Resorts World Cruises Adds Malaysia Homeporting to Operation

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Resorts World Cruises announced that it will be the first cruise line to add a Kuala Lumpur homeport (via Port Klang) for the Genting Dream starting July, in addition to the Singapore homeport, which the company started operations from in June.

With the dual homeport options, travellers can now choose to embark from Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. Two-night cruises from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore will depart on Thursdays and Saturdays and three-night cruises from Kuala Lumpur to Penang and Singapore will depart on Mondays.

Departure days from Singapore will remain the same on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays; and from July 22 onwards, Friday cruises will re-introduce the two-night High Seas Weekend Getaway cruises.

The dual homeport was designed to further cater for the demand of round-trip cruises, targeting the 10 million+ population residing in central Peninsular Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Malacca), who live within a short drive of Port Klang, the embarkation port. 

Besides that, Resorts World Cruises will also offer one-way cruises that will become an alternative to air and land travel for the millions of travellers between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, including to Penang.

“Resorts World Cruises is excited to take the lead for the cruise sector to boost the in-and-outbound tourists for Singapore; and to bring cruising to the ‘doorsteps’ of Malaysians residing in central Peninsular Malaysia as they can depart from Kuala Lumpur, which is convenient and affordable,” said Michael Goh, President of Resorts World Cruises. “As Genting Dream is certified as the World’s

Cruising Returns to Xiamen, China

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After a 900-day gap, Xiamen, China, is now officially opened for domestic cruising, according to a local news report.

On July 2, the former Viking Sun, now operating as the Zhao Shang Yi Dun, marked the return of cruise operations to the Chinese port as part of a new itinerary in the region.

The five-night cruise departs from Shenzhen and includes a call in Xiamen, in addition to two full days at sea.

After leaving the Viking fleet last year, the Zhao Shang Yi Dun has been offering domestic cruising in China since October 2021.

At the time, the 930-passenger vessel – which is now operated by a joint-venture between Viking and China Merchants Shekou – kicked off a program of cruises to Sanya.

The ship’s new operation is hoped to revive the cruise economy and the cultural tourism industry in Xiamen, the news report added.

Previously one of the biggest homeports in the country, the Xiamen International Cruise Terminal had been out of service since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While a new 68,000-square meter cruise terminal is set to be completed later this year, the port’s current facilities underwent a renovation before the return of the cruise passengers.

The port is also undergoing a major development project known as the Sea World. The commercial building complex is expected to open in September and was planned to, among other goals, improve the core competitiveness and influence of the region. 

In 2019, before the outbreak of the pandemic, Xiamen is said to have received a total of 136 cruise ships, in addition to 413,700 passengers.

Sailing under the Chinese flag, the Zhao Shang Yi Dun is currently the only cruise ship in revenue service in China.

While international brands redeployed vessels that were previously sailing in the country, local cruise operators continue to have their entire fleets in operational pause.

Explora Journeys orders two new Hydrogen-Powered Ships.

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Explora V

Explora Journeys, the luxury cruise brand of MSC Group, has agreed a deal with shipbuilding group Fincantieri for the construction of two new hydrogen-powered luxury cruise ships.

Explora V and VI will feature liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines designed to tackle the issue of methane slip and will also be equipped with a containment system for liquid hydrogen that will enable them to use the low-carbon fuel.

Hydrogen fuel will power a six-megawatt fuel cell to produce emissions-free power for the hotel operation and allow the vessels to run on zero emissions in port, with the engines turned off.

The two new builds, which will take the lines fleet from four to six vessels, are set to come into service in 2027 and 2028, respectively.

Explora Journeys has also confirmed that previously announced vessels Explora III and IV will be powered by LNG. The two ships will be enlarged by 19 metres to enable the installation of the system.

Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of MSC Group’s Cruise Division, said the move marks a “significant step forward” in the line’s 2050 net-zero emissions target.

“Explora Journeys is building ships for tomorrow, utilising today’s latest technologies and being ready to adapt to alternative energy solutions as they become available,” he added.

“This transition to zero-emissions operations for the maritime industry is the biggest challenge that we will ever face, and this will only be achieved by everyone playing their part – by investing in research and development and through significant investment both by companies but also governments.”

The two additional ships covered under the memorandum of understanding (MOA) with Fincantieri will bring Explora Journeys’ investment in its fleet to €3.5 billion.

This includes an additional €120 million each for fitting Explora III and IV with LNG engines, a change that required a temporary halt of work due to the significant redesign of the ships, which will now be delivered in 2026 and 2027.