Genting Cruise Lines has taken the wraps off its largest cruise series yet at a launch event during trade show IBTM China in Beijing on Wednesday.
Its first Global Class ship, which clocks in at 208,000 gross tonnes, will enter service in early 2021 and be homeported in Asia Pacific. There will also be a second sister ship that will begin operating in early 2022.
Global Dream, the first ship of the class, has been billed to “deliver a cutting-edge cruising experience through artificial intelligence to maximise the convenience of passengers on board”, according to Kent Zhu Fu Ming, president of Genting Cruise Lines.
The 9,000-passenger ship will be among the world’s largest cruise ships. It will have a lower berth capacity of 4,700 passengers; its 2,350 cabin offerings include villas, penthouses, suites, themed suites, balcony cabins and inside cabins.
This includes its luxury ship-within-a-ship concept, The Palace, which will offer 151 suites.
Cabins on board the Global Class will be among the most spacious staterooms at 20sqm, according to Genting, spanning 15% larger than standard cabins found on most other cruise lines.
A preview of a cabin on board Global Dream, which will be among the industry’s most spacious standard rooms at sea, and will have smart sensors and digital in-room controls for lights and temperature.
The staterooms are designed for two guests, but will be able to accommodate up to four with features such as a foldable sofa bed that can sleep two and a two-bathroom design. A curtain can be drawn to divide the room into separate seating and sleeping areas.
In-built technology touches in staterooms include Bluetooth locks and a new smart system enabling passengers to control different functions such as LED mood lighting and climate control with a smartphone app, voice recognition or through a touch-screen control panel.
Cabins will also be fitted with smart sensors that can detect occupants to automatically adjust lights and temperature.
“Dream Cruises is excited to begin a new chapter in its story when Global Dream begins her journey to take Asian travellers around the world on grand voyages to Australia, New Zealand, the Mediterranean in the future,” said Mr Zhu.
The new ships will being Dream Cruises fleet to a total of five, including two of Asia’s highest-rated cruise ships, Genting Dream and World Dream by the Berlitz Guide to Cruising 2019.