Star Navigator

Star Navigator is a Leo-class cruise ship that entered service in 1999 and has operated under several names and cruise brands. The vessel was ordered by Star Cruises in November 1995 as the second ship of the Leo class. Meyer Werft built it at Papenburg, Germany, with the design adapted specifically for the Asian cruise market. Its keel was laid in November 1996, the ship was floated out in December 1998, and it left the shipyard in June 1999. Delivery to Star Cruises took place on 2 August 1999, ahead of the contracted schedule. The ship entered commercial service as SuperStar Virgo on 10 October 1999, operating cruises from Singapore. Its early deployment reflected the changing conditions of the Asian cruise market. In 2003, during the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in Southeast Asia, the vessel was moved to Perth, Western Australia. The relocation was initially intended as a short evaluation but continued until July of that year. In 2008, it shifted its home port to Hong Kong, partly in connection with the Beijing Summer Olympics, before returning to Singapore later that year. It subsequently served a range of Asian home ports, including Hong Kong, Nansha and Shenzhen, and called at destinations in Vietnam and other regional markets. The ship received several onboard and exterior updates during its SuperStar Virgo period. A 100-metre waterslide was installed during a 2009 dry dock in Singapore, and the vessel received refreshed hull artwork and livery in 2012. Between 2015 and 2017 it undertook longer regional itineraries, including a 48-day Southern Hemisphere voyage with more than 20 ports of call and cruises linking southern Chinese ports with Vietnam, Hong Kong and other destinations. In 2018, the vessel moved from Star Cruises to Dream Cruises and underwent a reported US$65 million refit at Sembawang Shipyard in Singapore. It was renamed Explorer Dream and returned to service with an updated product intended for the Dream Cruises portfolio. During the 2019–20 season it operated in Australia, including a Sydney deployment, while also serving Asian markets. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted its planned schedules and caused the cancellation of multiple sailings. After receiving DNV GL's Certification in Infection Prevention for the Marine industry, Explorer Dream resumed limited operations in June 2020 and later offered island-hopping cruises from Keelung to destinations including Penghu, Matsu, Kinmen and Hualien. The collapse of Genting Hong Kong in January 2022, the corporate failure associated with Dream Cruises, led to the vessel being laid up off Port Klang, Malaysia, in March of that year. In January 2023 it was announced that the ship had been sold to an unidentified buyer and chartered to Resorts World Cruises. It was renamed Resorts World One and became the second ship in that company's fleet. The vessel entered service under the new name on 17 February 2023, temporarily covering itineraries while fleetmate Genting Dream underwent dry dock work. On 1 March 2023, Resorts World One repositioned to Hong Kong and began offering two-, three- and five-night cruises. In February 2025, Resorts World Cruises announced a restructuring of its brand arrangement, separating its operations into StarCruises and Dream Cruises. The ship was assigned to the revived StarCruises identity and renamed Star Navigator. Its first sailing under the new name departed Singapore on 4 March 2025, after which it moved to Taiwan for an announced period of approximately eight months, with itineraries to Japan and South Korea. The ship's history illustrates the reuse and rebranding of mature cruise tonnage across related Asian cruise businesses, while its deployments show a recurring focus on Singapore, southern China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia and nearby international destinations.

The vessel now known as Star Navigator was ordered by Star Cruises from Meyer Werft on 22 November 1995 as Hull 647, the second newbuild in the Leo class. The ship was conceived for the Asian cruise market. Construction progressed from keel laying on 18 November 1996 to float-out on 23 December 1998. It left the Papenburg yard via the River Ems on 28 June 1999 and was delivered to Star Cruises on 2 August 1999, four weeks before the contracted delivery date. The ship entered service as SuperStar Virgo on 10 October 1999, sailing from Singapore. Its operating history has been characterized by repeated redeployment in response to market conditions and regional events. During the 2003 SARS outbreak, it moved from Singapore to Perth, where it remained until July. It moved to Hong Kong in 2008 and returned to Singapore later that year. Additional deployments placed it in Hong Kong, Nansha, Shenzhen and other ports, with itineraries covering Vietnam, Australia and destinations across East and Southeast Asia. A 100-metre waterslide was added during a 2009 dry dock, followed by new hull artwork and livery in 2012. In 2018 the ship was transferred to Dream Cruises and renamed Explorer Dream after a reported US$65 million refit at Sembawang Shipyard. It operated in Australia during the 2019–20 season and was scheduled for further Asian and Australian deployments. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancellation of planned sailings. After obtaining DNV GL's marine infection-prevention certification, the vessel resumed limited cruising in June 2020 and later operated from Keelung on Taiwan-focused island-hopping voyages. The collapse of Genting Hong Kong in January 2022 placed the ship within a disrupted cruise portfolio. Explorer Dream was laid up near Port Klang in March 2022. In January 2023, it was reported that the ship had been sold to an undisclosed buyer and chartered to Resorts World Cruises. It became Resorts World One, entered service on 17 February 2023 and repositioned to Hong Kong on 1 March for short cruises. In February 2025, Resorts World Cruises announced that its cruise brands would be separated into StarCruises and Dream Cruises. The vessel was assigned to StarCruises, renamed Star Navigator and scheduled for a new program beginning in Singapore before moving to Taiwan. The ship's successive names and operators reflect the restructuring of several connected Asian cruise businesses rather than the creation of a wholly new vessel.

