Disney’s new Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel is set to cost $6,000 for a family of four. Disney
Disney’s new Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel is set to cost $6,000 for a family of four. Disney
Disney’s new Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel is set to cost $6,000 for a family of four. Disney
Disney’s new Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel is set to cost $6,000 for a family of four. Disney

Disney’s new Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel to cost $6,000 for two-night stay


Hayley Skirka
  • English
  • Arabic

If you’ve had your hopes pinned on living “a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away”, then your luck is in as Disney is giving Star Wars fans the chance to do exactly that, so long as you don't mind dropping about $6,000 on the experience.

Walt Disney World has announced more details about its hotly anticipated Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, which is set to open in Orlando in 2022, including the inside scoop on how much the “new vacation experience" will cost.

It turns out a visit to another galaxy doesn’t come cheap.

A family of four can expect to pay almost $6,000 for the two-day experience, while families of three are looking at $5,299 and two-person stays start from $4,800.

Included in the price are two nights in a cabin, all food and soft drinks, valet parking and entry to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Those hoping to stay in a Galaxy Class Suite or the two-bedroom Grand Captain’s Suites will have to shell out more.

Star Wars fans hoping to relive their sci-fi fantasies will soon be able to book the two-day immersive adventure conceived by Disney imagineers.

And a visit to the Galactic Starcruiser is set to be no ordinary adventure.

Have breakfast with Obi-Wan Kenobi and try lightsaber training

All guests will get lightsaber training during their two-day stay on the Galactic Starcruiser in Florida. Disney
All guests will get lightsaber training during their two-day stay on the Galactic Starcruiser in Florida. Disney

After arriving at the Walt Disney World Resort terminal, guests will board a launch pod and head off to the Halcyon starcruiser. All 100 cabins and suites come with views of "space", so guests can fall asleep and wake up to the sight of ships, planets and stars floating past on the canvas of the cosmos.

During their stay, guests will be hoping that the force is with them as they embark on individual adventures taking place throughout the galaxy.

Disney has described the experience as “part live immersive theatre, part themed environment, part culinary extravaganza, part real-life role-playing game – and yet so much more".

The experience will also use more advanced technology than any existing Disney attraction to ensure visitors feel they have been transported to the realms of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Han Solo.

As well as in-person interactions with famous Star Wars characters, guests can access special features in the Star Wars: Datapad experience on their mobile devices throughout their stay on the "ship".

The cast of characters on board will include new and familiar faces who will interact with travellers to help them create their very own Star Wars story.

Guests pick their own missions and challenges to help decide their fate, whether that means following the rule of the First Order, joining the Resistance in an undercover plot or simply sitting back to watch the action unfold from a distance. This means that no two visits are likely to be the same.

Star Wars characters will ask passengers to embark on secret missions or create alliances. All guests over the age of 7 will get lightsaber training and everyone will be able to go to the Bridge, where visitors get the chance to take control of the ship's systems and controls.

Visit planet Batuu and feast on galactic cuisine

Guests on Disney's Star Wars: Galactic Starship can expect ‘exotic galactic cuisine’. Disney / TM Lucas Films
Guests on Disney's Star Wars: Galactic Starship can expect ‘exotic galactic cuisine’. Disney / TM Lucas Films

All holidaymakers journeying on the Chandrila Star Line cruiser are invited to don galaxy apparel, with themed outfits available to buy on board for those who forget to pack their Coruscant best.

There’s also an excursion to the remote planet Batuu inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, with stays including one-time access to the Disney World attraction.

Back on the Galactic Starcruiser, there will be droid racing competitions and Sabacc card game lessons, When it comes to dining, the ship will serve an "exotic galactic cuisine", which includes a "taste around the galaxy" dinner inspired by the surrounding planets and a table-service supper club with a special musical appearance by a galactic superstar.

The first Galactic Starcruiser voyages are expected to launch in spring 2022, with Disney due to reveal more details about the experiences in the run-up to the launch.

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

Sleep Well Beast
The National
4AD

Where to donate in the UAE

The Emirates Charity Portal

You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Al Noor Special Needs Centre

You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.

Beit Al Khair Society

Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.

Dar Al Ber Society

Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.

Dubai Cares

Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.

Emirates Airline Foundation

Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.

Emirates Red Crescent

On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.

Gulf for Good

Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.

Noor Dubai Foundation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).

Company%20profile
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FIGHT CARD

From 5.30pm in the following order:

Featherweight

Marcelo Pontes (BRA) v Azouz Anwar (EGY)

Catchweight 90kg

Moustafa Rashid Nada (KSA) v Imad Al Howayeck (LEB)

Welterweight

Mohammed Al Khatib (JOR) v Gimbat Ismailov (RUS)

Flyweight (women)

Lucie Bertaud (FRA) v Kelig Pinson (BEL)

Lightweight

Alexandru Chitoran (BEL) v Regelo Enumerables Jr (PHI)

Catchweight 100kg

Mohamed Ali (EGY) v Marc Vleiger (NED)

Featherweight

James Bishop (AUS) v Mark Valerio (PHI)

Welterweight

Gerson Carvalho (BRA) v Abdelghani Saber (EGY)

Middleweight 

Bakhtiyar Abbasov (AZE) v Igor Litoshik (BLR)

Bantamweight:

Fabio Mello (BRA) v Mark Alcoba (PHI)

Welterweight

Ahmed Labban (LEB) v Magomedsultan Magemedsultanov (RUS)

Bantamweight

Trent Girdham (AUS) v Jayson Margallo (PHI)

Lightweight

Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) v Roman Golovinov (UKR)

Middleweight

Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Steve Kennedy (AUS)

Lightweight

Dan Moret (USA) v Anton Kuivanen (FIN)

Company%20profile
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Tips for job-seekers
  • Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
  • Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.

