Star Cruises
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryPassenger transportation & Cruises
Founded10 November 1993 (1993-11-10)
FounderTan Sri Lim Kok Thay
DefunctApril 2022 (2022-04)
HeadquartersHong Kong, Asia
Area served
Asia Pacific
Key people
Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, CEO & Founder
ProductsCruises
OwnerGenting Hong Kong
WebsiteStarCruises.com
SuperStar Leo, the first newbuild of the company

Star Cruises was a cruise line headquartered in Hong Kong and operating in the Asia-Pacific market. The company was owned by Genting Hong Kong. It was the eighteenth largest[1] cruise line in the world after Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Cruises and 15 others.

The chairman of Star Cruises was 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,[2] incorporated in Bermuda on 10 November 1993 with its corporate headquarters in Hong Kong.[3] 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 acquired Norwegian Cruise Line,[4] 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 2007, Star sold 50% of NCL to the Apollo Management group.[5] In 2013, following a corporate reorganization and an initial public offering, NCL was made a wholly owned subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. On 3 December 2018, Star and Apollo sold off their remaining stakes in Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, marking the end of a relationship that lasted more than a decade.[5]

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, was transferred to NCL.[6] The ship became Norwegian Spirit and took over Norwegian Sky cruises.[7] It was rushed into service under NCL America brand because the Pride of America wasn't ready on time due to sinking at Lloyd Werft shipyard.[8] Since 2006, the trend has been for new ships to be built for NCL, and the old ships in the NCL fleet are 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.[9]

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.[10] 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.[11] On 9 February 2015, the first steel cutting ceremony for Genting World was held at Meyer Werft shipyard.[12]

In November 2015, it was announced that the vessels under construction would instead be delivered to Dream Cruises, with a new class of ships planned to be designed for Star Cruises.[13]

The company announced in March 2018 that one of its ships, SuperStar Libra, would end her public cruise operations for the company on 27 June 2018.[14]

On 8 March 2018, Genting Hong Kong announced that the first Global-class newbuild that was previously allocated to Star Cruises would join the Dream Cruises fleet.[15][16]

On 11 September 2018, Genting Hong Kong announced that SuperStar Virgo would move to Dream Cruises in April 2019 and be renamed the Explorer Dream.[17] In November 2018, SuperStar Gemini returned to Malaysia for a six-month deployment.[18]

In January 2022, the parent company of Star Cruises, Genting Hong Kong, declared bankruptcy due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.[19]

In April 2022, following the collapse of the parent company of Star Cruises, Genting Hong Kong; SuperStar Gemini, SuperStar Aquarius & Star Pisces were all sold for scrap.

Their smaller sister ship, The Taipan, was sold to OM Ships International in May 2022 and renamed Doulos Hope. Operation Mobilisation affiliate Gute Bücher für Alle accepted the ship in Penang, Malaysia on 25 May and completed her sea trial on July 20. She then sailed to Singapore to continue a refurbishment which should conclude before the end of 2023.[20][21]

The Star Cruises Trademarks were sold to Genting Group Chairman and CEO Lim Kok Thay.[22]

Former Fleet

Ships that sailed as part of Star Cruises:

ShipIn service for Star CruisesBuiltGross TonnageStatus as of 2024Image
Langkapuri Star Aquarius1993–2001198840,012 GTNow Pearl Seaways for DFDS.
Star Pisces1994–2022199040,012 tonsPreviously Kalypso; scrapped in Alang in 2022.[23]
MegaStar Taurus1994–201519893,341 GTTransferred to Crystal Cruises as Crystal Esprit.
The TaipanJuly 1994–May 2022[20]1991[24]3,370 tonsEntered service for Star Cruises as MegaStar Aries (1994–2012), then renamed Genting World (2012–2013) and The Taipan (2013-2022). Transferred to Operation Mobilisation as Doulos Hope in May 2022.[20]
SuperStar Gemini1995–2009199219,093 GTNow Gemini for Miray Cruises.
SuperStar Capricorn1997–1998
2001–2004		197321,891 GTScrapped at Aliağa, Turkey in 2021.
SuperStar Europe
SuperStar Aries		1999–2000
2000–2004		198037,301 GTNow Blue Sapphire for ANEX Tour.
SuperStar Sagittarius1998197216,607 GTPreviously Oriental Dragon.
Scrapped in Gadani in 2022.
SuperStar Leo1998–2004199875,338 GTStar Cruises' first newly built at the time. Transferred to Norwegian Cruise Line as Norwegian Spirit.
SuperStar Virgo1999-2019199975,338 GTStar Cruises' second newly built at the time. Transfer to Dream Cruises as Explorer Dream in April 2019.
MegaStar Capricorn2000–200119914,280 GTNow Caledonian Sky for Noble Caledonia.
MegaStar Sagittarius2000–200119914,200 GTNow Sea Spirit for Poseidon Expeditions.N/A
SuperStar Taurus2000–2001198015,179 GTNow Celestyal Crystal for Celestyal Cruises.
SuperStar Libra2005-2018198842,275 GTPreviously Norwegian Sea; scrapped in Aliağa in 2022.
SuperStar Aquarius2007–2022199351,309 tonsPreviously Norwegian Wind; sold for scrap in 2022.[25]
SuperStar Gemini2012–2022199250,764 tonsPreviously Norwegian Dream; sold for scrap in 2022.[26]

