The Beat Stays: Star Cruises’ Inaugural Hong Kong Voyage
Have you been dreaming about a cruise by the sea but couldn’t commit to a weeks-long trip across the ocean?
In a first for Hong Kong, StarCruises’ “Star Voyager” is making the city its home port for the remainder of the year. Take a long weekend or make the most of those vacation days and embark on two-, three-, or five-night cruises travelling to Taiwan, Japan, and other countries around the region.
Who could resist a relaxing two-night cruise to Kaohsiung, whereupon you would dock in dreamy Southern Taiwan and return within three days?
Poolside cocktails or freshly squeezed juice, a refreshing cool breeze offering a retreat from the warm sun — also, a welcome escape from the humidity in Hong Kong — endless dining options, an adventure park featuring a zip-line, and a round-the-clock entertainment schedule; StarCruises has it all. Whether you are looking to relax and luxuriate in their 24-hour concierge service (Star Voyager also houses an all-day Kids’ Club) or make the most out of their action-packed activity schedule, this may just be your ideal next holiday getaway.
The Beat Asia was privileged to join the “Star Voyager” for its inaugural High Seas Cruise commemorating its first voyage, embarking from the city.
The occasion was marked by a special ceremony conducted on-ship officiated by Michael Goh, President of StarDream Cruises, and Joanne Chu, Deputy Commissioner for Tourism of the Tourism Commission of the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Bureau, HKSAR Government.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate the arrival of Star Voyager in Hong Kong,” shared Michael Goh, President of StarDream Cruises. “We aim to boost regional travel and further reinforce Hong Kong’s role as a leading cruise hub.”
After a glamorous showcase by the cruise’s entertainment team, the ceremony closed as guests started to board for Star Voyager’s inaugural voyage. And thus, our journey began!
Venue
Star Voyager spans an impressive 261 by 32 meters over 14 floors and 972 rooms, housing up to 1,944 passengers. Needless to say, we were well surpassing our daily 10k step count with so much to explore. The ship is fitted with plenty of elevators, so stairs are optional; every floor is accessible through lift access.
The ship has seven dining establishments (a mix of unpaid and paid restaurants), four bars, and one karaoke venue. Various pools, entertainment zones, an adventure park, activity and workshop areas, wellness sections, and boutiques are thoughtfully located throughout the ship. A small wading pool on the top deck of the cruise overlooking borderless oceans was our quiet oasis during the trip, a refreshing contrast from its bustling main deck. Freshly squeezed watermelon juice and a book in hand, this was our choice location for sunbathing.
The ship’s lobby on its main floor opens into a multipurpose space with high ceilings, spiral staircases, and multi-floor balconies enveloping the entire area, and this soon became our home base for the weekend.
We started our voyage, greeted by Star Voyager's talented violinist Yiseth dressed in a fairy-tale gown, playing renditions of pop classics. Welcome drinks in hand, we were impressed from the start by the grandeur of the ship and its entertainment team.
Soon after our embarkment, family activities from beginner dance lessons and fitness classes to Nintendo Switch competitions and children’s movie screenings livened up the space during the day, whilst full house performances, Salsa Nights, and bingo occupied the venue in the evenings.
Star Voyager’s new flagship event for its Hong Kong debut, “The Red Carpet,” a vibrant gala, takes place in the lobby as well.
The Room
We stayed in a cozy Balcony Stateroom which fit a closet, spacious bed, sofa, toilet with a shower, and balcony bringing serene sea views and filling the room with plenty of natural light. Waking up to the splash of waves and rising sun on the ocean’s horizon was a dream.
A stay in the Balcony Stateroom costs from HK$900 per person per night (HK$1,800 per person for a Two-Night Cruise, HK$2,700 for a Three-Night Cruise, HK$4,500 for a Five-Night Cruise during Low Season, HK$6,750 for a Five-Night Cruise during Mid Season, subject to additional fees) and as low as a very affordable HK$600 per person per night (during Low Season, subject to additional fees), inclusive of meals, pool access, and an array of entertainment options. Rates vary from $1,500 for an Interior Room for Two Nights during Low Season to $18,000 for the Palace Penthouse for Five Nights during Mid Season.
Note: At such affordable rates, do not expect five-star hotel upkeep.
One of our favorite things about the room was its generous furnishing of mirrors on every free wall (with a floor-length mirror built into the closet) — if you came to the cruise for the Gram, you have everything you need to build a picture-perfect fit.
Amenities
Each guest on Star Voyager is welcome to dine at four venues for free: The NorthStar Dining Room, The Lido, Sophia, and the Palace Restaurant. The Lido and Sophia offer western staples, whilst The NorthStar and Palace Restaurant serve Asian classics.
Specialty venues include Silk Road, Red Tail Café, and Blue Lagoon. Silk Road's menu features a tasting menu alongside à la carte Chinese delicacies and select Japanese dishes, including sushi and sashimi. Red Tail Café is a pizzeria serving comforting Italian dishes, and Blue Lagoon offers a variety of Southeast Asian cuisine.
We were treated to a Chinese tasting menu on our first night at Silk Road; however, the most memorable meal of our journey was lunching at the Palace Restaurant with a large group. The operations team cleverly portions dishes according to the number of guests at a table, and who doesn’t love multi-course lazy Susan dining with comforting Chinese food?
Every morning, we were welcome to enjoy an elaborate breakfast buffet at any of the free restaurants, unlimited coffee, tea, and juice included. Waking up to the gentle sounds of ocean waves and heading to a sun-soaked open-plan restaurant, taking coffee with our fruit before heading to the deck for some sunshine was the ultimate cruise vibe.
