Super Star Virgo

[stuartavo]

well the time has come and we are on the virgo on the 16th august.my wife is flapping and has asked a few questions to you knowledgeable lot.thanks for your last reply justine by the way!

 

what restaurant's can we use on our full board (free)

what are the charges to eat in other restaurants?

what are typical prices of soft/alcholic drinks.

is their competition for sun lounges

what are the best tours/worst tours to go on.are these tours extra or provided inclusive.

 

 

thanks in anticipation stuart

[Doubletrouble_in_oz]

Hi Stuart,

 

The free restaurants are: Mediterranean Buffet/Terrace, The Pavillion and Bella Vista. Fruit juice is included (at least at breakfast time, not sure about lunch or dinner), but if you want it freshly squeezed there is an additional charge.

 

Sorry, can't help you with the other restaurants.....maybe someone else will know.

We did have snacks at The Taverna......steak sandwich was S$12.50, pizza S$10, basket of fries S$5......plus 15% service charge.

 

Drinks - coke was S$3, mocktails (non alcoholic) S$6.50, fruit punch S$5.50, pint of Tiger beer S$5.50, spirits S$7, glass of champagne S$7.50....plus the 15% service charge. There are 4 bottles of water delivered to each cabin, free of charge, everyday.

 

We spent a lot of time around the kids pool.....90% of the sunlounges were UNOCCUPIED:D :D :D , in addition there are tables and chairs.

Everytime we walked past the Parthenon pool, at various times of the day, I never ever saw all the sunlounges being taken. You shouldn't have any problems.

 

Don't know about tours, we did excursions on our own, but yes...they are extra. Where are you stopping? I saved most of the tours information sheets (yes, I know pathetic:p ) and they have prices on them.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Cheers

 

Justine

[casu1]

Hi Stuart

Again we did free and easy as we found thid the best. Phuket Fantasea tour was very popular both times we were on the Virgo as was the Kek Lok si temple tour in Penang. We did contemplate booking the Malacca / KL combo tour but settled for the mad dash into KL on the bus. Next time we will stay on board. The Indian restaurant is around S$12 -15 whilst the Palazzo can set you back around S$70. Didnt use the others. Blue Lagoon snacks are very reasonable ie Burger, satays etc and the Wednesday night Steam boat at the Taverna is a bargain. Great atmosphere sitting under the Sentosa cable cars cooking king prawns and meats, around S%20 from memory including 1 beer or soft drink. Check out the Happy Hours also - great value. ENJOY:D

Just sitting waiting for the 2007 early bird booking specials to be released:cool:

Have a great cruise

Cheers

Stuart

[Caz99]

Hey Guys

Thanks so much for the replys to my last lot of questions we are now counting down the sleeps!!!!

 

Can anyone tell me if their is much seasickness on board..... 2 of our group suffer from it.... but hoping that its calm enough that it wont be a concern. but if it is...whats the best thing to take

 

Weve made a decision to do our own touring ( Ive been advised not a good idea in KL better to do the shopping tour).... can anyone tell me where the ship docks in Penang and how far away from the shops :)

 

thanks

Carole

 

 

 

 

[stuartavo]

thanks for your last replies on the costings of the restuarants.very helpful.a few new questions guys and girlies.

 

is it recommended to visit kuala lumpur as i believe the time allowed is very restrictive.not much has been said about malacca or phuket stop overs.what trips and costs are on offer.last thing does any one have any photos to view of the ship or places of interest.

[mummsie]

Hey Guys

Thanks so much for the replys to my last lot of questions we are now counting down the sleeps!!!!

 

Can anyone tell me if their is much seasickness on board..... 2 of our group suffer from it.... but hoping that its calm enough that it wont be a concern. but if it is...whats the best thing to take

 

Weve made a decision to do our own touring ( Ive been advised not a good idea in KL better to do the shopping tour).... can anyone tell me where the ship docks in Penang and how far away from the shops :)

 

thanks

Carole

 

The ship ties up at Port Klang which is a good hour or so to KL. There are cabs that wait there but we went on the shopping tour (which I wouldn't do again). As for seasickness, I am the first to feel sick once the ship starts moving but honestly on the Gemini I felt no movement at all so the Virgo should be even more stable being a much bigger ship. Have a nice time.

