For those stressed out by the daily grind and looking for a means of complete relaxation of the body, mind and soul, there can be few better options than a serene cruise on the high seas in a ship. There is nothing more exhilarating than stretching out on an open deck easy chair, aimlessly gazing at the sparkling stars and the moon in the dark blue sky, even as high velocity winds sing their lullabies and transport you to another world...
Of course, for those of us having the privilege of enjoying a 3-night cruise on SuperStar Virgo (SSV), one of the more luxurious cruise ships in the world, from Hong Kong and back last week, the options for merriment were endless. The refreshing deck odyssey was the simplest, but no less a form of rejuvenation.
Star Cruises, a listed company on the Hong Kong and Singapore stock exchanges, offers a variety of cruising destinations and it is the third largest cruise operator in the world. Having carved a niche as a global cruise brand with a fleet of 20 ships with over 32,000 lower berths in service, (with an additional two ships and some 8,400 berths to be delivered by 2010), Star is cruising to destinations in Asia-Pacific region, North and South America, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Alaska, the Mediterranean and Bermuda.
Our journey on the super luxury SuperStar Virgo began when we boarded the ship at Hong Kong’s skyscrapers-laced busy port and touched bases at Sanya, a port town in southern China and the historic Halong Bay in Vietnam, before returning to Hong Kong.
The polite and ever-smiling Chinese usherers with a decent knowledge of English escort the passengers to the immigration area, where clearances are done with little fuss. The clever Chinese make sure that they have a spot photograph of every passenger on board by offering a welcoming handshake and an individual photo with a man in the garb of a giant Donald Duck!
Even as one takes time to soak in all the sights and sounds of the 13-storeyed, glitzy, awe-inspiring ship, one reaches Deck 7 by the spacious lift for registration and allotment of cabins: The spectacular Grand Piazza whose ceiling reaches up to seven floors is a sight to behold.
Three majestic golden horses and Greek statues along the spiral stairways, with three bulbous transparent lifts operating in the most colourful background stand as a tribute to architectural genius which invites attention again and again. No wonder, the Piazza with its principal lobby remains the main “business area” of the ship.
The wide-range of facilities on the SSV, make one wonder whether it is only a ship or some kind of a floating palace! Just consider this: it has 16 different restaurants offering international cuisine to satiate every palate, seven different bars, a 1000-seater theatre for nightly entertainment, an outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzis, beauty salon, a separate pool for children, a fully-equipped gym, aquaswim and spa, a disco, a shopping arcade selling souvenirs and duty free items, karaoke lounges, mini basketball and golf driving ranges, children’s video arcade, library, internet... the works.
Is it any wonder that with so many avenues for “action” for nearly 2,000 passengers and 1,200 staff on board, time is of little essence and the day seamlessly merges into night, as the 78,800-grt hulk of a ship silently trundles on its journey. The best part is, whenever you are tired of all the people and noise around you, you can retire to the deck chairs for a quiet hour or two of serious reading or meditation amidst soothing breeze.
The total accommodation of 980 cabins and 2,800 lower berths comes in five different varieties from executive suite with balcony, stateroom with balcony to a simple stateroom with the oceanview. Each A/C cabin is equipped with separate toilet, bathroom, telephone and television. Even in the smallest cabin with a floor area of 14 to16 sq metres, a family of four can be easily accommodated.
The food on Star cruises is a gourmat’s delight as they make it a point to offer an international cuisine spread from exotic Asian and Chinese specialities to Continental, Japanese, Thai and Indian varieties. Considering that more and more Indian families are taking to these cruises, they have taken special care to introduce delicious vegetarian dishes.
After all the eating and drinking, one, of course, needs entertainment and that is offered in plenty. There’s the Lido which showcases well-rehearsed musicals, Chinese acrobatics and even a topless show. Disco and karaoke bar allow people to let their hair down into the wee hours, while for the gamblers, there’s a massive hall for card games or ‘mahjong’ where they can try their luck.
The shore excursion to Sanya, a small port town in the southern tip of China, was made memorable with a visit to a Buddhist temple. The 180-metre tall Buddha statue, visible from miles, inspires awe and reverence with its sheer beauty and serenity. Tianya-Haijiao, commonly known as the ‘end of the earth’ is a vast area of limitless seas and glorious skies which seem to merge at some point.
The short visit to Halong Bay the next day gave a glimpse of the magnificent limestone formations spread over 1,600 islands and islets, which have been designated as World Heritage Site. The almost perpendicular peaks conceal the caves and grottos, many of which remain to be explored. The local flea market, which offered little knick-knacks of Vietmanese authenticity, was a tourists’ delight.
The ‘Star yatra’ of 3-night duration from Hong Kong (which also offers other destinations like Singapore, Keelung, Xiamen, Ho Chi Minh City by different ships) comes at roughly Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 per head inclusive of food, and it is well worth the experience.
