First two ships in the Global Class series will be built by Lloyd Werft and delivered in 2019-2020
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Genting Hong Kong (GHK) has ordered two 201,000gt cruise ships for Star Cruises, which will be delivered between 2019 and 2020.
The order was signed by Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, chairman of Genting Hong; Uwe Beckmeyer, State Secretary of Maritime Affairs; Erwin Sellering, Prime Minister of the State Mecklenburg-Vorpommern; and Martin Günthner, Senator for Economics and Port Affairs of Free Hanseatic City of Bremen.
The first two ships in the Global Class series will be designed with 5,000 lower berths and will be purpose-built for the Chinese market by the Lloyd Werft Group. Star Cruises, which launched year-round cruising in Asia 23 years ago, will initially launch one ship in 2019 and 2020 and eventually increase this to two ships per year.
“Passengers on our Global Class ships will enjoy an international-class cruise experience to all parts of the world, yet in an environment where they will feel at home, whether it is food, culture, shows, enrichment programmes or excursions,” said Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay. “With the first two ships, we are focused on delivering a world-class vacation experience for Chinese cruise passengers at an affordable price, while enjoying fun-filled onboard and on-land adventures in many cities in the most seamless way, without the necessity of checking in and checking out of airports and hotels.”
Recently formed by GHK, the Lloyd Werft Group comprises the Lloyd Werft yard in Bremerhaven and three former Nordic Yards’ facilities in Wismar, Warnemunde and Stralsund, Germany.
“We are pleased that Genting chose Lloyd Werft Group for the construction of its new vessels as the company has built all but one of its new cruise ships in Germany for the Star Cruises, Dream Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line brands due to the company’s desire for quality-built cruise ships,” said Rüdiger Pallentin, managing director of Lloyd Werft Group. “We have the ability to tap into the complex cruise ship subcontractor industry in Europe, many of whom are centered in Germany and we can build cruise ships without major uncertainties in delivery and pricing. The Lloyd Werft Group has two huge covered new building drydocks, a ship launching platform and 250,000sqm of covered fabrication halls to build quality cruise ships in all weather conditions.”
Crystal Cruises, another of GHK’s cruise brands, also finalised an order for eight newbuilds during the same signing ceremony.