Super Star Virgo

[revkar]

Wow Veronica sound like you had a fantastic time - thanks for sharing it. We are off in July with 4 kids (ages 7-17). We have booked an inside stateroom for them and a blacony for us - they are opposite each other. Does anyone know how that affects things such as boarding and seating arrangements in the theatre etc - will be be able to stay together or is the different 'class' treated differently?

 

Cant wait!

 

Hey that "Blue Wren" symbol looks might familiar - I may have a neighbour on this forum!

[Lisa-UK]

Hi Veronica

 

FANTASTIC REPORT - I have been waiting for those final instalments!! :D I am really looking forward to August when I will get my turn on the SSV - can't wait! Your journal has definitely given me a good insight into what to expect and I will be booking the Cave tours. May have to re-think Malacca and KL - with 12yr old dear son who is very impatient at the best of times and hates a long journey - we may have to stay on board - ho hum:rolleyes:

 

thanks

Lisa

[boeckli]

Hey that "Blue Wren" symbol looks might familiar - I may have a neighbour on this forum!

 

Hello revkar - give us a hint where you are then ...

[boeckli]

I have asked someone and apparently there is a contact in the US. Hope to have details tomorrow - stay tuned ... :)

 

Here is the info I got :

 

Call the regular customer service number (866-234-0292) and ask for extention 1523. This is the international desk for NCL - apparently they can book Star Cruises as well.

 

Hope this helps and you can get booked on our favourite ship :)

[revkar]

Hi Boeckli,

From the shire of the blue wren - Where the forest meets the sea! But too cold to swim here for me - thats why we love going to Malaysia for holidays

[Jamin]

Hi all,

great to see the thread is still maintaining itself - thanks to all the SSV enthusiasts.:D

Sorry - but I have been offline due to new employment - now working for a different type of ship - a Tall Ship !:eek:

207 ton, 27m high mast, replica of a brigantine, used for Sail Training.:)

 

Anyway enough about myself - still sailing in August on SOM Cruise - 2 x Junior Suites - 4 people.

Cannot wait !

 

Answering a question I noted re how busy SSV is during August :

This will be our 3rd time during August and it always seems fairly well booked - but never have we felt crowded or lacking service.

As SSV has such a high crew to pax ratio and wonderful friendly service ( always remember how important a smile:) is when dealing with crew ) you always feel special.

 

Hoping to post again soon.

Jamin :cool:

[boeckli]

Hi Boeckli,

From the shire of the blue wren - Where the forest meets the sea! But too cold to swim here for me - thats why we love going to Malaysia for holidays

 

That's amazing ... it sure is a small world :). As you can see from my signature, we really like the Virgo. Feel free to click on the smiley with the camera for a link to my photo albums. Have you been on the Virgo before? And where in Malaysia have you been? Pity the sea at home is so cold, would love to swim more often ...

[revkar]

Yes I have been on the SSV for only a 2 night cruise with my husband in 2000. In 1998 I was lucky enough to go on the Leo when it did the cruises out of Singapore up the east coast. I worked in the disability field and a collegue and i took 6 people with intellectual disabilities with us to Singapore and the cruise - 5 nights of bliss and food, food, food!

 

We are going this time because we really want our kids to have the experience (plus we too will love it)...

 

Weather has been so hot and today its almost like winter here!

 

Your photos are great too!:)

[boeckli]

Yes I have been on the SSV for only a 2 night cruise with my husband in 2000. In 1998 I was lucky enough to go on the Leo when it did the cruises out of Singapore up the east coast. I worked in the disability field and a collegue and i took 6 people with intellectual disabilities with us to Singapore and the cruise - 5 nights of bliss and food, food, food!

 

We are going this time because we really want our kids to have the experience (plus we too will love it)...

 

Weather has been so hot and today its almost like winter here!

 

Your photos are great too!:)

 

Glad you liked the photos. Yes, it does feel like winter (sheepfarmers warning and all ...:eek:)

To think you may be just a spitting distance away from me ... do you book through the local travel agency?

 

Here's a tip for a special experience for all of you who are in Singapore on a Friday night (B4 or after your cruise). Every Friday night the Virgo leaves Singapore at 9 pm for the weekend cruise to nowhere. It is quite a sight to see her sail out of the cruise bay fully lit ... best view point from Sentosa Island (find a spot by the edge of the water, preferably where it's not toooo brightly lit) - simply magic. We did that after our last cruise in June and it was the fitting end to a great cruise.

 

[revkar]

noI book everything on line - flights, accomodation and cruise - much more competitive prices.. mind u i havent even tried the local travel agent - i have always done it on my own. I live in town.

 

Thanks for the Singapore tip - I hadnt thought of doing that - I remember the first time I saw Leo in port I couldnt believe the size - particularly in comparison to other ships that were berthed nearby.

