Superstar Gemini

[BJC]

Hi Mike,

There seems to be a resurgence of interest in Cruising in Austral/Asia, even your mates from the US are showing interest, including Celebrity, who we have cruised with the last 2 times.

I guess that more and more people are looking for the “destinations” rather than just the cruise sea time, and besides how many times can you cruise to the Caribbean, before it all becomes a little ho hum!:p

Don’t know if I mentioned, but it seemed so long to wait for the end of May and our Gemini Cruise, so Mrs. C and I are off to Penang for a week on Sunday, thought a little R&R was in order.:)

We have been a couple of times since we first called in on the Gemini, many moons ago, we normally go to Bali for our short holidays, but we were there a week before both of the bombings, so decided not to push the luck, and Penang suits or layback style, besides I need a couple of new “loud” shirts for the cruise, much to Mrs. C embarrassment!:D

By the way have you been to South Korea, thought it might be worth a visit in 08, are there any cruises going that way?

Regards, Bruce

[deck 9 001]

Hi Bruce,

 

Indeed there is new interest in Austral/Asia cruising. You are right in that cruisers now are looking for "new" ports instead of the usual milk runs.

 

I hope that you and Mrs C have a delightful time in Penang. Some nice beaches there for laying back.

 

Regarding cruises to South Korea, at the moment only Costa Allegra will call at Cheju, Korea and Nagasaki, Japan on a regular basis starting in July and through end October. The cruises will begin in Shanghai or Tianjin during different months.

 

Best regards,

 

Mike

[Crusie-gal]

hi mike

 

thank for the reply

i would also like to do this cruise but it dosen't give me and my family much time to save, so i don't think we will by ab;e to do it.

 

oh well thanks for your help

 

crusie-gal

[Crusie-gal]

hi BJC

 

im crusie-gal i went on the gemini last year in october,

 

i remember counting down from about 4 months and then the next thing i knew it was time to go, so dont worry to much it will be time to go before you know it.

 

plus you'll have a great time, all the staff are so friendly and great that you'll never want to get off. but i hope to hear about your experience and how all the crew are going when you come. ( still abit early to say that :p )

 

have a nice time in penang

 

crusie-gal

[Westaussie]

Hi Crusie-gal. The cruise we're going on is to Vanuatu and Isle of Pines. Just hoping the weather stays as calm and blue as the webcam has shown it this week - but it is cyclone/wet season so anything can happen!

 

Bruce, enjoy Penang. Used to live on the mainland (Kedah) many, many years ago while my father worked there so we spent alot of weekends swimming at Batu Ferringhi - there was only one hotel then. Have been back several times in recent years.

 

Mike I think Aquarius is ready for her own thread - so many queries! Looks like CCs from Perth are increasing too!

 

Vera

[BJC]

Hi Vera, Mike and Crusie-Gal,

Thanks for your best whishes for our Penang holidays, it’s been a hectic time at work and I need the time away badly.:p

Hope you have a fab cruise Vera, and the seas are gentle for you, sailed through some big ones over that way when I was in the RAN, another lifetime ago, anyway “smooth seas and a gentle breeze” to you.:)

Don’t know if you read but we are on the first of Gemini’s HK to Singapore Via Vietnam and Borneo in May / June, we are only doing the second half, where as Tracey and husband are doing the full circuit.

I note in the West Travel Section that they are still offering the HK to Sing half cruise but not the Sing to HK leg, however there are 2 more in ’07 to choose from.

Trouble is if you wait until we get back to get a review of the Cruise, it will probably be too late to book!:eek:

Anyway will catch up with you all in a week.

Regards, Bruce.

[Crusie-gal]

hi Vera,

 

The cruise that i did in 2004 went to, Noumea, Lifou, Wala, Port vila and there may have been one more port. but that was only on the Pacific sky which P&O don't own anymore.

i can't tell you about the whether because i went in october, but when we were coming back in to sydney we couuld'nt walk downt the hall to our room in a straight line it was tough only beacuse of a storm. so it just depends.

 

so when are you leaving again????

 

crusie-gal

[deck 9 001]

Hi everyone,

 

With all the great responses to “our” threads on SuperStar Virgo and SuperStar Gemini, I am now really very, very happy to let you all know that Star Cruises will deploy SuperStar Libra to Taiwan this summer. Right here in my own backyard!. It is wonderful to have a ship back here. Star cruises was away too long.

I have started a new thread about Libra and hope that many of you from the Virgo and Gemini threads will pop in and visit the new Libra thread. I am looking forward to being aboard the very first sailing. Maybe, just maybe, some of you may be in this area of the world and can come to Taiwan and cruise with Libra. That would be great.

 

Regards,

Mike

[Westaussie]

Hi Crusie-gal

 

Our cruise leaves Sydney on 17 Feb - so this time next week we will be winging our way across the Nulabor!

 

Have been flat out with work and one thing and another so now I hope to spend this weekend organizing 'what to take' etc.

