【Star Cruises New Ship Hong Kong Maiden Voyage】Summer Return Preview
【Star Voyager】🛳️
Grand Hong Kong maiden voyage from June 27 to August 31, 2025
The classic Star Cruises brand returns to its Hong Kong homeport to explore Taiwan and Japan
【Star Voyager】
Will operate from Hong Kong as its homeport to multiple popular destinations from June 27 to August 31, 2025.
April 24, 2025
(Hong Kong) — Star Cruises proudly announces that 【Star Voyager】 will be based in Hong Kong from June 27 to August 31, 2025. This marks the upgraded Star Cruises’ return to one of its most iconic homeports, continuing its 30-year glorious legacy with a fresh new look.
The arrival of 【Star Voyager】 will inject strong momentum into Hong Kong and regional cruise tourism, offering travelers a rich variety of itineraries and demonstrating Star Cruises’ long-term commitment to the Asian cruise market.
During its operation from the Hong Kong homeport, 【Star Voyager】 will offer 2- to 5-night in-depth itineraries covering popular destinations such as Taipei (Keelung), Kaohsiung, Penghu, and Japan’s Okinawa Naha and Ishigaki Island. The highly popular "2-night weekend open sea cruise" will regularly depart every Friday, providing the perfect choice for travelers seeking a short luxury sea experience.
Mr. Wu Mingfa, President of Star Cruises Dream, said: "Hong Kong holds a special place in Star Cruises’ development history. Returning to Hong Kong as a homeport is both a continuation of our brand spirit and a fulfillment of our commitment to the Asian market. 【Star Voyager】 will bring a refined and extraordinary cruise experience to local travelers and the emerging 'fly-rail-cruise' customer segment with a brand-new look."
🗓️ Hong Kong Departure Itineraries
📍 Kaohsiung and Penghu Routes
i. 3-night Hong Kong to Kaohsiung and Penghu route (Sunday departures): June 29, July 13, August 10, 2025
ii. 2-night Hong Kong to Kaohsiung route (Wednesday departures): July 2, 16; August 13, 2025
During the summer cruise season, 【Star Voyager】 will offer exciting routes from Hong Kong to Kaohsiung and Penghu. Kaohsiung, as the southern maritime hub, features modern art districts, traditional temples, and lively night markets; Penghu captivates with clear waters, quaint villages, and a relaxed island atmosphere, making it a perfect blend of cultural exploration and island charm.
📍 Japan Routes
i. 5-night Hong Kong to Ishigaki Island and Naha route (Sunday departures): July 6, August 3, 2025
ii. 5-night Hong Kong to Naha and Ishigaki Island route (Sunday departures): July 20, August 17, 2025
【Star Voyager】 will also operate routes from Hong Kong to Okinawa, Japan, calling at the popular destinations of Ishigaki Island and Naha. Ishigaki Island is renowned for its turquoise seas, white sands, and lush landscapes, a paradise for nature lovers; Naha, the capital of Okinawa, offers Ryukyu traditional culture, bustling shopping streets, and historical landmarks like Shuri Castle, providing a unique cultural experience.
📍 Taiwan-Japan Combined Routes
i. 5-night special route from Hong Kong to Ishigaki Island, Keelung, and Penghu: July 27 and August 24, 2025 (Sunday departures)
This carefully designed 5-night itinerary highlights the best of Taiwan and Japan, allowing you to deeply explore the stunning sights of Ishigaki Island, Keelung, and Penghu. Departing exclusively on July 27 and August 24, 2025, this special voyage lets you enjoy three dream destinations in one unforgettable sea holiday.
📍 Address: 2-night weekend open sea cruise (Friday departures: June 27; July 4, 11, 18, 25; August 29)
【Star Voyager】 itself is a fantastic destination! Guests can fully enjoy top-notch facilities at sea, from inside cabins and ocean-view rooms to "Palace Suites" equipped with private amenities and 24-hour European butler service.
🏖️ Onboard facilities include a water park, climbing wall, zipline, lawn bowling, and more, complemented by exciting live entertainment and themed events, perfect for families, couples, or anyone who loves a sea vacation.
💞 About Star Cruises
With over 30 years of glorious history, Star Cruises returns in a brand-new style, offering a more stylish and vibrant way to create a tasteful sea holiday experience for a new generation of travelers.
🌟 High-quality yet affordable sea holiday options
🌟 Rich entertainment, world-class dining, and age-specific activities
🌟 Moderate cruise size (about 2,000 guests), flexible and comfortable
The Star Cruises fleet includes 【Star Explorer】 and 【Star Voyager】.