David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Results

57kg quarter-finals

Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Hamed Al Matari (YEM) by points 3-0.

60kg quarter-finals

Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) beat Hyan Aljmyah (SYR) RSC round 2.

63.5kg quarter-finals

Nouredine Samir (UAE) beat Shamlan A Othman (KUW) by points 3-0.

67kg quarter-finals

Mohammed Mardi (UAE) beat Ahmad Ondash (LBN) by points 2-1.

71kg quarter-finals

Ahmad Bahman (UAE) defeated Lalthasanga Lelhchhun (IND) by points 3-0.

Amine El Moatassime (UAE) beat Seyed Kaveh Safakhaneh (IRI) by points 3-0.

81kg quarter-finals

Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Ahmad Hilal (PLE) by points 3-0

Credits

Produced by: Colour Yellow Productions and Eros Now
Director: Mudassar Aziz
Cast: Sonakshi Sinha, Jimmy Sheirgill, Jassi Gill, Piyush Mishra, Diana Penty, Aparshakti Khurrana
Star rating: 2.5/5

Jawan
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Company%20profile
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J%20Street%20Polling%20Results
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Abdul Jabar Qahraman was meeting supporters in his campaign office in the southern Afghan province of Helmand when a bomb hidden under a sofa exploded on Wednesday.

The blast in the provincial capital Lashkar Gah killed the Afghan election candidate and at least another three people, Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak told reporters. Another three were wounded, while three suspects were detained, he said.

The Taliban – which controls much of Helmand and has vowed to disrupt the October 20 parliamentary elections – claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mr Qahraman was at least the 10th candidate killed so far during the campaign season, and the second from Lashkar Gah this month. Another candidate, Saleh Mohammad Asikzai, was among eight people killed in a suicide attack last week. Most of the slain candidates were murdered in targeted assassinations, including Avtar Singh Khalsa, the first Afghan Sikh to run for the lower house of the parliament.

The same week the Taliban warned candidates to withdraw from the elections. On Wednesday the group issued fresh warnings, calling on educational workers to stop schools from being used as polling centres.

Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
​​​​​​​Penguin Press

The bio

Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district

Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school

Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family

His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people

Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned

Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates

How to play the stock market recovery in 2021?

If you are looking to build your long-term wealth in 2021 and beyond, the stock market is still the best place to do it as equities powered on despite the pandemic.

Investing in individual stocks is not for everyone and most private investors should stick to mutual funds and ETFs, but there are some thrilling opportunities for those who understand the risks.

Peter Garnry, head of equity strategy at Saxo Bank, says the 20 best-performing US and European stocks have delivered an average return year-to-date of 148 per cent, measured in local currency terms.

Online marketplace Etsy was the best performer with a return of 330.6 per cent, followed by communications software company Sinch (315.4 per cent), online supermarket HelloFresh (232.8 per cent) and fuel cells specialist NEL (191.7 per cent).

Mr Garnry says digital companies benefited from the lockdown, while green energy firms flew as efforts to combat climate change were ramped up, helped in part by the European Union’s green deal. 

Electric car company Tesla would be on the list if it had been part of the S&P 500 Index, but it only joined on December 21. “Tesla has become one of the most valuable companies in the world this year as demand for electric vehicles has grown dramatically,” Mr Garnry says.

By contrast, the 20 worst-performing European stocks fell 54 per cent on average, with European banks hit by the economic fallout from the pandemic, while cruise liners and airline stocks suffered due to travel restrictions.

As demand for energy fell, the oil and gas industry had a tough year, too.

Mr Garnry says the biggest story this year was the “absolute crunch” in so-called value stocks, companies that trade at low valuations compared to their earnings and growth potential.

He says they are “heavily tilted towards financials, miners, energy, utilities and industrials, which have all been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic”. “The last year saw these cheap stocks become cheaper and expensive stocks have become more expensive.” 

This has triggered excited talk about the “great value rotation” but Mr Garnry remains sceptical. “We need to see a breakout of interest rates combined with higher inflation before we join the crowd.”

Always remember that past performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Last year’s winners often turn out to be this year’s losers, and vice-versa.

Best Academy: Ajax and Benfica

Best Agent: Jorge Mendes

Best Club : Liverpool   

 Best Coach: Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)  

 Best Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker

 Best Men’s Player: Cristiano Ronaldo

 Best Partnership of the Year Award by SportBusiness: Manchester City and SAP

 Best Referee: Stephanie Frappart

Best Revelation Player: Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid and Portugal)

Best Sporting Director: Andrea Berta (Atletico Madrid)

Best Women's Player:  Lucy Bronze

Best Young Arab Player: Achraf Hakimi

 Kooora – Best Arab Club: Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)

 Kooora – Best Arab Player: Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Nassr FC, Saudi Arabia)

 Player Career Award: Miralem Pjanic and Ryan Giggs

Updated: August 09, 2021, 2:53 PM