MANILA, Philippines - If there is a cosmopolitan city outside the country that Filipino travelers know by heart, it is Hong Kong. We all know the drill: the city bus transfer or the airport express train from Chek Lap Kok Airport to destinations like Disneyland Resort, Central and Kowloon’s Tsim Sha Tsui (for weekend shoppers), stopping only at the hotel to check in the luggage, which some have already mastered to a complete science, and on to the wonderful world of shopping, walking and a lot of pedestrian-, taxi- and double-decker-bus-dodging.
Of course, there are the usual side trips: Victoria Harbor, Avenue of the Stars, Pedder Street, Wan Chai, and even the largely out-of-the-way Victoria Peak making up the ultimate utopian checklist to complete an HK weekend—until your leg cramps get the best of you. So, you’ll probably soak like tea in the hotel bathtub for the remaining duration of your trip, rendered somehow incapacitated until your return flight.
But what if there is a totally different way to experience Hong Kong? Where the feet get rested for once, traded for good old sea legs? Where shopping and dining merge with the exciting ding-ding-ding of the slot machines? And where, just for a weekend, you can leave the stress, anticipation, and anxiety back on the docks, and get treated to a luxurious getaway on the open seas? This is certainly what Star Cruises had in mind when, in 1993, they developed the Star Pisces, and they haven’t dropped the anchor since.
Pioneering the cruising industry in the Asia and the Pacific, Star Pisces is the eldest in the cruise company’s six-ship fleet, after having gone multiple facelifts (with a recent one that started on Feb. 26 until March 22), we all know older is definitely wiser. The Star Pisces rounds up the dining, shopping, and gaming experiences one would usually find in their trips to Hong Kong and Macau, but makes it as simple as an elevator ride through all its 12-stories.
It sets off to sea, perfectly on time as the Hong Kong skyline lights up to evening darkness. The view quickly becomes the most expensive feature of the Star Pisces simply because it is breathtakingly priceless. Leaving the Victoria Harbor, while feeling the last remaining wintry chills of the Hong Kong weather, the Star Pisces’s Open Deck on the 11th floor offers a grandiose 360-degree view of this expensive international hub. Best bring a sweater and maybe some popcorn; the sight is 3D cinematic!
And just when the lights and the sights of the Hong Kong harbor change to the blue expanse of the South China Sea, the whole ship lights up to an array of on-deck entertainment activities and dining assortments that a lone passenger — or a traveling group — can feel free to indulge in. You’ll know that the party has just started.
“Freestyle cruising,†as Genting Hong Kong’s assistant vice president for corporate communications Benson Chao suggests, “lets the passengers enjoy all the Star Cruises ships the best way they want it.†So leave all the stuffy suits, dresses, and the stern itineraries at home, as none of it will be needed on board. You can forget about the Captain, his ego, and his pricey, stuffy welcoming dinners too. Do bring, however, an open mind and a more open wallet, as some features come at a hefty price. A good investment, after all, is one based on experiences, not things, and no one should cut corners when traveling. Remember, the trick is going all out!
So, for a freestyle three-day cruise trip aboard the Star Pisces, your hotel on the sea, here are ways to best experience a Hong Kong weekend.
Top three places to dine
1. Umigawa — This small Japanese and Korean restaurant offers an authentic taste of the orient with its freshly prepared sushi, sashimi, and specialty ramen. So prized is Umigawa’s sushi that this will be a mainstay feature at the Mariner’s Buffet.
2. Blue Lagoon – This 24-hour dining establishment offers Southeast Asian dishes, barbecue, burgers, sandwiches, and ice cream for a taste that is more familiar and family-friendly. A must-try is its Bak Kut Teh, a Malay stew made of soft-bone tender pork, bean curd, and black Chinese mushroom, which makes an excellent cure for seasickness. Best consumed with Blue Girl Beer, Hong Kong’s local brew.
3. Mariner’s Buffet — Coming inclusive with the trip ticket, the Mariner’s offers its continental/Cantonese hot dish buffet for free. Enjoy a buffet selection of traditional Chinese savior de faire (think jellyfish cold cuts and steamed dimsum) juxtaposed with meat and fish sauced in very European ways. When in doubt, their bread, fruit, salad, and dessert selection makes for a filling alternative.
