Recently, we have been invited by star Cruises to experience sailing from Manila to Ilocos to Taiwan to Hong Kong aboard Superstar Virgo. This wasn’t our first time cruising, so we were a bit much more confident this time around. On our first time a few years back, we were so intimidated by the whole cruise thing. You see, we’re used to backpacking so anything that resembles luxury feels alien to us. preparing for it alone was unnerving. What do I pack? What ought to I wear? What travel files do I need? how expensive is it gonna be? are there hidden charges? how do I disembark?
This post is brought to you by star Cruises. If you’re sailing aboard Superstar Virgo soon and it’s your first time to cruise, this post is for you. This also applies to other routes of the Virgo. I hope this short article be able to prepare you for this new, marvelous, and extremely unwinding experience! here are 10 things you can expect.
Hva er dekket i denne guiden?
Packing & Pre-Trip Preparations
Boarding
Safety Drill
3 Inclusive Restaurants
Shore Excursions (Shorex)
Room and Amenities
Gala night and Dinner
Wifi
Personale
Sjekke ut
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Packing & Pre-Trip Preparations
First things first, travel documents. If you’re joining the Manila-Laoag-Kaohsiung-Hong Kong cruise, no visas needed. You only need to bring your passport and a photocopy of its bio page.
It’s a cruise so it wouldn’t hurt to dress up and achieve your #OOTD goals. We packed at least 2 sets of clothes a day: one set of light clothes for touring, and another for the evening shows. Why two sets? It’s pretty amazing inside the ship, but things change as soon as you get out of it. In our case, it’s the middle of April! Onboard, I’m clad in shorts and a t-shirt with a polo on top of it. but as soon as we go outside, I had to remove the polo because it would get too hot especially on Ilocos and Kaohsiung stops. Hong Kong was a different story. It rained so hard for a brief moment. Takeaway: check the weather in every stop and prepare accordingly.
The rooms are also equipped with slip-on sandals, bath robes, and toiletries. You will also be offered a see-through plastic pouch wherein you can put your passport and access card (which I will discuss later).
Remember: Each passenger is allowed only one piece of check-in luggage free-of-charge. Anything much more will incur additional fees.
For the Manila season, the default currency is the Hong Kong dollar (HKD).
Boarding
Superstar Virgo in Manila
In numerous ways, the process is similar to that at the airport. You still need valid travel documents, check in your baggage, and pass through an immigration inspection and safety and security checks before boarding.
You will be given a mag card (access card). DO NOT lose IT. It’s the most essential item as soon as you step into the ship. It serves as your keycard to your cabin and credit report card when purchasing something or dining at specialty restaurants. You will also need this when disembarking to explore the ports and when returning to the ship.
You will need to surrender your passport upon boarding. You’ll have it back after the journey.
Safety Drill
As soon as everyone is settled, there will be a safety drill that you are required to participate in. It is incredibly essential that you are familiar with the ship’s geography and the directions you need to take in case of an emergency.
Safety Drill
Manila Bay Sunset
In Manila, the drill happens best before sunset, so as soon as it’s over, head straight to Deck 12 to have a better view. We’ve been to a lot of places around the world, but Manila provides some of the most spectacular sunsets.
Do it at every stop. nothing is much more unwinding that just viewing the sun call it a day.
3 Inclusive Restaurants
“Inclusive,” implying you can dine here free-of-charge. It’s part of what you paid for. Onboard the Virgo, there are three inclusive dining options:
Mediterranean Buffet. the most popular, located on Deck 12, just behind the Parthenon Pool. serves breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, and supper. No reservations needed.
Genting Palace. Western and Chinese cuisines. serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This is also where the Gala dinner takes place. Although it is inclusive, reservation is required.
The pavilion Room. Family-style restaurant. In my opinion, of the three, this is the best. serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Reservations required.
Both Genting palace and the pavilion offer full-course meals (appetizer, soup, main course, dessert). drinks will be charged to your room.
Prawns on Angel Hair Pasta at the Genting Palace
Salmon and Hamachi Sashimi at Samurai
Aside from these, there are specialty dining options! There’s the Taj providing Indian favorites, and Samurai serving delectable Japanese cuisine. Samurai have us our best gastronomic experience onboard. From the salmon and yellowtail (hamachi) sashimi as appetizer to teppanyaki as main course and matcha ice cream as dessert, that meal was scrumptious from start to finish.
Shore Excursions (Shorex)
This is the part where you can get off the ship and explore the city where it is docked.
In our case, it has three stops: Laoag, Kaohsiung, and Hong Kong. At every stop, they offer various pre-arranged trips called Shorex (shore excursions). For example, in Laoag, you have a choice among Laoag City Tour, Paoay Sand Dunes, Vigan Heritage Tour, and a couple more.
