SuperStar Libra

The 1988-built/2022-scrapped SuperStar Libra cruise ship was last owned by GHK (Genting Hong Kong, part of Genting Group Malaysia) and managed by GHK's subsidiary Genting Cruise Lines via the Star Cruises brand. Fleetmates included Star Pisces, SuperStar Aquarius, and SuperStar Gemini.

The vessel (IMO number 8612134) was last Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 308188000) and registered in Nassau.

On March 2, 2018, via letters and emails sent to all booked customers, the shipowner GHK announced that SuperStar Libra would end its passenger operations for Star Cruises on June 27, 2018. Between August 2018 and April 2022, the liner (reclassified as an "Accommodation Vessel") served as a hotel ship in Wismar for the shipbuilding company MV Werften. SuperStar Libra was permanently docked at MV Werften Wismar shipyard.

On February 4, 2022, it was announced that the shipowner (Administrator Star Cruises Germany GmbH) had gone bankrupt. This followed MV Werften's bankruptcy (filed on January 10) and GHK's bankruptcy (filed on January 18).

German media reported that the 34-year-old SuperStar Libra had been sold for scrapping at Aliaga Turkey. According to satellite AIS data, the vessel (which had remained docked in Wismar for approximately 2.5 years) departed the port on April 7, 2022 (last reported position at 06:23 UTC), en route to Greece (exact destination undisclosed), reportedly to serve again as a hotel ship. However, in May, the vessel was beached at Aliaga for dismantling.

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, 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 Genting Group Malaysia (incorporated in Bermuda in 1993), with headquarters in Hong Kong China.

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

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

The 1500-passenger SuperStar Libra was delivered in May 1988 by Wartsila Marine at Turku New Shipyard (in Turku Finland). She was originally named Seaward and operated by NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line (renamed "Norwegian Sea" in 1997). The vessel was renamed SuperStar Libra in 2005 when she joined Star Cruises. During her service with Star Cruises, she operated itineraries in the Mediterranean, Adriatic, and Aegean Seas (mid-2006). In September 2006, she was repositioned to Mumbai. Over the next two years, the ship operated in Vietnam. Between November 2007 and March 2008, she sailed from Hong Kong on 2- to 7-night itineraries to ports in China, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Seasonal cruises from Singapore were also offered (November 2008 to January 2009).

Decks and Cabins

SuperStar Libra offered a total of 740 staterooms across 15 categories. The largest accommodations were the Executive Suites (385 ft2 / 36 m2). All suites were equipped with HDTV, DVD player, mini-fridge, and a separate lounge area.

The ship had 10 passenger decks, of which 6 featured cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

SuperStar Libra operated as a "freestyle" cruise ship, allowing passengers to dine when, where, and with whom they preferred. All meals were included at the main dining venues.

Below is the complete list of SuperStar Libra restaurants and food bars.

• Four Seasons Restaurant
• Mariners Restaurant (buffet-style restaurant offering high-quality international cuisine with fresh ingredients); Patio (outdoor venue on the Pool Deck)
• Ocean Palace (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

SuperStar Libra resembled a floating resort, offering a wide range of facilities and recreational activities. Guests could experience Asian culture and hospitality in a relaxed, resort-style environment, with high service standards.

Below is the complete list of SuperStar Libra lounges, clubs, and other entertainment venues for guests of all ages.

• Star Club
• Health Club; Beauty Salon
• Activity Centre; VIP Room
• Crystal Court; Park Avenue; Lickety Splits
• Boomers Disco
• Star Boutique; Internet Cafe; Photo Gallery; Card Room
• Galaxy of the Stars (theater)
• Sports Deck (shuffleboard, basketball court)
• Pool Deck, Pool Bar, 2 swimming pools, 2 Jacuzzis; Sun Deck; Jogging Track

Itineraries

SuperStar Libra's itinerary program was based on 1- to 3-day short breaks (mini-cruises) in Southeast Asia. The ship's 2017 schedule (starting September 3) was based on three homeports — Port Klang (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Penang (Malaysia), and Phuket (Thailand) — with weekly roundtrips including a 3-night itinerary (Kuala Lumpur–Phuket–Penang) and a 4-night itinerary (Kuala Lumpur–Langkawi Island–Phuket–Penang).

Star Cruises' 2017 program introduced multiple homeports per vessel, enhancing flexibility for passengers to choose their preferred departure port. These turnaround ports are well-connected cities, with Kuala Lumpur serving as a major aviation hub in Asia.