genting dream cruise review 2023 singapore

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Cruising Experience with Genting Dream by Dream Cruises

Check out my experience on board with Genting Dream Cruise – what activities you can do, restaurants to try, and list of entertainments including shows and casino!

I did the cruising twice, one was 5D4N Singapore – Surabaya – North Bali – Singapore , the second one was 3D2N cruising from Singapore – Port Klang – Singapore .

When was the last time I did cruising, nearly 18 years ago!

Yep, I was still a little kid at that time.

I could only recall a few things, things that of course a kid would love – swimming pool, circus, and casino.

Wait, casino? How was a kid supposed to know about casino?

Easy, that’s where my parents would go right after me and my siblings fell asleep.

And now, 18 years later, I had a chance to be back on cruise again – this time with Genting Dream Cruise .

So, let’s jump in to my Genting Dream Cruise review!

Getting on Board with Genting Dream Cruise

Entering the port, I saw this big building on distance, and it wasn’t a building.

It’s the ship that I’m going to board, man it’s huge!

The port was busy, with guests from the cruise hopping down on shore to get souvenirs or just to stay on land.

While some other local audiences just hang around the port to marvel this big ship, something that can be rarely seen.

We cleared the registration ( make sure you bring your passport ) and headed up to the room.

I had a double room with a balcony outside . It’s bigger than I thought.

The bed was super comfy, seriously I had perfect sleep throughout the night.

There’s a sofa to lay down when I’m not wearing my pajamas, complete set of sandals and bathrobes, oh and I love their shower gel, smells good.

The little balcony is perfect to chill or to watch sunset.

I’m super ready to explore Genting Dream Cruise!

Eat while you can

One of a friend told me; before you start cruising, measure your weight and after you’re back home, you’ll be surprised!

Now I understand why.

There’s no way to not stuffing yourself with all these yummy food.

With restaurants serving high quality food, ranging from Asian to Western Cuisine, you’ll forget all your dietaries rule and, just feed yourself.

The inclusive restaurants in Genting Dream are Lido Restaurant and Dream Dining Room .

Lido Restaurant serves more varieties of food with buffet style while Dream Dining Room serves Chinese cuisine.

I had my breakfast normally in these restaurants.

The other restaurants that I also tried were the Hotpot, Bistro by Mark Best, Blue Lagoon, and Umi Uma .

If I had to choose one of my favorite restaurants ,  I think I’ll go for Bistro by Mark Best and Umi Uma ( sorry, I can’t decide between these two ).

I think the food at the Bistro is just on another level for fine dining.

The tenderloin steak was soft and juicy with seasoning on point and the mouth-watering matcha mousse just melt when you take a spoon of it.

Thinking of it now makes me regret, why didn’t I order more food?

My other favorite restaurant in Genting Dream Cruise is Umi Uma Restaurant .

You can guess from its name that it’s a Japanese Restaurant, meaning that there’ll be sushi, sashimi, bento, udon ( I love them all!).

The highlight of this restaurant is the teppanyaki performance .

You’ll be sitting around a table with a chef cooking right on your face.

The chefs are very entertaining.

They pull off some fun attractive moves such as singing, juggling, like, spinning the eggs and throw them to the chef’s hat while cooking your food.

I really enjoy the interactions between the chefs and the guests, the atmosphere in the restaurant is full of excitement.

You definitely have to go to Umi Uma.

Read Also: Enjoying Nature at Munduk Moding Plantation

Other activities and entertainments in Genting Dream Cruise

Frankly, I was thinking what could I do inside the ship for such a long time.

But after all the experiences in Genting Dream Cruise, clearly there’s nothing to worry about.

There are so many things to do and you won’t get bored for sure.

Again, the ship is huge. Sometimes I still forgot the direction back to my room.

Let’s have a look what’s inside Genting Dream, shall we?

1. Zodiac Theater

Every night there will be show scheduled in Zodiac Theater.

With shimmering outfits and stage, the talented performers will stun you with their dancing skills and acrobatic movements.

Voyage of the Lovers Dream is a must to watch in Genting Dream Cruise.

The theatrical show will take you to a fantasy world of the unique love story between the mermaid and the astronaut.

Some dances can be powerful, some features remarkable ballet moves. For me it’s a night to remember.

2. The Bridge Tour

See what it’s like to be on a captain seat with the Bridge Tour.

The Bridge is the most important area of the ship where the captain and his officers control and ensure that the ship runs safely on the sea.

The crew, as a guide will explain how to see the numbers on screen telling the depth of the sea, the speed, etc.

You may also have a conversation with the friendly officers.

3. Pool, Water Slide, and Sportplex

Pool and sportplex area always get busy during the day.

There’s always be activities prepared by the crew such as games, aerobic, and many more.

I didn’t try the water slide but I bet it’s gonna be fun.

There’s even a basketball court on the ship! I did the wall-climbing, rope course, and the flying-fox.

The flying-fox is one of my best experience on the ship, it’s nerve-wrecking.

Imagine you’re zip-lining from one end to another with wide open sea below, and it’s like 35 meters high!

4. Crystal Life Fitness and Spa

You may eat a lot but at least gotta burn some calories, agree?

Head to the Crystal Life Fitness Center in Genting Dream Cruise and do some cardio workout or weight-lifting, even better.

Believe me, doing workout facing the sea is not things you can do regularly, except on the cruise-so make it count!

Then you can spoil yourself with the spa treatment, what a life!

5. Bar Hopping!

Need a bit of alcohol intake to make yourself a bit more relax?

Bars are just on every corner of Dream Cruise.

If you’d like to drink while getting your tan line under the sun then Pool Deck Bar or Sun Deck Bar is the place for you.

Champagne lovers? Straight to the Bubbles Champagne Bar .

I prefer the Johnnie Walker House as a fan of whisky ( sounds like an old man, eh ).

Look at this gorgeous Whisky Constellation Wall, offering a comprehensive index of Scotch whisky distilleries.

6. Zouk Club and Zouk Beach Club

Surprisingly, my favorite club, Zouk is inside the Genting Dream.

I was a regular at the Zouk Club Kuala Lumpur and knowing that there’s another Zouk inside the cruise reminds me of that old nights.

The DJs were great, also the lights and lasers are sick, surely meet the Zouk’s standard.

If you wanna chill a bit you can go next door to play bowling or billiard.

Another best moment in the Dream Cruise.

7. Genting Casino

Like my parents, cruising is a fun way to spend your money and bet for your luck in the casino.

Get the chips ready and hit the table, who knows you’ll bring a suitcase of dollars back home.

I don’t really see many tables on board. However, there’re some slot machines that you can play with.

The minimum bet for casino tables in Genting Dream Cruise ranges between SGD 100 – 200 .

For the machines, it shouldn’t cost that much, maybe around SGD 10 .

8. Party and Fireworks

The last night on the ship was full of blast! Everyone’s just dancing and had fun in the main pool deck.

No matter young or old, people just dance to the music and follow the movements by the crew on the stage, like a flashmob.

Looks like everyone enjoying their time, including me.

Before calling it a night, we watched the fireworks on the sea and time for sweet dreams.

