Super Star Virgo is coming to Australia!!

From Star Cruises

May 22, 2015

 

 

Hong Kong, 22 May 2015 – Star Cruises, the leading cruise line in the Asia Pacific, has upped the ante for destination cruising with its newly announced mega 48-day adventure crossing the equator to explore the Southern Hemisphere! From 15 November 2015 to 31 December 2015, guests can explore a variety of exotic ports of call during this once in a life time journey evoking the spirit of the classic film, “Around the World in 80 Days”.

 

“We are excited to announce this first-ever, long-haul itinerary across the Southern Hemisphere for Star Cruises that will allow our guests to truly experience the diversity of lands and cultures of our corner of the world,” said Mr. Ang Moo Lim, Executive Vice President, Sales, Marketing & Hotels. “As the Asia Pacific’s leading cruise operator in the region, we take pride in knowing our clientele and the local market trends and have developed this itinerary to give our guests, who are already very familiar with shorter cruises, the option to embark on a longer destination voyage.”

 

Australia, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam – SuperStar Virgo brings the greatest hits of Asia and the Southern Hemisphere right to your doorstep, stopping in over 20 ports of call including Bali, Bangkok, Krakatoa, Melbourne, Ho Chi Minh City, Sydney and more during its full 47-day tour.... Read more >

Read more >

From my experience, SSV is a great ship IF.....you like gambling. That's what most of the passengers get on board to do.

I must admit that this situation is on their normal week long Asian cruises. The clientèle for a longer cruise may be different.

However, there is an up side....while everyone else is in the Casino, you virtually have free reign of the rest of the ship.

Looks like it will be a Round Australia cruise aimed at the Singapore market .

Sailed on it in 2003. Found it really over the top in sheer tackiness. So much gold and red. Like a bad chinese restaurant guy designed the decor.

And smokers get all the priority locations and views. Ship stunk !

Sailed on it in 2003. Found it really over the top in sheer tackiness. So much gold and red. Like a bad chinese restaurant guy designed the decor.

 

And smokers get all the priority locations and views. Ship stunk !

Since it usually sails out of Hong Kong the decor is probably perfectly appropriate for its regular customers ;)

SS Virgo was the first ship we went on many many years ago. I do remember the amazing original art work that was displayed in one of the specialty restaurants. Lucien Freud's portrait of Kate Moss was on the wall plus a selection of French Impressionists and others. I also remember the Versace display plates on the table. Was going to buy some when I got home but discovered they were $400 each (in the mid 1990s).

Didn't see many people round the ship at all as most of the passengers had embarked purely for the casino (in the days before they were allowed in Singapore).

We had a lovely time,

Didn't see many people round the ship at all as most of the passengers had embarked purely for the casino (in the days before they were allowed in Singapore).

We had a lovely time,

Still is a gambling ship. Although the casino's have opened in Singapore - the locals have to pay $100.00 each and every time they go to the casino. We "foreigners" don't - we just have to show our passports. It's cheaper to book a cruise for locals and gamble for 3 or 4 days. Should be interesting, as most Asian's don't take "long" holidays. We have done 2 cruises on Virgo, the one in 2003 was good. The one in 2007 was horrendous. The Galaxy of the Stars was nigh on empty each night - and I remember that being full on in 2003. The Show Room had Chinese acrobats and it was packed with Asians - and why not? Nothing for "Westerners". You did get the ship to yourself in the day - as the "gamblers" were sleeping. Getting on and off was an exercise in itself - you just got "mowed" down - or even killed in the rush :eek: No such thing as form an orderly queue.

And yes - if you took a ship's shorex...........guess who always held you up when you were ready for going back to the ship????

It will be interesting to see how it works. But not for this little vegemite :rolleyes:

The one plus was...................loads of Asian food in the buffet - not much of anything else. You just had to keep your eyes out for "people" mauling food...yuk

They have the dining rooms of course, and one "specifically for Asians" - you can't go in that one.

They do have an Indian Speciality Restaurant- and a Japanese Speciality Restaurant. Or they did have.

They were the first to have an Indian Restaurant at sea. (I am full of useless information)

Beautiful ship- excellent service

Since it usually sails out of Hong Kong the decor is probably perfectly appropriate for its regular customers ;)

Quite true!

That said, their PR is over the top.

“As the Asia Pacific’s leading cruise operator in the region,"

If they dropped the "Pacific" from that statement, they could claim that, but as it stands, just plain wrong.

Cancelled the posting.

 

“As the Asia Pacific’s leading cruise operator in the region,"

 

If they dropped the "Pacific" from that statement, they could claim that, but as it stands, just plain wrong.

