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What’s next for cruising in Singapore after Dream Cruises’ departure?

It’s the end of an era as genting cruise lines finally calls it a day, leaving a gap in singapore’s cruise market..

Now that Genting has gone under , what becomes of Singapore’s cruise industry? The country previously reiterated its intention to become the cruise hub of Southeast Asia and attract fly-cruisers from Australia and other regions. As such, the question on everyone’s minds is whether Dream’s shutdown has dealt a blow to that aspiration.

Ms Annie Chang, Director, Cruise, Singapore Tourism Board (STB), tells Cruise Passenger that Singapore remains committed to develop its cruise industry and retain its reputation as a cruise hub in Asia.

“We remain confident in the potential of the cruise industry and are continuing our efforts to anchor more cruise ships in Singapore,” she said. “We have received interest from other cruise lines, and are in discussions with them to deploy their ships and operate sailings from Singapore.”

Prior to Genting Hong Kong’s liquidation announcement, STB had supported Dream Cruises with its Cruise Development Fund, for the deployment of World Dream and its sailings out of Singapore.

Following the line’s shutdown, STB is also working closely with Dream Cruises and other government agencies to provide assistance to affected staff, including job matching for affected local workers through the Tourism Careers Hub (TCH) and Workforce Singapore (WSG).

“We strongly urge Dream Cruises to prioritise the interests of all affected customers, who should reach out to the company, their respective travel agents or booking platforms regarding the status of their booking,” added Ms Chang.

With Dream Cruises out of the picture, Royal Caribbean is currently the only line operating cruises-to-nowhere out of Singapore. In a media statement to Cruise Passenger , the line mentioned how it remains committed to the Singapore market.

“Demand has been strong for cruising in Singapore amid the evolving Covid-19 restrictions and even with the emergence of Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs), almost every sailing has been sold out,” said the line. “We are confident that holidaymakers around the region see cruising as great value, and also one of the safest holiday options given the contained environment and effective health and safety protocols on board. We looking forward to continued success in the region.”

Next month, the line will also be deploying Spectrum of the Seas to Singapore. The ship was exclusively designed for the Asian market − it homeported in Shanghai and operated mainly out of East Asia pre-pandemic. With Dream Cruises previously catering primarily to the Asian market, it appears that Spectrum will fill the gap it leaves behind in Singapore.

“ Spectrum is open for bookings to both local and international guests, and features groundbreaking escapades exclusively designed for the Asian market, while still offering the international experience that guests love and associate with Royal Caribbean,” said the line. “We are confident that she will continue to push the envelope in cruise innovation, debuting a new suite of adventures such as the Sky Pad, Asia’s first virtual reality bungee trampoline adventure where guests can strap in, don a headset and transport themselves to another time and planet.”

The line added that it is looking forward to resuming port-of-call sailings around Southeast Asia, when the time is right.

“We are optimistic about the opportunity to add destinations back into our itineraries, and continue to work closely with Singapore Tourism Board, as well as the Malaysia and Thailand governments, to make it happen,” said the line. “This step forward will not only reiterate Singapore’s standing as the gateway cruise hub for Southeast Asia, but also enable us to deliver the full signature Royal Caribbean experience – ultimate cruise getaways to some of the region’s most loved destinations, alongside our spectacular service, adventure-packed activities and the world-class entertainment on board our ships.”

An ode to Dream

When the news first broke out of Dream Cruises ceasing its operations , I undeniably felt a tinge of sadness.

The line was the first in Singapore to restart sailings after the pandemic, and I recall fond memories of sailing on World Dream’s inaugural post-pandemic voyage in November 2020.

Though I had my hesitations about cruising in a Covid era, Dream Cruises executed the sailings flawlessly. I never once felt at risk of catching Covid onboard, given how stringent the line was about social distancing, mask-wearing and temperature checks.

I also enjoyed many fun activities, including racing down World Dream’s adrenaline-inducing waterslides, luxuriating in the private pool for Palace Suite guests and watching my teppanyaki chef work his knife-twirling magic at Umi Uma Teppanyaki restaurant.

As a homegrown Asia cruise brand, Genting has seen many significant milestones as well.

In May 2020, Star Cruises was the first cruise line chartered for pandemic support by the Singapore government. SuperStar Gemini and SuperStar Aquarius were turned into temporary onboard accommodations to house foreign workers in Singapore who recovered from COVID-19.

And in July 2020, Dream Cruises was the world’s first cruise line to resume operations post-pandemic, when Explorer Dream restarted voyages in Taiwan . World Dream was also the first ship in the Asia Pacific region to offer on-board halal cuisine targeting Muslim passengers.

Dream Cruises has not responded to Cruise Passenger’s queries on its current situation, and whether guests will be refunded on World Dream sailings booked after March.

Those who have made prior booking as early as Dec 2021 and paid in full for the cruise after the 2nd March cessation is feeling cheated. I have made the booking for triple sharing to celebrate my wife’s birthday which falls on the 7th of March n our booking is for the 6th March cruise which is a 4 days trip. Now not only we can’t celebrate her birthday and we are not even sure if we could get our money back. It is a big disappointment n lost of our money. In the months before I have read that dream cruise Hong Kong winding up I have check wt my travel agent if our trip for March would be cancelled but was assure by the travel agent that nothing changed our trip is still going through n it has nothing to do with Hong Kong winding up. Two days before the 2nd of March I wrote an email to Dream cruise elite members website cause I am an elite member to check if a birthday cake will be presented to my wife on her birthday and was even advise that the birthday cake will be presented to her on her birthday once on board and there is no indication that the cruise will be stop or cancelled. So as u can imagine how disappointed I am to find out that not only it is cancelled but if we could get our refund.

Sg’s tourism board should help Genting Cruises to float to maintain competitions,cannot let only 1 cruise to monopolies the market

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Dream Cruises' World Dream to cease operations on March 2

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SINGAPORE — Cruise operator Dream Cruises said that its World Dream vessel will cease operations after its current sailing returns to shore on Wednesday (March 2).

Dream Cruises' World Dream cruise ship docked at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre in Singapore in July 2021.

