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STAR CRUISES’ UPCOMING REGIONAL DEPLOYMENTS SUPERSTAR VIRGO AND SUPERSTAR LIBRA TO HONG KONG AND SUPERSTAR AQUARIUS TO SINGAPORE IN 2007 / 2008.

In line with its progressive development in the region, Star Cruises is hereby pleased to announce the deployment of SuperStar Virgo to Hong Kong from Singapore and SuperStar Aquarius to Singapore from Hong Kong in 2008. Meanwhile, SuperStar Libra will be based and sailing out of Hong Kong for the winter season from November 2007 to March 2008.

SuperStar Virgo’s seasonal redeployment of just over six months will see her depart Singapore on 28 March 2008 and returning to her homeport in Singapore on 26 October 2008. The relocation cruise from Singapore will call at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Sanya in China on 30 March and 1 April respectively prior to arriving in Hong Kong on 2 April 2008. Her inaugural cruise season in Hong Kong will comprise of a combination of destination cruises to Xiamen and Sanya in China and Halong Bay, Vietnam and one–night cruises. In addition there will also be four special cruises to Keelung, Taiwan in April, June, July and September next year.

SuperStar Aquarius which joined the Star Cruises fleet in June this year will be sailing from Hong Kong to Singapore on 24 March 2008 and will commence her cruise season in Singapore on 28 March 2008 offering a combination of 4-night exciting destination cruises to Penang, Malaysia and Phuket, Thailand and one–night as well as two-night cruises. She will depart Singapore on 24 October 2008 and will arrive back in Hong Kong on 28 October 2008.

“The forthcoming seasonal repositioning of SuperStar Virgo and SuperStar Aquarius is part of the company’s itinerary planning exercise to provide greater variation and cruise options to our valued guests in this region. As each ship has a unique flavour and splendour, we feel it is only apt to make available our different cruise experiences to our guests of differing parts of the region from varied ports-of-calls. Also, these deployment plans are in line to meet the demand of the respective markets to ensure the needs of our guests are satisfied.” said Mr. Michael Goh, Star Cruises’ Vice President, Sales & Marketing - Greater China.

On the SuperStar Libra, currently the largest cruise ship home-ported in Taiwan, a special 5-night cruise departing Keelung on 31 October 2007 calling at Ishigaki in Japan before proceeding for an overnight stop in Xiamen, China on 2 November, is lined up as the first special themed cruise itinerary from Taiwan to China by a Star Cruises’ ship. The SuperStar Libra is then scheduled to arrive at Hong Kong on 26 November 2007 and will then depart Hong Kong on 26 March 2007 to arrive back in Taiwan two days later on 28 March. During her stint whilst based in Hong Kong, SuperStar Libra will offer exciting 2-night cruises to Haikou, China and 2-night cruises to Zhanjiang, China as well as fantastic 4-night cruises to Sanya, China and Halong Bay, Vietnam. Other special cruises include the 3-night cruise to Kaoshiung, Taiwan and the 6-night cruise to Haikou, China, Halong Bay and Danang, Vietnam in February 2008.

“It is truly an exciting time as we continue to consolidate our position as the leading cruise line in Asia-Pacific through the depth and wealth of experience gained over the past decade. The special deployments, itineraries and ship showcases are just the beginning of our efforts to further contribute and develop the cruise industry in this region of vast and rich potential,” said Ms. Jean Teo, Star Cruises’ Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing. “Above all, and most importantly, we take pride that with our experience and passion to continuously improve and innovate, as well as with the best know-how and expertise of our Captains, Officers and vibrant crew staff, exceptional world-class facilities and entertainment, we will continue to specially cater to the varying needs and tastes of all our guests, repeat and new, in the region,” Ms. Teo further added.
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[ 10-20-2007: Message edited by: Waynaro ]

I wonder how long it will be before they sell the rest of their ships.

The Shareholders in Star Cruises and Genting group can not be all that happy when they see the latest earning results for the Carnival Group, the number of new ships they have on order for the group, and the increased dividend to shareholders.

I wonder what the investors in Star Cruises think about NCL and the rest of the group.

Neil ( Bob )

[ 10-20-2007: Message edited by: Neil Whitmore ( Bob ) ]

Star Cruises might have appeared to have been doing well on their own, before buying NCL, but they had the casino business and holiday resorts profits to use to support Star Cruises.

Now some of these assets have been sold to prop up all of their cruising business and as that was not enough they also have had to get a large financial injection of cash from Apollo.

Lets hope Apollo now have a change of Managing Director for NCL and bring in someone who can run a cruise ship business and give passengers the service they are paying for and which they are not getting from NCL at present with Colin Vietch in charge.

You only have to read the comments about the service on NCL America ships from Mike SA to see how poor the service has become on their ships.

1. Star Cruises is profitable, excluding NCL.

2. NCL is profitable, excluding NCL America.

3. The vast majority of complaints about NCL are about NCL America.

4. Star Cruises and Apollo have already made plans to shut down NCL America. They are merely giving it a "last chance" before pulling the plug. There is little chance that NCL America will survive more than a year or so now that the plans for its death have already been drawn up.

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Originally posted by dougnewman:
Star Cruises and Apollo have already made plans to shut down NCL America....There is little chance that NCL America will survive more than a year or so now that the plans for its death have already been drawn up.

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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
Doug, is that your speculation or do you have an inside source?

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From NCL's press release about the Apollo investment:

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Q. Does this transaction impact the U.S. flag operations in Hawai`i?

A. NCL remains committed to a strong U.S. Flag cruise business home ported in Hawai`i. The company believes in the Hawai`i market so strongly, that it has committed to treat the Hawai`i operation separately in this transaction to provide needed time to implement recently announced measures to reduce capacity, improve the cost structure and increase revenues to bring the NCL America brand to profitability.

While there is no way of knowing for sure at this time whether these measures will be successful, Star Cruises has committed to bear certain specified costs and expenses of NCL America to allow time for the business to continue to develop so that the impact of these measures can be reflected in the financial performance of NCL America.

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Q. Does this transaction impact the U.S. flag operations in Hawai`i?

A. NCL is not quite ready to give up on its U.S. Flag cruise business home ported in Hawai`i. Apollo Management is so skeptical about this operation that Star Cruises has committed to treat the Hawai`i operation separately in this transaction to provide needed time to implement recently announced measures to reduce capacity, improve the cost structure and increase revenues in a last-ditch effort to bring the NCL America brand to profitability.

Since these measures will probably not be successful, Star Cruises has committed to bear certain specified costs and expenses of NCL America to allow time for the business to continue to develop so that the impact of these measures can be reflected in the financial performance of NCL America, but its losses don't affect Apollo's investment in the rest of NCL, which it wouldn't have made unless Star made this concession.

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[ 10-21-2007: Message edited by: dougnewman ]