Second time with Genting Dream Cruise

Far flung in the middle of the sea, a ship – immensely built and designed to award holiday-seekers with its most luxurious experience – sailed across the Malacca Strait from Singapore to Malaysia.

The art piece on the both sides of the vessel is tastefully crafted to leave a strong impression to anyone who lays eyes on it.

Genting Dream Cruise Singapore , set on its journey to entertain more than 3,000 passengers on board, including myself.

That could be a nice narrative for an intro or trailer of a movie, can you imagine that? haha .

I think I’m trying to hard to put a nice words – which I love to try for learning and practicing my writing.

So, recently I just had a trip with Genting Dream Cruise ( again! ) and I’m very excited to share it with you guys.

As you might have known, this was my second time, as always, it never failed to please me.

My Genting Dream Cruise Singapore Experience: Enroute Singapore – Port Klang – Singapore

The route that I had this time was an easy and fun 3D2N, cruising from Singapore to Port Klang and back to Singapore .

It’s also the most popular since it’s do-able for weekend trip.

Once I arrived at Marina Bay Cruise Centre , the giant ship was waiting calmly before embarking to its destination, Port Klang in Malaysia.

I couldn’t stop myself from admiring, even though it’s not my first time – either Genting Dream Cruise is too good-looking, or maybe I just missed her.

Same procedure, checking-in, clearing the immigration and custom, and lastly getting on board!

I won’t really go into details this time, cause I’ve written about it on my last post.

It’ll be more about my experience and things that I had not experience before, let’s get started!

Privacy at The Palace Suite

One thing that I noticed being in a large cruise ship was, obviously, in contact with a bee-swarm of other passengers who would likely use the facilities provided.

It can be quite overwhelming for those who prefer to enjoy the cruise peacefully.

Elevate your cruising experience by staying in The Palace – part boutique hotel, part private clubhouse – meticulously shaped to ensure absolute comfort.

Indulge in between these four different types of room or suite in The Palace: Palace Suite, Palace Deluxe Suite, Palace Penthouse, and Palace Villa .

An additional benefit for staying at The Palace is the exclusive facilities, privately accessible only for The Palace’s guests including the swimming pool, jacuzzi, gym, even dining area.

On the second day on Genting Dream Cruise, we had a chance to explore the swimming pool area, no one was there.

It might be too early for people to swim at that time but it’s  a good timing for us to hit every corner and get the best angle to capture nice picture.

If only I had the whole day just relaxing, putting all the itineraries prepared for us on the side, I probably could spend the rest of the day swimming and sun-bathing here on this deck.

There are two jacuzzis just right in the front facing the ocean.

The sun, blue sky, ocean, and fancy cruise, couldn’t ask for a better way to enjoy life!

Dine, Spa, and Entertainment in Genting Dream Cruise

One thing I worried the most, and I knew it would be hard for me to handle while I was with Genting Dream Cruise.

Guess what? It’s to hold the temptation to eat all the food served at the restaurants.

Every time I stepped into a restaurant, I needed to remind myself to control my eating, or else all the diet and workouts that I had done would be useless.

You all know what happened next, don’t you? Screw the diet, I’m on holiday!

The sound of clattering spatula hitting the iron plate table jumbled with the sizzling sound of the ingredients.

Occasionally, a gleeful voice shouting in a high pitch jacked up the chaos inside the room, a good chaos.

Umi Uma Restaurant was filled with happiness, laughter, and admiration thanks to the Kungfu Chef.

Here in Uma Umi Restaurant, the food that you order will be made on spot by the chef.

On top of that, with a good sense of humor, the chef entertains everyone as a starter before the food is served and enjoyed.

I ordered the Dream Ocean from the menu, the shrimp and scallop are the rock star, served with fried rice, miso soup, and refreshing salad.

I finished everything to the last bite.

That was my first sin, the second one was lunch at Bistro by Mark Best – which wasn’t so bad in a way – that the portion was still acceptable for my diet.

It’s a fine dining anyway, a small but punching food could take me literally to heaven, cause it’s so yum!

First, they brought us a basket of bread and a plate full of salami and prosciutto.

Next, for the appetizer, a bowl of thick cauliflower soup with a drop of caviar, all the flavor exploded in my mouth!

Then the main came, pan-seared cod  with a special creamy puree and to wrap everything up, a delicate green tea cake.

Meanwhile, when we had a bit of free time, exploring the cruise on our own was the only thing to do, better than staying inside the room.

Deck 16 and 17 were the area in Genting Dream Cruise that we hung around the most.

It’s the open area and for sure, people would love to enjoy the sun and do outdoor activities.

Everything is free to use, from swimming pool, playground, flying fox, basketball court, and outdoor beach club.

I did try a one-hour massage here in Crystal Life Spa .

The appearance of the furniture, decoration, and the choice of color was very nice, soft and relaxing.

Before entering the room, a form was given to me and I could choose which part of my body would get more attention later on, I chose neck and shoulder, my favorite area.

The full body massage began from my back, down to my legs, and ended up with a massage in my head.

It was good, the masseuse was attentive and questioned if the strength was good enough.

I fell asleep not long before the massage finished.

In my previous trip with Genting Dream Cruise, I didn’t get the chance to watch China Got Talent .

That’s why I was very excited to see the show.

It felt like we’re the audience and the judges were projected on big screen, giving comments to the performers. Some acts were thrilling, some were creative.

It goes without saying, all these performers show their best talent to entertain everyone on board.

Go watch them yourself, I don’t wanna be a spoiler!

Sadly, everything has come to an end. Three days were too quick.

I definitely wanna check other routes by Genting Dream Cruise, maybe to Japan, or Thailand.

Or maybe it’s sister cruise, World Dream Cruise, will see!

Thanks for reading my Genting Dream Cruise review.

For more detail about destinations and facilities on board, go check their website!

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16 responses to “Cruising Experience with Genting Dream by Dream Cruises”

luxury travel.. not my league,, but i should try it someday.. 😀

-Traveler Paruh Waktu

Yep, it’s actually a good deal cause almost everything is inclusive

I always wanted to go on a proper cruise. This one looks amazing! Really has plenty to do and the food looks delicious.

Exactly! I didn’t know cruising can be so much fun as well!

amazing attraction ya Vel

Iya seru banget sih. Banyak aktivitas gitu di cruisenya hehe.

Next time full team yah hahaha *ngarep

Aminn hahaa

Vel, you mentioned “casino”. Husband only interested in slots and not table games. Couldn’t get a clear picture on photos I’ve googled . Will be on Genting dream this coming May and would like to know if there are slot machines on board the Genting. Thank you

Hey Janet, there are slots machine don’t worry! Hope you had great time in Genting Dream Cruise!

Hi do you know how much are the table games minimum? Also great write up! Looking Forward to your next blog

Hi Travis, if I’m not mistaken minimum bet is SGD 50 for table. Thanks for visiting and hope you enjoy it!

This is very luxurious. I can only imagine.

pengalaman yang seru, pengin juga main ke singapure, semoga segera punya bekal, sekarang nabung dulu

Thank you for sharing your great experience in cruise casino!

