Superstar Gemini

[hbellman]

do you have to pay to use the fitness centre on the gemini, also what tiome can you board in singapore

 

thanks Hazel

[kuldalai]

General use of the facilities in the Gym on Deck 8 forward is free . For massage or any ancillary services there is charge which is charged to your cabin card .

Your tickets/itinerary will show earliest and latest boarding times in Singapore . Last boarding time is usually 90 minutes prior to departure .

[hbellman]

when we booked back in feb, we requested particular cabin numbers, and our travel agent did not put in the request, how can we find out what numbers have been allocated to us

Hazel

[ging466]

Hi All

 

My review has finally been posted.

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=45188

 

Cheers

Ging466

[baer]

We have just returned from our 21 day cruise Singapore to Singapore. It really was a fabulous experience and any little negatives just don't matter in the overall picture. It is a great little ship and the Captain is an outstanding man who was often seen around and about including shaking hands with all the passengers at Captain's dinner, cocktail parties and on disembarkation. What a great sense of humour as well. As previously mentioned all staff are exceptional. Food was five star. I had a couple of massages for a very crook neck which were great (in the privacy of a small room on a professional massage table with Pachabel's Canon in the background). We caught up on lots of movies, books, relaxing and met loads of fun and interesting people over the 21 days. We had great adventures including flash flooding in Ho Chi Minh City where we waded through the city for 6 hours, delays into Hong Kong due to Typhoon Kammuri and lots of other ittle adventures. What a wonderful itinerary. When things were a little different to your 'average' american cruise line I just said that it was 'a la Gemini'. I truly understand the rave reviews that weave their way through this forum and feel the sadness and loss that all you regulars are suffering.

[kuldalai]

Glad you enjoyed the cruise on the good ship Gemini and Captain Lennart Jegerfalk is just a delightful person . Glad you enjoyed that massage and that you escaped being shot with Pachobels Cannon !!!! A lovely piece of music but my it goes on and on and onnnnnnnnnnnn forever.

[jansim]

Enjoyed reading about your 21day voyage of adventure Baer especially as we are getting prepared for our 11night leg of the same voyage but from Hong Kong to Singapore - cant wait and getting more and more excited by the minute. It has been eleven years since we were last on the Gemini and have to admit it spoilt us for other cruises we have done since which were not anywhere near as good.

Does anyone out there happen to know who will be providing the entertainment for our cruise which commences on 24th September?

[kuldalai]

Entertainment on Gemini is listed on Star website . Be sure to go the night of the Crew Show - hilarious . If still on board we enjoyed Twice As Nice, and Comedian Buddy Loren . If you enjoy dancing - soak in the musical magic of the Superstar Gemini Big Band nightly . In the Ocean Palace and Gemini Bar nightly the Superstar Gemini Lounge band . On the HK - Singapore leg the Captains Gala dinner is on the Sunday night (which is a day at sea.)

 

Don't miss the departures from outside on Deck 5 at night from Hong Kong harbour and also mid afternoon from Halong Bay .

 

On the HK - Singapore leg these were our picks of the Shore Excursions:

Halong Bay - Friday - Hanoi day trip Saturday - Halong bay cruise

Nha Trang - City highlights Kota Kinabalu - White water rafting was just sensational Kuching - Orangutang orphanage in junge & City highlights .

 

Enjoy your cruise .

[baer]

There are also the Star dancers from Brazil and Dasha and Dima (professional dancing pair from Belarus) and chinese acrobats. They perform regularly - mainly miming words to pre recorded music. We saw one of their shows twice and for some reason it was not so great the first time round but the second time it was really good and we really enjoyed it - was a tribute to Broadway and the second time was on in the afternoon. There are also all sorts of dress up opportunities - Scary night, Toga night, fancy dress etc crew are great to help you out with clothes and makeup but the best contestants use their imagination! Movies everyday (usually twice a day) and of course lots of music in the star lounge and gemini bar.

[danceman]

ahh yes, Dasha and Dima were on when i was on....... what can i say?....they were urm.....colourful and a nice looking young couple.....id say they were about Novice to Intermediate standard on the competitive circuit which translates as not that great im afraid.....even so, i enjoyed me time on the ship a lot.

[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.

