Superstar Gemini

[kuldalai]

Talking to the crew on board Gemini many have been on contract for some time. It appears first part of Australian deployment will be covered with crew A, and crew who were with us in early May have opted and will be placed to Aus to do the second circum navigation and return to Singapore .

 

Hong KONG one city which it is best to do your own touring. Look back a couple of pages for my postings advising what to see and how to to get there in HK .

[DICKY BEACH]

Thank you Mike.

We will take all your advice and suggestions. Sounds like our three days will be very busy. Actually it might only be two full days and a bit of Wednesday. Depending on what time we can board the Gemini? Have you any idea what time that will be?

Thanks again Mike

Best Wishes

Frank

[Riviera 30]

Hi All

Hope all of you are well, Not long now Frank, have a great cruise and a safe one, do you think you will send some update posts from the ship or shore ports? If possible could you see if they have wireless internet facility on board as I hear that their normal internet is slow.

Seems like we have a few new travellers on the forum, welcome to you all,welcome back Bruce,

we are off on the 16th Sept.

Cheers

Les

[deck 9 001]

Hi Frank,

 

Glad my suggestions were of help to you.

 

With Star Cruises, boarding time is generally 3 hours prior to sailing. But depending on the number of pax, if the ship is ready, they may allow an earlier time. This is the number for Star Cruises HK. Give them a call and double check the boarding time with them.

(852) 2317-7711

 

Enjoy your cruise and let us all hear your comments upon return.

Good sailing.

 

Best,

Mike

[Westaussie]

Hi Frank - hope you have a really enjoyable cruise and look forward to what you have to say about it.

 

Hope you like to York Hotel too

 

Regards

 

Vera

[boeckli]

Frank and Mary - Have a great time in Hong Kong and on the Gemini (we won't be far behind you ,,,,) !

Looking forward to your impressions when you come back.

 

:) ENJOY ! :)

 

[E onboard]

Very interested in whether you are able to use your own computer through wireless hookup while on board Gemini?

13 weeks yahoooo!

 

E :)

[deck 9 001]

E onboard, unfortunately Gemini does not have wireless conncetion for computers. You must use their Internet located at the "Internet and Library" on Deck 7 aft.

 

Mike

[E onboard]

Thanks for the reply Mike that reduces the carry on luggage somewhat and maybe will even severe the tied at the hip laptop! Never know might actually be computer free while on holiday??

 

E :)

[Riviera 30]

Hi Frank

Have a great trip in 2 days and hops all goes well for you and Mary.

Bon Voyage

Hope we all hear from you.

 

Cheers

Les

[Riviera 30]

Hi Frank

Have a great trip in 2 days and hops all goes well for you and Mary.

Bon Voyage

Hope we all hear from you.

 

Cheers

Les

[Riviera 30]

Hi All

Frank and Mary will be gone now. I hope they have a great time.

Its interesting how the Countdown Clocks seem to work on and off by themselves and they do not show all the time.

Cheers

Les

[Westaussie]

Hi Les - you must be getting excited as the time quickly approaches!

 

Hope the thought of warm/hot weather soon is keeping you going in Melbourne today - has it got above 5 degrees yet?? The snow looks pretty on tv but I really couldn't live in that anymore - we used to live in Canberra long time ago!

 

Yes, hope too that Frank and Mary are enjoying their cruise and that we get a good report from him soon.

 

Vera

[Riviera 30]

Hi Vera

Its been wet cold and miserable the last few days, snow and all in some places, in Melbourne it is pretty unpleasant in the morning as I get up to go to work at 5.45 AM, In Geelong where Kuldalai lives they said it snowed there the other day.

Yes I am counting the days down, Boeckeli will be off shortly as well so there will be plenty of good reports to come.

I cant get over how many WAussies go on Gemini and you seem to make up a majority on the Forum, it would be a great thin to have all the CC on the same cruise for a friendly drink and chat.

Hope this finds you well and warm!

Cheers

Les

[Westaussie]

Hi Les - I'm well but not warm! Another cold front has come through today and we're in for a storm so I just dream about our next cruise on the Gemini in November!

 

Yes, there do seem to be alot from WA on the Gemini maybe because Singapore/Asia cruising seems closer to us than Sydney and the Pacific Islands (even though it's five hours flying to either port from here).

 

Are you staying in Singapore both sides of the cruise? We enjoyed the four days we had there in June.

 

Vera

[Riviera 30]

Hi Vera

We are 3 days before and 1 on return. Will do most of the shopping in the days prior and then touristy stuff on the trip. I will be mainly getting DVD's and software/music type stuff, I want clothes and jewelery for Carol and Mum will look around at whatever takes her fancy.

