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Last week I got the chance to tour the Macau Success, formerly the Golden Odyssey/Astra II/Omar II. The ship is currently sailing daily overnight cruise from Hong Kong.Macau Success
The furnishing onboard is very good, probably left from Asia Cruiser Club went she was Omar II. Just like Omar III, there are plasma TVs in many cabins, including suites and even some (maybe all) inside staterooms. As seen in the photo, suites and some (maybe all) inside stateroom have unbelievably high standard of furnishing, in both living area and bathroom.An inside stateroomA VIP suite
Here shows the main deck of public rooms (Deck 6):A main corridorThe little "lobby"The main restaurant
Sadly, the pool has gone, leaving nothing in the open deck:
All in all, she looks nice in many aspect, and the furnishing is not bad when compared to Omar III. One thing sad is that she has lost lots of her amenities and now she has only got a restaurant, a karaoke, 2 casino... One of the casino (on Deck 7) also has UNBELIEVEABLY beautiful furnishing, which looks far more superior than many other cruise ships.
Feel free to comment.
[ 05-10-2005: Message edited by: Gundam X Divider ]
Thanks for sharing some photos.Indeed Macau Success looks very elegant.
In Hong Kong there are 6 casino ships.Macau Success---Golden Princess---Omar III---Neptune---Ji Mei---Wasa Queen.
Assuming you have been aboard all of them, which one do you like the best and would want to cruise on again? Why?
Regards,Mike--in thunderstorms TaiShan
So far I have sailing on WASA QUEEN and OMAR III, and have toured MACAU SUCCESS. I believe that OMAR III and MACAU SUCCESS are ranking no.1 in furnishing and decor.
MACAU SUCCESS looks nice, but she has nothing left except the casino. She even lacks a showlounge and her open deck is not in a very good condition. Personally I like ships with some bars and lounges for me to burn the time.
WALRUS seems to be filled with something more, including an alternative restaurant and a nice pool area, but they told me they don't allow photo taking onboard.
GOLDEN PRINCESS is always related to gangs, discouraging me to sail. Back to the ship herself, her restaurant is not big enough to seat all passengers so some passengers need to dine in the nightclub.
What about JI MEI? Well, most or even all of her cabins do not have bathrooms Don't even think about sailing to Xiamen on her, she need ages of time to reach there. From her brochure I see some cabins look as nice as those on MACAU SUCCESS, but all in all she is far too small. As she was not built as a cruise ship I have never thought about sailing on her.
About WASA QUEEN? I don't have to say. What she is better over the other ships is that she is operated by STAR, but in terms of furnishing, entertainment and food, she is surely worse than OMAR III or even most other ships. I have promised myself not to sail on here again.
I have once wished to sail on all of the other casino ships but unfortunately some of them restrict or even ban photo taking onboard, which give the idea that the onboard atmosphere will not be so relaxing. And of course, they welcome gamblers more than a cruiser like me.
Interestingly I haven't sailed on anyone of them for overnight cruises. All in all I have been thinking about sailing on OMAR III again. I always have a feeling that she is standing out of the crowd. She manages to be a more "cruise ship like" rather than just a gambling ship.
p.s. There is a ship called Princess Rowena from China which will begin daily 2D/1N Shekou-HK soon.
That was quite a reply! Thanks...
Golden Princess does have a reputation as being the favored ship for somewhat unsavory characters.
Although Macau Success is quite elegant, she does, as you say, lack most of the amenities as a cruise ship. But for her clientele, I guess that does not matter.
I agree with you 100% about Omar III.Although built as Sun Viking, so being an older ship, she can still hold her own in the looks department.Her interiors really are very nice. Plus she has not been too "casinofied."There are still ample public rooms for all pax, and the Viking Crown Lounge is still there and in use.Yes, Omar III is my choice as well.
Thanks for your reply.
Regards,Mike
mec1, GOLDEN PRINCESS better known as:-JOY WAVE (2000)ORIENTAL PEARL (1999)COSTA PLAYA (1998)PEARL (1995)OCEAN PEARL (1993)PEARL OF SCANDINAVIA (1990)INNSTAR (1988)FINNSTAR (1982)FINLANDIA (1981)
See Fakta om Fartyg.
Pam
Andy, what exactly happened to all those lounges/bars/show lounge she had? Did all become enlarged casino space? Also, is there a replacement for JIN HU-which recently headed to a scrap yard in China?
It seems like Hong Kong has high demands for casino ships and I wish the MACAU SUCCESS
PS: Is Princess Rowena a former ferry from Transmediterreanea?
quote:Originally posted by mec1:Golden Princess?
quote:Originally posted by Deck 9 001:Although built as Sun Viking, so being an older ship, she can still hold her own in the looks department.Her interiors really are very nice. Plus she has not been too "casinofied."There are still ample public rooms for all pax, and the Viking Crown Lounge is still there and in use.Yes, Omar III is my choice as well.
quote:Originally posted by Keitaro:what exactly happened to all those lounges/bars/show lounge she had? Did all become enlarged casino space? Also, is there a replacement for JIN HU-which recently headed to a scrap yard in China?
On Deck 6 various salon, bars and photograph are gone. The Ulysses Lounge is now the casino and the Bar Caravella is now the casino Bar. The Lotus Restaurant is still the restaurant.
On Deck 7 the pool and deck buffet are gone. The Calypso Lounge is now the Karaoke lounge. The Bar/Club Arco is now another casino, which is linked by stairs to Deck 6.
The gym on Deck 9 is still there, but it is marked as crew only. In addition, 2 cabins on Deck 5 are converted to beauty salon.
Deck 4 has been named Deck A since her Omar II age I think. What's more, she has nothing in open deck: no deck chair, slippy floor... Open deck on several decks are closed.
About whether she is the replacement of JIN HU, I think it may be so for her to assume the all 2D1N role. It seems that WALRUS, OMAR III, MACAU SUCCESS and GOLDEN PRINCESS do coordinate with each other (but not JI MEI). On every Sunday only WALRUS sailed out among the four so I guess that's why MACAU SUCCESS is switching to daily overnight cruises.
p.s. I know very little about the PRINCESS ROWENA, just the fact that she is around 11000 gross tons and is a ship like JI MEI from the west. She is supposed to be coming to HK today and I am going out to see her if so.
quote:Originally posted by Gundam X Divider:Sadly, the pool has gone, leaving nothing in the open deck:
On Golden Odyssey's days
quote:Originally posted by Gundam X Divider:I have seen old deck plans onboard which are probably left from Golden Odyssey/Astra II/Omar II. The Restaurant on Deck 5 is now a combined Mahjong Room/Restaurant. Maybe the restaurant on Deck 6 can't seat all passengers.The current Deck Plan
Golden Odyssey had a Restaurant on Deck 6 and passengers were dine in Two Sittings.There were cabnis in the aft on Deck 5.
The Casino was originally the Odyssey Lounge.
[ 05-11-2005: Message edited by: Ocean Liners ]
quote:Originally posted by Gundam X Divider:I have seen old deck plans onboard which are probably left from Golden Odyssey/Astra II/Omar II...
Anyone have deck plans of MACAU SUCCESS when she was GOLDEN ODYSSEY etc., as above? Thanks in advance.
******
Cheers
quote:Originally posted by bulbousbow:Anyone have deck plans of MACAU SUCCESS when she was GOLDEN ODYSSEY etc., as above? Thanks in advance.
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