MS Dream, a 77,000-ton cruise vessel owned by Tianjin Orient International Cruise Line, has emerged from an 11-day drydocking for maintenance at the Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry yard.
The ship entered drydock at the end of June and has since undergone essential repairs and upgrades to ensure smooth operations. Services included repainting the hull, clearing rusted components, rebuilding engines, and restoring oil pump systems to peak efficiency.
Alongside these technical enhancements, the Dream received cosmetic improvements: a fresh livery featuring stylised wave motifs along the hull and vivid new mast colors, lending the vessel a contemporary aesthetic.
Additionally, minor upgrades were carried out in public spaces and staterooms, elevating passenger comfort.
Following the drydock refurbishment in early July, the vessel resumed its regular schedule out of Tianjin, calling at regional destinations such as Sasebo, Nagasaki, Fukuoka in Japan, and Jeju in South Korea.
This relaunch marks a significant step in the cruise line’s gradual disembarkation from pandemic-era hiatus and its return to regular leisure operations.
Originally built in Italy by Fincantieri in 1998 as Sea Princess, she served Princess Cruises for over two decades before being laid up in 2020. After a layover (as MS Charming), she was acquired in 2023 by Tianjin Orient, received an extensive three-month drydock that year to refurbish cabins, public areas, and technical systems, and entered service under her current name.
As part of the Sun-class, the Dream joins sister vessels also built in the late 1990s. Her return underscores the resilience of cruise operations in East Asia and reflects growing capabilities in China’s shipyard infrastructure. The recent completion of drydock work is a clear signal of the cruise line’s commitment to maintaining safety, efficiency, and guest experience—fundamental facets of prolonged service.