Genting Cruise Lines to feature Okinawa culinary delicaciesGenting Cruise Lines to feature Okinawa culinary delicacies

This springs from a new partnership between Genting Cruise Lines and Okinawa Agricultural Cooperatives Association (JA Okinawa) and Leospo Inc.

The specialities include signature and non-export items that are only available in Japan.

One of Genting's most popular destinations

Genting Cruise Lines' history with Okinawa dates back to 1997, when Star Cruises first called at Naha.

'Today Okinawa is one of our most popular summer destinations. We are honoured to be the first cruise line to partner with JA Okinawa and Leospo Inc. on all of our 160 summer cruises to the picturesque islands of Ryukyu this year, where guests of Dream Cruises and Star Cruises will have the privilege to indulge in seasonal local produce and delicacies from Okinawa throughout their journeys from ship to shore,' Dream Cruises president Thatcher Brown said upon World Dream's arrival at Naha, where he signed the partnership agreement on behalf of Genting Cruise Lines.

From now until the end of November, JA Okinawa will offer a wide variety of local produce to the ships. Besides wagyu beef and agu pork, there will be fruits and vegetables, such as goya (bitter gourd) and pumpkins, as well as signature Okinawan food such as Sheikwasha (flat lemon) juice and brown sugar.

Partnership expected to boost export demand

'We are confident that our collaboration with Genting Cruise Lines will help promote our products to inbound cruise guests and lead to the next surge in exports,' JA Okinawa president Tsutomu Oshiro said.

Aboard World Dream, the wagyu beef and agu pork will be used in traditional Japanese dishes such as shabu shabu (hot pot) and teppanyaki (iron grill) and in Chinese dishes like barbecued pork, wok-fried beef with bitter gourd and garlic and beef rib eye with preserved sweet plum sauce. Okinawa prime rib roast will be available, too.

The Okinawan menus will also be served on three Star Cruises ships—SuperStar Virgo, SuperStar Aquarius and SuperStar Gemini—with summer itineraries to Okinawa's Naha, Miyakojima, Ishigaki and Nakagusuku.