Eat, sail and shop!
It’s strange how perceptions change. When you’re young and a dunce in math, it is impossible to believe that numbers and calculations can be fun. “Why do we need all this when the basic operations should do?” you secretly complain while squirming, sweating and suffering in your seat during every algebra, trigonometry and calculus exam. But a couple of decades later when you’re out at sea on a cruise ship, sitting out in your cabin’s private balcony at sunrise while having your first cup of coffee for the day, you catch yourself saying a prayer of appreciation for those numbers nerds you covertly (and jealously) derided.
Thank God for them and their calculations! Precisely because of their general nitpicking at numbers; their equations in fluid dynamics and thermodynamics; their graphs and charts that accurately predict the weather, one can go on an enjoyable cruise even during the rainy season — without fear of being stuck in the middle of the ocean during an unexpected storm.
We recently caught the Superstar Virgo in Singapore for a quick, three-day spree. The plan was to arrive in Singapore early, scoot over to the Johor Premium Outlets in Malaysia to check out the Armani, DKNY, Ermenegildo Zegna and other premium stores that had merchandise on sale up to 70 percent off the regular prices, and then zip back to Singapore to catch our ship in the evening. Star Cruises makes it so easy. Now with a counter in the airport where one can straightaway check in one’s luggage for the cruise, they make it a simple matter for you to deposit your burdensome bags. This leaves you free to enjoy a leisurely time until you need to board the ship.
Not too keen on traveling across the border? Perhaps the waiting time could be better spent reacquainting one’s self with that favorite compact and efficient city-state. There are the numerous museums and galleries to visit, quaint stores with interesting fashion, toys and knickknacks like those at Ann Siang Hill, and even more chicken rice shops to try. If we weren’t going to Johor, I would have been content to spend the day with lunch at Chatterbox at the Meritus Mandarin in Orchard Road (they serve really good chicken rice!) and then scoot over to Kinokuniya for the newest books. But let me tell you right now: With all the tempting entertainment options during the cruise, you won’t have time to even touch your load of reading material. 
The Superstar Virgo’s Grand Piazza, or what is the equivalent of a hotel’s grand lobby, can be a bit overwhelming when one enters the ship. We focus on three huge golden stallions rearing on their hind legs, their front hooves hovering close, and threatening to crush a shiny, black grand piano underneath. This is the perfect setting for a pianist with a flamboyant style like Liberace, we thought. Or maybe our country’s own flashy, young Filipino pianist Angelo Ortiz. The high cathedral ceilings had multi-colored glass panes; there were columns, balconies, festive buntings, people dressed as pirates/ queens/ noblemen — a riot of things to look at. We had to sit in the red plush seats to take it all in.
It was only later when we found out that the horses weren’t just painted gold, they were plated with the real 23K precious metal. The ship’s “auspicious table,” too, which we overlooked from sensory overload the first time, was adorned with real gold-plated leaves. We were told that the Superstar Virgo recently underwent a $25 million transformation. And with all that costly metal, we certainly believe it.
But it was getting late in the evening and we were off to the Mediterranean Buffet that served an international selection. It was only later on in the evening while ready to drift off to sleep, that we realized that we had forgotten to note down the best dish in the buffet because of all the excitement.
The good thing about being on a cruise is that there is so much to do; so much to try. On this trip, evening entertainment consisted of the “Mirage Show with Vincent Vignaud” with music and magical illusions at the ship’s Lido theater; a poolside Bollywood-style party with conga dancing, and a ’70s themed dance party at the Galaxy of the Stars outlet. There was something for passengers of all ages — from a “Land Ever After” mascots’ party at the Charlie’s Kids Club, to Nikita, a strictly-for-adults Las Vegas style topless show. We noticed entire families on board, and each were happily doing their own thing — swimming, partying on the poolside deck, watching the Euro Cup on screens set up on the Taverna poolside bar, playing card games or happily pulling the levers and gambling with the slot machines.
A three-day cruise is also hardly enough time to sample the cuisine at all the restaurants of Superstar Virgo either. Aside from the Mediterranean Buffet, we managed to check out the Bellini champagne bar, Bella Vista restaurant that served continental cuisine and Pavilion restaurant a Chinese family-style restaurant. The crab claw and wasabi prawn at Noble House was excellent, and The Taj had great-tasting authentic Indian food (not surprising, with all the Indian guests on board.) As you can tell, we threw in the towel and gave up all guise of calorie-counting. But then, it was just too much. Next time, we resolve to head promptly for what should have been the top of our list—the Palazzo Italian gourmet restaurant that served food on Versace plates and had valuable Italian art hanging on the walls. A quick shore excursion to Kuala Lumpur and the cruise was almost over.
But really, isn’t it weird how insights come to you in the most unexpected places? On this trip, the awareness came while we were in the elevator, giggling over the fact that we had a great view of the rearing horses’ golden behinds. And then it occurred to us: Like the horses were golden all over, this seemed to be a genuinely happy ship all throughout. What made this a truly fun cruise was that all the cheerful Filipinos working onboard seemed genuinely contented and happy to be there and see that we had a good time.
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A variety of packages are being offered for the luxury ship’s patrons such as the Concert Cruise featuring the world famous Platters on Aug. 29-31, 2012 and a Semestral Break sailing of SuperStar Virgo on Oct. 28, 2012 for a three-night cruise. For information on Star Cruises packages, call (632) 836-6830-32 or email at salesmanila@starcruises.com.
