Read Authentic Ratings for the Blue-Dream-Melody

In a significant development for the maritime industry, the closure of Blue Dream Cruises has led to the sale of two of its prominent vessels, the 'Blue Dream Melody' and 'Blue Dream Star' (IMO: 9183518). The decision to cease operations stems from persistent financial challenges faced by the company. Reports indicate that the Beihai Maritime Court ordered the payment of crew salaries and compensation for shore-based staff following an unpaid fuel bill amounting to approximately $599,000. As Blue Dream Cruises exits the market, interested buyers now have the opportunity to acquire these cruise ships.

On February 11, 2025, the cruise ship 'Blue Dream Melody,' previously operated by Aida, was detained in Beihai, China, amid a dispute regarding unpaid bunker fuel fees. The action was initiated by Island Oil Limited, a fuel supplier that had secured a court order after the vessel defaulted on payments for diesel fuel. In October 2025, the 'Blue Dream Melody' had taken on a significant quantity of high-sulfur fuel oil (HSFO) totaling 391.5 metric tons and 260.1 metric tons of very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO). The lack of payment triggered Island Oil Ltd. to petition the Beihai Maritime Court for the ship's arrest, which the court granted. The ship is now being held at Beihai Port with a required bond of US$599,393 for its release. Furthermore, the court has mandated that Island Oil Ltd. must initiate arbitration or engage in legal proceedings against any involved parties within 30 days. This incident follows Blue Dream Cruises' announcement on January 4, 2025, regarding the temporary suspension of the ship's operations, which they attributed to necessary hardware upgrades and routine maintenance.

Blue Dream Cruises, the Chinese cruise operator, has officially declared that it will halt its operations effective January 4, 2026. The company cited necessary hardware updates and maintenance as the primary reasons for this decision. The cruise line's flagship, the 'Blue Dream Melody'—formerly known as the 'AIDAvita'—is currently docked in Shanghai. This vessel was reintroduced to the Blue Dream Cruises fleet in 2024 following a significant restructuring due to the impacts of the pandemic. Unfortunately, recent booking figures for upcoming cruises to South Korea have fallen short, making profitable operations unfeasible. Originally scheduled itineraries to Japan were abruptly canceled, a trend witnessed by other cruise lines operating in China, leading to a last-minute pivot towards shorter voyages to South Korea in early 2025. The final voyage is set for December 28 and was heavily promoted through various travel agencies just one week prior to departure. Prices for this three-day round trip from Beihai to Halong Bay in Vietnam began at 698 RMB per person, roughly equivalent to $99. Blue Dream Cruises has assured its customers that all reservations will be fully refunded, while also admitting they currently lack information regarding any potential resumption of services in the future.