Ever considered reserving the Jap & Oriental Specific? Effectively, 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 completely wonderful practice to expertise and ideal for a visit round Malaysia.
Not solely will you expertise the fantastic thing about locations inside Malaysia, however you’ll additionally get to expertise the world-class service and fantastic thing about the practice’s carriages. It’s truthfully unimaginable.




So, in the event you’re pondering of reserving a spot on board this unimaginable practice, learn on! We need to provide the full lowdown on what to anticipate, when to e-book, what to do and components we hadn’t thought of earlier than reserving our journey on the Jap & Oriental Specific.
Okay, so let’s begin with locations. We took the practice from Singapore. That is the start line for any journey on the Jap & Oriental Specific. You truly 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 practice.
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 practice. As an example, the onboard concierge known as us a couple of month earlier than our journey to organise particular excursions and e-book any Dior Spa providers onboard. We did all this upfront, 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) a couple of days earlier than our journey, the group organised a personal pickup from our lodge to Woodlands Prepare checkpoint (Google Maps hyperlink), the place the Jap and Oriental Specific departs. It was wonderful and really easy.
After all, you do pay a premium for all of this, but it surely’s truthfully 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 wonderful Jap & Oriental Specific group – all ready for us to reach. It felt so particular.
What I like most in regards to the workers 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 in terms of baggage, the cabins are cosy – as you’d anticipate from any practice journey. To make issues simpler, the Jap & Oriental Specific practice group will retailer your bigger luggage in a safe cabin, which you’ll retrieve upon getting completed your journey onboard.
This manner, you possibly can take a smaller bag onto the practice itself and have far more room within the cabin. So, in the event you’re travelling internationally to Singapore, be certain that to take a small, hand luggage-style bag you possibly can tackle board the practice too.
What are the sleeping cabins like on the Jap & Oriental Specific?


That is the place the magic really 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 possibly can select from. The Pullman Cabin, State Cabin and the Presidential Suite – with the value growing, 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 e-book, you might have free rein of the entire practice. Each particular person can take pleasure in each facet of the Jap & Oriental Specific. So, don’t fear about having to e-book a sure class of room and pondering you may miss out on sure features of the practice.
After settling in, unpacking and having fun with some bubbles, you’ll get to wander across the practice for about 60 minutes earlier than departure to Malaysia. We took this chance to get our bearings and actually perceive the format of the cabin.
Remark Automotive






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


It’s a fantastic place to come back within the night for a quieter drink, and it’s such a peaceable space of the practice. Plus, the views are wonderful as you journey via Malaysia.
Malaya & Adisorn Vehicles






These are the 2 restaurant vehicles 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 numerous mealtimes. There are seats for 2 individuals and seats for 4 individuals.








Every day, for breakfast, lunch and dinner, you may be given a desk alongside numerous different travellers onboard. It’s a good way to make pals, and truthfully, by the top of the journey, each visitor is aware of everybody, and it’s like one large pals group – which we beloved.












Although, don’t fret in the event you don’t fancy a chat. You may 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 just’ll frequent many occasions while you journey on the Jap & Oriental Specific. Within the daytime, the Piano Automotive Bar is open and provides each sort of cocktail, champagne and sizzling drinks you could possibly ever need. Plus, you possibly can have issues like afternoon tea and snacks once you board the practice after your each day excursions.
Additionally, within the night, you should have reside musicians performing, singing and entertaining within the carriage. It’s so pretty, 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 buy crockery, champagne flutes, tiffin containers and different objects you employ all through your journey onboard the practice.
Naturally, we purchased a couple of issues to take again to London, together with a tiffin field and the champagne flutes. Although I’d say to purchase your souvenirs early in your journey, they have an inclination to promote out, and there may be a lot much less availability because the tour attracts to an in depth.




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




That is completely 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 e-book the ‘Essence of Malaysia‘ journey. This took in locations like Langkawi, Penang and the historic metropolis of Ipoh alongside the way in which. We beloved it.


Now, remember that costs and availability can fluctuate tremendously relying on seasonality. Guide nicely upfront to get the only option as we seen fairly a couple of of the dates promote out.
Are Excursions included once 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 worth. 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 almost about the each day excursions to allow them to e-book your home earlier than you board the practice.








Every of the excursions is completely different, that 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 in the event you’re a lightweight sleeper, you might get up just a little extra within the evening. Na1turally, you’re travelling by practice and this will transfer round as you journey via Malaysia. Noise was by no means a difficulty 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 principle 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 practice. 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 might have 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 practice (in Peru). All of those provide barely completely different packages, from day journeys to bigger journeys.