Malaysian owned Star Cruises, the only company offering sailings out of Asia on a year-round basis, is strengthening its position in the region with the delivery of four new ships over the next five years.
This will increase capacity by almost 50% following the addition to the fleet in August and October this year of two new ships, SuperStar Virgo and SuperStar Europe.
The two newest members of the fleet bring the number of ships marketed in the UK and Europe to four, the other two being SuperStar Leo and SuperStar Gemini.
The company will take delivery of SuperStarLibra in 2001, and SuperStar Scorpio a year later, at a cost of $900m. The last two cruise ships, touted as the longest in the world at 316 metres, will arrive in 2003 and 2005.
The four new vessels are part of an ambitious ship-building programme undertaken despite the economic crisis in Asia which forced the company to cut back on staffing and offices worldwide. The UK office was scaled down quite dramatically.
However, third quarter 1999 revenues increasing by 40% compared with the same period last year, Star says the UK and sister offices have been able to build business back up to near previous levels.
The company is now looking at possible new sites in the Asia-Pacific region to further its port-building programme which has already seen the completion of two Star Cruises terminals in Malaysia – at Port Klang, serving Kuala Lumpur, and Langkawi.
Able to accommodate ships of more than 100,000 tonnes, they are the only dedicated cruise passenger venues in the country.
Next year will also see a number of Star’s ships repositioned for sailings out of the Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong hubs.
SuperStar Leo will be based in Hong Kong with three and five-night sailings to China and Vietnam; SuperStar Virgo will replace Leo in Singapore and will cruise to the west coasts of Thailand and Malaysia during winter, and the east coasts during the summer; and SuperStar Gemini will sail on seven-night cruises departing every Sunday from Singapore and every Wednesday from Phuket. SuperStar Europe is based in Bangkok and sails on a five-day itinerary, which includes Vietnam.
Asia as a cruise market is growing, with bookings for 1998 up nearly 150% on 1997, according to UK Passenger Shipping Association figures.
Star Cruises director of sales and marketing UK and Europe Michael Dupont believes the region can offer something more than the market leaders in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean.
He said: “The Far East is one of the fastest-growing regions and cruising is booming. People want more than just a beach resort and Asia offers culture, religion and history, as well as good weather and beaches. We are seeing its popularity grow.”
Star Cruises is already the fifth-largest cruise company in terms of gross tonnage and Dupont believes it competes with the best.
“In terms of safety, passenger-to-crew ratio and dining options we are at the top of the market,” he said. However, he concedes that awareness in the UK needs to be raised.
The company is making attempts to remedy this situation, including sponsoring and sharing the Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore tourist boards’ stand at last week’s World Travel Market.
Star Cruises: head office, Singapore; UK office, Crawley. Tel: 01293 422244.
Size of fleet: 10.
Outline of ships marketed in UK and Europe:
SuperStar Leo: four-star plus. 76,800 gross tonnes. Pax 2,800. Crew size 1,100. 13 decks, nine restaurants.
SuperStar Virgo: four-star plus. Same gross tonnage and capacity as Superstar Leo. 13 restaurants.
SuperStar Europe: five-star. 38,000 gross tonnes. Pax 700. Crew 560.
SuperStar Gemini: four-star. 20,000 gross tonnes. Pax 900. Crew 470.
Main areas of operation: Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia.
Who to book with: Premier, Thomson, Travel 2, Jetset, Gold Medal, Magic of the Orient.