Now on our 4th day, we safely arrived at the Port of Keelung, Taiwan at around 6:00 in the morning. Excited to see and explore Taiwan again, we boarded our shuttle tour bus for a day of shore excursion to some of Taiwan's best tourist spots and attractions. We're very sure that this day will be so much fun and exciting because the tour we availed includes places we haven't been to. Yey!
If you haven't read Day 3 of our cruise experience, you may read it HERE.
Located in the North-Eastern part of Taiwan, Keelung is a port city near the capital city of Taipei. Considered as Taiwan's second largest seaport after Kaohsiung, Keelung is also known as the center of Northern Taiwan's fishing industry.
For shore excursions, you can either do it on your own (DIY) or avail a packaged tour from the tour counter on the ship. For ease and convenience, we chose to avail one of the packaged tours offered on board.
Our tour is Shifen Scenic Tour, which is a 7-hour tour covering Shifen Waterfall, Pingxi Old Street, and Keelung Miaokou Street. The tour is conducted by a knowledgeable English-speaking guide who shares a lot of information about the history, culture, and traditions of Taiwan. Transportation and lunch at a local restaurant is also included in the tour.
Shifen Waterfalls
Our first stop is Shifen Waterfalls which is located at Pingxi District, New Taipei City, about 1 hour from Keelung Port. We've been to Taiwan last year but we missed to visit this waterfalls. That is why, I am so happy that finally, I will get to visit this popular falls.
Located within a beautiful forested mountainside, getting to the waterfalls requires a bit of walking on stairs and passing through a hanging bridge. But upon reaching Shifen Waterfall, you'll certainly won't mind the quick walk.
Shifen Waterfalls is about 20 meters high and 40 meters wide, making it the broadest waterfall in Taiwan. Also regarded as the most scenic waterfall in Taiwan, it cascades on the upper tier of the Keelung River. Since it's summer, the water at the waterfall is not that strong. But our guide told as that during rainy season, it really gets very strong that is why it is sometimes called "The Niagara of Taiwan."
Pingxi Old Street
Rich in culture and history, Pingxi Old Street is a must-visit when in Taiwan. Here, you can also find a train station built right along the Shifen Old Street which is said to be originally built for transporting coal.
Just like the night markets in Taipei, Pingxi Old Town is filled with food stalls and souvenir shops that are definitely interesting places for visitors to check out. According to our guide, some of the shops in the area are said to have been established during the 1930's and 1940's.
Also, when visiting Pingxi Old Street, don't miss the train track that you can cross freely and have your photos taken. Don't worry as the train only passes by every one hour.
You can even sit on the train tracks without any worry. As our guide told us, the train is very slow and you'll definitely know when it is coming. Hahaha!
Pingxi Old Street is popular for its sky lanterns. But I personally do not recommend setting off sky lanterns as it is not environment-friendly and will just end up as trash. You can see many of them hanging on the trees when you visit Pingxi Old Town. Alternatively, you could find a lucky bamboo area near the train station where you could buy and write your wishes on a piece of bamboo. This is better and more environment-friendly than setting off a sky lantern.
After exploring the railway station, we went back to the lanes and alleys of shops and souvenir stores to check out the goodies that we could bring back home.
Keelung Miaokou Street
Our last stop is Keelung Miaokou Street located near the port. Our guide gave us ample free time to explore the different shops and food stalls in the area. Here, we got to try Taiwan's popular bubble milk tea, and some locals delicacies. You can also find here a temple, a lot of shops selling different products - from apparels, accessories, to souvenirs, among many others. It was free and easy, and we just enjoyed our time walking, taking photos, eating, and checking out the shops.
We were back on the ship at around 4:00 PM and sailed again at around 5:00 PM.
After dinner, we went to the Galaxy of the Stars and played BINGO. Each BINGO game set costs 100 HKD and you will get a chance to win up to 888,000 HKD! Nice noh?! We tried our luck, but unfortunately, we didn't win. Hahaha!
Labor Day Party Cruise with DJ Tom Taus
After playing BINGO, we went back to our cabin to prepare for the Labor Day Party Cruise at the poolside of Beat Ship with DJ Tom Taus. This is part of Star Cruise Superstar Virgo's several themes cruises that surely appeal to cruises of all ages. First they had "The Greatest Hits Cruise with VST and Co.," followed by "The PBA Legends High Seas Tour with PBA legends Alvin Patrimonio, Benjie Paras, Johnny Abarrientos and Jerry Codinera," then this one that we're joining, the "Labor Day Party Cruise with DJ Patty Tiu and DJ Tom Taus." Other themed cruises include "Mother’s Day Cruise featuring Daryl Ong," and the "Pororo at Sea" which will surely delight the kids joining the cruise for the whole month of May.
The crowd truly enjoyed the drinks, the music, and partied all night as DJ Tom Taus gave both the young and old cruisers an unforgettable party night.
[ CLICK HERE TO READ DAYS 5 & 6 - GALA DINNER AND MORE! ]
Star Cruises Promos
The adventure continues as #SuperStarVirgo gives you two special cruise offers this June 2018! Choose between:
CRUISE ONE, TAKE ONE - 5-Night roundtrip Manila cruise to Kaohsiung, Taiwan and Hong Kong on June 3.
And just before SuperStar Virgo says farewell to Manila, exclusively-unique and equally family-friendly cruises are available with a cruise on June 3 (Manila – Kaohsiung – Hong Kong – Manila) and a special June 8 relocation cruise from Manila – Keelung, Taiwan for AS LOW AS USD 30 (Cruise fare only)!
Star Cruises SuperStar Virgo can be booked through any local travel agency or via www.starcruises.com! For inquiries, you may call (02) 836 6080 or email salesmanila@gentinghk.com.
Star Cruises
Booking Hotline: (+632) 836-6080Official website: http://www.starcruises.com
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