Blue Dream Star

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

The vessel (IMO number 9183518) is currently Liberia-flagged (MMSI 636020005) and registered in Monrovia. Prior to 2020, she was flagged in The Bahamas (MMSI 311705000/Nassau registry).

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

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

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

In 2004, Olympia Explorer was renamed "MV Explorer" and chartered for Semester at Sea (a study abroad program), serving until 2015.

In May 2015, the ship was chartered by Celestyal Cruises for three years (through 2018), renamed "Celestyal Odyssey," and reflagged to Malta (MMSI 256469000/Valletta registry). In September 2015, Celestyal terminated the charter and the vessel left the fleet in October 2015.

From 2015 to 2019, the vessel was owned by the Chinese company Diamond Cruise International Co Ltd, renamed "Glory Sea," and operated under the new brand Diamond Cruise China. In March 2019, she 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." Due to the COVID crisis, the brand’s launch was delayed until 2023. After beginning operations in 2023, Blue Dream Cruises announced plans to build a fleet of second-hand cruise ships (by 2028) and to open international routes connecting China with countries including Taiwan, India, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, and Russia.

Decks and Cabins

Blue Dream Star has a total of 400 cabins (including 30 Suites, 24 with step-out balconies) in 13 grades. The ship does not have wheelchair-accessible, connecting, or single cabins. The interior design features wider corridors and solid cabin doors. There are no standard balcony cabins or self-service laundry facilities (launderettes).

The vessel has 7 decks, of which 6 are passenger-accessible and 5 contain staterooms.

Blue Dream Star’s maximum passenger capacity is 1,053 (all berths).

Shipboard Facilities and Amenities

Dining options onboard include Aura Grill, Aegean Restaurant, and Leda (casual dining). Other venues 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 shop, Agora (travel value shop), retail stores, and Photo Gallery.

On the Promenade Deck is the Atrium Lobby, which includes two boarding areas (for embarkation and disembarkation) and a seating area. Centrally located is the Reception Desk providing 24-hour guest services. Also nearby is the Shore Excursions Desk, responsible for the cruise line’s tour booking program.

Signature venues onboard include a noodle restaurant, a tearoom, a karaoke room, and a large shopping arcade. Blue Dream Cruises also offers live performances as part of its enrichment program, including traditional Chinese folk music and dance.

Since 2023, the duty-free shops have sold luxury goods from premium brands including Armani, Gucci, Hugo Boss, Prada, Ray-Ban, Love Moschino, premium Swiss watchmakers (Longines, Tissot, Titoni), as well as international and Asian brands such as Sisley (perfumes, apparel, accessories), Shiseido (cosmetics), and Sulwhasoo (skincare).

Itineraries

In May 2023, Blue Dream Cruises announced plans for roundtrip itineraries from China to Japan. The program is homeported in Shanghai Baoshan Port and includes 4- to 7-night art-themed voyages. Destinations include Japanese ports like Nagasaki, Moji, and Fukuoka (short breaks), as well as Hiroshima, Osaka, and Beppu (longer cruises).

Blue Dream Star’s maiden voyage was scheduled for June 19, 2023. However, a 4-night trial cruise departed earlier on May 26 from Shanghai Wusongkou with 297 passengers.

In October 2023, the ship began offering 4- and 5-night Shanghai-Baoshan roundtrips visiting South Korea’s Jeju Island and Japan’s Nagasaki and Fukuoka.

MV Glory Sea's 2017–2018 itinerary program featured roundtrips from homeport Sokcho (South Korea). This 10-month deployment (starting in November 2017) included visits to ports in Japan (Shimonoseki, Maizuru) and Russia (Vladivostok), as well as 1-night/2-day short breaks along the Korean coast. The charterer was Golden Bridge Cruise Company, with roundtrips also available from Russia and Japan.

Before the 2017–2018 South Korean charter, MV Glory Sea operated short cruises from China (Shanghai) to Japan (Nagasaki, Hakata-Fukuoka, Shimonoseki, Yatsushiro-Kumamoto, Kagoshima City, Naha-Okinawa) and South Korea.

On December 25, 2017, a new China-Vietnam route was launched, operating roundtrips from Haikou to Halong Bay. In 2018, this was followed by voyages from Haikou to the Philippines, with the inaugural cruise departing on January 21, 2018.

In July 2023, it was announced that Blue Dream Star would also homeport in Qingdao, China starting October 2023, offering roundtrips to Japanese ports.

As Celestyal Odyssey, the ship operated Aegean Sea cruises (Eastern Mediterranean / Southern Europe). The short itineraries (3- to 5-day) visited Greece’s islands Santorini, Mykonos, Patmos, Milos, Syros, and Lavrion (Attica/mainland Greece).