 

Mike - thanks for your info on the Libra and hope we can meet up some day in Taiwan or on board! I have only spent time in the airport on route to Vancouver.

 

Vera

[Crusie-gal]

hi Vera

 

well it sounds like you are going to have a great cruise:) :) :)

have fun packing and get ready for it and i hope you have a good time

 

and i hope to hear all about it when you get back......

 

crusie-gal

[deck 9 001]

Enjoy your cruise Vera.

 

Wishing you blue skies and calm seas.

 

Regards,

Mike

[Westaussie]

Thanks Mike

 

Vera

[BJC]

Hi all,

Back from a wonderful week in Penang, and I must say to everyone who calls in on the Gemini, you should take full advantage of the sightseeing available to you.

Some tips for you, firstly don’t bother going to Batu Ferringhi Beach, there are much better beaches elsewhere on your cruise, and you can’t swim because of the jellyfish stingers anyway.:(

Secondly, if you want to do your own thing in George Town there is a free Shuttle Bus right outside the wharf where I believe the Gemini docks, it is supposed to run every 15 minutes, but you will probably have to wait up to 30 depending on the traffic, hop on and do the full circuit, about 20minutes to half an hour, and then hop of (and on again) where ever you want to make a stop.

Thirdly, take a taxi and visit the Kek Lok Si Buddhist Temple or as some call it the Monastery on Crane Hill, this is an amazing place, and well worth at least two hours of your time, especially with the construction of the huge pergola over the top of the Kuan Yin Statue, which itself is mind boggling.

This is a project and a half, consisting of a number of giant pillars, there must be at least 16 or more, using pre-cast and sculptured concrete rings, about 2 and a half meters in diameter, and about 1 meter high, each weighing a ton, and I believe each column will have either 42 or 44 of these rings, and the carvings are just breathtaking such that when assembled they actually look like marble.

It’s all mind boggling in the enormity of it all, mind you I have problems reconciling the tens if not hundreds of millions of MR that is being spent on it by a religious order with vows of poverty!

However you can assist in its construction by paying 35MR to have one of the Monks paint your name in Chinese characters on one of the thousands of roof tiles that will be used, thereby you should enjoy blessings for the rest of your life.:p

There are a number of Souvenir Shops strategically positioned within the KLST, such that you can not move from one section to another without you passing through one, where you can purchase just about everything, except watches, but then again we didn’t get to the bottom level, which all helps keeping the place ticking over.

There are three levels, get your taxi drop you off at the middle level and climb the stairs up to where there is a chairlift up to the very top where the Kuan Yin Statue is, then work your way back down to the bottom.

If you still have time while your in that area, a few blocks away but take a taxi, take the Funicular Railway to the top of Penang Hill, well worth the effort an 8MR for the return ticket.

Then there is the Penang Botanic Gardens, but which are a bit small, so if you are interested in Gardens then I would recommend you visit the Singapore Botanic Gardens and especially the Orchid Garden that is within the SBG, that place is stunning.

There are lots of little shops all over George Town where a keen bargain can get be had providing you can haggle, also a number of Malls, one I would recommend is right next to the Komtar Tower, called the Prangin Mall, well worth a visit, seemed to be more “locals” there which is always a good sign.;)

Also, not that you are likely to be hungry, there are a number of Restaurants on most floors, we ended up in a Hong Kong BBQ Restaurant on either the 3rd or 4th floor, I had the HK BBQ Duck, Vegetable and Noodle Claypot, which was simply delicious and bl..dy good value at just 8MR, I just love Duck but no one will share with me at home!:rolleyes:

Don’t know how long you get there on Gemini, but it will give you a taste, and you’ll probably want to go back for a land based holiday, as we have done a couple of times now.

Glad to answer any questions.

Only thing to say now is roll on May and the HK to Singapore Cruise, YES!:D

Regards, BJC

[deck 9 001]

Hi Bruce,

 

It's so good to hear you had a good vacation in Penang.

Thanks for your post with all the interesting information you provided. I am sure that this will be most helpful to future Gemini cruisers.

 

Pretty soon you will also be aboard Gemini from HK to SIN. You will love it.

 

Regards,

Mike

[Westaussie]

Hi Bruce

 

Enjoyed reading about Penang - made me 'homesick'.

 

We used to swim at Batu Ferringhi alot - don't remember any jelly fish only the odd sea snake!! But agree, time is better spent going to the temple than at the beach.

 

Vera

[BJC]

Hi Vera,

 

If you would like to e-maile me at BJC49@telstra.com I will send you my Just Back Report on Penang, that I had submitted in 6 parts to the Penang Travel Forum.:)

 

Regards, Bruce

[Westaussie]

Thanks Bruce -

 

Have just emailed you

 

Vera

[deck 9 001]

Dear Everyone,

 

 

 

Wishing you a very

Happy

,

Healthy

and

Prosperous

Lunar New Year

May the Year of the pig bring peace and joy

Mike

__________________

Regards,

Mike

 

 

Looking forward to SuperStar LIBRA commencing cruise service from Taiwan in July.

