Super Star Virgo

[cheeky_minx]

Dear James

 

I believe the embarkation was smooth. When you get to the terminal there is a long long queue to check luggage in and then once that is done you go up stairs and get your boarding pass and key and then queue to board. However this in reality only took about 40 minutes - once luggage is checked upstairs there are separate lines for balcony, admiral and others and balcony and admiral also have separate lines for boarding the ship - just look out for these !! We arrived about 1/2 way through boarding so I would say 40 minutes all up is fine.

 

As Mike and others have said this is truly an international cruise - there was every nationality on board. 2000 passengers, 276 of which were Australians, the rest were indians, phillipines, new zealanders, armericans, finnish, and I cant remember the rest, but truly multicultural etc... There were about 10 people on our flight back to Perth on Sunday night that were on the cruise . The ship never felt fall and there was no queuing for things.

 

The shows are repeated and run early and late so you will manage to catch them all. Both shows the Kingdom of Kungfu and the Tropicalia were both fantastic - dancing, acrobats, kungfu display etc.... the shows on board are great and free, definitely worth a look!! Balcony class have seating up in the boxes which provides a drinks service. One show we did and the other we didnt.

 

It was lovely to see people made an effort for Gala Dinner night - yes, lounge suits, dress - but everything from long and formal to collared shirt with slacks - so no pressure. Just bear in mind that Bella Vista requires a collared shirt for dinners, but not so much for breakfast and lunch.

 

Wow! 3rd of June - not long now - have a great trip.

 

Jane

[Doubletrouble_in_oz]

Hi Jane,

 

Welcome back:D !!! So glad to hear you had a wonderful time and many thanks for all the invaluable info:) . Just a couple of quick questions, if you don't mind.

1/ Were you able to have lunch on the ship on the day of the boarding? Or is dinner the first meal?

 

2/ Did you have to book a table at the Bella Vista for dinner or could you just walk in and find tables available? We will be dining early most nights (6pm-ish), as we are travelling with kids.

 

3/ Did you bring your own beach towels for the excursions (swimming, snorkelling etc) or will the ship provide them?

 

I think I'm already hooked on cruising and I haven't even been on one yet!:eek: I just hope hubby will have a great time, he is the sceptical one:rolleyes:

 

Caz and James - have a wonderful cruise, happy sailings:)

 

Justine

[deck 9 001]

Hi Caz and James,

 

Wishing you blue skies and calm seas.

Have a great time cruising.

 

Please let us know how you enjoyed it.

 

Regards,

 

Mike

[deck 9 001]

Hi Jane,

 

I am very happy to hear that you had a good time aboard SSV.

You are probably of thinking of booking another cruise I'm sure.

Also, thanks for sharing new info for all of us to know.

 

Regards,

 

Mike

[cheeky_minx]

Dear Mike

You bet! Carl is already wanting me to explore the next!! But must have balcony and freestyle cruising - NCL or star cruises!

 

It was absolutely fantastic and SSV would be hard to beat. The service, facilities, food, activities everything was A1.

 

Mike, thank you for all your information and sharing it really helped to make for a great cruise!! but yes, we are hooked.

 

Have you been on the Gemini - I know it is smaller, but they do a cruise Singapore to Hongkong 10 nts which we are interested in ....

 

Hope all is well with you.

 

Jane

[cheeky_minx]

Dear Justine

 

I will try and answer your questions:

1/ Were you able to have lunch on the ship on the day of the boarding? Or is dinner the first meal?

When we boarded I recall that the Meditarranean buffet was open for afternoon tea - this is the one where you dont need to swipe your card. By the time we got on board and dumped our bags it was about 2-2.30pm. But anyway the Taverna on the top deck serves snacks and drinks and a fantastic view of Singapore!! great place to be as the ship sails at 4pm !!

 

Also, the blue lagoon is 24/7 and very reasonably priced!

 

2/ Did you have to book a table at the Bella Vista for dinner or could you just walk in and find tables available? We will be dining early most nights (6pm-ish), as we are travelling with kids.

They dont take bookings so just turn up - at the desk you request a table for 2 if they can they will, if not may be shared, but you have the option of waiting for a 2 person table to become free. Bella Vista seats 560 so getting a table isnt a problem. We tended to dine a bit later.

 

3/ Did you bring your own beach towels for the excursions (swimming, snorkelling etc) or will the ship provide them?

We didnt do beach/swim tours - so would suggest you take one for excursions. However they have pool towels alongside the pool that you can borrow/hire. Not sure though whether they can be taken off the ship - I shouldnt think so ....

 

Hope that helps

Jane

[deck 9 001]

Hi Jane,

 

I am really so glad that you and Carl enjoyed your trip and cruise aboard SSV. I'll bet you both are hooked now.

 

As far as SuperStar GEMINI is concerned, to me Gemini is "my home away from home."

Why don't you have a look see at the Gemini thread here at Cruise Critic.

Here's the link: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=282411

 

Thanks for sharing your experiences and hope you book another cruise soon.

 

Stay well and enjoy life.