In a statement on Tuesday, Genting Hong Kong, which owns Dream Cruises, said it "has become impossible" for it to make the further financial commitments necessary to enable the World Dream to continue to operate.

Dream Cruises had said earlier on Jan 23 that it would suspend bookings for an initial period of two weeks after its beleaguered parent company, Genting Hong Kong, applied to be wound up. The suspension was extended on Feb 4.

Customers who have paid deposits for sailings after Wednesday may submit their claims for refunds, said Genting Hong Kong.

However, it added that it is still "assessing the impact of the cessation of operation of the World Dream, in particular its ability to meet potential refund claims".

"Despite the continued efforts to source and introduce external funding, the group’s liquidity continues to deteriorate given the absence of sustainable operational income under current challenging circumstance and in the face of mounting creditor pressure which poses an immediate threat to the operation of the vessel," it said.

Those who wish to submit their claims should attach their booking confirmation and payment records and email them to joint provisional liquidators  ProjectGenting [at] alvarezandmarsal.com  for assessment.

Dream Cruises' World Dream is one of two vessels allowed to offer cruises to nowhere in Singapore. The other is Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas.

The joint provisional liquidators have been identifying potential remediation plans and facilitating the restructuring of the group including Dream Cruises since their appointment on Jan 20, said the cruise operator.

It added that it had obtained "certain emergency funding" which had enabled the World Dream to complete 16 scheduled cruises after the appointment of the joint provisional liquidators.

Genting Hong Kong, which is part of Malaysia's Genting Group, reported a net loss of US$238 million (S$323 million) in the first half of 2021, as operations continued to be affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. It reported a net loss of US$1.7 billion in 2020.

The company owns the Star Cruises and Dream Cruises lines which serve the Asia Pacific region, as well as the luxury Crystal Cruises line based in Miami. 

The cruise operator warned earlier in January that it faced potential cross-default amounting to US$2.78 billion, following the insolvency of its German shipbuilding subsidiary.

Its chairman and CEO Lim Kok Thay, along with deputy CEO Au Fook Yew, resigned in January.

For more reports like this, visit cna.asia .

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Follow our news, recent searches, cruise ship genting dream to start trips from singapore under new resorts world cruises brand, advertisement.

Main pool of Genting Dream. (Photo: RW Cruises)

Vanessa Lim

SINGAPORE: A vessel that used to be operated by Genting Hong Kong-owned Dream Cruises will sail from Jun 15 under a new company called Resorts World Cruises.

The company was set up by Malaysian tycoon Lim Kok Thay, who is chairman and board executive of Genting Group. It was registered on Mar 9, less than two months after Genting Hong Kong filed to wind up the company after failing to secure funding to pay its debts .

Dream Cruises ran three ships - Genting Dream, Explorer Dream and World Dream. Resorts World Cruises has taken over Genting Dream and is currently in negotiations with banks and interested parties to acquire the other two ships.

World Dream, which operated cruises to nowhere from Singapore, stopped taking new bookings after its parent company ran into financial trouble. The ship ceased operations on Mar 2.

Resorts World Cruises said on Wednesday (May 18) that it would offer complimentary cruise credits of “equivalent value” for all paid affected passengers by World Dream’s cruise cancellations in Singapore between Mar 2 and Aug 31 this year as a “gesture of goodwill”.

The credits will be valid from Jun 15 to end-March 2023.

At a news conference on Wednesday, the company said this would only be applicable to affected World Dream customers who have yet to receive any refund from their original booking source.

“From our records, there were 13,000 (affected) customers but we also understand that many of our customers have actually got their refund through credit card companies,” said Mr Michael Goh, president and head of international sales of Resorts World Cruises.

He added that the company does not have a record of how many people have claimed their refunds so far.

What happened to Genting Hong Kong?

On Jan 19, Genting Hong Kong, which owns Dream Cruises, Crystal Cruises and Star Cruises, announced that it was filing for bankruptcy.

This came after a US$1.7 billion record loss for the company in 2020 and a US$743 million loss in the first half of 2021.

Its wholly owned shipbuilding subsidiary, MV Werften, also filed for insolvency in Germany after it failed to secure funding for the completion of its Global One mega-liner.

Genting Hong Kong, which was at that time 76 per cent owned by tycoon Lim Kok Thay, then filed a petition in Bermuda to wind up the company and appoint provisional liquidators.

The company also said its cash was expected to run out around the end of January and it had no access to further funding.

It added that it had "exhausted all reasonable efforts" to negotiate with its creditors and stakeholders.

NEW COMPANY "NOTHING TO DO" WITH GENTING HONG KONG

Although the new company has taken over the Genting Dream vessel, it maintains that Resorts World Cruises is separate from Genting Hong Kong.

“The provisional liquidator could not revive the (Dream Cruises) brand and so, we worked with the Chinese lessors who are the owners of the ship and decided to restart the cruise under the Resorts World brand,” said Resorts World Cruises’ CEO and executive director Colin Au, who was formerly deputy CEO of Genting Hong Kong.

“This new brand has got nothing to do with Genting Hong Kong, it’s a new cruise brand,” he added.

Mr Lim and Mr Au both resigned as CEO and deputy CEO of Genting Hong Kong respectively in January this year, after the cruise operator filed to wind up the business.

Trading of Genting Hong Kong’s shares has been suspended since Jan 18, and will remain so until further notice. 

“Genting Hong Kong is under provisional liquidation, and (Mr Lim) is not joining any of the companies under provisional liquidation. This is a new cruise liner that is being set up,” Mr Au reiterated when asked about Mr Lim’s role in the new company.

Mr Lim, who is the executive chairman of Resorts World Cruises, holds shares in the new company, said Mr Au.

“There are many parties who would like to join the company and there are negotiations with them, and so this will be a work in progress in the next couple of weeks,” said Mr Au, adding that this should be finalised “in the next few weeks”.

LAUNCH OF NEW CRUISE IS IN “EVERYBODY’S OBJECTIVE”

When asked about the timing of the launch of the new ship, which will come about six months after Genting Hong Kong filed to wind up its business, Mr Au said it was in “everybody's objective to go back to normal ... as fast as possible" to protect jobs and to help the economy grow.

