CNY Cruise To Nowhere Day 2

The second day on this Cruise To Nowhere aboard the holiday cruise ship SuperStar Virgo, also fondly known as a casino cruise, came in a hurry. Today, we took a leisurely breakfast and spent some time in the casino as well as enjoyed the outdoor barbeque party at dinner. We also managed to get some sunset images and even saw a colourful beetle.

Before going for breakfast, we happened to spot this colourful beetle in the balcony of our cabin. Such beautiful colours. This is the first time we see such a lovely creation.

Colourful beetle

Morning saw us heading to the Mediterranean Buffet Restaurant for breakfast. Here again, we could see the various Chinese New Year decorations for the Spring Festival. As usual, with the variety of breakfast food at the buffet, one would mostly be able to find something to their liking and taste.

Chinese New Year decorations

Celebrating the Spring Festival

2010 - Year of the Tiger

The majestic tiger

God of Fortune

The lotus paste bun, most of us agreed, was one of the best items on the buffet section. We also saw an area designated for a ‘Nonya Food promotion’. Upon asking one of the waiters, he mentioned that the promotion was on only during dinner. Hmmm… That is a thought! Upon hearing that, we decided to have dinner at the Mediterranean Buffet Restaurant and since they would be having the BBQ party on, that would be a most wonderful idea!

Porridge with chicken floss

Some breakfast foods

More breakfast foods including the lotus paste bun at the bottom right

Digesting breakfast

The Nonya Food Promotion Corner

Nonya Food corner

Chinese New Year decorations

After a filling breakfast, we proceeded to the Royale Club casino on Deck 7, a club especially for VIP88 members. There we accompanied the group who played Mini Baccarat, one of the various casino games available. During lunch hour, you could also help yourself to the food from the Chinese restaurant over in the casino.

In the afternoon, Mother headed to Blue Lagoon to have her favourite fish noodles again. Some of the group members then tried their luck in the casino at the jackpot machines. There are plenty of progressive jackpot machines available, some as low as SGD0.02 (USD0.015) in Oasis and Out of Africa casino.

Fish noodles

Time seemed to fly and before we knew it, it was time for dinner. We were looking forward to the outdoor barbeque party that they normally hold on Saturdays for the Cruise To Nowhere depending on weather conditions. Fortunately, the weather held up and the BBQ dinner went ahead as planned.

As usual, there was a great variety of cooked food, BBQ food as well as desserts. You could choose to sit outdoors around the pool and enjoy the warm breeze or in the Mediterranean Restaurant which is air-conditioned. We enjoyed the BBQ dinner except that we were missing the delectable prawns we had before which seemed to have been withdrawn from the menu.

Spring Festival Celebrations outside the Mediterranean Buffet Restaurant

Yummy desserts at the BBQ Dinner

More BBQ Dinner desserts

Outdoor Barbeque party

Beautiful fruit carving Joy to look at

Fruit and vegetable decoration

SuperStar Virgo Chefs busy barbequeing

Busy preparing roti canai

Wonderful BBQ Dinner

Whilst having dinner, we had a great view of the sunset and managed to get some sunset images.

Sunset images

More sunset images

Enjoy these sunset images

We had 3 tickets for the Special Guest Artiste Show featuring Mark Lee and Michelle Tay. Mark Lee, known as Singapore’s funnyman, and Michelle Tay, a comedienne, would be performing at The Lido on Deck 7 at 2000 hrs. Tickets are chargeable at SGD38 (USD27.25) and SGD18 (USD12.90) except for Gold and Silver Card Members who get to attend for free.

The ticket to the Special Guest Artiste Show

Since Mother was feeling tired and not in the mood to watch the show, I took over her ticket and attended the performance which provided pretty good laughter and entertainment. Lasting just 50 minutes, it was a little too short for my liking.

At The Lido where the show was held

Waiting for the show to start

Fun time with Michelle Tay & Mark Lee Great entertainment for the night

Special Guest Artistes for the Spring Festival

After the performance, we went back to the cabin to get Mother ready for bed and then proceeded to the casino once again. This time, we saw someone hit the jackpot at one of the machines. WOW! How lucky!!!

Next, we were eyeing the Casino War table. There was only one table with this game and it was full. We just hung around the casino until the crowd at the Casino War table dwindled and followed our sisters to the table. Never having played before, we just took their cue and followed what they did.

According to them, Casino War is the simplest game to play and you do not need any brains to do so. The game is arguably one of the most easily understood casino card games. The Casino War game is normally played with six standard 52 card decks. The cards are ranked in the same way that cards in poker games are ranked, except that aces are always high. Basically, one card each is dealt to a banker and to a player. If the player's card is higher he or she wins the amount equal to his bet, if the banker's card is higher, the player loses his bet.

It was fun as all of us at the table were in the winning position until another group came and upset the trend. We then decided to stop and go to bed.

