Travel Guide: SuperStar Virgo Cruise from Manila

Last May 2017, I went on a 6-day-5-night cruise aboard Star Cruises SuperStar Virgo, the first cruise ship to homeport in Manila. Compared to my usual DIY backpacking trips, this was an amazing hassle-free vacation that I got to enjoy with my mom and nephew. Going on a luxury cruise is something I’d never thought I’d get to do. It’s a unique type of travel experience worth saving up for and ticking off your bucketlist!

Star Cruises will again be sailing from December 2018 and January 2019 from Manila. Check out their next travel schedules here. The itinerary will be different though, but the cruising experience will be similar.

My family and I loved this cruise experience! While the rates for a cruise may seem intimidating at first glance, if you add up how much good hotel rooms cost per night, airfare for the whole family, and dining out every day during your trips, cruises actually offer very high travel value. The all-inclusive fare covers everything from accommodations, up to six complimentary meals a day, use of the recreational facilities on board, fun family activities, and live entertainment shows every night!

Plus, you wake up in a different destination everyday. We got to go around Ilocos Norte & Ilocos Sur, Taiwan and Hong Kong before heading back to Manila! Except for the taxi ride going to the port, this was the most hassle-free trip I’ve ever taken! Take note that the next sailings starting March 2018 to December 2018 have a different route.

For those who want to spend quality time with their loved ones, and are wondering what to expect, I’m sharing some of my experiences from the May 2017 sailing below.

The itinerary and cost may change depending on the new schedules. For updates and details, please get in touch with Star Cruises directly through the following channels:

DOCKING AREA:

In Manila, SuperStar Virgo docks in Pier 15, Muelle de San Francisco, Port Area, Manila. It’s near Manila Hotel and Hotel H20. Embarkation begins from 3:00 to 5:00 pm.

WHERE TO STAY:

There are various cabin classes on the ship, providing elegant deluxe facilities. The Executive Suites and Oceanview Staterooms with private balconies are understandably more expensive. We stayed in an Inside Stateroom (the most affordable option), a cozy cabin ideal for a group of friends or a family of up to four travelling together. There are no ocean views here, but it’s comfortable enough, near the activity center and my nephew loved the pull-down double deck bed. The room size doesn’t matter that much because you’ll want to spend most of your time outside the cabin anyway.

TIP: Once you settle in your cabin, I suggest you familiarize yourself with the ship’s layout (take a picture of the maps near the elevators on your phone) and head directly to the Mediterranean buffet area for afternoon tea before the mandatory safety drill at 6:00 pm.

WHAT TO DO:

There’s so much to do while you’re on the cruise ship. Every night, you get a copy of the Star Navigator, a handy newsletter detailing your arrival and departure time, all the ship activities, musician’s performances, schedules and reminders for the next day. There’s a separate Junior Cruiser Programme for kids aged 4-12 years old.

1. Go swimming

There are two areas with swimming pools. The shallow kid’s pool is on Deck 10 behind the Activity Center, while the deeper Parthenon Pool has a winding water slide and four jacuzzi hot tubs. The water slide is not allowed for kids aged 0-6 years old.

2. Sample all the restaurants* (see separate section on where to eat)

The ship has over 10 restaurants, serving everything from Japanese to Indian food. Three of these restaurants are inclusive, meaning you can eat here for free, while the others will incur extra charges. Only water, coffee and tea are complimentary beverages in most restaurants, with free juice available at the breakfast buffet. If you want beer, shakes, cocktails and wine, you’ll have to swipe your access cards (this can add up!).

3. Try the different activities

Aside from the pools, the ship has its own library, gym, basketball court, mini-golf area, jogging track, parlor, spa and health club, several boutiques, and various sun decks. You can borrow books from the library, play mini-golf, and borrow board games and puzzles. For smaller kids, there’s a kid’s corner with lots of toys and books. For teens, there’s a video game area with PS4 games for rent. For adults, there’s a casino, karaoke lounge and KTV, Mahjong room and private karaoke room.

