SingaporeMotherhood | Parenting
May 2013
Up For Sail with Superstar VIrgo
Water slides. Check. Kids’ club. Check. Family entertainment. Check.
Cruise liner Superstar Virgo is making waves among families with their kid-friendly facilities, programmes and shows. Watch your budding buccaneers embark on their own high seas takeover as they hit the pool, run amok at the soft-play indoor playground, play chef in a cupcake decorating workshop and catch a magic show – all in a day!
For a fun-filled yet fuss-free holiday, set sail with your water babies onboard the 1,870-passenger liner. This all-inclusive package is possibly the most unhurried vacation you will have – with no treacherous traffic to navigate, no heavy diaper bag to haul wherever you go and no need for any prior research on where to take your kids or have your meals.
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After all, the furthest you need to walk to enjoy endless entertainment and food is from one end (or level) of the 13-deck ship to the other. Although that, too, can prove a feat after your sixth meal of the day!
Play The Way
Your little livewires are in good hands at Charlie’s Kids’ Club, where activities are organised every hour to tickle their fancy. From arts and crafts sessions and balloon twisting classes, to cookie and cupcake decorating, from Xbox games to movies, junior will be kept happily occupied the entire day. Special themed parties are organised for kids at night, such as a Masquerade Party, an Underwater Party and a Fruity Tooty Party, if junior has not zonked out by then!
Within the kids’ club lies a two-level soft-play indoor playground with climbing and crawling structures, obstacles, slides and ball pit. You’ll not find a more scenic indoor playground, as it is built beside the full-length windows overlooking the ocean. There’s also a sleeping room with toddler-sized beds, a computer area and Lego area.
To enjoy the facilities and activities, pay $11 an hour for children aged four to 12 years old, or $16 an hour for toddlers aged one to three years. One-to-one babysitting services are available at $19 an hour. Fruits, sandwiches and beverage are included.
Don’t forget to enquire about the value-for-money Junior Cruisers Club Programme if your little one is between four and 12 years old. For $50, your tyke gets to enjoy 10 hours of fun. Activities begin at 10am and last till 2pm, when your little one gets a five-hour break for the afternoon (here’s your chance to spend some family bonding time!). Activities resume from 7pm till 1am.
Make A Splash
If you can tear junior away from the kids’ club, get wet and wild at the kids’ pool on Deck 10. This comes with two mini-slides, cascading water features and water spouts that won’t intimidate tiny tots. Jacuzzis are thoughtfully built around the kids’ pool, so adults can have their own fun while the little ones play. Mini adrenaline junkies aged six and above can seek their thrills at the giant water slide on Deck 12. Younger ones can zip down together with an accompanying adult. Here’s a secret to beat the lines: Stay onboard the ship when it arrives at a port of call. This way, you’ll have the slide all to yourselves!
Enjoy more family bonding with a game of mini-golf, ping pong, or let your little one try his hand at wall-climbing. Teens can pit their skills against daddy at a gaming arcade. A special hour-long family farewell party ($10 per parent-child pair) is organised on the last day, with games, prizes, surprises, a mascot, light snacks and more!
Meal Deal
Dine in one of four restaurants featuring Western and Chinese menus as well as an international buffet. Kids have their special buffet corner at the Mediterranean Buffet restaurant, where you’ll find kiddie favourites like pastas, pizzas, sausages, nuggets, fried rice and cookies. Your munchkin can chow down at the kids’ area with pint-sized tables and chairs. For a moderate charge, you can dine at other restaurants serving Italian, Asian, Indian and Chinese cuisines.
It’s Showtime!
The party goes on after the sun sets. Sit back and enjoy a host of family-friendly performances, including a spectacular magic show showcasing grand illusions and a visually stunning theatre act combining song, dance and astounding acrobatics.
If you want to catch some late-night entertainment sans kids, such as adult-only shows, karaoke or dancing, or listen to “live” music at one of the four bars, you can even hire babysitting services inside your cabin. Prices start from $19 to $25 an hour. If you haven’t enjoyed uninterrupted couple time post-baby, why not also make use of this service so you can visit the spa together (massages from $98 to $138) or enjoy a romantic dinner or a quiet supper?
Rest Assured
While on the cruise, chances are, your kids will be constantly over-indulged and over-stimulated. So, make downtime part of your daily routine. Take a 30-minute break in your cabin to read books or watch cartoons on TV. Book a room with a private balcony and staying in the room becomes a highlight in itself. It’s not just less claustrophobic for a family with kids in tow. Imagine the glorious sunrises and sunsets you can view from the privacy of your own room. What’s more, you’ll have the beautiful ocean at your feet 24/7!
Superstar Virgo Itineraries:
Selected Apr – Sep 2013 departures
- 2-Night Malacca or Redang Cruise (Wed)
From $1,292 for a family of 4 - 2-Night Kuala Lumpur or Redang Cruise (Fri)
From $1,732 for a family of 4 - 3-Night Penang/Phuket or Phuket/Langkawi Cruise (Sun)
From $2,128 for a family of 4
Kids Cruise Free
Sign your child up for StarKids Club and cruise free on SuperStar Virgo. Simply SMS ‘SKC
Prices accurate at press time. For more information about Superstar Virgo cruises, call 6223 0002 (9am – 6pm daily), email [email protected] or visit www.starcruises.com
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