1. 2025Renamed Star Navigator

   The ship was assigned to StarCruises after Resorts World Cruises separated its StarCruises and Dream Cruises brand structure.

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2. 2023Entered service as Resorts World One

   The vessel was chartered to Resorts World Cruises, renamed Resorts World One and placed into service on 17 February.

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3. 2022Laid up after Genting Hong Kong collapse

   The ship was laid up off Port Klang following the collapse of the corporate group associated with Dream Cruises.

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4. 2020Resumed limited cruising during the pandemic

   After receiving marine infection-prevention certification, Explorer Dream resumed operations and later sailed from Keelung in Taiwan.

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5. 2018Renamed Explorer Dream after refit

   The ship moved to Dream Cruises and underwent a reported US$65 million refit before receiving the Explorer Dream name.

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6. 2009Waterslide added

   A 100-metre waterslide was installed during a dry dock in Singapore.

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7. 2003Redeployed to Perth during SARS outbreak

   The ship moved from Singapore to Perth as the SARS outbreak affected Southeast Asian cruise demand.

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8. 1999Delivered and entered service as SuperStar Virgo

   The vessel was delivered on 2 August and began commercial cruises from Singapore on 10 October.

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9. 1996Keel laid

   The ship's keel was laid at Meyer Werft's Papenburg shipyard.

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10. 1995Ordered by Star Cruises

    Star Cruises ordered the second Leo-class newbuild from Meyer Werft as Hull 647.

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A large regional cruise vessel positioned for Asian cruise markets, with flexible deployment among major home ports and short- to medium-length itineraries. Its commercial identity has changed with the cruise brands operating it, including Star Cruises, Dream Cruises, Resorts World Cruises and StarCruises.

• Star NavigatorCruise ship1999

  A Leo-class cruise ship built by Meyer Werft for the Asian market. It provides accommodation, dining, entertainment and leisure facilities within multi-night cruise itineraries. The ship has served several operators and carried different names, including SuperStar Virgo, Explorer Dream and Resorts World One. Its itineraries have ranged from short Hong Kong cruises to longer regional voyages and Taiwan-based sailings to Japan and South Korea.

• 2025Return to the StarCruises brandStrategy

  Resorts World Cruises announced a separation of its StarCruises and Dream Cruises brand identities.

  What changed. The ship was assigned to StarCruises and renamed Star Navigator.

  Aftermath. It began a new sailing program from Singapore and was then scheduled to operate from Taiwan on itineraries to Japan and South Korea.

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• 2023Adoption of the Resorts World One identityStrategy

  The vessel became available after the collapse of Genting Hong Kong and the disruption of the Dream Cruises portfolio.

  What changed. Resorts World Cruises chartered the ship, renamed it Resorts World One and deployed it as the second ship in its fleet.

  Aftermath. After briefly covering cruises for Genting Dream, it repositioned to Hong Kong for short regional cruises.

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• 2018Transfer and refit for Dream CruisesGeneration change

  Star Cruises transferred the mature vessel to Dream Cruises as part of a change in brand operation and market positioning.

  What changed. The ship underwent a reported US$65 million refit at Sembawang Shipyard and was renamed Explorer Dream.

  Aftermath. It operated in Australian and Asian markets before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted its planned schedule.

  Reported refit cost. US$65 million (2018)

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• 2025Ship reassigned to StarCruises and renamed Star Navigator

  Resorts World Cruises announced that its brand structure would again include StarCruises and Dream Cruises. The vessel was transferred to StarCruises and adopted the name Star Navigator, beginning a new sailing program from Singapore and Taiwan.

  Product generation
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• 2023Explorer Dream was renamed Resorts World One after transfer to Resorts World Cruises

  Following the financial collapse of Genting Hong Kong and the reorganization of its cruise assets, the former Explorer Dream was chartered to Resorts World Cruises, renamed Resorts World One and placed into service as the company's second ship.

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• 2023Resorts World One began Hong Kong operations

  After briefly covering cruises for Genting Dream, the renamed vessel repositioned to Hong Kong and began operating two-, three- and five-night cruises.

  Product launch
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1. Star Navigator