Genting Dream first Asia-based premium cruise

Friday, 18 November 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Dream Cruises, the first-ever Asia based premium cruise line brand, set sail from Singapore recently with its inaugural ship the Genting Dream.

Able to carry 3,400 guests and 2,000 crew, the 150,000-ton German-built ship will be based in Asia with homeports at Guangzhou (Nansha Port) and Hong Kong.

Accommodation onboard the ship ranges from 13m2 Inside Staterooms to the 224m2 Garden Penthouse, with 70% of rooms offering private balconies.

Facilities onboard include spas, 35 F&B options, numerous pools, six water slides, playrooms, a rope-climbing course, a bowling alley, and mahjong rooms. Unique elements include the first Zouk nightclub at sea as well as the first Johnnie Walker Bar on a ship.

Agents interviewed say that the China and India markets would be the most interested in sailing with Genting Dream.

“My clients will definitely be interested because it’s new and is a higher-class ship compared to Star Cruises,” said Cindy Goh, Manager FIT-Worldwide department at ASA Holidays.

“There are a lot of facilities, and families will be drawn to it as there is something for everyone. There were quite a lot of enquires for the launch date sailing three months ago, and we completely filled up our allotment.”

When asked which Asian markets will be most interested in Genting Dream, she said: “I think Singapore, India – nowadays a lot of Indians like to go on cruises – China and Malaysia.

Stanley Yew, Senior Event Sales Executive, Pacific Arena, shared similar sentiments: “I think it is more for the China market. There will be some Singaporeans but not as many as the China market.

“(But) there will be a market for it as Singapore is quite small and we are on the constant lookout for new itineraries and new places to go.”

Kent Holidays’ Travel Planner, Aneesha Abdul, said: “We managed to fill half of our allotments, mostly to the China and India market, but we’ve also sold two cabins to Myanmar. These customers were booked in for the two-night cruise.

Abdul concluded: “It’s quite a big luxury ship and people are interested in it so they’ve taken a short cruise to explore it.”