Saturday, March 04, 2006

Kota Kinabalu A Port Of Call Of Star Cruises


By Jackson Sawatan

SINGAPORE (Bernama) -- Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, will be one of Star Cruises' new ports of call from the middle of this year.

Two of Star Cruises luxury ships, SuperStar Virgo and SuperStar Gemini, will call at Kota Kinabalu from May, Star Cruises General Manager Michael Goh said Friday.

"Both the ships have proven to be very popular with the Asian, Australasian and European markets," Goh said an exclusive presentation on "Sabah, the Land Below the Wind", here.

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat, who is Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, launched the event on board SuperStar Virgo at the Harbour Front.

The 13-deck SuperStar Virgo of classical and Mediterranean design will embark on a special departure to Kota Kinabalu on June 4 with a five-night Redang-Kota Kinabalu cruise, while SuperStar Gemini -- the luxury 400-cabin cruiseliner -- will call there from May, offering seven-night and 21-night cruises through August.

Both ships carry more than 300,000 passengers a year comprising many inbound tourists to Singapore, taking a cruise from here to visit neighbouring countries like Malaysia and Thailand.

"Visitors to Sabah will now get to enjoy a totally new holiday experience as they can cruise in comfort and style to explore the many wonderful sights that Kota Kinabalu has to offer," said Goh.

Today's event also saw the signing of an agreement by four parties -- Sabah Tourism Board, Singapore's insurance co-operative NTUC Income, Star Cruises and Sabah-based tour agency Carlota's Borneo -- to promote Sabah as a tourist destination.

NTUC Income's chief executive officer Tan Kin Lian, said: "NTUC Income will work closely with our partners to draw up attractive travel packages for our policyholders and union members. NTUC Income offers more than insurance. We look for ways to offer special benefits to our members."

The insurance co-operative has 1.5 million policyholders and union members.

Present as the guest of honour at today's event was Singapore's Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Lim Boon Yang.

Source: BERNAMA

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