[goodbye kitty]

Does anyone know anything about the big cruise ship that is basically a floating casino. I can't find any info about it. Thanks

[goodkarma]

Are you referring to Star Cruise Lines?

[dan_dan_boy]

Originally Posted by goodbye kitty

Does anyone know anything about the big cruise ship that is basically a floating casino. I can't find any info about it. Thanks

Have a look asiacruiser.com, I hope that helps.

[grandcider]

I've just done an overnighter on the inaugural cruise of the Superstar Aquarius. I tell you, the experience has given me a new-found appreciation for staying at home. Here's a sampler of things that sucked about the cruise:

- 2 hours standing in line to check-in and board the vessel
- Loud passengers blatantly cutting in line, letting kids run loose, attacking the buffets
- Crappy food
- Smoke-filled hallways on our deck
- Poor/no signage on board, few signs of attentiveness or courtesy from the crew
- Extremely dull shows (who would have thought that a Thai lady-boys show and a Las Vegas Topless show could be so dull?)
- 7 am trilingual intercom announcement that souvenir photos and keychains are available
- No chairs available on sun deck, swimming pool closed when it was supposed to be open
- Another 1+ hour standing in line to disembark in the packed reception area, with numerous irate passengers screaming at the crew (who were pretending not to hear). We were packed like sardines with the exit doors shut, people were pounding on the windows and kicking the doors, while VIP passengers disembarked at their leisure and looked upon us with amused expressions.

I feel like a moron for having paid for such a hellish experience.

[erictby]

I didn't face such bad experience as Grandcider before.

The ship maybe not as good as some people expectation. But not too bad for me. You get all "free", what should you expected? If you looking for grand service and grand place then just select Star Cruise.

You have to pay HKD300/pax, but they will give back HKD300 casino chip for you. Or just buy 10k or more casino chip to get a personal room (no need to mix with the other people) or have a better room.

Where you stay? You can either go to TST or Central to get them. There have a lot of counters in the pier in TST (Kowloon Public Pier~next to Star Ferry Pier) or Central (should be in Central Pier, last time it was in Queen Pier)everyday around 6.00-7.30pm. You can see their banner next to their counter.

Hope this info can help you and Good Luck for you.

[PDLM]

Originally Posted by erictby

IIf you looking for grand service and grand place then just select Star Cruise.

Unless I have misunderstood, the Superstar Aquarius that Grandcider went on is one of the Star Cruise ships.

[erictby]

Originally Posted by PDLM

Unless I have misunderstood, the Superstar Aquarius that Grandcider went on is one of the Star Cruise ships.

I am overlook the phrase "Superstar Aquarius" in Grandcider post. Sorry!

But from my friend feedback, they have better comment for Star Cruise ships than the others. I am not sure about the ownership of Superstar Aquarius, maybe they are from the same group, maybe not.

I never try Star cruise before, I visit the others casino ship before by hop in. I didn't do any booking, I just hop in to their TST counter while I got free time.

If you are looking to enjoy cruise lifestyle, don't take the daily casino ship (Daily casino ship from any company are same, board late evening and come back early morning), take those ship which spent a few days for their cruise to enjoy the real cruise life.

It is impossible for paying 300 but expect to enjoy 3000 or 30000 facility.

[grandcider]

Yes it was a Star Cruise ship and it was obvious that they were ill-prepared to handle the number of passengers on the cruise. They even ran out of dinner plates at the buffet and we had to use little appetizer plates. We had to sit at a table full of dirty plates and discarded chicken bones for 15 mins before somebody came to clear the mess. Had to ask repeatedly for some cutlery so that we could eat.

You'd think they'd make a special effort to impress on an inaugural cruise. No one even greeted us when we boarded the ship, provided any information or helped us find our cabin.

But the worst and most inexcusable episode was the disembarking fiasco. They had a large number of irate people packed into a small area, pushing and shoving each other while the exit doors were locked from the outside. People were pounding on the windows to draw the attention of the staff on deck. Yelling at the reception staff to open the doors for safety's sake, but they just went on processing the huge backlog of people lining up to settle their bill, paying no attention.

[erictby]

Originally Posted by grandcider

Yes it was a Star Cruise ship and it was obvious that they were ill-prepared to handle the number of passengers on the cruise. They even ran out of dinner plates at the buffet and we had to use little appetizer plates. We had to sit at a table full of dirty plates and discarded chicken bones for 15 mins before somebody came to clear the mess. Had to ask repeatedly for some cutlery so that we could eat.

You'd think they'd make a special effort to impress on an inaugural cruise. No one even greeted us when we boarded the ship, provided any information or helped us find our cabin.

But the worst and most inexcusable episode was the disembarking fiasco. They had a large number of irate people packed into a small area, pushing and shoving each other while the exit doors were locked from the outside. People were pounding on the windows to draw the attention of the staff on deck. Yelling at the reception staff to open the doors for safety's sake, but they just went on processing the huge backlog of people lining up to settle their bill, paying no attention.

Grandcider, when you board on the ship? Is it on Public Holiday or holiday eve?

If you are looking for casino fun, maybe you can try other ship. But the ships was older and the buffet food was no that much variety. The land casino, still the best.

But sometime I still enjoy the casino cruise because no cost have to pay to enjoy casino fun. Luck was other issue!!! At least, I can start the games from zero. For Macau casino, I have to start the games from the point of my ferry fare plus food expenses. ha...ha....ha.....

[goodbye kitty]

Hey erictby,

where did you get this 'free' cruise? I looked in to the star cruise and it was pretty cheap, but not free! Do you have any numbers. Although I'm a little sceptical after hearing about grandcider's experience. Any one got any other ideas for cheap and cheerful short breaks nearby?