Cruising twin stars of luxury, leisure on 'Gemini'

Cruising twin stars of luxury, leisure on 'Gemini'

Leony Aurora, The Jakarta Post, Aboard the SuperStar Gemini, Malaysia

Name the first five things that pop into your head when you hear the word "cruise".

The Love Boat, Leo and Kate flying on the Titanic, luxury, romance ... perhaps Tom?

At first glance, the SuperStar Gemini looks the part of the cruise ship in the old television series The Love Boat and all the dreams it inspires.

Passengers boarding the vessel at Port Klang, about a one-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur, were greeted by officers dressed in white and an acoustic trio who welcomed all from the deck.

The Gemini's interior may not be as luxurious as those grand ships in the movies -- it has no hanging chandeliers nor vast halls down which women in ball gowns can dance with men in tuxedos, from bow to stern.

But then again, who wants to travel with all the shoes and hats and reams of dresses nowadays? Traveling should be light and relaxing, and this is exactly the mood that radiates within the Gemini.

The cabins in the vessel are sweet and delightful, designed to meet travelers' needs to the max. Each has a single bathroom -- this is to say that really, only one person can fit at a time -- cabinets, a bed, linens and other amenities.

Although the extra luxury of a balcony is provided only for executive suites, most cabins have windows overlooking the sea. The executive suites are also the only ones with a sitting room and a long sofa for anyone who wants to pose as Rose did on the Titanic -- but bring your own blue diamond necklace and Leonardo DiCaprio.

The Gemini, part of the global fleet of premium-class cruise line Star Cruises, spans 164 meters in length and 23 meters in width. Its passengers are mostly comprised of families and honeymooners looking for a romantic retreat, so the atmosphere is laid back and casual.

With two restaurants serving Chinese and international cuisines, two casinos, a bar, a show lounge, two karaoke lounges and a games arcade spread through its eight decks, the Gemini ensures that its 700 passengers will have plenty to do -- tended to and pampered by an onboard crew of almost 600.

For entertainment, there are Brazilian dancers, a troupe of seemingly boneless Chinese acrobats, a band and a piano man.

Although Tom Cruise was not in sight, the women feasted their eyes upon a Ricky Martin and a Ronaldo look-a-like, while the men reveled in the five slender dancers in their furry, sex-kitten costumes -- and yes, they do go topless at certain hours.

One special show that definitely deserves attention is that of the hilarious Willer Nicolodi. The man with 100 voices as they call him, the Italian ventriloquist sent the packed audience in the show lounge roaring with laughter as he made an unlucky male "volunteer" woo a woman with a voice that sounded more like a horse's.

Although it usually sails a course from Taiwan or Japan, the Gemini is trying out Malaysian waters for the time being.

As the vessel called to resort island Langkawi on the morning of day two, nature lovers disembarked to watch eagles feeding, visit the bird paradise, or snorkel among tropical fish around the nearby Payar Island.

Other tours include a visit to the tomb of local legend Mashuri or to the Galeria Perdana, which keeps state gifts presented to former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad -- such as a rather unimpressive wooden suitcase from Soeharto -- and the island's landmark Dataran Lang, or Eagle Square.

Meanwhile, shopaholics will find their natural habitat in Kuah Town, the busiest area on the duty-free island stocked with cheap liquor, chocolates, luggage, souvenirs and other must-haves on a holiday shopping list.

A word of caution, though. If the customs officers check you on the way back to the ship and find cigarettes or liquor, they will tax you anyway. Then again, they may not -- just put on your most innocent smile, say "No, I've nothing to declare, thank you", and hope they believe you.

Those who decide to stay on board can sunbathe on deck 8, get a little spa treatment in the two jacuzzis or swim in the small pool. If fitness is your thing, you can go to deck 5 and work up a sweat in the gym or take a short run along the track that circles the ship.

Those who feel particularly lucky can always go and gamble. First-timers may want to try the slot machines or, for a taste of these games of chance, try a hand at the simple one-card stud poker. The object of this game is to be dealt a higher card than the dealer to win -- and the minimum bet is set at RM5 (US$1.33).

The smaller Star Club casino is open to everyone, but the Royale Club is limited to members of Star VIP88. Seasoned gamblers can hook up with their favorite method of winning -- or losing -- among the roulette, blackjack, baccarat, Tai Sai and Caribbean stud poker tables.

After a long, hot, but pleasurable day excursion on Langkawi, the passengers returned to the Gemini to cool down, while the ship's chef put together a pool-side barbecue dinner. Meanwhile, the three acoustic musicians crooned out tunes to mix with the smoke from the grill.

As the sun descended below the horizon and the sky turned a dark blue, the vessel left Langkawi to return to the mainland, and only one day is left to try out all the fun on board -- it's not nearly enough.

The Cruise:

The Malaysia cruise from SuperStar Gemini is a limited offer, and will only be available until March 20, although an extension is possible.

Prices start from US$320 per person for a four-day package, including air travel via Star Air, a three-day cruise calling at Langkawi and a one-night stay in Kuala Lumpur. Island tours are exclusive and must be booked on Langkawi.

The five-day package, which includes a four-day cruise calling at Phuket, Thailand, starts from $382.

Further information on the SuperStar Gemini cruises is available at major travel agents, including Wita Tour (021- 2312338), Panorama Tours (021-6308009) and Smailing Tour (021-350 8080).