I just took a HK mistake fare through HKG to BKK. Then I booked a Maldivian air flight from BKK to MLE. It was completely empty, maybe 30 people aboard. We were the only two passengers who boarded in BKK. The rest were continuing to MLE from Chongqing I believe. It was the same on our way back. It was a super odd flight but worked great with our times. One negative was that we had to clear customs to check in for the flight as they didn’t have online check in or a transfer desk. I’d say to avoid Bangkok unless those flights work for you as the LCCs fly out of a different airport and you would have to switch.

Maybe time to move on but let’s not diminish what those of us there experienced. The ship did overwhelm the public areas that day. Since most resident guests don’t spend a lot of time in the public areas it wouldn’t affect them. Unless of course you were one of the few that had visitors up your villa path too.

I don’t think it is unreasonable when dining at one of the most expensive restaurants in the world to expect to get a pre-dinner drink served within 45 minutes of our reservation but due to overcrowding it wasn’t possible. Yes, maybe these are first world problems but guests are paying dearly for this. More than just that day was effected too. The Quiet zone was understaffed the next day and had to call in for help. I didn’t confirm but was possibly due to double shifts or resident guests coming back out after avoiding the crowds the previous day. What I can confirm from staff there was that they were out of the signature drink ingredients from logistical issues caused from the previous day.

The biggest issue for me is that the resort thought they could have the ship stop by and change their bottom line. I think it did. Just not in the way they thought it would. Thanks to those that have called them out on this behavior. And make them reconsider in the future.