Cancelled ships

Ships that were ordered for Star Cruises but transferred before completion or never built:

ShipBuiltGross TonnageStatus as of 2024Image
SuperStar Libra200191,740 GTTransferred to subsidiary Norwegian Cruise Line as the Norwegian Star
SuperStar Scorpio200292,250 GTTransferred to subsidiary Norwegian Cruise Line as the Norwegian Dawn
N.N.2003112,000 GTnever built
Sagittarius class		[27][28]
N.N.2005112,000 GTnever built
Sagittarius class
Genting World[29][30]2016150,695 GTTransferred to Dream Cruises as Genting Dream.
N.N.2017150,695 GTTransferred to Dream Cruises as World Dream.
N.N.[31]-208,000 GTTransferred to Dream Cruises as Global Dream. Acquired by the Disney Cruise Line as of November 2022, new name TBD
N.N.-208,000 GTTransferred to Dream Cruises. Second ship of the Global class. Incomplete hull scrapped [32]

References

  1. ↑ "2012 World Wide Market Share". Cruise Market Watch. 20 November 2011.
  2. ↑ Group Profile – Star Cruises Limited Archived 6 December 2012 at archive.today, retrieved on 27 July 2005
  3. ↑ Star Cruises 2004 Annual Report Archived 4 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved on 15 March 2007
  4. ↑ Alex (20 December 2000). "Star Cruises Acquires Norwegian Cruise Line". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  5. 1 2 Stieghorst, Tom (3 December 2018). "Apollo and Star cash out of Norwegian Cruise Line: Travel Weekly". Travel Weekly. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  6. ↑ "NCL: SuperStar Leo's in, the Norway's out: Travel Weekly". www.travelweekly.com. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  7. ↑ "Solar Solve Wins Large Order From Norwegian Cruise Lines". The Maritime Executive. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  8. ↑ "Pride of America refloated, moved to drydock: Travel Weekly". www.travelweekly.com. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  9. ↑ Norwegian Dream Set to Sail for Star – Cruise Industry News | Cruise News. Cruise Industry News (27 April 2012).
  10. ↑ Star Cruises Orders New Ship from Meyer Werft – Cruise Industry News | Cruise News. Cruise Industry News (7 October 2013).
  11. ↑ Star Doubles Order – Second Newbuild Due for 2017 – Cruise Industry News | Cruise News. Cruise Industry News (10 February 2014).
  12. ↑ "Star Cruises Commences Building of the Genting World Mega Cruise Ship with its First Steel Cutting". Star Cruises. 11 February 2015.
  13. ↑ "Genting Dream, the first Asian luxury cruise ship". Cruisetotravel. 31 July 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  14. ↑ Staff, CIN (2 March 2018). "SuperStar Libra to End Public Cruise Operations". Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  15. ↑ Staff, CIN (8 March 2018). "Dream Cruises to Get 2020 Newbuild, Sail Globally". Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  16. ↑ "Genting to transfer Global Class newbuilds to Dream Cruises brand". Cruise & Ferry. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  17. ↑ Mathisen, Monty (11 September 2018). "SuperStar Virgo to Become Explorer Dream, Transfer to Dream Cruises". www.cruiseindustrynews.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  18. ↑ "Cruise ship returns to Malaysia this November". The Star Online. 25 September 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  19. ↑ "How Genting billionaire Lim Kok Thay's global cruise empire imploded in Hong Kong | the Straits Times". 23 January 2022.
  20. 1 2 3 "Meet Doulos Hope | OM Ships International". www.om.org. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  21. ↑ "GBA Ships - This is the official website of GBA Ships which manages and operates MV Logos Hope". gbaships.org. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  22. ↑ "Star Cruises Trademarks Sold Back to Resorts World - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News".
  23. ↑ "Weekly Vessel Scrapping Report 2022: Week 17".
  24. ↑ BalticShipping.com. "BalticShipping.com". www.balticshipping.com. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  25. ↑ "Weekly Vessel Scrapping Report 2022: Week 17".
  26. ↑ "Weekly Vessel Scrapping Report 2022: Week 17".
  27. ↑ "Star Cruises will zwei Schiffe bauen" (in German). 30 July 1999. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  28. ↑ "Star Cruises - Page 2". Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  29. ↑ "Star Cruises ordert neues Kreuzfahrtschiff" (in German). 8 October 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  30. ↑ "New Star Ship to be Genting World?". 29 October 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2022.}
  31. ↑ "GENTING HONG KONG GRÜNDET MV WERFTEN FÜR NEUBAUPROJEKTE" (in German). 7 July 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  32. ↑ McGillivray, Robert (15 June 2022). "Global Dream's Sister Ship to Be Sold as Scrap". Cruise Hive.
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