dream cruise owner

Owner of embattled Dream Cruises starts new firm hiring laid-off staff, offers 'goodwill' vouchers to affected customers

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SINGAPORE —  Malaysian billionaire Lim Kok Thay, who previously ran embattled Dream Cruises, has launched a new Singapore-based cruise firm, Resorts World Cruises, which will set sail next month.

A view of the main swimming pool onboard the Genting Dream cruise liner.

• The owner of an embattled cruise operator and its parent company has started a new cruise company here
• Resorts World Cruises will set sail in June
• The firm has hired about 70 per cent of the employees laid off by Dream Cruises 
• The Genting Dream ship will initially do "cruises to nowhere", though regional destinations are planned for later in the year
• The new firm distanced itself from Dream Cruises but is offering "goodwill" vouchers to customers whose cruises did not proceed

The firm's ship Genting Dream will initially offer the popular "cruises to nowhere" from June 15, with the aim of adding regional destinations such as Phuket and Bali from September this year.

Announcing the launch on Wednesday (May 18), the firm distanced the new operation from Dream Cruises, and its parent firm Genting Hong Kong, which is undergoing liquidation.

However, Resorts World Cruises is hiring employees previously laid off by the former operator and is offering vouchers to customers who had bookings when Dream Cruises announced that it would cease operations in March.

At a media conference, Mr Michael Goh, president and head of international sales of the new firm, said that Resorts World Cruises has hired about 1,700 workers laid off by Genting Hong Kong, which makes up about 70 per cent of the Genting Dream's crew as well as on-shore staff in the Singapore office.

During the winding-up process for Genting Hong Kong, some creditors have reportedly claimed that they have not been paid various expenses. These matters will be dealt with by their former companies, and not by Resorts World Cruises, Mr Goh said.

Mr Goh was the former president of Dream Cruises. 

Customers of Dream Cruises who had made bookings for trips that did not proceed will also be able to get "goodwill" complimentary cruise credits for the new cruise liner.

Resorts World Cruises will launch its first voyage on June 15 via cruise ship Genting Dream, which was previously owned by Genting Hong Kong. 

FINANCIAL TROUBLES

Cruise ship World Dream, which was owned by Dream Cruises,  ceased operations after its final sailing returned to Singapore on March 2. 

The cruise liner first said on Jan 23 that it would be suspending bookings for its cruises here, after its beleaguered parent company, Genting Hong Kong, applied to be wound up.

Genting Hong Kong, which is part of Malaysia's Genting Group, reported a net loss of US$238 million (around S$320 million) in the first half of last year, as operations continued to be affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. It reported a net loss of US$1.7 billion in 2020.

Mr Lim resigned as the company's chairman and chief executive officer in January, after the company filed for provisional liquidation. 

The Straits Times reported in March that since Genting Hong Kong ran into financial troubles, at least 60 of its staff members were terminated.

It also reported that 57 staff members from companies related to Genting Hong Kong were seeking unpaid notice pay and encashment of unconsumed annual leave, among other expenses, and that it had raised the issue with the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM). 

Asked if any of these issues would be resolved by the new company, Mr Goh said: "The dispute that they have is with another cruise brand."

He added that the dispute "is being managed" by the liquidator and TADM.

In response to TODAY's queries, TADM said it has successfully helped the claimants to recover their salaries.

But it added: "Unfortunately, some other claims like pay in lieu of notice and unconsumed leave could not be resolved in time before the company went into liquidation. For the unresolved claims, TADM has helped the claimants to file them with the appointed liquidator."

Mr Goh also confirmed that Resorts World Cruises will be under shareholder Two Trees Family Holdings, which lists Mr Lim and his son Lim Keong Hui among its directors, and is a separate entity to Genting Hong Kong. 

World Dream customers who have not received refunds for bookings on the defunct cruise will be offered complimentary cruise credits. 

"As a gesture of goodwill, passengers who are affected by World Dream, we will give them cruise credits that will allow them to come onboard from June 15 to March next year," Mr Goh said. 

Affected customers may write in to Resorts World Cruises at reservations.en [at] rwcruises.com . 

There will also be a new payment process where payments are kept in a separate account, and will only be drawn during the day of the cruise. 

"The amount that (customers) pay will only be drawn during the actual dates that they are cruising, so that's definitely a very good assurance to our cruisers," Mr Goh added. 

'LEGALLY SOUND, ETHICALLY QUESTIONABLE'

Lawyers and academics interviewed by TODAY said that the move by the owners of Resorts World Cruises to wind up their previous company and launch a new one is perfectly legal, even if the previous company owes expenses to their employers. 

Ms Charmaine Neo of Forte Law LLC said that in corporate law, there is a concept of separate legal entities — which means that the two distinct firms, such as Dream Cruises and Resorts World Cruises, are entirely separate entities. 

"All of the liabilities incurred by Dream Cruises and Genting Hong Kong will be dealt with in that separate liquidation... by separating up their separate company they have ring-fenced their liability and exposure." 

Ms Neo, who is an associate director at the firm specialising in dispute resolution matters, added that even if they are owned by the same person or people, the liabilities are tagged to the company and not the people. 

"Even though it is run by the same guy, it doesn’t touch him personally, because he's just either a shareholder or director, or both. It is not him who is personally responsible for the debt of the company." 

The only exception is if there is any evidence of wrongdoing such as fraud, in which case criminal charges may follow the owner or owners of the company, which may prevent them from starting a new firm. 

Agreeing, Mr Justin Yip, who is a partner for restructuring and insolvency at law firm Withers KhattarWong, said that while it is true the firms are legally separate, there are some limitations to this. 

"If the new company or business is in the same line as the company in liquidation, it would be advisable for the owner or shareholder to make sure that assets of the company in liquidation are not being used in the new company or business."

Though it did not state its reasons, the ship World Dream that was under Dream Cruises was not acquired by Resorts World Cruises. A distinct ship, Genting Dream, was utilised instead. 

The lawyers also added that employees cannot claim any owed expenses from the new company since they are considered fresh hires, but will have to take it up with the old company as is being done now. 

Ms Amarjit Kaur, a partner at Withers KhattarWong specialising in labour and employment, told TODAY that unless otherwise stated in the previous contract, the "re-hired" employees at the new company are treated as new hires. 

"As such, they will no longer be able to rely on tenure under the old employment agreement for the purposes of claiming retrenchment benefits, for example, if they find themselves in such a situation with the new employer down the road." 

