Joining the ranks of cruise ship startups is Dream Cruises.
The company has announced the resumption of cruising from Hong Kong with ‘Genting Dream’ (pictured) deployed in July, featuring two and three-night ‘Super Summer Seacations’
The ‘Seacations” will comprise of a two-night ‘Super Weekend Seacation’, departing Fridays, a two-night ‘Super Weekday Seacation’ departing Wednesdays, and a three-night ‘Super Summer Seacation’ departing Sundays.
“Like all Hong Kong residents, we have been eagerly looking forward to more vacation alternatives during this period when overseas travel is not permitted. These new ‘Super Summer Seacations’ will provide Hong Kong residents the opportunity to enjoy the pleasures of cruising again and will bring much-needed benefits to the tourism industry,” said Genting’s. Kent Zhu.
“With Hong Kong a historically key home port and with our unique position as a home grown cruise company based in Asia, we will mobilise our resources across the region to bring ‘Genting Dream’ into Hong Kong by June to begin her quarantine process so that she will be ready for July sailings in time for the summer holidays.
“As well, the crucial experience gained as the first cruise line to resume in Asia with ‘Explorer Dream’ and ‘World Dream’ in Taiwan and Singapore, respectively, provides invaluable first-hand knowledge on how to operate cruises in the safest possible environment and it is our goal to also be the first to resume in Hong Kong,”he said.
As cross-border travel is still currently severely restricted, Dream Cruises will offer a ‘Japanese Festival’ during August and September and a ‘Nordic Christmas’ in November and December.
All activities on board will be organised in accordance with permitted group sizes – specific to each activity – in line with prevailing Hong Kong policies.
The company was the first cruise line to resume service in Asia having successfully completed nearly 11 months of operations in Taiwan with ‘Explorer Dream’, and almost seven months in Singapore with ‘World Dream’, welcoming nearly 180,000 guests on board thus far.
Also recently announced, in July 2021, the newly built ‘Crystal Endeavor’ will make her debut with Icelandic expedition voyages and ‘Crystal Serenity’ will homeport in The Bahamas. In August, ‘Crystal Symphony’ will sail around the Caribbean from Antigua and St Martin.
The experience gained through these operations and the close collaboration with local authorities to supplement existing protocols with local guidelines, have helped Genting Cruise Lines develop safe cruising, including passenger testing before boarding and stringent health screening processes and guidelines prior to embarkation and disembarkation; upgraded crew quarantine procedures; thorough sanitisation, disinfection and heightened hygiene practices for guest cabins, on board public areas and recreational activities; and, enhanced food and beverage safety.
The fleet also boast 100% external fresh air filtered and supplied to each passenger cabin, as well as on board public spaces to provide a safer environment than most hotels and office buildings. Genting said that it will continue to work with all relevant local Hong Kong authorities to ensure compliance with all local guidelines to provide the safest environment for everyone upon resumption of cruises.
Both ‘Explorer Dream’ and ‘World Dream’ have obtained the newly developed ‘Certification in Infection Prevention – Maritime (CIP-M)’ from DNV. ‘World Dream’ was also the first ship to have its CIP-M extended to three years, as well as acquiring additional ‘CruiseSafe Certification’ by the Singapore Tourism Board.
“Hong Kong’s swift action in the face of the recent fourth wave of COVID-19 has resulted in the quick reduction of recorded cases and has kept numbers low compared to global figures. As well, the successful roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccination programme to its citizens is truly a milestone in the fight against the pandemic within its borders.
“In light of the improving situation in the city, we welcome the government’s announcement to allow the resumption of cruise operations in Hong Kong as a positive step towards the recovery of our economy,” Zhu added.
