Star Cruises

MS Star Pisces

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Operator:Star Cruises
Year Built / Last Refurbished: 1990/ 2004
Length / Tonnage: 580 / 40,012
Number of Cabins / Passengers: 776 / 2,196
Officers / Crew: International / International
Operating Area: Hong Kong and China

Back in 1993 during the inception of Star Cruises, the company purchased two sister ships then sailing as Athena (Star Aquarius) and Kalypso which is now known to thousands of happy passengers as STAR PISCES. It is this funnel design which Star Cruises now base all their ships funnels design on.

After being refurbished, Star Pisces entered service in Hong Kong in 1994 and for the most part, has been there ever since.

It is a great ship for the first time cruiser, or for those who need to escape the hectic Hong Kong pace. Star Pisces was the first Star Cruises' ship that I sailed almost twelve years ago. She is maintained impeccably, and has gone through refurbishments during these twelve years. She looks crisp, up to date and very inviting.

Although the itinerary is now daily overnight high seas cruises, Pisces occasionally does longer 3D/2N cruises to Xiamen. These longer cruises prove to be very popular, as the ship sails very nearly at capacity.

There are enough public rooms and daily activities to keep the passengers happy and occupied. I enjoyed my recent overnight cruise very much. Star Pisces is a perfect ship to escape daily tensions and to relax and have fun.

The smooth running of all Hotel Departments onboard Pisces is looked after by the very personable Chief Purser (Hotel Manager) Mr. Eric Sia who is from Malaysia and the equally personable Assistant Hotel Manager, Mr. Dodie Rosacay who is from the Philippines. Should you have any requests or problems, these men will take care of them professionally, courteously and with true concern. I am quite sure that Star Cruises must be very proud of these two men.

I certainly recommend Star Pisces to the newcomer to cruising and seasoned cruisers alike, for a fun, lively, short get-a-way.

Update: Boarding the Star Pisces for the first time after her refit in October 2005, was like boarding a new ship. New décor, new colors, new soft furnishings, new carpeting were to be seen everywhere and was a joy to behold. New cruisers with Star Pisces will love the décor, while past passengers will be amazed and very pleased with the new look and feel of this exciting ship. Read more about this new look in the sections below.

Star Pisces has numerous public rooms for the passengers to enjoy, including a show lounge, intimate Piano Bars plus a lively Karaoke Bar and numerous dining venues. All are furnished comfortably, and offer a fun, casual atmosphere with no pretense of elegance to diminish this casual feeling.

Let us take a closer look at these public rooms, beginning at the top.

Deck 12 - Here you will find the Jogging Track with glorious views of the sea.

DECK 11 - Starting forward you will find the spacious outdoor Sun Deck with wonderful sea views. Heading aft inside on the port side is the lovely Rua Thai Restaurant with very nice ocean view windows. The décor lets you know it is Thai, but is understated and comfortable. This is one of the three inclusive dining venues.

Across on starboard side is the Activities Center desk and further aft is the wonderful Observation Lounge with walls of windows for a great view. At these windows are tables and chairs, while on the opposite side are high back banquettes and marble topped cocktail tables. This is a nice lounge for sitting and relaxing during the day, and enjoying a cocktail while listening to piano music during the evening.Separating the Rua Thai and Observation Lounge in the middle, is the Auditorium and Aero Seat Lounge.

Further aft on port side is the Phoenix Room, which is a non-smoking games of chance room. Across on starboard side are the Meeting Room, Video Arcade and Mahjong/Card Room.

Proceeding further aft and outdoors, is the Pool Bar. I was in the past and still am disappointed with this area. The bar seems as if it were an afterthought, being carved out of an already existing small service space. There are no stools for sitting at the bar, as the counter space is very small, nor are there any tables and chairs available for sitting and enjoying your drink near the bar, but there are some wooden benches and tables placed atop the Helipad, at the very aft of this deck. The friendly attitude and service by the bar stewards do however make up for the rather uninspiring Pool Bar.

DECK 10 - This deck is devoted to passenger cabins except for the swimming pool area located extreme aft, and named WET & WILD. The pool is small but quite adequate for a few short laps and cooling off from the hot Asian sun. There is a small section for the kids as well. There are some loungers and small tables available.

DECK 9 - This deck is completely devoted to passenger cabins.

DECK 8 - Starting forward, is the lovely OCEAN PALACE inclusive restaurant, serving Chinese food buffet style. Being located forward, this room has wonderful windows overlooking the bow with great sea views. The dining table chairs are comfortable and the room has good passenger flow.

