Guided By The Star

July 1, 2003 Want a holiday that gives you everything without the waiting around in airport lounges? Try Star Cruises' SuperStar Virgo. Think of the history of Singapore and it immediately conjures up a romantic past ruled by stories of adventure played out by travelers discovering the Far East. Of course many of these stories take place on the high seas, where great shipping lines ferried passengers from all over the world in search of a new life in Singapore and beyond. The romance was conjured by the ships that carried those people, charting foreign waters, with passengers relying on only a distant gaze to seek out what lay ahead. For all of those that were entering the waters around Singapore for the first time, the sight that met them was of a mysterious coastline filled with intrigue. It was a different time, long before air travel had even been thought of. It was also a time when the likes of Rydyard Kipling and Somerset Maugham traveled those waters and wrote down everything they saw from the decks of the ships and beyond. Possibly it was their eye for detail and intrigue that made those writers great. Definitely it was the mystery of travel in a time dominated by months at sea that gave them the inspiration. Those days may be gone today, lost in the modern age dominated by fast and cheap air travel, but it is still possible to reach out and experience a little of that romantic adventure. Unlike other forms of travel today, a holiday aboard a cruise liner is a leisurely experience, done in your own time, with nothing too hard and everything luxurious. In Singapore, Star Cruises is the main cruise line and with it has brought back that very same romance and intrigue that once was the first course of any traveler's buffet of discovery. Leading the fleet is the SuperStar Virgo, a 270-metre long mammoth that can carry nearly 2000 passengers. Think about it, cruising has to be the perfect holiday. You get to stay in a five-star hotel with all the facilities and every morning when you wake up you get a new view! Not only that, but for once in your life you are forced to relax. If there was ever a place where you can struggle to decide how to relax first, then the SuperStar Virgo is it! No matter what you are looking for, the Virgo can give it to you. For couples, a cruise from Singapore for a few nights can be the source of romance to last forever. For families the experience is just as rewarding, safe in the knowledge that the whole family is catered for, from children's play areas to massage facilities for mum and dad. Even business travelers are not left out, with business conference facilities framed by a backdrop of luxury without long travel times between venues. THE PERFECT DAY From the moment you step aboard, the whole experience of cruising is leisurely. Forget the hassles of making it to the airport on time and sitting in holding pens until an aircraft is ready for you to board. With cruising, once you've cleared customs you're free to settle into your cabin and start your holiday. Of course the greatest thing about cruising is that you don't have to go looking for a hotel and hassle with trying to find the way there. Once you're on the ship everything is there for you. On the SuperStar Virgo the list of facilities to take advantage of is impressive. There are 13 restaurants and bars among a roll call of facilities that is too long to list here. If you are looking for a bit of exercise, the gym is as good as you'll find in any on-shore hotel, complete with a jogging track. You'll also find a golf driving range and a jet current exercise pool to keep your pulse ticking over. If that's not your idea of fun then head to the spa and fitness centre and rejuvenate yourself with an exotic spa treatment. Of course, exercising isn't the only way to spend a day watching new horizons appear. There's also an outdoor swimming pool on the top deck with four Jacuzzis that make a sunset perfect. Add to those the list of deck games (would a cruise ever be complete without a game of shuffleboard?), an on-board cinema and various other shopping and entertainment facilities and you'll never be bored for a moment. And don't worry about the kids - there's a fun pool, children's cinema, video arcade, computer centre and nursery for them to be taken care of. STOP TO EXPLORE Each cruise on the Virgo will take you somewhere new. Whether it's Malaysia's Port Klang (near Kuala Lumpur), Thailand's Phuket, or any other destination that your cruise takes you, you will always get a chance to get ashore and explore. Again, getting off and back on the ship is done at your leisure - any time is a good time to get ashore, as long as you're back before the ship sails! You can change your money at the reception desk and the exchange rates are as good, if not better, than you'll find on shore. Some of the cruises are termed as "FlyCruises" which means that the cruise will take you to a destination, you'll be transferred to a hotel and then fly back to Singapore the next day. The cost of everything is included in the ticket and it is a great way to get a bit of everything on your holiday without the hassle of connections. FINE DINING Breakfast, lunch and dinner has always been an event on any cruise ship. In the past it was a time for passengers to catch up with gossip and meet other adventurers. Today the times have changed, but the dining experience has not suffered. On the SuperStar Virgo, you have a choice of food from indoor and outdoor international buffets, to Italian, Chinese, Indian and Japanese cuisine. Like everything else on board, the time to dine is the time you choose. Of course each meal sits for about three hours, but don't think for a moment that you'll be assigned a particular time to dine with strangers you have never met - it's your holiday and you're the guest! The food is fantastic - as good as any top restaurant anywhere in Singapore - and you'll never beat the views. Start your day with breakfast on your own private balcony. AFTER DARK Once you've finished your evening meal it's time to sample the amazing array of night-time entertainment on-board. For a quiet time of reflection, try The Den, a cigar and cognac lounge with its old world charm. Or the Out of Africa karaoke lounge with its 7 private rooms might be more your style. There's also a live music bar, disco and casino on board for those that feel a little more decadent. A cruise would not be a cruise however without a stage show complete with Las Vegas-style showgirls and their flamboyant costumes! And all you have to do is sit back and let it make you smile. THE PERFECT ENDING On your final night on the Virgo, take a walk around the decks and watch the stars as the ship slides through the water. In the morning you'll wake up in your cabin, back in Singapore, wishing you could stay some more. But for now, while the cruise is still going, you'll take the time to reflect on a holiday like no other. One where five-star accommodation and dining meets first-class travel. You get to see more of the world as well as experience luxury on the high seas. And if you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the romance of an age gone by when everyone traveled exactly the same way. Try it, you'll love it!