SINGAPORE – On March 26, the Star Voyager – a 1,940-passenger capacity vessel with a recent US$50 million (S$67 million) makeover – embarked on its maiden voyage under the newly relaunched StarCruises brand.

Its inaugural five-night itinerary set off from Singapore, with stops at Melaka and Jakarta. The ship will also sail to destinations like Bangkok, Koh Samui, Medan and Ho Chi Minh City on one- to five-night itineraries.

Some of its refurbished amenities include remodelled cabins and dining venues. For three-night sailings, for instance, prices start at $207 for a one-way cruise in July from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City, with a stop in Melaka.

The original Star Cruises brand has been in the industry for over 30 years, but stopped operating in January 2022 following the bankruptcy and liquidation of its parent company Genting Hong Kong.

In February, Resorts World Cruises – formed in June 2022 by Mr Lim Kok Thay, former majority stakeholder of Genting Hong Kong – announced that it would be splitting operations into StarCruises and Dream Cruises.

The rebrand comes as Resorts World Cruises looks to gain a stronger foothold in the cruise industry with refreshed offerings in the post-pandemic era.

Since its launch in Singapore in June 2022, the brand has welcomed almost two million passengers.

The two new cruise lines cater to different travellers. StarCruises will provide more affordable and lifestyle-driven cruising, while Dream Cruises is expected to offer luxury experiences and premium amenities.

“With mid-sized ships that accommodate around 2,000 guests, StarCruises provides a more intimate and accessible cruising experience with short-length itineraries for the domestic market and the booming international fly-cruise segment,” says Mr Michael Goh, president of the cruise lines.

Aside from the Star Voyager, StarCruises will also operate the Star Navigator – previously known as Resorts World One, which can accommodate 1,854 passengers and was refurbished three years ago.

Dream Cruises will continue to operate the 3,352-passenger capacity Genting Dream, which was built in 2016.

Mr Goh adds: “The demand for Star Voyager has been very positive and encouraging. The homeport deployment of Star Voyager is unique, as the ship will homeport at the Singapore Cruise Centre all the way to July 21, along other dual homeports like Jakarta, Bangkok, Melaka and Ho Chi Minh City.

“This will bring both ...