 

Mike

[FrangipaniGirl]

Thanks for all your good wishes everyone !

We leave tomorrow so I'll let you know how it all goes next week.

Cheers,

Caz :)

[J33JWA]

Hi Folks ~ many thanks and very grateful for your input and well wishes. We are leaving on Sat.3 June, but only board the SSV on the 11 June after a week in mainland Malaysia, chilling out on a Penang beach.

Cheerio for now............James:)

[cheeky_minx]

Dear James

Have a fantastic trip. Look forward to hearing all about it when you get back.

 

Travel safe.

Jane

[cheeky_minx]

Dear Caz

Wowee! We were still in Singapore this time last week - wish I was still here.

 

Have a wonderful trip - know you will!

 

Take care, travel safe

Jane

[cheeky_minx]

Dear Mike

Thanks for that - will check out that thread ...

 

Yes we spend most of our holidays up and around Asia and what better way to get around see it, but from a cruise ship with shore excursions!!!

 

Thanks Mike

Jane

[Mar1a]

Hi

 

Lots of knowledgeable people here, we were hoping someone can help with the following?

 

This part of our honeymoon, we had never considered doing a cruise, but now having booked this package including Singapore and Langkawi we are really excited. I know a few people have possibly covered these questions so sorry if I am repeating any.

 

Is there a casino on board as we have had mixed information, Do people dress up for dinner or only the Gala night? We are a little concerned about so many people on one ship that personal space will be limited and queues for things will be a general issue?

 

Many thanks

Maria and Kevin

[deck 9 001]

Hi Maria and Kevin, congratulations on your marriage. Many happy and healthy years ahead.

 

Indeed SuperStar Virgo has a very large two level casino called the Oasis and Grand Oasis located on Deck 7 forward.

 

Regarding dress, I am sure that some of our more recent cruisers will tell you what they experienced on their cruise. But, in general, dress in what makes you comfortable. Smart casual during the evening is fine.

 

Virgo is large enough where there is virtually no sense of crowding. The ship absorbs the passengers very well. There will only be queues for the Bella Vista dining room at peak times. Even then, the wait time is minimal.

 

Hope you enjoy your honeymoon and your cruise with SSV.

 

Regards,

 

Mike

[HKfornow]

Hello! I am thankful to have stumbled upon this site after numerous searches regarding cruising as we're going to be pretty much first timers!! We are celebrating my parent's 50th anniversary and are taking them as well as a few family members for the SSV cruise. Since I'm the only one who has a toddler, I obviously have a few more concerns & questions that I'm hoping that people in the know could answer.

 

1. Bella Vista states that it only allows for families with kids 6 & above, my son is 3, does that mean we cannot have any meals in that venue at all?
   
2. Most activities on-board seem to be geared for the older kids, does Charlie Child Care have activities for toddlers and what are the cost associated with it?
   
3. Where does the ship dock in phuket since we are going to be a party of 9 it doesn't make sense to go with the Star Cruise itinerary, and we would like to create our own outing, however, kind of difficult to do without knowing which port we will show up.
   
4. Any specific suggestions for the older crowd (we have 4 over age 70 in our group)?
   
5. Any specific suggestions that you have for us who have a toddler?

Any suggestions/comments would be extremely appreciated.:) Thank you!!

 

Julie

[Doubletrouble_in_oz]

Hi Julie,

 

Welcome to the boards. I'm afraid I won't be able to answer your questions as we are not going until July.....but didn't want to leave your post unanswered:)

I think Mike (our local Virgo expert) had to go back to Thailand and a few others are currently cruising....:D .

 

You could try emailing Star Cruises and they should be able to advise you regarding the Bella Vista and other restaurants.

 

When are you planning to go? I'll be on board in July and will be more than happy to find out about activities for toddlers.

 

A suggestion - have a look at Trip Advisor's Phuket forums re:organising own outings. The local experts will certainly be able to help you and I'm sure they will know where the ship docks.

 

I'm sorry I couldn't be of much help......maybe Mike and others will get a chance to login and answer all of yoru queries.

 

Cheers

 

Justine

[HKfornow]

Justine,

 

Thanks for the welcome, we are cruising next month, July 16th for the 6 days 5 nights cruise.

 

I've already browse through Tripadvisors, and searched through past threads, there is no clear indication on which port the ship will dock at, so that's why I thought I should post the question here since there are so many veterans on SSV.

 

At first I was very reluctant to agree to this cruise, but I am actually finding myself looking forward to it now after reading so many positive reviews & experiences from the people here.

 

Julie

[Deck10 007]

My best answer for you is it depends on what you like to do. The Virgo anchors off Patong Beach and tender pax to the beach a very short distance away.

If this is your first visit to Thailand and/or Phuket then I think a Virgo land sightseeing package would be good for you all. It may be comparitively more expansive then locally arranged tour package. But you have to know of a local travel agent in Phuket first and be able to put your trust in the company. It is not recommended to get a tour package from the touts, drivers and others on Patong Beach.