[hbellman]

do the junior suites have fridges

 

thanks

[kwi]

Am going on our 1st cruise ever and had a few questions. It's the 7 day Malaysian cruise.

Just wondered re changing currency - is this quick and easy?

What currency do we use on the boat?

Have heard it's a long way to KL from the boat and it may not be worth the trip. If not where else is there to go?

We get into Phuket in the evening, can we go into the town that evening?

Sorry if some of these questions have been answered b4 in this forum but I haven't had a chance to read all of the 78 pages.

Am sure I will think of some more.

[kuldalai]

Just wondered re changing currency - is this quick and easy?

On shore change money at Money Changers, on board you can change money at Reception . But first it is converted from your tendered currency into Singapore $ (Ships nominal currency), then into Malaysian Ringits or Thai Baht . So costs you more in conversion .

Take some Aus or US $ Cash, Travellers Cheques in either of those currencies any you will be fine. back up finance the "Old Plastic Fantastic."

What currency do we use on the boat?

You wont need any currency on board except for cash in the Casino, where they will accept anything.

Otherwise your Cabin Card is your door key, your on-board credit card, and also gets you scanned on/off the boat and doubles as your Passport for shore visits. (Your Passport is held by Purser on boarding and returned on settlement of your on-board account.)All purchases on board any extra food, grog, souvenirs, photos etc are charged to your card and you settle account just before arriving back in your port of dis-embarkation . All services are charged in Singapore $ .

Have heard it's a long way to KL from the boat and it may not be worth the trip. If not where else is there to go?Check out Shore Excursion Desk next to Gemini Bar Deck 5 on boarding for your tour options ex Port Klang .

We get into Phuket in the evening, can we go into the town that evening?

Usually you can go ashore ("Free'n'Easy") shortly after vessel arrives. At the Tours Desk you can get details of Shore Excursions. Also they will provide you with an a-4 sheet that gives you a map and basic taxi info, shuttle bus info etc into town . You will also be advised by STAR NAVIGATOR Daily Newsheet of arrival/ departure times for each port and also the last time that you must be back on board .

Finally enjoy your Cruise and soak in the Gemini magic . Whilst Gemini is not the newest or largest boat around, the food and service are fantastic and the Crew give really genuine caring service with a smile, and they really enjoy doing so too .

[kuldalai]

Well sadly today Wednesday 24/09/08 marks the last anticipated call of Superstar GEMINI under Star Cruises to Hong Kong as part of the final homebound leg of the last of 6 x 21 day round trips ex Singapore this season.

 

On return to Singapore GEMINI will be back on her regular 7 day SOM cruise itinerary till the end of the year when she departs for her new owners and the Carribean.

 

Hopefully Star will come up with some longer 10 - 14 day itineraries for SS LIBRA ex Singapore or Hong Kong from mid 2009 as well as the short 3 - 4 day trips . For those outside Asia with air fares so expensive, it is not worth coming all that way for 3 - 4 night cruises.

 

Having sailed the full 21 day round trip Gemini itinerary , a shortened 14 day round trip Singapore - Hong Kong - Singapore would be ideal . Calling at any of these ports en route in order of appeal - Koh Samui, Halong Bay (Hanoi), Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Chan May (Hue).

[laceytreigh]

Hi all,

 

When we cruised on the Gemini in May/June 07, Singapore - HK - Singapore, we went to the Orang Utan shore excursion in Kuching, as it was the only one that anyone had put their name down for. Originally disappointed, but there wasn't any interest from anyone else in the cave excursion we wanted to do. We had a great time, the OrangUtans were amazing. Then a 'City Highlights' which was a good orientation.

 

In KK, we teamed up with 2 others, and jumped in a cab to do our own tour. Negotiate the price, duration, where you want to go etc before you set off. It lasted about an hour and 3/4 and was very cheap. We ended up in town, at the waterfront and planned to walk back to the ship, but an afternoon downpour prevented that.

 

In Nha Trang, we caught the ship's shuttle bus to the markets, then armed with a map and a general sense of direction, headed off the find the studio of renowned photographer Long Thanh, which was worth finding. You could walk into town but it would take about 45 min and it was very hot, but the walk was along the shore of the beautiful beach.

 

Those were the days..................

[kuldalai]

Kuching even for GEMINI is a tidal port so the vessel has to get in there and out based on the tides .

