STAR CRUISES’ SUPERSTAR AQUARIUS OFFICIALLY ARRIVES IN HONG KONG
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MARKING A MAJOR STEP FORWARD FOR THE GROUP’S DEVELOPMENT IN GREATER CHINA
Star Cruises, the world’s 3rd largest cruise operator and Asia’s leading cruise liner, officially announced today the arrival of its newest addition to Hong Kong, the SuperStar Aquarius. To commemorate this special event, Star Cruises has organised a SuperStar Aquarius arrival welcome ceremony and invited as guests of honour, Mr. Stephen Ip, GBS, JP, Secretary of Economic Development and Labour Bureau, Ms. Au King-Chi, Commissioner for Tourism, Tourism Commission and Mr. Patrick Kwok, General Manager-Tourism Marketing, Hong Kong Tourism Board together with Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Star Cruises Limited to witness this historical moment as SuperStar Aquarius arrives into its home-port in Hong Kong today.
In celebration of the 10 th anniversary of Hong Kong's reunification with China, the theme song Just Because You Are Here, truly represents the thoughts and feelings of all 7 million Hong Kong citizens. Star Cruises, a company that has grown alongside with Hong Kong for nearly 15 years, embraces a sense of loyalty to its hometown of Hong Kong. Today, the arrival of SuperStar Aquarius represents Star Cruises’ blessings and salutation to the 10 th anniversary of Hong Kong's reunification with China. Thanks to the endless opportunities that Hong Kong offers, Star Cruises has established a name for itself in the cruise industry here, and is proud to have Hong Kong as the home-port of SuperStar Aquarius.
Mr. David Chua Ming Huat, the President of Star Cruises Limited said, “Just Because of You, the specially composed song in celebration of Hong Kong’s 10th Handover Anniversary, expresses not only the love for Hong Kong from its 7 million citizens but also from Star Cruises as well. Although Star Cruises is based in the Southeast Asia, it has been operating in Hong Kong for nearly 15 years and is also listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. As a proud Hong Kong citizen, Star Cruises would like to dedicate the celebration song of Just Because of You for our special guests of honour today. Together, in close collaboration Hong Kong and Star Cruises looks forward to another prosperous decade to come!”
Mr. Chua added, “Star Cruises’ business has been doing very well in Hong Kong and we will continue to provide our guests with various leisure and entertainment programmes together with impeccable service standards which allow Star Cruises to sustain its leading position in Asia Pacific. We will also continue to offer spectacular performances by different world-class and popular singers from overseas and Hong Kong onboard our ship! Furthermore, Star Cruises also pays much attention in developing the business in the Greater China region. Since Star Cruises’ inception, we have already brought more than 1.1 million travelers into the region and we have visited more than 7 cities along the coast, which reflects our close connection and passion with China. Due to this, we will continue to introduce bigger and more luxurious cruises with better facilities so as to expand further into the China market and to satisfy the growing demands of the region. We hope to stimulate the travel industry of Hong Kong and China, and establish a win-win situation as well as nurture a closer and long-term relationship with these two places.”
Currently, Star Cruises’ Asian fleet includes the SuperStar Virgo, SuperStar Gemini, SuperStar Libra, Star Pisces, MegaStar Aries and MegaStar Taurus. The introduction of SuperStar Aquarius will bring the total to three ships that will be positioned in Hong Kong, including Star Pisces and Wasa Queen operating under the Star Cruises and Cruise Ferries brands respectively.
From left to right: SH Lee, Executive Vice President - Star Cruises' VIP Services & Club, Chong Chee Tut - Star Cruises' Chief Operating Officer, David Chua - Star Cruises' President, Au Kheng Chi - Commissioner for Tourism (HK), Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Star Cruises' Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Ip - GBS, JP, Secretary of Economic Development and Labour Bureau of Hong Kong, William Ng - Star Cruises' Executive Vice President - Corporate Affairs / General Manager (Hong Kong/China), Patrick Kwok - General Manager, Tourism Marketing, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Captain Jukka - SuperStar Aquarius' Captain, Roger Tupper - Director of Marine Dept (HK), Peter Or - Senior Manager, Property Management Division, Harbour City, Tony Lai - Chairman, South China Towing Co., Captain CW Chan - HK Pilot Association Co. Ltd.
More on SuperStar Aquarius
The 51,039-gross tonnage and 13-storey high SuperStar Aquarius is presently the largest cruise ship home-ported in Hong Kong. She has a lower berth passenger capacity of 1,529 and 765 spacious cabins of different categories ranging from suites to balcony cabins. Measuring 230 meters long and 28.5 meters wide, the trendy design of SuperStar Aquarius is able to cater the tastes and demands of a wide spectrum of HK and China customers. She also has a wide range of restaurants featuring a selection of cuisine from around the world, bars and lounges, meeting rooms and swimming pool. All the restaurants, bars and lounges and gym facilities on SuperStar Aquarius provide an excellent sea view for the cruisers.
The ship also provides world-class entertainment shows, with rich regional characteristics, including the US$1 million production “Kingdom of Kung Fu”, the fantastic “Tropicalia” featuring South American dancers and award-winning Chinese acrobats, and the fabulous Thailand’s “Bangkok Lady Boys” broadway show. To celebrate the SuperStar Aquarius’ debut in Hong Kong, Star Cruises has lined up the 4 legendary Asian Divas: Frances Yip, Anita Sarawak, Elisa Chan and Maria Cordero and internationally renowned pop group Michael Learns To Rock to perform onboard SuperStar Aquarius, with the aim to impress the cruisers with endless surprises.
SuperStar Aquarius is offering daily South China Sea cruises starting 22 June. A series of destination cruises to China are also offered including two-night cruises to Xiamen departing every first and third Friday in the months of July to October, as well as Haikou cruises from November 2007 till March 2008.
About Star Cruises
Star Cruises, the third largest cruise operator in the world is a global cruise brand with a combined fleet of 21 ships with about 32,300 lower berths in service with an additional 3 ships and some 10,800 lower berths due to be delivered by 2010, cruising to destinations and islands in Asia-Pacific, North and South America, Hawaii, Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, Mediterranean, Bermuda and the Antarctica under the Star Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, NCL America, Orient Lines and Cruise Ferries brands.
Star Cruises is represented in more than 25 locations worldwide with offices and representatives in Australia, China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States of America.
