Genting Hong Kong has unveiled its plans to claim Asia’s premium cruise market with the introduction of Dream Cruises, the first-ever Asian based premium cruise line brand, it said in a statement.

Aboard SuperStar Virgo, Genting Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay announced to 1,000 guests, including media and travel agents, the launch of Dream Cruises with the building and delivery of two new ships that will attract and cater specifically to Asia’s premium sector.

Dream Cruises’ first ship, Genting Dream will debut in November 2016, while its sister ship World Dream will sail in November 2017. These ships were ordered for Star Cruises and are being built in Germany at Meyer Werft.

“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.  Dream Cruises’ ships will be the most spacious ships in Asia Pacific and provide the highest level of guest service in the region,” said Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “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.” 

Genting Dream will carry 3,400 guests and 2,000 crewmembers, giving the 150,000-ton vessel the largest guest space ratio of 45 tons per guest as well as the highest crew-to-guest ratio at 1.7 of any Asia Pacific ship.

The ship will have two exclusive floors of “Dream Suites” measuring from 32 to 183 square meters and features European butler service and special privileges. The accommodations aboard Genting Dream will reflect both size and choice for travelers, with 70 percent of Genting Dream’s staterooms offering private balconies, and more than 100 connecting rooms that will cater to larger extended families.

Genting Dream will showcase more than 35 restaurants and bars onboard with a culinary emphasis on Asia, specifically for Chinese guests, offering dining experiences from all the regional cuisines of China as well international favorites such as Japanese, South East Asian, Italian, and more.

Genting Hong Kong has appointed Thatcher Brown as president of Dream Cruises and he brings a vast knowledge of international hotel and cruise experience to Dream Cruises, and has the distinction of being one of the first employees of Crystal Cruises when the company began 25 years ago.

“It is our mission to transpose the legendary six-star service standards of Crystal Cruises and to customize 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.”

Joining Brown at Dream Cruises is Norbert Tesar, a 20-year Crystal Cruises hotel management veteran, who will train all 2,000 crew onboard and Ural Korkmaz, a 15-year head butler with Crystal Cruises, who will train all butlers serving guests in the 142 Dream Suites on board Genting Dream.

When it starts sailing in November 2016, Genting Dream will have triple homeports in Guangzhou (Nansha Port), Hong Kong and Sanya. The ship will serve residents of the Pearl Delta and Hainan and domestic and international guests flying into the airports of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Macau, Hong Kong and Sanya.

Itineraries from the Guangzhou (Nansha Port) will offer a year-round 2-night weekend cruise departing Fridays calling at Hong Kong and a 5-night weekday cruise on Sundays calling at Halong Bay, Danang and Sanya. The Hong Kong homeport will feature a 7-night itinerary calling at Guangzhou, Halong Bay, Danang, Sanya and either Shenzhen or Zhuhai using Nansha Port. The Sanya homeport will also feature a 7-night itinerary calling at Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shenzhen or Zhuhai using Nansha Port, Halong Bay and Danang.