By
Rebecca Gibson |
Genting Hong Kong (GHK) is to introduce Dream Cruises, the first-ever Asia-based premium cruise line brand in November 2016.
Dream Cruises’ first ship, Genting Dream will debut in November 2016, while her sister ship World Dream will sail in November 2017.
“As the first company to offer cruises in China more than 20 years ago with Star Cruises, we conceived Genting Dream three years ago to be the only purpose-built premium category newbuild for the Asian, and specifically Chinese, market,” said Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, GHK’s chairman and CEO. “Dream Cruises’ ships will be the most spacious ships in the Asia Pacific and provide the highest level of guest service in the region. The launch of Dream Cruises completes the company’s mission of having a brand for each of the three major cruise market segments – Crystal Cruises for the luxury segment, Dream Cruises for the premium segment and Star Cruises for the contemporary segment.”
Hospitality and travel industry veteran and one of the first-ever Crystal Cruises employees Thatcher Brown has been appointed as president of Dream Cruises. Crystal Cruises’ hotel management veteran Norbert Tesar and the line’s long-term butler Ural Korkmaz will train all crew and butlers respectively.
“It is our mission to transpose the legendary six-star service standards of Crystal Cruises and to customise them to serve the fast growing Chinese market and all our Asian guests,” said Brown. “All front line staff will be able to speak Putonghua, along with English, as the secondary language onboard.”
To be built in Germany, the 150,000gt Genting Dream will carry 3,400 guests and 2,000 crew and boast 142 Dream Suites with a European butler service and exclusive amenities. The ship will also offer more than 100 interconnected staterooms for larger groups, and various other cabins. Around 70% of these staterooms will have a private balcony.
Genting Dream will also feature more than 35 restaurants and bars, which will offer dishes from various regions in China, Japan, south-east Asia, Italy and other countries. Other onboard entertainment will include various pools, six water slides, a 610m wraparound promenade, play rooms, a rope climbing course, a bowling alley, mahjong and card rooms, and duty-free shops. Plus, guests can visit a beauty salon, barbershop, a health club and Asian and Western Spas. Daily onboard enrichment activities will include wine tasting, onboard presentations from renowned speakers and more.
Genting Dream will homeport in Guangzhou and Sanya in China, and Hong Kong, serving residents of the Pearl Delta and Hainan, as well as guests flying into the airports of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Macau, Hong Kong and Sanya.
The ship will offer year-round two-night weekend cruises from Guangzhou each Friday, which will call at Hong Kong, and depart on five-night cruises each Sunday, which will call at Halong Bay, Danang and Sanya.
Meanwhile, guests will be able to enjoy a seven-night itinerary from Hong Kong to Guangzhou, Halong Bay, Danang, Sanya and either Shenzhen or Zhuhai using Nansha Port.
Itineraries from Sanya will include a seven-night voyage to Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shenzhen or Zhuhai using Nansha Port, Halong Bay and Danang.