Star Cruises

"Cruise Ferries" redirects here. For the ship type, see Cruiseferry.
Star Cruises
Public company
SEHK: 678
SGX: S21
Industry Passenger transportation
Founded 1993
Headquarters Hong Kong, Asia
Key people
 Tan Lim Kok Thay, CEO
Website StarCruises.com
Star Cruises' largest ship, SuperStar Virgo, lying at anchor near Phuket, Thailand

Star Cruises, a member of Genting Hong Kong, is the third largest[1] cruise line in the world after Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean Cruises. Star Cruises dominates the Asia-Pacific market and is owned by Genting Hong Kong, who also owns 28% of the Norwegian Cruise Line.[2] The company is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the Singapore Exchange.

Star Cruises is credited with almost single handedly developing the cruise industry in the Asia-Pacific region. Its foray into the global shipping market has allowed it to tap into lucrative and more mature markets in North America and Europe. Its services cater to Asian passengers as well as to North Americans, Europeans and Australians interested in Asian destinations.

The chairman of Star Cruises is Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, the son of the late Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong, the founder of Malaysia's Genting Highlands.

History

SuperStar Libra in Keelung Harbor, Taiwan

Star Cruises was founded as an associate of the Genting Group of Malaysia,[3] incorporated in Bermuda on 10 November 1993 with its corporate headquarters in Hong Kong.[4] The company's first ships were two cruiseferries acquired from the bankrupted estate of Swedish Rederi AB Slite. In the following years, the company purchased several other used ships. In 1998, Star Cruises took delivery of its first new build, SuperStar Leo, followed by sister ship SuperStar Virgo in 1999. Star Cruises also acquired Sun Cruises the same year.

In 2000, Star Cruises fully acquired Norwegian Cruise Line, including its subsidiaries Orient Lines and Norwegian Capricorn Line, becoming the largest global cruise line in the world. Norwegian Capricorn Line operations were soon merged into those of Star Cruises. Before the purchase of NCL, Star Cruises had several other new builds either planned or already under construction, but with the merger of the two companies, most of the constructed builds joined the NCL fleet instead of Star Cruises'.

In 2001, Star Cruises founded a new sister company, Cruise Ferries, which began operating its sole ship, Wasa Queen, on short cruises from Hong Kong to Xiamen followed by overnight gambling cruises from Hong Kong and gambling cruises from Port Klang in Kuala Lumpur. Wasa Queen ceased to function and was sold to another company in 2007.

In 2004, SuperStar Leo, Star Cruises' then-largest ship, was transferred to NCL to take over Norwegian Sky cruises as she had to be rushed into service under NCL America brand due to the Pride of America not being ready on time due to sinking at Lloyd Werft shipyard. Since 2006, the trend has been that new ships were to be built for NCL, and the old ships in the NCL fleet would be transferred to the Star Cruises fleet in Asia.

In early 2008, both NCL America and Orient Lines brands were discontinued, with the latter's sole ship, MS Marco Polo, sold to Greek interests. Also in that year, the first ship from NCL was transferred to the Star Cruises fleet as SuperStar Libra.

Starting from 2011, Star Cruises received a new hullart. SuperStar Virgo, SuperStar Aquarius and Star Pisces have received their new hullart.

It was announced on 27 April 2012 that the Norwegian Dream will join the Star fleet, she will be named as SuperStar Gemini and will start service in 2012.[5]

On 7 October 2013, Star Cruises announced that Star Cruises and their parent company, Genting Hong Kong, have entered into an agreement with Meyer Werft shipyard for the construction of one new cruise ship for Star. The vessel will have capacity for 3,364 passengers at double occupancy.[6] The ship will be delivered sometime in Fall 2016.