In response to CNA's queries, a company spokesperson said it has re-employed about 1,700 of its former employees based in Singapore. This comprises 1,600 former crew members from Genting Dream and about 70 former employees from its Singapore office.

In March, The Straits Times reported that at least 60 employees from Genting Hong Kong's Singapore office had been laid off, with no retrenchment benefits.

When asked about the remuneration packages for re-employed staff members, Mr Goh said this would be "based on experience" and did not disclose further details.

Mr Au said the launch of the new cruise will also help to give the Singapore Cruise Centre more revenue.

Noting the strong market appetite for cruises in the region, including Thailand, Malaysia and India, Mr Goh expressed confidence that Resorts World Cruises will be able to meet demand.

Genting Dream will launch several cruises to nowhere departing from Singapore on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. It plans to launch destination cruises to Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia from Sep 30.

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Dream Cruises to continue operating in Singapore, even as parent company files to be wound up

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Cruise line Dream Cruises will continue to operate cruises here, even after its parent company Genting Hong Kong filed to be wound up on Wednesday (Jan 19).

In response to queries from The Straits Times, a Dream Cruises spokesman said certain business activities of Genting Hong Kong, such as cruise operations by Dream Cruises, will continue.

This is to "preserve and protect the core assets and maintain the value" of Genting Hong Kong, added the spokesman, who declined further comment.

The Hong Kong-listed firm's is winding up after it failed to secure funding to help it stay afloat after its German shipbuilding subsidiary, MV Werften, went into insolvency.

Dream Cruises' World Dream is one of two cruise lines allowed to operate cruises to nowhere in Singapore. The other is Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas.

The Dream Cruises website was running and continued to accept bookings when ST visited the site on Wednesday afternoon.

Cruise passengers left in the lurch on Good Friday

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Dream Cruises was launched in 2015, and its first ship, the Genting Dream, debuted in 2016. Its sister ship, World Dream, joined in November 2017 and operated cruises from Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Since sailings resumed in November 2020 during the pandemic, World Dream has received at least 200,000 passengers and had been seeing strong demand for its 2022 sailings.

Genting Hong Kong also owns two other cruise brands - Star Cruises, which operates in the Asia Pacific, and luxury brand Crystal Cruises, which is headquartered in Miami, Florida.

The three cruise brands are collectively known as Genting Cruise Lines.

In a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange on Wednesday, the firm said it had "exhausted all reasonable efforts" to negotiate with creditors and stakeholders.

The company's available cash balances are expected to run out by around end-January, it added.

MV Weften said earlier this week that it will file for bankruptcy after failing to secure funding for the completion of its "Global One" mega-liner.

The ship, which had been designed to carry about 5,000 passengers, was due to leave the shipyard in 2021 and had been designed for the booming Asian cruise market.

The firm decided to declare bankruptcy after lengthy discussions with German officials were not fruitful. It needed about S$921 million to finance the completion of the ship.

Genting Hong Kong flagged on Tuesday that it had planned to file for provisional liquidation with courts in Bermuda, where it is registered.

It also warned investors that cross defaults amounting to US$2.78 billion (S$3.76 billion) may follow.

Genting Hong Kong reported a record loss of US$1.7 billion in May 2021, as the Covid-19 pandemic continued to decimate the hospitality industry.

In 2020, it reported a consolidated net loss of about US$1.72 billion, compared to US$159 million in 2019.

Its full-year revenue also fell from US$1.56 billion in 2019 to US$367 million in 2020, mainly due to the suspension of cruise operations since February 2020.

Many cruise operators were forced to halt operations especially at the start of the pandemic when countries closed their borders and prevented cruise ships from docking.

The impact of Covid-19 on cruises led to an estimated loss of about $77 billion in global economic activity and more than 500,000 jobs between mid March and September 2020, according to the Cruise Lines International Association.

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Adeline Tan

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Sun sets on Dream Cruise as thousands return to Woodward

Birmingham — The Woodward Dream Cruise came roaring back Saturday, a rolling reminder that if you love cars, the third Saturday in August is your Super Bowl.

If you love the Super Bowl, conversely, don't bother bringing it up with Steven Ross.

"I'm a car guy," he said, standing alongside his Montana red 1960 Chevrolet Impala along Old Woodward, and he was in good company — an expected 1 million to 2 million spectators, including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, as the Cruise came back from a pandemic-related cancellation last year.

“Let's put it this way," said Ross, 64, of Bloomfield Hills. "Some guys can talk sports. I don't know a thing about sports. You want to talk classic cars, I could talk all day.”

A few yards away, the world's coolest traffic jam proceeded as expected on a steamy day that topped out close to 90 degrees. A surprisingly rare Dream Cruise fender-bender and a stalled 1957 pickup each delayed traffic briefly, but if COVID-19 could only stop the Cruise in theory, a wreck involving two non-classics was just a speed bump.

Ross was among thousands of drivers and spectators who came out anyway in 2020 after the Woodward Dream Cruise committee scrubbed the event. Woodward is a public road, after all, so the only measurable impact was smaller crowds and no portable toilets.

Ross took advantage of the smaller turnout to switch cars and drive more, bringing out his 1969 Pontiac Firebird and 1931 Ford Rat Rod. With the Impala at the 26th Dream Cruise Saturday, he wore a T-shirt that said, "No, I'm not the original owner."

Joseph Waterman, 80, of Livonia also drove a '60 Impala — and he is the original owner.

Waterman's is white, with whitewall tires and 145,000 miles on the odometer. The red-and-white houndstooth interior is original.

As for his reddish-brown mop of hair, not so much. "Hair Club for Men," he said.

The Impala has always been a weekend car, he said, and it's sturdy enough that he drives it to Indiana every year for a car show, though the carburetor failed at last year's unofficial Dream Cruise and he needed to be towed home.

This year's turn for a tow fell to Ron Pannecouk of Algonac, whose pristine 1957 Ford F-100 pickup stalled between 11 Mile and Catalpa in Royal Oak.

“It just quit. I think it’s a fuel issue,” said Pannecouk, 81. Spectators quickly pushed the white-on-yellow truck off the road, and Bradley and Donovan Brennan of Troy Auto Care hauled it away on a flatbed.

