For the uninitiated a cruise can be a
great way to experience the most relaxing way of holidaying on high seas. We
took the magnificent Star Cruise Virgo
to Penang and Phuket via Singapore
for four days of sheer cruise experience. Welcome aboard Asia Pacific’s super
cruise liner Superstar Virgo, the ultimate in luxury cruising both style and
comfort. Winner of countless awards for decades, Star Cruises is the epitome of Asian Hospitality and memorable
holidays for the entire family. Get stunned by the splendid Grand Piazza with its massive golden
steeds welcoming you, this 915 cabin luxury liner awaits to pamper you with
impeccable hospitality on board making your holiday an experience of a lifetime.
SuperStar Virgo is a massive ship
that can house 3000 guests including staff, our first day the lobby was
brimming with eager excited guests admiring the three bigger than life size
horses in shimmering gold, a grand two way staircase, the lobby is truly
magnificent and opulent. After soaking in the first impressions of the grand
lobby we explored this 13 storeys ship
top to bottom to check out our surroundings for the next few days at sea.
The cruise to
the Far East has many combinations
of days, places and its worth discovering the 3 nights 4 days package as we
did, one can even consider a 2 night 3 days package to yet another far eastern
sojourn. Harbour front was bustling with excitement, families and couples’
taking a cruise break, the cross section of people boarding from Harbour Bay Singapore, were majority
Chinese, Indians and few Australians and British. We also came across some not
so shy Indian newlyweds celebrating their honeymoon to experience the exotic
routes in the Far Eastern Seas.
Superstar Virgo has Executive, Junior, Star Suites, Balcony, Deluxe
Ocean view Windows and Inside Staterooms, your home on the high seas has a
budget that suits all with classy interiors, comfortable beds and view of the
sea. While others explored the ship we darted straight to the balcony of our room
on the tenth floor via the capsule lifts, the view of the grand staircase, the
golden horses, the lobby and reception desk gets more interesting higher up.
Our superb room for the next few days was truly home and the balcony our
favourite hangout, the excitement was palpable as we settled in!
Hunger pangs crept in, there are
11 restaurants and bars ranging from the Mediterranean, Chinese, Japanese,
Indian, Italian, a 24 hours coffee shop, spoilt us for choices, we decided to
sample each and every of the World
Cuisine on board during our stay. As a package deal the restaurants like Bella Vista, Mediterranean, and Pavilion (Chinese)
had buffet served all times, varied, simply delectable food with different set
menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For the premium rooms a food credit gave
us an opportunity to try out the speciality restaurants like Samurai for the
range of Sushi, all freshly prepared, authentic Japanese cuisine with a Tatami
room for an overall Japanese ambience. The Italian
Palazzo had impressive Armani Versace crockery serving the best pizzas and
pastas.
Cruise pass times are many, never a dull moment on board, one can
afford to be a glutton while travelling as the activities on board are
pleasurable and sporty, you can burn all the calories away. An early start,
yoga at the Promenade with an instructor, a hearty breakfast thereafter in Bella Vista the largest restaurant on
board displaying an array of Western and Indian breakfast, an hour later we
joined in the delicate art of Sushi
making with Chef Ferdinand from the Japanese Restaurant Samurai. Next stop,
headed straight to the Lido where
renowned magician Charles Bach enthralled kids and grownups alike. For kids the
activities on board are really exciting, this is truly when cruise life are
happy times for the entire family. The
Nickelodeon Club, Pyjama Jam, Arts and Crafts, Tea Party are some of the
Theme events for children, but most kids love the Nickelodeon Splash at the Neptune
Pool on the upper most deck, the various slides, and fun pool splashes,
parents have a tough time dragging them out.
Zumba Cardio Dance Party with cruise staff was exhilarating and a
great work out, no guilt feelings as we lunched at the Pavilion Room and tasted the most authentic Chinese Buffet. On
board we were so intrigued on how Star
Cruise caters to meals full house of nearly 3000 people?, more on that ,we
joined in Executive Chef Reinhard Mammes
as he took us on a tour around the main and biggest galley, we witnessed how
chefs prepare all our meals aboard, but the next stop was even more
enlightening. Captain Jan Blomqvist
from Finland was giving a talk on the deck above, we rushed in as fixed time
slots are given to have the privilege of meeting him, other technical staff and
we were taken to the room which actually steers the ship! Never realized that
it takes Watch officers, Radio, Chart, Pilot and of course the Captain and many
other staff to control the 76,800 thousand tons Superstar Virgo, with the most
modern navigation satellite system. Maximum cruising speed on board on clear
seas can be an exhilarating feeling, especially when you look down from the 13th
floor, at 25.5 nautical miles the speed cannot be felt at all indoors, it’s so
placid, as if on land even the gentle sway is unnoticed.
The Parthenon Pool, with family size warm water Jacuzzis in all
corners, dive into the refreshing 7 ft deep cool waters of the pool, glide
through the long and winding water slide on ship for sheer thrills. A quick
dash to the Oscar Salon for a nice
makeover, we were ready for the night under the stars, but before that I had to
accessorise at the shopping arcade onboard, a silk scarf and matching top was
great retail therapy. And then the band began to play, inviting guests to
huddle up in their lounge chairs with exotic cocktails and mocktails, swinging
under the stars on the top deck with Tetra Trio was nostalgic as they belted
out Oldie Goldies. The Lido had an impressive Comedy night, the Bellini had the Sound Clipper Band, at the Galaxy of the Stars –Jazz band entertained for a good two hours. Losing
is no big deal as we played Bingo and Jackpot Lottery, a grand Chinese dinner
at the Noble House lifted our
spirits. Adept at using chopsticks we gorged on the celebrated Peking Duck with
crispy egg noodles and mouth watering chilly crab.
Mind you all this was a day at
work, the next day we were geared for the exotic excursions to Penang and then
on to Phuket, wondered if the ships activities will be missed. There were so
many things to do, I wanted to join the laughter Yoga classes, Jog on Star Tracks on the top most
deck, a soothing spa and Aqua Swim at
the Apollo Spa, I had even reserved a luxury private room for four at the Karaoke, I had great plans to sit out
at the Tea Culture a quaint tea corner
with a great view, we so wanted the Tatami
room one evening at the Samurai, but it was reserved all days! Luckily we
witnessed the most impressive Sunrise
and Sunsets by the Promenade, on the other hand we missed the adult show
Nikita, so much to do and so little time.
The Grand Finale was at the Lido, the last evening after the Gala Dinner spread out in all restaurants
was a formal affair, the friends we made joined in for a super feast with the
Captain, his crew and family. At the Bella
Vista where we had a sit down formal dinner, the menu was exhaustive and
exclusive. The Lido had an
impressive line up of international acts and show aptly called Somewhere in Time, with a host of
talented singers, acrobats, actors and incredible costumes, they held the jam
packed 800 seater auditorium spellbound. But all good things come to an end and
the show had us choked in mixed emotions, a great show but we were sad to leave
the next day, a cruise holiday makes you
long for more! Star Cruises has different packages to other exotic
locations in the Far East, someday we plan to try them all!
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