World's largest cruise ship to be sold before taking its first voyage

MV Werften, the German shipbuilder created the Global class cruise ship for Dream Cruises. Genting Hong Kong ordered two ships in May 2016 from its associate Lloyd Werft Group for service in the Star Cruises fleet, with the delivery of the first ship planned for 2019. In July 2016, Genting Hong Kong reorganized LWG, resulting in the formation of MV Werften as a builder of big cruise ships; hence, the Global class order was transferred to Dream Cruises.

The 2023-built MS Global Dream cruise ship is the first of two GLOBAL class crews ordered by the shipowner GHK for the company's Asian brands Dream Cruises and Star Cruises. The first liner (Global Dream) was scheduled for launch in 2020 (inauguration in December) but, due to the Coronavirus crisis, was delayed for 2022-Q1.

The second vessel (unnamed sistership/IMO 9808998) was designed for Star Cruises and prepared for launch and inauguration in 2023) but its name is yet to be announced. By passenger capacity (9500 max plus 2200 crew/total 11700), GHK Global-Class is currently the world's largest cruise liner ever built. MS Global Dream's facilities include:

  • The Plaza

  • Town Square

  • Zouk Beach Club

  • Red Tail Social Games Lounge

  • Horizon Lounge

  • Dream Avenue (multi-purpose outdoor avenue / in-ship Promenade)

  • Multiplex Cinema (a complex of 8 theatres, each convertible to a venue for group meetings and themed events)

  • The Palace - luxury "ship-within-a-ship" concept

  • Luxury Suites

  • DFS-T Gallery at Sea (Duty-Free Shops)

 

In 2022, with MV Werften’s fate of bankruptcy, investors have expressed interest in acquiring the assets. The future of the Global class of passenger cruise ships is in doubt; Global Dream II, while almost finished, was to be scrapped after the builder went bankrupt and a buyer could not be found.

On June 11, 2022, Christoph Morgen (GHK's MV Werften's insolvency administrator) announced that the incomplete sistership will be sold for scrap. The plan was for the installed systems and machinery to be removed and sold, and the half-finished hull to be separately sold at scrap prices.