Star Cruises has enhanced its itineraries from Shanghai to meet International standards of 8-Day/7-Night voyages, now taking in the capital city of Tokyo and the iconic Mt. Fuji, two “must see” destinations in Japan, in addition to Osaka and Kagoshima. The new cruise season will begin on July 6 and extend to November 30 to also take advantage of the beautiful autumn foliage in Japan.
Japan remains a popular destination for the China market, currently with approximately 2 million Chinese visitors opting for 6 Day/5 Night air-land package tours between Osaka and Tokyo. Known as the “Golden Land Route”, these tours also take in Mt. Fuji, the majestic symbol of Japan, and Kyoto, the historic capital of Japan. The cruise industry has also benefited from Japan’s popularity as a vacation destination, with over 2 million passenger destination days in the country in 2016.
In fact, cruising offers even more value and convenience with ships calling to multiple ports, with rich cultural land tours, all within the comfort of your own floating resort at sea!
Star Cruises is introducing an innovative 8-Day/7-Night “Golden Sea Route” cruise vacation alternative, similarly priced to air-land packages. Guests aboard SuperStar Virgo can visit Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, Osaka, with land tour options to include Kyoto, and Kagoshima, with spectacular views of the active volcano, Mount Sakurajima, in Kagoshima Bay. The8-Day/7-Night “Golden Sea Route” cruise vacation will also appeal to families, with cabins on board SuperStar Virgo able to accommodate three to four guests.
In addition to the 8-Day/7-Night “Golden Sea Route” departing from Shanghai, Star Cruises also offers highly flexible segmented cruise journeys with Tokyo as an Interport. Guests may opt for a “Sea-Land-Air” holiday, with a 4-Day/3-Night cruise voyage that departs from Shanghai; upon disembarkation in Tokyo, guests can enjoy the city at their leisure and return to Shanghai by air. Alternatively, guests may also fly to Tokyo for a 5-Day/4-Night cruise voyage to visit Mount Fuji and Kagoshima, with disembarkation in Shanghai.
“The average cruise length from China tends to be short, at 4 to 5 nights, with calls to secondary port cities. The cruise ship itself is the primary attraction,” says Ang Moo Lim, President of Star Cruises. “Star Cruises’ new 8 Day/7 Night cruises will provide a step-change forward in the Chinese cruise experience with calls to four famous ports and bringing the cruise length to international standards where more than 50% of cruises are of 7-night duration. The extension of our itinerary to 8-Day/7-Night will bolster its appeal to the overseas market, which we believe will attract more International cruise travellers to Shanghai.”
On board, guests can enjoy an immersive Japanese experience with complimentary local delicacies such as Takoyaki (octopus balls) from Osaka and Sushigaku, a Tokyo specialty, with Balcony and Admiral Class passengers also receiving a complimentary Yukata set. For unparalleled onboard shopping, guests can also take advantage of a wide selection of popular Japanese merchandise and Enrichment programs with a touch of Japanese flair are also available throughout the Shanghai homeport deployment, including floral arrangement and Origami classes providing guests a more in-depth appreciation of the Japanese culture.
Itinerary of SuperStar Virgo Shanghai Deployment – 6 July to 30 November 2017
Day Destination Arrival Departure
Thursday Shanghai – 15:00
Friday Cruising Day – –
Saturday Osaka 09:00 (10:00) 19:00 (20:00)
Sunday Tokyo (Yokohama) 14:00 (15:00) 23:00 (23:59)
Monday Mount Fuji (Shimizu) 06:00 (07:00) 13:00 (14:00)
Tuesday Kagoshima 15:00 (16:00) 23:00 (23:59)
Wednesday Cruising Day – –
Thursday Shanghai 06:00
( ) local time indicated in brackets
Tokyo
Exciting Tokyo combines the modern with the traditional in Japan. From ancient shrines and street festivals to 24-hr superstores and a thriving pop culture scene, the city offers endless choices of shopping, entertainment, culture and dining for visitors around the clock.
Yokohama
Yokohoma is a modern city of distinctive charm and multicultural flair, featuring the Landmark Tower, the second tallest building in Japan, as well as the world-famous Kirin Beer Factory.
Mount Fuji
Majestic Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan and a cultural Site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The mountain embodies the Japanese essence of perpetual and timeless beauty, and has been worshipped as a sacred mountain for centuries.
Osaka
The second largest city in Japan, Osaka is an important business center famous for the Osaka Castle, one of the largest and most beautiful in Japan, and for its many shrines and shopping at the Tenjinbashi-Suji arcade. Families can take in Universal Studios or the acclaimed Osaka Aquarium.
Kagoshima
With a scenic harbour dominated by Sakurajima, an active volcano in Kagoshima Bay, passengers can delight in sampling the over 2,000 hot springs in the area and the city’s distinct, rich food culture.
Cruising in Style
With a gross tonnage of 75,338grt, the 13-storey SuperStar Virgo is Star Cruises’ flagship, featuring state-of-the-art German craftsmanship and providing an all-encompassing cruise experience with deluxe accommodations and a wide variety of entertainment, shopping and dining options, as well as gourmet cuisine prepared by Michelin-starred Hong Kong restaurants. Over 1,300 professional staff on board promise to deliver exceptional service infused with a touch of Star Cruises’ acclaimed Asian hospitality.
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