Star Clippers offers up some of Asia’s best-kept secrets

Star Clippers is offering four special 11-night cruise tours between Bangkok and Singapore during Star Clipper’s 2007-08 Asia season. The packages combine a seven-night cruise between Singapore and Phuket, Thailand, with a four-night tour of Bangkok.

The cruise calls at some of the hidden treasures of Asia — the small ports and islands of Thailand’s Andaman Sea — treasured by adventurous travelers for their unspoiled beaches and exotic beauty. The four-night tour features accommodations at a five-star hotel and a tour of  Bangkok.

“These cruise tours offer an extraordinary opportunity to visit lesser-known parts of Asia,” said Jack Chatham, vice president of sales and marketing for Star Clippers. “And with only four cruise tours offered during the season, we anticipate high demand for these sailings.”

The Bangkok-to-Singapore cruise tours, slated for December 4, 2007, and March 4, 2008, both begin with a four-night stay at the five-star Montien Riverside Hotel in Bangkok. The tour includes two days at leisure to explore Bangkok, cultural dinner show, half-day city tour and optional add-on tours. The tour ends with a short flight to Phuket, Thailand, to meet the ship.

The Dec. 8, 2007, cruise departs Phuket and calls at Ko Lipe, Thailand; the Malaysian ports of Langkawi, Penang, Pangkor Island, Port Kelang (tour Kuala Lumpur), Malacca, and ends in Singapore. The March 8, 2008, follows a different itinerary, departing Phuket and calling at the Similan Islands, Phang Nga Bay/Ko Khai Nok and Ko Adang, Thailand; and Penang and Malacca, Malaysia, separated by a day at sea, ending in Singapore.

The Singapore-to-Bangkok cruise tour, slated for December 15, 2007, and March 29, 2008, begins with a seven-day cruise departing Singapore and calling at Malacca, Langkawi and Ko Lipe, Malaysia; and Phang Nga Bay/Ko Khai Nok, Ko Miang and Phuket, Thailand; and ends with a short flight to Bangkok.

The four-night Bangkok tours offered December 22, 2007, and April 5, 2008, are identical to the December 4 and March 4 tours described above.

The 11-night cruise tour includes roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles or San Francisco to Bangkok and Singapore; four-night stay at Montien Riverside Hotel, which includes breakfast daily, half-day city tour and cultural dinner show; seven-night sailing on Star Clipper between Phuket and Singapore in an outside cabin, with meals and entertainment. Short flights to Phuket and Bangkok also are included.

Rates for the December 4 and December 15, 2007, cruise tours start at $2,315 and go up to $3,235. Rates for the March 4 and March 29, 2008, cruise tours start at $2,415 and go up to $3,335. All rates are per person, double occupancy. Additional port charges are $185 per person, and the air tax and fuel surcharge is $224 per person. For cruise and land tour only, deduct $800 from the above rates. These special rates are available only to residents of the United States and Latin America.

Star Clippers also offers a two-night Singapore add-on for only $205 per person, double occupancy, providing an opportunity to explore the rich culture, cuisine and shopping of that ancient city.