Disney Cruise Line Joins UOB in Offering Exclusive Deals for Cardholders in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam

Written By: Ricky Acharjee

Ricky Acharjee

I am travel writer at Travel And Tour World with 3 years of experience covering global tourism, aviation, hospitality, and destination news. Dedicated to accurate reporting and compelling storytelling, Ricky explores the trends, innovations, and developments shaping the international travel industry while delivering engaging insights for travellers and industry professionals.

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November 18, 2024 2:53 PM

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UOB revealed a groundbreaking partnership with Disney Cruise Line, becoming the first regional bank to provide exclusive benefits for UOB cardholders in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Starting December 10, 2024, customers can enjoy special privileges when booking Disney Adventure cruise vacations.

UOB has unveiled an exciting three-year collaboration to elevate the travel and entertainment experiences of its retail customer base of over eight million across the region. This initiative reflects UOB’s dedication to offering unique benefits that go beyond traditional banking services. As part of this partnership, UOB cardholders will enjoy exclusive perks when booking Disney Adventure cruise vacations through UOB’s travel partners, including UOB Travel Planners, Klook, Traveloka, and Trip.com.

Public interest in the Disney Adventure cruises has been overwhelming, with over 100,000 inquiries recorded across the four platforms for the debut season. To celebrate the launch of this collaboration, UOB is offering limited-edition Sailors Chip ‘n Dale plushies to all cardholders who book Disney Adventure cruise vacations via its travel partners. Additional details on the specific benefits provided by each partner can be found on their respective websites.

Both new and existing UOB cardholders can look forward to exciting opportunities to win prizes, including the exclusive plushies and Disney Adventure cruise packages, through various activities marking this partnership.

“UOB is thrilled to team up with Disney Cruise Line on our quest to provide cardholders with unique privileges for their Disney Adventure cruise vacations in this first-of-its-kind collaboration in the region. This fits hand in glove with the slate of artistes we have assembled thus far, including the biggest names in Western entertainment, the K-pop scene and Mandopop royalty, the most dramatic theatre productions and hottest music festivals. This is testament to our promise of offering marvellous privileges and access to aspiring ASEAN consumers, to fulfil their myriad lifestyle preferences, and underpinning our strategy to drive growth in our customer base closer towards our 10 million ambition in three years,” said Ms Jacquelyn Tan, Head, Group Personal Financial Services, UOB.

“As Disney Cruise Line brings its magical cruise vacations to Asia for the first time in December 2025, we look forward to welcoming travellers in the region to experience beloved stories and characters from Disney, Pixar and Marvel brought to life,” said Ms Sarah Fox, Vice President and Regional General Manager for Southeast Asia, Disney Cruise Line. “Through this collaboration with UOB, consumers will have even more options to plan and book their Disney Adventure cruise vacations seamlessly. We can’t wait for guests to create exceptional memories with their family and friends onboard the Disney Adventure.”

Travel and Entertainment Drive Growth in Card Spending and Boost the Local Economy

UOB is intensifying efforts to expand its strategic partnerships, enhancing exclusive perks for customers in key categories such as shopping, dining, travel, and the emerging powerhouse—entertainment. The bank has partnered with diverse organizations to deliver priority access to top-tier entertainment events, catering to ASEAN consumers’ preferences while contributing to increased tourism revenue and footfall in Singapore, a burgeoning regional tourism hub. For instance, Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour in Singapore attracted approximately 300,000 fans across six shows in March, while Ed Sheeran’s February concert drew 60,000 attendees. UOB served as the Official Bank Partner for Swift’s tour and was the Regional Presenting Sponsor for Sheeran’s event.

UOB’s robust strategy has paid off, evidenced by a 12% year-on-year increase in card billings during the first nine months of 2024. All core segments—dining, shopping, travel, and entertainment—recorded growth, with travel up by 19% and entertainment rising 13%, outpacing shopping, which grew 10%.

Magical Year-End Campaign Kicks Off

To close the year on a high note, UOB launched its “Let the Magic Begin” campaign at the UOB Plaza Atrium. The event featured Captain Mickey Mouse and Captain Minnie Mouse in a whimsical unveiling, drawing both employees and the public. As part of the campaign, customers stand a chance to win a 3-night Disney Adventure cruise in an Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah, valued at over $2,000, by using UOB cards, depositing funds into UOB accounts, or transacting via the UOB TMRW app. Additionally, the first 1,000 cardholders to spend $2,000 within a 10-day window can redeem limited-edition Disney plushies. The campaign runs through February 5, 2025, with rotating redemption windows for a total of eight unique plush designs.

UOB is also introducing an interactive stamp collection initiative across seven of its Singapore branches. Each branch offers a stamp card inspired by one of the themed areas on the Disney Adventure cruise. Completing the stamp collection entitles customers to prizes such as Disney-themed gift wrappers, calendars, and cabin luggage, as well as an entry into a grand prize draw for a 3-night Disney cruise.

Exclusive Rewards for UOB Cardholders at Jewel Changi Airport

UOB cardholders can enjoy special perks at Jewel Changi Airport’s “The Gift of Disney Cruise Line at Jewel” holiday event. Spending $200 or more at Jewel qualifies cardholders for Disney Cruise Line-themed gift wrap, a $10 voucher, and Canopy Park tickets. These offers, available until January 2, 2025, are part of UOB’s broader initiative to deliver exceptional travel and entertainment experiences across ASEAN.

Singapore’s Cruise Industry Gaining Momentum

UOB’s focus on cruise holidays aligns with the global cruise industry’s upward trajectory. Data from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) highlights a record 31.7 million cruise passengers in 2023, a 7% increase from pre-pandemic levels. Notably, 35% of passengers were under 40, with new-to-cruise travelers comprising 27% of the total, up 12% from previous years. CLIA projects passenger numbers will grow by 25% to nearly 40 million by 2027.

Singapore’s cruise sector mirrors this global growth. Passenger throughput exceeded 2 million in 2023, a 70% jump from the previous year, while cruise ship calls rose 45% to 347. The city-state is also seeing a surge in younger cruise passengers and the return of fly-cruise travelers, bolstered by the revival of air travel. Singapore welcomed 13.6 million international visitors in 2023, more than double the 6.3 million in 2022, marking significant progress toward pre-pandemic levels.

A Look Ahead

As UOB continues to integrate travel and entertainment into its offerings, the bank reinforces its position as a key driver of economic growth in Singapore and beyond, leveraging partnerships and exclusive benefits to deliver exceptional experiences for its customers.