Superstar Libra

My Penang-Phuket-Krabi-Penang itinerary, originally booked in June, was suddenly cancelled by Ctrip at the end of August. It was changed to a Klang-Phuket-Penang-Klang trip instead. Not only were my travel plans disrupted, but Ctrip also refused to cover the nearly 5000 RMB cancellation fee for the four-person Hong Kong to Penang flights, only offering 991 RMB in compensation. I'm so frustrated! Furthermore, an email received on July 22nd stated that the cabin service fee per person on the ship was 17 Singapore dollars, but upon disembarkation, it was settled at 150 Malaysian Ringgit per person. The difference for four people per day is (150*1.6 - 17*4.7)*4 = 640 RMB!

My first cruise experience was unforgettable, and I would definitely choose to travel by cruise again if I have the chance. The service on the cruise ship was evident in every aspect—meticulous and attentive. The food was quite close to Chinese tastes and habits. What I liked most this time was the wide variety of entertainment programs. From the captain to every cruise staff member, they all worked hard to make us feel like we were at home during the holidays. You'll understand once you board a cruise ship!

I've been on many cruises, and the price and service facilities are generally proportional. This cruise, like its price, offered only so-so experiences. The facilities on deck were rather small, and it wasn't as good as the Gemini cruise line, but that's about what you'd expect from Star Cruises. There were two drop-off points to choose from, neither particularly interesting, and the drop-off took several hours, making the round trip quite long. The port entry queues were very long. The pictures show the Vietnamese scenery seen from the ship, somewhat like a mini-Guilin. You could even see the entire sea view from your cabin's window, but there wasn't much to see. Unlike other ships with balconies where you can enjoy the view from your room without having to go to the deck, this one was the worst in terms of food. Limited variety, few restaurants, and the food wasn't particularly good. The service was far inferior to other ships. However, this type of cruise is suitable for families, especially the elderly and children. They won't get lost on board, and there's plenty of food and entertainment. I would recommend it for people with elderly people and children. It seems that booking in advance includes free tickets for seniors and children, with only a port management fee.

The cruise ship's service was top-notch, and although the facilities weren't the newest, they were more than enough for a family of three. There was even a gym on board, which was great! The buffet was better than we expected, and the Captain's Dinner is definitely something to try! The island excursions were relatively short, but we did participate in a snorkeling trip, which both the kids and adults enjoyed! Miyako Island is truly beautiful! Before boarding the ship again, we could go to Jusco for some shopping and food! We were already very satisfied; the Kyoho beer and peach dessert are definitely worth trying!

My primary motivation for choosing a cruise ship was health. What initially attracted me was the ship's "fitness facilities"—strength training, treadmills… After each workout, my body's cells die, and with the seven meals a day on the cruise, it felt like I was regenerating many cells, making me feel like I could live forever. If I could, I'd love to stay on the cruise ship every day. From check-in to check-out, the ship's staff maintained a constant smile. They spend long hours on the ship, encountering different guests every day, and maintaining such excellent service is truly remarkable. The second day on the high seas was very relaxing. I woke up early to enjoy sunrise tea and waited for the sunrise. There's no night that doesn't end; the sun rose, painting the sea red from the horizon, its gentle light shining on my face, allowing me to slowly recover my energy! After standing for a while, breathing in the luxuriously fresh air, I started breakfast. The breakfast was quite thoughtful; since we often eat porridge in the mornings in southern China, seeing porridge, pickled vegetables, eggs… in the buffet felt very welcoming. Next came my second reason for choosing a cruise ship: the gambling den on deck 5. I don't advocate gambling; 9 out of 10 people start as gamblers and gradually become addicted to it! Perhaps because I'm somewhat interested in gambling, I rarely lose, but I also rarely win big. Maybe with a bit of luck, I withdrew over 5000 from the gambling den in 3 hours. Thanks again to Ctrip for giving me this opportunity to experience this 3-night, 4-day Miyako Island trip "for free." At noon, I enjoyed a Western-style buffet on deck 9, which was very filling. Then I went back to my cabin for a nap, strolled around the deck in the afternoon, had afternoon tea, exercised, and then had dinner. After dinner, I lay on a deckchair on deck 10, relaxing with my eyes closed – truly blissful. Around 8 pm, I watched a magic show arranged by the ship, which was very entertaining. Magic, in short, is all about deception, deceiving you until you willingly praise the trickery. Because we were arriving at Miyako Island very early the next day, I went to bed early. The next day, I got up at 5 am, had breakfast, and then queued to disembark. When the ship docked, four Japanese officials boarded to assist with immigration procedures. (In China, a civil servant is like a grandfather; in Japan, they're like a grandson. It was the first time I'd ever encountered a civil servant who smiled and thanked me—I was truly touched.) I was not only touched but also excited because it was the first time in my life I'd seen Japanese people in uniform, haha. After disembarking, we boarded a bus to begin our 5-hour island tour… I had booked in advance, and Ctrip gave me an 800 RMB coupon, which was valid since we both booked the same tour. Thanks again to Ctrip! Our tour guide had been a student in Japan for over 20 years, and there was no forced shopping. The scenery along the way was beautiful, and at each stop, we got a close-up look at the daily lives of ordinary Japanese people. We bought freshly made boxed Japanese sushi at a budget supermarket on the island. I don't know where the trust came from, but the tour guide had given us some information about Japan on the bus, so I bought it without checking the expiration date. (In China, I occasionally check the production date; ironically, I once saw a supermarket employee remove the production date label and re-label it with a new one.) Sure enough, the sushi was incredibly fresh and delicious… Good times always seem to end so quickly. We returned to the ship at 2 PM and then headed back. The return trip was the same: workout, dinner, walk, and more… another day passed. We arrived at Xiamen Port around 5 PM on Monday and went back to work, since I only took half a day off on Monday. (I would definitely choose this route again next time, not for anything else, just for the health benefits, the convenience, and the trustworthy sushi…)

