Genting Hong Kong has unveiled plans to build a new line of luxury cruise ships, to be called Universal Class, aimed at providing more freedom and less crowding than its current cruise ship brands.
Chairman and CEO, Lim Kok Thay, revealed details of the new Universal Class fleet during a keel laying ceremony for Genting HK’s second Global Class ship at the company’s German shipyard earlier this week, with the first to be delivered by late 2022.
At 286-meters long and weighing 88,000 gross tons, each Universal Class ship will accommodate up to 2,000 passengers. By comparison, the 208,000-ton Global Class ships have capacity for 5,000 passengers each.
Peter Fetten, President and CEO of Genting HK’s shipbuilding subsidiary MV Werften, said the new line would be marketed at hotel brands looking to get a foot in the door of the growing global cruise industry.
“The major hospitality brands are uncompromising in protecting their brand image and the Universal Class ships are perfect as they carry the most trusted and respected ‘Made in Germany’ label,” he said.
“They are designed with the highest safety and environmental standards, including LNG propulsion.
“We will be an experienced yard by then, having delivered two 208,000-ton Global Class ships, the largest to be built in Germany and the Universal Class ships will keep MV Werften with a full order book until 2024.”
