Superstar Gemini

[Riviera 30]

Hi Hazel

The 3 of us sent of our starcard application forms we downloaded from the web and waited. In the meantime I also covered my bets by lodging form online as well. After a week or so I had no reply from Star so I emailed them and they replied that it usually takes a few weeks but no problem. A few days later my Lady and I received our cards in the mail ( obviously from the application forms posted) but my dear Mum received nothing, so i said wait a coulple of more days as maybe the mail is slower to her, after another week no show so I emailed and they said they had no record of her form( even though all 3 were stapled together) so she lodged another form the other day and hopefully it will arrive in the next couple of weeks.

Reading all the posts about Star business philosophy my 2 cents worth is that as i have observed with the SE Asian cultures that profit is profit even if they only cover there costs, they do not seem to be so capitololistic as westerners, we strive for more and more and try to break financial records where it isn't like that with them, Also wage costs compared to western are much lower so maybe they still operate in the black without full cruises, another possibility is as with most casino's worldwide a lot of "black money" changes hands and even though it doesn't show up in any balance sheet it is still in someone's purse at the end of the day.If casino's didn't make profit then they wouldn't be in business. I do not think that they would be in business unless they had some long term strategy, but it is probably only know to a chosen few as Asians have always liked to keep their cards close to their chests.

Not long now Boeckeli.

Cheers

Les

[boeckli]

Urgent question to all of you who have recently sailed - did you complete the Starcruises online registration thing (with all the passport details etc.)?? The Important Notice attached to your Confirmation Slip advised to do this. In general no problem (NCL, P&O Austr. and Princess have the same system) - however, the Starcruises site is not a secure connection :eek: (no padlock anywhere down the bottom, also if you right-click for Page Info it confirms "Connection Not Encrypted - The web site www7.starres.net does not support encryption for the page you are viewing. Information sent over the internet without encryption can be seen by other people while it is in transit" :mad:

Most of the requested info is of course quite sensitive, so I am not at all happy to do this ....

 

[kuldalai]

This question also posted on VIRGO thread where I have already responded.

[E onboard]

HI all - I also sent away for card (just after your LES but by email) and have heard nothing back. Not pannicking yet as have fair while to go but will make ocnatct next week if have not received anything.

 

Enjoy your cruise boeckli

 

E onboard :)

[Westaussie]

Hi Boeckli

 

Just want to wish you both a wonderful cruise, calm seas and enjoyable time on board.

 

Look forward to hearing all about it on your return

 

Vera

[deck 9 001]

Bon Voyage boeckli, have a wonderful cruise and bring back great memories.

 

Mike

[boeckli]

Thank you all for the good wishes - the bulk of the packing is done :D, just a few odds and ends to tie up now, then we're off on Friday -

 

PS : We should be hearing from Frank and mary soon (their cruise ended on Sunday ...)

[boeckli]

Thank you all for the good wishes - the bulk of the packing is done :D, just a few odds and ends to tie up now, then we're off on Friday -

[E onboard]

I have a currency question to ask all of you who are seasoned cruisers.

 

I realise everything is charged to your card on board- do you also use this method for casino cash?

 

If you do then does this show up as cash advance if you pay with credit card (presuming you can pay with Credit card) at the end of your trip?

 

Should I order some Baht and Ringgit (or US $) from here in Aus before we go or get this in Singapore before boarding?

 

If I do then how much is usually recommended for the 'usual' shorex (bearing in mind that everyone is different but just wanting some ideas)?

 

I realise that its 59 days till we go but figured I may need to 'order' money in at bank as they won't have it on hand!

 

Thanks for any advice

 

E onboard :)

[kuldalai]

Take US or Aus $ and they are accepted everywhere . Don't bother changing currencies between countries you pass through .

 

Take a few Singapore $ from Aus to cover you immediately on arrival in Singapore.

 

Dont know about on board Casino, I stay away from them as I regard Casinos as voluntary taxation.

 

If you book Star shore excursions they are charged to your ship card .

[laceytreigh]

Hi E onboard,

 

We were on the Gemini in May/June and we are the types who like to be prepared.......... we took $AU100 for each port converted into the appropriate currency. $US for Vietnam. $Sing loaded into the wallet for immediate use in Singapore. I believe it's like learning a greeting or a few words of their language, it's a sign of respect to use their currency.

 

We got some VND given as change, when I bought stamps and didn't expect change, so a bonus souvenier, 3000 dong, not worth much in $AU, and not worth exchanging back.

 

Enjoy your cruise,

 

Tracey.

[mummsie]

I have a currency question to ask all of you who are seasoned cruisers.

 

I realise everything is charged to your card on board- do you also use this method for casino cash?

 

If you do then does this show up as cash advance if you pay with credit card (presuming you can pay with Credit card) at the end of your trip?

 

Should I order some Baht and Ringgit (or US $) from here in Aus before we go or get this in Singapore before boarding?

 

If I do then how much is usually recommended for the 'usual' shorex (bearing in mind that everyone is different but just wanting some ideas)?

 

I realise that its 59 days till we go but figured I may need to 'order' money in at bank as they won't have it on hand!