However, because it is an entirely new firm, the "re-hired" employees have the right to continue pushing for unpaid expenses. 

"Given that the employee's claims are for monies due and owed to them by the old cruise company... it would be within their rights to continue to pursue such claims," Ms Kaur said. 

However, just because the move is legal, it does not mean that it is ethical, one academic said. 

Professor Lawrence Loh, director at the Centre for Governance and Sustainability at National University of Singapore Business school, said that the move by the owners of the new firm could be seen by some as using a "loophole". 

"Even if they found a legally feasible way to do things, it may not be the right way from an ethical stance," he said.

"You are owing so many of your staff money and then you set up another (business) somewhere that is totally legally distinct. 

"Even though it's legally possible, from a purely doing-the-right-thing (standpoint), it is definitely something that needs to be looked at carefully." 

TRIPS TO REGIONAL DESTINATIONS

While the mode of the initial cruise voyages will be the default "cruise to nowhere" that has become popular over the course of the pandemic, Resorts World Cruises will be looking to restart destination cruises in September. 

The cruise liner plans to expand its itineraries to nearby destinations such as Langkawi and Penang in Malaysia, Phuket in Thailand, and Bintan and Bali in Indonesia. 

"We have been very actively engaging the Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia authorities, to work out the arrangement to have the restart of destination cruises as early as possible," Mr Goh added.

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( Facebook/Jenny Phenix )

Florida Mom Jenny Phenix Booted From Her Dream, 3-Year Cruise Over WhatsApp Messages After Selling Her Possessions

A Florida mom who uprooted her entire life for a luxurious, three-year cruise around the world was allegedly banned by the ship’s owner after her private messages with gripes about the voyage were leaked and were “impacting community morale.”

Jenny Phenix, 68, reportedly took umbrage with multiple alleged issues on the ship—like an apparent four-month delay to even set sail—in WhatsApp messages that eventually made their way to the vessel’s owner.

“During the past year and a half I have liquidated businesses and possessions, eagerly awaiting my new life cruising the world,” Phenix told the Telegraph last week.

The divorced mother of two had been “living out of a suitcase” since December as she waited to board the Villa Vie Odyssey’s maiden voyage.

She first arrived in Southampton, England, in May, expecting to embark on the years-long voyage on the 15th, but the ship was moved to Belfast, Ireland, where guests were told they’d set sail on the 30th.

(Lanette Canen / Johan Bodin / SWNS)

However, more problems were discovered on the Villa Vie Odyssey while dry docked, which further delayed its voyage.

The ship’s certifications expired as it sat idle for four years during the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing the owners of the ship to start all over again, according to the Telegraph.

The ongoing delays left Phenix and other passengers waiting to set sail for nearly four months.

Her frustration grew when the ship changed its itinerary and revealed it would no longer dock in Miami, where she planned to pick up the rest of her belongings.

Phenix was also told that after the trip was underway, she would have to use a temporary cabin as the crew was still using the one she booked for the three-year adventure.

The 68-year-old voiced her concerns over the sudden changes to fellow passengers in a WhatsApp group over the developments.

Phenix then received a notice from the owners of Villa Vie stating that her reservation had been canceled for “behavior impacting community morale.”

“We have received over a dozen formal complaints from residents regarding your continuous complaints and negativity,” Kathy Villalba, the ship’s chief operating officer, told her. “This behavior has significantly impacted the morale and well-being of other passengers.”

Villalba notified her that due to the “overwhelming feedback” it received, Villa Vie “must cancel” her contract “permanently” to ensure it “uphold[s] the well-being and satisfaction of our community.”

The blindsided mother of two questioned how these messages got back to the ship’s owner.

“These were private conversations—I posted nothing on social media platforms,” Phenix told the Telegraph.

“The frustration among residents grew after each delay. I tended to be one of the more outspoken in asking important questions. Many of the residents thanked me privately for speaking up for the entire group.”

(Facebook/Jenny Phenix)

Villa Vie Residences CEO Mikael Petterson told the Telegraph that Phenix “broke multiple terms and conditions and signed a non-disclosure agreement.”

This is the second time Phenix has had her hopes of living on a cruise ship crushed.

She had booked a spot on the residential ship  Life At Sea , which is based in Florida. On Nov. 17, 2023, the company announced that the cruise, expected to leave on Nov. 30, was canceled because the company hadn’t been able to buy the ship.

Life at Sea Cruises was forced to file for bankruptcy and still owes the divorcee the $30,000 deposit she laid out, according to the Telegraph.

In January, Phenix had to share a house in Ecuador with another stranded passenger because she had rented her Florida condo out since she was expecting to go on the cruise, she told the  New York Times .

However, still determined to live on a cruise ship, Phenix waited for Villa Vie Residences to buy the former Fred Olsen ship Braemar—now rebranded as the Villa Vie Odyssey—before locking in her spot, she told the Telegraph.

The divorcee purchased the “Endless Horizons” program, which allows “individuals to retire on a luxury cruise ship with unlimited lifetime cruises.”

The program starts at $300K and requires guests to pay at least half the deposit, according to the company’s  website .

Since being banned from the cruise, she has been partly refunded and is awaiting reimbursement of the remainder of her deposit.

(Getty Images)

The Odyssey has recently had sea trials as it gets recertified but has yet to sail on its three-year voyage, which is due to visit 425 destinations in 147 countries, the Telegraph reported.

Phenix has since returned to Florida, saying the ordeal has worn her down.

“I cannot even begin to explain the emotional devastation and the physical toll this has taken on me,” she told the outlet. “It is still very hard for me to discuss, as I had the same dream everyone else on that ship does, and they took that from me seemingly without a thought.”

“I will have to stay with my daughter until I figure out a whole new plan for my life.”

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Follow our news, recent searches, cruise ship genting dream to start trips from singapore under new resorts world cruises brand, advertisement.

Main pool of Genting Dream. (Photo: RW Cruises)

Vanessa Lim

SINGAPORE: A vessel that used to be operated by Genting Hong Kong-owned Dream Cruises will sail from Jun 15 under a new company called Resorts World Cruises.

The company was set up by Malaysian tycoon Lim Kok Thay, who is chairman and board executive of Genting Group. It was registered on Mar 9, less than two months after Genting Hong Kong filed to wind up the company after failing to secure funding to pay its debts .

