RayL

Do not want to be a party pooper but we have just returned to Aust. after a 21 day cruise on Gemini.

Overall it was a good cruise mainly because of the the other passaegers and the efforts of the Cruise staff.

We battled behind a typoon back into Hong Kong which was pretty cool. We experienced floods in Saigon whilst on an excursion and that was a real highlight.

The cabin accomodation was very average and really in need in of an update but probably what is to be expected of a ship about to be retired.

The ship holds about 800 passengers but only averaged about 420 for the trips before, during and after our cruise.

They advertised every day in the ships magazine offering upgrades.

We were on Deck 6 and the upgrade was Deck 7 to a cabin which was 1 meter longer, it had mirrors on the ceiling, a small refrigerator and not much more. Cost $6000 which is about $300 a day extra. Other people were quoted $8000. It was a talking point by most of the passengers throughout the cruise.

They lost the plot. With a ship half full why not upgrade as many people as possible at a nominal cost and create some goodwill.

The entertainment for the first part HK to Singapore was almost the same on the Singapore to Hong Kong leg which was pretty dumb. Star operate a number of Cruise Ships in the region and artists should have been flown in.

The big name artists, 2 or 3, were very, very average and if was not for the cruise staff it would have been a disaster.

We enjoyed ourselves, had a lot of fun but there are better cruises around offering more value for money.

The ship needs to be retired as they have flogged every dollar out of it.

Hi Scoot & Cruise,

Welcome aboard. Should be a great cruise as Gemini gets some very good wraps. The TP was a great cruise.

Kuldalai is probably right and it will be of no great concern.

But - if you are not happy get your travel agent to start screaming at Star and get a change or even go to Reception on Deck 5 when you board when you board, but better to do it now.

Thanks Kuldalai for your update and look forward to hearing more particularly on what excursions you are doing.

How is the onboard enertainment?

Just about worked out our excursions.

How do we work out what is available for Singapore?

Sorry, just realised our cruise leaves Hong Kong on 16th July.

We are doing the 21 night Hong Kong - Hong Kong on 26th July.

There are a couple of excursions we want to include but they are just too long.

Exquisite Bangkok - over 10 hours.

Hue Highlights - 10 hours.

They are all great tours but we have been to both places before so do not want to do the whole tour eg. Just do the Citadel and Mausoleum in Hue and reduce the Bangkok tour to say 6 - 7 hours.

Has anyone investigated outside tour companies for these or any other ports on the cruise?

Hi Kuldalai,

Your responses are great.

However can I get away without a coat at the Captains dinner and just have a collar and tie or sports shirt.

Have always taken a jacket on our cruises but luggage restrictions are becoming a real pain in the butt.

Re Vietnam currency,

We were there last year, just take Aussie Dollar and money changers everywhere on the streets. 100 bucks Aussie makes you a millionaire in Vietnamese Dong.

Can anyone advise which categories have Balconies.

Thinking about upgrading from CA to AD or AC but having difficulty seeing where the value is, Thanks