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Star Cruises

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Star Cruises
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryPassenger transportation & Cruises
Founded10 November 1993; 31 years ago (1993-11-10)
FounderTan Sri Lim Kok Thay
DefunctApril 2022; 2 years ago (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. It operated in the Asia-Pacific market and was owned by Genting Hong Kong. It was the 18th 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 Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong, who had founded Malaysia's Genting Highlands.

History

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SuperStar Libra in Keelung Harbor, Taiwan

1992–1999: Founding, acquistions

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Star Cruises was founded as an associate of the Genting Group of Malaysia.[2] It was 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 bankrupt Swedish company Rederi AB Slite. In the following years, the company purchased several other 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.

2000–2012: Norwegian Cruise Line, transfers

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In 2000, Star Cruises acquired Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL),[4] including its subsidiaries Orient Lines and Norwegian Capricorn Line, thus becoming the largest global cruise line in the world. NCL operations were soon merged into those of Star Cruises. Before the purchase of NCL, Star Cruises had had several other new builds either planned or already under construction, but with the merger of the two companies, most of the new ships joined the NCL fleet instead.

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 was sold in 2007.)

In 2004, SuperStar Leo was transferred to NCL.[5] The ship then became Norwegian Spirit.[6] It was rushed into service under the NCL America brand because the Pride of America wasn't ready on time due to sinking at Lloyd Werft shipyard.[7] (Since 2006, the trend was for new ships to be built for NCL, after which old ships in the NCL fleet were transferred to the Star Cruises fleet in Asia.)

In 2007, Star sold 50% of NCL to the Apollo Management group.[8] 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 had lasted more than a decade.[8]

In early 2008, both NCL America and Orient Lines brands were discontinued, with the latter's sole ship, 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' ships received new hull art. One year later, it was announced on 27 April 2012 that the Norwegian Dream would join the Star fleet, renamed as SuperStar Gemini, with service starting in 2012.[9]

2013–2018: New and renamed vessels

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On 7 October 2013, Star Cruises announced they had entered into an agreement with Meyer Werft shipyard for the construction of one new cruise ship. The vessel would have capacity for 3,364 passengers at double occupancy.[10] The ship would be delivered sometime in late 2016. Star Cruises then announced on 10 February 2014 that a second ship was ordered and would be delivered by late 2017. Both ships would have volumes of 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]

In March 2018, Star Cruises announced 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 build previously allocated to Star Cruises would join the Dream Cruises fleet instead.[15][16] On 11 September 2018, Genting Hong Kong also 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]

2022: Bankruptcy

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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, SuperStar Gemini, SuperStar Aquarius, and 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 (OM) 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 have conclude by the end of 2023.[20][21]

In September of 2022, Thay, under the buyer name Resorts World, bought the trademarks for Star Cruises for around $3.5 million.[22]

Former fleet

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Ships that sailed as part of Star Cruises
Ship In service for Star Cruises Built Gross Tonnage (GT) Status as of 2025 Image
Langkapuri Star Aquarius 1993–2001 1988 40,012 Now Pearl Seaways for DFDS.
Star Pisces 1994–2022 1990 40,012 Previously Kalypso; scrapped in Alang in 2022.[23]
MegaStar Taurus 1994–2015 1989 3,341 Transferred to Crystal Cruises as Crystal Esprit.
The Taipan July 1994–May 2022[20] 1991[24] 3,370 Entered 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 Gemini 1995–2009 1992 19,093 Now Gemini for Miray Cruises.
SuperStar Capricorn 1997–1998
2001–2004		 1973 21,891 Scrapped at Aliağa, Turkey in 2021.
SuperStar Europe
SuperStar Aries		 1999–2000
2000–2004		 1980 37,301 Now Blue Sapphire for ANEX Tour.
SuperStar Sagittarius 1998 1972 16,607 Previously Oriental Dragon.
Scrapped in Gadani in 2022.
SuperStar Leo 1998–2004 1998 75,338 Star Cruises' first newly built at the time. Transferred to Norwegian Cruise Line as Norwegian Spirit.
SuperStar Virgo 1999-2019 1999 75,338 Star Cruises' second newly built at the time. Transfer to Dream Cruises as Explorer Dream in April 2019.
MegaStar Capricorn 2000–2001 1991 4,280 Now Caledonian Sky for Noble Caledonia.
MegaStar Sagittarius 2000–2001 1991 4,200 Now Sea Spirit for Poseidon Expeditions. N/A
Norwegian Star 1 2001–2002 1973 4,200 Previously Albatros for Phonix Reisen; scrapped 2021
SuperStar Taurus 2000–2001 1980 15,179 Now Celestyal Crystal for Celestyal Cruises
SuperStar Libra 2005–2018 1988 42,275 Previously Norwegian Sea; scrapped in Aliağa in 2022
SuperStar Aquarius 2007–2022 1993 51,309 Previously Norwegian Wind; sold for scrap in 2022[25]
SuperStar Gemini 2012–2022 1992 50,764 Previously Norwegian Dream; sold for scrap in 2022[26]

Cancelled ships

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

Ship Built Year ship would enter Star Cruises services Gross Tonnage Status as of 2025 Image
SuperStar Libra 2001 2001 91,740 Transferred to subsidiary Norwegian Cruise Line as the Norwegian Star
SuperStar Scorpio 2002 2002 92,250 Transferred to subsidiary Norwegian Cruise Line as the Norwegian Dawn
Norway 1960 2003 76,049 NCL planned to transfer it to Star Cruises; transfer was canceled
N.N. 2003 112,000 Never built;
Sagittarius class		 [27][28]
Norwegian Majesty 1992 2009 32,396 NCL planned to transfer it to Star Cruises; transfer was canceled
N.N. 2005 112,000 Never built; Sagittarius class
Pride Of Aloha 1998 2008 77,104 NCL planned to transfer it to Star Cruises; transfer was canceled
Genting World[29][30] 2016 150,695 Transferred to Dream Cruises as Genting Dream
N.N. 2017 150,695 Transferred to Dream Cruises as World Dream
Global Dream[31] 2019 208,000 Transferred to Dream Cruises as Global Dream; aquired by the Disney Cruise Line as of November 2022 while still under construction with the new name Disney Adventure
Global Dream II Scrapped 208,000 Transferred to Dream Cruises. Second ship of the Global class. Incomplete lower hull scrapped [32]

References

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  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. ^ "NCL: SuperStar Leo's in, the Norway's out: Travel Weekly". www.travelweekly.com. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  6. ^ "Solar Solve Wins Large Order From Norwegian Cruise Lines". The Maritime Executive. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  7. ^ "Pride of America refloated, moved to drydock: Travel Weekly". www.travelweekly.com. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  8. ^ a b Stieghorst, Tom (3 December 2018). "Apollo and Star cash out of Norwegian Cruise Line: Travel Weekly". Travel Weekly. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  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". The Straits Times. 23 January 2022.
  20. ^ a b c "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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