Before your cruise

Southeast Asia

Temples, street food and islands from Thailand to the Philippines. Every ship has its own ports, so pick the countries on your ticket.

Say: Sawasdee khrap / Sawasdee kha (สวัสดีครับ / สวัสดีค่ะ) (sah-waht-DEE KRAHP / sah-waht-DEE KAH), Hello (polite)Khop khun khrap / Khop khun kha (ขอบคุณครับ / ขอบคุณค่ะ) (kop-KOON KRAHP / kop-KOON KAH), Thank you
Try: Pad thai, Tom yum kung, Green curry
See: The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, Wat Pho
Money: Thai baht (฿)
Good to know: Dress modestly at temples. Cover your shoulders and knees: a shirt with sleeves, and long trousers or a skirt below the knee. The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok have a strict dress code at the entrance.

Say: Xin chào (sin CHOW), Hello (polite)Cảm ơn (gahm UHN), Thank you
Try: Phở, Bánh mì, Bún chả
See: Ha Long Bay, The Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long, The Temple of Literature
Money: Vietnamese đồng (₫)
Good to know: Cross the street slowly and steadily. Motorbikes fill the streets of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. To cross, wait for a gap, then walk at a slow, steady pace without stopping, running or stepping back. Riders will steer around you. Use pedestrian crossings and traffic lights where there are any.

Say: Chumreap suor (ជម្រាបសួរ) (chum-REE-up SOO-uh), Hello (polite)Arkun (អរគុណ) (aw-KOON), Thank you
Try: Fish amok, Num banhchok, Kuy teav
See: Angkor Wat, The Bayon, Ta Prohm
Money: Cambodian riel (៛); the United States dollar is also widely used
Good to know: Riel and dollars together. Cambodia uses two currencies side by side. Prices for hotels, tours and larger items are often in US dollars, while market food and small change are in riel, usually counted at 4,000 riel to the dollar. Carry clean, untorn dollar notes, because damaged ones are often refused, and spend your riel before you leave.

Say: Selamat pagi (suh-LAH-maht PAH-gee), Good morningterima kasih (TREE-muh KAH-seh), thank you
Try: Nasi lemak, Roti canai, Asam laksa (Penang laksa)
See: The Petronas Twin Towers, Batu Caves, The Putra Mosque
Money: Malaysian ringgit (RM)
Good to know: Use your right hand. Give and receive money, food and gifts with your right hand, and eat with it too. Point with your thumb, with the fingers folded, rather than your forefinger, and do not touch anyone's head.

Say: Selamat pagi (suh-LAH-maht PAH-gee), Good morningterima kasih (tuh-REE-mah KAH-see), thank you
Try: Nasi goreng, Rendang, Satay
See: Borobudur, Prambanan, The Kraton (Sultan's Palace) of Yogyakarta
Money: Indonesian rupiah (Rp)
Good to know: Use your right hand. Give and receive money, food and gifts with your right hand, and eat with it too. The left hand is traditionally used for washing and is seen as unclean.

Say: Magandang umaga po (mah-gahn-DAHNG oo-MAH-gah poh), Good morning (polite)Maraming salamat po (mah-RAH-ming sah-LAH-maht poh), Thank you very much
Try: Chicken or pork adobo, Sinigang, Lechon
See: San Agustin Church, Intramuros and Fort Santiago, Calle Crisologo, Vigan
Money: Philippine peso (₱)
Good to know: Add 'po' to be polite. Filipinos show respect by adding po to sentences and saying opo instead of oo for 'yes' when speaking to older people or strangers. Visitors are not expected to know this, but a 'salamat po' is always appreciated.