SELENE2025 Year in Voyages
A Day in Ancient Rome: The Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine
May 6 in Rome's ancient heart: the Colosseum's arcades and underground maze, Lucangeli's wooden model, the Forum from the Palatine — and a carbonara that proves Rome cooks salty.
China Airlines CI76 Rome–Taipei: A Leased A350, Dead Wi-Fi and Bread Like a Rock
A leased ex-SAS A350-900, staggered Vantage XL seats, Wi-Fi that never worked in thirteen hours, and bread like a rock. On China Airlines CI76 in business, only the wine list showed up.
Hong Kong Centurion Lounge: Unlimited Caviar in the Centurion Section
Asia's first Centurion Lounge: à la carte dining in the Centurion section, with unlimited caviar and Champagne. Superb food and space; service short on warmth. Sharp Index 85.
JAL First Class Lounge Haneda: Nigiri by the Window, in a Hall Full of Light
On 7 September 2025, the Haneda lounge I lingered in longest before CX549: Japan Airlines' First Class Lounge in Terminal 3. Nigiri by the window in the morning, then a second made-to-order round at the counter — cuttlefish, white fish, a burger, a bento and ramen — plus champagne on ice in a crystal bowl. Big space, good light, food treated like food. My score: 92.
Centurion Lounge Haneda: Japan's First, in Japan Blue — Matcha and Tableside Champagne
On 7 September 2025, Haneda Terminal 3's Centurion Lounge was not yet two months old — American Express's first in Japan. A dark space in Japan Blue, tableside champagne, Ozaki beef and matcha whisked to order: the bones are good. But there is no Centurion-exclusive dining, and the cardholders' room was packed — my score: 81.
Cathay Pacific First Class CX549: Haneda to Hong Kong, the Beauty of a Classic
On 7 September 2025, CX549 flew from Haneda to Hong Kong. Cathay Pacific's First Class on the 777-300ER is no longer new — but with a 2006 Billecart-Salmon, a full Japanese dinner and a handwritten card from the crew, its composure and care endure. Delayed by nearly ninety minutes; my verdict is 92.
Regent Phu Quoc Garden Pool Suite: The Club Lounge at Its Peak
A late-October 2025 stay in a Garden Pool Suite — private pool, a generous welcome, a lobster hotpot at Rice Market, and a club lounge at its peak. The lounge has since been scaled back; this is a record of what it was.
InterContinental Ha Long Bay Resort: A Junior Suite, an Indoor Infinity Pool and a Sunset
An afternoon arrival at InterContinental Ha Long Bay Resort: a lobby that frames the karst islets, the Club Lounge's own indoor infinity pool running into the sea, a bay-view suite with its welcome laid out, and a sunset to close the day.
The Club Lounge at InterContinental Ha Long Bay: Afternoon Tea and an Evening Buffet Above the Bay
The Club Lounge at InterContinental Ha Long Bay: a wall of bay-view glass, a two-stand afternoon tea, and an evening buffet of cold cuts, ham and long-plate hot dishes. The lounge on its own: 90.