Patong Beach is a major tourist attraction by itself and a stroll around the streets would give you a good insight into Phuket and Thailand. It is a beautiful place. So enjoy yourself.

 

John

[Doubletrouble_in_oz]

Hi Julie.

 

I have just sent an email to Star Cruises re: port.

I will let you know as soon as I receive an answer.

We are going to be on the same cruise :D .

 

Cheers

 

Justine

[Doubletrouble_in_oz]

Hi Julie,

 

Email just received from Star Cruises

 

"In response to your query, the SuperStar Virgo is scheduled to dock at

the Deep Sea Port when calling at Phuket. Please find the following is the

port address for your reference.

 

Aou Makham (Makham Bay)

Sakadidate Road, Muang,

Phuket 83000

THAILAND"

 

Hope that helps,

 

Cheers

 

Justine

[HKfornow]

Justine,

It's nice to know I will already know someone on our ship besides my family. Hmm, I also sent an email to Starcruise but have not gotten a reply, but I'm glad to know where we will at least end up.

 

John,

This will be my 2nd time in Phuket, however, this is the first time for the family. The reason we plan to do our own tour is because relatives might not be able to stick with Virgo's planned schedule (would not be fair to the other passengers), so the ideal situation is to let them do their things at their own pace without rushing. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

Julie

[FrangipaniGirl]

Hello everyone!

Well I'm now back from my 5 night SSV cruise . We had an absolute ball :D

We got home on Saturday to a freezing 6 degrees in Perth :eek: after some very balmy tropical weather in Singapore and Malaysia. I still haven't found my land legs yet though :o

Julie, we too were celebrating my parents-in-law's 50th wedding anniversary on board, and it went off without a hitch - not a dry eye in the place! Let me know if you have any questions.

We had 16 in our group so everyone tended to do their own thing during the day and we would meet up for cocktails around 6 and then take it from there. It was surprising though that on such a big ship, we would still bump into everyone else around the decks at least a couple of times during the day.

 

Here are some things I discovered ......

SSV cabin doors are metal so magnetic door decorations will stick to them.

Yes, you can take the pool towels with you if you go ashore.

The cabins were bigger than I'd expected.

When you book your cruise, you can request the single beds in your cabin are pushed together and made up as a double bed.

The queuing system on the Virgo was extremely well organised, there wasn't much waiting around in queues at all.

The Mediterranean buffet queues however were a different story :eek: .

The staff are amazing!

Soft drinks on board are expensive - S$5.50 for a 325 ml can.

The foot reflexology I had in the Apollo Spa was excellent - ask for Marjorie. S$40 for 45 mins with a 20% discount on your second visit.

The internet cost is S$0.33 per minute but the connection is very slow.

If you sign up for the free "World Cruiser" loyalty points card at reception, you'll get 2 free passes into the Apollo Spa where you can use the jet pool, steam room, sauna and "relaxation lounge".

 

Please feel free to ask any questions gang.

Thanks for all the answers I got prior to leaving - it really helped!

 

Cheers,

Caz :)

[Mahjong77]

Hi Caz , great to hear you had such a good time on the Virgo , we go on her next year for 2 almost back to back cruises with a break inbetween so we get to see Singapore as well , as we wanted a longer cruise :D , I love reading peoples experiences on the ship and can't wait to , I already have my whole wardrobe sorted !

 

Can I ask you a question being a fellow ausie traveller ( I'm from Cairns ) did you need to carry your Birth Certificate as well as Passport to embark ?

 

Someone told me you need to show that but that seems rather odd , and apart from that they'd have no hope in reading mine as it's in Dutch anyway lol.

 

And did you do any of the onshore trips ?

 

You mentioned softdrinks were expensive , can you get bottled water for free or is there a charge ?

 

Is a tea/coffee free?

 

It's actually cold here as well , seems all of oz is having a cold spell :eek:

 

cheers

Ina

[FrangipaniGirl]

Hi Ina, glad to help :)

 

No, we didn't need birth certificates, just our passports.

 

We had 2 stops on this cruise - the first was Redang Island where we organised our snorkelling trip when we got there (didn't do the Virgo one).

The 2nd stop was Kota Kinabalu where we did a shopping/city tour, but again we didn't organise this through the Virgo, as it was a freebie given to us by the travel agent.

 

Each cabin is given 4 complimentary bottles of water per day. If you ask for more than this I believe there is a charge, however the water out of the tap is fine to drink and we found we didn't need to order any more than the 4 we were given each day.

 

Coffee and tea is available for free from the Mediterranean Buffet, which is open 8-10am for breakfast, 10:30-11:30 for morning tea (on the Terrace), 12-2pm for lunch, 3-4pm for afternoon tea (on the Terrace), 6:30-9pm for dinner and 12mn-1am for supper. You can also get coffee between 6:30am and 7:30am in Galaxy of the Stars. Plenty of opportunities for a caffeine fix! :D

Hope this helps,

Caz :)

[FrangipaniGirl]

I've now posted my photos on Webshots for those that are interested in taking a peek ;) ....

http://community.webshots.com/album/551292113uCPMFv

 

Caz :)