"We come out once or twice each Cruise," Bradley said.

Pannecouk's AAA membership includes long-range towing, so he rode home with the Brennans. His long-term flame, Linda Bekes of Sterling Heights, caught a ride with a friend.

"We love it," she said of the F-100. Said Pannecouk, good-naturedly, “I don’t love it so much right now.”

Getting juiced

Tow trucks aside, there was something for everyone along Woodward, even if it was just juice boxes. Two pre-kindergartners sat with their dad under a blue awning, alongside a deep blue Pontiac Bonneville convertible, happily sipping as they faced away from traffic.

Their dad turned them around in time to catch a silver Corvette convertible rolling by with a full-sized Bart Simpson riding shotgun.

A yellow Chevrolet Monza with chunks of upholstery missing and a swath of primer on the driver's door was parked facing traffic, as though the owner was giving it a goal to shoot for. A white suicide-door '64 Continental convertible that made you say "Wow!" eased past a souped-up red Geo Tracker than made you say, "Why?"

North of 12 Mile in Royal Oak, a few yards past an IHOP, a heavily tattooed man with no shirt stood at a grill between the sidewalk and the asphalt, turning brats with a pair of tongs. Spectators pulled kids in wagons or were yanked along by dogs straining against leashes.

Early birds

The Cruise has always been multi-generational, and now people who never knew the American Graffiti days of popping into Woodward Avenue drive-ins were bringing their kids.

Edgar Houlguin, 40, and his 16-year-old son Andres of Novi arrived in Birmingham at 7 a.m. to get the perfect spot to set up lawn chairs and festive red umbrellas.

Houlguin was looking out for the “oldies” driving by — specifically Fords, his favorite. Andres, camera in hand, was hoping to spot an exotic Bugatti. 

It was their first Cruise, and “it’s been great,” Houlguin said.

For Vivian Jugan, 67, and husband Gary Jugan, 69, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, it was Cruise No. 2.

They picked a spot right at Woodward and East Brown Street so they could get extra-long views of vehicles stopped at the light. It’s especially enjoyable, they said, to see a grandpa driving an old car with his grandson in the passenger seat. 

They were also keeping a weather eye on a steamy day for historic Ford Falcons and Chevy Novas, the cars they had when they were first married. 

Angel and Klaus Raddatz of Milford were berthed in Mustang Alley with a two-door GT her dad brought home new in May 1965.

Joe Errante passed it down a few years before his death in 2019 — the year of the last official Cruise before Saturday.

"He gave it to my wife because she had such a love for the car, he knew she would take care of it," said Klaus Raddatz.

Errante paid $2,900 for the Mustang and ultimately retired it except for rallies and cruises. It’s kept under cover and out of rain and snow, helping to preserve the original paint, vinyl top and interior.

Klaus Raddatz said he has already taught their children to work on parts of the car. Some families’ heirlooms are loveseats; for others, it’s bucket seats.

Going with the flow

There was a rhythm to the 16-mile drive from Ferndale to Pontiac: hundreds of iconic Fords at Mustang Alley along 9 Mile, then a solid flow into Royal Oak, known for places to park and gaze along the avenue.

In Birmingham, there was eye candy everywhere: souped-up Bugs, a jacked-up Bronco, an old Model T, a classic Pontiac Le Mans, mid-engine Corvettes that looked like they are doing 150 mph standing still.

People and cars thinned north of Long Lake for the long, leafy stretch past Cranbrook School. In Square Lake, the lawn chairs reappeared and the traffic started to pick up again at M1 Concourse, the new northern terminus where the Woodward Dream Show debuted this year. 

M1 described the Dream Show as "the best of the best," a heady claim even for an invitation-only display. While the Cruise is free and official T-shirts were a modest $20, Dream Show admission was $100 and included food, drink and relative quiet.

Dream Show cars, organizers said, are too valuable to risk taking onto the actual M-1, Woodward Avenue. Among the showstoppers was a 1950 Cadillac convertible owned by John Druar of New York. Druar, 81, was 10 years old when Cadillac introduced the iconic tail fins that help make his drop-top so distinctive.

Many merchants along the route close for the day. No one is going to brave Woodward to buy art supplies in Royal Oak.

Others adapt, selling their parking lots or reading the crowd.

The Royal Oak outpost of Chicken Shack does mostly carryout. Saturday, it erected two tents over eight long plastic tables with folding chairs.

At the Old Woodward Shop, selling cigars, beer, wine and soft drinks north of 11 Mile, owner Amar Kiryakoza said the Dream Cruise is his best day of the year.

"It's like Christmas," he said, with people stopping for snacks and beverages. "It's a mistake to close. You can't think like that."

As a bonus, he set up a small awning out front for his uncles to smoke cigars and enjoy a few beers. Across  Woodward, southbound, he watched two yellow Mustangs zip past — and then another and another.

David Sarandis, 56, of Alton, Illinois, was also in the parade. He said that as the group gathered in the parking lot of its Troy motel Friday night, it honored the missing Canadians by drinking Labatt.

Further west at the park, 37 members of the Woodward Tri Five Cruisers had parked in long columns.

A Tri Five is a Chevrolet from three golden years, 1955-7, marked by the introduction of a V-8 engine. Retired GM engineer Steve Sherrick, 77, had arrived from Waterford at 4:45 a.m. to help direct the other members toward their spaces.

He was driving his red 1955 Bel Air sedan, having left four other Chevrolets at home. The '55 has been dealing with alternator issues, but Sherrick is no amateur. He had a second battery and jumper cables in the trunk.

Small city, small SUV

Pleasant Ridge, the smallest city on the Cruise route, hosted a small display of Ford Broncos that included one so so tiny it was more of a foal.

Jeff Trapp of South Lyon, who has never missed a Dream Cruise, was there with a '66 Bronco whose previous owner had lopped off its hard top and tailgate and turned it into a camper.

“This is one of the only ones in America,” he said, complete with a mini fridge, sink and cabinets.

Nearby, Scott Townsend of Indiana had something even more unusual: a powder blue 1976 Bronco and a matching mini-Bronco he built out of a golf cart.

