Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships 2017 (Berlitz Cruise Guide) (2016)
SuperStar Gemini
★★★
Berlitz’s Ratings
Ship: 326 out of 500
Accommodation: 128 out of 200
Food: 233 out of 400
Service: 250 out of 400
Entertainment: 63 out of 100
Cruise: 243 out of 400
Overall Score: 1243 out of 2000
SuperStar Gemini Statistics
Size: Mid-size Ship
Tonnage: 50,764
Lifestyle: Standard
Cruise Line: Star Cruises
Former Names: Norwegian Dream, Dreamward
IMO Number: 9008419
Builder: Chantiers de l’Atlantique (France)
Original Cost: $240 million
Entered Service: Dec 1992/Jan 2013
Registry: Bahamas
Length (ft/m): 754.0/229.8
Beam (ft/m): 93.5/28.5
Draft (ft/m): 22.3/6.8
Propulsion/Propellers: diesel (18,480kW)/2
Passenger Decks: 10
Total Crew: 700
Passengers (lower beds): 1,532
Passenger Space Ratio (lower beds): 33.1
Passenger/Crew Ratio (lower beds): 2.1
Cabins (total): 766
Size Range (sq ft/m): 139.9-349.8/13.0-32.5
Cabins (for one person): 0
Cabins (with private balcony): 74
Cabins (wheelchair accessible): 11
Wheelchair accessibility: Fair
Cabin Current: 110 volts
Elevators: 10
Casino (gaming tables): Yes
Slot Machines: Yes
Swimming Pools: 1
Hot Tubs (on deck): 2
Self-Service Launderette: No
Dedicated Cinema/Seats: No
Library: Yes
Onboard currency: Hong Kong $
This casual family-friendly ship is for Asian nationalities
Overview. SuperStar Gemini is a mid-sized ship that is good for Asian families and couples looking for a general cruise experience in fairly contemporary surroundings.
The Ship. Although its funnel is large and square-ish looking, the ship’s profile is quite well balanced; this is because the ship underwent a ‘chop and stretch’ operation in which a new 131ft (40m) mid-section was added in 1998. This gave the ship not only more cabins, but more public rooms and places to play in.
The tiered pool deck aft is neat, as are the multi-deck aft sun terraces and all the fore and aft connecting exterior stairways. The overall exterior design emphasizes a clever and extensive use of large windows that create a sense of open spaces. However, there is no big atrium lobby, as one might expect.
The ship was highly successful for many years for Norwegian Cruise Line’s younger, active sports-minded passengers, and now provides Star Cruises’ passengers with a comfortable ship. Public rooms include a mahjong room, an activity center, several shops (including a duty-free store, a tea corner for premium teas, and a jewelry store), an Observatory Lounge (Karaoke Lounge), Genting Club, and Star Club (casino with gaming tables and slot machines).
Accommodation. There are several grades of cabins (the price you pay will depend on the grade, size and location you choose). Most cabins have outside views, wood-trimmed cabinetry and warm decor, with multi-colored soft furnishings. But there is almost no drawer space (the closets have open shelves). All cabins benefit from a sitting area, but this takes away any free space, making movement pretty tight. The bathrooms are small but practical.
Dining. There are plenty of choices when it comes to dining. The main full-service dining room is Bella Vista (the nicest of all the dining venues, with prime tables with ocean-view window seats); Dynasty (a self-serve Chinese buffet); Mariners Restaurant (a self-serve buffet); Oceana Barbecue (outdoors, for grilled specialties and buffet-style eats); and Blue Lagoon (a 24-hour à-la-carte venue).
Entertainment. The Stardust Lounge is the ship’s main showlounge. It is two decks high, and is located in the center of the ship, with cabins in front of it, and other public rooms and dining spots behind it.
Spa/Fitness. Spa/fitness facilities are located in the forward section of Sports Deck 12 (just aft of the observation lounge), and include a gymnasium with high-tech muscle-toning equipment, a beauty salon, several massage and associated treatment rooms, and men’s and women’s saunas and changing rooms.