Dream Cruises ran three ships - Genting Dream, Explorer Dream and World Dream. Resorts World Cruises has taken over Genting Dream and is currently in negotiations with banks and interested parties to acquire the other two ships.

World Dream, which operated cruises to nowhere from Singapore, stopped taking new bookings after its parent company ran into financial trouble. The ship ceased operations on Mar 2.

Resorts World Cruises said on Wednesday (May 18) that it would offer complimentary cruise credits of “equivalent value” for all paid affected passengers by World Dream’s cruise cancellations in Singapore between Mar 2 and Aug 31 this year as a “gesture of goodwill”.

The credits will be valid from Jun 15 to end-March 2023.

At a news conference on Wednesday, the company said this would only be applicable to affected World Dream customers who have yet to receive any refund from their original booking source.

“From our records, there were 13,000 (affected) customers but we also understand that many of our customers have actually got their refund through credit card companies,” said Mr Michael Goh, president and head of international sales of Resorts World Cruises.

He added that the company does not have a record of how many people have claimed their refunds so far.

What happened to Genting Hong Kong?

On Jan 19, Genting Hong Kong, which owns Dream Cruises, Crystal Cruises and Star Cruises, announced that it was filing for bankruptcy.

This came after a US$1.7 billion record loss for the company in 2020 and a US$743 million loss in the first half of 2021.

Its wholly owned shipbuilding subsidiary, MV Werften, also filed for insolvency in Germany after it failed to secure funding for the completion of its Global One mega-liner.

Genting Hong Kong, which was at that time 76 per cent owned by tycoon Lim Kok Thay, then filed a petition in Bermuda to wind up the company and appoint provisional liquidators.

The company also said its cash was expected to run out around the end of January and it had no access to further funding.

It added that it had "exhausted all reasonable efforts" to negotiate with its creditors and stakeholders.

NEW COMPANY "NOTHING TO DO" WITH GENTING HONG KONG

Although the new company has taken over the Genting Dream vessel, it maintains that Resorts World Cruises is separate from Genting Hong Kong.

“The provisional liquidator could not revive the (Dream Cruises) brand and so, we worked with the Chinese lessors who are the owners of the ship and decided to restart the cruise under the Resorts World brand,” said Resorts World Cruises’ CEO and executive director Colin Au, who was formerly deputy CEO of Genting Hong Kong.

“This new brand has got nothing to do with Genting Hong Kong, it’s a new cruise brand,” he added.

Mr Lim and Mr Au both resigned as CEO and deputy CEO of Genting Hong Kong respectively in January this year, after the cruise operator filed to wind up the business.

Trading of Genting Hong Kong’s shares has been suspended since Jan 18, and will remain so until further notice. 

“Genting Hong Kong is under provisional liquidation, and (Mr Lim) is not joining any of the companies under provisional liquidation. This is a new cruise liner that is being set up,” Mr Au reiterated when asked about Mr Lim’s role in the new company.

Mr Lim, who is the executive chairman of Resorts World Cruises, holds shares in the new company, said Mr Au.

“There are many parties who would like to join the company and there are negotiations with them, and so this will be a work in progress in the next couple of weeks,” said Mr Au, adding that this should be finalised “in the next few weeks”.

LAUNCH OF NEW CRUISE IS IN “EVERYBODY’S OBJECTIVE”

When asked about the timing of the launch of the new ship, which will come about six months after Genting Hong Kong filed to wind up its business, Mr Au said it was in “everybody's objective to go back to normal ... as fast as possible" to protect jobs and to help the economy grow.

In response to CNA's queries, a company spokesperson said it has re-employed about 1,700 of its former employees based in Singapore. This comprises 1,600 former crew members from Genting Dream and about 70 former employees from its Singapore office.

In March, The Straits Times reported that at least 60 employees from Genting Hong Kong's Singapore office had been laid off, with no retrenchment benefits.

When asked about the remuneration packages for re-employed staff members, Mr Goh said this would be "based on experience" and did not disclose further details.

Mr Au said the launch of the new cruise will also help to give the Singapore Cruise Centre more revenue.

Noting the strong market appetite for cruises in the region, including Thailand, Malaysia and India, Mr Goh expressed confidence that Resorts World Cruises will be able to meet demand.

Genting Dream will launch several cruises to nowhere departing from Singapore on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. It plans to launch destination cruises to Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia from Sep 30.

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Meet the owner of the 'I Love Lucy' Scotty trailer, a staple of the Dream Cruise

(WXYZ) — For more than a decade, there's a classic that's been bringing people joy every August at the Woodward Dream Cruise.

"The guys, they all have their cars," joked Elaine Vermeersch.

But Elaine — she has a treasure in the form of a 1960 Scotty trailer. And it’s not just any 1960 Scotty trailer — oh, no — this one that Elaine snagged more than 15 years ago pays homage to an icon.

"I loved it from the day I saw it," Elaine said. "[Lucy] is the most funny comedian who ever lived. She's so funny. Her and Ethel got into so many shenanigans together that you couldn't help but laugh."

That same joy the "I Love Lucy" show brought to many through its six-season run comes to life when you catch a glimpse of the "I Love Lucy" trailer.

"They just can't believe what they're seeing. And they actually step inside and they're just like amazed, you know, like, 'wow, I can't believe this,'" Elaine said.

Stepping into the "I Love Lucy" trailer is like stepping inside a time machine. That's because the trailer is filled with collectible items celebrating the show's era.

"People keep giving me stuff," Elaine said. "In fact, there's that original ...'I Love Lucy' Barbie doll inside still in the box."

But the trailer is more than just something to admire, it's a functioning trailer and one Elaine enjoys taking on the road.

"Of course, people keep coming around the camper wanting to look inside, you know, when you're not even dressed yet," Elaine joked.

There was even that one time Elaine and her best friend, Victoria, camped inside during a car show in Marshall.

"We were just like two teenage kids just having a riot," Elaine recalls. "I mean, we never laughed so hard in our lives like we did that night. So it's just a fun thing to have, to see."

Elaine and Victoria are like a real-life Lucy and Ethel from the sounds of their adventures.

"We would go out and put the outfits on and pretend like we're Ethel and Lucy and have a lot of fun," Elaine said.

As much as the nostalgia factor makes people who stop by the trailer smile, what brings Elaine and her husband, John, happiness is their long history with the Woodward Dream Cruise.