Pleasant Ridge police chief Kevin Nowak was so impressed with the smaller version that he pulled over and took a test-sit.

“This is one of the coolest things I’ve even seen,” he said, and he passed his phone to Townsend for a commemorative photo — a fitting souvenir from the return of the biggest one-day auto event on wheels.

Henry Payne and Amelia Benavides-Colon contributed.

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The Very Slow Restart of G.M.’s Cruise Driverless Car Business

An incident that seriously injured a pedestrian in San Francisco led Cruise to take all of its cars off the road. The question now is when they will return.

By Yiwen Lu

Reporting from Warren, Mich., and Mountain View, Calif.

At a sprawling complex in Warren, Mich., General Motors’ hopes for its driverless car future play out in a virtual reality headset offered to visitors.

In a video, the electric and autonomous car drives itself. Wirelessly connected to traffic lights and the surrounding streets, the car avoids collisions and reduces congestion, part of what G.M. calls its “0-0-0” vision — “zero crashes, zero emission, zero congestion.”

At least, that’s the plan. G.M.’s driverless future looks a lot further away today than it did a year ago, when Cruise, G.M.’s driverless car subsidiary, was deep into an aggressive expansion of its robot taxi services, testing in 15 cities across 10 states.

On Oct. 2, a Cruise driverless car hit and dragged a pedestrian for 20 feet on a San Francisco street, causing severe injuries. Weeks later, the California Department of Motor Vehicles accused Cruise of omitting the dragging from a video of the incident that was initially provided to the agency and suspended the company’s license in the state.

In November, Cruise voluntarily paused all operations across the country after facing widespread criticism that it was neglecting safety as it expanded its driverless taxi service. Cruise also pushed out nine executives, its chief executive stepped down , and the company laid off a quarter of its work force.

Now comes the hard part: Rebuilding a ruined reputation. In recent interviews with The New York Times, the three executives now running Cruise say they are in no rush to get back on the road. After learning the hard way about the risks of moving too fast with a cutting-edge technology, Cruise has slowed its breakneck development to a crawl to avoid another major mishap.

“For a long time before, Cruise was really moving fast and other competitors were not,” said Craig Glidden, who became president and chief administrative officer of Cruise in November. Now, he said, safety is Cruise’s “North Star.”

But going slow means the company risks falling far behind its top rivals. Waymo, a subsidiary of Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has had driverless taxis operating in the Phoenix area since 2020 and San Francisco since late 2022 without serious incidents, and it recently expanded to Los Angeles . Zoox , an Amazon subsidiary, has been testing a steering-wheel-free robot taxi in Las Vegas since last June.

“Catching up with Waymo technologically is going to take three to five years at best,” said Alex Roy, a consultant and former executive in the autonomous car industry. He added that it was even harder for Cruise to catch up commercially because Waymo was “generating revenues with trust that Cruise never earned.”

Some industry observers were surprised G.M. didn’t shut down Cruise after its public meltdown late last year. Since acquiring the company in 2016, G.M. has spent over $8 billion on its driverless subsidiary. Cruise lost $3.48 billion last year, and another $519 million over the first three months of 2024.

“I was thinking in the late part of 2023 and into early 2024 that the most likely outcome was that they were going to completely turn off Cruise,” said Reilly Brennan, a partner at Trucks Venture Capital, which invests in the future of transportation.

But after slashing $1 billion from Cruise’s 2024 budget, Mary T. Barra, G.M.’s chief executive, reiterated her commitment to the company during earnings calls. In April, she told investors that Cruise had made “tangible progress,” although G.M. is exploring different options to fund the business, including taking outside investments.

After Cruise’s former chief executive and co-founder Kyle Vogt resigned in November, G.M. appointed two presidents who report to its board: Mo Elshenawy, previously the company’s executive vice president of engineering, and Mr. Glidden, who also serves as G.M.’s general counsel. In February, Cruise hired Steve Kenner, a veteran product safety executive, as chief safety officer.

The three executives all decide on safety decisions, such as when to take the next step in deployment. Those calls, Mr. Kenner said, have to be unanimous.

So far, Cruise has taken baby steps back to the road. In April, it picked Phoenix, the home to its operations center, to be the first city to restart testing with human drivers. On May 13, after a month of driving a handful of vehicles in order to understand local road features, Cruise transitioned into supervised autonomous testing , with two safety drivers per vehicle.

Cruise used to say its robot taxis were, on average, safer than a human driver. But so-called edge cases — incidents like road construction or erratic cyclists that humans can intuitively react to — bedeviled the robot taxis. Mr. Elshenawy said the cars had improved their navigation of construction zones and how they deal with emergency vehicles.

Cruise hopes to offer driverless ride-hailing service in one city by the end of 2024, while operating with safety drivers in fewer than five cities, Mr. Glidden said. That is, if the edge case issue can be improved.

While Mr. Elshenawy’s engineering team works to improve the technology, Mr. Glidden and Mr. Kenner have been traveling across the country to meet with regulators. Cruise has met with local officials and state regulators in Arizona, Texas and California, as well as with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It has also spoken with several cities in the Southeast where it previously tested its fleet.

In California, Cruise has answered questions from state regulators about driverless testing, but it is unclear if or when it could regain a permit. The talent pool in Silicon Valley is essential to Cruise’s business, so executives say they are committed to staying in the state.

Whether Cruise’s cautious approach restores faith in the company among regulators is an open question. Dave Cortese, a California state senator representing Silicon Valley, said the autonomous vehicle industry’s aggressive testing on public roads in the past had “created tension and distrust.”

For the company to win over regulators, it needs a “profound demonstration of transparency” to demonstrate that an incident like Oct. 2 will not happen again, said Mr. Roy, the consultant.

“We may not agree, but I think there are lots of places where we do agree,” said Tilly Chang, executive director of San Francisco County Transportation Authority. “But it is also unclear to us what it would take for them to get reinstated.”

Yiwen Lu reports on technology for The Times. More about Yiwen Lu

Driverless Cars and the Future of Transportation

A Very Slow Restart: An incident that seriously injured a pedestrian in San Francisco led Cruise, G.M.’s driverless car subsidiary, to take all of its cars off the road. The question now is when they will return .

