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Genting Cruise Lines welcomes Explorer Dream to its fleet

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Genting Cruise Lines welcomed the third member of its Dream Cruises’ fleet with the christening and inaugural homeport deployment of Explorer Dream in Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal. Explorer Dream is the first newly-launched cruise ship of the post-recalibration period in the Chinese cruise industry and her arrival also marks Dream Cruises’ debut in Eastern China, with the cruise liner purposely-built and recently renovated for the Asian and Chinese luxury market. Leveraging on the deployment of Explorer Dream, Dream Cruises’ first 200,000-tonne Global Class ship, set to debut in 2021, will also celebrate her inaugural deployment in Shanghai as the largest cruise ship to homeport in the Asia-Pacific.

Honorable guests Mr. Su Ping, Vice Magistrate of Shanghai Baoshan District Government and Mr. Hui Lim, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Genting Hong Kong were joined by management executives and over 500 guests at the ceremonial launch event. The christening ceremony featured Ms. Grace Chen, the godmother of Explorer Dream and one of the most influential fashion innovators in China. The innovative christening was activated by her magic wand of dreams and aspirations and the spirit of exploration was symbolised by a majestic unicorn that led the iconic Dream Cruises’ mermaid out of the ocean and into a new realm, where she will embark on the quest to discover new horizons across the seas. With the traditional breaking of the champagne bottle against the bow of the ship, Explorer Dream officially begins her journey with Dream Cruises.

“Dream Cruises is the most recognized cruise brand in Southern China due to World Dream being positioned in the dual homeports of Guangzhou and Hong Kong. However, as we all know, the Eastern and North Chinese market is five times larger than the south and Dream Cruises will be building two 204,000 gross ton “Global Class” ships to be launched starting early 2021 in Shanghai and Tianjin to accommodate this market. These two ships, being built in our own shipyards Germany, are also designed to be the most advanced and intelligent cruise ships ever to be constructed,” said Mr. Hui Lim, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Genting Hong Kong. said, “In order to prepare the foundations and increase Dream Cruises’ brand awareness in East and North China, we are pleased today to welcome “Explorer Dream” in Shanghai as the third ship in our Dream Cruises fleet.”

Explorer Dream is the second cruise ship of Genting Cruise Lines to homeport in Shanghai, made possible by the tremendous support of the Shanghai Baoshan District Government. Mr. Su Ping, Vice Magistrate of Shanghai Baoshan District Government said, “In July 2017, Genting Cruise Lines launched the Golden Sea Route 7-night itinerary in Shanghai, which garnered the Best Itinerary Award during the Shanghai Cruise Tourism Festival. In October 2018, a strategic Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Baoshan District Government and Genting Cruise Lines to forge a new partnership. Now, the inaugural arrival of Explorer Dream, the newest member of Dream Cruises in Shanghai, will bring forth distinctive and premium cruise travel products to propel the optimal development of the cruise industry in China.”

After the inaugural ceremony, Grace Chen presented a spectacular fashion show at sea aboard the ship. Eighteen models showcased her Voyage collection and walked the runway on the Palace Pool Deck, where guests enjoyed a visual feast inspired by the spirit of exploration and discovery, both of which are the brand essence of Dream Cruises.

Since its launch two years ago, Dream Cruises has garnered numerous accolades for its two cruise ships, Genting Dream which debuted in 2016 and World Dream in 2017, including Star Performer Top Ten Ratings in the Large Resort Category, “Most Popular Family Cruise Brand in China 2018” by Global Times, Top 5 Cruise Lines in the Large/Medium sized cruise ship category by Conde Nast Traveler’s Gold List and more.

Built with German craftsmanship, Explorer Dream measures 268 meters in length and 32 meters in width. She has a total gross tonnage of 75,338 tons, 928 cabins and lower berth capacity of 1,856 passengers. The signature, luxury “ship within a ship” enclave of Dream Cruises – The Palace, provides an unprecedented “True Asian Luxury” experience to discerning travelers in China and Asia, boasting an industry leading staff to guest ratio, a majority of its suites at over 40 square meters, as well as Proprietary Butler Training endorsed by affiliated company Crystal Cruises – The World’s Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line.