"We've been going to the Dream Cruise ever since I think it began. We used to actually cruise Woodward in the day, the original Woodward Dream Cruise," Elaine said.

For them, it’s not just about the classic rides, it’s about community.

"It's just a get-together. It is," Elaine said. "And you get to see people you haven't seen in a long time and that's what's fun about it."

And if there’s one word to describe the Woodward Dream Cruise, "I Love Lucy", and Elaine’s trailer in a nutshell, it would certainly be "fun."

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The Woodward Dream Cruise through the years

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Dream: Inside the Breathtaking Conversion of the 106.5 Metre Superyacht

First published in the February 2019 edition of Boat International .

A life’s goal has been realised with Dream, a 106.5-metre conversion so massive and ambitious in its scale it would have been quicker and easier to start from scratch...

I’m doused from collar to sopping sandal in brine from a wave that has just crashed over the RIB’s bow – and the seascape before us is lively enough to whiten knuckles on grab handles. The côte may look particularly azure in the autumn sunshine but ploughing out of Monaco’s Port Hercule, tenders – and motherships – are bouncing around in an unstately fashion. Our target yacht is about the only stable point on the horizon, which is rather comforting.

As we step on to the broad swim platform and up to the aft deck, feeling a little as if we’ve just been rescued, 106.5-metre Dream towers above us, overwhelming in scale. And that’s just what you can see from the aft deck: there are also two lifts and four staircases for guests alone; a 260-square-metre master cabin, a 400-square-metre main saloon, a cinema and 22 guest cabins; a hotel-sized warren of crew and service areas (where a kindly stewardess tumble-dries my dress); six pantries and more than 270 kilometres of electrical cable powering it all. There are so many enormous decks that the GA takes up two whole pages at the end of this feature.

But then this boat has been a very long time in the making. “In 1953, at the age of seven, while dinghy sailing in the Glyfada gulf, outside my house, I came across the Onassis-owned Christina, the first real superyacht,” recalls  Dream ’s owner, George J Prokopiou. “I remember approaching the yacht’s stern on which Winston Churchill was smoking his cigar. This image has stuck with me ever since and generated the dream of a large yacht as a world cruising platform.”

Today, like Onassis, Prokopiou can properly be called a Greek shipping tycoon, having founded Dynacom Tankers, the shipping group Sea Traders and LNG transport company Dynagas. He has an engineering mind, extensive shipbuilding experience and his sea legs also extend to his leisure time, with a collection of four large motor and sailing boats – recently adding 69.5-metre Oceanfast  Nomad  to the collection. He chose to build  Dream  because “I could not find anything on the market to fulfil my needs and wishes”. He had also met naval architect Nikolas Dendrinos – “We share the same passion for sailing, yachting and the sea” – and they decided they could do something special together.

Dendrinos recalls: “He found this small passenger ship through a friend and he thought it would be a good idea for a conversion project. It was delivered in 1997 – it was doing cruises around the Mediterranean.” Dendrinos, who project-managed  Dream , works for Athens-based Olympic Yacht Services, owned by Prokopiou’s shipping company.

Established during the build, it now undertakes the operation, repairs, rebuilds and technical management of all the owner’s boats and plans to take on more clients in the 60-metre-plus range. “The other different thing about this project is that he wanted to build a boat himself,” says Dendrinos. “So this means that we hired a place in a shipyard in Greece and we organised from scratch. We designed, engineered and built everything for this project. We produced internally all the construction drawings for steel, systems, piping, integration and interior sub-constructions. We had subcontractors only for painting and the interiors.”

They also assembled a crack team of workers and designers with a wealth of experience, tapping established Greek-born, Italy-based yacht designer  Giorgio Vafiadis  to pen the new exterior and GA. Interior designers  Simone Ciarmoli and Miguel Queda  worked for years at powerhouse fashion brands, including Valentino, Prada and Armani before founding their own interior design firm, Ciarmoli Queda Studio, in Milan in 2009. Ciarmoli notes that making a success of the unorthodox set-up was one of their greatest achievements. “It was not like  Lürssen  or  Baglietto  or  Azimut . It was us: Simone and Miguel [and Vafiadis]; it was George, Nikolas and his team. And it was a big challenge,” he says.

Given the scope of the conversion this was certainly an ambitious project to tackle independently – the only original elements to remain were the hull and the engine room. So why do it this way? If you’re replacing so much, why not build from scratch? “I do know that he enjoys very much the construction at every stage,” says Vafiadis. “He was going to the yard almost every other day. And he likes to see the things coming. So once you have something existing it is easy to see what is coming – if you start from zero, you don’t see what is coming. Although you see renderings, it’s not like seeing the thing and saying here we do this, there we do that.”

As Prokopiou recalls: “Every evening we had an hour-long phone call with Nikolas reviewing all these [details]. This was a pleasure. I think as much as possible in terms of every detail, because I enjoy having such a good response; giving a small idea and then to see it in a drawing the next day – this is a huge advantage and it gives you the courage to do more things. You just say an idea, and then immediately… improved.”

In this way the mast, the swimming pool and the location of the helipad were all edited during the build. The method may ultimately have worked but he also reflects with frankness on the scope of the conversion.“In hindsight we should have started from scratch given the scale of the rebuild. [It] would have been simpler, faster and cheaper,” Prokopiou says.

The team’s efforts were aimed at some clearly defined goals. For the exterior design, says Vafiadis, “he wanted a classic style and he liked the look of something between a yacht and a ship. He didn’t want anything contemporary.” As Dendrinos puts it: “He wanted to have a classic nautical feel.” In terms of lifestyle, Prokopiou wanted plenty of cabins for family and guests, but also office space for himself and his colleagues, and excellent communications so that they could work effectively – this had to be a yacht he could live on. “The boat is made in a way that several groups of people can enjoy it without interfering one with the other,” says Vafiadis. “There can be a family group on one side of the boat and business people can be on the other.”

Another feature on the list was a quiet and vibration-free interior “even when sailing at full speed in bad weather”. To this end, Dendrinos installed huge volumes of insulation as well as floating walls and ceilings. Also requested were iPad controls (these are everywhere, even in guest cabins) and easy access to the sea for swimming, diving and watersports. For this, as well as a dive store and space to keep rugged tenders and the overhead cranes to launch them, there is a 42-square-metre, 12-tonne stern door that opens on to the sea. There’s also dynamic positioning for dives in protected areas where you can’t drop anchor.

