Holiday Cruise Ship With Stopover Travel Day 1
Holiday Cruise Ship Star Cruise Virgo ...
Our first 4 days 3 nights cruise on the holiday cruise ship on Star Cruise line Virgo. With stopover travel in Penang, Malaysia and Phuket, Thailand, this cruise leaves every alternate Sunday from Singapore Cruise Centre @ Harbourfront and returns on Wednesday. For this week’s holiday cruising, there are 2300 passengers on board with all cabins fully booked. We managed to catch some beautiful ocean images as well as heavenly clouds images.
Holiday Cruise Ship Star Cruise Virgo ...
Our first 4 days 3 nights cruise on the holiday cruise ship on Star Cruise line Virgo. With stopover travel in Penang, Malaysia and Phuket, Thailand, this cruise leaves every alternate Sunday from Singapore Cruise Centre @ Harbourfront and returns on Wednesday. For this week’s holiday cruising, there are 2300 passengers on board with all cabins fully booked. We managed to catch some beautiful ocean images as well as heavenly clouds images.
Photo taking upon boarding Star Cruise LineHere are some harbour pictures as we were leaving Singapore Harbourfront Centre.
Harbour pictures 
More harbour pictures as we set sail from Singapore
Check-in time is at 1100 hrs. Boarding time is from 1130 hrs – 13330 hrs. Upon clearing immigration and boarding the Star Cruise Virgo, welcome drinks are available at the Grand Piazza Reception area. You will be welcomed and serenaded with Romantic Melodies and Love Notes.
For lunch, you could choose either Western food at Bella Vista, Chinese food at Pavilion Restaurant or International Buffet at The Mediterranean. Having already had lunch before we boarded the ship, we decided to go to The Mediterranean Restaurant for some ice cream dessert. However there was a long queue there so we went instead to Gelato Ice Cream & Juice Café. We ordered the double scoop of Swensen’s ice cream @ S$6.50 as well as the single scoop @ S$3.00. There is also a jukebox there for some music that you could choose.
Gelato Ice Cream & Juice Cafe
1430 hrs was the start of the mandatory safety drill for all guests at The Promenade. You would get your life jackets from your cabin and proceed to the assembly area of the Star Cruise Virgo for the drill. During the drill, all other services on board the holiday cruise ship would be closed at that time.
Lifeboats
After the safety drill, the ship started to sail off shortly after 1500 hrs. We then proceeded to The Mediterranean Terrace for afternoon tea which is served from 1515 hrs – 1615 hrs. There were some sandwiches, cookies, cakes and muffin with coffee and tea. Here we relaxed as we took in the sights of the ocean and the clouds.
For our stopover travel in Penang and Phuket, we could decide to take any of the optional tours. However since our group had already been on this cruise before, they already knew what they wanted to do. As such we left the decision to them and would just go along with what they were doing during the stopover.
According to the Star Cruise Virgo captain, in order to reach Penang, Malaysia tomorrow on time, that is, 1200 hrs, the ship would have to travel at 22 knots.
Our cabin
Our private balcony to relax in
The corridor to the cabin
At 1645 hrs, we managed to watch the professional ballroom dancing demonstration by internationally acclaimed ballroom dancers in an exclusive performance of Waltz, Tango, Rumba, Jive, Foxtrot, Salsa and Cha Cha. For thirty minutes, we were mesmerized by their performance, expertise, flexibility and agility. This made our holiday cruise a memorable experience. A great performance!
The professional ballroom dancers
Charlie’s Kids Club - a happy place for kids who just want to have fun in their own wonderland 
Starlight Video Arcade - another area for kids filled with lots of arcade games 
Neptune’s Wet N Wild – a swimming area mainly for kids
Parthenon Pool & Jacuzzi – the pool & Jacuzzi to relax in
Parthenon Pool Water Slide – great to have some fun
Aqua Pool - in the Apollo Spa area
Reception area
Tour Desk area - to book any optional tours during our stopover in Penang & Phuket
Library - a quiet place to do some reading or use the internet
We were feeling a little lazy so we decided not to register for Power Abs, a thirty minute workout. As we wanted to watch the movie Valkyrie at The Picturehouse which would start at 1900 hrs for 120 minutes, we only had half hour for dinner which left us with no choice but to go to the Mediterranean for the buffet dinner so that we would not miss the show.
