| Genting plots hotel cruise partners

GENTING Hong Kong has outlined an ambitious plan for a fleet of hotel-branded cruise ships to be managed by its Crystal Cruises business.

Speaking at the christening ceremony of Crystal’s highly anticipated Crystal Endeavor at MV Werften shipyard in Germany (CW yesterday), Genting deputy Chief Executive Officer Colin Au said the initiative would include small- and mid-sized vessels.

Au showcased the concept with a video, which included brands such as Accor, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Worldwide and Marriott International.

Two classes are envisioned – luxury expedition yachts similar to Crystal Endeavor, customised for brands such as Hilton’s Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts; and the previously flagged 2,000-passenger Universal class ships which just six months ago were believed to have been dropped from the construction schedule (CW 19 Jan).

The Universal newbuilds will also be managed by Crystal, with the first now scheduled for delivery in 2025.

Linking with hotel brands would give “instant name recognition, direct distribution and huge loyalty programs,” according to the video shown during the event.

They will be “designed like airplanes, where function is more important than form, simplifying the design and production process and reducing costs, while allowing for customisation by hotel and other brands”.

Features would allow for more social distancing, such as private balconies with inbuilt UV lights for sunbathing, meaning sun decks will be less crowded.

Staterooms will feature retractable beds so “guests can dine in comfort in their own cabin with friends and family, without being in public dining rooms,” the video enthused, with other health and safety innovations including disinfecting surfaces, contact-free systems and one-way corridors.

MV Werften is also continuing to build the 9,000 passenger Global Dream, which will be delivered next year, followed by a 2023 Endeavor class vessel.

The strategy aims to help revive the European shipbuilding industry, where Genting has a major stake through its ownership of MV Werften.

“Do not wait for demand to pick up so you can build more ships…the way to build more cruise ships is to make obsolete the entire 350 ships that are floating now,” Au said, suggesting this would happen over the next decade with the likely introduction of new safety regulations.