In an exclusive conversation, Michael Goh, President, StarDream Cruises, shares insights on Dream Cruises’ 10-year journey and the brand’s year-long ‘Decade of Dreams’ campaign. He highlights how StarDream Cruises is strengthening Asia-led product design, enhancing onboard experiences, and deepening its focus on key markets such as India.
By Gunjan Sabikhi
Dream Cruises is celebrating 10 years with the year-long ‘Decade of Dreams’ campaign. Looking back at this journey, what do you believe has been the brand’s biggest contribution to shaping modern cruise holidays in Asia?
I think the biggest contribution has really been helping make cruising a mainstream holiday choice in Asia. As Dream Cruises celebrates its 10-year journey, it also builds on over 30 years of affiliated experience as a group in the region, so we’ve always had a strong understanding of what Asian travellers look for — whether it’s food, entertainment, or family-friendly experiences. Over the years, we’ve also seen Asian travellers become much more familiar and comfortable with cruising as a holiday option. What was once considered a niche or unfamiliar experience has now become a more mainstream and aspirational way to travel. Today’s travellers are increasingly looking for experience-driven and more flexible holidays that still feel premium and effortless — and cruising fits that shift very naturally.
For StarDream Cruises, how important is Asia-led product design in making cruising more relevant for regional markets such as India?
It’s very important for us. Being a home-grown cruise brand in Asia, we really understand how different each market is across Asia. For India specifically, it’s about designing experiences that work well for families, celebrations and group travel, while still keeping things flexible and easy. That also includes being sensitive to specific needs — for example, offering vegetarian and Jain meal options, and being able to tailor celebrations and group events onboard. From food to entertainment to itinerary length, it’s about making sure the experience feels familiar, comfortable and relevant for the market.
What role do you see Indian travellers playing in StarDream Cruises’ future growth strategy? Are you looking at deeper partnerships with Indian travel agents, wedding planners and MICE operators?
India is definitely an important growth and source market for us, especially for the flycruise segment. We see a strong alignment between Indian travellers and cruising, particularly when it comes to family holidays, celebrations, weddings and group travel. We are also looking at deepening our partnerships in India with travel agents, wedding planners and MICE operators, supported by A&P initiatives and familiarisation cruises to help the trade experience cruising first-hand. These partnerships are important because they help us better reach the market, while also allowing us to create more tailored experiences for different types of Indian groups travelling onboard.
How is StarDream Cruises curating newer onboard and shore experiences to appeal to multi-generational Asian families and first-time cruisers?
Multi-generational families are a big part of our guest mix, so the onboard experience is designed to offer something for everyone — from entertainment and dining to relaxation and activities that different age groups can enjoy in their own way. For first-time cruisers, the experience is kept simple, welcoming and easy to navigate, both onboard and onshore. Shore experiences are curated to balance culture, leisure and discovery, giving guests the flexibility to choose between something more relaxed or more immersive. In fact, we’re also introducing Forever Broadway in June on the Genting Dream, in collaboration with Broadway International Group, a New York–based production company at the heart of the world’s theatre capital. This partnership brings a refreshed line-up of authentic Broadway-style productions onboard, elevating our entertainment offering and delivering a true taste of New York theatre at sea.
What are StarDream Cruises’ key priorities in terms of fleet enhancement, new itineraries, guest experience and strengthening its position as a preferred cruise brand in the region?
The next phase of growth in Asia is really being driven by experiential travel, where guests are looking for more than just a holiday — they want meaningful and memorable experiences from the moment they step onboard. For us, this means continuing to strengthen the guest experience, built on our deep Asian heritage and strong understanding of what regional travellers value. This year, as Dream Cruises marks its 10th anniversary, we’ve also stepped up our experiential lineup with exciting collaborations that tap into global K-pop culture and lifestyle trends — from fitness and wellness programmes featuring Chef French Papa, a culinary personality from Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars, with his curated menu available onboard until July 2026, to high-energy experiences inspired by Physical: 100 featuring fan-favourite Amotti (July 26 2026 departure) and the electrifying rise of K-pop with KIIRAS (October 25, 2026 departure), which has taken global audiences by storm.
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