Star Cruises announced on 10 February 2014, that a second ship was ordered and will be delivered by Fall 2017. Both ships will 150,000 GT.[7] On 9 February 2015, the first steel cutting ceremony for Genting World was held at Meyer Werft shipyard.[8]

Fleet

Current fleet

Ship Year built Class Entered service
with Star Cruises 		Last
Refurbishment 		Gross Tonnage Current Home Port Notes Image
Star Pisces 1990 Pisces Class 1994–present 2011 40,012 tons Hong Kong – Present Previously Kalypso
SuperStar Virgo 1999 Leo Class 1999–present 2012 75,338 tons Guangzhou, Nansha – Present Sister to the Norwegian Spirit, Star Cruises first newly built at the time.
SuperStar Libra 1988 Libra Class 2005–present 2013 42,275 tons Haikou, China– Present Previously Norwegian Sea
SuperStar Aquarius 1993 Dreamward Class 2007–present 2016 51,309 tonsTaiwan – Present Previously Norwegian Wind
SuperStar Gemini 1992 Dreamward Class 2012–present 2012 50,764 tons Singapore – Present Previously Norwegian Dream
The Taipan 1989 Taipan Class 1999–present 2013 3,370 tons Previously MegaStar Aries (1999–2013)

Former ships

Ship Built In service for Star Cruises Gross Tonnage Status as of 2016 Image
Genting World 2016 Never entered service 151,300 GT Transferred to Dream Cruises as Genting Dream. N/A
World Dream 2017 Never entered service 151,300 GT Transferred to Dream Cruises as World Dream. N/A
SuperStar Leo 1998 1998–2004 75,338 GT Transferred to Norwegian Cruise Line as Norwegian Spirit.
Langkapuri Star Aquarius 1988 1993–2001 40,012 GT Now Pearl Seaways for DFDS.
SuperStar Gemini 1992 1995–2009 19,093 GT Now Celestyal Nefeli for Celestyal Cruises.
SuperStar Capricorn 1973 1997–1998
2001–2004 		21,891 GT Now Boudicca for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.
SuperStar Sagittarius 1972 1998 16,607 GT Now known as Oriental Dragon.
SuperStar Europe
SuperStar Aries 		1980 1998–2004
SuperStar Europe – (1999–2000)
SuperStar Aries – (2000–2004) 		37,301 GT Now Saga Sapphire for Saga Cruises.
SuperStar Taurus 1980 2000–2001 15,179 GT Now Celestyal Crystal for Celestyal Cruises.
SuperStar Libra 2001 Never entered service 91,740 GT Now Norwegian Star for Norwegian Cruise Line.
SuperStar Scorpio 2002 Never entered service 92,250 GT Now Norwegian Dawn for Norwegian Cruise Line.
MegaStar Sagittarius 2000 1988–1997
2000–2001 		4,200 GT Now Spirit of Oceanus for Cruise West. N/A
MegaStar Capricorn 1991 2000 4,280 GT Now Hebridean Spirit for Hebridean Island Cruise. N/A
MegaStar Taurus 1989 2008-2015 3,341 GT Transferred to Crystal Cruises as Crystal Esprit. N/A

References

  1. ↑ "2012 World Wide Market Share". Cruise Market Watch. 20 November 2011.
  2. ↑ http://www.investor.ncl.com/secfiling.cfm?filingID=1571049-14-3533&CIK=1513761
  3. ↑ Group Profile – Star Cruises Limited, retrieved on 27 July 2005
  4. ↑ Star Cruises 2004 Annual Report, retrieved on 15 March 2007
  5. ↑ Norwegian Dream Set to Sail for Star – Cruise Industry News | Cruise News. Cruise Industry News (27 April 2012).
  6. ↑ Star Cruises Orders New Ship from Meyer Werft – Cruise Industry News | Cruise News. Cruise Industry News (7 October 2013).
  7. ↑ Star Doubles Order – Second Newbuild Due for 2017 – Cruise Industry News | Cruise News. Cruise Industry News (10 February 2014).
  8. ↑ "Star Cruises Commences Building of the Genting World Mega Cruise Ship with its First Steel Cutting". Star Cruises. 11 February 2015.

External links

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