A generous variety of culinary options will also be available to cater for every taste – from inspired Asian flavours to exquisite Western delicacies. Acclaimed Australian Chef Mark Best will extend his influence on to Explorer Dream with his Seafood Grill by Mark Best serving up the ocean’s bounty in a spectacular al fresco setting. Signature Dream dining favorites will also take pride of place on the new ship including Umi Uma for Japanese delights, Silk Road for traditional Chinese fare, Blue Lagoon for Southeast Asian comfort food and Palm Court for informal refreshments and breath-taking views. For adventurous foodies, the all new Mozzarella Ristorante e Pizzeria will tantalize with a modern fusion of classic Italian dishes and pizzas with a Japanese twist.

Guests of Explorer Dream can also enjoy thematic programs on their journeys at sea including “The Connoisseurs Circle” bespoke enrichment program, featuring inspirational talks and events that are especially curated for guests of The Palace, such as a fashion talk by Grace Chen, the godmother of Explorer Dream.

As the fastest cruise ship in Asia, Explorer Dream offers a great variety of itineraries and flexibility. Sailings from Shanghai homeport will take guests on cruises to popular destinations in Japan that range from 3-night to 6-night itineraries, such as the 3-night cruises to Kyoto, Osaka or Kobe, or the 2-night round-trip cruise to Okinawa. In the month of April, when cherry blossoms in Japan are in bloom, guests can enjoy the dazzling floral display on shore, complemented by authentic Japanese experiences on the cruise, such as specialty dishes featuring Japanese Wagyu beef and pork, tuna cutting performances, Yukata trials, poolside festivals and more.

Starting from 1 July, Explorer Dream will begin her homeport deployment in Tianjin with more summer cruise options for family travelers, who will enjoy the renowned stage productions of Kaixin Mahua at sea. Taking the first step to evolve Dream Cruises into “Asia’s Global Cruise Line” by sailing outside Asian waters, in October 2019, Explorer Dream will homeport in Sydney and Auckland where she will embark on a variety of seven-night weekly itineraries to “Down Under” destinations.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Turkish Airlines Cargo carries Topkapı and Dolmabahçe Palaces’ artifacts to Japan

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Turkish Cargo, the air cargo brand of Turkish Airlines that provides service to 124 countries, carried 186 historical artifacts, owned by Dolmabahçe and Topkapı Palaces, to Tokyo, the capital of Japan, as the sponsor carrier, in order to be displayed at the exhibition titled as “The Ottoman Empire and Tulip Culture” held as part of the events organized for 2019 which was declared as the “Year of Turkish Culture” across Japan.

Before the carriage operation through Istanbul – Narita route, the artifacts in Topkapı and Dolmabahçe Palaces were packaged with protective materials that shielded their texture and structure before they were put into 56 high-security wooden cases. Using a wide-body B777F type air freighter belonging to Turkish Cargo, the flight carried no other cargo due to the significant nature of the operation.

Acting with the utmost care for its carriage operations involving historical artifacts, Turkish Cargo conducted this operation with its expert teams again. With this successful operation, the artifacts that have been preserved meticulously for long years in Topkapı Palace such as “Bed of Suleiman the Magnificent”, “Kaftan of Sultan Osman II”, “Ceremonial Flask” along with the artifacts in Dolmabahçe Palace such as “Yusen Shippo Vase”, “Wooden Writing Table”, and “Bamboo Mirror” which were gifted to Sultan Abdulhamid II, by Emperor Meiji of Japan, have been all delivered to Japan.

These 186 artifacts, which weigh around 8 tons and carry great significance for the Turkish culture and history, will be displayed at the National Art Center, Tokyo, between March 20 – May 20, and at the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, between June 14 – July 28.