I might also look for some clothes for myself, but not too much as I bought enough last time.

Cheers

Les

[boeckli]

Hi Les,

what hotel will you be staying at? Did you book theaccommodation as a package with the cruise?

We have 1 night before at the Grand Plaza Park Hotel (ex Grand Plaza Parkroyal) and 1 night after at the Grand Mercure Roxy (East Coast, closer to the airport). We have stayed at both previously. We only booked the cruise through a TA (and only because you cannot book direct with Starcruises) and the rest ourselves.

Have started throwing a few things in the luggage - it's getting closer :D:)

[E onboard]

Boekli - I was looking at your photos- have you been on the Gemini before or is this a first for you- I seen the virgo but not gemini in your photo album- not long until you go- must be getting excited - still 69 days for me but I was doing the maths today- I only work 4 days a week and that means starting this Monday I have only 40 working days till we're on board the Gemini- much better way to count down I think!!

 

E :)

[Westaussie]

Hi E - even better if you only count the days you don't work!! Especially in this bleak weather we're having.

 

Our cruise is 112 days away.

 

Vera

[boeckli]

Hello E - no we have not been on the Gemini before but 6 times on the Virgo :)

You'll see - time flies and your cruise will be here before you know it ... Anticipation and planning is all part of the fun I believe :D

[braemar12]

I was in my travel agents along with the UK Star Cruises brochure to book a cruise on Superstar Gemini on 28th July 2008 ex Singapore on the Straits Adventure cruise. However I was not able to book the cruise as it was being taken over by the Superstar Virgo. The agent mentioned that Star UK were unable to confirm where Superstar Gemini would be for that time frame. I thought she would be in Australia for the UK winter months and back to Singapore cruises for the UK summer.

 

Can anyone confirm? I've decided not to go on Star Cruises next year due to the uncertainity of which ship will be deployed and have booked a Fred Olsen cruise to Norway on Balmoral.

[Riviera 30]

Hi Boeckli

I think we are at the Meridian before for 3 days and Coppthorne after for 1 day. I haven't got the hotel name close at hand I know it is in Orchard Rd.

Deal was nothing to shout about, usual inclusions.

Cheers

Les

[kuldalai]

It would have been impossible for your travel agent to book you any cruise on any Star vessel after March/April 2008 as Star have still not published their itineraries for the rest of 2008 and early 2009 yet . Ask them when they are going to be published and they will NOT answer you, they simply ignore you in that polite Asian way !

 

From other posts on this site we can say SS GEMINI will have its current Singapore deployment cut short mid November and will be deployed to Australia for 3 months November 07 to February 08 before returning to Singapore . SS LIBRA has had its Tiawan season extended and it will return to KL to be based there for an unknown time from late 2007 . SS VIRGO can be booked to March/April 08 ex Singapore but beyond that ? Seems SS Libra will not return to India as two seasons have been disappointing and red tape and bureauacracy, customs - not worth the effort . Also some suggestions that 1/2 vessels ex NCL fleet will come over to Star to increase number of vessels in Asia.

 

Cruising is just booming here in Aus and STAR are seriously missing the boat here in that they publish their itineraries far too late, and Princess for example are deploying one boat here all year, supplemented with a second boat for summer 08/09 . Princess Australian itineraries are far more imaginative than STAR in options to Tasmania, circumanavigations, New Zealand, Japan apple blossom, and a 75 day Grand Pacific cruise . If STAR are wondering why their load factors are down they might well take a leaf out of Princess book, and cater to the real cruisers who want a cruising holiday, rather than so many short cruises which might suit Asians , but don't suit true cruisers. Are STAR in the business of running cruises or floating Casinos disguised as a cruise ? Their product is sensational but the itineraies far too short and limited . Also they claim to be Asias leading cruise line but barely visit China and Japan or Korea.

[ssv]

I agree with Kudalai. Fleet planning at SC seem very short term however the company will not be operated like RCCL IMO and if it is planning Grand voyages it will be operated by NCL.

 

Superstar Virgo will NOT drop Singapore as its homeport unless there is a larger newbuild or transfer from NCL nor will she take up Gemini's schedule. Maybe a destination or two changed and more special cruises but she will stay for the lucrative Singapore gambling market at least until 2010.

 

I think Star is still waiting for results from its Pacific deployment then decide where Gemini will stay.

 

Current plan is that Norwegian Dream, will enter SC's fleet late '08.

[E onboard]

It does seem odd that they are so short sighted with their bookings :confused: - Have just been searching for cruises for mid to late 2008 and all other lines appear to have itineries set for those dates. Star will be doing themselves out of business!

 

Counting down!!

 

E :)