The 2001-built Blue Dream Star has been sold to a Turkish buyer, according to industry sources.

The ship has been laid up in Zhoushan, China, and has recently left port, heading to Guangzhou.

Sources said handover procedures are near completion, though no official confirmation has come from Blue Dream Cruises, the reported buyer or any regulatory authority.

Built by Blohm+Voss in Hamburg, the ship entered service as Olympia Explorer before sailing under several names, which include the Explorer, Celestyal Odyssey and Glory Sea.

Blue Dream Cruises acquired the 838-guest vessel in 2020 and renamed it the Blue Dream Star.

Blue Dream Cruises suspended all operations of the ship in November 2024 to focus its resources on a larger vessel, the Blue Dream Melody, which sailed for 2025 before being laid up after a New Year’s cruise. The company put both ships up for sale earlier this year.