Thanx for the sharing! I’m doing my 1st time cruise this coming weekends to phuket! Cant wait for it,especially the casino! Will bring up the best photos!

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Planning a cruise from Singapore with the fam? Look no further. The Genting Dream has you covered – from kids’ entertainment to a delectable cuisine that will have you experiencing some serious withdrawals upon disembarkation.

Look, I’m not gonna lie. I’ve always been a sceptic when it came to the topic of cruising. “I’m just not that type of traveller” is what I constantly uttered when anybody pitched the idea of boarding a floating resort where you’d be confined within for a week with a bunch of retirees and screaming kids.

Well, folks. Ha. Then I had kids and my life, pretty much, turned upside down. The idea of an onboard kids’ club had me backflipping from joy – I was literally grabbing the next stranger walking past, yelling, “get me on a cruise, there’s a motherflippin’ day care on that ship!” Not to mention, the prospect of not having to cook or clean – legit – brought happy tears to my eyes.

You know those movies with cheesy happy endings where the main character sails off into the sunset? That was (no jokes) me on the Genting Dream cruisin’ off into the horizon. If you’re still a wee bit skeptical – here’s a bunch of solid reasons why cruise holidays are perfect for families .

If you haven’t yet been on a cruise from Singapore, or on any cruise in general, well, I think I’m about to change your mind.

Want to discover more of South East Asia? Take a look below.

• Bali: A Complete Guide to Prices (Accommodation, Attractions & More)
• Vietnam: How Cheap is a Family Holiday?
• Chiang Mai: How much are Living Costs in Thailand?
• 12 Mystical Places in Asia you to put on your Bucket List

So, as you know, I am now a proud supporter of the cruise life. Heck, I’d probably go as far as to say that I’m an addict. “Hi, my name is Tina, and I’m a cruise addict” . Thanks, Dream Cruises , you’ve ruined me (in the best of ways). I’ll just sit here and have withdrawals until I board the next cruise again.

We embarked on our 5-night journey to Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia and Puerto Princesa in the Philippines, staying inside one of the cosy Balcony Staterooms with a king-sized bed so comfy, it was impossible to roll out of. This was the very first time the Genting Dream docked in these destinations, so were mega excited to experience this new route.

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To give you a perspective of the ship’s sheer size – Genting Dream accommodates over 3,300 passengers, boasts over 35 dining and bar concepts, and is even home to a large waterslide park that occupies almost half of the upper outdoor decks. It’s also home to casinos, duty-free shopping, arcades, a bowling alley, Zouk nightclub, a huge theatre, basketball court, mini golf, a rock climbing wall, high ropes courses, karaoke rooms, and most importantly, a kids’ club.

There’s only one word to describe this ship. Astonishing.

Essential Cruise Tips & Genting Dream Must-Knows

Despite this being our first time on a mega cruise, we did learn a few pointers along the way that we thought we’d share to make your experience smooth and seamless.

Check-in and board early.  Our cruise departed at 5pm from Singapore, however, we arrived at Marina Bay Cruise Centre at 12:30pm where staff were already checking in early arrivals. It still took us a good hour and a half to drop off our luggage and make our way through security and customs. Boarding early allows you to enjoy the facilities of the ship before the masses arrive. It’s actually the ideal time to enjoy the pool and slide park, as no one’s really ready to swim on the first day since everyone’s too busy getting coordinated.

PRO TIP: It can take hours for your luggage to arrive in your room. Pack essentials, diapers and anything else needed for kids into a day bag to carry with you.

Download the Dream Cruises app.  This is the handiest way of viewing the Genting Dream itinerary and timetable on-the-go, browse shore excursions, book evening shows, purchase Wi-Fi subscription, check your bill, and view general ship information.

Know the daily activities schedule. Don’t be like us. We were complete noobs the first couple of days and forgot to check the daily schedule until we realised how much fun we were missing out on. The Genting Dream cruise ship is jam-packed with almost 24 hours of entertainment. The daily schedule is available on the Dream Cruises app or you can even view it from the TV in your room. On top of that, the lovely attendants deliver newsletters passenger rooms on the daily, so be sure to skim through it.

Hit the facilities during mealtimes.  I get it. The general train of thought is to get in first when it comes to food. I mean, that’s exactly my mentality when food is involved. Here’s the thing though – everyone feels the same way about food, so you’ll find the pool and all other recreational areas quietest when other passengers are busy chowing down their meals.

Connecting to Wi-Fi costs extra. Although access to the Dream Cruises app doesn’t require Internet, if you’re hooked on Insta (like I am) or simply want to send pics and videos to friends and family back at home to make them jealous, then you’ll need to purchase an Internet plan. You can connect up to 2 devices on the one plan.

Water Park limitations for younger kids. If you’re travelling with kids under 1.4m in height, then keep in mind that it’s likely they won’t be allowed on the bigger slides due to safety reasons. Small children will also require the company of an adult when going down the kids’ slides and when they enter the water park. But, hey. Do what we did. Chuck the little ones into the Little Pandas Kids’ Club and get on those slides yourself.

What to Pack VS What’s Provided

Inside the Genting Dream cruise, you’ll find that many essentials are provided, so you won’t actually have to bring much.

What should I pack for the Genting Dream Cruise?

Sunscreen & After Sun Care. Probably the number one essential to take on a cruise. We tend to get natural sunblock for the kids and SPF 30 water-resistant sunscreen for ourselves. We also packed Aloe Vera Gel to soothe potential sunburns.

Mosquito Repellent. A lot of time will be spent wandering the outside decks and sitting on the balcony (if you booked the Balcony Stateroom) – the chances of getting mosquito bites can be pretty high. We prefer natural bug spray because we can share it as a family and they don’t contain hardcore chemicals.

Motion Sickness Wristband. I was never one to get motion sickness, but I have family members who do and have raved about these Motion Sickness Relief Wristbands that have alleviated nausea and lightheadedness for boat trips, car and plane rides.

Umbrellas . Weather in South East Asia can be pretty unpredictable and you really don’t want to get caught out in a downpour while on a shore excursion. Pack a couple of these compact travel umbrellas for those ‘just in case’ moments.

Day backpack. The Genting Dream cruise ship is gigantic and you really don’t want to run back and forth from your room grabbing things you’ve forgotten. We’re on the Fjallraven backpack bandwagon – we manage to stuff diapers, wipes, sunscreen and our sunnies into this bag.

Swimmers. From the pools and jacuzzis to shore excursions – you’ll 100% need to pack these for a tropical weather cruise.

Light jacket or sweater. We never got cold wandering outside, but we did get chilly roaming in the air con inside the ship. It’s always wise to pack light outerwear, even if you’re in South East Asia.

Sneakers / Runners. You might not be a gym junkie, but you’ll need to bring a pair if you plan on doing the high ropes course or rock climbing.