I agree, they don't really feature in the Pacific as far as I know.

I think it would be nice to try different ships.:D

In their blurb they have a very flexible itinerary where you can join and depart at any port they go to

This is not generally allowed by the mainline cruise companies

Living in Adelaide we always have the add on air fare to Sydney or Melbourne to take a cruise. On SS VIRGO we would be able to embark in our home town

John

The original artworks in the specialty Italian restaurant on SS VIRGO behind thick armour plated glass would be worth more than the ship .

Interesting tack by STAR as since the original Superstar GEMINI was sold Star has just stuffed around out of KL, Singapore and Hong Kong with Mickey Mouse overnight and 2 - 3 day itineraries aimed at the Asian gambling market .

SS VIRGO and it sister Norwegian Spirit (was SS LEO) are great boats, and Star cruises offer an excellent product .

Agree "leading floating Casino operator in Asia" would be a more accurate branding. Star do NOT operate in the Pacific at all , other than this Australian round trip .

When we were on the ship the art works were not behind glass - they were wonderful to see.

Suppose it is a sign of the times.

I remember the maitre d' pointing out the originals and the copies (with the originals on other ships in the cruise line).

I also remember reading that the Lucien Freud painting had been sold for $XX million dollars to an un-named collector (obviously the cruise line owner).

When we were on the ship the art works were not behind glass - they were wonderful to see.

Suppose it is a sign of the times.

I remember the maitre d' pointing out the originals and the copies (with the originals on other ships in the cruise line).

I also remember reading that the Lucien Freud painting had been sold for $XX million dollars to an un-named collector (obviously the cruise line owner).

It would be nice to see all the originals rather than prints/copies.:D

Another memory from SSV.... whenever you go into any food outlet, your card gets swiped. If you try to go into a different outlet a bit later, you get hastily re-directed elsewhere....it's one meal only folks, and don't you forget it !

Another memory from SSV.... whenever you go into any food outlet, your card gets swiped. If you try to go into a different outlet a bit later, you get hastily re-directed elsewhere....it's one meal only folks, and don't you forget it !

wow, I have never heard of that on a cruise ship before.:eek:

Another memory from SSV.... whenever you go into any food outlet, your card gets swiped. If you try to go into a different outlet a bit later, you get hastily re-directed elsewhere....it's one meal only folks, and don't you forget it !

Wonder if they still have that. It sounds a bit odd. Generally you let the casino players eat wherever they feel like - as long as they keep playing!

Wonder if they still have that. It sounds a bit odd. Generally you let the casino players eat wherever they feel like - as long as they keep playing!

Yes, they wouldn't want to interrupt there losing streaks.:rolleyes:

Yes they do swipe your card when you enter a dining venue, we found it all very odd but we asked why and simple answer was food wastages as Chinese people like to graze but they where grazing in every venue one after the other and leaving most of what the chose to eat :eek:

The ship its self we found nice but the people on board different story smoking under the no smoking signs, safety drill none existent :confused: but that was a few years ago so maybe changed, and don't get me started about disembarking and trying to get a taxi felt like taking you life in your hands so many people pushing you and saying or shouting that they needed that taxi oh well you live and learn we had a good time anyway and in the end that's all that matters

Another memory from SSV.... whenever you go into any food outlet, your card gets swiped. If you try to go into a different outlet a bit later, you get hastily re-directed elsewhere....it's one meal only folks, and don't you forget it !

That might explain why Asians are usually skinny. No chance of gaining weight.

Yes they do swipe your card when you enter a dining venue, we found it all very odd but we asked why and simple answer was food wastages as Chinese people like to graze but they where grazing in every venue one after the other and leaving most of what the chose to eat :eek:

 

The ship its self we found nice but the people on board different story smoking under the no smoking signs, safety drill none existent :confused: but that was a few years ago so maybe changed, and don't get me started about disembarking and trying to get a taxi felt like taking you life in your hands so many people pushing you and saying or shouting that they needed that taxi oh well you live and learn we had a good time anyway and in the end that's all that matters

I suppose it would be a totally different type of cruise experience. Would you do it again?

Yes but I would but would leave my manners behind lol

yes but i would but would leave my manners behind lol

lol, :d

Another memory from SSV.... whenever you go into any food outlet, your card gets swiped. If you try to go into a different outlet a bit later, you get hastily re-directed elsewhere....it's one meal only folks, and don't you forget it !

Didn't happen to us...............we did restaurant and buffet in the same night, more than once. We went up to the buffet later. No swipe card at the buffet - and from memory - they only "checked your room number" on your card a couple of times.

For sure they wouldn't let "westerners" into the "Chinese/Asian Dining Room"