 

With LIBRA and VIRGO having greater masses and a greater depth of water requirements than GEMINI it would be doubtful that LIBRA could get in there, and VIRGO certainly not .

 

Both ports of call in Kota Kinabalu and Kuching were great, we did the white water rafting in KK which was sensational .

 

The trouble with these ports is that in a round trip they soak up 2 extra days getting to / from the coast of Vietnam across to Borneo area .

[kwi]

Just got back from our cruise on the Gemini and we had THEEEE Best time.

The food was fantastic, the crew soooooooo lovely and the entertainment was fun.

 

We enjoyed the entertainment provided by the fun crew most rather than Dasha and Dima and the dancing Brazillians.

 

Loved the Liars Club etc.

 

We are all addicted now to crusing and the only disappointing thing is that the Gemini has been sold just when we have "discovered" the delights she has to offer.

 

Couldn't praise the staff more. They certainly made it a wonderful experience.

[boeckli]

Just got back from our cruise on the Gemini and we had THEEEE Best time.

The food was fantastic, the crew soooooooo lovely and the entertainment was fun.

 

We enjoyed the entertainment provided by the fun crew most rather than Dasha and Dima and the dancing Brazillians.

 

Loved the Liars Club etc.

 

We are all addicted now to crusing and the only disappointing thing is that the Gemini has been sold just when we have "discovered" the delights she has to offer.

 

Couldn't praise the staff more. They certainly made it a wonderful experience.

 

Welcome back, kwi - glad to hear you had a great cruise.

Now you can start planning for the next one ....

[Westaussie]

Hi kwi - welcome back, glad you enjoyed Gemini she was one of our favourites too. We have friends here who have sailed on her about forty times - there was an article in the West about them six months or so ago.

 

Merry Christmas to all and farewell to Gemini.

 

Vera

[Cinnabel]

I note in Saturday's "West Australian" that SS Gemini is leaving on her final Straits of Malacca cruise today. Bon Voyage and Farewell to the Gemini.

There are many West Aussies and other Australian/Kiwi's who have sailed on her through Asia and enjoyed her charms immensely.

 

The article stated that the Gemini did not have all the facilities wanted by today's cruisers so was being retired and the more up dated SS Virgo and Libra will replace her. I think part of Gemini's charm was her worldliness without all the glitz and glamour of the more modern, larger ships. She was classy and friendly and small enough so that you did not feel like a Sardine in the ocean as a passenger.

 

Smooth sailing, Gemini. We loved our adventures on her! :);):)

[kuldalai]

To all the wonderful Officers and crew who made Superstar GEMINI such a wonderful travel experience over the years - thanks a million from all us Aussies who enjoyed a real cruise holiday .

 

To Star Cruises no thanks for your total lack of marketing response and expertise in announcing any sort of program to replace the 10 - 21 day itineraries that Gemini undertook so successfully in recent years .

 

As the claimed leading cruise line in Asia, you should alter your claim to now be "the leading floating casino business in Asia , " as that is effectively all you do now.

 

Still no announced deployment fror SS LIBRA from January 2009 , and the date today is 28/12/08 - most un professional .

 

Star claim they want to expand the cruise business in Asia, and yet do nothing other than offer now "Mickey Mouse" 3 - 4 day cruises aimed at the gambling market . Meanwhile other lines are coming onto Stars patch whilst Star are asleep at the tiller .

 

Star longer duration cruises - superb product, but poorly planned (in lack of itineraries and advance notice) and very poorly marketed on an International basis.

Edited December 28, 2008 by kuldalai

[ssv]

Look around carefully for SSR's January deployment schedule.

 

Enjoy your time on Star Cruises before the chance runs out.

Edited December 28, 2008 by ssv

[Westaussie]

Hi SSV hope all well with you - it's been pretty quiet on here.

 

I don't know if I'm reading too deeply into your comment "Enjoy your time on Star Cruises before the chance runs out." Do you mean all their ships or just Gemini - where definitely our chance to sail on her again has run out?

 

Best wishes for the New Year

 

Vera

[ssv]

Indeed all is quiet here missing our most informative and helpful resident poster.

 

Virgo will continue sailing for at least the next 2 years. I have no idea what lies ahead for the red blue star.