【Star Explorer】 launched on March 7, 2025, from Singapore and will begin an exclusive eight-month season in Keelung. Featuring unique routes connecting the region’s most charming coastlines and expanding to special ports in Japan and Korea, travelers can enjoy spring cherry blossoms, summer blue seas, and autumn foliage, appreciating Asia’s beauty through the seasons.
【Star Voyager】 launched on March 26, 2025, operating between diverse ports including Singapore, Jakarta, Malacca, Bangkok, and Ho Chi Minh City, with plans to expand to more popular cities.
#Taiwan #Japan #Travel #TravelInspiration
Although the main hall is still under renovation, it's worth a visit, as it is a World Heritage Site. Climbing to the top offers a panoramic view of Naha, which is quite nice, but the climb is not easy and not suitable for people with mobility issues or those who dislike hiking.
showed up during a ceremony, was interesting to watch. Still not complete but was something to look at. Paid 600 yen for parking but the lot was convenient to get to and from.
Unfortunately for me, I happened to be there during renovation time so I couldn’t catch the final version but the general structure was visible from a distance and looked very impressive. There’s a nice souvenir shop close to the entrance as well with interesting designs and keepsakes.
Naha, the capital of Okinawa County, is the site of the capital city of the ancient Ryukyu Kingdom. As early as the mid-14th century, it has been a trading port and is now the largest political, economic and cultural center of the Ryukyu Islands. Located on the west coast of southern Okinawa Island, near Naba Bay in the East China Sea. Population: 307,000 (1985). The area is 38 square kilometers. The city was established in 1921. The port can berth ten thousand tons of ships. Okinawa County's only gateway. Naba is the capital of Okinawa County. It has beautiful scenery. There are many colorful palm trees and areca nut trees, verdant Ryukyu pine, colorful flowers, blue sea and white clouds in the sky. It is a rare subtropical tourist area in Japan. The city has the residence of successive Ryukyu kings, the site of Seoul City, in which the gatekeeper is the symbol of Okinawa; the Chongyuan Temple, the national Temple of the Ryukyu Kingdom, whose stone gates are designated as national treasures; and the Lingyuan Temple, built in the 15th century.
Taxis in Japan are very expensive. I learned a lesson the hard way on the first day. The double-metering system means that the meter will jump even when there is a traffic jam. Moreover, Shuri Castle is not close to the city center. It is very cost-effective to choose a one-day ticket for the tram (because I chartered a car, so I bought a one-day ticket). Practice has proved that it is also very cost-effective. The tram terminal is Shuri Castle, and the attractions are also easy to find. Shuri Castle is not big, but it is very interesting. You can get Chinese introductions and interesting maps with stamps at the service area. There is no charge for the outer perimeter, and you need to buy a ticket to visit the main hall. The tram ticket can also be discounted, and the entrance fee is also cheap. It is worth recommending.
Another landmark scenic spot in Okinawa is also a must-visit place for tourists. It is known as the Ryukyu Kingdom's historical and cultural heritage. It is loved by tourists who love historical and cultural landscapes. It has convenient transportation. After taking the Naba monorail train to the terminal station, you can walk for 15 to 20 minutes according to the sign on the ground. Seoul City does not need tickets. It is very big and can be visited for a long time. To visit the main hall, you still need tickets. You can enjoy the team price of 660 yen on a single-track one-day ticket, which is not expensive. The so-called main hall is the palace of the former Ryukyu Kingdom. Here you can learn a lot about the history of Ryukyu. The former Ryukyu Kingdom and China had a lot of origins.
It's pretty nice. There's also a stamp collection activity. Unfortunately, I didn't collect all the stamps because I didn't follow the normal route. But it was fun. I met a lot of students who were studying. This day was basically the only good weather in Okinawa during Christmas. It was very hot. When I bought the ticket, I found that I could get a discount with the monorail ticket. Unfortunately, when I went back, I went out of another gate. I took a long detour. However, the scenery along the way was pretty good. I basically went around Shuri Castle Park.
Shuri Castle is the terminal of the Naha light rail from the airport. It takes about 20 minutes to take the light rail from Naha Hilton, but it takes about 15 minutes to walk there after getting off the light rail. You can also take a bus from another exit, but the bus runs about every 30 minutes. Shuri Castle has set up a stamp exchange gift, and the children are very happy about it. What surprised us most was that the one-day ticket not only discounted the ticket, but also a super beautiful courtyard refreshment inside was free. By the way, there are all kinds of ducks under Shuri Castle that are not afraid of people, you can ask for a photo.