Super Star Virgo

[malamute]

Wow ! Wow ! Wow ! WHat an amazing holiday ... and what a thump as we come back down to earth and back to the grindstone :-)

Also just got home home again after doing the SSV cruise out of Hong Kong. People said we would enjoy the holiday, but I had no idea it would be so fantastic ... hat's off too, to all the Star Cruises staff, both on the ship as well as shore staff.

 

Everyone was great and extremely helpful. The boarding process was very efficient and easy to navigate as was the disembarking etc from the ship at various shorex's. We did have some lines to wait in at various places, but these were mostly due to immigration etc and not related to Star Cruises.

 

Food was incredible ... (loved the beef in red wine sauce :-) We ate at the Bella Vista most meals but did also visit the Medditeranean Terrace at times ... Bella Vista was Top Class !

 

The evening shows were world class ... especially enjoyed Mike Michaels, the Magician, but mostly due to the fact that we became good friends on the ship. Being a magician myself, we had that in common - so I spent quite a bit of time in his company. Loved his shows - really unique and exciting to watch.

 

As for the shore excursions, we did them all - got some nice coconut products from Sanya ... as well as some pearls. Halong Bay was sureal ... ! Took the junk around the bay and went to "Surprise Cave" - very similar to our Cango Caves in South Africa ... beautiful ! Xiamen was also interesting - especially the vegetarian meal we had at the Budhist Temple ... still wondering what we ate though :-)

 

I'm not sure whether it was a good or bad thing to have had our very first holiday out of South Africa include a cruise or not, because I just want to go back and can't see myself doing another holiday without a cruise involved ! Really loved the Virgo and cannot praise the ship and it's staff enough ... will be saving up now to do her again from Singapore ASAP. It's just a pity our exchange rate in RSA is so poor ... this trip was hellish expensive for us .... but worth every cent !

 

If anyone is interested in seeing our holiday pics, they do include our other stops in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur as well ... but I have quite a few of the ship and the shorex's, feel free to have a look at them here: http://picasaweb.google.com/CarlVanBlerk/TouringAsia?authkey=dFbYPJI0mDw

 

I must say as well - I now know what people were talking about when they mentioned the only negative on the ship is a certain group of rude and obnoxious people ...hmmm! We did experience that too :-) However, I must also add that we met quite a number of Australians and made some really good friends ! Good people the Aussies !

 

Cheerio .... Carl and Debby :D

 

[maxx]

Great photos and comments. Looks like you 2 had a ball. Thanks so much for sharing them.

We are cruising in Nov from Singapore, can't wait.

[themaxydog]

Star Cruises rep at the Gold Coast Cruise Expo stated that she was 99% sure that SSV will be doing a 3 month stint in Hong Kong in 2009. This should be starting around May June with a similar itinerary to this year. When asked why Star does not put their itineraries out until the "last minute" she stated that this is because their main target market, Asia, according to their research, prefers it this way. The next itinerary is due she believed late August.

 

Cheers

John

[boeckli]

Carl - thanks for sharing your experiences of the great SSV. Also enjoyed your photos very much. The red, hairy fruit in one of the photos are 'rambutan' I believe.

 

Which tour did you take in Sanya?

[malamute]

Ahhh ... thanks. I see it's from the litchi family.

 

We didn't do an organised tour into Sanya. Just took the shuttle bus, but it did stop at the coconut factory as well. Only drawback is that it drops you at a mall, which was a bit of a waste of time. I believe the other tours may have been better, although ours was quite cheap comparatively ...

[kuldalai]

Star saying the Asian people like itineraies on short notice is stupid excuse for not following industry practice and having them out well in advance . Having them out so late results in a lot of lost business as potential travellers outside Asia book with other lines. If Star got them out earlier then they would get more business, as the local Asian market is not dis-advantaged in any way by publishing itineraries further out .

 

According to Singapore departures and arrivals SS VIRGO is heading north in mid June 2009 and will return to Singapore in September 2009 .

[leewts]

Strange that they are giving that info - maybe things have changed - we def only had a single visa for Xiamen and did the shopping shuttle without a visa -and this was only in June - The only passengers that required a visa for Sanya were those going free and easy - making their own way into town

stuart

Could some one please cliarify the visa requirments for me i am a uk resident due to visit sanya and halon bay in vietnam but am not sure if i requre to obtain visa's for any or both of these places after reading some of the posts i am still confused any help i would be greeatful of thanks in advance

[kuldalai]

Vietnam - Star normally get Visa that covers your entry to Vietnam at all ports of call. With China the current situation appears to be that Star can obrain one entry Visa provided you book one of the ships tours . However if you have two ports of call in China then pax is responsible for getting Single entry visa (for the second port of call) from Chinese Embassy / Consulate before leaving your home country . No Visas required for Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia or Hong Kong (SAR) .