An Appetite for Destruction: A wave of lawsuits argue that Tesla’s Autopilot software is dangerously overhyped. What can its blind spots teach us about Elon Musk, the company’s erratic chief executive ?

Along for the Ride: Here’s what New York Times reporters experienced during test rides in driverless cars operated by Tesla , Waymo  and Cruise .

The Future of Transportation?: Driverless cars, once a Silicon Valley fantasy, have become a 24-hour-a-day reality in San Francisco . “The Daily” looked at the unique challenges of coexisting with cars that drive themselves .

Stressing Cities: In San Francisco and Austin, Texas, where passengers can hail autonomous taxis, the vehicles are starting to take a toll on city services , even slowing down emergency response times.

Which Of The Five Disney Cruises Is The Best? Here's The Definitive Ranking

T here's just something special about Disney. Whether we're talking about the theme park's most iconic rides , its long list of highly-rated resort hotels around the world , or the brand's penchant for captivating storytelling and unforgettable experiences, it's safe to say that pretty much everything that Disney touches quickly turns to gold. Their top-ranked cruise line is no different .

The first iteration of Disney's Cruise Line set sail in 1998 under the name Disney Magic. One year later, the Disney Wonder took to the sea. Today, at the time of writing, the current Disney fleet includes a list of five enchanting ships: the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, Disney Magic, Disney Wish, and Disney Wonder. Coming in December 2024, a new vessel is set to join the crew: the Disney Treasure.

For travelers planning their own sea-bound adventure, it can be difficult to differentiate and ultimately choose between the five. After analyzing reviews, the cost-to-value ratio, unique amenities, each ship's design, and onboard entertainment options, we finally settled on our definitive ranking of Disney's cruise ships — all so you can choose which Disney cruise might be right for you .

Read more: Top Packing Strategies, Ranked

5. Disney Wish

Although there aren't any necessarily "bad" Disney cruises, the Disney Wish has come under fire from travelers and Disney fans since its official launch in 2022. Specifically, most reviews believe the ship has some pretty glaring issues in terms of spacing and overall layout — both of which make it incredibly difficult to get around. According to previous travelers, the ship — one of the largest of the Disney Cruise Line fleet — surprisingly only has two sets of stairs and elevators for everyone onboard. This, in turn, means there's always a crowd. It also means that adult activities, like nightclubs and lounges, are scattered around, so there is no dedicated adult-only zone, which ultimately muddles the experience.

When it comes to entertainment, however, the Disney Wish does a slightly better job at redeeming itself with four theaters, the kid-favored Oceaneer Club, three main restaurants (assigned on a rotational basis to passengers), adult-friendly bars, and more. As for the pools, some travelers say that these feel more like hot tubs because of their small size. And the water slides? Per online blogs, they're mediocre at best.

It's worth noting that Disney Wish is one of the highest priced of the Disney Cruises for not that much more value, aside from being a more modern vessel — according to reviews on Cruise Critic and Tripadvisor . As an example, Disney Wish offers three- and four-day itineraries from Florida to the Bahamas, with the ship's most affordable route — a three-night cruise from Port Canaveral — priced at $1,925 for two guests.

4. Disney Dream

Operating since 2011, the Disney Dream cruise ship is a strong contender in terms of amenities. Throughout its 14 decks, the ship boasts five main restaurants (including two that are adults only), theaters, bars and lounges, adult-only and kid-friendly pools, sun decks, and plenty more to keep travelers entertained. Nonetheless, some online reviews have expressed disappointment that the ship's dining experiences feel fragmented — leaving plenty to be desired in terms of themed dining.

Considered one of the most kid-friendly cruise lines, the Disney Dream is brimming with kid-focused activities — including daily princess meet-and-greets, movie-themed shows, character cameos, and a bustling kid's club. However, according to a recent discussion on the r/DCL subreddit , the ship's history of shorter itineraries typically makes it less desirable than its counterparts, since there's only so much you can enjoy with so little time — although it's important to note it has expanded itinerary options to include week-long and 12-night trips in Europe.

Lastly, in terms of pricing, the Disney Dream's rates vary depending on length and route. For example, a three-day trip to the Bahamas from Ft. Lauderdale will set you back around $1,700 for two people. Meanwhile, on the farther and pricier end of the spectrum, the Disney Dream's 12-night Norwegian Fjords and Iceland cruise carries a higher price tag at $8,565 for two.

3. Disney Wonder

Even though it's a smaller ship, one of Disney Wonder's main selling points is that — out of the five vessels currently sailing today — it's the only ship that offers Alaska-bound cruises, as well as trips along New Zealand and Australia. Given this, it's no surprise that the Disney Wonder often ranks in the top-half of fan-favorite Disney ships — especially for first-timers who want to get a feel of the experience before moving up to a larger ship.

Beyond the ship's unique destinations, some of the Disney Wonder's most notable amenities include three main restaurants (with rotational dining), three heated pools for when you're traveling to cooler destinations, nightly entertainment options, a prim and proper "Royal Court Royal Tea" for the little princesses and princes to enjoy, and even a nightclub for the adults who crave a party. As for dining, one of the highlights of the ship is the New Orleans-inspired restaurant, Tiana's Place. Not only does the restaurant serves some pretty delicious meals, but it also hosts nightly entertainment and its own mini-version of a Mardi Gras parade.

Tickets for the Disney Wonder start from $1,104 for a two-night cruise from Sydney to Brisbane for two passengers. Longer trips are also available — like a seven-night Vancouver to Alaska cruise for $3,424 for two, or a 10-night Hawaiian adventure for $4,013.

2. Disney Magic

The second-best ship on our list is the Disney Magic. After debuting in 1998, the ship has undergone plenty of updates and renovations to keep it modern and appealing — all while staying true to its original charm. Another one of the fleet's smaller vessels — with capacity for just over 2,700 passengers, compared to the others' ability to accommodate up to 4,000 (except Disney Wonder) — the Disney Magic isn't struggling to keep up with any of the larger (or newer) ships.