RELATED: 28 Essentials for your Family Beach Vacation

16 Reasons Why Genting Dream is the Perfect Cruise from Singapore

Our 5-night Singapore to Malaysia cruise (with an additional stop in the Philippines) allowed for us to disembark in Kota Kinabalu and Puerto Princesa to either explore ourselves or jump on a shore excursion with other guests. But, I’ll let you in on a little secret – we hardly ever wanted to get off the ship due to these reasons…

1. Cool Pools & Epic Waterslides

Feeling flushed from the tropical heat? Take a dip in the refreshing waters of the pool and soak in some Vitamin Sea while you’re at it. Or, maybe you’re a bit of a daredevil looking for the next adrenalin rush? Make your way up to the uppermost deck and pick from 5 thrilling slides that are guaranteed to make your heart flutter just a little.

For little water lovers, there’s also a small winding slide and a water playground to climb up and splash around in.

2. Jacuzzis. Need I say more?

Are pools and heart-racing waterslides not your cuppa tea? No worries. Get acquainted with one of the six jacuzzis spread across the pool deck. After all, you can’t say no to cruising off into the sunset sippin’ on your Piña Colada while you’re chillin’ inside bubbly waters. Kids are also allowed inside, so if you’re stuck with your tiny humans but still want to unwind, feel free to bring them into the spa with you.

3. Free Childcare at Little Pandas Kids’ Club

As a parent who hardly gets a moment of peace, I’m going to say that this was the absolute highlight of our cruise. Parents receive 2 hours of free childcare a day per child, once that’s been exceeded, an hourly fee will have to be paid. But, guys. 2 hours of kid-free fun on a cruise ship with endless entertainment and activities is like being permitted entry into Disneyland for grown-ups. It’s heaven on Earth (or sea, I should say).

Little Pandas Kids’ Club is a state-of-the-art childcare centre that’s sparkling clean and features all the entertainment, toys and games little ones could possibly wish for. Drawing tables, game consoles and toys can all be found within. Oh, and there’s even a cinema room lined with comfy bean bags where kids can watch their favourite animated flicks.

READ MORE: 10 Must-Have Kids’ Travel Gear for any Trip

4. Hit up the Arcades

Fancy a round of Dance Revolution or want to get competitive shooting some hoops at the arcades? Then, get over to the arcade for an all-around good time for the whole family. There’s also a smaller arcade in the lower deck more suited for younger children.

5. Lively Evening Shows & All-Day Entertainment

Think nights on a cruise ship are boring and that everyone will be tucked into bed by 9pm? Think again. The Genting Dream show goes on.. Well, into the late hours of the night, at least. We booked ourselves into 2 exciting evening performances – China’s Got Talent and Sonio: A Tale of Two Dreams. Both were outstanding shows that left us and the kids in awe of some of the insane feats the talented cast performed.

You’ll also find entertainment and various performances throughout the day – look out for music performances at Bar 360 or on stage by the pool.

6. Multiple Course Dining, Buffets & 24-hour Snack Bar

The Genting Dream free restaurants include a mega international buffet at The Lido, a scrumptious Western Set Menu in the lower Dream Dining Hall, and a mouthwatering Chinese Set Menu in the upper Dream Dining Hall. Not even gonna fluff this up, we frequented all 3 places and absolutely loved the variety. The international buffet is probably easiest for parents dining with kids, but both set menu restaurants also offer yummy kids’ meals that our little ones loved.

Oh, did I mention that there’s a 24-hour Snack Bar at the pool deck? Well, now you know. This is pretty much where I creeped for the majority of our cruise.

7. Enjoy Blockbuster Movies after a Hard Day Cruisin’

What better way to unwind after an eventful day exploring the Genting Dream ship and all of its fun activities than to kick back to some of the latest blockbusters in the comfort of your own room? You’ll be presented with an exciting selection of the latest Hollywood flicks, international films and family movies to enjoy.

Keep an eye out for movies playing on the big screen inside the lobby at Deck 6 – be sure to check the daily timetable to stay in the loop.

8. Fun Daily Kids’ Activities

If waterslides and the myriad of outdoor activities just aren’t cutting it for the kiddos anymore, then be sure to check the schedule for special kids’ activities that take place daily. Get them in on the sunset foam party held at Zouk Beach Club or have them meet a real-life mermaid (and even learn how to swim like one). There’s an ocean of opportunities onboard – you just have to know the time and place.

9. Bowling & Mini Golf

Yes, you can even challenge your fam to a round of bowling inside the Genting Dream – it’s really that big of a ship. Located within the Zouk Beach Club complex, you’ll find a row of pool tables and a bowling alley for those who want to get their Fred Flintstone on.

There’s also an outdoor Mini Golf course for little putters, ping pong tables and a giant chess set. Feeling bored definitely won’t be part of your vocab onboard the Genting Dream.

10. Basketball & Soccer Court for Sports Enthusiasts

If you’re itching for a ball game, simply head up to the Sportsplex deck to shoot some hoops or kick some goals. We spent most of our non-shore excursion days making attempts at exhausting the kids’ boundless energy levels by making them chase a ball. It worked.. most of the time.

11. High Ropes Course, Zip Line & Rock Climbing

If your Genting Dream itinerary isn’t giving you a sufficient amount of thrills and adrenalin, then head on over to the High Ropes Course to get that heart of yours pumping. The course is exhilarating and crazy fun at the same time – plus – the best part? Once you’ve made it past the most challenging wall climb obstacle, you get to zoom down the zip line hanging over the edge of the ship. That’ll wake you up better than 20 cups of coffee.

Once you’ve survived the sideways wall climb on the High Ropes Course – you’re pretty much an expert, right? So, take it to the next level and exercise your newfound skill on the large rock climbing wall.

12. Did someone say Massage?

Hailed one of the largest beauty and wellness centres at sea – this is one experience you don’t want to forego onboard. Fancy a foot massage? Kick back on one of the ridiculously comfy lounges, check your socials on the tablet mounted on the chair, while your legs and feet get the pampering of their lives. Of course, there’s also a number of full body massages and other treatments you can treat yo’self to, should you want to completely switch off and relax.

MORE INSPIRATION: 12 Mystical Places in Asia to add to your Bucket List

13. Gym with a View of the Endless Seas

If you don’t want to fall out of your fitness routine on the Genting Dream cruise from Singapore, well, you don’t have to. The gym has a killer view to get you motivated for your workout and state-of-the-art equipment. I mean, I’m as lazy as they come, but the panoramic view inside was enough to motivate my butt to get down there and, at the very least, set foot inside.

14. Luxury Brand Duty-Free Shopping

The best thing about shopping onboard a cruise? You’re on international waters, meaning –  duty free . Can I get a “whoop, whoop!”? From Gucci to Cartier, you can ball hard if you’ve got the cash to splash. Tax free, at that.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tina ft. 2 boys & 1 man child (@hangrybynature) on Jun 23, 2019 at 4:11am PDT

15. Unleash your Angelic Voice at Karaoke

Okay, so you might not have an angelic voice, but truth is, nobody really cares after a few beverages 😉 The karaoke rooms are huge and well-designed with a stellar sound system – you could probably squeeze a party of 20 people in one of the rooms. Or, if you’re stuck with kids and unsure of how to entertain them further, throw them into a karaoke room. We’ve done this before and you might be surprised, but we had an absolute ball. No jokes.

