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P. T. Jyothi Datta

P.T. Jyothi Datta on a Star cruise out of Hong Kong writes about the relaxing fun aboard and the many interesting sight-seeing options when the ship docks every morning.

The Hong Kong skyline

If you are the kind who loves a room with a view, then it doesn't get better than this. Far from the madding crowd of the city, the balcony-view from luxury-liner SuperStar Leo gives you a piece of the deep blue ocean, up-close and personal!! Something no other travel avenue can claim to offer.

And there's never a dull moment on board, with the hospitality staff ensuring that there's enough and more to pamper your every-which whim! Blending into itself the old-world elegance and comfort of Asian hospitality, with a dash of Las Vegas brazenness, SuperStar Leo has on offer something for the food-freak, something for the fitness-buff, something for the kids and, of course, a view of the vast blue sky above and the ocean all around, for those looking to simply put their feet-up.

But how does one get this far? Hong Kong is the `base-camp' for those looking to set sail on SuperStar Leo, one of the cruise liners belonging to the Star Cruises fleet. And as the first strains of music and the `sail-away' party gets underway on the pool-side at the top-deck, equivalent to the 13th floor in a hotel, travellers on-board are informed that they are slowly leaving behind the delightful city, a skyline dotted equally with mountain peaks and skyscrapers, billboards and neon-lights.

Cruises are not new on the Indian mind-scape, with Hollywood's blockbuster Titanic and Bollywood's own and more recent Humraaz having wowed Indian audiences. And now, the world's fourth largest cruise company, Star Cruises is looking to hard-sell this exciting holiday option, by attempting to make it more affordable to those bitten by the travel-bug. Star Cruises sells its cruise packages through tour operators in the country.

Offering the innovative free-style cruising approach, the cruise allows its guests to do what ever it takes to make them happy. Early birds can get a spectacular view of the early morning rays on the ocean-scape or the approaching landscape, either from their respective balconies (if their rooms have balconies)) or the expansive deck. Not surprising then, that we run into other ship-mates stretching a limb or having their morning cuppa' tea at Raffles Buffet and Terrace, one of the designated restraunts.

Day-time is spent on shore-excursions, for those travellers interested in visiting the ports that the liner touches. Star Leo's first port of call is Sanya, the southern most tip of the Hainan Island, China. According to Ivy, our tourist guide at Sanya, courtesy Star Cruises, Sanya was earlier a military base and has only recently been opened up to visitors. But a glimpse of the Chinese Government's much talked about commitment to building infrastructure is visible in the highways and roads being built in the island city.

"Sanya is known for its fishing, farming, crystals and pearls," informs Ivy. But what tourist guides do not often tell you is that shopping should be done at the local shops, where items traditional to the city are available. Tourists are usually herded to the more expensive shopping malls, where precious crystal and pearls are sold.

Sanya has eight million people and the Government discourages its people from having a second child, she said. Discouragement is as severe as losing one's job, she informs a group of Indian tourists, who themselves are not alien to the problem of population.

The luxury liner SuperStar Leo

One of the popular sight-seeing places at Sanya is a location called the `End of the Earth', with two inscriptions there, made by earlier civilisations who believed where the sea meets the sky marks the end of the earth. Ivy bids adieu with a Chinese song and we troop back to the ferry that would take us to the liner.

Back to ship and the tired tourists are in no mood to let up on the rest of the night. The ship treats its guests to a Moulin Rouge show, with magicians and Brazilian dancers adding to all the fun and mirth. Dinner complete and the crowd disperses, to indulge itself, some at the Casino, others at the discotheque and still others at the bars and the amphitheatres. The day ends well into the next day morning, when bleary-eyed tourists retire to their serene rooms and drift to sleep with only the sound of the waves in the backdrop.

But tomorrow is another day and the entry into Vietnam, dotted with more than 3,000 island rocks is too picturesque to be missed. Not for a 1,000 winks.

Quite natural then that the deck has keen amateur photographers trying their hand at taking artistic pictures, under the warm glow of the morning sun.

Vietnam has a character of its own — green and very rural. Beautiful women, traditional dances and crafts and stories of war abound. Our guide, a local Vietnamese lady, recounts how she has seen three wars in her life-time. We witness some interesting water-puppet shows and dances and finally are back onto the ferry that would take us to Halong Bay, which according to a legend, was created when a dragon descended into the sea.

A World Heritage Site, as conferred by the UNESCO, the bay has plenty of islands with mysterious caves and more mysterious stories linked to it. The trail back to the liner exposes us the fisher-folk, who live off the sea. They tie their little rafts to the ferry and get on board to sell their wares.

But another interesting scene one witnesses at Vietnam are little children who also come in little rafts, but they come to beg. A different kind of child labour and a serious menace for the government, our guide informs.

Back to the ship and some travellers manage to have a quick swim or a jaccuzi before they get dressed in traditional attire for the Captain's `Gala Dinner' — where the man at the helm, Captain Lars Bengtsson introduces the travellers to his crew. We are then treated to a gala dinner and a fine dessert. More entertainment and the evening ends late at night.

The four-days-three-nights trip draws to a close and some of us are given a glimpse into the bridge, the Captain and his crew's exclusive domain.

Bills are settled, even as the travellers go out on a limb to exhaust their credit-limit, a privilege given by the liner to its guests, to be exhausted on food and beverages only. As the Hong Kong skyline comes into view, tourists bid farewell to the multi-nationality crew, who spared no effort in making the liner a home away from home, out there in the deep blue sea.

Picture by K. Venugopal.

Fact file

Where to board: Star Cruises organise round trips from three Asian cities - SuperStar Virgo (Singapore); SuperStar Leo (Hong Kong); SuperStar Capricorn (Bangkok)

Estimated tariff structure: SuperStar Virgo (docking at Singapore): Cabin category: 4 days-3 nights and 3 days-2 nights respectively — inside stateroom: $460 and $320; oceanview stateroom: $580 and $390; oceanview with balcony: $710 and $470; junior suite: $950 and $640; executive suite: $1,110 and $740.

SuperStar Leo (docking at Hong Kong): Cabin category: 4 days-3 nights and 3 days-2 nights respectively — inside stateroom: $410 and $280; oceanview stateroom: $520 and $350; oceanview with balcony: $640 and $420; junior suite: $950 and $640; executive suite: $1,110 and $730.

SuperStar Capricorn (docking at Bangkok): Cabin category: 4 days-3 nights and 3 days-2 nights respectively — inside stateroom: $340 and $280; oceanview stateroom with porthole: $420 and $350; oceanview stateroom with window: $550 and $440; oceanview deluxe room with window: $650 and $550; junior suite: $770 and $700; executive suite: $950 and $890. ( Rates are not inclusive of shore visits and they increase for an additional person. And, air-fares to Hong Kong, Singapore or Bangkok need to be added.)

What to pack: With an average temperature of 30 Celsius, light-weight summer clothes, light sweater or jacket for the air-conditioned interiors is recommended. Casual clothes and comfortable walking shoes for shore visits. And, of course, a swim-suit, sunglasses, sunscreen lotion, beach towel for the swimming-pools and Jacuzzis; sports or gym gear for those wanting to play golf, squash, basketball or jog or work-out. And an elegant casual dress for that all-important Captain's Gala Dinner. For more information, check out, www.starcruises.com.

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