4. Sign up for classes

Every day, there are various classes and activities for everyone to try out like origami, hip-hop dance classes, trivia games, charades, sushi-making, archery, etc. (some are free while others have minimal charges). We signed up my nephew for the Bridge Tour with the Captain.

5. Watch the shows

Every night, there are free shows featuring Asia’s best performers at the Lido Theatre. These are top quality production shows including Magic Shows, acrobatics, ballroom dancing, a dance performance of 1001 Nights and elaborate old Hollywood style production number. Make it a point to watch every show! There are also fun games and Bingo. There are also some free movies screened during the day.

WHERE TO EAT:

You can avail of up to six complimentary meals a day: Early Riser (5:30 am – 7:00 am), Breakfast or Brunch , Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Dinner, Supper (11:00 pm – 12:30 am). We usually just had Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Mediterranean Buffet – International

A large cafeteria-style buffet restaurant that serves international and Asian cuisine. There were a lot of familiar Filipino dishes throughout our stay including adobo, kaldereta and kare-kare.

My companions are very light eaters, so we ate here most of the time so that we wouldn’t waste food. I mostly went for the action stall (where they served roast beef, Hainanese chicken, prawns, etc.) My nephew loved the dessert selection and ice cream bar. There were staples like the salad bar, bread selection etc., but there was enough variety in the main courses throughout the trip. Again, only water, coffee and tea are included in the free beverage selection. For shakes, juices, beer and wine, you have to order separately.

Genting Palace – Western & Chinese Restaurant

A fine dining restaurant serving a choice of either Western or Chinese plated meals. We tried this at least once for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The breakfast is still buffet, with a plated main course option. Lunch and dinner consists of rolls, salad, soup, main course (choice of meat, fish or vegetarian option) and dessert.

I chose mostly the Western main courses over the Chinese dishes. Soups and salads were really good and the size of the main courses were always pretty generous. Expect extra friendly service from waiters here. They have a separate Kid’s Menu here with safe options (French fries as appetizer, spaghetti, chicken fingers, mini burgers, etc.).

Pavilion – Chinese Restaurant

A family-style resto that serves the same Chinese meals as Genting. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to try this because the menu options didn’t really appeal to us.

Other specialty A la Carte restaurants & dining areas are:

  • Noble House – Chinese Restaurant
  • Palazzo – Western Restaurant
  • Samurai – Japanese Restaurant
  • The Taj – Indian Buffet
  • Blue Lagoon – Asian Bistro
  • Taverna – Bar & International Snacks
  • Coffee Nook
  • Private Karaoke Room
  • Galaxy of the Stars
  • Cafe Gelato – Ice Cream
  • Celebrity
  • Diamond Club

There’s a special BBQ Pool Party on the second night.

TIP: The menus of all the restaurants are posted in a hallway every day near the Lido Theatre. You can look at the different options to decide where you want to eat. On the last day, there’s a special Gala Night dinner that requires reservations in Genting Palace and Pavilion. Book a table as early as possible, because slots are on a first-come, first-served basis. If you don’t have a booking, you’ll end up eating at the Mediterranean Buffet.

WHERE TO GO:

Aside from the fun activities on the ship itself, you have the destinations to look forward to. You have three options when you dock.

  • Take the Packaged Shore Excursions offered by Star Cruises. Each destination has several tour options depending on the type of activity you want to do. You will be shuttled in a bus with a large group of passengers. All tours are conducted by English speaking guides. We availed of this in Taiwan, since it was all our first time there. It’s a bit pricey (ex. Ilocos tours start at 460 HKD per head), but for first-timers who want the hassle-free tour to extend on land and don’t mind spending more, this is a good option.
  • Free and Easy. Do a DIY Tour of the destination. You can just walk around to nearby sights or go around on your own. This is what we did in Ilocos and Hong Kong. For Ilocos, we rented a van with 2 other couples for P3,500/van (divided by six) and went to both Vigan and Paoay. For Hong Kong, we just walked around to sights nearby.
  • Stay on the Ship. If you don’t want to spend any more or have been to the destinations previously, you can just stay on the ship and enjoy the facilities with fewer people on board.

