As more travelers seek fun on the high seas, new services appear on horizon

Genting Hong Kong was a pioneer of Asia's cruise industry, but it really only entered the spotlight last year when it created Dream Cruises and acquired Crystal Cruises to become a global leisure, entertainment and hospitality company.

"The Asian cruise market, especially in China, is rapidly growing," says Thatcher Brown, president of Dream Cruises. "We're willing to meet the needs of the emerging generation of confident, independent-minded and affluent Asian travelers through our new brand."

According to the China Cruise and Yacht Industry Association, the country's 10 major ports handled 629 cruise ships last year, up 35 percent year-on-year, with about 1.24 million Chinese passengers traveling overseas.

"Dream Cruises will cater to the large and rapidly growing premium market in China and Asia," Brown says.

The huge potential in the Chinese cruise market has already attracted a number of luxury foreign operators, including Costa Cruises and Royal Caribbean International.

Genting took on the bold initiative to grow the Asia-Pacific market as an international cruise destination with the founding of Star Cruises in 1993, building a strong reputation for top-class Asian hospitality.

"Integration of the parent company's experience in luxury cruises over the past 20 years and understanding of high-spending Chinese travelers' needs will be a great advantage for us to create the new brand," Brown says.