The ship is quite old, the facilities are acceptable, the service is good, the food is so-so, and the accommodation is okay. However, the onboard tours are very expensive.

It was a fantastic trip! Eating on board was convenient, so we didn't get hungry. There were various restaurants to choose from, and the kids loved the buffet. Unfortunately, we missed the Captain's Dinner due to strong winds, which was a shame. However, the ship's staff were very helpful, actively engaging everyone to distract themselves with dancing and singing. They were also seasick! Overall, it was a great trip.

I was quite satisfied with the shore excursions on Miyako Island, having booked the southern Miyako Island tour. The scenery on this tour was absolutely stunning. The beaches along Naha's Maehama Beach had crystal-clear water and fine sand, and the view of the heart-shaped coral reef from the 8th floor of the German Culture Village was breathtaking. The semi-submersible boat trip revealed many beautiful corals and fish. The Kurima Island observation deck offered a 360-degree view of the Kurima Bridge and Naha's Maehama Beach; the seawater was incredibly beautiful and the seascape mesmerizing. However, Star Cruises shattered all my beautiful fantasies about cruise ships. First, in terms of facilities, the Libra Superstar's cabins were cramped; even the ocean-view cabins were only 12 square meters. There weren't many entertainment facilities on board, and even fewer suitable for children. Only the children's pool on the 9th floor was suitable for children, and the tiny childcare center on the 3rd-floor interior cabins was completely unappealing to kids. There were no other children's facilities on board. The service was even worse. Boarding, disembarkation, meals, and shore excursion registration were all poorly organized and extremely problematic. It was incredibly crowded, almost unbearable; just think of the Spring Festival travel rush to understand how terrible it was. Of the three free restaurants, I ate at the Chinese restaurant and the buffet. Each time, there were long queues. The buffet was like a battle – finding a seat and getting food was a nightmare. The food quality was terrible; the main dishes were either spicy, fried, or heavily seasoned, and the ingredients seemed very stale. Only the fruit was decent.

This was a great value trip! I was very satisfied to get such a good deal during the National Day Golden Week. I had a fantastic time on the cruise with all the entertainment options. The scenery on Miyakojima Island after disembarking was also beautiful and definitely worth a visit. Plus, I could just leave my shopping bags on the ship and take a taxi back after disembarking – much more convenient than traveling by boat!

I took the Libra Star Cruises twice last summer and this summer, and this year the service, dining, and entertainment have all noticeably declined. First, the accommodations. Our interior cabin on the 3rd floor at the stern was so noisy it was almost unbearable. The shower faucets were also very tight; initially, we were afraid to use force and couldn't open them (we had to pull hard to get them open). Many parts of the room's decor were worn and dilapidated. ***The cabins at the bow were much quieter. Dining: Last year, the Four Seasons restaurant was à la carte, with a great Western dining atmosphere. This year, main courses are à la carte, and everything else is buffet style, making it more chaotic (it felt like a buffet). Of all the cruise lines we've been on, only Star Cruises' Libra Star restaurant has this kind of Western dining arrangement. Next, the entertainment. On the first day, all the lounge chairs on the 10th deck were folded up and unusable (I complained to customer service that day). Movies were projected, not on a large screen or projector, resulting in a poor viewing experience. And... In short, it wasn't the same experience as last year. Our Star Cruises trip in Hong Kong in 2004 was the best of our three experiences. The rainfall forecast is unreliable.