[BJC]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for your good wishes, and to you a happy, prosperous and healthy year of the “Golden Pig”, from all accounts a most auspicious year for our, soon to be born (April), second granddaughter to be born in!:)

I picked up a little Pig, hand carved from Tigers Eye stone, from the Kek Lok Si Temple in Penang, which, I was assured, had been blessed by the Head Monk so as to provide life long blessings for her, when she arrives.

Which I believed, just like when I was told that the Gold Rolex Watch I purchased from the stalls for $5 was genuine also!:p

Anyway lets hope for better things this year for the rest of this crazy world, I’m sure if everyone went on cruises there would be no troubles and strife, as everyone would be having such a good time, what do you recon?;)

Can’t find anyone other than Tracey and husband going on the Singapore – Hong Kong – Singapore Cruise in May / June, of which we are doing the second half.

Also can’t get Star Cruises to allow us to pre-book Shore Excursions prior to the Cruise, like most of the other Cruise Lines do, which is a bit of a worry for us being the second half, it could be that by the time we get on in HK all the Shore Excursions will be booked by those doing the round trip!

Any suggestions, thought I would e-mail Star and get an assurance that we would not be disadvantaged, what do you recommend?:confused:

Best wishes, regards,

Bruce

[deck 9 001]

Hi Bruce,

 

Thanks for your good wishes, and to you a happy, prosperous and healthy year of the “Golden Pig”, from all accounts a most auspicious year for our, soon to be born (April), second granddaughter to be born in!:)

 

Thanks for your good wishes and congrats to you on the upcoming birth of your second granddaughter.

 

I picked up a little Pig, hand carved from Tigers Eye stone, from the Kek Lok Si Temple in Penang, which, I was assured, had been blessed by the Head Monk so as to provide life long blessings for her, when she arrives.

 

Which I believed, just like when I was told that the Gold Rolex Watch I purchased from the stalls for $5 was genuine also!:p

 

If it was a $3 Gold Rolex, I would certainly have my doubts. But $5,,,,,,,,,I think you got the real deal:D

 

Anyway lets hope for better things this year for the rest of this crazy world, I’m sure if everyone went on cruises there would be no troubles and strife, as everyone would be having such a good time, what do you recon?;)

 

Wouldn't it be great if this could only be true.

 

Also can’t get Star Cruises to allow us to pre-book Shore Excursions prior to the Cruise, like most of the other Cruise Lines do, which is a bit of a worry for us being the second half, it could be that by the time we get on in HK all the Shore Excursions will be booked by those doing the round trip!

 

Unfortunately for pax, Star Cruises does not allow pre-booking of shorex.

 

Any suggestions, thought I would e-mail Star and get an assurance that we would not be disadvantaged, what do you recommend?:confused:

 

Certainly you can e-mail them about your worries concerning being left out with all shorex being fully booked. I do however feel that SC knows of this situation and will provide enough space for new boarding pax. I don't think you need to worry.

[BJC]

Hi there All,

Where are you Tracey, Mike, and even Vera who should be back from the last cruise by now, where are you all, what’s going on then?

The Countdown is on in earnest to May for us, getting all excited again, especially as we had to pay for the rest of the Cruise this week!

Will have to start thinking about what to take/ pack and the like, it’s so easy to get to the 20Kg’s, and that’s without all the stuff you bring back, any suggestions, like I know of people that take lots of old cloths and then start throwing them out towards the end so as to make room!:p

Anyway lets get some chatter going on here please people?;)

Regards, Bruce

[deck 9 001]

Hi Bruce,

 

I'm still here, just been quite busy lately.

 

As far as clothing goes, what with weight restrictions and all that, I always recommend that you bring wash and wears. Go to your hotel concierge and ask where the closest self-serve laundromat is and do a quick wash pre and post cruise. It always works out ok for me.

 

Here's a couple of pics of Gemini, to keep you going until your cruise in May:) Indeed you will have a wonderful cruise aboard Gemini.

 

Regards,

Mike

 

 

[BJC]

We just loved doing breakfast, alfresco style, out the back of the Mariners Buffet, and just watch the world drift by!;)

Dream on! B.:rolleyes:

[deck 9 001]

Hi Bruce,

 

Actually, this is one of my favorite spots onboard the Gemini. I just love it here.

 

But we can't overlook the yummy buffets aft on the Pool Deck. And great views from here as well.:)

 

Regards,

Mike

[Westaussie]

Hi everyone

 

Back last night from our really enjoyable Pacific Princess cruise. Lovely ship, excellent food, crew and company. Fortunately, the weather was kind so had smooth sailing and enjoyable beach days at the various Vanuatu islands and Isle of Pines.

 

Don't get me wrong - I still love NCL and Star and particularly freestyle dining which PP does not!

 

We are moving house next month and have some other business plans going when all that is sorted out will then look at the next cruise. The Gemini HK/Singapore is still looking attractive but I guess will be fully booked soon.

 

Mike - happy Chinese new year - are you still celebrating!

 

Vera