New employment prospects and partnerships to support more jobs for Singaporeans.
SINGAPORE – With the recently announced debut homeport deployment and resumption of cruise operations of Dream Cruises’ World Dream, Genting Cruise Lines is also utilizing this occasion to reinforce its commitment to reviving sea-faring opportunities in Singapore and cultivating local cruise talent through new employment prospects and educational partnerships to provide more jobs for Singaporeans, during this difficult pandemic period.
On October 8, Genting Cruise Lines announced that Dream Cruises will be the first cruise brand to restart service in Singapore with World Dream, as she makes her homeport debut from 6 November 2020 onwards. World Dream will be the newest built cruise ship to homeport in Singapore, offering a series of brand new 2 and 3-night “Super Seacation” experiences for Singapore residents during the school and year-end holidays.
“Dream Cruises is looking forward to providing cruise travel options to the citizens of Singapore after the many months of coping with the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mr. Michael Goh, President, Dream Cruises. “To provide our guests with the highest level of service and hospitality, we are looking within the Singapore talent pool to fill many different positions available on board World Dream. In the past, it was also difficult to recruit Singaporeans, who have many opportunities in the leisure and hospitality industry and cruise lines traditionally tended to use international crew. However, to help alleviate the severe job losses in the domestic economy due to COVID-19, Genting Cruise Lines is committed to hiring as many Singaporeans as possible to support the local economy.”
Continued Mr. Goh: “Historically, international crew on cruise ships have to work for eleven months with a one-month vacation. As World Dream operates short 2 and 3-nights cruises, Singaporeans joining as crew can work on the ship with shorter work arrangements that could allow them to see their families frequently. This will make it very attractive for Singaporeans who have lost their jobs in the travel industry during this pandemic.”
In the lead up to the inaugural cruise of World Dream, Genting Cruise Lines will be searching for talent to fill in excess of 100 jobs covering all aspects of cruise ship operations from Marine Officers to Cruise Operations and Galley Chefs, Media Technicians, various hotel and hospitality staff and special Cruise Ambassadors to ensure the best guest relations. The search for talent will encompass a broad local footprint ranging from ex-naval or maritime officers and crew to the hard hit food and beverage sector and the hotel and hospitality industry.
When World Dream begins her “Super Seacation” routes, short 2 and 3-night domestic cruises mean that the ship is never far from home. As Dream Cruises explores expanded itineraries when travel restrictions begin to ease in the future, regional itineraries will still provide ample shore time for Singaporeans at home versus sea days for crew members.
In conjunction with World Dream’s homeport deployment in Singapore and the immediate job opportunities provided by the resumption of cruises, Genting Cruise Lines also remains deeply invested in the long-range nurturing of talent for Singaporeans through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Nanyang Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic and the Institute of Technical Education. Under this collaborative effort, a series of joint activities, learning projects and internship programs will be made available to students and graduates who are keen to explore a career in the cruise and tourism related sector.
“World Dream’s debut in Singapore and her new itineraries will be a win-win situation for the local workforce and for Genting Cruise Lines as we are providing new career opportunities during these challenging times and for the future,” added Mr. Goh. “In addition to providing employment opportunities for Singaporeans, the restart of World Dream will also benefit all the associated businesses that support cruise operations and the trickle-down effect will no doubt be an important part of the revitalization of the Singaporean economy. Genting Cruise Lines is proud to play a part in helping Singapore on its road to recovery.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
