The Bangkok Post and Bangkok Post Student Weekly have long had an ambitious programme to help Thai English teachers use our newspaper as a teaching resource. Over the years, we have developed a close relationship with many outstanding secondary, college and university teachers. This year, in cooperation with Star Cruises, Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific, Angel Air and Singapore Airlines, we were able to organise a unique educational experience for a group of 100 of our long-time supporters. They were given a 5-day Phuket-Singapore cruise on the luxurious Superstar Gemini.

Learning from the Titantic

Captain Kjell, who jokingly said he works 25 hours a day, was obviously obsessed with the safety issue. He said that the shipping industry had learned much from disasters like the sinking of the Titanic and everyone was determined never to let anything like that happen again.

Thus, the Superstar Gemini has many more watertight compartments than did the Titantic and they have double the number of lifejackets and lifeboats needed to accommodate the passengers and crew.

His biggest worry, however, is fire and the Superstar Gemini has an elaborate system of sensors and video cameras throughout the ship. He also showed us a computer display showing the current temperatures in each room. He could even tell in an instant which room had a heavy smoker in it.

Quotable quotes from Captain Kjell

"Everybody in this ship is my family."

"We are more than a floating hotel. We are a floating community. We produce our own water, process our own wastes, and we have our own fire department."

"The day I think I know my job is the day I must go back on shore because I know I would be incapable of doing my job."

Experiences from Phuket-Singapore cruise


Return to our Visit Thailand page.
Go to our home page.