Cruise Saudi confirms it's acquired World Dream, renamed Manara

Multiple sources had earlier identified the buyer as Cruise Saudi, as Seatrade Cruise News reported on Feb. 28.

Clasen said the acquisition is in line with Cruise Saudi's 'strategy and direction to build up and develop the cruise industry in Saudi Arabia.

'The ship has been renamed to reflect its new ownership and will now undergo a refit. Plans for the new ship will be announced in due time,' he said.

Lars Clasen wasn't able to comment on what Cruise Saudi paid for World Dream

Follows Aman newbuild contract

As it develops ports, Cruise Saudi is also developing cruise products. Last month, its Neptune Co. joint venture with Aman Group inked a newbuild deal at T. Mariotti.

Renamed Manara

World Dream has been renamed Manara and was reflagged from the Bahamas to Marshall Islands. It is now under Columbia Cruise Services management.

$330m

According to a notice in the Government Gazette, the sale resulted in proceeds of $330m to the Singapore High Court, which had put the ship up for auction following its arrest last March by KfW IPEX-Bank.

The 2017-built World Dream measures 150,695gt with capacity for 5,000 passengers.

It is the sister of 2016's Genting Dream, currently sailing for Resorts World Cruises on charter from a consortium of Chinese banks that acquired the ship for $900m in 2020, before Genting HK's collapse.

Last Genting HK ship

With this, all the former Genting HK vessels — those that sailed for Dream Cruises, Star Cruises and Crystal Cruises — have found new owners or been demolished. (Look for a recap of where they all went in the March issue of Seatrade Cruise Review, the official publication of Seatrade Cruise Global.)