Kent Zhu Fuming
President of Genting Cruise Lines
Shanghai, the first “Cruise Tourism Model City” in China, is the biggest port in Asia as well as one of the world’s most influential cruise economies. In 2018 alone, Shanghai handled over three million cruise passenger throughput, accounting for 56 percent of the nation’s total passenger throughput number.
With the Asian cruise industry experiencing a major expansion in recent years, cruise terminals have been constructed around the region, creating new competition for the Shanghai cruise market. In 2018, the number of homeport cruises in China dropped by 19 percent as compared to 2017. To maintain Shanghai’s leading position in cruise industry, stakeholders in the industry must work together to contribute to the local cruise market.
Genting Cruise Lines has been an integral force for the growth of Shanghai’s cruise market since 2002 when we deployed SuperStar Leo, Star Cruises’ flagship at that time, to Shanghai for her homeport deployment when China’s cruise market was still in its infancy. Since then, Genting Cruise Lines has been supporting the growth of Shanghai’s cruise market over the years with the deployment of several other ships to the city and offering innovative itineraries for passengers.
Cruise operators need to develop new products to cater to the next stage of demand and growth in the China market. For example, Dream Cruises recently launched its newest fleet member, Explorer Dream, in Shanghai for her inaugural homeport deployment.
We also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Baoshan government to foster closer cooperation for the future growth of the Shanghai market. As well, Global Dream, the new 208,000 gross tonnage Global Class ship for Dream Cruises will set sail from Shanghai starting 2021 and will become the largest cruise ship to homeport in the Asia Pacific.
As the recent period of adjustment begins to recede, the China cruise industry will enter a high-speed growth phase soon and we expect a higher demand for high quality products.
At Genting Cruise Lines, we are also aware that more seasoned Asian cruisers are looking forward to venturing on journeys outside of Asia — but perhaps from the familiar surroundings of a ship designed with the Asian facilities and features of a home.
To provide a home-away-from-home experience, Genting Cruise Lines will deploy Dream Cruises’ recently launched Explorer Dream to Australia and New Zealand for the winter season, allowing Asian guests to visit “down under” while enjoying the brand’s signature Asian hospitality featuring multi-lingual staff, acclaimed Eastmeets-West cuisine and tailored entertainment programs.
With over 25 years of experience in the Asia Pacific, Genting Cruise Lines will continue to support the development of the Shanghai cruise market and contribute to the China cruise industry.