INTERVIEW Asian tiger leaps into 2024 Resorts World Cruises may be a fledgling brand, but its deep understanding of the Asian cruise market and experienced leadership team are driving its early success. Susan Parker speaks with president Michael Goh Resorts World Cruises (RWC) was launched in 2022 and the company has wasted no time in getting up and running, as its president Michael Goh explains: “In less than two years we have developed over 16 different destinations, expanding very rapidly with 11 representative offices in Asia.” Starting in Singapore with Genting Dream sailing to Malaysia (where it also operates a dual homeport at Port Klang) and Thailand, RWC moved on to expand its fleet, adding Resorts World One (formerly SuperStar Virgo and Explorer Dream), which homeports in Hong Kong and calls at destinations in Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, China and the Philippines. Although the itineraries are short, they are designed to enable passengers to book two voyages either back-to-back, or with a stopover in the homeport in between sailings. As the only Asian cruise line, RWC is able to shape and cater to market demand, says Goh. “Since we started RWC, the response from the market has been very positive,” says Goh. “We recorded 115 per cent to 120 per cent occupancy on the first ship and, so far, 100 per cent on the second. We are very excited when we see that because a segment of the market that previously did not cruise before, younger people, are coming onboard and cruising with us. We see a change in the market and to the consumer profile as well.” The brand has also found that passengers who sailed on Resorts World One when it operated as Explorer Dream are excited to reboard the ship and renew acquaintances with the crew, many of whom have also returned. Operating voyages from Singapore and Hong Kong also makes RWC attractive to international travellers, who benefit from good flight connections to destinations worldwide and readily available accommodation. The passenger 63
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