It is a mid-sized ship operated by StarDream Cruises, a company that has been in the business for over 30 years and recognized as "Asia's Leading Cruise Line" at the World Travel Awards for eight consecutive years from 2012.
Built in Italy in 1997 at a cost of US$300 million, the ship underwent a second refurbishment in 2017 and a third this February at a cost of around $50 million. The vessel is 261 meters long and stands nearly 40 meters above the waterline.
During a cruise starting in Thailand on April 22, Giao Nguyen spent most of her time exploring the ship. The Saigonese woman was impressed by the outdoor area on the top deck, ideal for watching sunsets and taking photos.
She says: "A cruise gives me a feeling of relaxation, unlike traveling by car or other long-distance vehicles where you have to worry about everything."
There are eight restaurants on board, three of which are included in the cruise package: North Star (Chinese cuisine, deck 5), Sofia (European cuisine, deck 6) and Lido buffet (Asian, vegetarian and halal foods, deck 14).
Executive Chef Chris Bartolome said the buffet menu for the June voyage would be updated to include dishes suited to Vietnamese palates such as spring rolls, noodles and stir-fried vegetables.
The main lobby, located opposite the reception area, is also a venue for movie screenings, musical theater, physical activities, and creative games.
A group of Vietnamese tourists toured the ship's bridge, an area not open to the public without the crew's permission.
According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Phu My is one of the region's key deep-water ports and capable of handling international cruise ships. With its convenient location and transport connectivity with southern tourist destinations, the port has potential to develop into an Asian cruise tourism hub.
Michael Goh, president of StarDream Cruises, hopes to develop more cruise routes departing from Vietnam like Singapore, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand.
Several travel companies in Vietnam have begun offering HCMC–Singapore cruise tours at prices starting at VND16 million ($617).
Photo by Truong Ha