Other routes will have their own shorex offers, of course.
Hong Kong Island Skyline
You can book a pre-arranged trip or do it on your own (DIY). It’s completely up to you.
If you book a shorex, you will be joining the rest of the cruise passengers who booked that tour. The terrific thing about it is that you have everything taken care of for you. You will have a trip guide and a few members of the crew will join the group. They will make sure you’re back at the port in time for sailing. meals are also typically included.
If you pull a DIY, you have complete control of your time and it’s going to be cheaper. However, make sure you’re back by the prescribed time because the ship will NOT wait for you.
Either way, you will be given a small sheet of paper upon disembarkation. read IT, understand IT, keep IT. It will tell you what time you have to be back. It changes per stop. The boarding deadline in Taiwan is different from that in Hong Kong.
Room and Amenities
Balcony Room
There are four types of accommodations onboard, from the most affordable to the fanciest: inside Room, ocean view Room, Balcony Room, and Suite. On our first time, we stayed in an inside Room; this time in a Balcony Room. In both occasions, the room was always frequently maintained, with multiple cleanups within the day. complimentary bottles of water also replenish every day.
If you have enough budget for an inside Room, opt for it. Don’t drop the idea of cruising just because you can’t afford the best rooms. In my experience, we spent many of our time outside the room — going on shore excursions, pigging out at the restaurants, and exploring other amenities.
Speaking of amenities, here are some that you can delight in for FREE:
Gym. We packed gym clothes but we failed to use them because we would already average 15,000 steps per day just by joining the shore excursions.
Basseng. located on Deck 12.
Kasino. In case you’re interested. Deck 7.
Parthenon Pool
Duty totally free onboard
There’s also responsibility totally free shops on Decks 7 and 8, and a small store selling chips, chocolates, and biscuits (including Filipino products) on Deck 12 just next to the bar.
Spend your evenings viewing a show at the Lido Theater. some of these performances can be delighted in for free, while others incur additional charges, including the for-adults-only show.
Gala night and Dinner
Happens on the fifth night. It’s an event that begins with a cocktail party at the Grand Piazza on Deck 7, where the captain introduces the senior members of the crew. There are also musical performances. overflowing wine! elsket det!
The captain introducing the senior members of the team.
Gala dinner at Genting Palace
At around 6pm, delight in a full-course dinner at the Genting palace as a pianist serenades you with the unlimited ocean in the background.
If you intend to join this, make sure you’re dressed for the occasion. dress Code: stylish Casual. No shorts and no open toed footwear. For guys, prepare a collared t-shirt or blazer.
Wifi
We know how essential it is to you so we created a separate section for it.
Every passenger is given 1-hour complimentary Internet access. If you need more, you’re gonna have to purchase a plan.
24 hrs: HKS 116
24 hrs (Social plan): HKD 54
Whole Cruise: HKD 505
Remember: you’re in the middle of the ocean, sharing the connection with the rest of the ship, so don’t expect lightning speeds, but it’s good enough for browsing, checking emails, social media, and even viewing YouTube videos.
Personale
Filipina working at Samurai
What we love the most about the Superstar Virgo is that it feels like home because of the staff. There are a lot of Filipinos working onboard: from the reception to the restaurants to the room services. I’m pretty sure there are much more in the non-guest-facing departments, too. and it’s always fantastic to get to talk with them. They are happy of their work!
The rest of the crew is warm, friendly, and always prepared to help. You don’t even need to ask for assistance. If they see you looking like you need something (info, direction, whatever), they will be the first to method you with a smile.
Sjekke ut
On the day before you arrive in Manila, you will be requested to proceed to Deck 12 for a health check. You will just be filling out a form and pass by a thermal imager.
Pack your stuff before hitting the sack on your last night fordi de vil samle inn innsjekkingsbagasjen tidlig på morgenen den siste dagen. Du kan forlate posen eller kofferten utenfor døren din, og noen vil hente den.
Ikke glem å finne ut regningen før du går ut. Vet at en drikkepenger av HKD110 per natt er belastet hver gjest (unntatt spedbarn under 2yo). HKD120 per gjest som bor i en suite.
Jeg tror jeg har dekket alt! Totalt sett var det en fantastisk opplevelse. Vins og jeg var litt av at Manila -sesongen bare skulle vare til 28. mai fordi vi ønsket å gjøre det igjen med foreldrene våre! Her håper de ville komme tilbake til Filippinene neste år!
2⃣0⃣1⃣7⃣ • 5⃣ • 3⃣0⃣0
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