3 and the pool deck.

International Waters and Onboard Casino

One of the unique aspects of cruising on the Aegean Paradise is its voyage into international waters, or at least far enough away from the land, to allow the ship to open its onboard casino.

This feature attracts many passengers (most) who enjoy gambling, offering a variety of games from slot machines to table games like blackjack and roulette and even Texas Hold Em.

Gambling is CLEARLY a major reason why people come on board Aegean Paradise and it was the busiest part of the ship.

Casino Experience

It’s well-equipped and managed, and despite covering a lot of deck three is still the busy part of the Aegean Paradise. If you were under any doubts of what this boats and this cruises purpose is then this will give you the answer.

The casino, where i was not allowed to record or take pictures (i asked) has tables for Black Jack, Poker, Roulette and gaming machines all along the deck including inside the restaurant.

It was very popular and caters for both those just playing for a bit of fun, and those wishing to spend a little more in a section called Casino Royale.

Though buy in to the tables varies the smallest i saw was 10 MYR or about 2 USD. The machines take notes from 10 to 100 MYR ( 2 to 22 USD) and have payouts related to this.

A Quieter Ship for Non-Gamblers

For passengers who prefer not to engage in gambling, the advantage of the Aegean Paradise casino’s popularity is that it often means less crowding in other parts of the ship.

With many passengers occupied in the casino, you can enjoy more tranquil surroundings elsewhere, whether it’s in the lounge areas, at the bar, or on the open decks gazing at the sea and Penang in the distance.

Safety and Cleanliness

Safety procedures are communicated at the start of the cruise, and are found in posters around the Aegean Paradise. The ship maintains a good level of cleanliness, with staff dedicated to ensuring public areas and cabins are kept tidy and sanitary. For a ship as i mention in the video of heading towards 40 years old it is in pretty good condition.

The cabins were clean and well maintained, and the public areas where both cleaned and checked regularly. Considering this is a ship that appears to allow smoking even in the cabins, this is to be commended, the cleanliness not necessarily the smoking.

Disembarking and Overall Impressions

There is a bit of queuing involved when you disembark the Aegean Paradise. You will need to get your passport back. The queue starts in the Jubilee Lounge on Deck 3, but if you take the lift down you will see table set up with loads of passports and ID cards, you can hand in your room card here, and then head to the lounge and start to queue.

I did this about 7.30 and the queue moves quickly (they know what they are doing) and I was off the boat about 7.45

Conclusion: My thoughts

The Aegean Paradise is a casino ship when all said and done, its the reason why about 90% ( my guess) of passengers are on her, and it makes Deck 3 a busy deck all the way through the cruise.

But before this puts you off remember than this is directly opposite to every other cruise out there. On other cruises 90% of passengers are there to use the pool, the gym, the bars restaurants, cinemas, shows and they are always busy.

• So if you are here for a gamble then it suits you as the tables are buzzing, there are plenty of machines.
• and if you are here for a day out on a boat it suits. It means you have all of those ‘normal’ cruise ship items either to yourself or with very few others.

To demonstrate I am sitting by the pool writing this and its empty. I have never seen a cruise pool empty ever! The restaurants get a little busy, but honestly as this boat leaves from Penang if you miss dinner then one of the best places in the world awaits you when you get off the boat.

So if you are thinking about taking a trip out then for about 20 USD it is worth it in my mind, and if you get a cabin you can say you have cruised the Andaman sea to the Pearl of the Orient.

Those bragging rights are surely worth the price of admission!

FAQ Aegean Paradise

Can you smoke on the Aegean Paradise?

Smoking is permitted in designated areas on the Aegean Paradise and these seem to be everywhere including in cabins, casinos and bars.

Is the Aegean Paradise suitable for Children:

Children are welcome on the Aegean Paradise but aside from the pool and a small children’s area there does not seem a lot for them to do. I didn’t see any children on the sailing i was on, but am aware that people have taken children on board

What is the Age Range on Aegean Paradise:

The Aegean Paradise caters to all age groups but there was definitely an older crowd more interested in gambling when I went. I wasn’t the youngest (at 50 years old) but i was one of them.

How to buy tickets for Aegean Paradise:

Tickets can be purchased through the ticket counters at Swettenham pier, Though you can book online as well. I bought mine at the pier after “what’s apping” the number on this site linked here.

Do you need to give your passport?

A passport or valid government-issued ID is typically required for boarding which they will take off you and give you back at the end of the day / night cruise.

What is the food like on Aegean Paradise?

The Aegean Paradise offers two meals for each sailing, either a dinner and breakfast for night sailings, or lunch and dinner for Day time sailings. These are buffet style and include water and coffee/tea etc. The food is Ok, but it is not the main reason to go on the Aegean Paradise

Is it Aegean Paradise just a Casino Boat?

Factually no, but it is used as one and clearly most of the customers on board are to be found on deck 3 in the Casino. However this just means other features like the bars and the pool are much less crowded than on other cruise ships.

What time to check-in to Aegean Paradise:

Check-in times can vary, but passengers are typically advised to check in from 2 hours before departure times. I boarded about 9.30 for a 11.00 departure.