A one-of-kind, twin-hull cruise ship has been sold by casino magnate Stanley Ho to mainland tycoons, and will set sail from Hung Hom in Hong Kong on Thursday - its maiden voyage under new ownership.
Buyer Huang Wejian and other businessmen from Wenzhou city in Zhejiang had set up the Hong Kong-based China Cruises last year to purchase the vessel, which Ho called the Asia Star, for US$65 million, said company spokesman Cai Yuanyou .
The Finland-made ship, originally named the Radisson Diamond, was run by Asia Cruises and remains stationed in Hong Kong. It has 12 decks, 170 guest rooms and can hold 400 people.
The new Wenzhou owners renamed the ship China Star. The ship will begin offering a two-day cruise in the coming month, taking passengers out to sea from Hung Hom for 1,200 yuan (HK$1,480) or more.
If mainland authorities permit, more routes will be launched starting from May for destinations overseas and within China, such as Xiamen , Shanghai, Qingdao, Shenzhen, Tianjin and Taiwan.
'The China Star will be a high-end business and entertainment venue that will have standard cruise amenities and [will] be a platform for Chinese mainland culture,' Cai said.