Luxury liner returns to Phuket

CAPE PANWA: The luxury liner SuperStar Virgo returned yesterday to dock at Phuket’s deep sea port at Cape Panwa, a sign that the Sars scare is well and truly history. “The SuperStar Virgo has been in Perth for the past three months because of the Sars outbreak,” said Chutiman Topanyaruang, General Manager of Star Cruises, which owns the ship. “However, that is no longer a problem.” The ship, which normally cruises in Southeast Asian waters, arrived from Penang, Malaysia, with almost 2,000 passengers aboard. It will resume its regular cruise between Phuket and Singapore via the Strait of Malacca, until the end of September. The liner will berth in Phuket every Tuesday. Phuket Vice-Governor Niran Kalayanamit was the guest of honor at a ceremony welcoming the ship’s return. “I’m glad that the Virgo came back,” said V/Gov Niran. “I hope this co-operation between Phuket and Star Cruises will help to bring in more tourists.”