By
Rebecca Gibson |
Meyer Werft laid the keel for Genting Dream, the first cruise ship in Genting Hong Kong’s (GHK) new Asia-based premium cruise line brand Dream Cruises, which will launch in November 2016.
During the official ceremony at Meyer Werft’s Papenburg yard in Germany, engineers laid one of the total 92 blocks that will form the 151,000gt ship. In keeping with maritime tradition, GHK’s chairman and CEO Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay laid the customary ‘lucky coin’ as a symbol of good fortune under the block.
“We are extremely excited to officially lay the first section of Dream Cruises’ new ship, Genting Dream,” said Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, chairman and CEO at GHK. “Genting Dream will set new standards at every level – from its quality construction and detailed design, to best-in-class service and a diversity of entertainment, dining, leisure and recreation options, for a truly unforgettable guest experience.”
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.
Genting Dream’s sister ship World Dream is expected to debut in November 2017.