Holiday at Sea: Cruising Aboard SuperStar Gemini

"The sea once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever."

- Jacques Cousteau

The sea casting its spell

We only dreamed of dipping our toes into the experience of cruising. But with a bit of luck and a lot of hard work, we were able to do it. Here's what we experienced.

Flying in to Singapore
We arrived in Singapore a day before our cruise. It can be an option to arrive on the same day since the ship's departure is at 3:00 PM but considering Manila's reputation of air traffic congestion and flight delays, the downside of missing the cruise is so huge that it is wise to add extra time. This also allowed us to relax, de-stress from all the preparations, wind down from work, and be in the mood for a vacation.

Planning An Amazing Asian Cruise

Cruises are not yet popular among Filipinos. In fact, majority of cruise consumption in Asia are coming from China and India. However, this shouldn't prevent us from missing out on this form of travel especially now that SuperStar Virgo of Star Cruises is making Manila its home port for the next two months.  

SuperStar Gemini's Funnel

Cruising is a great way to travel and discover places as it combines the price of a floating hotel, six meals a day, luxurious amenities, onboard entertainment and activities, and an itinerary in multiple destinations all in one package deal.

There is no need to worry as the cruise tourism caters to a broad range of travelers. There will always be one that's going to be a perfect match to your taste and preferences. But where to begin? The best way to start really is to do research and learn about the ships and their destinations.

We will be sharing here some entries of our own cruising experience and hopefully inspire others to go for their own dream cruises.

So how did we plan for our cruise? Being cruise newbies, we spent a lot of time researching and discovering information on our own. But we're happy to pass along our top tips for planning an Asian cruise. 

Universal Studios Singapore: Tips to Getting the Most of Your Day!

With more than 20 rides and attractions spread across seven unique themed zones, Universal Studios Singapore (USS) has plenty of attractions to captivate every Juan. But before you visit, check out some of these tips to help you maximize your day and create an unforgettable experience.

Universal Studios Singapore

Get There Early?

The usual advice we get about visiting popular attractions is to arrive early. Is it a big deal for Universal Studios Singapore? Yes, definitely!

Entrance gate to USS before a queue builds up

Being the only Hollywood movie theme park in Southeast Asia, USS sure packs in crowds. You'll be surprised that within an hour before its opening time, there are already queues outside the gates of the park. So it will be so much better to arrive early than to arrive late and get in line behind everyone else. Moreover, stand by times to the rides tend to get longer as the day goes by. 

We suggest arriving an hour to 30 minutes before the park opens. By arriving early, you'll get the advantage of being one of the first people to step through the gates and beat the rush to the headliner attractions. 

Universal Studios Singapore: A Guide to Exploring the Park

You cannot visit Singapore and not go to Universal Studios Singapore. It is a must-visit for both the young and the young-at-heart Juans. This is because Universal Studios Singapore is the first Hollywood-movie theme park in Southeast Asia and will be the only one of its kind in the region for the next 30 years. It opened in 2010 and easily became the most popular theme park in Southeast Asia. By 2017, the park has passed the 25 million visitor mark. 

Universal Studios Entrance Arc

Universal Studios Singapore is 20 hectares in size, occupying the easternmost part of the 49-hectare Resorts World Sentosa. There are more than 25 rides and attractions, of which majority have been specially adapted for the park. Just like other Universal Parks and Resorts, Universal Studios Singapore is divided into themed zones. The seven zones are Hollywood, New York, Sci-Fi City, Ancient Egypt, The Lost World, Far Far Away, and Madagascar. 

If you're planning a visit, read through the post

Singapore: A Travel Guide for First-Timers

Singapore is essentially a modern megalopolis that has so much to offer. It is one of the most visited destinations in Asia Pacific with 13 million visitors last year. 

For Filipinos, Singapore has been a very familiar destination. In fact, a lot of Juans have chosen this small island nation as their first-ever foreign country to visit. So it is no longer a surprise that there is an upward trend in air connectivity to accommodate the increasing demand for Juans to travel to the Lion City.

Singapore's modern skyline

So if you are a first-time traveler and planning to visit Singapore, it's best to know a few of the basics. Here's our beginner's guide for travelers to this surprising destination.

The City and the Country
Singapore is an island city-state in Southeast Asia. Located at the tip of the Malay Peninsula and the meeting point of sea routes, the island thrived as a trading post for vessels coming from China and the Middle East. By the 19th century, it was established as the British Empire's port of call in the region. The island then quickly grew as a hub and attracted immigrants from around the world.