 

We are quite excited - I have so much to do between now and July but I still wish it was here already!!

[boeckli]

Wherever possible I also book on line. How did you manage to book the cruise on line though? Previously I found Virgo was only available thru wholesalers, so you had to use a TA (unless you booked thru Qantas). With NCL at least you can book direct with the cruise line on line. If you have the time (and 'know your way around' these things), doing it yourself not only saves money but also nerves I found ... ;) Can't bear waiting for days for an answer if you can have the result on your screen in a few minutes ... BTW we also live in town.

July will be here B4 you know it ... we've still got to wait until late October for the next cruise (which we booked last July ...)

Which itinerary have you booked - there are 2 different ones in July.

 

 

[boeckli]

Another tip for all Virgo cruisers - when the ship returns to Singapore, she does a 180 deg turn in the cruise bay B4 docking - quite an experience, best watched from the top deck, forward.

 

Veronica - thanks for sharing your trip experience. It felt like being back on the ship ... Did you have the fabulous Colin Kerr as your cruise director? Bibi also looked after us on our last cruise as well as Roy, who I think is the main "concierge" these days and has been there for years (always remembers us by name ...) we have been on SSV with as little as 569 passengers to as high as 1920 - the service with a smile has never changed and it's never felt crowded (partly due to the fact that a lot of people spend a fair amount of time in the casino ...) Crew members (from waiters right up to senior officers) will remember you from one cruise to the next, so for us it has been our second home.

The shows in the Lido Theatre have always been great - amazing acrobatics at times on a moving ship, no mean feat.

[revkar]

We are going on the one that sails on the 29th of July - Phuket (never been there before!), Langkawi and Rendang Island.

I booked cruise thru on line TA and got an earlybird special - did have several quotes and went with the best one. I find it less stressful too. I like to spend some time reading forums and reviews on accomodation and then make a choice and search for best rate. It is amazing how much variation there is from site to site.

 

Planning the whole thing is enjoyable in itself and I wouldnt like to hand it all over to TA for them to do. I have been very happy with the choices in accomodation I have made based on reviews and websites.

 

Might bump into you in person sometime... may already have met you! I'll have to buy a SSV t shirt and wear it around town!

[Benz]

Hi Veronica,

 

Your diary is so very very helpful!

It was such an eye opener and I got to realize a lot of details I failed to note easrlier. We are booked for the May 13 5N trip Penang-Phuket-Malacca-Port Klang so your posting is perfect for me.

 

Thanks so much!

 

This board is so very helpful. Everytime I am stressed otu and tired i just read the postings and gets so excited for our trip :)

 

Can't wait.

 

 

 

-Benz

[J33JWA]

Just back from my land travels in Malaysia for CNY with DW's family and ex-pat friends. Spent some relaxing and fabulous time in Pangkor Laut resort (Pavarotti island) - not featured in any Starship's excursions, but highly recommended if any of you have a spare couple of days pre or better post SS Virgo cruise. This island is very private and mainly Europeans and Aussies chill out there. The Spa is unique and fantastic.

 

Veronica ~ thanks again for posting your comprehensive SSV cruise journal here for everyone interested to enjoy. Hope you have had a nice family outing in Centre Parcs and your DD is fine.

 

Mike ~ your SS Libra thread, started sometime ago seem to have dropped off to page 2, as no one appeared to be sailing with SSL besides the locals:confused: who are not CC members.

 

Smooth sailing and fine dinners to all those about to board the SSV in the coming months.

 

Cheers.............................James:)

[deck 9 001]

Hi James,

 

Glad you had a good time in Malaysia during Chinese New Year. And, thanks for the tip about Pangkor Laut. I must go there next time I am in Malaysia and have enought time.

 

My SuperStar LIBRA thread, as you say, is not active at all. Basically because I am waiting for Star Cruises to release the itineraries and schedules in English. I don't think it would be of any use if I posted all this in Chinese.;) Anyway, Libra will arrive in Taiwan on 29 June and begin sailings that night. I hope that I will have more info shortly to post on that thread.

 

Best,

Mike

[murraylee]

Well its only 24 days etc till we cruise.....and I still havnt seen any other cruiser's on the thread.....

 

I cant believe we will be the only ones on board......nice thought though !

 

Seriously "hook up good buddies" if you are on the Virgo out of Singapore on 6th April 2007

 

M:cool:

[clytietan25]

Hi everyone,

I'll be sailing on SSV with my hubby in May 2007. This will be our very first cruise and we booked the balcony class. I have a couple of questions and will truly appreciate it if someone could provide me with the answers.

