MANILA - Cruise ship operator Star Cruises on Monday said its flagship vessel will call Manila its home port in March offering themed tours to Japan and Taiwan.

SuperStar Virgo will offer a total of 18 cruises from Manila to Ishigaki in Okinawa, Japan and Keelung in Taiwan and back, and Manila to Naha in Japan and Keelung in Taiwan and back, said Michael Goh, Star Cruises senior vice president for international sales.

The summer deployments from Manila ports aim to bring affordable and hassle-free vacation to Filipino families by arranging visa-free visits to Taiwan and Japan, company officials said.

“Both Japan and Taiwan won't require visas so it would really be very convenient and also cost-saving for the Filipinos that go on board the cruise ship,” said Andrea Solis Manzano, Star Cruises sales assistant vice president.

The cruises will run from March 5 to May 29. In 2017, Star Cruises offered trips from Manila to Laoag in Ilocos Norte then to Kaohsiung in Taiwan and in Hong Kong before going back to Manila.

“To us, Philippines is a very important market and we see there’s a lot of potential. And we are an Asian company and our job is to promote cruises in Asia,” Goh told reporters.

GREATEST HITS AND BASKETBALL

New themed cruises will be introduced this year on top of their signature Superstar Virgo amenities.

There will be a “Greatest Hits Cruise” on March 5 featuring members of Filipino disco groups The Boyfriends and VST & Co from the 70s.

On March 30, they will also offer the "Sports Cruise" with an on board basketball clinic led by sports legends Alvin Patrimonio, Johnny Abarrientos, Jerry Codiñera and Benjie Paras.

“Aside from the nightly entertainment we developed more entertainment to add value to the cruise fare," Manzano said.

During the three-month Manila homeport deployment, a Mother’s Day Cruise and a Labor Day Weekend Cruise will be offered plus a special Free Kids Cruise for children below 12 years old.

FILIPINOS ABOARD

Filipinos make up forty percent of the SuperStar Virgo crew, including some who have been with the company for 25 years, said Goh.

"Many of our Filipino colleagues who initially joined us as waiters or housekeeping staff, today they all become our senior management, our cruise directors they are all Filipinos, our F&B (food and beverage) director is also a Filipino, if you look at our front office they are all Filipino," he said.

Executive chef Chua Chong Hooi, who supervises all meals served on the ship, said Filipinos comprise more than half of the 130 chefs on board, feeding up to 2,600 guests.

“Filipino are the most hardworking guys, they earn money and they work hard for it,” Chua said.

Star Cruises is a subsidiary of leisure corporation Genting Hong Kong.