On the port side of this room is a smaller separate room called TAI PAN. This is an a la carte dining venue serving made to order Chinese food. A small, cozy room with pleasing unobtrusive décor.

Further aft on the starboard side is the CASTAWAY PIANO BAR which is also the passageway to Ocean Palace. This small lounge has a wall of windows for nice ocean views. It is long and narrow, but somehow seems to be intimate. I particularly like going to this lounge after watching a show. Nice piano music of any type will be heard here, and requests are happily played. Late into the evening, sing-a-longs are not uncommon in this piano bar, and the mood can take quite a lively upturn. I like this lounge.

Proceeding aft, we come to the large upper level of the lobby and reception desk with an intriguing glass sculpture that hangs down to Deck 7 through a circular opening in the deck. Just beyond, is SUNSET BOULEVARD, a window lined passageway on starboard side. Off of Sunset Blvd., is the UMIGAWA a la carte Japanese restaurant, serving very fine cuisine. Next to Umigawa are the large DUTY FREE SHOP and FORUM SHOP, with a wide variety of merchandise and logo items that should satisfy the avid shopper. Behind these shops on port side is OSCAR's UNISEX SALON, where you will find very pleasant and skilled hair stylists.

We then come to the very nice and comfortable KARAOKE BAR. There are tub chairs and tables right at the windows of Sunset Blvd., which is part of the Karaoke Bar. Further inside, is the sit up bar and many tables and chairs on lovely hardwood floors. Anytime of the day or night, you are sure to find at least one table with happy passengers singing to their favorite songs. Nighttime is of course when this room is the busiest. During the day it is a lovely area to sit and relax and gaze out the windows.

There are also nicely furnished private karaoke rooms behind the bar on a rental basis with price packages available.

On the opposite port side is the FORTUNE CLUB for games of chance and the CHILD CARE CENTRE.

The last room aft on this deck is GALAXY OF THE STARS, which is the main show lounge. This is a good sized room with comfortable seating to watch the shows. There is a minimum of pillars to obstruct your view. There are cocktail tables at the banquettes should you care to have drinks. On the starboard side of this room is the WINDOWS ON THE SEA bar and lounge area. This is a wonderful room for pre or after dinner drinks and as the name suggests, the window views are great. It is also a good place to escape the crowds during the day. I have always liked this area, as it somehow has a very soothing ambience.

DECK 7 - Starting forward is the MARINERS Restaurant. A very large room serving International cuisine buffet style. This room is modern in looks and is comfortable. Tables are not crowded together, which offers the passengers more comfort. The views from the windows are perfect while enjoying your meal. This dining venue can, at times, be noisy, due to the vastness of the room. Therefore I would recommend trying to get a table forward near the large windows where the noise level is lower. This is a comfortable room with good passenger flow around the buffet food stations. Service by the wait staff to clear your plates is fast and efficient.

Further aft is the reception desk and LOBBY with a central circular seating arrangement surrounding a quite nice sculpture which rises through Deck 8. Just further aft is the CELEBRITY PHOTO SHOP, where you can purchase the photos taken by the very good and unobtrusive ship's photographers.

Next is PORTS O'CALL, another duty free shop. The convenient and comfortable a la carte BLUE LAGOON 24 hour eatery is also found in this area. This venue serves Chinese and Western fast food all day and night. Very nice for those times when you feel a bit hungry in between main meals.

Finally, all the way aft is the huge CLUB ROYALE, which is another room for games of chance.

DECK 6 - The only public space on this deck is the large KING NEPTUNE HEALTH CLUB, located forward at the bow. It is a very well equipped spa which has saunas, Jacuzzi's and small swimming pool.

DECK 5 - This deck is completely devoted to passenger cabins.

DECK 3 - The STAR CLUB and DRAGON ROOM are located on this deck. These are the general games of chance venues open to the public.

Update: In the October 2005 refit, the public rooms have all been refreshed with new color schemes, new carpeting and new fabrics on sofas and chairs. While these rooms retain the original configurations, the new look gives an aura of more spaciousness, freshness and total comfort.

I found it difficult to believe that I was aboard the same Star Pisces that I have known for many years. Pisces has always been a fun, happy ship, but now that feeling is more enhanced due to all the upgrading that was carried out during the dry-dock. The entire staff and crew are very proud of their "new" Star Pisces and rightfully so.

