6 November marked Dream Cruises’ milestone of 100 days of safe sailings in Hong Kong with Genting Dream, which began on 30 July 2021. This milestone also coincides with the landmark 800th cruise call at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal with Genting Dream’s arrival on Friday, 12 November marking this impressive record. Since the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal opened in 2013, Genting Cruise Lines has accounted for 50% of all cruise calls to the terminal.
Captain Christian Aalbers of Genting Dream receives a commemorative plaque from Mr. Jeff Bent, Managing Director of Worldwide Cruise Terminals at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal
As well, as of 12 November, Genting Dream has welcomed over 65,000 guests who have enjoyed a
“Super Seacation” get-away that truly evokes the sense of travel that a regular staycation just cannot capture.
According to a recent survey conducted by Genting Cruise Lines in September this year, respondents who indicated that they would be likely to take a cruise within the next 12 months increased nearly 30% year-on-year for people who had cruised previously and nearly tripled for non-cruisers.
Due to an increased awareness of cruises as a holiday option and stronger market education during the pandemic, bookings for Genting Dream have continued to be strong since the start of operations with an average capacity of over 90% (based on the required 50% reduced capacity) and high demand for upcoming cruises as well. Repeat guests also increased 28% from the same period in 2019, the last time that a similar comparison could be drawn.
“Following on the recent announcement of World Dream completing one year of operations in Singapore since COVID-19, Genting Cruise Lines is doubly proud to have achieved this second milestone for Dream Cruises in Hong Kong. I would also like to congratulate Kai Tak Cruise Terminal on achieving their landmark 800th cruise ship call and we are thrilled to help them realize this milestone,” said Mr. Kent Zhu, President of Genting Cruise Lines. “We have been very encouraged by Genting Dream’s first 100 days in Hong Kong providing our guests with a safe and fun space at sea and we have received tremendous feedback from guests of all ages and across demographics.
Dream Cruises appreciates the trust that our guests have placed in us, as we provide them with the confidence to savour the feeling of getting away on our Super Seacations and to enjoy all of the activities available on board.”
Added Mr. Billy Lam, a cruise passenger on board Genting Dream: “Since Genting Dream resumed operations in Hong Kong, I have already enjoyed a few Weekend Seacations and I find the onboard experience even more enjoyable than before – with better arrangements, great food and entertainment. I hope that Genting Dream will continue to provide the people of Hong Kong with Super Seacations, where we can enjoy a real vacation away from the city.”
Providing the best value for consumers and offering guests new levels of comfort and thoughtfulness, accommodations on board Genting Dream impressively start from Balcony Staterooms providing over 20m2 of space that can comfortably sleep up to four guests and with access to its own private balcony, made possible due to capacity capped at 50% by COVID-19 regulations.
Nearly selling out on every cruise, demand for The Palace has also seen a marked increase with consumers willing to splurge more on their holidays due to the ongoing travel restrictions and also of the outstanding value that The Palace provides.
Providing even more indulgence, The Palace is the “all-inclusive, all-suite” luxury concept on board Genting Dream, featuring the charm of a boutique hotel with the exclusivity of a private clubhouse. Guests can indulge in an unprecedented level of service and comfort, through its space ratio of over 80 gross tons per guest, all-suite accommodations and European-style butler service. With its lavish dining experiences, rich collection of enrichment activities, and all-inclusive privileges, The Palace elevates the luxury cruising experience into an art form.
As a result of international travel restrictions curtailing destination itineraries, a change in consumer behaviour can be seen as activities that were previously popular before COVID-19, such as sightseeing and shopping, are now replaced with on board pastimes with over two-thirds of survey respondents citing entertainment options a top priority, nearly two-thirds interested in spa & wellness and over half looking to participate in enrichment talks and workshops.
Genting Dream offers a full range of recreation and entertainment activities to suit every taste highlighted by fully staged production shows including “Sonio – A Tale of Two Dreams”, Dream Cruises’ signature show, along with live music throughout the ship and blockbuster movies as part of Cinema at Sea. Waterslides, a zip-line and rock-climbing wall await adventure seekers while the arcade and The Little Dreamers Academy will enchant youngsters on board. For the ultimate in pampering, the Crystal Life Spa offers a long list of traditional and progressive body and beauty treatments.
Following on the popular Japanese Festival and Oktoberfest theming, and just in time for the festive season, guests can set sail on “A Nordic Christmas Adventure” from 12 November to 1 January to explore the festive traditions of Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark and Iceland with friends and family this holiday. Explore the enchanted Nordic village and browse the Nordic market for Christmas goodies or take in the magical Santa Express running through a tasty Gingerbread Town. Partake in a sumptuous holiday feast in the wide range of restaurants on board Genting Dream then take in “VERRY Christmas” the seasonal stage production that will charm guests of all ages with its yuletide spirit.
“With our comprehensive range of onboard facilities, innovative offering and strong booking numbers continuing through the end of the year, Dream Cruises is looking forward to creating even more memorable vacation experiences for our guests in the future,” added Mr. Zhu.