More unusually, Prokopiou requested opening windows throughout, so that a natural breeze rather than air con could ventilate the boat in warm weather. In response, there are 66 opening portholes, 20 manually opening windows and 112 electrically opening windows, 500 kilograms each, 60 millimetres thick, custom made in Germany by Fehrmann and (the electric ones) controlled by iPads integrated to the “infotainment” system by VBH. “I think we have overdone it – in the toilet, instead of four windows opening, one would have been enough!” says the owner. To meet class safety requirements, all the windows are controlled by the Kongsberg Alarm Control and Monitoring System, which monitors them individually. Proximity switches tell it which are open, and they can be closed or locked automatically from the wheelhouse if necessary.

But first and foremost Prokopiou required a large and comfortable living space with balanced design – not too much of a problem with 4,702 gross tonnes to play with and the owner’s wife, Alexandra, on hand for decor selections. The request was for formality, but Ciarmoli and Queda steered away from dark woods. “I said, ‘OK, if you want formality why don’t we think about Marie Antoinette and Versailles.’”

Dream  is no confection: their interpretation of this style focuses on decorative wood panelling as well as delicate blue tones and acres of shagreen (invented by Jean-Claude Galluchat for Madame de Pompadour). It’s elegant and restrained – they cite minimalist master Jean-Michel Frank as an influence. But there are also nautical flights of fancy: in trompe l’oeil mosaics of sea creatures, or the insides of lifts decorated to feel as if you’ve dived into the blue.The vast array of spaces that Prokopiou and designers created are uniformly astonishing in scale and detail.

The more unusual ones include an intimate dining saloon set up around a central grill for teppanyaki and decorated in black and red lacquer like a glossy bento box; an owner’s deck that sprawls through a private dining room, office, steam bath, al fresco spa pool, cabins for immediate family and a lot more; VIP cabins in aqua tones with their own drinks cabinets and baths, and which open directly on to broad side decks; a main saloon centred with a ceiling light feature “like an oyster pearl”, says Ciarmoli, above powder-blue upholstery, which flows around to a mirrored bar and ceiling lights that recall abstract fishing nets. Further forward, the towering, multi-deck atrium in marble and glass is the architectural equivalent of a jewellery box, displaying the boat’s grand scale to spectacular effect.

Supporting all this is some serious tech. The wheelhouse has been rebuilt with an integrated bridge that allows the captain to watch and control the engine room and all systems, as well as monitor CCTV and night vision cameras. There’s also a sophisticated cruise-ship-style fire alarm system with a display to show the status of fire doors and temperature of all areas – and there are vertical escape routes from all compartments. “[Below decks] we stripped the engine room and rebuilt the engines and the generators. We have very good engines and generators,” says Dendrinos.

Aside from that, as he puts it, “everything you see on the GA is new”, and the bow, stern and all of the superstructure are new steel constructions. Under the waterline are controllable pitch propellers with independent rudders, a bow thruster and zero speed stabilisers – all super-sized, since  Dream  is one big boat.

Unusually for an owner, Prokopiou is also excited by the least glamorous kit on board. “It is interesting to see the kitchen, the refrigerators, because this is the heart of any ship. I have been to tankers, bulk carriers and LNG carriers, so I have seen a lot of the shipyards,” he says. But his favourite space on board? “The diving centre with all its toys and diving gear,” he says. “I like this space because it opens up to the sea and provides the perfect place for enjoying swimming, diving and watersports. It is the centre of the boat during the summer months.”

It’s easy to imagine Prokopiou whiling away an afternoon here, rightfully satisfied with the superyacht that he has created in his very own way. Perhaps he might even spot a small boy in a little dinghy in the distance, conceiving his own dream.

Dream won a World Superyacht Award in 2019 . Click below to register for the 2020 virtual World Superyacht Award ceremony, which will take place on Friday, November 13.

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MS Dream Charming

Former names: ms dream, ms charming, sea princess, charming princess.

Cruise line Tianjin Orient Cruise Line China (Small Cruise Lines)

MS Dream Charming current position

MS Dream Charming current location is at East Asia (coordinates 33.65030 N / 130.29980 E) cruising at speed of 16 kn (30 km/h | 18 mph) en route to S.KOREA. The AIS position was reported 9 minutes ago.

Specifications of MS Dream Charming

•   Review
•   Wiki

MS Dream Charming Review

Review of ms dream charming.

The 1998-built (as "Sea Princess") cruise ship MS Dream (fka MS Charming) is the third SUN-class Princess Cruises vessel - with sisterships Dawn Princess (now Pacific Explorer) and Sun Princess (now Pacific World) . MS Dream Charming is currently operated under charter by the China-based Tianjin Orient International Cruise Line (in 2023 rebranded from Foresee Cruises). The shipowner is Sanya International Cruise Development Company.

The vessel (IMO number 9150913) is currently Liberia- flagged (MMSI 636020325) and registered in Monrovia . For Princess Cruises, Sea Princess was Bermuda-flagged (MMSI 310465000) and registered in Hamilton .

Sea Princess' last drydock refurbishment was in 2017. In 2023, the vessel was extensively drydock refurbished at Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard Co Ltd (in Zhoushan China ).

In mid-September 2020, Princess Cruises sold Sea Princess which leaves the fleet in 2021. Also sold was Sun Princess (now Pacific World) - chartered to Peace Boat (Japan). The new shipowner of Sea Princess remains unknown - for now.

• A total of 44x Sea Princess cruises were canceled - departures on itineraries planned for the period December 23, 2020, through November 9, 2021. The ship was planned for deployment in Australia-New Zealand, plus a 109-day " World Cruise 2021" offered as a roundtrip from Sydney NSW, Brisbane QLD and Auckland NZ.
• On October 5, the vessel left Port Klang Malaysia en route to Manila Philippines .

History - construction and ownership

In mid-November 2020, the cruise ship management company V.Ships Leisure Ltd officially announced that they had assisted with Sea Princess' handover to its new Chinese shipowner - "CCCC Ocean Investment Holding Co Ltd" (part of "China Communications Construction Company Ltd") via its subsidiary "Sanya International Cruise Development Co Ltd".

Sea Princess was renamed to "MS Charming" and started passenger shipping operations in 2021 February under the new Chinese brand "Foresee Cruises". In 2016, China Communications Construction Co Ltd announced plans to acquire 5 to 8 cruise ships (newbuilds and second-hand) and serve exclusively China's market.

