OCTOBER 23. 10:30 a.m. The already-inaugurated but still-unfinished terminal of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport is one busy hub with outbound passengers clogging the check-in counters.
Arguably, DMIA is the only airport in the world that still requires departing passengers to un-shoe themselves and subject the footwear to x-ray procedure.
A not-so-laughable joke: Departure monitor flashes ”Departed” opposite Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 537 at 12:10H when flight is actually delayed for over nearly an hour.
2:15 p.m. Over the China Sea. After profuse apologies for the delay, Ceb- Pac crew stages show-me game: me winning colorful mini pouches for simply raising the pen used in filling up my disembarkation card for Singapore immigration.
4:15 p.m. Changi Airport budget terminal is a study in time-space-motion efficiency. How I weep for DMIA. A breeze though immigration, and look Ma, no customs counters to hurdle.
A fleet of shiny taxis – pricy Mercedes Benzes and Chryslers, among Toyota Crowns and Hyundai Sonatas – in queue, alternately taking slots at designated loading bays. Ah, order.
And refreshing quiet too, through tree-lined and -canopied four- and six-lane avenues down one-way side streets onto broad New Bridge Street where sits Furama City Centre, our hotel for the night.
6:30 p.m. Street food near Bugis Street for nasi goreng, Hainan chicken and stewed frogs with some noodles, roti and Tiger Beer on the side.
Walk-about down Clarke Quay, through Indian restaurants and some shops ending up at Starbucks for some post-prandial espresso.
October 24. 7:15 a.m. Breakfast at Tiffany’s, minus Audrey’s effervescence but with enough choices for the most discriminating taste.
11:00 a.m. Early check-out of Furama, to Harbourfront Centre for lunch of seafood noodles and malling, in time for the 2:00 p.m. check-in for the Singapore-Penang-Phuket-Singapore three-night cruise. Spared of the long queue, thanks to facilitation of lovely Andrea Manzano, 2nd VP-Sales of Star Cruises-Philippine office.
3:45 p.m. Aboard Superstar Virgo, biggest in the Star Cruises fleet. Cocktail reception at the Grand Piazza, the lobby straight out of the Titanic with grand staircase and Grecian statuary.
Assigned Cabin 9136, “Ocean view with balcony” on Deck 9, twin-sharing plus one: Ashley Manabat, columnist of six papers and Joey Pavia, reporter of three.
4:00 p.m. Familiarization tour of Superstar Virgo: three inclusive restaurants – Mediterranean Buffet, Pavilion, and Buena Vista – meaning meals there are in the tour package; other restaurants which by their very names indicate their specialties – Taj, Palazzo, Noble House, Samurai, and Blue Lagoon.
There are karaokes and pubs too: Out of Africa, Bellini, Celebrity Disco and KTV Lounge, and Taverna. Plus a dance lounge at the bow, Galaxy of the Stars. And an ice cream parlor, Gelato.
The Parthenon Pool at Deck 12 has four hot jacuzzis, a lap pool, and a looping water slide which I reckon has a height of some 40 feet.
Bookworms find satisfying read in the well-stocked library, with an internet center that makes the world but a mouseclick away.
5:30 p.m. Ship drill. All passengers assembled on deck with the requisite lifevest. No need to scream “Mayday!” and jump into the water there. Superstar Virgo can well pass off as HMS Invincible, minus the armaments.
6:00 p.m. Anchors aweigh. Superstar Virgo sails out of the harbor, onto busy Strait of Malacca, as I feast on lemon and rosemary roasted chicken at Buena Vista with my two fellow traveloggers and the rest of Star Cruises’ PSAs – preferred sales agents.
7:45 p.m. No starry, starry night but as beautiful with the lights of Singapore receding in the horizon and the cool, cool sea breeze on the helipad at the stern, a flight of stairs above Deck 12. But for the absence of the wife, it is a night of romance that I leave to young Indian honeymooners and a golden-anniversaried Chinese couple.
9:15 p.m. Pleasant, pleasant night of magic at the well-appointed Lido Theater with Duo Baccara – Lucky and Adriana displaying escape artistry worthy of a Houdini.
10:00 p.m. Cruise night is just heating up with activities as varied as bingo and lottery, disco and karaoke, but off to slumberland for the old folk like me. Did I say old? With the murmur of the sea, the smooth sway of the waves, cannot help but feel as a child on a cradle rocked to sleep, gently, gently.