Walking through the ship to see all the new changes brought pleasant surprises at every turn. These all so familiar lounges, bars, show room and restaurants now had an air of new life. It is undeniably obvious that Star Cruises spent quite a sum of money on high grade materials. My only slight regret is that the wonderful hard wood flooring in the Karaoke Bar is now covered over with carpeting, albeit very deluxe carpeting. Maintenance and upkeep was the determining factor in making this decision. Nevertheless this is still one of my favorite rooms.

To sum up, all public rooms now have a new sparkle and an upscale look, but yet retain their casual, relaxing atmosphere.

STAR PISCES is operated as a "freestyle" ship, which means you have the choice to dine where, when and with whom you choose.

On Friday and Saturday cruises;
Breakfast is served in Mariners from 07:15 to 10:00am and in Ocean Palace from 08:00 to 10:00am
Dinner is served in Mariners from 05:30pm to 09:00pm and in Ocean Palace from 05:30pm to 09:30pm
Supper is served in Mariners from 11:30pm to 01:00am

At MARINERS restaurant you will find a wide and varied choice of International cuisine, prepared with great care by Executive Chef, Mr. Teoh Goet Beng who is from Malaysia. Everything is of high quality and fresh, which is a hallmark of Star Cruises. Even the pickiest eaters will be very satisfied with the food at Mariners. The presentation of all food at the buffet stations is picture worthy. Service by an International wait staff is swift and friendly.

OCEAN PALACE is the venue for Chinese cuisine. Here you will find a wide range of Chinese delicacies to suit everyone's taste. Naturally there will be a large selection of Cantonese specialties to cater to the local passengers from Hong Kong. Again, all food presentation at the buffet stations is a treat for the eye. Chef Beng prepares very tasty meals here for all to enjoy. For lovers of Chinese food, you will not be disappointed in Ocean Palace. An International wait staff will take care of you in their very friendly manner.

TAI PAN is a small a la carte Chinese restaurant which is actually a section of Ocean Palace that has been enclosed. Here you will find more upscale Chinese cuisine for the discerning passenger. Prices are, in my opinion, moderate.

RUA THAI conjures up very authentic and palatable Thai cuisine. Old favorites and some less common food will be on offer. Great care is taken to make sure the food has the right blend of spices. I have always been extremely satisfied with my meals here. The quiet ambiance adds much to your enjoyment. The friendly wait staff here, as in all other venues, will offer their warm and efficient service.

UMIGAWA Japanese Restaurant is intimate, and serves extremely good Japanese cuisine a la carte. I had the pleasure of dining here with Ms. Dorothy Mak who is Executive Manager Public Relations for Star Cruises Hong Kong and her assistant Ms. Cherie Tai. Many courses of delicious Japanese delicacies were brought to the table. So many, that because of our talking so much at the table, we had to leave mid-meal to attend the show in Galaxy and return afterwards to finish this extravagant meal. A truly wonderful and memorable dinner with fine food and excellent company.

BLUE LAGOON serves fast food and snacks. Mainly Chinese selections, but they do make a great hamburger as well. This outlet is always busy with passengers enjoying between meal snacks or after the disco and karaoke. Freshness is guaranteed with the quick turnover. All items are a la carte and quite reasonable.

In summary, all passengers should be pleased with the quality, taste and presentation of food in all outlets. Westerners will be happy to know that their food preference is no problem aboard Star Pisces. There is something available for all tastes and desires. With so many food outlets available, whether it be inclusive or a la carte, dining should prove to be an enjoyable part of your cruise.

Update: During this, my most recent cruise aboard Pisces, I was invited to have dinner with various ships' officers in the Tai Pan Restaurant. It was an honor to be at the table with these fine people and share wonderful food and conversation. The food prepared for us was absolutely perfect, with many courses of varied Chinese delicacies. Freshness was very evident, as was the care that went into the presentation. Service was swift, unobtrusive and friendly. I can certainly recommend Tai Pan to anyone who enjoys fine Chinese cuisine.

In general, all the dining venues have had a makeover with new furnishings and other touches that have truly given these rooms a new appeal. They are still most welcoming, but have a freshness about them that is very eye appealing. Even the Blue Lagoon offers a different look which should prove very popular. The only thing that has not changed, thankfully, is the fine food served onboard Pisces. Whether you opt to dine in the inclusive Ocean Palace or Mariners, or one of the alternative venues, I am confident that you will enjoy your meal. Of course an overnight cruise does not give you enough time to try all the dining venues. So what is the solution? Book another cruise! You will be glad that you did.