An interesting and exciting day indeed! Especially when we were able to see someone hitting the jackpot literally at the jackpot machine and having some fun in the casino on board this casino cruise. In fact, as we recently learned, this is one of the last few Cruise To Nowhere by SuperStar Virgo as come April, there would be no more Cruise To Nowhere, partly due to the opening of the Integrated Resorts in Singapore. At least, we also got to enjoy the outdoor barbeque party as well as the special guest artiste show by Mark Lee and Michelle Tay.




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SuperStar Virgo Travel Cruise 15th – 17th Jan 2010 Day 2

SuperStar Virgo Travel Cruise Day 2

Second day on board the holiday cruise ship SuperStar Virgo on a ‘cruise to nowhere’, we spent the day enjoying ourselves on this casino ship as well as soaking in the great weather. Bright and sunny, there were quite a number of passengers enjoying the facilities on board this travel cruise ship such as the pool, Jacuzzi and gym.

We started off the day with breakfast in the Mediterranean Buffet Restaurant, one of the all-inclusive restaurants where you can dine. It is great to have breakfast here as you can get breakfast food of a good variety including vegetarian and Indian breakfast food.

Pastries

Salad

Food from the buffet counter

More food

Indian vegetarian breakfast

Mediterranean Buffet Restaurant

After breakfast, our group members proceeded to the casino on Deck 8, a casino for members. Basically, on a cruise to nowhere, the attraction is the casino, which is why there are so many retirees and even passengers on wheelchairs on such cruises ships.

We watched them play for a while, yet we were still lost as to how to play the game although we were getting to know the value of the different colour chips used.

When we grew tired of just watching them in the casino, we took a walk around the cruise ship to get some fresh air and enjoy the wonderful sea breeze. We saw quite a number of people by the pool, jacuzzi and even enjoying the water slide.

Parthenon pool

Water slide

Jacuzzi

After taking in the fresh sea breeze, we went back to the casino to look for the others. However there were no longer there. Fortunately we met some of our group members and went with them to Noble House, a Chinese a la carte restaurant, for lunch.

This time, two of our group members each had $40 vouchers with which they could redeem for food. As such, we had lunch in Noble House so that they could redeem the vouchers and not let it go to waste.

The $40 vouchers to be spent

Noble House

We ordered the seafood hor fun (rice noodles) and seafood rice soup. At S$30 (USD21.30) for a large plate of seafood hor fun, it was filled with fresh prawns, fish and scallops. T he seafood rice soup cost S$18 (USD12.80) per person but if you are not a big eater, you could share 2 bowls amongst 3 persons.

Seafood hor fun

Seafood rice soup

When lunch was over, we headed to the reception on Deck 7 to settle our bill and collect our travel documents which were handed in when we checked in yesterday. This is only for Singapore passport holders.

Sign for passport collection

After settling our bill and collecting our passports, the group decided to go to the casino on Deck 7 where we again tried our luck at the jackpot machines, this time playing on the 2 cents machines at Out of Africa.

After a lazy day, we decided to do some workout in the gym at the Apollo Spa on Deck 12. It was nice and peaceful working out whilst having a great view of the ocean. You could also make use of the sauna and steam room or just relax in the lounge. In the male locker room, you can also have access to the cold pool.

The well-equipped gym

Enjoy a view of the ocean whilst exercising

Lounge where foot reflexology is done

and for guests to relax

Sauna

Massage rooms

When the invigorating workout was over, we went back to the cabin and found Mother resting. Keeping her company, we then met the whole group at The Mediterranean Buffet Restaurant for the bbq dinner. We have always looked forward to the bbq dinner on board this SuperStar Virgo holiday cruise ship.

Outdoor barbecue by the Parthenon Pool. Being held outdoors, this is dependent on weather conditions.

More food at the outdoor barbecue party

Welcome to BBQ party

This time round however was a little disappointing as there were no barbequed prawns. We still remember how great tasting the prawns were when we last had them. Even then, going round the Parthenon pool where the outdoor barbecue was held, you could choose from a variety of food.

Dessert section, a favourite of ours

Dessert stacked up

Outdoor bbq decor

Sitting outdoors around the pool, you could enjoy the warm wind and take in scenes of sunset and capture some lovely sunset images. If you prefer, you could sit in the air-conditioned comfort of the Mediterranean Buffet Restaurant.

Sunset images

Cooked food from the outdoor barbecue

BBQ items

Steamed nuts

More choices of food

Dessert

Here, we heard from one of our group members that the ‘cruise to nowhere’ would be discontinued with effect from April due to the integrated resorts opening in Singapore. As such, this star cruise ship, SuperStar Virgo, would no longer be fondly remembered as the casino ship.

Enjoying the company

After the bbq dinner, we headed back to the cabin and made sure Mother was comfortable in bed before we popped into the casino for some last minute fun.

As usual, whilst having fun on board the holiday cruise ship, time just flies past. Tomorrow, SuperStar Virgo would be expecting to reach port at approximately 1100 hrs and as such, the casino would be closed sometime in the morning. It was also sad to hear that there would no longer be any cruise to nowhere. However, we shall have to wait and see what sort of travel cruises the star cruise line will come up with in order not to compete with the integrated resorts in Singapore.

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