SuperStar LIBRA

[ssv]

'Up to' Jun 09. Perhaps Libra's season will end Jan 09, maybe it'll be extended to Jun 09. I did not state a specific time frame. Do you KNOW of any Star Cruises' plans?

 

Your evidence of 'Singapore Cruise Centre Arrivals & Departures' is very assuming as well as misleading afterall there ARE precedenceS of cancelled itineraries.

 

What you assume is not what many may assume. Readers will be able to see my post on Libra's Singapore season, the first post of the page and cruisers can easily access the Star Cruises website for detailed itinerary and for clarification.

 

Unless you are a moderator or if there are rules for 'misleading' for public, I do not need you to criticize my post. Thank you!

[scorpina]

thanks Mike for the lovely photos and detailed review. I will be taking my first cruise ever on the Libra on 4 Feb 2009. Still a long way more. Can't wait.

 

Bought the SIN-PKL-LangkaWi-SIN at a steal.. only SGD$570 for 2 pax (offer ends on 6th August).

[Paulchili]

I am a "newbie" to Superstar but have cruised extensively on other lines.

I was planning a 3 day cruise on RCI out of Singapore to KL & Penang on Dec 18 2009 to connect to my Oceania cruise on Dec22nd out of Singapore (I was told tentatively by Oceania they would leave Dec 22, 2009).

Alas, although Oceania has not yet released their schedule, on Singapore port site they have Oceania arriving/departing on Dec 20th. Thus I cannot do RCI 3 day cruise (Dec 18-21).

In Dec 08 Superstar Libra is doing the same itinerary(KL & Penang) and while their schedule is not out yet either, the Singapore port site has them leaving Dec 16th and returning on 19th, 2009. That would work for me.

2 questions:

When does SS release their schedule for Dec 09?

How reliable are the port schedules for Singapore on their port web site?

If this would work for us, I will have lots more reading to do (and questions to ask) about SS Libra.

Thank you.

Paul

[kuldalai]

The current Singapore Cruise centre only has two berths, so they are highly utilized . (Their are plans for a bigger terminal, as also in Hong Kong.) Their website is always fairly well up to date and once a cruise line is fairly well advanced on their itinerary planning they all tend to book the arrival/departutres with Singapore Cruise Centre as first in gets the limited berth places . However if you look at earlier months on the RHS you will notice some booked movements are cancelled . So in essence what you see now is probably the Star intention at this time, but it is subject to change that far out .

 

In the meantime fire all your queries re Libra here, as Mike especially in Taiwan has much familiarity and experience on countless cruises on Libra and is an absolute wealth of info on that vessel .

[J33JWA]

Just nipping into this thread to check on the Libra's latest news and note that Mike has not posted since June.:confused:

Also no sign of Mike on the Virgo and Gemini threads for some time now.

 

Hope he is well and not working too hard in Taiwan.

Kuldalai and SSV - thanks for keeping this thread warm.;)

 

Cheers. James:)

[deck 9 001]

Hi kuldalai, indeed I do cruise very frequently with Libra. At least once a month. So far I have enjoyed every cruise and I especially look forward to the wonderful and well presented food served onboard Libra. I love the lamb chops at the pool BBQ on sailing night. Had dinner with the “hotman” and EAM several times. We special request ordered our meals the previous day. I was amazed that each of our entrées, although different, were made to perfection Nothing seems too great a request or bothersome for Executive Chef Saifol Ikhsan who is from Malaysia. My warm thanks and gratitude to Chef Faisol.

 

Regarding itineraries and schedules for Libra in December 2009, I believe Star Cruises will wait and evaluate how well Libra does this winter, sailing ex- Singapore and Malaysia before making any final decisions. Virgo and Libra will be sailing almost the same itineraries. Being that Gemini will be leaving the fleet in December, it is quite possible that Star is considering using Libra on longer 7 day cruises, which she is perfectly suited for, as Libra was built as a 7 day ship.

 

Here is some news which I will share with all of you. I have been told that Libra will go to dry-dock next March, for what may quite well be an extensive refurb and refit. Libra will be in dry-dock for more than 3 weeks before heading back to Taiwan for another season of great cruises. I understand all public rooms will receive a facelift with new colors, new fabrics and carpeting. Pax cabins will also get a facelift.

 

On my last cruise, I was so surprised buta immensely pleased to find that the old, horrible shower heads in the pax cabins were replaced with new, modern ones that can be either hand held or mounted on the attached bracket. Boy, what a pleasure to find this new improvement.

 

If anyone has questions I'll be most happy to help.

 

Mike

[ssv]

Tentatively, Libra's Dec 2009 cruises will have a mix & match of longer Gemini-like itinerary and short cruises.

[deck 9 001]

Yes, it is being discussed at Star Cruises HQ. I think it would be very good to have shor and long cruises on offer. More diversity.

[kuldalai]

Looks as if Libra may be scheduled already for some longer 14 day round trips ex Singapore departing Singapore 21/03/09 To Kaohsiung, then again arriving in Singapore from HCMC on 04/04 and departing for Nha Trang, then ex HCMC through Singapore for Koh Samui on 18/04, 02/05, 16/05,30/05 .