In mid-June 2020, Carnival Corporation (shipowner) announced that intends to sell 13 ships in FY2020 - instead of the previously expected global fleet optimization planned over the next 3-5 years. In mid-September, Carnival increased the number of its ships for sale to 18 (some were scrapped ).

In January 2023, the vessel was once again renamed - from CHARMING to DREAM, but its MMSI/Monrovia registry remained the same.

The 1950-passenger ship Sea Princess/MS Dream features middle-size style and more classical facilities that make her a good choice for cruise guests who like to feel they are onboard of an ocean-going cruise liner rather than a theme park at sea.

For the loyal British travelers, Sea Princess was comfortable, with a home-like feeling, and popular for its scenic Vista Lounge, classical afternoon teas, delicious steak-and-chips dinners (both in the pay-per-use Steakhouse and in the no-extra-fee major dining venues), BBC TV dramas and UK-focused entertainment program. This was a real achievement for the Carnival Croporation's Princess brand which traditionally caters mainly to Americans.

Decks and Cabins

Most Sea Princess staterooms (1008 total, in 27 categories) are 145-ft2 sized Inside cabins (396). Almost 80% of the ship's outside cabins have private step-out balconies. There are 19 wheelchair-accessible (ADA) staterooms designed for passengers with disabilities. The largest are the Balcony Suites (470 ft2).

The boat has 15 decks , of which 11 are passenger-accessible and 7 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The Rigoletto and Traviata Dining Rooms are virtually identical, differing only in their decor color. Both rooms contain etched glass panels and lovely wood, creating a feeling of intimate dining. The food preparation is of very good quality, beautifully presented and varied. Vegetarian selections are excellent, desserts - superb. A good selection of healthy items is provided every night. The waiters are friendly and helpful. The popular dining venue, Horizon Court, is open 24 hours a day. Horizon Court is situated one deck above the swimming area. The buffet is tiny by new-ship standards but offers excellent breakfast options from 4 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., along with an abundance of fruits and bread, and European specialties.

Follows the complete list of Sea Princess restaurants and food bars.

• Rigoletto Restaurant (dinner only, aft Dining Room, with 2 fixed seatings - 5:30 and 7:45 p.m.)
• Traviata Restaurant (aft Dining Room open for Breakfast 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 a.m., Lunch 12 p.m. - 1 p.m., Afternoon Tea 3:30 p.m. -4:30 p.m., with 2 fixed Dinner seatings- at 5:45 p.m. or 7:45 p.m.)
• Cafe Corniche (Italian Pizzeria, complimentary)
• Horizon Court (self-service buffet restaurant, complimentary)
• Sterling Steakhouse (specialty restaurant)
• Riviera Grill Bar (fast food bar, complimentary).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Sea Princess daytime offerings include all the cruise standards: trivia, art auctions, board and card games, and cocktail-making demos. However, Princess also provides a variety of themed "@Sea" events. Computers@Sea is the main, teaching photo editing, beginning computer and even movie making. Common Interest@Sea features social get-togethers by profession, interests or lifestyle. Ballroom@Sea classes teach passengers to dance. Scholarship@Sea offers educational lectures on diverse topics as astronomy, destination information, bridge play. There are also @Sea events for games, ceramics, scrapbooking and book discussions. A special offering is Sea's Ultimate Ship Tour, taking guests behind the scenes onboard to places like the bridge, galley, backstage of the theatre, funnel and engine control room. The 3-hour tour costs AUD175 and participants receive a luxurious bathrobe, personalized stationery, official chef's jacket and a framed photo with the captain.

Follows the complete list of Sea Princess lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• The Grand Piazza Atrium (4-deck open floor area; features live performances entertainment and lobby Bar Piazza)
• Explores Bar (offers specialty coffees, desserts, pastries, wines, liquors)
• Atrium Boutiques (Latitudes Shop)
• Art Gallery; Photo Gallery & Shop; Platinum Studio
• Internet Cafe (24-hour), Card Room
• Princess Sea Theatre (musical and show productions; hosts workshops, seminars, game shows)
• Razzmatazz Disco & Nightclub
• Princess Sea Monte Carlo Casino
• Atrium Lounge; Vista Lounge & Bar
• Wheelhouse Bar (piano bar during the day and an English pub nightly)
• Premier Cru Bar (wine bar); Sundaes Bar; Seaview Bar
• Oasis Spa complex; Beauty Salon; Fitness Center (with Aerobics Studio)
• Movies Under the Stars (LED screen outdoor cinema)
• Video Games Arcade; Teen Center; Youth Center with Paddling Pool and outdoor playing areas
• The Sanctuary (adult-only open-air area); Riviera Pool area
• Sports Court (volleyball, basketball, European football); Shuffleboard, Golf Net; Princess Links mini golf course.

Sea Princess 2017 refurbishment review

The list of deck plan changes following the ship's 16-day long drydock refurbishment in 2017 (October 21-November 5, done in Singapore ) includes:

• All passenger cabins received new bedding (all beds were replaced with Princess Luxury Bed).
• A new cabin category ("Club Class Mini Suite") was introduced.
• New (larger) outdoor screen "Movies under the Stars" was installed
• Theater Lounge's evening program was upgraded with a new evening production show (the musical "Encore") and a new singing competition show ("The Voice of the Ocean") with live band music performances. The ship's Theatre was outfitted with a LED wall (sized 15x5 m / 49x16 ft) allowing dynamic media projection that enhances the evening shows.
• The ship's kids and teen lounges (part of "Camp Discovery") were renovated and updated via a partnership with Discovery Channel (as part of Princess Cruises' complimentary onboard children program "Discovery at Sea").
• Cafe Corniche (deck 9) menu was updated by adding new classic Italian dishes.
• Wheelhouse Bar (deck 7) was re-decorated and its menu updated.

Itineraries

MS Dream's itinerary program started in July 2023 and is based on homeporting in Tianjin/Beijing , where the ship arrived on July 8th.

(Sea Princess) For Princess Cruises, the ship's itinerary program was based on Australia and New Zealand voyages departing from homeports Sydney NSW , Fremantle-Perth and Brisbane QLD . The ship also operated roundtrip World Cruises leaving from Australia to Asia and Europe.