For all stops, the vessel reserves the right to depart on schedule and will not wait for late arriving passengers.

BUDGET TRAVEL TIPS: 5 Ways to Save While on a Cruise

ITINERARY:

  • Day 1: Manila, Philippines – Departure: 6:00 pm
  • Day 2: Laoag, Philippines – Arrival: 10:00 am ; Departure: 7:00 pm
  • Day 3: Kaohsiung, Taiwan – Arrival: 10:00 am ; Departure: 7:00 pm
  • Day 4: Hong Kong – Arrival: 1:30 pm ; Departure: 11:30 pm
  • Day 5: High Seas (whole day cruising)
  • Day 6: Manila, Philippines – Arrival 8:00 am

LAOAG Port address: National Highway, Currimao Ilocos Norte (Vigan is about 1.5 hrs away and Paoay is 30 minutes away)

After Manila, the first stop is the port of Currimao in Laoag. From here, we visited Calle Crisologo in Vigan, Ilocos Sur and the Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites. You can opt to spend more time in just one place since both are known for their historical and cultural landmarks, Spanish colonial buildings, Baroque churches and great Ilocano dishes including bagnet, longganisa and Ilocos empanada.

Tour options: Laoag City Tour, Relaxation at Fort Ilocandia Resort, Vigan Historic Tour, Paoay Sand Dunes Adventure Tour, Discover Ilocos Norte (Cape Bojeador, Kapurpurawan Rock Formation & Bangui Windmill)

TRAVEL TIP: If you want to rent a van in Ilocos to pick you up at the port in Currimao, contact Tour de Ilocos Van Rental (Van cost P3,500 for whole day). Joel B. Corpuz. Phone: (077) 677-1488. Smart: 0920-8561-062. Globe: 0927-3697-042. Email: tourdeilocos@yahoo.com, tourdeilocos@gmail.com. Website: http://tourdeilocos.wixsite.com/mysite. According to locals, you can also just hire a tricycle from outside the port to go to Paoay and ride a bus along the national highway, but this is risky if you don’t have a sure way to get back.

TAIWAN Port address: Pier 9, Penglai Road, Gushan District, Kaohsung City 804, Taiwan (it’s not possible to go to Taipei, since it’s about 4-5 hours away by land)

The second stop is the biggest port in the south of Taiwan, Kaohsiung. Special concessions have been given so that Filipinos on the trip will not have to apply for a Taiwanese visa! Here, we tried out Taiwanese cuisine in a local restaurant, visited the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, Love River, the Pier 2 Art Center and went shopping for local treats.

Tour options: Fo Guang Shan & Love River, Tainan Highlights, Qijin & Shopping Tour, Kaoshiung City & Natural Landscape

HONG KONG Port address: Ocean Terminal, Harbour City, Tsimhatsui, HKSAR

The third stop was Hong Kong. The cruise ship docks in Victoria Harbour, which is connected to a mall with lots of shops and boutiques and is walking distance from the Avenue of the Stars (the area with the Bruce Lee statue). We just took it easy and used the free WiFi at the Hong Kong Cultural Center and watched a show at the Hong Kong Space Museum’s planetarium nearby. The sight of the skyline is pretty nice at night from the ship, which we headed back to for dinner.

Tour options: Hong Kong Island Tour, Half-day Ocean Park Tour, Seafood Dinner at Lamma Island, Hong Kong Disneyland Tour

WHAT TO WEAR:

Most of the guests were wearing casual resort wear, dresses and shorts, especially when hanging out by the pool and decks. The ship has a lot of nice areas for OOTD shoots, so you might as well take advantage and bring nice outfits especially for the last day when you’re on the ship the whole day.

For the shore excursions to Ilocos, Taiwan and Hong Kong, you can dress more casually. Wear light and airy clothing because it can get very hot. You might want to bring an umbrella or hat because you’ll mostly be going around mid-day when the sun is very harsh.

