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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen
Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines
Published: 11 November 2015 11 November 2015

Genting Hong Kong, the holding company of Star Cruises and Crystal Cruises, has launched its third, premium cruise brand, namely Dream Cruises, to target mainly the fast maturing Asia market.

“The major target market for Dream Cruises will be Asia,” said Michael Goh, Senior VP – Sales, Star Cruises. “40-50% would be domestic clientele and the rest would be international, comprising of Indian, European, American markets, among others,”

The planned first sailing date has been set for November 2016. The announcement was made during a recent Chairman’s Cruise event held on board SuperStar Virgo, which was sailing from Nansha (Guangzhou) to Hong Kong and back during 6-8 November.

“Dream Cruises will be Asia’s premium cruise brand,” said Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Chairman & CEO of Genting Hong Kong. “The ship will be bigger than SuperStar Virgo and the price point will be higher as well. We will finalise the price point in January next year.”

The proposed itineraries for Dream Cruises will include two-night Pearl River Delta cruise, five-night Vietnam-Sanya voyage, and a seven-night itinerary departing Nansha.

The new brand will employ Genting Dream, the first newbuilding of Genting has on order from Meyer Werft in Germany. It will have 1,700 staterooms, with a capacity of 3,400 lower berths; it will have 35 restaurant and bars, a theatre, sectional meeting spaces, and a bowling alley, etc. As well as outdoor adventures, relaxing and rejuvenating facilities, the ship will boast a Genting Club, which is a boutique hotel within a hotel, containing 142 suites where guests will enjoy exclusive privileges, including priority access and European butler service.

Genting has so far invested US$1 billion for this venture.

The company has sharpened its focus on Guangzhou. It has recently signed a cooperation agreement with Guangzhou Port Group to launch the first regular cruise service from Port of Nansha, using SuperStar Virgo, from January 2016. A new cruise terminal is being built in Nansha; meanwhile the port has upgraded its deep water berth at the container terminal to receive large cruise vessels