FOLLOWING a US$50 million renovation (TTG Asia e-Daily, September 6, 2012), the newly refurbished SuperStar Gemini was launched at the Singapore Cruise Centre on December 28.
Formerly known as Norwegian Dream, SuperStar Gemini joins Star Cruises’ stable of four other cruise ships, boasting a capacity of 1,532 passengers, 766 cabins and 557m2 of retail space, including a range of luxury items from China Duty Free.
The ship is today scheduled to embark on a series of inaugural cruises from Penang around South-east Asia and Hong Kong. From April to October, the ship will homeport at Shanghai, where it will offer itineraries to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, the last pending approval. Shanghai marks the cruise operator’s second Chinese destination, following Sanya last year.
When asked how Star Cruises was dealing with increased competition within the Asian cruise market, David Chua, president of Genting Hong Kong, replied: “Rather than (targeting) a bigger slice of the pie, there is a need for cruise lines to come together and enlarge the pie.”
While declining to reveal Star Cruises’ marketing strategy and training programmes for travel consultants for the coming year, he added that the company would leverage its experience as an Asian cruise operator to set itself apart.
Chua also pinpointed the MICE market as one sector to focus on, as cruises were viable alternatives in the light of rising hotel rates. Star Cruises is also looking to target weddings.
As for Resorts World Manila – also operated by Genting Hong Kong – he remarked that the integrated resort had its “hands full” managing the 2,000 rooms expected to come online with the opening of Hilton Manila in December 2012, as well as the planned debuts of Westin Manila Bayshore in mid-2016 and Sheraton Manila Hotel in early 2017.
Emphasising the untapped potential within the intra-ASEAN market, Chua said: “The Philippines has the second highest GDP growth after China within the region, and Filipinos are a common sight at Universal Studios Singapore.”