 

Thanks for any advice

 

E onboard :)

We usually get get enough $sing from the bank or from one of the moneychangers in the city - they always have Singapore dollars handy. No need to order unless you want thousands.!! before we go and take cash $au. The moneychangers in Singapore have much cheaper rates than anybody here - especially the ones at Mustafa's - we usually hitail it there first before we do anything and change our money. When you get on the ship if you need ringets or baht you can change it at the pursers office. Don't get too much though - just enough to buy small things as its better to use your card for most bigger purchases. Mummsie

[Riviera 30]

Hi E

We are only taking $AUD and Cards, in Singapore I always go to the money changer in Lucky Plaza on the lower floor, we always got good rates from him, hopefully he is still there when we get there.

Everywhere else we will use Cards or small amounts of local, because we are doing quite a bit of Malaysian stops we might get more than I usually would as I do not think Baht is OK there.

Hi Boeckli

Not long now, safe trip and many happy returns.

Cheers

Les

[boeckli]

If at all possible, avoid using c/cards in Malaysia - after a previous visit (using card only 3 times) we were issued with a new card by the bank because they said our card details had "been compromised". Have also heard from other travelers who had bad experiences with using c/card in Malaysia - bank's fraud department confirmed that it's a high risk area.

[Riviera 30]

Bon Voyage Boeckli.

Fair winds and calm seas!

Cheers

Les

[kuldalai]

Understand SS GEMINI was very well booked for first two of this itinerary earlier this year and final third round trip ex Singapore departing 26/08 is also heavily booked with only few Junior Suites still available.

 

Sitting here in Geelong on a cold winter Friday night just envy those of you booked on GEMINI departing Singapore for the full 21 days or ex Hong Kong 05/09 for the second half of the cruise . GEMINI is a fabulous little vessel with a crew that will give you service that is just sensational .

[Sold]

maybe because she is or are close to be sold.....

[electricron]

maybe because she is or are close to be sold.....

 

I'm not so sure the Superstar Gemini is going to be sold soon. None of Star Cruises ships have itineraries after April 2008. If lacking a schedule for mid 2008 means a ship might be sold, then all of Star Cruises fleet could go.

 

Here's the Superstar Gemini's cruise calendar:

Southeast Asia & Hong Kong

January 2007 to November 2007, February 2008 to April 2008

Cruising Australia, Indonesia & Papua New Guinea

November 2007 to February 2008

 

Here's the Superstar Virgo cruise calander:

Southeast Asia & Hong Kong

October 2006 to March 2008

 

Here's the Superstar Libra cruise calander:

Cruising the East China Sea and Taiwan Strait

June to November 2007

 

Here's the Superstar Aquarius cruise calander:

Cruising the South China Sea

June to October 2007

 

Amongst the Star Cruises fleet, the Superstar Gemini's calander is the longest. No doubt, with recent additions to Star Cruises fleet, with more ships to come, changes of itineraries will occur.

 

I expect the Norwegian Dream, the sister of the Superstar Aquarius, will transfer to Star Cruises in very late 2008. Where do you think NCL will deploy her?

[kuldalai]

MARCO POLO has been sold from Orient Lines (which is owned by NCL which in turn is owned by Star) and goes from 03/08. No replacement announced as yet so another possibility is that GEMINI could be rebadged and replace Marco Polo - but why would NCL bother persisting with Orient brand when it was a one ship line, and NCL already competes in the markets Marco Polo previously operated in ? IMO think Orient will just dissapear as a brand .

[Riviera 30]

Hi All

I would have thought Frank and Mary would have been back by now. It would be good to get some fresh information.

Hope this finds everyone well.

Cheers

Les

[E onboard]

HI all- we will probably hear from Frank & Mary in the next week all so- and from Kudalai just after that- like you Les I am looking forward to hearing how things went etc,

 

E onboard :)

[E onboard]

APOLOGIES- that should be Boeckli

[E onboard]

APOLOGIES- that should be Boeckli

 

E onboard :)

[CruiseKidz]

Hi tmbhl, don’t remember who, but it was one of the Aus Cruise specialists, and they were offering Flights from Aus to Shanghai, overnights accommodation Crowne Plaza Shanghai, 8 day / 7 night Cruise on Rhapsody of the Sea, called Pearls of the Orient, for $2888 inc Tax's, twin share, for an Outside Stateroom with window / porthole Cat “I”.:)

 

That is a very good price, don’t know that Star will do better for you, given the Ports of Call!

 

Regards, Bruce

I booked the above Pearls of the Orient for 23rd April 08 form Shanghai, cat F outside for 2 adults & 2 kids $2550 US$ approx $3000 AUD total. When I booked it with RCI's agent in Sydney it was $500US more, I noticed the drop in price, 3rd & 4th person pay taxes only and e mailed the agent who passed on the price drop by return e mail. I haven't booked flights yet as I want to see Beijing with a stop in Hong Kong also. We've cruised on the Virgo a beautiful ship, it came into our home town port during the SARS trouble in Asia and I was hooked. We've cruised the Mallaca straits and Singapore up to Bangkok so the Raphsody cruise will take us a bit further afield. There are quite a few ships in Asia during the next few years a bit of research will turn up the bargains.

[E onboard]

Cruisekidz- looks like you got yourself a good buy with that one.

 

E onboard :)