Star Voyager also has an in-house gym, hair salon and beauty spa, and wellness spa available to all guests for an additional fee. Well-stocked boutiques line the ship’s main lobby in case you forgot to pack a vacation essential or are looking to splurge — duty free!
Pro tip: participating in the cruise’s special Bingo Nights may just win you a prize from one of Star Voyager’s luxury boutiques, or at least a generous discount!
Experience
Star Voyager offers comprehensive all-day pool and deck entertainment experiences from water slides and hot tubs, to wading pools, water volleyball, and pool parties, to poolside bar service with freshly squeezed juice and refreshing cocktails.
Over the summer, the ship has three festivals a day, bringing beats from around the world to guests. From September to November, Star Voyager will host a new lineup of Mid-Autumn, Oktoberfest, and Bollywood fests.
Our first morning on the ship, we could not resist heading to the main deck as soon as our morning schedule allowed. The soothing ocean surrounding us offered a perfect photo opportunity whilst guests enjoyed a variety of activities around the main pool.
We loved the transition from an in-pool pilates instructor to the first pool party of the day: “Island Vibes: Caribbean Reggae Jam." Star Voyager's entertainment team showed up in fun tropical outfits as they brought out hoses and proceeded to spray everybody with water hoses while jamming to the on-ship DJ. The island vibes were met!
For those feeling adventurous or hoping to expend some of their children’s energy, Star Voyager also has a Little Dreamers Club with professionally trained childcare staff open daily alongside an extensive itinerary of activities. Parents can drop off their little ones for select classes and workshops or opt for day-long care. They even have a Teen Ambassador program where ambassadors can work alongside the cruise's Director to conceptualize creative on-ship activities for fellow guests.
In addition to the water slides, on-ship zip-line, and rock-climbing walls being returning favorites, a “Titanic” photo opportunity on the ship’s bow should not be missed by brave souls. Don't worry, you will be wearing a safety harness, and a full team of professional staff will assist you throughout your experience.
With everything on offer at Star Voyager and an already fully packed itinerary, it was impossible to experience it all in just two nights!
The Red Carpet
At last, it was time for The Red Carpet night, an opportunity for guests to glam and dress up mid-vacation — we saw so many in cocktail attire eyeing the event’s coveted Best Dressed Awards. This was also a unique event for guests to have a chance to meet Star Voyager’s senior management team, including the ship’s own Captain Jorgen Homberg.
Serenaded by the angelic voice of one of their talented singers, the entire cruise’s entertainment team also showed up in their finest, walking each guest down a paparazzi-lined (as a media guest, we definitely contributed to the flashes) red carpet — the perfect photo op for a memorable holiday.
After a joyous bilingual welcome ceremony, guests were welcome to take more photos, enjoy complimentary drinks, and dance with the cruise’s talented entertainment team.
Just like every dance class and Salsa Night held on board, you can dance with crew members! If you've wondered about attending a ball since Bridgerton's debut, this is a fun introduction to the experience. We were also treated to beautiful professional dance performances by some of them; they never ceased to impress us with their talent!
Solidifying the occasion in our memories, we were also privileged to witness a beautifully orchestrated proposal — there couldn’t have been a better way for The Red Carpet event to conclude. New proposal location unlocked!
Entertainment
One of the Star Voyager’s signature shows held at its Zodiac Theatre was “Scott & Muriel ‘The Accidental Illusionists,’” an all-ages magic experience that had the audience on the edge of their seats with antics that had us questioning our own eyes. The cacophonous but adorable laughter of the children filling the venue only added to the charm of the experience.
The star of the Star Voyager was without a doubt the cruise’s in-house Chinese Opera singer and drag performer YIMO, who stunned us with fantastic vocal performances — and he can sing (!) in traditional Dan (soprano) style or tenor in YIMO’s regular register, dance, make cheeky jokes, and engage audiences all the sound of resounding laughter and applause. Not only were YIMO’s world-class performances jaw-dropping, but he also educated the cruise’s multigenerational audience on the concept of drag.
In addition to being the star of his own show, “Odyssey,” YIMO also charismatically hosted music nights in the ship’s lobby, impressing guests with very active renditions of iconic Chinese oldies.
All in all, we were so impressed by the production quality of every single one of the ship’s signature entertainment experiences. The talent and commitment of each performer to all their different roles were definitely worthy of professional stage production applause. From hosting dance classes and hyping the crowd at pool parties, to backing up the ship’s hallmark productions, every performer never wavered from delivering show-stopping quality and holding guest entertainment at heart.
Check-Out Thoughts
If we were to make one reason Star Voyager is a must-attend experience this summer, in addition to its great value and family-friendly facilities, it would be the entertainment. StarCruises pulled all the stops to curate the ship’s day-to-night experience itineraries, and we can only imagine how much more fun spending additional nights onboard could be while visiting some of Asia’s best island destinations.
This experience is perfect for families looking for an all-inclusive holiday that requires no planning other than choosing your sailing dates.
Don’t miss Star Voyager’s upcoming Two-Night “Sea-cations” and trips to Kaohsiung, Three-Night sailings to Kaohsiung and Penghu, and Five-Night trips travelling to Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Vietnam from now until mid-November 2025. More booking information can be found here.
For more information, visit StarCruises’ website here and follow them on Instagram or Facebook. Bookings can be made online or contact them at reservations.ts@stardreamcruises.com or +852 800 938 887.
Location: Embark on your journey at Hong Kong Ocean Terminal, Harbour City, Canton Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui
Travelling across Asia soon? Check out more reviews of great hotels in the region in our The Beat Stays series.
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