Friday 26th February saw us going on bard the holiday cruise ship SuperStar Virgo for a cruise to nowhere again. With the Lunar New Year dinner especially for invited VIP88 members on the day of embarkation, this was a special Chinese New Year cruise. Although the first day of the Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year fell on 14th February this year, the celebration lasts for 15 days, which is till this Sunday, 28th February. Thus you could spot the gaiety of this casino cruise ship with its Chinese New Year decorations.
Harbour Front Cruise CentreThe meeting point was at Harbour Front Cruise Centre at 1800 hrs. Being a full cruise with more than 2000 passengers, the check-in took quite some time. By the time we cleared through customs and immigration, boarded our holiday cruise ship, it was almost1830 hrs.
Harbour FrontCruise Centre
Cruising in a wheelchairWe passed by the Reception on Deck 7 and had the welcome drink as well as admired the Chinese New Year decorations of proud dragons and majestic lion adorning the grand staircase.
The Chinese New Year decorations at the Grand PiazzaPosing with the Chinese Lion
More Chinese New Year decorationsNote the Chinese lantern
Since the Lunar New Year celebration dinner for VIP 88 members would only commence at 2000 hrs, we proceeded direct to Blue Lagoon, an Asian Bistro a-la-carte restaurant to have a bite as some members amongst our group of eight were starting to get hunger pangs. Ordering Mother’s favourite fish noodles as well as fried chicken wings and satay (meat on skewers) to be shared amongst the rest of us, we took our time and enjoyed the ‘snack’.
Yummy chicken wingsSatay
Proceeding to Bella Vista at 1920 hrs, we managed to get a table not too far from the stage. It was a lavish 8-course meal with Yu Sheng (raw fish salad) LoHei (tossing) to start.
Bella Vista Restaurant
Bella Vista closed for the Lunar New Year celebration dinnerMore wheelchair passengers
Chinese lions as decoration - the type used in Chinese lion danceAnother view of the lions
Chinese dragon
Proceeding to Bella Vista at 1920 hrs, we managed to get a table not too far from the stage. It was a lavish 8-course meal with Yu Sheng (raw fish salad) LoHei (tossing) to start.
Eagerly awaiting dinner 
The friendly lion mascotAs with any Chinese New Year traditions, there was the Chinese lion dance to usher in blessings and prosperity especially for the Star Cruise VIP88 members who regularly frequent the casino.
The Chinese lion dance performed by Star Cruise staff
The 2 lions on stage with comediennes Mark Lee and Michelle TayThe big head doll accompanying the Chinese lion dance
The 8-course menu for the Star VIP 88 Lunar New Year Celebration Dinner was as follows:-
Fatt Choy Salmon YuSheng
Shark’s Fin Soup with Crab Roe and Meat
Braised Sliced Abalone with Sea Moss, Golden Oyster and Green Vegetables
Crisp Fried East Star Garoupa “
Pork Ribs “Imperial Style”
Poached Garden Greens with Preserved Meats
Stewed Ee Fu Noodle in XO Sauce with Pan-fried King Prawn in Mongolian Sauce
Chilled Avocado Cream with Strawberry
Placing the raw fish into the dish of yu sheng (raw fish salad), symbol of prosperity and abundanceTossing of Yu Sheng
It is believed that the higher the toss, the greater the fortuneMediacorp artistes Mark Lee and Michelle Tay entertained us. Pan Xiu Qiong (veteran singer) and Wen Zhang put in special guest appearances as well. The highlight of the evening, I thought, was the acrobatic duo with super strength and concentration. Pity I did not manage to get good pictures of them at their best!
The acrobatic duo 
Powerful!
Mark LeePan Xiu Qiong
Mark Lee & Michelle Tay reading out the names of the lucky draw winnersWen Zhang
Door gift for each diner
Chocolates 
Red packet with toto ticket - a legalized form of lottery sold in SingaporeDinner was good and we thoroughly enjoyed the Chinese New Year dinner specially prepared for all the Star Cruise VIP 88 members. The ambience was great and the entertainment was awesome. It was a great Spring Festival celebration indeed by Star Cruise.
By the time the Chinese New Year celebration was over, it was already 2230 hrs. As Mother was tired and it was already beyond her bedtime, we settled her into bed before going to the casino and trying our luck at the SGD 2 (USD 1.5) cents jackpot.
Since we had an extremely filling dinner, we did not go for supper and retired for the night soon after.
The Spring Festival or Lunar New Year is celebrated once a year and as such, is a grand affair. Star Cruise line, SuperStar Virgo, being a casino ship, did its best to woo its VIP 88 casino members on this Cruise to Nowhere. I must admit that they were pretty good and the Chinese lion dance performance as well as the special guest artistes were entertaining.
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