2. RapidPenang U204 from Weld Quay (ferry terminal) / from Penang Hill

4. RapidPenang CAT (Centre Area Transit)

Star Cruises, the third largest cruise operator in the world is a global cruise brand with a combined fleet of 22 ships in service including two to be delivered with about 35,000 lower berths, cruising to destinations and islands in Asia-Pacific, North and South America, Hawaii, Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, Mediterranean, Bermuda and the Antarctica under the Star Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, NCL America, Orient Lines and Cruise Ferries brands.

Vessels operating under the Star Cruises' brand in Asia-Pacific are SuperStar Virgo, SuperStar Gemini, SuperStar Libra, Star Pisces, MegaStar Aries and MegaStar Taurus. 2 vessels among them which will berth at Penang Port from time to time are SuperStar Virgo and SuperStar Gemini.

To know more about the time table and itineraries on SuperStar Virgo and SuperStar Gemini, please contact Star Cruises at below contact numbers:

Malaysia

(60) 3 3101 1313

Singapore

(65) 6223 0002

Hong Kong

(852) 2317 7711

United Kingdom

(0845) 260 8880

Germany

(01805) 62 55 26

Continental Europe

(00800) 0310 21 21

Email: www.starcruises.com

Penang will become the home port for Star Cruise Pisces which will make daily night familiarisation cruises on the open sea.

Penang Port Commission (PPC) chairman Tan Cheng Liang said the vessel with a passenger capacity for over 1,600 people would embark and disembark at the Penang Swettenham Pier International Cruise Terminal. She said the vessel would leave daily at 8.30pm, and return to the port the next morning at 8am. Tan said the initial plan for the cruise tourism was to allow tourists from all over the world to fly to Penang, stay in the state and take the short cruise that would have various activities and entertainment lined up.

“We need to get the market first, and once we have the numbers, long-term plans will be drawn up,” she said. “This is our first breakthrough in cruise tourism, and we hope to come up with better offers once we have memorandums of understanding with Malaysia Airlines and Air Asia. “This will indeed stimulate the state's economy as well as create a spillover effect to the various industries involved,” she told a press conference after meeting with Star Cruise Travel Service Pte Ltd officials at the PPC office yesterday.

Tan said besides that, the Star Cruise Virgo from Singapore to Phuket would continue to use the terminal as a transit port every Monday. Star Cruise Travel Service Pte Ltd senior vice-president (sales) Michael Goh said this was the first time its vessel was making Penang a home port. He said the services were timely as Chinese New Year was just around the corner.

He said the 12-storey ship had among others over 600 cabins, 11 restaurants and bars, gymnasium, swimming pool and a show lounge, adding that there were about 700 crew members from 40 different nationalities.

For more detail and price of Star Pisces ex-Penang Cruise, please find out more at http://www.starcruises.com/newweb/our_fleets/rate/SPC/SPC_1N_Cruise-EN.pdf

For more detail and price of Star Libra ex-Penang Cruise, please find out more at http://www.starcruises.com/newweb/hot_deals/malaysia.aspx