StarCruises
StarCruises is a cruise line owned by the Malaysian company StarDream Cruises.
Previously it operated in the Asia-Pacific market and was owned by Genting Hong Kong. The chairman of Star Cruises was Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, the son of Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong, who had founded Malaysia's Genting Highlands.
In April 2022 the parent company of Star Cruises, Genting Hong Kong, became bankrupt, and Thay, under the trading name Resorts World, bought the Star Cruises trademarks. In February 2025, Resorts World Cruises announced that the brand will be reformed as StarCruises under StarDream Cruises together with sister brand Dream Cruises.
History
1992–1999: Founding, acquisitions
Star Cruises was founded as an associate of the Genting Group of Malaysia. It was incorporated in Bermuda on 10 November 1993 with its corporate headquarters in Hong Kong. The company's first ships were two cruiseferries acquired from the bankrupt Swedish company Rederi AB Slite. In the following years, the company purchased several other ships.In 1998, Star Cruises took delivery of its first new build, SuperStar Leo, followed by sister ship SuperStar Virgo in 1999. Star Cruises also acquired Sun Cruises the same year.
2000–2012: Norwegian Cruise Line, transfers
In 2000, Star Cruises acquired Norwegian Cruise Line, including its subsidiaries Orient Lines and Norwegian Capricorn Line, thus becoming the largest global cruise line in the world. NCL operations were soon merged into those of Star Cruises. Before the purchase of NCL, Star Cruises had had several other new builds either planned or already under construction, but with the merger of the two companies, most of the new ships joined the NCL fleet instead.File:Ocean Liner "Super Star Leo" - Sydney Harbour.jpg|thumb|SuperStar Leo, pictured in Sydney Harbour in 2004 was the first cruise ship of Star Cruises.
In 2001, Star Cruises founded a new sister company, Cruise Ferries, which began operating its sole ship,, on short cruises from Hong Kong to Xiamen, followed by overnight gambling cruises from Hong Kong and gambling cruises from Port Klang in Kuala Lumpur.
In 2004, SuperStar Leo was transferred to NCL. The ship then became Norwegian Spirit. It was rushed into service under the NCL America brand because was not ready on time due to sinking at Lloyd Werft shipyard.
In 2007, Star sold 50% of NCL to the Apollo Management group. In 2013, following a corporate reorganization and an initial public offering, NCL was made a wholly owned subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. On 3 December 2018, Star and Apollo sold off their remaining stakes in Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, marking the end of a relationship that had lasted more than a decade.
In early 2008, both NCL America and Orient Lines brands were discontinued, with the latter's sole ship,, sold to Greek interests. Also in that year, the first ship from NCL was transferred to the Star Cruises fleet as.
Starting from 2011, Star Cruises' ships received new hull art. One year later, it was announced on 27 April 2012 that would join the Star fleet, renamed as SuperStar Gemini, with service starting in 2012.
2013–2018: New and renamed vessels
On 7 October 2013, Star Cruises announced they had entered into an agreement with Meyer Werft shipyard for the construction of one new cruise ship. The vessel would have capacity for 3,364 passengers at double occupancy. The ship would be delivered sometime in late 2016. Star Cruises then announced on 10 February 2014 that a second ship was ordered and would be delivered by late 2017. Both ships would have volumes of 150,000 GT.On 9 February 2015, the first steel cutting ceremony for Genting World was held at Meyer Werft shipyard. In November 2015, it was announced that the vessels under construction would instead be delivered to Dream Cruises, with a new class of ships planned to be designed for Star Cruises.
In March 2018, Star Cruises announced that one of its ships, SuperStar Libra, would end her public cruise operations for the company on 27 June 2018. On 8 March 2018, Genting Hong Kong announced that the first global-class build previously allocated to Star Cruises would join the Dream Cruises fleet instead. On 11 September 2018, Genting Hong Kong also announced that SuperStar Virgo would move to Dream Cruises in April 2019 and be renamed the Explorer Dream. In November 2018, SuperStar Gemini returned to Malaysia for a six-month deployment.
2022: Bankruptcy
In January 2022, the parent company of Star Cruises, Genting Hong Kong, declared bankruptcy due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In April, SuperStar Gemini, SuperStar Aquarius, and Star Pisces were all sold for scrap. Their smaller sister ship, The Taipan, was sold to OM Ships International in May 2022 and renamed Doulos Hope. Operation Mobilisation affiliate Gute Bücher für Alle accepted the ship in Penang, Malaysia on 25 May and completed her sea trial on 20 July. She then sailed to Singapore to continue a refurbishment which should have conclude by the end of 2023.In September 2022, Thay, under the buyer name Resorts World, bought the trademarks for Star Cruises for around $3.5 million.
2025: Revival as StarCruises
On 26 February 2025, Resorts World Cruises from Malaysia announced that the brand would split its operations, reforming Dream Cruises and Star Cruises as StarCruises. Genting Dream rejoined Dream Cruises, while Resorts World One rebranded into Star Navigator and will sail along side the ''Star Voyager.''Fleet
Current fleet
Former fleet
Cancelled ships
Ships that were ordered for Star Cruises but transferred before completion or never built:| Ship | Built | Year ship would enter Star Cruises services | Gross Tonnage | Status as of | Image |
| SuperStar Libra | 2001 | 2001 | 91,740 | Transferred to Norwegian Cruise Line before completion as Norwegian Star. | |
| SuperStar Scorpio | 2002 | 2002 | 92,250 | Transferred to Norwegian Cruise Line before completion as Norwegian Dawn. | |
| N.N. | 2003 | 112,000 | Never built; Sagittarius class | ||
| N.N. | 2005 | 112,000 | Never built; Sagittarius class | ||
| Genting World | 2016 | 150,695 | Transferred to Dream Cruises before completion as Genting Dream. | ||
| N.N. | 2017 | 150,695 | Transferred to Dream Cruises before completion as World Dream. Now sailing as Aroya for Aroya Cruises. | ||
| N.N. | 2019 | 208,000 | Transferred to Dream Cruises before completion as Global Dream; acquired by the Disney Cruise Line as of November 2022 while still under construction with the new name. | ||
| N.N. | Scrapped | 208,000 | Transferred to Dream Cruises before completion. Second ship of the Global class. Incomplete lower hull scrapped. |