With Sea Princess, Princess Cruises had its longest (106-night) world cruise departing from Sydney Australia on June 5, 2018. The itinerary included 40 port destinations in 27 countries, including maiden ports in Greenland and Canada. The voyage marked the company's 10th anniversary of around-the-world cruising.

For Sea Princess' last itineraries (planned for 2021 - all canceled) see the ship's Wiki-section .

Photos of MS Dream Charming

MS Dream Charming ship related cruise news

China's Port Tianjin welcomes first international cruise ship in 3 years

On Saturday, July 8th, the cruise ship Dream Charming (Liberia-flagged) arrived at Port Tianjin (North China). This is the first international...

Former Sea Princess cruise ship officially renamed to “MS Charming”

The former Princess Cruises' ship Sea Princess received a new hull art and was officially renamed to “MS Charming”. The vessel completed...

Sea Princess becomes MS Charming - China's second large cruise ship

China is currently preparing to launch its second domestic cruise ship operation with a newly acquired large liner. The handover of the former Sea...

Princess Cruises sold the sisterships Sea Princess and Sun Princess

Princess Cruises sold two of its ships as part of Carnival Corporation's plan to sell 18 liners from its fleet in 2020 amid the pandemic. In an...

Princess extends cruise suspension through December 15

Carnival Corporation's premium brand Princess Cruises cancelled sailings worldwide through December 15 - with only one exception. According to...

NSW bans all Carnival and P&O Australia ships due to Coronavirus

On April 1, 2020, the NSW Police ordered the cruise liner Pacific Explorer to leave its homeport Sydney NSW. The ship entered Sydney Harbour on April...

Princess Cruises Introduces Epic 108-Day World Cruise 2021

Princess Cruises introduced an epic 2021 world voyage. The cruise line announced details of an unprecedented 108-day journey from Australia that will...

Sea Princess Rescues Sailors in the South Caribbean

Sailing in the south Caribbean, Princess Cruises' ship Sea Princess was asked to carry out a rescue operation by the Marine Rescue Coordination...

Princess Cruises Announced Its Largest Australia & New Zealand Season Ever

Princess Cruises announced that its largest Australia & New Zealand season ever offered sailing to some of the most dramatic destinations in the...

Princess Cruises Unveils Record Adelaide 2020-2021 Summer Season

Princess Cruises revealed plans to operate cruises to and from Adelaide over 2020-2021 summer season, in a move representing the largest ever cruise...

•   show more news

MS Dream Charming Wiki

The Fincantieri Monfalcone -built Sea Princess ship was christened by godmother Lady Caroline McPhail - wife of Sir Bruce McPhail ( P&O Cruises Managing Director). The vessel is from the company's oldest (Sun-class series). Ship's Captain is Tony Ruggero.

Sea Princess (Monfalcone shipyard/hull number 5998) is powered by Wartsila-Sulzer marine diesel engines (model 16ZAV40S) generating total power output 46,6 MW.

Ties between P&O and Princess were made even stronger, when the cruise ship changed ownership to P&O UK and was renamed to Adonia (in December 2002 - January 2003). In May 2005, it was turned back to Princess, taking back the name "Sea Princess". Godmother of the "old-new" liner this time was the British actress Joanna Lamond Lumley (1946-born).

Sea Princess World Cruise 2015 itinerary was from Australia (leaving out of Sydney AU , on a round-trip westbound route). It visited ports in Asia, Europe (Mediterranean and UK), Suez Canal transition , Transatlantic crossing (Europe to USA and Caribbean), followed by a Panama Canal transit .

World Cruise 2016 itinerary (66 days, July 6 through August 28) started from Southampton England and ended in Sydney NSW Australia (Transatlantic crossing, Panama Canal transition), visiting ports in North America, Caribbean and South America. The Princess Cruises' ever longest World Voyage was also marked by the biggest drug bust on a cruise ship ever. Upon disembarkation in Sydney Harbor, the Australian police found 95 kilos of cocaine in the suitcases of 3 cruise passengers ( CruiseMapper news link ).

In 2017, Sea Princess became company's ever-first ship circumnavigating South America roundtrip from Australia. The unique itinerary visited 28 ports in 18 countries and included overnights in Lima Peru , Buenos Aires Argentina and Rio de Janeiro Brazil (during Carnivale 2017). The 84-night "Circle South America" cruise was offered from 3 departure ports - Brisbane AU , Auckland NZ or Sydney AU , and departed in January 2017 (left Sydney NSW on Jan 11).

In 2018, Sea Princess had scheduled the company's longest (106-night) world cruise departing from Sydney Australia on June 5, 2018. The itinerary included 40 ports in 27 countries. This also marked Princess Cruises' 10th anniversary of around-the-world cruising.

In September 2020, Sea Princess was sold by Carnival Corporation (shipowner). During its Princess Cruises service, the vessel (IMO number 9150913) was Bermuda- flagged (MMSI number 310465000) and registered in Hamilton .

The cruise vessel was last drydock-refurbished in 2023 (February-April). The 2-month drydocking project (conducted by Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard Co Ltd Shipyard in Zhoushan China ) included major refitting (including extensive steel works, painting/new livery, machinery overhaul, electrical repairs, lifesaving equipment, fire-fighting system) and full renovation of public areas and staterooms.

Sea Princess refurbishment 2017 review

The list of deckplan changes following Sea Princess' 16-day drydock refurbishment in 2017 (October 21-November 5, done in Singapore ) included:

• All passenger cabins received new bedding (all beds were replaced with Princess Luxury Beds developed by Dr Michael Breus).
• A new cabin category ("Club Class Mini Suite") was introduced.
• New (larger) outdoor sreen "Movies under the Stars" was installed
• Theater Lounge's evening program was upgraded with a new evening production show (the musical "Encore" choreographed by Danny Teeson) and a new singing competition show ("The Voice of the Ocean") with live band music performances, interactive in-show experience and the rotating chairs. The ship's Theatre was outfitted with a LED wall (sized 15x5 m / 49x16 ft) allowing dynamic media projection that enhances the evening shows.
• The ship's kids and teen lounges (part of "Camp Discovery") were renovated and updated via partnership with Discovery Channel (as part of Princess Cruises' complimentary onboard children program "Discovery at Sea").
• Wheelhouse Bar (deck 7) was redecorated and its menu was updated.