One of the ship's highlights is the AquaDunk — a top-rated water slide within the entire Disney Cruise Line fleet — which features a straight-down, three-story drop into the pool. Other amenities that make the ship worth your bucks include daily character meet-and-greets, nighttime entertainment (the ship's Cinderella-themed show is a must-see), and delicious dining options. Traveling with an adults-only crew? Disney Magic is ready to cater with bars and lounges, couples' games nights, and adult-themed trivia nights.

Price-wise, the Disney Magic offers trips that range from roughly $1,500 to just over $7,000 for two guests to either the Bahamas or other must-visit destinations in the Caribbean , including Mexico and Antigua. Specifically, a 4-night Caribbean cruise to Mexico will cost two travelers $1,534. On the pricier side, a 10-night cruise through the Eastern Caribbean will set you and a travel partner back about $7,359.

1. Disney Fantasy

Topping off the list, and coming in as the top-ranked Disney cruise, is the Disney Fantasy. After setting sail for the first time in 2012, the ship has quickly cemented itself a go-to for Disney fans and cruise lovers looking for a longer getaway. With six, seven, and 10-night cruise routes available through the Caribbean, the Disney Fantasy ticks all the boxes in terms of entertainment, comfort, and adventure.

Much like the other ships that belong to the Disney Cruise Line, the Disney Fantasy is equipped with plenty of onboard entertainment and amenities that'll make any trip unforgettable. From kid clubs to Broadway-style stage performances, meet-and-greets with beloved Disney characters, and both kid-friendly and adult-only pools, the ship is anything but boring. Plus, as an added bonus, the Disney Fantasy is also home to one of the best adults-only districts, Europa. With bars and eateries inspired by European destinations, it's a great escape for adult travelers who want some respite from kid-centric spaces.

Lastly, it's worth mentioning that — similar to the Disney Wish — the Disney Fantasy is pricier than other ships, with 3-night trips to the Bahamas starting from $1,996 for two people. However, the destinations more than make up for the cost. For example, the Disney Fantasy is the only ship to offer transatlantic journeys — like their 13-night cruise from Port Canaveral, Florida, to Barcelona in Spain starting at $4,859.

Our Ranking Methodology

There's a lot that goes into each Disney cruise ship. From themed restaurants to activities, entertainment, and accommodations, each of the Disney Cruise Line's vessels are designed with pretty much the same intention: to provide guests with a Disney-themed experience where, in Disney's own words, "magic meets the sea," no matter the route or destination. Nonetheless — and in spite of these shared goals — there are certain things that some ships do better than others.

In order to come up with our ranking, our primary focus was on the relationship between guest experience and value aboard each ship. Scouring through online reviews and fan forums, as well as the official Disney Cruise Line website, we created a list of each of the ship's pros and cons. From there, we compared these factors against the price of a ticket for two travelers for an inside cabin (typically the most affordable rate). This ultimately helped us find a correlation between how much guests were paying to travel on the ship and what they were getting in return.

Read the original article on Explore

Everyone you know is going on a cruise

­­­ Lots of people will be getting their sea legs this summer.

Ports have been packed with cruise ships over the last few years, as vacationers flock to ever larger vessels and operators race to accommodate a surge in post-pandemic bookings — many of them from first-time passengers. The industry expects even more this year.

Benjamin Xiang, a San Francisco-based flight attendant, went on his first cruise last August, setting aside his reservations about “cruise people” and a type of trip he’d imagined would be “not my travel style.”

Taking advantage of a Virgin Voyages promotion that let him use credit card points to cover the $2,500 bill, Xiang booked a weeklong, all-inclusive, adults-only cruise from Barcelona, with stops at Mallorca, Ibiza and along the French Riviera.“I invited my best friend, we prepaid a $600 bar tab, and we were like, ‘We’ll just hang by the pool, read a book or something,’” said Xiang, 35. “Turned out we partied every single night and had a blast.”

He’s among the many cruise newbies who’ve helped power the industry’s recent growth. Some 27% of cruise passengers over the past two years have been first-timers, up 12% from the prior two-year period, according to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), a trade group.

Turned out we partied every single night and had a blast.

Benjamin Xiang, 35, San Francisco

“Will I go back? I think yes,” Xiang said. “Will I pay this time? Yes.”That’s exactly what cruise operators are hoping for, and so far they’re getting it: 82% of all cruisers say they’ll book again, CLIA’s latest report found.

After welcoming 31.7 million passengers last year, 7% more than in 2019, the industry expects volumes to swell to 34.7 million by the end of 2024. Experts say a combination of newcomers, repeat bookers and younger travelers are powering the uptick.

Like Xiang, many first-time cruisers are groups of friends traveling together, said Jennifer Klaussen, who owns Sundari Travel in Malibu, California.

“Once they get on a cruise and realize it’s not what they thought it would be, they’re usually interested in future cruises and diverse destinations,” she said, adding that newer operators have managed to “reduce the stigma associated with cruising — that it’s only for the elderly.”

Passengers under age 40, including kids, made up around 42% of cruisegoers last year, up from 35% in 2019, according to CLIA. While the average age of a cruise customer is 46 industrywide, millennials now make up nearly the same share — 22% — as baby boomers and Gen Xers, who each comprise 24%.“The cruise industry has been hard at work to launch new ships and experiences that are attractive to a younger, newer demographic,” said Colleen McDaniel, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic, “whether that’s a big, new ship with eye-catching attractions for families, or more bucket-list-worthy experiences like sailings in the Galapagos or Antarctica.”

The cruise industry has been hard at work to launch new ships and experiences that are attractive to a younger, newer demographic.

Colleen McDaniel, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic

Amenities don’t hurt either, said Nathan Rosenberg, chief brand officer at Virgin Voyages, which began sailing only in 2021, as the cruise industry rebounded from the pandemic. “Millennials and Gen Z love the fact that everything is included. Think meals foodies would love, tips covered, Wi-Fi to stay connected and a ton of fitness classes,” he said.Vessels are getting bigger to handle the growing demand.

In January, Royal Caribbean Group launched Icon of the Seas — currently the world’s largest cruise ship, with 20 decks, 40 restaurants and room for more than 7,000 passengers and 3,000 crew members.