Gayle

[casu1]

Stuart

The mad dash to KL is very restrictive - about 45 minutes each way gives you about 3 hours in KL. You get dropped outside a local shopping centre. Worth it if you havent seen it - but we wouldnt do it again. As for Malacca I think from memeory you can only get off (by tender) if you are doing the Malacca tour combined with overland to KL. Wide range of Phuket tours - we just did the transfer to Patong beach (Free and Easy) in order to do some shopping and walk along the beach. I haver heaps of photos but as yet havent worked out how to attach them.

 

As for the seasick question, on the Virgo you hardly know you are moving, in fact we were in Out of Africa when we left Singapore and didnt realise we were on the move till 30 minutes later.

BON VOYAGE :)

[casu1]

Weve made a decision to do our own touring ( Ive been advised not a good idea in KL better to do the shopping tour).... can anyone tell me where the ship docks in Penang and how far away from the shops :)

 

thanks

Carole

 

Carole

In Penang its about 10/ 15 minutes by Taxi (depending on Traffic) to the main shopping areas of the Komtar centre & China Town. Agree on KL - if you are going in go via the organised bus tour - it wouldnt be worth the hassle any other way.

[Caz99]

22 Sleeps and counting.... thanks for the quick replys.... we probably will do the KL shopping tour because none of us have been there

 

Stuart...the transfer you did to patong beach was that organised on board or when you got off?? was it by bus taxi or tuk tuk ??

 

Ta

Carole

 

[casu1]

Carolyn

It was organised on board, think it was called Shopping transfer to Patong. S$19.00 pp rings a bell. They take you via a store called Wang Talang for a look around (expensive)then straight to Patong dropping off outside Ocean Dept Store directly across the road from Patong Beach, the buses then collect you at a pre organised time. The blurb on the Virgo website is below but note it is a BUS transfer not a boat transfer. This tour gives you plenty of time to shop and dine in Phuket

 

VPHU-S – Transfer to Patong Beach

Take a boat transfer to Patong Beach which was originally a fishing village. Patong is Phuket's most developed beach offering virtually every kind of entertainment imaginable. Numerous leisure, sporting, shopping and recreational options flourish along its three kilometers of beach. Stopover next at Wang Talang to shop for quality local handmade souvenirs, gifts, Thai silks, previous stones and jewellery.

 

[mummsie]

we did the same from to Patong. The free and easy bus trip is the way to go. Star recommend you don't use the tuk tuks as they don't have any insurance. You can also organise with the taxi drivers - they hang around the stairs but as I said we didn't bother. We were a bit cranky though - when they dropped us at the Ocean Shopping centre they gave us a basic map of the main street. On the way back to the ship we went around to the next block behind the main drag and there were loads more shops which I suspect would have been much cheaper than the ones on the main road. Next time if I ever go there, I would walk up one of the street and look along the next block. Mummsie

[casu1]

We are looking at extending next years Virgo experience by staying on after the normal 5 day cruise and booking the Friday to Sunday cruise to nowhere out of Singapore. Has anyone done this ? I never see it advertised as an option for Australian passengers. I met a few people on our last cruise that did the Kota Kinabalu 5 day cruise then disembarked in Singapore on the Friday and then returned on Sunday for the 5 day Straits of Malacca cruise.

Is the weekender for Singaporeans only or perhaps not value for money ?

[Caz99]

We spent a week in Phuket in 2001 way before the Tsunami so am expecting a lot of changes .... We really want to do an elephant ride this trip so will probably catch a couple of Taxi's ( as there are 8 of us) do the elephant ride then onto the shopping at Patong and Mummsie we did alot of our shopping last time in the back streets.

 

Hey does anyone know if you can do elephant rides in Penang???

 

Thanks for all your advice I'm sure I'll have more questions in the next couple of weeks :D

 

 

[Doubletrouble_in_oz]

Carole.....just answering your question about seasickness. My husband is very prone to it, in fact he reckons he gets seasick even in the bath:rolleyes: . He was very apprehensive about the cruise, but like the others said.....you won't feel a thing! He took ginger tablets and Kwells (both available over the counter at the chemist) just in case, but never had to use them.

 

Stuart ......we were also thinking of extending our next Virgo cruise! It won't be until 2008 (we are going to Broome next year) and I'm hoping that maybe they will have a couple of 10 or 11-day cruises (similar to the Gemini itinerary). Otherwise, it will have to be a back-to-back with a 2day break in Singapore!..LOL

I will also try to find some info about the weekend cruise to nowhere.