The whole ship is air-conditioned and it can get cool at night. Some of the restaurants like Genting Palace feel a bit formal, so it wouldn’t hurt to dress up a bit more at night and to watch the live shows at the theatre. People really dressed up for the Cocktail Party, Gala Night and Grand Farewell Party (which has a suggested dress code of Elegant Casual). Cocktail dresses for women, guys collared shirts and closed shoes are ok. No slippers and shorts if you’re planning to attend these.

WIFI:

A note for those who need to be connected to the Internet all the time. WiFi is available, but don’t expect super high speeds. You’re only given 1 hour (per person) free and then you’ll have to pay for it. The hours are counted as continuous usage. You can’t connect and disconnect from the WiFi.

  • 1 hour – HKD $0
  • 6 hours – HKD $30
  • 24 hours – HKD $105
  • 48 hours – HKD $180
  • 72 hours – HKD $255

TIP: I suggest you just use a data plan while still in Manila and Ilocos. In Taiwan and Hong Kong, there’s free WiFi when you dock at the Kao Port and Ocean Terminal, Harbour City. Take advantage of these or just wait till you get back home to upload all your photos. If you buy coffee from the Coffee Nook near the reception, they have a promo that gives out free 1 hour WiFi vouchers.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE:

The ship makes use of a cashless system for everything. You’ll be swiping your access cards for activities and other items, which you will have to settle (by cash or credit card) before disembarkation. There is a currency exchange counter on the ship, but the rate is high. Also, their standard currency is in HK dollars. If you’re converting anything (ex. US dollars to Taiwanese dollars), they’ll convert it twice (first to HKD). If you’re going on a shore excursion and want to shop there, I suggest you exchange your money the night before, because the line can get really long right before disembarkation.

WHO / WHY YOU SHOULD TRY IT:

For those who want to spend quality time with their loved ones, the SuperStar Virgo offers an all-inclusive hassle-free travel experience. It’s a very comfortable way to travel, which makes it ideal for those traveling with kids and seniors, who you wouldn’t want to subject to long and uncomfortable trips.

But it’s not just for seniors and families. This is also great for couples and a bonding experience for barkadas who want a last getaway this summer. It’s not really for budget backpackers, but you do get to three different destinations including two international destinations (Taiwan and Hong Kong) without having to spend for airfare or Visa applications. Being on the ship feels very homey and comfortable. There are so many warm and friendly Filipino crew members who go the extra mile to make your stay more fun. It’s definitely a unique travel experience.

For further reading check out these other guides:

57 thoughts on “Travel Guide: SuperStar Virgo Cruise from Manila”

  1. Please send meregarding rates per person. We plan for a family travel sometime Febraury or March 2018.

  2. What about food and accomodation is these included at the rates per person . We travelling 4pax with 2 Senior Citizen

  3. Hello Marcos, I am not connected with Star Cruises. I just shared some tips based on my family trip in their 2017 sailing 🙂 The rates may differ now because the route is different. According to their FB page, there’s a special Early Bird Discount Rate from only USD540* per person. Senior Citizens Cruise 1, Take 1 for March sailings, while Kids Cruise for Free for April to May sailings starting March 2018. The fare includes everything: accommodations, up to 6 complimentary meals a day, use of the recreational facilities on board, fun family activities, and live entertainment shows every night. Not included are the optional Shore Excursions (which you can just DIY).

  4. Hi Kara thanks for the helpful tips. I am getting more excited after reading your blog. We’re planning to cruise in March 2018, just to ask if the rate includes the port charges already, if not, how much is the port charge. Thanks!