Then appears to do Taiwan season. Then again ex HCMC into Singapore on 10/10 , out to Koh Samui, also through Singapore 24/10, before resuming SOM cruises departing Singapore 07/11. A fourteen day round trip would be a good compromise for gemini's 21 day itineraries which were a bit long . Appears such a round trip in 14 days could take in Koh Samui, one or two ports in Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan and back to Singapore ???

[kuldalai]

Latest alterations to Singapore Cruise Schedule website suggest Libra 14 day round trip departing 18/04/09 now cancelled. Website shows Libra arriving 04/04 from HCMC then not departing again till 02/05 for Koh Samui. So that suggests a dry docking then of 4 weeks in Singapore from early April .

[boeckli]

Hi Mike - good to hear from you :) - missed you on the boards.

[deck 9 001]

Hi boeckli, glad to hear I was missed. Thanks.

 

Kuldalai, to my knowledge, the dry-docking is supposed to take place in March. It is possible however that the Taiwan season may start later than expected, but I have not heard of any changes. I'll see if I can get updated info.

[Westaussie]

Hi Mike - missed you too!

 

Vera

[kuldalai]

Mike the Star booking engine allows booking currently for a 3 night SOM Cruise departing Singapore as late as 29/03/09 whereas the released brochure and Singapore Cruise Centre website has last departure in March around 21/03. So looks as if the 29/03 has been put up as an extra date and dry docking will occur in April . We wait and see .

[cosamlin]

HI Folks,

Well after finding out so much from you all in the Gemini Forum and then having an absolute ball whilst we were away. I thought I would stop in to see what you have to say about the Libra. We are taking advantage of the 2 for 1 offer that is available for January. Wont get to see as many ports as we did on the Gemini 7 day cruise but that is ok with us we would like to be able to enjoy the ship this time. I look forward to reading more about the Libra. Thanks

[deck 9 001]

kuldalai,according to my sources, dry-dock and return date to Taiwan have not be finalized as yet. There are only tentative dates being tossed around. I was advised again that it is much too early for any final decisions to be made. So yes, we will have to wait and see.

[themaxydog]

Deck 9 001

 

You obviously have extensive knowledge regarding Libra. Can you give me advice regarding how to get to the dock from KL city?

 

Cheers

[deck 9 001]

Baby Cruiser 60, Sorry for this very late reply, but I did not see your post until just now.

 

While I am very familiar with the ship Libra, I am not familiar with KL that well. I hope that one of our other posters will be able to jump in and give you some good advice which I do not have.

 

However you get to the port, you will be thrilled with your Libra cruise. Enjoy every minute.

 

Mike

[themaxydog]

Mike (deck 9 001)

 

Thanks for your efforts but I have managed to find out what to do. If anyone else is interested if you go to this web site, http://abckualalumpur.com/index.html

you can organise just about any transfer or tour you wish to. The cost of the transfer from Kl to the terminal is only RM$220 for the 6 of us, so on todays exchange rate thats around AU$90. They have also booked us and stated that we dont have to pay until the day.

 

On another tangent I have been looking at the deck plans of Libra can you tell me what is in, Club Royale, Admiral Club and Star Club, one of them is obviously the casino. I cant seem to find much on these parts of the ship.

 

Cheers

John

[ssv]

All three clubs are casino. Star Club is for everyone whereas Admiral Club(Silver & Above) & Club Royale(Gold & Platinum) are usually for members only.

 

IIRC the space that is currently named Admiral Club is used as a store, or at least that was the case ex-HKG.

[boeckli]

Just read on Seatrade Insider that Libra's ex-singapore sailings have been cancelled - apparently one ship (Virgo) ex Sing is enough they reckon with current economic climate.

 

Have already disembarked Virgo, so unable to find out any further details ...

[cosamlin]

Boeckli, Do you know what this means for those that are already booked and paid for Libra? When do the ex Singapore sails stop?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Cosamlin :confused:

[Paulchili]

Just read on Seatrade Insider that Libra's ex-singapore sailings have been cancelled - apparently one ship (Virgo) ex Sing is enough they reckon with current economic climate.

 

That would make sense in this economy.

Interestingly, the Singapore Cruise Center site still lists both Virgo & Libra ex Singapore in Dec 09.

[themaxydog]

Well they have just cancelled my Libra cruise on the 1st of March 2009 which I might add I have had booked for 4 months. No reason given. Airfares to KL are paid so I had to except a five night cruise out of Singapore on Virgo. Had Suites on Libra which are now balconies on Virgo for no where near the saving. Not happy!:( To get to Singapore and back, and the extra accommodation has cost the six of us going, over AU$2000.00 in total!:eek: I just hope that this cruise on Virgo is better than the last one.

[kuldalai]

Presumably the dry docking , refurbish will happen in January 2009 but what then ? Will SS Libra be relocated to a base in Hong Kong, or Taiwan or Australia or just mothballed till the GEC ("Global Economic Crisis") retreats ?

 

Certainly won't be going to NCL who are trying to flog one vessel since a deal for sale of one said vessel to Pullmantur fell through , and only have Norwegian Sky committed up to April '09 out of Miami ; also still believed to be looking for a buyer for Sky (ex Pride of Aloha.)