16. Shore Excursions for all Types of Travellers

If there’s one thing to splash your cash on, it would have to be shore excursions. Whether you’re an adventure-seeker or city slicker – there are tours to suit all types of travellers. We went on family-friendly shore excursions in Kota Kinabalu and Puerto Princesa and had the opportunity to take part in activities, such as, scuba diving, banana boating and kayaking, which we otherwise wouldn’t have done had we ventured off on our own.

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17. (Bonus) Psst.. It’s a Genting Ship so there is, errherrm, a Casino

There are two levels of punting fun to be had inside the Genting Dream Cruise Casino. We, personally, didn’t have much of a chance to properly explore this space because, well, kids. If casinos are part of how you roll, then you’ll no doubt, have a ball in this fun part of the ship. From rows of slot machines to Roulette and Black Jack, you’ll find most of the table games found inside large casinos.

WATCH: 21 Highlights of the Genting Dream

For more on the Genting Dream, special offers and cruise deals,   check the official website .

Final Words on our Singapore to Malaysia and Philippines Cruise

If there’s one thing to tick off your South East Asia bucket list, it’s to go on a luxury cruise from Singapore onboard the Genting Dream, or one of the other two ships part of Dream Cruise’s fleet. They also operate the World Dream and Explorer Dream,  both huge, modern and family-friendly ships.

If me having cruise withdrawals after our 5-night journey doesn’t sufficiently express how much of an amazing time we had, then I don’t know how to voice it any better. It was an unforgettable experience for our little family, the facilities were top notch and kept the kids more than entertained throughout the day, and the level of customer service was comparable to that of a 5-star hotel.

Our Genting Cruise Singapore itinerary consisted of the perfect balance of leisure and activities without us and the kids ever being too exhausted from the day’s activities. Even if you were, it’s super easy to retreat to your room for a little shut eye – that’s the beauty of being on a cruise.

From the delectable selection of food to the boundless recreational activities available at your fingertips – we have officially been converted to cruise fanatics.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tina ft. 2 boys & 1 man child (@hangrybynature) on Jun 25, 2019 at 6:34am PDT

Our stay onboard the Genting Dream was sponsored by Dream Cruises . All photos, videos, unforgettable experiences and opinions are, always, our own.

Don’t sail away just yet. Uncover more of South East Asia below:

• Vietnam: How Cheap is it to Travel?
• Chiang Mai: How much are the Living Costs in Thailand?
• 12 Mystical Places in Asia you Must Visit

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21 Highlights Of The Genting Dream Cruise

14 comments.

Wow this Genting Dream cruise looks INSANE! I have never gone on a cruise before, so this is really great beginner’s guide too, about what to expect and what facilities are available. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks so much for reading! It was our first time ever cruising so we didn’t know what to expect.. but damn, were we mindblown.

I realized that the beanbag room is technically for kids, but you can find me there! Hahaha. I normally don’t do many cruises because I find that activities are lacking, especially for the kids in my family, but this one looks like it’s got ample for everyone!

Hahaha! I was alternating between the bean bag movies room and going wrinkly in a jacuzzi.

I’ve never considered a cruise before but this looks like a city on a ship – its incredible!! LOVE The Philippines so much but had no idea you could cruise there, looks like an epic trip!

Haha yes, pretty much. It’s basically a huge floating resort. I need to explore more of the Philippines.. it was amazing for the 1 day we were there.

I am obsessed with cruising… like I need help 😉 I had honestly never heard of this cruise line, but now I want to check them out, especially how they compare to the lines I have already sailed with.

OMG I actually followed one of your cruises from the US to Japan and it looked like THE DREAM. Haha I need therapy as well after experiencing a cruise for the first time.

Oh my! I’m so excited to get into one of the cruise ships. You’re so lucky! Genting Dream Cruise looks fantastic, I’d love to try this one someday.

Thank you! If not having to think about anything except for “which restaurant to eat at today?” or “pool or jacuzzi?” is your kinda travel gig.. then you need to get on a cruise, stat. Haha.

Wow! This looks like a fun way to travel with the family! It still blows my mind how these giant ships float on water haha 🙂

A cruise like this looks like an absolute blast!

– Laura || https://afinnontheloose.com

Hi, your page have been very informative and pretty much convince me to book my first cruise trip! My ship will sailed at 5pm too and my given boarding time is at 3pm. I noticed you went there as early as 12:30pm. Just want to confirm that it’s alright to go that early for check-in and we won’t be force to wait till our given boarding time? As well, I’m confuse with the number of luggage I can carry into the cabin on my own? I don’t want to have my bags check-in and wait till the cruise departs to have all my belongings again. Hope to hear from you soon =)

Hi there! Thanks so much for your kind words and I’m super excited about your first cruise. You’re going to have an amazing time! Yes, we were at the cruise terminal at around 12.30pm but it took us ages to get oriented and find out what we’re supposed to do since it was our very first cruise, so by the time we ended up boarding it was probably 2-2.30pm already. I would definitely recommend going earlier so you don’t get caught in the rush when everyone starts arriving. In terms of luggage, I would take out the essentials you need and keep them on you and then check-in your luggage because your room might not be ready by the time you board, so you don’t want to get stuck lugging your suitcases around. I hope that helps!

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(Genting Dream Cruise) 14 Reasons You Should Board This Cruise Ship

Have you been on the Genting Dream cruise? If you have not, here is a brief introduction to the brand new elevated experience, where you can enjoy sailing on the  19 floors cruise ship!

Genting Dream is one of the 3 cruise tours offered in the Dream Cruises line by Resorts World Cruises of Genting Group. The others are *World Dream and Explorer Dream. This cruise ship with the concept of  “A Resort Cruising at Sea'',  measures  335m in length and 40m in width.  With up to  18 decks  and lots of food and fun activities, you can indulge in all the amenities and comfort while at sea!

*Update: World Dream ceased operation on 2 March 2022 and Explorer Dream was renamed Resorts World One 

However, some of the entertainment and services here are not included in the all-inclusive offerings and require extra charges. So make sure to fatten up your wallet before coming. Without further ado, let’s dive into the  14 reasons you should board the Genting Dream.

Super Huge 

The Genting Dream cruise ship can accommodate up to  3,352 passengers (lower berth) with 1,674 staterooms.  During the day, adrenaline junkies can work out on the decks while kids can play at the playground. At 🌛night, guests can watch performances or up their game by betting on bingo games.

Comfy Rooms

Surprisingly, the smallest rooms on the Genting Dream are  not as small as many of us would expect  (imagine Jack’s room on the Titanic) from a cruise ship. They are comfortable enough for you to move around and stretch out and  can accommodate up to 4 guests at a time.  Plus, each room on the cruise comes with a  private toilet and shower!

There are also  light refreshments  in the form of sachets like ☕coffee and 🍵tea, just in case you are too lazy to go out for a drink.  2 bottles of mineral water  are also provided and will be replenished each day for free (we just love the word “free” don’t we?) 

On top of that, the  pillows and blankets  will give you a hard time 😴waking up. They are  very comfy,  and if you have stayed in any of the Genting Group hotels before, you’ll know. The same pillows and beddings are also used in the Genting Dream.

