Star Attraction

Anju Tandon finds out that Star Cruises' Super Star Virgo is the perfect venue for just about everything

My love affair with cruises started in 1997 when the destination marketing company of which I am a director, got associated with Star Cruises. We started selling Star vessels ex-Singapore and it was then that I learnt all about cruising - what is a cruise? why is a cruise such a great holiday option? how does one differentiate one liner from another?… and I've just learnt more and more, enjoying myself enormously in the process.

Over the past 10 years, Star Cruises has established itself as one of the premier cruise liners of the world, catering exclusively to the Far East and covering many an exotic destination. With departures from Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok it travels to the sunny isles of Thailand, the calm and relaxing beach resorts of Malaysia, the beautiful temples of Cambodia and the rainforests of Vietnam. The most popular of the fleet is the Super Star Virgo or the SSV. The SSV started its maiden voyage ex-Mumbai in 1999. Star Cruises recognised the huge potential the Indian market held and is credited with introducing cruising and popularising it amongst the Indian masses. Prior to this, cruising was a holiday option to just a few discerning travellers but Star Cruises has become the first company to make it accessible to all kinds of travellers. The SSV is a world-class vessel; it's closer to home requiring less travelling time and touching exotic Asian ports. Its ports also offer a variety of on-shore excursions from shopping to scuba diving and it has since attracted thousands of Indian families, honeymooners and businessmen.

Ranked as one of the biggest cruise liners with a passenger capacity of 1960 people and a gross tonnage of 76,800 grt, the SSV is 268 metres in length and 32 metres wide with 980 cabins. A luxurious liner needs to be treated as a destination in itself and certainly not as a means of transport. The luxury, facilities and overall ambience on the SSV make it an ideal destination for families, conferences, honeymoon couples and youngsters.

It is the total experience of cruising that makes it such a unique holiday option. There's something for everyone. And don't be surprised if your loved ones are missing once on board the Super Star Virgo as each one may want to do their own thing at their own time. The sheer size of the SSV leaves you in absolute awe. Music, dance and Disney characters welcome you on board as you enter this five-star floating resort. Once on board, the ship's hospitality, entertainment, cuisine, activities and other facilities transport you to another world.

The hospitality on board is excellent. The crew are courteous and guests are made to feel at home as soon as they step on board.

The ship's facilities and activities leave nothing to be wished for. Enjoy a refreshing dip in The Parthenon Pool or an invigorating session of water-aerobics. Or watch your kids splash around in the miniature water park meant exclusively for their use. Get up early in the morning and breathe in the fresh sea breeze while you walk around the Star Track walking and jogging circuit. Whether it's a cookery show or salsa classes or an ice-cream eating contest, the ship's activity schedule has something for all people, young or old. And if you don't want to do anything then just park yourself on a deck chair and sleep the day away under the sun, after all, who's stopping you?

If you're a stressed out working mother like I am, then just go rejuvenate your spirits with a workout at the Universal Gymnasium while your kids enjoy themselves at Charlie's Childcare Centre. The centre has a number of activities for its young guests and they are well looked after under the tender care of their well-trained babysitters. So while Mum enjoys a swim or a facial or a film, her children are having a wonderful time making new friends and being entertained by the caring crew. My son had a gala time at the videogame arcade where he spent hours playing to his heart's content (at a nominal fee of course) and the ship is so safe that my teenage daughter moved all over the place alone with her friends, feeling all important and grown-up.

The cuisine on board is fantastic and one can choose from an array of meals at any of the 17 restaurants and bars on the SSV. My best memories are of the Bella Vista which offers formal sit down international cuisine and I can still taste their soufflés melting in my mouth. The SSV is also the only cruise ship to offer an exclusively Indian restaurant, The Taj, where one can escape when longing for 'desi khana'. Or else try the Mediterranean Buffet for a yummy assortment of foods and desserts. The ship also has specialty restaurants like the Palazzo, which serves Italian food, or the Noble House, which serves Chinese. Thus whether it’s seven in the morning or 12 at night there's always something to eat on board the SSV.

Entertainers, dancers and musicians liven up your holiday from the word GO. You're sure to enjoy the world-class performances of the Lido, which include Paris-style cabarets, magic shows and comedians. Or you can be like me and dance the night away at the Celebrity Disco and get that groove back. Perhaps the most fun way to spend the evening is to sing your heart out at Out of Africa Karaoke Bar (of course don't get hoarse like I did). The rock and roll and romantic love songs at the Galaxy of The Stars also provided for a fun filled couple of hours with my husband. The SSV offers couples to either enjoy a new romance or relive and rejuvenate their romance. The blue sea, the vast, open skies and romantic sunsets are truly moments to be shared with your partner and a holiday aboard the SSV makes the perfect anniversary or birthday gift.

Even corporate clientele are part of the SSV's facilities. The meeting rooms and conference facilities can be used to either award your key human resource or serve as an incentive for your most successful partners or even to conduct serious business with that dash of fun. My corporate clients always conduct serious business in the day and then party the night away on board the SSV. The ship helps achieve strong and healthy interpersonal relations with very little additional expense and effort and is definitely the best way to mix business with pleasure.

So leave your inhibitions behind, pack your bags and set sail! Join in the fun on the SSV and feel the difference the moment you step aboard. Revive, rejuvenate and rekindle your spirit with this all-in-one destination and you'll come back wanting more!

(With inputs from Niharika Tandon)