Inaugural sailing of SuperStar Gemini in conjunction with the rebranding of Hwajing Travel and Tours.
PENANG – Hwajing Travel and Tours Sdn. Bhd. celebrated the New Year with a historical event. The company was the first in Malaysia and South East Asia to charter a cruise ship for its maiden voyage. Setting sail from Penang Swettenham Port, the SuperStar Gemini was used for a grand inaugural launch, which was attended and witnessed by the Chief Minister of Penang Lim Guan Eng, accompanied by Senior Vice President – Sales, Star Cruises Michael Goh, Managing Director of Hwajing Travel and Tours Kenny Cheong Ken Lee, guests as well as Penang population.
The refurbished SuperStar Gemini was to set off on its maiden voyage to Phuket and Krabi. The 50,764-tonne passenger cruise vessel from Star Cruises is proudly chartered by Hwajing Travel and Tours. More than 1,000 guests boarded the vessel to experience a 4D/3N tour.
The new SuperStar Gemini comes with a 1,532-passenger capacity and houses 766 luxury guest cabins in a variety of layouts with ergonomic ocean view staterooms, smartly styled junior suites and deluxe executive suites. The vessel boasts a shopping area of over 6,000 square feet, providing a one-of-a-kind premium duty-free shopping experience.
Passengers can look forward to a broad range of up-market duty-free watches, jewellery and handbags during their cruise. The inaugural sailing of SuperStar Gemini is also in conjunction with the rebranding of Hwajing Travel and Tours.
Speaking at the inaugural launch ceremony, Kenny Cheong Ken Lee, Managing Director of Hwajing Travel and Tours said, “This maiden voyage of the SuperStar Gemini marks a whole new beginning for Hwajing Travel and Tours. For more than 20 years, Hwajing has been innovating to offer the most rewarding travelling experience and outstanding service for our customers.
Today we also celebrate 20 years of strong partnership with Star Cruises in blazing the trails of cruise travelling in this region. With this inaugural sailing and Hwajing’s new brand image, we invite everyone to experience life together with us as we seek to deliver an extraordinary travelling experience.”
“Being the first charterer of Superstar Gemini’s inaugural voyage is even more significant as January is well-known to be the slowest season in cruise traveling. Like in any other of our confrontation with challenges, Hwajing’s relentless focus drives us to achieve another seemingly impossible mission, transforming the business challenges into opportunities. We are truly proud of the result today, which is to charter a cruise during this low season,” added Cheong.
Another positive note for the cruise industry is the gradual shift of cruise travelers from Europe and America to Asia. Penang Swettenham Port, with a reputation as the best port of call in this region, is emerging to be one of the most popular onshore excursions in Asia cruise market due to its premium port facilities and its location close to the heart of the beautiful city itself.
Cheong remarked, “Indeed, we are marching into a golden era of cruise traveling in Asia. With the rise of Asia’s economic power and other driving factors such as premium port facilities, route planning and riveting tourist attractions, the number of Asia cruise passengers is expected to reach 7 million by 2015, making Asia the world’s most flourishing source of travellers.”
Between 24th January and 1st February 2013, the vessel will go on a 7D/6N cruise package from Singapore, calling on Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang and Hong Kong. SuperStar Gemini’s final route will be from Sanya, Hainan China calling at Da Nang, Halong Bay and Hong Kong over 26 cruises from 1st February 2013 to 31st March 2013. From April to October 2013, the vessel will commence its summer port deployment in Shanghai and continues to cruise to other locations of Asia.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