  5. Hi Sharon, based on their latest email advisory (I signed up for their newsletter), their Early Bird Rate for as low as USD 625 per person is already inclusive of port charges. Promo is valid until December 31, 2017 only. 🙂

  6. Hello, for DIY (Free and Easy) trips, may I know what time did you go back to the ship? Can you recommend the safest amount of time to allot (if around 1-2hrs before departure still ok)? Just not sure if there’s anything else that needs to be done or if there are long lines before entry when going back. Thank you 🙂

  7. When you leave the ship, you will be given a piece of paper with the address of port and reminders of what time you have to be back. Usually 1-2 hours is ok, just make sure you make it back on time because the ship reserves the right to leave passengers behind. There can be a bit of a line when they inspect your IDs/passport and badge prior to boarding again, but staff are pretty efficient. Just don’t cut it too close. 🙂

  8. Hello Kara,

    Your post is very informative.. we’ll be going on a cruise come May. I just want to ask about luggages.. do they have a limit? Are they strict with what you bring in the ship? How about the port charges and gratuity fees, how much did you pay for it? Thanks in advance!

  9. Thank you Kara for the helpful tips. My husband and I just booked for this upcoming cruise, your blog just answered all my questions.

  10. Hi Ariane, each passenger is only allowed one piece of check-in luggage free-of-charge. Anything more will incur additional fees. I think the port and gratuity fees differ per port, so I can’t say how much it will cost for this year since the route is different. I think they’re strict about alcohol. You have to declare if you’re bringing any in and can’t drink it in public on the cruise ship or they’ll charge you a corkage fee. For other shopping items, we had no problem bringing in souvenir foodstuff, toys, etc. Better if you ask Star Cruises directly though 🙂

  11. thanks for an mind opening for use! before going to this trip
    , for what is to do and to do not in the cruise!
    like me in a budjet, now i know how i can save my money better in the cruise… thanks

  12. Anybody ( family or group of 3-4 pax ) cruising on May 14-19, 2018 ( Mla-Naha Japan- Keelung Taiwan-Manila) ? Im planning a DIY itinerary at Naha and Keelung, and wanted to maximize the half day tour itinerary by renting a van instead of joining shore excursion offer by Star Cruises, anybody wanted to join us? pls email me at claireramones@yahoo.com. Thanks

  13. hi. would just like to ask since i booked an inside cabin as well, does the room have an electric kettle or ref (hahaha – asa pa sa ref). though may food – i usually drink coffee kasi .. i need hot water 🙂

  14. HI Kara 😉
    We are sailing on March 10-16 2018 with my whole family. May I ask more or less how much is the port charges, Taxes etc. Do we have to pay any taxes or charges when we dock in Naha and Keelung?

    Thank you.

  15. Hi Jhed, it’s much better if you ask Star Cruises directly as the taxes may differ from when we went last year 🙂 Try contacting them by email or through their FB page. Have fun!

  16. Hi Kara! we will also be cruising next week. I would like to ask about the money.
    Did you change your money in the cruise or did you change it before going onboard? We will be going to japan and taiwan. do you recommend to have our money change before boarding?
    how about shorex? can we booked it when we are on the cruise or should we booked it in advance?

  17. Hi Kara,
    We are a group of 19, most are seniors. For our Naha trip, should we take a train, bus or rent a van?

  18. Hi Kara,

    This is very informative so thank you for that. I would just like to know which restaurants serve the complimentary meals? Where can we dine for free? And is there a reservation fee for the gala night? Hope you can answer my questions! Thank you! 🙂

  19. Hi Olivia. The 3 complimentary restaurants are the Mediterranean Buffet – International, Genting Palace – Western & Chinese Restaurant and Pavilion – Chinese Restaurant. The rest you have to pay. No reservation fee for gala night, but it’s first come first served, so reserve a slot as soon as you arrive 🙂

  20. Hi Liz, we changed money on board, but I recommend you change beforehand to get best rates. The ship’s default currency was HK dollars. So they would change anything you give them twice, first to HK Dollars and then to the currency of the country you’re visiting, so medyo lugi. You can book the Shorex on the cruise ship, preferably the day before you dock in a destination.

  21. If you want convenience, go for the SHOREX arranged by the cruise. If you’re willing to DIY it yourself, it’s up to you. I’m not really sure of your travel style and we I haven’t been to Naha because the route was different last year.

