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).

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 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 private balcony) 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.

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 Diamond Cruises tours booking program.

Itineraries

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 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.

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).