Malaysia-listed leisure and hospitality group, Genting, best known for its resorts and casinos, is setting up Asia’s first regionally-based premium cruise brand.
Within its Genting Hong Kong operation [one of five public companies] which was formerly called Star Cruises, the company has announced the launch of Dream Cruises for Asia, which is one of the fastest growing markets in the world according to cruise association CLIA.
The region also delivers strong duty free and travel retail spending says analyst CiR. According to its Asian Cruise Travellers report, 73% of Asian cruisers make DF&TR purchases, with almost half (46%) buying fashion/accessories.
Genting – valued by market capitalisation at over MYR94bn ($22bn) at 31 August – is expected to take full advantage of the high-spending nature of Asian passengers – particularly the Chinese – with a large shopping offer on board Dream Cruises’ first vessel, Genting Dream when it sets sail in November 2016. It will carry 3,400 guests and 2,000 crew, a very high crew-to-guest ratio.
A sister ship World Dream will follow in November 2017. Both were ordered by Genting Hong Kong and are under construction.
THATCHER BROWN NAMED PRESIDENT
The company has appointed cruise veteran, Thatcher Brown as President of Dream Cruises. Brown had been with Crystal Cruise Lines – which Genting bought in May 2015 – since its formation in 1988.
“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 market, Dream Cruises for the premium market, and Star Cruises for the contemporary market.”At the launch event aboard SuperStar Virgo, a Star Cruises vessel, Genting Chairman and CEO, Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, said: “Being the first company to offer cruises in China over 20 years ago with Star Cruises, we conceived Genting Dream three years ago to be the only purpose-built premium category new build for the Asian, and specifically Chinese, market.
THREE CHINESE HOMEPORTS
Genting Dream will have two exclusive floors of Dream Suites from 32sq m to 183sq m in size with butler services. Around 70% of Genting Dream’s staterooms will have private balconies.
From next November, Genting Dream’s homeports will be in Guangzhou (Nansha Port), Hong Kong and Sanya and the ship will serve a bih catchment in the Pearl River Delta and Hainan. It will also cater to international guests flying into the airports of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Macau, Hong Kong and Sanya.
Itineraries from Guangzhou will offer a year-round, two-night weekend cruise that calls at Hong Kong and a five-night weekday cruise calling at Halong Bay, Danang and Sanya.
The Hong Kong homeport will feature a seven-night itinerary calling at Guangzhou, Halong Bay, Danang, Sanya and either Shenzhen or Zhuhai using Nansha Port. The Sanya homeport will also feature a seven-night itinerary calling at Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shenzhen or Zhuhai using Nansha Port, Halong Bay and Danang.