Never taken a cruise before? The perfect starter cruise experience: SuperStar Aquarius

Reporter Ma Junjie / Reported and photographed in Japan

Want to travel abroad but afraid of flying? Why not try a cruise trip to Ishigaki Island instead? Cruising has so many perks—enjoy plenty of delicious food on board, bring unlimited luggage, shop to your heart’s content, watch amazing live performances, and even bring your beloved bicycle along for an unexpectedly fun travel experience.

Generally, once you board, you’ll receive the day’s ship schedule, which includes the timings of all free and paid restaurants, as well as performance schedules. All onboard activities are clearly laid out. After boarding, you can head straight to your cabin to drop off your luggage. There are various cabin grades on the cruise, with different price points, but all are clean and comfortable. Taking Star Cruises’ SuperStar Aquarius as an example, there are six different cabin grades.

DC Interior Cabin (see image below)
The most affordable option, the room is clean and fresh, with a size of about 3.1–5.9 pyeong. The cabin comes with two single beds and a small sofa chair, making it ideal for budget-conscious travelers. Due to the low price, these cabins are usually snapped up first.

CC Window Sea View Cabin (see image below)
With a space of around 4.4–6 pyeong, this cabin features an actual window overlooking Deck 7, which often has passenger traffic. Remember to draw the curtains when changing clothes.

BA Balcony Sea View Cabin (see image below)
With approximately 4.8–4.9 pyeong of space, this cabin offers a private balcony for enjoying sea views. Sipping coffee while taking in the ocean is incredibly relaxing. This room type also includes a small living area, making it a great spot for chatting or enjoying the view without being exposed to the wind.

SuperStar Suite (see image below)
With a size of about 8 pyeong, this is the most basic suite type, but it’s bright and well-designed, offering a very comfortable stay. The bathroom is also hotel-grade.

Deluxe Cabin (see image below)
With a size of about 9–10 pyeong, located at the bow of the ship, so the windows offer fantastic views of the ship’s front. Although there may be passengers moving outside, the specially designed glass ensures privacy as outsiders can’t see in.

Executive Cabin (see image below)
With a size of about 9 pyeong, this is the highest-grade cabin below the presidential suite. It offers a spacious layout, plus an outdoor terrace and small living area—very comfortable.

If you have any questions about services, you can visit the counter on the 7th floor, including inquiries about post-embarkation activities.You can also pick up motion sickness medication here.The cruise also offers paid Wi-Fi for passengers to use.

There are numerous free and paid performances on SuperStar Aquarius, and the lineup changes regularly. For details, check: http://www.starcruises.com.tw/aquarius/activities.aspx

The Star Lounge is the ship’s main performance venue, where most large shows take place. The first evening performance is “The Magical World of Richard & Josette” (Richard Burr & Josette), running from March 1, 2015, for about 45 minutes. The show features a variety of magic acts such as card tricks and large prop illusions.

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