The Star Pisces has a total of 776 passenger cabins with a lower berth capacity of 1,287 and full berth capacity 2,196.

While most cabins are small, they are laid out efficiently, are comfortable and have all the amenities expected of today's newer cruise ships. They are perfectly adequate for the short cruises Star Pisces performs. I will describe the standard cabin categories first. Inviting friends to your cabin for drinks is out of the question. This is only possible starting at the AE Category. Other than this, generally you will not find yourself bumping into your cabin mate, unless you find yourself in the lowest grade cabins. All the cabins are furnished nicely and have a welcoming appeal. They are equipped with remote control TV, telephone, hairdryer which is quite powerful and a security safe. On the dressing table/vanity there are drinking glasses, an ice bucket which you must ask to be filled with ice, two complimentary bottles of mineral water and a note pad and pen. There is also a nice stationery book with letterhead paper and envelopes and a few postcards of the ship, welcome letter, safety information and deck plan. There are ample closets/wardrobes, a few pairs of slippers and extra pillows. There is however a lack of drawer space in the cabins. Suitcases will fit under the beds. There are handicap accessible cabins which fulfill their purpose very nicely and Star Pisces is a handicap friendly ship. I have spoken with a few physically challenged passengers, and they all say they have no problem getting around onboard the ship.

The bathrooms are compact, but fine for one person at a time. There is liquid soap in dispenser at the sink and shampoo/conditioner and soap in dispensers in the shower. Also provided are two small bottles of moisturizing lotion, two shower caps, sanitary bag and toothbrush kits. There is face, hand and bath towels for each cabin occupant. The showers have very good pressure and plenty of hot water at all times.

Now let's explore the top grade digs. Starting with Cat:AE Admiral Suite, located mainly on Deck 10, but there are some slightly smaller ones on Deck 7. These cabins are 13.5 sq. meters and offer more floor space and are very nicely decorated. They are extremely comfortable and do afford the possibility of having friends in, as there is a small sitting area. Cat:AC Junior Suite

There are four Junior Suites located on Deck 7 midships port side, and are 23 sq. meters. They are furnished in a contemporary style and have soothing colors. Nice large picture windows offer an excellent ocean view. These suites are large enough to have a few friends in for drinks. They all have large bathrooms with all the amenities you would want. These Junior Suites are quite nice indeed.

Cat:AB & AA - There are four of these suites on Deck 10 with forward facing windows and one suite located on Deck 9 starboard side. They are appx. 56 sq. meters. Here you have a separate bedroom and living area. They are furnished very nicely and are great for entertaining. The bathrooms are a good size and have everything you will need. If your pocket can afford these suites, you will be very comfortable in them.

In general, all cabins aboard Star Pisces are nice and comfortable albeit small in the lower categories. They are a nice place to come back to after an evening of enjoying all the activities on the ship.

Update: Again, it was wonderful to occupy and Admiral Suite on Deck 10. The first very noticeable new addition is the carpeting. Thick, colorful and upscale. Actually, all cabins have been refreshed where needed, including new fabrics on chairs and carpeting. As I reported above, all the cabins are comfortable and offer the necessities that you would expect. If space is important to you, then choose a higher grade cabin which will offer more elbow room.

Entertainment abounds aboard Star Pisces. The Galaxy of the Stars presents the production show "Carnaval De Brazil." This show has very talented dancers from Brazil and Europe performing Latin ballroom and famous street dances of Rio. Although there are no stage sets, due to space restrictions, the costuming is bright and evocative of the spirit of Brazil. Another feature in this show is the Chinese Acrobats from Ha Er Bin, China. With bodies seemingly made of rubber, their contortions and acrobatics are amazing.

Lighting and audio for this show is professional and well executed. This show is eye-candy and a nice hour or so of entertainment.

Late in the evening, these same Brazilian dancers perform in a topless revue called "Amazonian Love." There is an admittance charge and is for passengers 18 years old and above.

More entertainment is to be seen with the SUMMER STAR CANTON BAND, who perform three sets nightly in the Galaxy show lounge. They play Cantonese, Mandarin and English pop music. They interact with the audience by asking for requests as well as playing their own repertoire.