HOWEVER to be safe it is advised that you have your Travel Agent enquire and obtain the necessary Visa (s) for you . You can also enquire on line by e-mail to starcare@starcruises.com.my

[leewts]

Vietnam - Star normally get Visa that covers your entry to Vietnam at all ports of call. With China the current situation appears to be that Star can obrain one entry Visa provided you book one of the ships tours . However if you have two ports of call in China then pax is responsible for getting Single entry visa (for the second port of call) from Chinese Embassy / Consulate before leaving your home country . No Visas required for Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia or Hong Kong (SAR) .

HOWEVER to be safe it is advised that you have your Travel Agent enquire and obtain the necessary Visa (s) for you . You can also enquire on line by e-mail to starcare@starcruises.com.my

Thanks very much for your help

[ssv]

Superstar Virgo(SSV) departures:

 

SIN - PEN - PHU - SIN/SIN - PHU - LGW - SIN every Sunday (3 nights)

SIN - PKL - SIN/SIN - RDN(Redang) - SIN every Wednesday (2 nights)

SIN - High Seas - SIN every Friday (2 nights)

 

 

SSV will rotate SIN-PEN-PHU-SIN-PKL-SIN-SIN/SIN-PHU-LGW-SIN-RDN-SIN-SIN every Sunday.

 

This is w.e.f. MAR 2009

[Jamin]

Hi SSV enthusiasts,:D

 

Getting closer and cannot wait til we cruise.

 

Also going to Macau for a couple of days whilst in HK.

 

Really looking forward to seeing the new casinos etc as I hear they are amazing.

 

Thanks to everyone that is keeping us informed of their Virgo experiences and shorex from the HK departures.

 

Regards

Simon:)

[bellajess]

is it advisable to get money exchanged in hong kong for halong bay tour and sanya

[kuldalai]

Ships tours purchased on board are charged to you on board account - in this case in HK $ . You cannot pay for these tours by cash or standard credit card.

 

In respect of spending money ashore in China or Vietnam you can get the local currency for Vietnam on board or in HK . Not sure re Chinese renmibi (Yuan) .

 

If you have US $ they are widely accepted in Vietnam, so if you have some US currency would not bother getting Vietnamese Dong at all .

[bellajess]

Thanks for the quick reply re changing money for post tours. Any other tips and suggestions for 1st timer on Virgo. Also is there themed party nights - does anyone know what they are?.

Also is there a link to a copy of star navigator

[bodget]

I have today recieved an email from star stating that they cannot organise a vietnamese visa and that the halong bay excursion isn't visa free do they always lie and speak in riddles can understand when people state they don't seem interested

[themaxydog]

is it advisable to get money exchanged in hong kong for halong bay tour and sanya

 

I did the Singapore - Hong Kong on Virgo in March/April. Vietnam I found easy to get money ashore through an ATM machine. Quite alot of fun taking millions out. Sanya, the ship changed money for you for no charge and when you came back on board they changed it back for you at the same rate with no charge.

 

Cheers

[bodget]

do star normally provide a visa if you book a tour @ halong bay?

[seasick_in_a_bathtub]

Bellajess - staff on the Virgo advised us against purchasing any vietnamese currency as you cannot change it back! The vendors at the markets are more than happy dealing in Hong Kong or US dollars....they actually prefer it.

No theme party nights as far as I'm aware....but we never made it to the disco:) .

 

Bodget - we did Free and Easy in Halong Bay and Star Cruises provided the visa.

 

Enjoy your cruises,

 

Cheers

 

Justine

[bodget]

they are now chargingfor vietnames visa's pleaselet me know if you ain't charged and i will contact them to ask y

[kuldalai]

Star have always charged for the Vietnam visas . In most cruises the fee is included in the Cruise price . The current fee is $ 30 Aus .

[bodget]

i've been charged after paying for the holiday in full for a vietnam visa,what they have done is stick a £60 fuel surcharge on the cruise invoice instead

[bodget]

does anyone have any further observations on the excursions on offer?

[bellajess]

Hi we have 3 weeks to go before we go. Any last minute tips on virgo cruise or tours. Starting to count down the days now.

 

Also if boarding early is there somewhere you can get late lunch on board.

[bellajess]

Hi I was wondering if you chose 1st sitting for meals, is there a buffet or somewhere you can eat at a later time if you dont feel like eating early.

[seasick_in_a_bathtub]

Bellajess,

 

There are no designated sittings on the Virgo for dinner (or any other meals). You eat when you are hungry....restaurants are usually open between between 6 and 9pm, sometimes a bit earlier depending on sail time....all the information will be in your daily program. Just turn up and you will be assigned a table by the hostess......easy:)

The Blue Lagoon is open 24 hours a day, but there is a charge applicable.

 

 

On embarkation day, the Bella Vista was open for lunch. We walked through the buffet, it was a nightmare....but only a handful of people in the restaurant.

 

Cheers

 

Justine