  22. It’s too late when I saw this advertisement. Will you still have these cruises in 2019, I’m interested to know because my family wants to go.

  23. Hi! I also booked the inside stateroom. Is there a chance that we can move the other single bed beside the other one so it will be magkatabi? Or i just have to request for a double bed instead? Plus do you have an idea how much for a day tour package on board?

  24. Hi Kara, Thank you for the insights. We will be cruising with Superstar Virgo this April 29. May I ask how much, more or less, is per meal at the paying restaurants? Do they serve buffet? Thanks

  25. Hi Eileen, I’m not sure because we didn’t eat in the paying restaurants, but expect hotel prices (probably 500 to 1,000 pesos per dish.). It really depends on the restaurant. There are a lot of dining options from Taj offering Indian cuisine, Samurai delectable dishes, etc. The Mediterranean – International restaurant which serves free meals is buffet.

  26. The paying restaurants will cost from 50HKD to 500 HKD per person depending on the restaurant. Drinks are quite pricey.. soft drinks are 31HKD and beer is 40 HKD. Samurai has an all you can eat Japanese lunch for about 250HKD. The 24 hour Blue Lagoon has entrees from 50HKD

  27. No problem..remember that you have at least five free buffets you can take advantage of: the 7-9 breakfast buffet, the noon lunch, a 3:00 afternoon tea, 7 – 10 p.m. dinner, and a 10:30 p.m. “supper.” You can also have coffee and pastries on deck above the pool from 6 am to 9 am. For the evening gala, try to skip the Chinese one.

  28. The wifi package is 116 HKD for 24 continous hours. or $505 HKD for the entire duration of the cruise/

  29. Hi! I noticed that there are very few people on the cruise with you. Some of your photos look like you have exclusive access to the facilities. Is this accurate? Usually these cruises are jam packed with people, but I don’t see them anywhere.?

  30. Last year was the first time this cruise was offered in the Philippines and it wasn’t very well-known yet. We cruised during one of the last sailings in summer and we were told that capacity for that trip was just at 50% since most people availed of the first few sailings. I personally enjoyed it very much because it wasn’t crowded when we went and we got to enjoy quality access to facilities. Since I wrote this and it was offered again this year, it’s become more popular and more tourists booked. I’ve heard some accounts of people complaining this year that it wasn’t so enjoyable because ships were operating on full capacity.

  31. Hi Kara, Thank you for the tips. We will be cruising with Superstar Virgo this May 19-24…Anyone here who will be sailing on these days and have a DIY shorex and willing to accomodate a party of 4pax? 🙂

  32. Hi.. We might be travelling this june 3 to 8 hingkong taiwan. Just a few questions.

    Ate the entertainment free like those you mentioned magic show and other shows? What are other amenities can we avail for free? Thanjs

  33. Hi Shine. The all-inclusive fare covers everything from accommodations, up to 6 complimentary meals a day (in one of 3 restos: Mediterranean Buffet – International, Pavilion and Genting Palace), use of recreational facilities on board (swimming pools, etc.), certain activities, and yes, the live entertainment (magic show and other shows) every night!

  34. Yes most of the shows are free including the magic shows. There is also a reading library on the 12th floor near the pool as well as a gym on the same floor for exercise. For the shows, fall in line early as the good seats get filled up.

  35. Good day! Do you have some iterinary this augost 2018? Please need to know your package.

  36. Hello Mary Joy, I do not handle package tours to SuperStar Virgo. But they only sail during summer months because that’s when the sea is calmest.

  37. Hi, if you may, how much did you spend all in all, just an estimate so that I may know how much I need to save for the cruise. Also what are gratuities? is it included in the fare or we still have to pay that after?

  38. gratuities not included in fare. it’s 120HKD per pax for suite accomodation and 100hkd per pax for other accomodation.

    fare + gratuities + shorex will cost u around 45-70K per pax (depending on your room accomodation)

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