Returning the four-masted Star Flyer to Thailand for its eighth
winter season, Star Clipper Cruises is offering discounted air and
free hotel nights to lure travelers to post-SARS Asia.
“We’ve discovered through our market research that consumers are
looking for a combination cruise and land package when booking the
Far East,” said Mark Carlson, director of marketing for Star
Clipper.
The company combined seven-night cruises on the 170-passenger
Star Flyer with four free hotel nights in Bangkok. Fares for the
11-night package start at $1,545 per person, double occupancy.
The discounted air add-on is $395 from Los Angeles or San
Francisco.
The offers are available on 15 departures between Nov. 8 and
March 20. The Star Flyer sails roundtrip from the Thai island of
Phuket.
The cruise sails in the Andaman Sea, calling at numerous small
islands and outposts along the southern coast of Thailand and
Malaysia, as well as Penang or Langkawi.
The 11-night package begins with a stay at the four-star Montien
Riverside Hotel in Bangkok, located in the city’s commercial and
entertainment district.
The land package includes breakfast, selected meals, a half-day
“Vibrant City” sightseeing tour and airport transfers for the short
flight to and from Phuket.
Passengers can simply sit back and relax on the cruise; boating
enthusiasts can lend a hand hoisting sails or can climb the mast
(in a harness) if they choose. Every other week, the cruise
includes a call at Penang, Malaysia or the island of Langkawi.
Pulau Penang lies off the northwestern coast of Peninsular
Malaysia, and is linked to the mainland by one of the longest
bridges in the world (8.4 miles).
The capital, Georgetown, combines a number of foreign influences
with a 65-story skyscraper called the Komtar; a complex of
department stores, restaurants, theaters and a squash court, and
the Kek Lok Si temple, one of the finest Buddhist temples in
Southeast Asia.
The Malaysian island of Langkawi is one of a group of 104
islands scattered in the seas off the northernmost tip of
Peninsular Malaysia. The clear tropical waters provide spectacular
swimming and diving while the scenery includes paddy fields
contoured into limestone hills, lush tropical forests and high
tumbling waterfalls.
A modern cruise ship in every way, the Star Flyer was created
for those who also appreciate the tradition and romance of the
legendary era of sailing ships. The ship is 360 feet long and
carries 170 guests in an atmosphere more akin to a private yacht
than to group touring, the company says.
Despite its size, the Star Flyer has expansive decks, which the
company says is more outdoor space per passenger than most
conventional cruise ships.
In addition to two pools and an indoor-outdoor tropical bar, the
Star Flyer boasts a piano bar, a traditional library with a
fireplace and dining rooms serving gourmet meals.
Cabins include twin beds that can be converted to queen size,
marble bathrooms, safes, televisions with in-house video,
direct-dial phones and hair dryers.
The on-board atmosphere is decidedly low-key. Guests are free to
dine when and with whomever they wish, including ship officers, who
join guests in the dining room most nights.
There are no formal nights; “casual elegance” is the general
dress with slacks and polos recommended for men and sundresses or
equivalent attire for women.
800-442-0551; www.starclippers.com