The company, meanwhile, reported a 16% increase in new cruisegoers between this year and last across its various cruise lines. Nearly half of all Royal Caribbean guests are millennials or younger, CEO Jason Liberty said on the company’s first-quarter earnings call.

Similarly, Norwegian Cruise Lines CEO Harry Sommer told CNBC earlier this month, “We appeal obviously to older customers, but millennial and Gen Z is the fastest-growing segment of our cruising right now.”

Cruises generally aren’t cheap, though, and Sommer noted that the company’s target customer is middle- or upper-income. As consumer spending cools down across much of the economy, Americans are adjusting their summer vacation plans to fit their budgets.The share of travelers put off by steep prices hit 32% in Deloitte’s annual summer travel survey , up sharply from 24% last year. But more affluent vacationers still seem eager to shell out on everything from first-class airfare to luxury train trips , as the industry continues to push premium offerings .

“More higher-income travelers are headed to cruises,” whereas “lower-income travelers are going camping,” the Deloitte report, released Tuesday, said. (“RV trips are up across the board,” it added.)

That doesn’t mean cruise passengers aren’t paying attention to price.

Jaclyn Groh will be going on her first cruise in March 2025, sailing around the Caribbean. The 34-year-old therapist and social work professor at Ohio State University in Columbus typically takes her family on boat trips on a lake, beach visits, “and of course the occasional Disney adventure for the kiddos,” said Groh.

While some of her friends have done family cruises, she’s never been interested in the largest cruise ships because they seem “overwhelming.” But in shopping around for a vacation next year for just her and her husband, Groh said her travel agent’s description of the packages available won her over.The smaller Explora II vessel she opted for has a “boutique feel that we love,” she said. And it’s priced about the same as the resort in Curaçao where the couple will be celebrating their 10th anniversary this fall. That week on land will run about $6,500, while the cruise comes to about $6,700.

“The price seems very reasonable for all of the inclusions, and yet with the cruise we will get to experience so many new locations and excursions,” said Groh, who’s looking forward to “a perfect combination of resting in luxury and adventuring.”

Harriet Baskas is an NBC News contributor who writes about travel and the arts.

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• Blue Dream Melody resumes sailings after extensive COSCO...

Blue Dream Melody resumes sailings after extensive COSCO Shipyard refit

A cruise ship operated by China’s Blue Dream Cruises has resumed service after undergoing a refit at COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry's Zhoushan facilities.

The Blue Dream Melody (fka AIDA Cruises ' AIDAvita) underwent a comprehensive refurbishment over a span of two and a half months. This refit included the addition of shore charging capabilities, renovation of 35 guest cabins across six decks, repair and replacement of PU flooring, an upgraded CCTV camera system, new galley equipment, a renovated onboard theatre, and the installation of large outdoor viewing screens on the open deck.

This project marks the second refit by the same shipyard for Blue Dream Cruises.

The first vessel in the fleet to receive a similar extensive upgrade was the Blue Dream Star .

Alaskan Dream Cruises Announces New 2025 Itineraries

• March 7, 2024

Alaskan Dream Cruises is adding two new itineraries to its series of 2025 expeditions, according to a press release.

The new itineraries are the eight-day “Alaska’s Ultimate Adventure” and  “Wild Alaska Odyssey.” 

The “Alaska’s Ultimate Adventure” travels between Sitka and the state capital of Juneau and sails through remote reaches of Chatham Strait, Frederick Sound, Lynn Canal and other areas of the Inside Passage. Options include hikes in the Tongass National Forest and more kayaking tours than on other itineraries.

Travelers can also enjoy wildlife viewing opportunities. Halfway through the cruise, guests will visit the community of Wrangell. The expedition sails on May 17, Aug. 2, and Sept. 13. Cruise fares start at $4,995.

The “Wild Alaska Odyssey” allows guests to spend more time in the small town of Wrangell. The remainder of the days are spent in Glacier Bay National Park, the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness and other remote areas. Travelers will have the opportunity to hike, kayak and take small boats out into places that few Alaska travelers get to experience. Departures dates are June 8, June 15, Aug. 17, and Aug. 24. Cruise fares start at $5,195.

“It’s thrilling to design new experiences for our guests. Every itinerary we put together is influenced by our own personal knowledge and exploration in the Inside Passage, and these are no exception,” said Alaskan Dream Cruises President Jamey Cagle. “Regardless of what itinerary a guest selects, they can be sure certain aspects, like cultural education, wildlife viewing opportunities, and excellent cuisine will be cornerstones of all our sailings.”

Alaskan Dream Cruises is also bringing back the “Ice of the Inside Passage” itinerary, first launched in 2024, as well as four other popular itineraries. The 2025 summer season will run from May through September. 

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Two dozen United Airlines passengers fell ill on flight, had been on cruise

Around two dozen passengers fell ill on a United Airlines flight from Vancouver, Canada to Houston, Texas on Friday.

Approximately 25 people traveling in a group of 75 had nausea, according to Capt. Sedrick Robinett of the Houston Fire Department. HFD evaluated three passengers upon the plane’s arrival at George Bush Intercontinental Airport but none were transported to the hospital, he said.

“Several passengers who had been on the same cruise and did not feel well were on United Flight 1528 from Vancouver to Houston Friday night,” United told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. The airline did not answer a question about what cruise line or ship the flyers had been traveling on before their flight.

“United Airlines is actively coordinating with health authorities to address the situation,” the airline’s statement continued. “As a precautionary measure, the aircraft will be removed from service and go through a deep cleaning before returning to service. Ensuring the health and safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority.”

Is there a doctor on board?: Usually, yes. Here's why.

The Houston Health Department referred a request for comment to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Public health officers from CDC’s Houston Port Health Station worked with EMS to evaluate ill passengers on board," a CDC spokesperson said in an emailed statement. "Most of the ill passengers reported mild GI symptoms. No passengers were noted to have a fever during the flight or upon public health assessment at landing. No passengers met CDC criteria for further public health follow-up. Passengers from the flight continued with their travel plans."

The news comes after dozens of passengers on a Condor flight from Mauritius to Frankfurt, Germany mysteriously became sick with nausea and vomiting last month.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

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