The STAR PISCES QUARTET can be found playing in the Castaway Bar at various times during the night. They welcome requests as well as performing their own sets. Ask for some Filipino songs as a special treat.

For solo piano music there is the venerable JON JON, who has been with Star Cruises for quite some time. He has an easygoing style and is adept at requests. Sometimes he will even encourage sing-a-longs, depending on the crowd. Jon Jon can be found performing in the Observation Lounge and Castaway Bar at various times. Do stop by for an enjoyable interlude.

If you like to sing, and like to entertain and/or make other passengers suffer, head to the Karaoke Bar. This venue is always busy. The tables by the large windows are always the first to fill up. Here you will find solo, couples and groups eager to express themselves through song. Some of them are quite talented. Then, on the other hand, we have the Chinese Opera wannabees. It's a fun place and good for a laugh or two at times.

Update: As on my previous cruise, the entertainment was varied and there is something that will appeal to everyone. Don't miss the production show presented in Galaxy of the Stars. It is fast paced, splashy, and has a very talented cast of performers. There is still the Trio and piano music to be enjoyed in the Observation Lounge and Piano Bar/Lounge. I still feel that the Piano Bar is a relaxing and intimate venue that is ideal for pre or after dinner cocktails. The Karaoke Bar is still as lively as ever and well attended. Plan your evening well so that you can experience all the entertainment that is available onboard Pisces.

Although Pisces sails on short overnight cruises, there is much going on to keep you busy. Here are some highlights from my cruise.

Welcome aboard party at Galaxy show lounge---Kids DIY class---Bingo---Line Dancing---Karaoke Competition---Fortune Telling---Chinese Caligraphy---Portrait Painting---Mahjong games and of course the Passenger Safety Drill, which is taken very seriously aboard Pisces and every ship in Star's fleet.

Extra charge activities include Japanese Shiatsu massage, beauty treatments and sauna. Children are also kept busy at the Childcare Center which is open from 5pm until 2am, as is the video arcade.

There is plenty to do and choose from. Be as active as you like, or just relax. It's your choice. You will not be bored on this ship.

Update: Much to my happiness the Star Pisces still has a wide array of activities to suit all passenger tastes. Actually, there is more to do aboard this ship than time will allow. So read your Star Navigator and choose what appeals to you the most. Here is just a sample of what is offered.

Welcome aboard party at Galaxy show lounge---Kids DIY class---Bingo---Line Dancing---Karaoke Competition---Fortune Telling---Chinese Caligraphy---Portrait Painting---Mahjong games and of course the Passenger Safety Drill, which is taken very seriously aboard Pisces and every ship in Star's fleet. Extra charge activities include Japanese Shiatsu massage, beauty treatments and sauna. Children are also kept busy at the Childcare Center which is open from 5pm until 2am, as is the video arcade. I cannot see how or why anyone could not enjoy their time while cruising with Star Pisces.

The majority of passengers will be from Hong Kong, with a good number from mainland China. It is not unusual to see some foreigners aboard Star Pisces. They may be ex-pats living and working in Hong Kong, or they may just be tourists who decided to take a cruise. No matter where you hail from, I am quite sure you will find the passenger mix pleasant and your cruise very enjoyable.

Star Pisces sails on daily overnight high seas cruises from Hong Kong all year and also offers special longer cruises to Xiamen at different times throughout the year.

The Star Pisces is marketed to the local Hong Kong and Mainland China clientele. That being said, there is no reason why a foreigner could not sail aboard Pisces and have a good time. It is a fine way of sampling how Chinese people enjoy cruising. Naturally Pisces is not a ship where you would fly many miles to cruise with. If you are in Hong Kong or environs, by all means do step aboard for a fun, short, good time. Do board with an open mind and with expectations of experiencing a different culture and you may be very pleasantly surprised. The staff and crew will will show you their fine Asian hospitality. Although there is no pretense of being luxurious, Pisces offers comfortable cabins in the higher grades and her public spaces are furnished and designed to offer comfort and a casual, happy time. With reasonable fares and the opportunity to experience new sights, sounds and tastes, I do recommend a cruise aboard Star Pisces.

Update: I fully recommend a cruise with Pisces. With all the upgrades and refurbishments, the "new" Star Pisces is bound to please her past and new passengers alike. There is a new freshness and vitality all over the ship. Some interesting special cruises this year to ports in China and Taiwan are other reasons to enjoy a cruise aboard the happy ship Star Pisces.

Additional Photo's of Star Pisces - Album #1

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