Star Asia’s leading cruise company

Star Cruises was incorporated in September 1993, representing a bold initiative to tap Asia-Pacific’s potential as an international cruise destination and today, Star Cruises epitomises the fulfillment of their regional aspirations to establish the cruise industry in the Asia-Pacific region, bringing increased tourism traffic into the countries around Asia-Pacific.

Asian holidaymakers now see cruising as an exciting and value-for-money vacation. Simultaneously, it also started the influx of travellers from North America, Europe and Australia, who joined Star Cruises holidays for a glimpse of the various sights and sounds of Asia-Pacific.

In just over a decade since its inception, Star Cruises has become the world’s third largest cruise operator and has won coveted awards that include:

Star Cruises, the third largest cruise operator in the world is a global cruise brand with a combined fleet of 21 ships with about 33,300 lower berths in service with an additional 2 ships and some 8,400 lower berths due to be delivered by 2010, cruising to destinations and islands in Asia-Pacific, North and South America, Hawaii, Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, Mediterranean, Bermuda and the Antarctica under the Star Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, NCL America, Orient Lines and Cruise Ferries brands.

Vessels operating under the Star Cruises’ brand in Asia-Pacific are SuperStar Virgo, SuperStar Gemini, SuperStar Libra, SuperStar Aquarius, Star Pisces, MegaStar Aries and MegaStar Taurus. The Cruise Ferries brand, which was launched in 2001 presently, comprises the m.v. Wasa Queen.

The NCL group has a fleet of fifteen ships in service and due to be delivered under three brands: Norwegian Cruise Line, NCL America and Orient Lines.

The NCL fleet operates the Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Dream, Norwegian Majesty, Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Star, Norwegian Spirit and Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Pearl.

NCL America currently operates the Pride of Aloha, Pride of America and the Pride of Hawai’i.

NCL market sprimarily in North America but also extensively in the UK, Europe, South America and Asia whilst NCL America offers inter island cruises in Hawaii.

The Star Series

Star Pisces has over 700 passenger cabins, reaching 12-deck high. Accessible by internal lifts, the 40,000-grt ship can accommodate over 2,000 passengers. Star Pisces was launched in May 1994.

The MegaStar Series

The MegaStar ships are ideal for private charters, such as hosting a wedding dinner, a company conference cum vacation or as one’s personal yacht for a few days. Passenger comfort is a top priority and when it comes to service, the friendly and smiling crew really knows how to pamper our guests in style. Guests will find opulence in every detail on board.

The MegaStar Taurus and MegaStar Aries were previously known as Aurora I and Aurora II respectively and constructed in 1991 at Flender Werft, Germany. After being purchased by Star Cruises, the 3,264-grt ships were further renovated with the latest safety features and launched in December 1994 and January 1995 respectively.

The two MegaStar ships measure 85m in length and have a capacity for 72 passengers and 80 crew. Billed by the “Berlitz Complete Cruise Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships” as two of the finest cruise ships (under 5,000-grt), they are designed to appeal to the niche market with their rich luxurious decor. Each cabin in the MegaStar ships are surprisingly large and offering superb sea views through its large windows. The ships have an added advantage of optional destinations as their size permits them to anchor very near off-shore islands around the region.

The SuperStar Series

The SuperStar-series ships comprise SuperStar Virgo, SuperStar Gemini, SuperStar Libra and SuperStar Aquarius.

SuperStar Virgo was delivered in August 1999. At 76,800-grt with a lower berth capacity for 1,960 passengers, she has extensive facilities and features making her a favourite for cruisers who prefer activity-filled cruise vacations.

SuperStar Gemini was built in 1992 at the Spanish shipyard Union Naval de Lanvante in Valencia for more than US$100 million. Launched in July 1995, the 19,089-grt ship has a capacity for 788 passengers and 470 crew.

SuperStar Libra is a 42,000-grt ship, which joined the fleet from NCL in August 2005. She has a lower berth capacity of 1,480 and a crew complement of 660.

SuuperStar Aquarius joined the Star Cruises fleet in June 2007 and has a passenger capacity of 1529 with a gross tonnage of 51,039.

Since it’s inception in 1993, Star Cruises has achieved global recognition, being the leading cruise line in Asia-Pacific and one of the three largest in the world.

Star Cruises has played the leading role in shaping the cruise industry in Asia-Pacific by offering new and luxurious megaships and exciting itineraries, with the company also made important investments in marketing, operations, information technology, reservations systems, safety and infrastructure.

Star Cruises made it to the Top 50 Asian Brands in 1999 and is the second leading brand that has the “Greatest Upward Movement Potential”. It achieved the top brand name in the leisure category for “Top 50 Asian Brands League”. (Source: Top Asian Brands, Asian Brand News, March 1999)

New and enhanced products and services provided by Star Cruises have set new standards of cruising in Asia-Pacific. Ships like SuperStar Virgo now represent the best and most exciting vacation experience option to both the Asian holiday maker and experienced cruiser from America, Europe and Australia.

Star Cruises is also committed to developing the growing meetings and incentive segment of the cruise MICE market in Asia-Pacific. SuperStar Virgo is able to cater to meeting and incentive groups of various sizes with their world-class food and beverage, entertainment and recreation facilities.

Fly cruise programmes will be intensified to capture the medium to long haul markets, and provide wider marketing opportunities. Currently, Star Cruises is developing its fly cruise hubs located in Singapore and Hong Kong.

Star Cruises’ award-winning product is noted for its excellent service standards and the highest crew-to-passenger ratio (1:2) of any major cruise line, reflecting the high standards of the hospitality industry in Asia-Pacific.

Star Cruises is represented in more than 25 locations worldwide with offices and representatives in Australia, China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

The safety, health and well-being of cruise passengers are Star Cruises’ top priorities. Star Cruises is one of the first cruise lines to be certified for the ISM (International Safety Management) Code in 1998 as directed by the IMO (International Maritime Organisation). Star Cruises has a young and modern fleet equipped with the latest in navigational control and fire systems and has implemented extensive safety features such as “Hi-Fog” even in the engine rooms which are not required by IMO (International Maritime Organisation) regulation until 2005.

In training her officers, Star Cruises has built its own ship training simulator located within the Star Cruises Terminal, Port Klang complex. Completed in 1998, the Star Cruises Ship Simulator Centre (SCSS) is the only one of its kind in the world owned by a shipping company. The operation of the Centre is a joint-business agreement between Star Cruises and FORCE Technology-DMI (formerly known as Danish Maritime Institute).

Star Cruises also created history by becoming the first shipping company ever to be accredited by the Panama Maritime Authority to carry out the STCW-95 (Seafarer’s Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Code) without involvement by other external training institute. The STCW-95 training programmes are conducted on board Star Cruises’ vessels and is fully endorsed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and used to train captains, officers and crew.

The company has also scored a first with one of its ships SuperStar Aries (which has since been sold) being the first passenger ship in the world to obtain an International Ship Security Certificate under the recently adopted International Ship and Port Facility Security or ISPS Code. All ships in the Star Cruises fleet have now obtained the International Ship Security Certificates.

In addition, the Star Cruises Terminal in Port Klang and the Jetty Terminal on Langkawi Island, Malaysia have been awarded Statements of Compliance under the ISPS Code, with the Code which came into mandatory effect in July 2004 setting out a framework involving cooperation between contracting governments, government agencies, local authorities as well as members of the shipping and port fraternity to detect and assess security threats and to take preventive measures.

Go Star!

A Report by The Mole