Do note that allocation of tables is on a sharing and ‘first come, first served’ basis only. Remember to have your key card, also known as access card, with you at all times especially during meals as these need to be swiped at the entrance.
Dinner comprised a variety of bread, salads, main dishes such as pasta, turkey nugget, lemon fish, potato wedges, black pepper cuttlefish and desserts.
After dinner, we spent the next two hours watching the movie Valkyrie, an action movie based on the true story of Colonel Claus van Stauffenberg and the daring and ingenious plot to eliminate one of the most evil tyrants in the world, Adolf Hitler.
The Picturehouse
That took 2 hours of our time. Next, we took a break before deciding to either watch the 2200 hrs Bed Time Stories Movie or the Comedy & Juggling Show by Terry Parade on this holiday cruise. We finally decided to watch the Comedy & juggling Show by one of the best jugglers and great comedian in the world since Bed Time Stories would be screened again tomorrow night if we wanted to watch it.
Although this is our second time watching Terry Parade, he still proved to be unique, funny, fast-paced and thrilling that we still found ourselves enjoying the fun-filled performance.
Photo taking with Terry Parade
Terry Parade Show
This marked the end of day 1 on our holiday cruise ship on Star Cruise Line Virgo. A slow and relaxing day today, we could not wait to stopover in Penang tomorrow and Phuket the day after. We would then spend the whole day travelling back to Singapore on Wednesday and expected to reach Singapore sometime in the evening. Star Cruise Virgo is filled with Australians, Japanese, Filipinos and Indians on this holiday travel cruise. It was relaxing to be able to catch the beautiful clouds images as well as the ocean images. So calm, serene and beautiful. And we were glad to be able to get some pretty harbour pictures as we were leaving Singapore.
Check-in time is at 1100 hrs. Boarding time is from 1130 hrs – 13330 hrs. Upon clearing immigration and boarding the Star Cruise Virgo, welcome drinks are available at the Grand Piazza Reception area. You will be welcomed and serenaded with Romantic Melodies and Love Notes.
For lunch, you could choose either Western food at Bella Vista, Chinese food at Pavilion Restaurant or International Buffet at The Mediterranean. Having already had lunch before we boarded the ship, we decided to go to The Mediterranean Restaurant for some ice cream dessert. However there was a long queue there so we went instead to Gelato Ice Cream & Juice Café. We ordered the double scoop of Swensen’s ice cream @ S$6.50 as well as the single scoop @ S$3.00. There is also a jukebox there for some music that you could choose.
Gelato Ice Cream & Juice Cafe
Chocolate mania ... 
Juke box
Juke box1430 hrs was the start of the mandatory safety drill for all guests at The Promenade. You would get your life jackets from your cabin and proceed to the assembly area of the Star Cruise Virgo for the drill. During the drill, all other services on board the holiday cruise ship would be closed at that time.
LifeboatsAfter the safety drill, the ship started to sail off shortly after 1500 hrs. We then proceeded to The Mediterranean Terrace for afternoon tea which is served from 1515 hrs – 1615 hrs. There were some sandwiches, cookies, cakes and muffin with coffee and tea. Here we relaxed as we took in the sights of the ocean and the clouds.
For our stopover travel in Penang and Phuket, we could decide to take any of the optional tours. However since our group had already been on this cruise before, they already knew what they wanted to do. As such we left the decision to them and would just go along with what they were doing during the stopover.
According to the Star Cruise Virgo captain, in order to reach Penang, Malaysia tomorrow on time, that is, 1200 hrs, the ship would have to travel at 22 knots.
Our cabin
Our private balcony to relax inThe corridor to the cabin
At 1645 hrs, we managed to watch the professional ballroom dancing demonstration by internationally acclaimed ballroom dancers in an exclusive performance of Waltz, Tango, Rumba, Jive, Foxtrot, Salsa and Cha Cha. For thirty minutes, we were mesmerized by their performance, expertise, flexibility and agility. This made our holiday cruise a memorable experience. A great performance!