So ended my first night at sea.
(To be continued)
Arguably, DMIA is the only airport in the world that still requires departing passengers to un-shoe themselves and subject the footwear to x-ray procedure.
A not-so-laughable joke: Departure monitor flashes ”Departed” opposite Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 537 at 12:10H when flight is actually delayed for over nearly an hour.
2:15 p.m. Over the China Sea. After profuse apologies for the delay, Ceb- Pac crew stages show-me game: me winning colorful mini pouches for simply raising the pen used in filling up my disembarkation card for Singapore immigration.
4:15 p.m. Changi Airport budget terminal is a study in time-space-motion efficiency. How I weep for DMIA. A breeze though immigration, and look Ma, no customs counters to hurdle.
A fleet of shiny taxis – pricy Mercedes Benzes and Chryslers, among Toyota Crowns and Hyundai Sonatas – in queue, alternately taking slots at designated loading bays. Ah, order.
And refreshing quiet too, through tree-lined and -canopied four- and six-lane avenues down one-way side streets onto broad New Bridge Street where sits Furama City Centre, our hotel for the night.
6:30 p.m. Street food near Bugis Street for nasi goreng, Hainan chicken and stewed frogs with some noodles, roti and Tiger Beer on the side.
Walk-about down Clarke Quay, through Indian restaurants and some shops ending up at Starbucks for some post-prandial espresso.
October 24. 7:15 a.m. Breakfast at Tiffany’s, minus Audrey’s effervescence but with enough choices for the most discriminating taste.
11:00 a.m. Early check-out of Furama, to Harbourfront Centre for lunch of seafood noodles and malling, in time for the 2:00 p.m. check-in for the Singapore-Penang-Phuket-Singapore three-night cruise. Spared of the long queue, thanks to facilitation of lovely Andrea Manzano, 2nd VP-Sales of Star Cruises-Philippine office.
3:45 p.m. Aboard Superstar Virgo, biggest in the Star Cruises fleet. Cocktail reception at the Grand Piazza, the lobby straight out of the Titanic with grand staircase and Grecian statuary.
Assigned Cabin 9136, “Ocean view with balcony” on Deck 9, twin-sharing plus one: Ashley Manabat, columnist of six papers and Joey Pavia, reporter of three.
4:00 p.m. Familiarization tour of Superstar Virgo: three inclusive restaurants – Mediterranean Buffet, Pavilion, and Buena Vista – meaning meals there are in the tour package; other restaurants which by their very names indicate their specialties – Taj, Palazzo, Noble House, Samurai, and Blue Lagoon.
There are karaokes and pubs too: Out of Africa, Bellini, Celebrity Disco and KTV Lounge, and Taverna. Plus a dance lounge at the bow, Galaxy of the Stars. And an ice cream parlor, Gelato.
The Parthenon Pool at Deck 12 has four hot jacuzzis, a lap pool, and a looping water slide which I reckon has a height of some 40 feet.
Bookworms find satisfying read in the well-stocked library, with an internet center that makes the world but a mouseclick away.
5:30 p.m. Ship drill. All passengers assembled on deck with the requisite lifevest. No need to scream “Mayday!” and jump into the water there. Superstar Virgo can well pass off as HMS Invincible, minus the armaments.
6:00 p.m. Anchors aweigh. Superstar Virgo sails out of the harbor, onto busy Strait of Malacca, as I feast on lemon and rosemary roasted chicken at Buena Vista with my two fellow traveloggers and the rest of Star Cruises’ PSAs – preferred sales agents.
7:45 p.m. No starry, starry night but as beautiful with the lights of Singapore receding in the horizon and the cool, cool sea breeze on the helipad at the stern, a flight of stairs above Deck 12. But for the absence of the wife, it is a night of romance that I leave to young Indian honeymooners and a golden-anniversaried Chinese couple.
9:15 p.m. Pleasant, pleasant night of magic at the well-appointed Lido Theater with Duo Baccara – Lucky and Adriana displaying escape artistry worthy of a Houdini.
10:00 p.m. Cruise night is just heating up with activities as varied as bingo and lottery, disco and karaoke, but off to slumberland for the old folk like me. Did I say old? With the murmur of the sea, the smooth sway of the waves, cannot help but feel as a child on a cradle rocked to sleep, gently, gently.
So ended my first night at sea.
(To be continued)
