Ever considered reserving the Jap & Oriental Specific? Nicely, if that’s you, then be certain that to learn our full lowdown on what it’s prefer to journey on the Jap & Oriental Specific on a visit via Malaysia, from Singapore. The Jap & Oriental Specific is a fully superb prepare to expertise and excellent for a visit round Malaysia.
Not solely will you expertise the great thing about locations inside Malaysia, however you’ll additionally get to expertise the world-class service and great thing about the prepare’s carriages. It’s actually unbelievable.




So, when you’re pondering of reserving a spot on board this unbelievable prepare, learn on! We wish to provide the full lowdown on what to anticipate, when to ebook, what to do and components we hadn’t considered earlier than reserving our journey on the Jap & Oriental Specific.
Okay, so let’s begin with locations. We took the prepare from Singapore. That is the place to begin for any journey on the Jap & Oriental Specific. You really board on the border station between Singapore and Malaysia at Woodlands Prepare Station (and checkpoint). That is the place you’ll undertake immigration checks earlier than boarding your journey on this iconic prepare.
Pre-departure logistics for the Jap & Oriental Specific


Now, one of many nice issues about Belmond, in our expertise, is that they consider every part for you. Each element is taken into account, straightforward and seamless.
That is even true earlier than we boarded the prepare. As an illustration, the onboard concierge known as us a couple of month earlier than our journey to organise particular excursions and ebook any Dior Spa companies onboard. We did all this prematurely, and it helped as sure experiences (particularly the Spa) have restricted availability.
The place do you board the Jap & Oriental Specific?


Additionally, as we have been staying in Singapore (after flying from London) just a few days earlier than our journey, the crew organised a personal pickup from our resort to Woodlands Prepare checkpoint (Google Maps hyperlink), the place the Jap and Oriental Specific departs. It was superb and really easy.
After all, you do pay a premium for all of this, however it’s actually price it.
The switch was round 25 minutes from downtown Singapore, and inside no time in any respect, we have been whisked via Malaysian immigration and onto the station platform. Right here, we have been greeted by the superb Jap & Oriental Specific crew – all ready for us to reach. It felt so particular.
What I like most concerning the employees on board the Jap & Oriental Specific is that they’re all so welcoming and heat. There’s no stuffiness or something like that. Everyone seems to be so pleasant and useful.
Baggage onboard the Jap & Oriental Specific


Now, one phrase of recommendation relating to baggage, the cabins are cosy – as you’d anticipate from any prepare journey. To make issues simpler, the Jap & Oriental Specific prepare crew will retailer your bigger luggage in a safe cabin, which you’ll be able to retrieve after you have completed your journey onboard.
This manner, you may take a smaller bag onto the prepare itself and have way more room within the cabin. So, when you’re travelling internationally to Singapore, be certain that to take a small, hand luggage-style bag you may tackle board the prepare too.
What are the sleeping cabins like on the Jap & Oriental Specific?


That is the place the magic actually occurs! As you board the Jap & Oriental Specific, you’re taken to your cabin by your butler. They are going to be with you each step of the way in which in your journey.


Now, with the Jap & Oriental Specific, there are three bookable cabins you may select from. The Pullman Cabin, State Cabin and the Presidential Suite – with the worth rising, relying on which cabin you select. The Pullman Cabin is the smallest of the cabins, with bunk-style beds and an ensuite bathe room. Subsequent, the one we booked is the State Cabin. This has two convertible single beds that rework into sofas for lounging within the daytime. Lastly, the Presidential Suite is the biggest of all of the cabins.


With every of the rooms, the beds and remade each single evening (and put away) by your Butler while you’re having fun with breakfast. There’s no problem, and clear, crisp sheets and beds are ready for you when you end dinner within the evenings.
Communal carriages on board the Jap & Oriental Specific




Whatever the cabin class you ebook, you’ve gotten free rein of the entire prepare. Each individual can take pleasure in each facet of the Jap & Oriental Specific. So, don’t fear about having to ebook a sure class of room and pondering you may miss out on sure features of the prepare.
After settling in, unpacking and having fun with some bubbles, you’ll get to wander across the prepare for about 60 minutes earlier than departure to Malaysia. We took this chance to get our bearings and actually perceive the structure of the cabin.
Remark Automotive






Our State cabin was proper subsequent to the Remark Automotive in the back of the prepare. This was a welcome deal with as we have been proper subsequent to the cocktail bar, lounge and outside commentary deck, which we visited a number of occasions a day.