 

 

Cheers

 

Justine

[deck 9 001]

Hi everyone,

 

The elephant ride offered in Penang is nothing quite like the ones you will get in Thailand. However, there is the Elephant Conservation Center which does have a ride on an elephant around the center. You can read more about it at http://www.klseeker.com/gotomalaysia-visit-29.htm

 

Concerning the Virgo weekend cruises to nowhere, they are quite enjoyable and relaxing, as there is no port call. Yes, they are popular with the locals, as it gives them a chance to go to a casino. Having said this, it is also popular with non locals as well. I look at it as a nice "getaway" on the high seas. Everything that is offered on the destination cruises are offered on these cruises also. Actually, maybe a little bit more, as they need to offer more activities onboard, as there is no port call.

 

I would recommend it. Give it a try.

 

Best,

 

Mike

[mummsie]

We are looking at extending next years Virgo experience by staying on after the normal 5 day cruise and booking the Friday to Sunday cruise to nowhere out of Singapore. Has anyone done this ? I never see it advertised as an option for Australian passengers. I met a few people on our last cruise that did the Kota Kinabalu 5 day cruise then disembarked in Singapore on the Friday and then returned on Sunday for the 5 day Straits of Malacca cruise.

Is the weekender for Singaporeans only or perhaps not value for money ?

I believe this is aimed at the gamblers market for Asians. They go on especially to go to the casino but it would probably be a nice relaxing way to end a hectic cruise. We found our cruise on the Gemini very busy as each day its a different port. Other cruises we have been on have had a few sea days either side and found much more relaxing. Mummsie

[Jamin]

Hi everyone,

Sorry - been "off air" for a week or so.:mad:

Delightful to see that Q & A's are still flowing thick and fast.

We are onboard this Sunday and getting sick of waiting, but I am sure it will be all worthwhile.:)

Great to read all the positive feedback - will take lots of pics and post

when back.

Last chance to access the board will be Thurs this week for me - so

any Q's we can take away please post prior.:confused:

Happy Cruisin'

Simon :D

[deck 9 001]

Bon Voyage Simon.

 

Enjoy your cruise and let Virgo take your cares away.

 

Bring back lots of good memories.

 

Regards,

 

Mike

[casu1]

Have a great cruise Simon, enjoy the Junior Suite experinece - one word of warning though, once you enjoy the "suite-life" its real hard to go back to Balcony (ha ha). Seriously though, BON VOYAGE, hope the experience is everything we have cranked it up to be for you. If you can find out any info on longer cruises or the weekenders out of Singapore it would be appreciated ( ie can u retain the same cabin/suite over a two crusie period)

 

Cheers

[J33JWA]

Hi everyone ~ just checking this thread before we sail with the SSV's sistership Libra on her Med.Aegean Sea leg. Hopefully we get on board in time, with the current airport security disruptions in this part of Europe. Will let you know how it compares with the SSV if you guys make this Med.cruise in the near future.

 

Bon Voyage to Simon and enjoy the SSV a magnificent ship that sail in S.E.Asia.

 

Happy cruising to all about to cruise too.:p

 

Cheers. James:)

[deck 9 001]

James Bon Voyage. Wishing you blue skies and calm seas.

Enjoy the Libra.

 

Regards,

Mike

[Jamin]

:D Thanks to evryone who has assisted with questions and provided

fantastic support re Starcruising.

Enjoy James - looking forward to feedback.:)

Hopefully I can convey some great tips and experiences when back.

Regards

Simon:) ;)

[Doubletrouble_in_oz]

Simon and James,

 

Wishing you blue skies, smooth seas and happy sailings:D

 

Enjoy your cruises!

 

Justine

[deck 9 001]

Simon have a great cruise and enjoy everything Virgo has to offer.

 

Don't forget The Taverna, way up on Deck 13.

Great drinks, food and fantastic views, and it's all outdoors.

 

Regards,

Mike

[oatz]

Hi All

 

Just a note for those interested in cruising on the Virgo, the Australian earlybird offers for April 07 to March 08 sailings have been released. I received an email today from one of the online cruise travel agents and I assume the prices will be flowing on to all travel agents shortly, so keep an eye out for them. :)

 

BTW, The prices listed for the 6D/5N cruise were:

 

Inside from $699

Outside from $845

Balcony From $1025

 

Plus port charges of approx $145

 

cheers

 

oatz