Cruise line celebrates Silver Anniversary in Singapore

Genting Cruise Lines celebrated its silver anniversary with a special event held on board Genting Dream in Singapore on 14 December to commemorate the very first sailing of Langkapuri Star Aquarius from Singapore in 1993, beginning 25 years of supporting Singapore to become the premier cruise hub in Asia, handling the most international passengers in Asia.

Among the nearly 500 guests representing government, travel agents and business partners, notable attendees at the 25th Anniversary celebration included Guest of Honour, Mr Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Education, who congratulated Genting Cruise Lines on its silver anniversary and long-standing relationship with Singapore. Genting Cruise Lines representatives at the event included Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Colin Au, Group President of Genting Hong Kong and other senior executives and staff members from the company.

Originally founded a quarter of a century ago as Star Cruises, Genting Cruise Lines has been an integral force in establishing the ASEAN as an important region and introducing innovative ships designed specifically for the more relaxed Asian cruise market where guests can enjoy a variety of leisure activities and dining options unrestricted by the rigid schedules commonly found on other cruise ships.

Over the past 25 years, the company has welcomed more than 6.5 million guests on board its fleet through over 7,500 ship calls in Singapore. In the last 12 months, Genting Dream, the only ship on a year-round deployment in the city, welcomed about 400,000 cruise passengers, of whom 60% were tourists, helping Singapore become the port with the most number of international cruise passengers in Asia. With the majority of guests flying in to Singapore, the transformation of the city as a turnaround port has had substantial economic benefits not only for airlines and airports, but hotels, as visitors normally stay pre or post cruise, shopping and other sectors of the tourism industry.

“Genting Cruise Lines is honored to have played a part in the evolution of Singapore to become one of the leading cruise hubs in Asia and we remain committed to the future growth of the city and the ASEAN region to become one of the most important and vibrant cruise regions in the World,” said Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay. “And we are proud of our latest milestone in Singapore with the arrival of our world-class, 150,695 gross ton Genting Dream, which has been named one of the top 10 Large Resort Ship by the esteemed Berlitz Cruise Guide.”

“Cruise is one of the key pillars of Singapore’s tourism strategy….In the area of marketing and promotion, the Singapore Tourism Board, Changi Airport Group and Genting Cruise Lines embarked on a S$28 million collaboration in 2017 to promote Genting Dream’s Singapore sailings. The three-year partnership is expected to bring in 600,000 overseas visitors and more than S$250 million in tourism receipts,” added Mr. Chee Hong Tat.

With the completion of the Marina Bay Cruise Centre in Singapore and clear Chinese policy to promote cruising, Genting Cruise Lines ordered two 150,000 gross ton ships for delivery in 2016 and 2017 to create “Dream Cruises”, specifically catering to the growing premium segment in Asia. With just 3,350 lower berths, the Dream Class was designed to be the most spacious megaship in the world at 45 gross tons per lower berth. Catering for the luxury segment, Dream Cruises also introduced an all-inclusive “luxury ship-within-a-megaship’ enclave, called The Palace, featuring a collection of 140 suites, private amenities including a swimming pool, restaurants, gym and other facilities and boasting the largest luxury passenger space ratio of about 100 gross tons per lower berth. Guests of The Palace will also enjoy the highest crew to passenger ratio in the world highlighted by private butler service and refined Asian dining with a complementary menu of herbal soups, seafood, bird nest and other delicacies. Western options will feature caviar, wine and other items found on international luxury cruise ships.

The acquisition of Crystal Cruises in 2015 also helped Genting Hong Kong capitalize on the growing global demand in the luxury cruise market. Through significant investment by Genting Cruise Lines, Crystal has embarked on the most ambitious brand expansion in the history of luxury travel and hospitality, introducing two new cruise options – Crystal Expedition Yacht Cruises and Crystal River Cruises – and reaching new heights with Crystal Luxury Air.

Genting Cruise Lines is built upon three pillars of excellence – a “Made in Germany” cruise fleet synonymous with the highest in quality, safety, comfort and reliability, legendary Asian service standards and uncompromising North European safety standards. Genting Cruise Line is also the first cruise line to install surveillance equipment on the bridge of all its ships and the first cruise line to build its own ship simulator for the regular training of ship officers.

Looking forward to the next 25 years, Genting Cruise Lines has bought its own shipyards in Germany, called “MV Werften”, and will be building a fleet of technologically advanced cruise ships for its three brands. The first of a fleet of luxurious 20,000 gross ton “Endeavor Class” expedition vessels will be delivered to Crystal Cruises in 2020, followed in succession by the first of a fleet of 200,000 gross ton “Global Class” ships for Dream Cruises in 2021, 67,000 gross ton “Diamond Class” ships for Crystal Cruises in 2022 and innovative “Contemporary Class” ships for Star Cruises in 2023.

Accommodating up to 9,500 passengers, Dream Cruises’ “Global Class” will be the largest cruise ships in the world by passenger capacity and will consist of mainly large, family-friendly cabins featuring two bathrooms bringing affordable cruising to all middle class passengers while also retaining its signature 150-suite “The Palace” enclave for luxury guests.

“The last 25 years have passed quickly and we are looking forward to our next 25 years to provide our cruise option to the 150 million Asian tourists who travel all over the world. By the end of the next quarter century, we will have the most modern fleet in the world for our three cruise brands, offering the most variety of itineraries and destinations, providing best-in-class service and, most important of all, maintaining our uncompromising safety culture developed over the past 25 years,” concluded Tan Sri Lim.