Blue Dream Star

The 2001-built Blue Dream Star cruise ship (fka ""Glory Sea" and "Celestyal Odyssey") is a Germany-built vessel (constructed by Blohm+Voss in Hamburg). For the Chinese travel brand Blue Dream Cruises, the ship's fleetmate is Blue Dream Melody (2002-built as AIDAvita).

The vessel (IMO number 9183518) is currently Liberia-flagged (MMSI 636020005) and registered in Monrovia. Before 2020, its flag state was The Bahamas (MMSI 311705000/Nassau registry).

The ship Blue Dream Star is currently owned by Suzhou Taihu International Travel Ltd (China) via its subsidiary Fujian China Transport Investment Group Co Ltd (China/2016-founded) which owns the company/travel brand Blue Dream Cruises China.

The shipowner Fujian China Transport Investment Group also owns the Chinese travel brands "Diamond Cruise Line" and "National Cruise".

The ship was launched/inaugurated as "Olympia Explorer" (2001-2004) for the new brand Royal Olympia Cruises. The shipowner (Royal Olympic Cruise Lines Inc) was established as a merger of two Greek passenger shipping companies - "Sun Lines Cruises" (1995-founded by Louis Group/succeeded by Louis Cruises 1982--2014/now Celestyal Cruises) and Epirotiki Line (1850-founded/2005-defunct).

In 2004, Olympia Explorer was renamed "MV Explorer" and chartered to/started operations for Semester at Sea (study abroad program) until 2015.

In May 2015, the ship was chartered for 3 years by Celestyal Cruises (thru 2018), renamed "Celestyal Odyssey" and Malta-flagged (MMSI 256469000/Valletta registry). In September 2015, Celestyal terminated the charter and the vessel left their fleet in October 2015.

In the period 2015-2019, the vessel was owned by the Chinese company Diamond Cruise International Co Ltd, renamed "Glory Sea" and operated by the new brand Diamond Cruise China. In March 2019, Glory Sea was arrested in Port Shanghai following a wage dispute.

In February 2020, the ship was acquired by Blue Dream Cruises (China) and renamed "Blue Dream Star". However, due to the COVID crisis, the inauguration of the new brand (Blue Dream Cruises) was postponed for 2023. After starting its cruise shipping operations in 2023, Blue Dream Cruises plans to accumulate a fleet of second-hand cruise ships (by the year 2028) as well as to open international routes connecting China with nearby countries, including Taiwan, India, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Russia.

Decks and Cabins

Blue Dream Star has a total of 400 cabins (of which 30 Suites, 24 with step-out balconies) in 13 grades. The ship has no wheelchair-accessible, connecting or single cabins. The ship's interior design boasts wider corridors and solid cabin doors. This ship lacks Standard Balcony rooms and has no launderettes (self-serve, passenger-use laundry facilities).

The boat has 7 decks, of which 6 are passenger-accessible and 5 with cabins.

Blue Dream Star's max passenger capacity is 1053 (all berths).

Shipboard facilities and amenities

Onboard dining options include Aura Grill, Aegean Restaurant, Leda (casual dining). Other facilities include Mast Bar, Horizons Bar, Eclipse Bar, Argo Bar, Helios Pool Bar, Muses Lounge, Selene Lounge, Internet Cafe, Wellness Center, Sana Beauty Center, sauna, Olympian Gym, swimming pool, medical center, video arcade, Kids' Club, library, casino, duty-free and travel value shop (Agora), shops, Photo Gallery.

On Promenade Deck is the Atrium Lobby with two boarding areas (entryways for embarkation and disembarkation) and seating area. With a central location, there is the Reception Desk which provides 24-hour guest services. The Shore Excursions Desk, also located there, serves the cruise company's tour booking program.

Among Blue Dream Star's signature venues are a noodle restaurant, a tearoom, a karaoke room, a large shopping arcade. Part of the onboard enrichment program are the regularly scheduled by Blue Dream Cruises live performances, including Chinese traditional folk songs and dancing.

Since 2023, the ship's duty-free shops sell luxury merchandise by premium brands like Armani, Gucci, Hugo Boss, Prada, Ray-Ban, Love Moschino, premium Swiss watches (Longines, Tissot, Titoni), as well as international and Asian brands like Sisley (perfumes, clothing, accessories), Shiseido (makeup and cosmetics), Sulwhasoo (skincare and beauty products).

Itineraries

In May 2023, Blue Dream Cruises announced plans to start roundtrips from China to Japan. The itinerary program was based on homeporting in Shanghai Baoshan Port and 4- to 7-night itineraries. The art-themed voyages scheduled for the Blue Dream Star ship visit the Japanese ports Nagasaki, Moji and Fukuoka (short breaks) plus Hiroshima, Osaka, Beppu (week-long ones).

Blue Dream Star's maiden voyage was scheduled to depart on June 19th (2023). However, on May 26th departed a 4-night trial cruise (out of Shanghai Wusongkou) attended by a total of 297 tourists/passengers.

In October 2023, Blue Dream Star started 4- and 5-night (Shanghai-Baoshan roundtrip) itineraries visiting South Korea's Jeju Island and Japan's Nagasaki and Fukuoka.

MV Glory Sea's itinerary program 2017-2018 had scheduled roundtrip departures from homeport Sokcho (South Korea). The 10-month deployment period started in November 2017. The itineraries from South Korea visited port destinations in Japan (Shimonoseki, Maizuru) and Russia (Vladivostok). Also operated were 1-night / 2-day short breaks along the Korean coast. The ship charterer was the Golden Bridge Cruise Company. Roundtrips were also offered from Russia and Japan.

Prior to the 2017-2018 Korean charter, MV Glory Sea operated on short cruise itineraries leaving roundtrip from China (Shanghai) to Japan (Nagasaki, Hakata-Fukuoka, Shimonoseki, Yatsushiro-Kumamoto, Kagoshima City, Naha-Okinawa) and South Korea.

On December 25, 2017, was launched the roundtrip China-Vietnam route from Haikou to Halong Bay. Following the China-Vietnam route's inauguration in 2017, Glory Sea started in 2018 Haikou roundtrips to the Philippines. The inaugural voyage departed on January 21, 2018.

In July 2023 was announced new homeporting for Blue Dream Star - Qingdao China (starting October 2023) with roundtrips visiting ports in Japan.

Celestyal Odyssey operated voyages in the Aegean Sea (Eastern Mediterranean / Southern Europe). The short break itineraries (3-4-5-day long) visited Greece's islands Santorini, Mykonos, Patmos, Milos, Syros, as well as Lavrion (Attica/mainland Greece).