It’s a terrific place to return within the night for a quieter drink, and it’s such a peaceable space of the prepare. Plus, the views are superb as you journey via Malaysia.
Malaya & Adisorn Automobiles






These are the 2 restaurant automobiles onboard the Jap & Oriental Specific. All through your journey on the Jap & Oriental Specific, you’ll dine in each of those carriages, in numerous seats and carriages at varied mealtimes. There are seats for 2 folks and seats for 4 folks.








Every day, for breakfast, lunch and dinner, you can be given a desk alongside varied different travellers onboard. It’s an effective way to make buddies, and actually, by the tip of the journey, each visitor is aware of everybody, and it’s like one huge buddies group – which we liked.












Although, don’t fret when you don’t fancy a chat. You possibly can at all times ask to sit down on the two-seater tables if it fits you greatest.
The Piano Automotive






That is one other gem of a carriage that you simply’ll frequent many occasions while you journey on the Jap & Oriental Specific. Within the daytime, the Piano Automotive Bar is open and affords each sort of cocktail, champagne and scorching drinks you possibly can ever need. Plus, you may have issues like afternoon tea and snacks while you board the prepare after your every day excursions.
Additionally, within the night, you should have stay musicians performing, singing and entertaining within the carriage. It’s so beautiful, and we regularly stayed right here till the wee hours of the morning.
Dior Spa Automotive




The Dior Spa has a devoted carriage onboard the Jap & Oriental Specific, together with a small store promoting Jap & Oriental Specific merchandise. On the store, you should purchase crockery, champagne flutes, tiffin packing containers and different objects you utilize all through your journey onboard the prepare.
Naturally, we purchased just a few issues to take again to London, together with a tiffin field and the champagne flutes. Although I might say to purchase your souvenirs early in your journey, they have a tendency to promote out, and there may be a lot much less availability because the tour attracts to a detailed.




The Dior Spa has two spa rooms, each of which we used and liked. We booked in for a Dior therapeutic massage within the night after a day exploring Langkawi, and it was so beautiful. The rooms are gorgeous, and it’s so surreal having a therapeutic massage as you’re travelling via Malaysia by prepare.
Which journey do you have to journey on the Jap & Oriental Specific?




That is totally private to every traveller. There’s are vary of seasonal journeys, particular focus journeys and routes that showcase a few of the greatest issues in Malaysia itself. We selected to ebook the ‘Essence of Malaysia‘ journey. This took in locations like Langkawi, Penang and the historic metropolis of Ipoh alongside the way in which. We liked it.


Now, bear in mind that costs and availability can fluctuate significantly relying on seasonality. Guide properly prematurely to get the only option as we seen fairly just a few of the dates promote out.
Are Excursions included while you journey on the Jap & Oriental Specific?






The straightforward reply is sure! You’ve paid a premium to expertise the Jap & Oriental Specific, and all excursions are included within the value. Better of all, there are completely different excursions at every cease alongside the way in which. Like I stated earlier than, the onboard concierge will name and e-mail you as regards to the every day excursions to allow them to ebook your house earlier than you board the prepare.








Every of the excursions is completely different, which means that there actually is one thing for everybody. From excursions, seashore days, cooking courses, you title it – they’ve a heap to select from.
Is it troublesome to sleep on the Jap & Oriental Specific?




Truthfully, no. The one slight factor I’d say is that when you’re a light-weight sleeper, you could get up just a little extra within the evening. Na1turally, you’re travelling by prepare and this will transfer round as you journey via Malaysia. Noise was by no means a problem for us, and our cabin was at all times tremendous quiet.
For us, we have been fairly drained as soon as we completed our journey on the Jap & Oriental Specific. The primary cause was that we have been burning the candle at each ends and had complete FOMO on all of the amazingness that’s the Jap & Oriental Specific prepare. This meant we had fairly late nights and early mornings… however this was all our personal doing.
Are there different trains to take?








Yeah! Don’t neglect you’ve gotten Belmond’s Orient Specific (in mainland Europe), the brand new Britannic Explorer and British Pullman (England and Wales), the Royal Scotsman (Scotland), the Andean Explorer and Hiram Bingham prepare (in Peru). All of those provide barely completely different packages, from day journeys to bigger journeys.