Cashless Everywhere!

Some of the services, activities and facilities on the Genting Dream are not included in your cruise fee, and you'll have to pay on the cruise ship itself. One good thing is that you can  pay without  💵 cash!  All you need is a card, and you can have access to all facilities on the Genting Dream! This card is printed with your name and acts as your ID card.

You’ll have to carry it with you all the time (except when in your room) so that you can  tap to access the services, activities and facilities on the cruise ship.  You can keep track of how much you’ve spent on the 📺small tv in the room and then pay with your credit/debit card by scanning the QR code provided. Alternatively, you can make your payment at the reception on the 6th floor, but it is pretty obvious which is more convenient.

Halal Certified Food

Genting Dream is the first in the world to be  OIC/SMIIC standard  🧕 halal-friendly certified cruise.  The Lido provides an  extensive range of international cuisines,  and all of them are halal. You can enjoy everything served here as much as you want in a single meal period, for free! This buffet spread also  has a vegetarian section  for all the plant eaters to enjoy.

Never-Ending Eating

One thing about eating all these  free meals on Genting Dream  is that you can only eat at 1 restaurant per meal period. So let’s say you ate at The Lido for lunch, you can’t eat at another free-to-eat restaurant for lunch (unless you pay, of course). You’ll have to wait until it’s dinner time for that.

If you get hungry in between the main meals but don’t want to pay to eat at the specialty restaurants, the  Lido Outdoor Snack Corner  is such a lifesaver! It is a  24-hour free-flow station with snacks  like samosa, 🍟french fries, sausage and fried bee hoon! There are even drinks like 🍵tea, ☕coffee and 🧃juices, in case you want to sip on something other than the mineral water in your room.

Of course, not to forget the  non-halal restaurants  for all the  haram eaters  non-muslims. Free-to-eat meals can be found at the  Dream Dining.  The Dream Dining Room(upper) is dedicated to serving Chinese set meals, whereas the Dream Dining (lower) serves semi-buffet western meals.

Pro-Tip:  Come and queue early to get the sea view table! It is open 10 mins earlier than the allocated time.

Moving Casino on The Sea

Genting Dream is literally a moving 🎲casino on the sea! If you are a  kaki judi,  you are welcome to  test your fortune  with some games of bingo, pull some 🎰slot machines or play some 🀄mahjong. As you are not spending any 💸physical money,  make sure to spend your money wisely and don’t get too greedy!

Family-Friendly Pool & Water Slides

On a hot 🌞sunny day, you can swim in the pool to cool off. There are  shallow pool areas where  👧👦 kids can have a fun time  💦splashing at each other too! For the 👱‍♂️👱‍♀️young uns who prefer something more extreme than mere swimming and dipping in the pool, you guys can try out the  water slides.  There are  6 water slides  with different levels of extremity on the cruise depending on how  adventurous  you are. 

On the other hand, the 🧓 elderly can relax in the jacuzzi  while watching the young people playing at the pool. Are these free? Yes! On Genting Dream, there are 4 jacuzzis around the main pool on Deck 16 MID and 2 jacuzzis at Zouk Beach Club on Deck 17 AFT. 

However, just like any other outdoor activities on the Genting Dream, the  pool and water slides are subject to  ☔ weather changes.  So if you are unable to enjoy these activities, read on to find out what other things you can do on this cruise.

Happy Kids Happy Parents

Besides the shallow pool area, kids can also spend time bouncing here and there at the bouncy playground on Genting Dream.  Kids the age of 2 to 12 can get themselves busy at the Little Dreamers Club.  There are lots of toys for 🧒kids to play with while parents can enjoy the beautiful sea view. This place is free but only for the first 2 hours. Are your kids able to resist the temptation of staying within 2 hours?

Keep-Fit Journey Sailing Smooth

There are  lots of activities here to help you keep   💪fit and healthy  while on the Genting Dream cruise. You can pay for professional fitness classes like pilates, HIIT (step), suspension training, etc or get active for free with activities like jogging (there is a jogging track around the cruise), ⛳mini golf, 🧗‍♀️rock climbing (wall) and many more. Again, like any other  outdoor activities, some of them are subject to weather changes.

Pro-Tip:  Make sure to check the itinerary to see what programs are available for the day.

Endless Activities Throughout The Day

If you are not a very active person and would like to join some less strenuous activities on the cruise, there is an  arcade  as well as  Nintendo Switch games, workshops, family show time  and more. Remember to check the itinerary for the time slot of your desired activities and register in advance.

Spend a Few Hours on The Land

Come on! You are not Davy Jones! Of course, you can  enjoy beautiful sights and eat good food outside of the sea.  It all depends on which tour you book. The cruise ship will  dock at the designated jetty,  and off you go! You are  free to explore the towns,  as long as you return within the given ⌚time. If not, we’re afraid that you’ll have to say 👋bye-bye to the Genting Dream.

If you plan to explore a town that is not in the country you came from, you’ll have to  bring along your passport  and go through the 🛃custom security check before you can leave the 🚢cruise.

At night, you can head to the  Zouk Beach Club  and enjoy the iconic Zouk’s Foam Party! You can 🕺 dance crazily to the funky music in a pool of foam.  There will also be ice cream and drinks for everyone to enjoy. Make sure to register in advance.

The Night is Still Early

Why sleep when there are so many activities that can keep you awake on the cruise? Besides the Zouk Beach Club, there are also 💃dance lessons, 🎤karaoke, 🎳ten-pin bowling, live shows and many more. If you want to just sit around and relax, there is an outdoor cinema on deck 17 AFT, and it’s free!

If you want to up the game to make it more haram, you can head to one of the m any bars and lounges  and order your favourite 🍹cocktail or 🍺beer. Not only that, if you are someone who has an alcohol reservoir in the stomach, you might want to consider taking one of the  bottomless beverage packages.

Shop Til You Drop

There are  many shops on Genting Dream  offering high-end fashion and quality food & supplements from overseas.  Look out for discounts on goods on your itinerary.  You’ll not want to miss out on the good deals and value buys.

Who says you can’t be out in the sea during the monsoon season? Genting Dream is one of your best options to do so. The cruise is so huge that  you won’t feel much  🤢 turbulence.  In fact, many people reportedly felt no difference with being on land. We hope that these  14 reasons you should board on the Genting Dream  are enough to make you want to jump on the cruise right away!

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Genting Dream

Cruise line Resorts World Cruises

Genting Dream current position

Genting Dream current location is at South East Asia (coordinates 1.26725 N / 103.86061 E) cruising en route to PORT KLANG PILOT STN. The AIS position was reported 3 minutes ago.

Specifications of Genting Dream

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Genting Dream Review

Review of genting dream.

The 2016-built MS Genting Dream cruise ship was the first vessel in the fleet of the Chinese premium brand Dream Cruises (Genting Hong Kong/GHK-owned subsidiary company launched in November 2015). One of the world's largest passenger liners , the 151300-GT-ton vessel debuted in November 2016. Its former fleetmates were World Dream/Manara (2017/sistership), Resorts World One (1999-built as SuperStar Virgo, named Explorer Dream after the transfer from Star Cruises in 2019) and the larger Global Dream/Disney Adventure (2020/GLOBAL-class).