On September 11-25, 2009, the vessel was  drydocked  in  San Francisco California (at Pier 70). The rudders, thrusters and propellers were refurbished, as well as some public places. For instance, The Sanctuary replaced the Splash Pool and the outdoor space (at the bow side above Horizon Court Buffet) was turned into an Oasis of tranquillity.

The drydocking process was shot by a National Geographic team in its series "World's Toughest Fixes".

Sea Princess itineraries 2021 (CANCELED)

Next are listed some of the cruise ship's itineraries scheduled for 2021 but canceled as the vessel changed ownership and left the Princess fleet . Prices listed are in USD per person (double occupancy Inside cabin rates).

( first departure following the COVID-related suspension) 15-day Indonesia ($1300)

4-day "Western Australia Getaway" ($390)

26-day "Southeast Asia Grand Adventure" ($2580)

11-day repositioning from Fremantle to Sydney ($1080)

28-day "Round Australia" ($3090)

10-day "Queensland" ($850)

15-day "Papua New Guinea" ($1350), 14-day "Fiji" ($1170), 35-day "Hawaii, Tahiti, South Pacific" ($4150)

Tolyatti: A Russian Homage To Italy

This is the curious story of a Russian city named after an Italian politician, Palmiro Togliatti.

“Togliatti” by Shine Phantom is licensed under CC BY 2.0

This is the curious story of a russian city named after an italian politician, palmiro togliatti.

There are cities which were made great by men, and men which have been made great by a city. This is the case of Palmiro Togliatti — a founding member and the longest serving secretary of the Italian Communist Party — and a Russian city located in Samara Oblast, known as Stavropol on Volga until 1964, which was then renamed Tolyatti, becoming the greatest tribute in the world to an Italian politician. The city of Tolyatti was named after him immediately after his death in Yalta — a seaside town in the then Soviet Union — on August 21st, 1964, as a result of a sudden stroke and cerebral bleed. He was on vacation, on his way to give his support for Brezhnev as Khrushchev’s successor.

Who was Palmiro Togliatti?

If you happen to travel around Italy, you may have noticed that in every Italian city — however big or small — there is a street named after Palmiro Togliatti. That’s because Togliatti was not just the charismatic secretary and one of the founders of the Italian Communist Party, but a legendary figure of Italian and international politics. He started his political career before World War I, joining the Italian Socialist Party in 1914, then serving as a volunteer, and returning home to Turin after being injured. During this period he learned about the Russian Revolution and became fascinated, wanting to bring soviet ideas to Italy. He became a founder of the Communist Party of Italy, which was a part of Communists International (Comintern). In fact, after the end of Fascism — during which he spent almost 17 years in Moscow, becoming one of the highest representatives of the Comintern with the blessing of Stalin — he came back to Italy as Deputy Prime Minister until 1945 and taking part in the Constituent Assembly until 1948, writing the current constitution of the Italian Republic. Under his political and intellectual leadership — enough to be nicknamed ‘The Best ’ — the Italian Communist Party would become the largest non-ruling party in Europe and the second in Italy, after the Christian Democracy, which was consistently the most popular Italian party until 1992, when the Cold War ended and the danger of a ‘ Soviet ’ turning point in Italy was warded off.

Nevertheless, the Communist Party ruled by Togliatti had a big influence in Italian society, especially regarding culture, and achieved great results in local elections within particular regions of Italy. Togliatti chose to become a Soviet Union citizen in 1930, in fact giving up Italian citizenship. What may have seemed like complete devotion to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and its General Secretary Joseph Stalin, clashes with his next choice of refusing the head of the Communist Information Bureau proposed by Stalin himself in 1951, preferring to remain General Secretary of the Italian Communist Party. Throughout his career he supported his communist beliefs but fought to bring them to his beloved home country of Italy. Palmiro Togliatti wanted to fulfill his dream of a communist plan through democracy: the original ‘ Italian way to Socialism’.

Tolyatti, the Russian city

The Russian homage to Palmiro Togliatti was not chosen at random. In fact, a significant city was named after him: Stavropol on Volga became Tolyatti ( Togliatti Russianized) because right there — on the banks of Volga river — the Italian politician had a key role in building the popular AvtoVAZ factory, the manufacturer of the Lada car brand. And thus, in the 1960s, through cooperation with FIAT , the city took a new shape and a new name, because the old Stavropol on Volga was also covered by the Kuybyshev Hydroelectric Station. This infrastruscture was crucial for the development of a large industry. Therefore Tolyatti — just like what happened in Italy with Turin — became the working-class city par excellence, and the Communist Party of the Soviet Union made it a great vehicle for propaganda and experimentation. Many facilities were built, especially for sports, and new parks and monuments emerged in Tolyatti, which were made to represent the perfect Soviet city for the perfect Soviet citizen.

Not surprisingly, many popular athletes grew up in Tolyatti, such as the Olympic champion Alexei Nemov and the former ice hockey players Alexei Kovalev, Ilya Bryzgalov, Viktor Kozlov and Alexei Emelin. As you might imagine, ice hockey is very popular around there, and the local club sponsored by Lada is one of the best across Russia. Tolyatti, due to its vast spaces, has several monuments of national interest : Victory Park, a memorial dedicated to the Soviet victory in World War II built in the Auto Factory district; Liberty Square with its Obelisk of Glory dedicated to the fighters of World War II; the Mourning Angel standing in Central Park, a memorial to victims of political repression built after the end of the Communist era. Also the Transfiguration Cathedral, with its wonderful golden domes, was built after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Tolyatti was also the city where the great Russian painter Ilya Repin stayed for a brief period in 1870, painting his masterpiece ‘ Barge Haulers on the Volga’. The house where he stayed then became a monument.

Last but not least, among the most meaningful monuments of Tolyatti is ‘ Loyalty’. It is a bronze statue dedicated to a faithful dog, called ‘ Kostya’, who survived a car accident in which its owners lost their lives. Like what happened in Japan with Hachiko, Kostya wouldn’t give up, waiting for its owners for seven consecutive years at the same spot. Under the snow and the rain, winter and summer, the dog stayed there, running up to all the passing cars and hoping one day to again see its beloved masters. Only his own death let him abandon his spot, but Tolyatti citizens unanimously wanted to honor the loyalty of Kostya, building a sculpture in his memory. I could say no place was more appropriate than Tolyatti, because the city’s namesake itself represents a great metaphor of loyalty: that of Palmiro Togliatti to the Soviet Union.

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