Bringing the missing pieces of the ‘Gypsy Girl Mosaic’ back to its home, carrying more than 50 masterpieces, displayed at the Louvre Museum in Paris, to Tehran, as well as the ‘The Tomb of Heracles’, dating back to the Roman era, to Istanbul from Geneva, Turkish Cargo, the dynamic brand of the air cargo industry, proved once again how reliable it is in carriage of art works requiring utmost care. In addition to the extensive flight network of Turkish Airlines that reaches to 306 destinations, Turkish Cargo maintains its successful operations by operating dedicated direct cargo flights to 85 destinations.

Turkish Cargo provides service to its global clients across 124 countries with its three vulnerable cargo rooms and certificated staff members in carriage operations for art works requiring utmost care. Turkish Cargo keeps all movements of its vulnerable and valuable cargo under supervision by means of the cameras installed in and around its storage facilities.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Tourism Spots in Japan’s Kansai Region Resume Operations

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Typhoon Jebi — the strongest tropical cyclone to hit Japan in 25 years — devastated the western part of Japan on the 4th of September and disrupted the transportation within the region. Kansai International Airport, one of the major airports in Japan, was shut down after flooding from the storm. Many inbound travelers were forced to cancel their trips due to the shutdown, resulting in huge losses to the region’s tourism economy.

As the railway services have restarted ahead of schedule, and Kansai International Airport planning to resume full operations by 21st September, it is expected that travelers will gradually return to the region. KKday, a travel startup from Taiwan which just received funding from Japanese travel operator, H.I.S., cares about its Japanese local suppliers and has launched an online campaign to help them recover from the impact of the storm.

According to KKday, many of the tourism spots are now ready to accommodate travelers after extensive repairs. If you are planning to visit the Kansai region, here are some suggested places and tour activities that were not affected by the storm, where you can still enjoy the beauty and fun of this country:

  • Kiyomizu-dera Temple, KyotoKiyomizu-dera, with over 1200 years of history, is one of the must-see world heritage sites in Kyoto. If you want to immerse yourself in ancient Kyoto, you can consider to wear a traditional Kimono and accessories. A day-long Kimono rental and some great pictures in front of Kiyimizu-dera or on the streets can complete your Kyoto cultural experience.
  • Arashiyama, Kyoto 

    Tour the historic Arashiyama district in style. Jump on the Sagano Romantic Train. Relax and admire the landscape as the Sagano Scenic Railway winds through the spectacular Hozugawa Ravine full of rocky peaks and luscious hills. Then pick up the action with a boat trip on the Hozugawa River and witness the impressive forested slopes surrounding the river.

  • Osaka City 

    Osaka, a popular city in Kansai region, a place enjoyed by shopaholics, foodies, lovers, and gamers alike. You can enjoy a panoramic view of Osaka, observing the stunning cityscape 280 meters above ground from Abeno Harukas 300 Observatory. Or you can enjoy Akiba Kart, Osaka’s must-try experience in Japan; wearing iconic costumes from the world-famous game, “Mario Kart”, and have experience go-karting through Osaka’s beautiful landscapes.

 

  • Mount Gozaisho, Osaka 

    Mount Gozaisho is famous for the sharp outlook of the mountains and rich nature.  If you are planning to visit in the fall, it would also be a great place to witness the beauty of red maple. Hop on the Gozaisho Ropeway from Yunoyama Onsen Station for a spectacular view of Mt. Gozaisho. Unwind at Aqua Ignis onsen and soak away the stress.

You may go to the website for more travel information and get satisfying limited discount of the tour products: https://event.kkday.com/zh-tw/event/cheerupjp

 

About KKday

KKday is an online platform that specializes in local in-destination tours and activities. Through a collection of highly curated experiences, KKday provides travelers an avenue to find exciting off-grid activities and book them easily through our platform.

As the largest travel e-commerce platform in Asia, KKday is currently hosting over 10,000 experiences from over 80 countries and 500 cities.  Our platform is multilingual and supports both traditional and simplified Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, and other languages. Our goal is to be accessible and help all types of travelers find and experience new things.