The vessel (IMO number 9733105) is currently Bahamas- flagged (MMSI 311000319) and registered in Nassau .

Since May 2022, Genting Dream operates for Resorts World Cruises ( new travel brand ) established by GHK's former owner Lim Kok Thai.

MS Genting Dream's last drydock refurbishment was in 2023 (February 17 through March 1), being previously refurbished in 202 (January). Both drydocking renovation projects were conducted in Singapore (at Sembcorp Marine Admiralty Yard).

History - construction and ownership

In late-April 2022, Asian online media reported that Genting Dream becomes the first liner in the fleet of "Resorts World Cruises" - a Singapore -registered company (incorporated on March 9, 2022) established by Lim Kok Thay (Genting Group/Genting Cruise Lines). Also was reported that Resorts World Cruises is in negotiations with banks and investors to acquire Dream Cruises' other two vessels (Explorer Dream, World Dream).

The company's management team is led by Colin Au (CEO and Executive Director) and Michael Goh (President and International Sales Directors). Resorts World Cruises opened bookings for Genting Dream on May 18, 2022.

The parent company "Resorts World" is a Genting Group-owned subsidiary (Malaysian hospitality and casino franchise) and brand used across all Genting-owned resorts and casinos worldwide. Resorts World has ultra-premium properties (46 total/as of 2022) in Asia (Malaysia's Pahang, Terengganu, Langkawi-Kedah, Singapore's Sentosa Island, Philippines' Newport City-Pasay, Entertainment City-Paranaque, Macau's Nam Vam Lake), also in the USA (Winchester Nevada, Queens NYC, Kiamesha Lake NY, Miami Florida), Bahamas (North Bimini) and Europe (Solihull-Birmingham, England UK).

On May 18, 2022, at a news conference, Resorts World Cruises officially announced that as a "gesture of goodwill" the new company will offer complimentary FCCs/future cruise credits of "equivalent value" to all customers affected by World Dream's cancellations ( cruises to nowhere from Singapore/bookings for voyages scheduled for departure between March 2 and August 31, 2022). The FCCs were valid for the period June 15, 2022, through March 31, 2023, and applicable only to affected World Dream bookings that had not yet received any refund from the original booking source.

According to Colin Au (Resorts World Cruises' CEO and Executive Director, also GHK's former Deputy CEO), as the provisional liquidator couldn't revive the brand (Dream Cruises), they had worked with the Chinese lessors (Genting Dream's shipowner) and had decided to restart operations under the new "Resorts World" brand.

GHK is a global entertainment, hospitality, and leisure company based in Hong Kong . For its new Dream Cruises brand, GHK ordered two custom-built vessels to serve the Asian market, specifically China. GHK's other two cruise market segments were served by separate brands - Crystal Cruises (ultra-luxury) and Star Cruises (contemporary).

On October 7, 2013, Star Cruises announced that GHK signed a shipbuilding agreement with Meyer Werft ( Papenburg Germany ) for the construction of a new vessel for Star Cruises, with scheduled delivery in 2016-Q4. On February 10, 2014, was ordered a sistership, with scheduled delivery in 2017-Q4. Both vessels were with gross tonnage 150,000 GT tons and double-occupancy passenger capacity 3364.

However, later GHK decided to create a new brand (Dream Cruises) and both newbuilds were transferred to the new company. MS Genting World's (later renamed "MS World Dream") steel-cutting ceremony was held on February 9, 2015, at Meyer Werft Papenburg shipyard. MS Genting Dream debuted in November 2016. The sistership World Dream was launched in November 2017. On August 20, 2016, Genting Dream was floated out of the covered building dock 2 at Meyer Werft Papenburg.

Decks and Cabins

MS Genting Dream staterooms (1686 total) accommodate between 3376-3400 passengers served by 2020 crew, meaning a crew-to-guest ratio of 1:1.7, which is the highest in comparison to any Asia Pacific ship. The German-built vessel is also designed with spacious interiors.

~70% of all staterooms are with private step-out balconies, and 100+ cabins are connecting (with adjoining interior doors) making them suitable for families. Suite services include special perks, privileges, professional European butler service.

The largest accommodations are the Dream Grand Villas (sized 224 m2 / 2410 ft2). Other Dream Suite categories Executive (56-80 m2 / 600-860 ft2) and Deluxe (43 m2 / 460 ft2).

"THE PALACE" is a ship-within-ship concept/exclusive complex consisting of 154x premium Palace Suites (sized 37-40 m2 / 400-430 ft2), with exclusive dining and lounge venues/areas, butler service, suite-only perks. The 5-star luxury complex is sized nearly 10,000 m2 (108,000 ft2) and includes The Palace Restaurant, Gym, exclusive sundeck with a swimming pool. The all-inclusive luxury experience features Seafood Buffet (The Palace Restaurant), complimentary Premium Beverage package (in all onboard bars and restaurants), Captain's Welcome Cocktail Party, Crystal Life Cafe (healthy breakfast, vegetarian lunch), dedicated Kids Program (for children 2 to 12 yo), dedicated "Connoisseurs Circle" (enrichment program), complimentary fitness classes, complimentary shore excursions, priority services, specialty dining shipwide.

The boat has 18 decks , of which 14 are passenger-accessible and 10 with cabins.

Note: Deck 15 is actually the ship's "Deck 14". This enumeration is due to the fact that for the Chinese, numbers that include 4 are considered unlucky - similar to the Western practice about the number 13, and the Italians' number 17.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Genting Dream features 35 bars and restaurants, offering a wide choice of dining experiences for her guests. The restaurants offer regional cuisines, with an emphasis on Chinese and Asian dishes, as well as international flavors like Southeast Asian, Japanese, Italian and more. A 610 m wrap-around promenade is a special place for dining and offers seaside dining and lounging from early morning to late evening in various themed venues.

Follows the complete list of Genting Dream restaurants and food bars.

