SuperStar Aquarius

The 1993-built/2022-scrapped SuperStar Aquarius cruise ship was owned by GHK (Genting Hong Kong, part of Genting Group Malaysia) and managed by GHK’s subsidiary Genting Cruise Lines under the Star Cruises brand. Fleetmates included Star Pisces, SuperStar Gemini (sistership), and SuperStar Libra.

The vessel (IMO number 9008421) was last Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 308273000) and registered in Nassau.

NEWS: In late April 2022, it was announced that the ships Star Pisces and SuperStar Gemini (both docked in George Town Penang) and SuperStar Aquarius (in Port Klang) had been listed for scrapping and were to be beached at Alang India. According to online media sources, the ships’ final crew signed off on May 17, after which a skeleton crew was assigned to deliver them to the scrapyard for dismantling and recycling.

SuperStar Aquarius departed Port Klang on May 23 and left Malaysia on June 2, en route to Bhavnagar, India (approximately 40 km north of Alang). AIS data indicated an estimated arrival date of June 20.

In June, the vessel was renamed ARIUS and reflagged to St Kitts & Nevis (MMSI 341488000), with registration in Basseterre. On July 11, MV ARIUS arrived and docked at HIP-Hambantota International Port (Sri Lanka) for a month-long layup. Her sister ship MV GEM (SuperStar Gemini) arrived there on July 14.

SuperStar Aquarius’ AIS signal was transmitted for the last time on November 25, 2022 (at 23:58 UTC), showing the vessel anchored off Alang.

History - construction and ownership

Star Cruises is part of Genting Cruise Lines (a subsidiary of GHK-Genting Hong Kong Corporation) — the world’s fifth-largest cruise shipowner, after Carnival Corporation, RCG-Royal Caribbean Group, MSC, and NCLH-Norwegian. The company (listed on the Singapore Exchange and Hong Kong Stock Exchange) dominates the Asia-Pacific cruise market. Star Cruises was established as a subsidiary and travel brand of Malaysia’s Genting Group (incorporated in Bermuda in 1993), with corporate headquarters in Hong Kong China.

The fleet’s first vessels were two cruiseferries acquired from Rederi AB Slite (founded in 1947, bankrupt in 1993; see VIKING LINE). In the following years, Star Cruises purchased several additional second-hand ships, followed by two newbuilds — SuperStar Leo/Norwegian Spirit (1998) and her sister ship SuperStar Virgo (1999).

The 2,150-passenger SuperStar Aquarius debuted in 1993 (as "Windward"), built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique (shipyard in Saint-Nazaire France) for Kloster Cruises (now NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line). In 1998, she was renamed "Norwegian Wind" after undergoing a drydock lengthening, which added a 40 m (130 ft) midsection. In 2007, she was transferred to Star Cruises.

Star Cruises ships are recognized by their distinctive funnel design. Star Pisces was the first vessel to feature this design, which was later adopted across the fleet.

Decks and Cabins

SuperStar Aquarius offered a total of 765 staterooms across 18 categories. The largest accommodation was the Owner’s Suite (710 ft2 / 66 m2). All suites were equipped with HDTV, DVD player, mini-fridge, and a separate lounge area.

The ship had 13 decks, of which 10 were passenger-accessible and 8 contained cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

SuperStar Aquarius was operated as a "freestyle" cruise ship, allowing passengers to dine when, where, and with whom they preferred. Food presentation was a highlight of the onboard experience. Oceana, Mariners, Spices, and Dynasty restaurants offered a wide variety of dining options. All meals in the main dining restaurants were included in the cruise fare.

Below is the complete list of SuperStar Aquarius restaurants and food venues.

• Oceana Barbecue (outdoor international buffet and grilled specialties; also the venue for welcome and farewell parties)
• Spice Restaurant (Halal restaurant serving Malaysian cuisine)
• Mariners Restaurant (buffet-style venue offering high-quality international cuisine prepared with fresh ingredients — a hallmark of Star Cruises)
• Dynasty Restaurant (family-style Chinese restaurant)
• Tai Pan (à la carte Chinese restaurant offering upscale cuisine)
• Blue Lagoon (serving fast food and snacks)

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

A notable feature of SuperStar Aquarius was the no-tipping policy onboard, along with one of the highest crew-to-passenger ratios in the cruise industry (approximately 1 crew member for every 2 passengers).

SuperStar Aquarius offered a wide range of amenities and activities. The ship featured stylish interiors and spacious cabins reflecting Asian culture and design. Guests enjoyed activities such as playing Mahjong and attending performances by Chinese acrobats. The ship also provided extensive karaoke facilities, including private rooms for group events and parties.

Below is the complete list of SuperStar Aquarius lounges, clubs, and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Star Club; Skyline Karaoke Lounge
• The Health Club; Oscar's Beauty Salon
• Ins' Spa & Sauna
• Star Boutique; Internet Cafe; Card Room
• Lagoon Bar (wine bar); Tea Corner
• Aquarius Lounge; Champ's Bar
• Video Games Arcade; Child Care Centre
• Genting Palace; Genting Club; Genting Lounge
• Stardust Lounge (theater)
• Pool Deck, 2 swimming pools, 2 Jacuzzis; 18-hole golf putting range; Sun Deck; Jogging Track

Itineraries

SuperStar Aquarius’ itinerary program was based on Asian cruises (primarily to Japan), departing from Taiwan. The ship was homeported in Keelung (Taipei City) and operated roundtrip itineraries to Naha, Ishigaki Island, and Miyakojima Island.