More beloved for its breakfast buffet, an assortment of sausages, fluffy scrambled eggs, pork and beans, creamy blueberry yogurt, and a steaming cup of Joe, could very well be the only meal you’ll need to make it through the day.
Top three things to do in your hotel on the sea
1. Catch the “Desire†show at the Galaxy of the Stars – Russian performers and acrobats in rather scanty and suggestive performances top-bill the Star Pisces’ nightly show “Desire.†With no-holds-barred numbers that give a nod to feline super villains, gun-wielding super spies, Magic Mike, Moulin Rouge, and a Britney Spears dead-ringer found in multiple spidery contortions, the show leaves nothing to the imagination, but, true to its name, keeps you wanting more.
2. Have a massage at the King Neptune Health Club — In this well-designed wet spa, enjoy a soak in the heated indoor pool or Jacuzzi then go for the steamed sauna, after an hour of relaxing traditional Asian massage. Let your mind and body drift safely back to shore.
3. Have a drink at the Cast Away Piano Bar—It is best to order beer—by the buckets—or better yet, a long line of your preferred liquor shots, double. But being amid a band that playing LSS-inducing Chinese hits (sadly, none of the Pinoy show bands we so love and value are on board), maybe one should opt for a sunny cocktail (Sex on the Beach, maybe?), and enjoy the cultural exchange that is fast unfolding in front of you.
Top three ways to spend your money onboard
Designed to be a discount shopping mall, a gaming destination, and a luxury retail center on sea, the Star Pisces is definitely not for the shrewd and stingy.
1. Try your luck at the Star Lounge—Long known to be the playground for the elite Hong Kong weekenders and the mainland China high-stake gamers, the Star Pisces features four gaming centers that vary from the bored housewife slot-machine variety to the James Bond-type Member’s Lounge. Star Lounge 1, found on Deck 3, is slot-machine heaven, while Star Lounge 2, found on Deck 7, is more for the table card games and the roulettes. An insider tip, this is the perfect place to change your US dollars to HK dollars, as they promise to have a better-conversion rate than anywhere else on and off the boat.
2. Go for a shopping coup at the China duty-free shops—With the world’s most discounted retail paradise onboard, nothing is stopping the Star Pisces from maxing out your plastic purse. Find the fragrance bar on the central roundabout of Deck 7 preempting your appetite’s entrance to the Mariner’s, or its wide array of liquors and cigarettes found on Deck 8, expect to get the finest discounts for the finer things in life with the China DFS on board.
3. Invest in luxurious jewelry and timepieces at the Canopus— with names like Tissot, Chopard, Raymond Weil, Frank Muller, and Siu Jewelries, all the trinkets and trappings available at the Star Pisces don’t skimp on the premium, the precious, and the pricey. From Swiss watches to fine pearls, well-cut diamonds to the auspicious imperial jade, find a treasure to take home as a souvenir of a memorable trip. Or, a trophy commemorating that big-time baccarat win.
Top three ways to enjoy star pisces for free
1. Treat every deck landing as your personal art gallery—Each deck features Asian art in its walls, offering an interactive entertainment as opposed to a horizontal love affair with the TV.
2. Find a friendly face—With over 317 Filipino personnel onboard, it’s easy to find good company or even just good conversation on the ship. Case in point is Elmer Mallari, Star Pisces’ executive assistant manager for hotel operations. Being aboard the ship in 16 years, Elmer has quite the collection of stories that would make a seaman blush and a Pinoy proud.
3. Relive a masterpiece on the outer deck—On Deck 11 you will find the Outer Deck where you can see Victoria Harbor in all its LED splendor or just enjoy the cold, wave-heavy view of the South China Sea. The best thing you can do, however, is replay that iconic Titanic scene on the 12th Deck.
If you want the same experiences but on land, spend a weekend at the Resorts World Manila, maybe book a room at the Maxim’s or the Remington, try your luck at the Resorts World Casinos, shop in the Newport Mall, and dine in the variety of restaurants at Maxim’s Hotel. Because, while we could go out of our way to search for new experiences to give the familiar that unique spin, sometimes we overlook that which is closer to home.
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To book or inquire about Star Pisces, visit the Star Cruises Philippines Booking Office at the Star Cruises Building, 100 Andrews Avenue, Newport City, 1309 Pasay City, Philippines, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Or call at 836-6000, e-mail Star Cruises at salesmanila@starcruises.com.