The professional ballroom dancersAfter the professional ballroom dancing demonstration, we took a walk around the area.
Star Boutique – DFS selling designer brand watches, perfumes, cosmetics, sunglasses, etc
Ports’O Call – DFS selling postcards, souvenirs, chocolates, films, disposable camera, batteries, seasick pills, packed food, etc
Oasis Club – slot machines as low as 2 cents available
Universal Gym – for some workout
Star Boutique – DFS selling designer brand watches, perfumes, cosmetics, sunglasses, etc
Ports’O Call – DFS selling postcards, souvenirs, chocolates, films, disposable camera, batteries, seasick pills, packed food, etc
Oasis Club – slot machines as low as 2 cents available
Universal Gym – for some workout 
Charlie’s Kids Club - a happy place for kids who just want to have fun in their own wonderland 
Starlight Video Arcade - another area for kids filled with lots of arcade games 
Neptune’s Wet N Wild – a swimming area mainly for kids
Parthenon Pool & Jacuzzi – the pool & Jacuzzi to relax in
Parthenon Pool Water Slide – great to have some funAqua Pool - in the Apollo Spa area
Reception area
Tour Desk area - to book any optional tours during our stopover in Penang & Phuket
Library - a quiet place to do some reading or use the internetWe were feeling a little lazy so we decided not to register for Power Abs, a thirty minute workout. As we wanted to watch the movie Valkyrie at The Picturehouse which would start at 1900 hrs for 120 minutes, we only had half hour for dinner which left us with no choice but to go to the Mediterranean for the buffet dinner so that we would not miss the show.
Do note that allocation of tables is on a sharing and ‘first come, first served’ basis only. Remember to have your key card, also known as access card, with you at all times especially during meals as these need to be swiped at the entrance.
First day dinner on our holiday cruise ship, Super Star Virgo
Dinner comprised a variety of bread, salads, main dishes such as pasta, turkey nugget, lemon fish, potato wedges, black pepper cuttlefish and desserts.
After dinner, we spent the next two hours watching the movie Valkyrie, an action movie based on the true story of Colonel Claus van Stauffenberg and the daring and ingenious plot to eliminate one of the most evil tyrants in the world, Adolf Hitler. 
The PicturehouseThat took 2 hours of our time. Next, we took a break before deciding to either watch the 2200 hrs Bed Time Stories Movie or the Comedy & Juggling Show by Terry Parade on this holiday cruise. We finally decided to watch the Comedy & juggling Show by one of the best jugglers and great comedian in the world since Bed Time Stories would be screened again tomorrow night if we wanted to watch it.
Although this is our second time watching Terry Parade, he still proved to be unique, funny, fast-paced and thrilling that we still found ourselves enjoying the fun-filled performance.
Photo taking with Terry Parade
Terry Parade ShowAfter the Terry Parade show, we decided not to wait for supper but retire to bed.
Some ocean images that we managed to snap today
Along the way, we also managed to admire the clouds and snap some clouds images.
Clouds images
This marked the end of day 1 on our holiday cruise ship on Star Cruise Line Virgo. A slow and relaxing day today, we could not wait to stopover in Penang tomorrow and Phuket the day after. We would then spend the whole day travelling back to Singapore on Wednesday and expected to reach Singapore sometime in the evening. Star Cruise Virgo is filled with Australians, Japanese, Filipinos and Indians on this holiday travel cruise. It was relaxing to be able to catch the beautiful clouds images as well as the ocean images. So calm, serene and beautiful. And we were glad to be able to get some pretty harbour pictures as we were leaving Singapore.
First off, I have to say that I LOVE cruise ships.
ReplyDeleteI spent over 12 years working on them as a Scuba Instructor,
Shore Excursion Manager and an IT Officer.
For 2 years I also worked shoreside in Miami as a database IT guy.
During my years on ships, I have to stay that many things happened
and that life is definately stranger than fiction on cruise ships.
Many people have asked me to share the stories I have collected over
the years, so I am complying with their request.
My site is: www.cruiseshipstories.com
If you had any stories of your own to add, please
send them to me and I will be happy to add them.
Sean B. Halliday
www.cruiseshipstories.com