 

1. I have a copy of Star Navigator which i obtained online. As i read through it, i saw that some restaurant dress code do not allow open toed footwear. Are they really strict with this "open toed" thingy? Coz i only have stilettoes with me and that can be considered as "open toed". :D

 

2. Since we booked the balcony class, do we get to sit at the upper level of The Lido during showtimes? Do we need to book our seats for the shows?

 

3. How much is the dining credit provided for balcony class? My TA told me it's s$200. But as i read through the posts, i come across some with credit s$400. Quite confused.

 

That's all i can think about of currently. Will post again if there are more questions. :)

Thanks a lot.

[kuldalai]

In the Lido you get direct access to the upper level and to the seat drinks service depending on type of cabin booked. Suggest ask Satr Cruises by enquiry to contact us tab on their website.

 

The amount of bar credit given to some cabins deoends on the type of cabin booked, we had Junior Suite so we got a higher $ value than basic stateroom with balcony . So yes diffeerent passengers will get different $ allowances.

 

Enjoy your cruise SS VIRGO is stunning, and the service beyond reproach.

[VeronicaS]

I have, at last, uploaded our January Virgo photos into a Webshots album. Here is the link.......

 

Superstar Virgo

 

James, welcome back from your travels. I remember seeing Pangkor Laut on one of the travel programmes and thinking it looked soooooo nice, maybe one day we'll get there.

 

Murray, not long until your cruise, I'm sure you must be getting excited.

 

clytietan25, I think we had $300 on board dining credit for our 5 day cruise.....that was in a suite so not sure if balcony class and suite are the same, I would think they would be. You will get priority seating for the shows, no need to book. Don't worry about the "open-toed" shoes rule as that doesn't apply to the ladies. You may be interested in the following link for a travel site with masses of useful info for Virgo, just scroll down and click on the links on the left of the page............the "What's New" links are particularly informative, everything you could possibly want to know.

 

Click Here ....... for Star Virgo useful information.

[murraylee]

Hi Veronica

Yes only 22 days....cant wait

Especially as just seen your pics...thanks

 

I could have saved myself a fortune...with your notes and pics...its like being there...well nearly!

 

As regards the on board credit we are on deck 10 with balcony and expecting £140/$270 booked in the UK if that helps................

 

 

I have, at last, uploaded our January Virgo photos into a Webshots album. Here is the link.......

 

Superstar Virgo

 

James, welcome back from your travels. I remember seeing Pangkor Laut on one of the travel programmes and thinking it looked soooooo nice, maybe one day we'll get there.

 

Murray, not long until your cruise, I'm sure you must be getting excited.

 

clytietan25, I think we had $300 on board dining credit for our 5 day cruise.....that was in a suite so not sure if balcony class and suite are the same, I would think they would be. You will get priority seating for the shows, no need to book. Don't worry about the "open-toed" shoes rule as that doesn't apply to the ladies. You may be interested in the following link for a travel site with masses of useful info for Virgo, just scroll down and click on the links on the left of the page............the "What's New" links are particularly informative, everything you could possibly want to know.

 

 

Click Here ....... for Star Virgo useful information.

[first_time_cruiser_2007]

Hi Murraylee,

 

My fiancee and I will be on the SSV on April 1st 2007. We have been looking forward to it for many months now and we only have to wait another week! I have been reading these posts and would like to thank everyone who has posted questions and everyone who has answered them. All of the possible questions that I could have thought of have been answered - so thank you.

[murraylee]

HI FTC

 

Well make sure you leave some food for us!

 

Seriuosly have a great time and enjoy the cruise

 

Take care

M:)

 

Hi Murraylee,

 

My fiancee and I will be on the SSV on April 1st 2007. We have been looking forward to it for many months now and we only have to wait another week! I have been reading these posts and would like to thank everyone who has posted questions and everyone who has answered them. All of the possible questions that I could have thought of have been answered - so thank you.

[jyi1693]

I have been to Virgo last year, on Christmas eve. MS SuperStar Virgo is the pride of Star Cruises, which owns NCL. This means Star Cruises indirectly owns Orient Line and NCL America. Star Cruises also has a division called Ferry Cruises, which operates only one ferry as of now. Virgo's main lobby is very colorful, with Asian influences. I can't do a full review, but I can tell you the ship is magnificent, the crew is friendly and the food is good. I have a few pics too.

 

 

Overall, the ship is good value for money with nice amenities. It's also pretty well made, considering it's from Meyer-Werft in Papenburg, Germany. People from the west should try out this ship.

 

Oh and we're cruising on Virgo on 3rd June 2007. Looking forward to it!:cool:

[ssv]

ahh. I was on the same christmas cruise(24th dec 2006 - 27th dec 2006) too, to penang and phuket. Im sure the picture of the ship was taken while tendering in phuket. fantastic cruise with credit to the staff and the fabulous activities onboard the Virgo.