• Genting Dining Room (300 indoor seats) is a complimentary restaurant open for breakfast (7-10 am), lunch (12-noon - 2 pm) and dinner (5-8 pm). Chinese dishes and vegetarian options are always available.
• Dream Dining Room (872 indoor seats / 370 upper & 502 lower level) is a complimentary restaurant open for breakfast (6-9 am), lunch (12-noon - 2 pm) and dinner (5-8 pm). Chinese dishes and vegetarian options are always available.
• The Lido (629 indoor seats, 194 outdoor seats) is a complimentary buffet (self-serve) restaurant open for breakfast (7-10 am), lunch (12-noon - 2 pm) and dinner (5-8 pm). Breakfast options include made-to-order dishes (omelets, pancakes, waffles). Lunch and dinner options also include made-to-order dishes (pasta, salads), fresh-baked pizzas, soups, carving stations (roasts), Asian entrees, vegetarian dishes, separate salad bar, fresh fish (catch of the day), desserts (incl sugar-free items). In November 2018, Dream Cruises introduced on Genting Dream Halal cuisine options, which made the liner currently the only one in Asia with JAKIM Halal food certification (granted by Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia). The Halal food (permissible by the traditional Islamic law) is offered at a dedicated buffet section in the Lido Restaurant. Among the popular dishes are Ayam Madu (honey chicken), Pari Asam Pedas (stingray), Opor Ayam (chicken in coconut milk), Tandoori Kambing (mutton), Gulai Daging Kawah (beef), Tempe Goreng Pedas (fried soya bean cake).
• Silk Road & Cabaret is a Chinese specialty restaurant (144 seats, area 355 m2 / 3.820 ft2, at surcharge, reservations-only) with original dishes created by Asian Chefs, an extensive wine list and an extensive Baiju list. In the evenings (11 pm till late), Silk Road transforms into the Cabaret (show lounge).
• BISTRO by Mark Best (165 indoor seats / Chef's Table has 10 indoor seats) is an a la carte priced restaurant (reservations-only) serving western dishes (international cuisine specialties), fine wines (by the glass), a selection of domestic and international beers, specialty coffees/teas. The BISTRO is open for breakfast (7-10 am), lunch (12-noon - 2 pm) and dinner (5-8 pm).
• BISTRO Chef's Table (10 indoor seats) is part of the Bistro restaurant. This is a Private Table (dining room) available for individual and group booking. Each of the dishes is paired with fine wines. Chef's Table becomes active only when at least 8 passengers book in.
• BISTRO Grill Outdoor (54 outdoor seats) is also part of the Bistro restaurant. The grill is reservations only and opens for lunch (12-noon - 2 pm) and dinner (5-8 pm).
• Umi Uma (44 indoor seats / 42 outdoor seats) is a Japanese cuisine specialty restaurant (at surcharge, reservations required) open for dinner-only - between 5-8 pm.
• Umi Uma Tepanyaki (78 indoor seats) is a live cooking venue where dishes are prepared by the ship's master chefs. The restaurant is at a surcharge and opens for dinner-only - between 5-8 pm.
• Umi Uma Sushi Bar (13 indoor seats) is a specialty restaurant (at surcharge, reservations required) open for lunch (12-noon - 2 pm) and dinner (5-8 pm). The sushi bar offers signature dishes and an extensive Sake menu.
• Lobby Bar (40 seats, open between 7 am - 1 am) serves the lobby area with non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks.
• BreadBox is a bread shop (onboard bakery) / Snacks & Refreshment bar selling fresh-baked gourmet bread, cinnamon rolls, cookies, specialty coffees (Espresso, Latte, Cappucino, Viennese), Tiffin take away menu. BreadBox is open between 10 am - 8 pm.
• Lobby Cafe (7 seats, open between 7 am - 8 pm) is a takeaway cafe bar offering Southeast Asian favorites. To go dishes are in Tiffin boxes.
• Bar 360 (27 seats) offers premium Bourbons, cocktails and other beverages.
• Blue Lagoon (172 seats) is a 24-hour open restaurant (at a surcharge) with an a la carte priced menu and chefs live cooking stations. The restaurant also offers specialty coffees/teas and gourmet desserts (incl ice cream. Blue Lagoon is closed only between 4-5 am.
• Red Lion Pub (75 seats) is an English pub bar serving draft beers, international bottled beers, a variety of pub drinks and snacks, also full pub food menu. The pub is open 24 hours. The lunch menu is served between 12-noon - 2 pm, and dinner menu - between 6-10 pm.
• Johnnie Walker House (first at sea)
• BAR CITY 256 indoor / 177 outdoor seats - total 341) is a lounge complex that includes The Whisky House, Mixt and Bubbles.
• The Whisky House (30 indoor / 47 outdoor seats) offers an impressive selection of top-brand whiskies, exclusive service, whisky tasting courses matched with gourmet meals paired with each vintage. The Whisky House is open between 11 am - 12-midnight. Bookings for special and whisky tasting events are required.
• Mixt (159 indoor / 44 outdoor seats) is a beverages only / cocktail bar with a separate snack menu.
• Bubbles (50 seats) is a premium Champagne bar lounge open between 11 am - 12-midnight.
• Boba Cha (14 outdoor seats) is open between 10 am - 6 pm and offers non-alcoholic beverages.
• Gelateria (20 outdoor seats) is an ice cream bar open between 10 am - 6 pm. The a la carte priced menu has a variety of ice creams, toppings, sherbets, frozen yogurt, fresh strawberries, home-baked cookies.
• Hot Pot (108 seats, open between 5-10 pm) is an outdoor dinner-only restaurant (at surcharge, reservations-only) offering poultry, meat, seafood, and vegetarian dishes.
• Crystal Life Cuisine (61 indoor seats) is a healthy food restaurant (at a surcharge) also offering fresh-squeezed juices for the gym users. Crystal Life Cuisine is open for breakfast (8-9 am), lunch (12-noon - 2 pm) and dinner (5-8 pm), and reservations are required.
• Genting Club (60 indoor seats) is an exclusive (Dream Mansion passengers only) restaurant with an exclusive wine list. Genting Club is open for breakfast (7-10 am), lunch (12-noon - 2 pm) and dinner (5-8 pm). Reservations are required.
• World Grill (258 outdoor seats) is an outdoor complimentary dining venue open for breakfast (7-10 am), lunch (12-noon - 2 pm) and dinner (5-8 pm). Throughout the day, World Grill serves the pool deck with fast food/snacks. In addition to the grilled food, during breakfast and lunchtimes is offered the Lido's menu.
• Pool Deck Bar is open between 7 am - 6 pm and serves with drinks at the swimming pool area. The bar offers cocktails and mocktails and serves a total of 380 outdoor seats plus 330 sunbeds.
• The Living Room (42 indoor seats) is an exclusive (Dream Mansion passengers only) lounge manned by Butlers and open between 7 am - 1 am. The lounge serves complimentary drinks (upon request) and snacks (in the mornings and afternoons).
• Dream Mansion Lounge (31 indoor seats) is an exclusive (Dream Mansion passengers only) lounge open between 7 am - 1 am. It is manned by Butlers and offers complimentary beverages.
• Genting Club Restaurant & Lounge (37 indoor seats) is an exclusive (Dream Mansion passengers only) with an exclusive list of premium wines (offered complimentary by the glass). Genting Club Lounge is open between 7-10 am, 12-noon - 2 pm and 5-8 pm. Here are served various complimentary beverages, including specialty coffees/teas.
• Sun Deck Bar (portside/starboard); Sundeck Bar Portside and Sundeck Bar Starboard have 38 outdoor seats (each) and serve refreshments (incl beer, cocktails, mocktails) between 7 am and 6 pm.
• Dream Mansion Cafe (140 indoor seats) is an exclusive snack and refreshments venue open between 7 am - 1 am.
• The Market is an outdoor venue serving non-alcoholic drinks only.
• Palm Court (101 indoor seats, area 495 m2 / 5.328 ft2) is a premium bar (open between 7 am - 12-midnight) with Afternoon High Tea service (between 2:30-5 pm).
• Function 8 (88 indoor, 26 outdoor seats, area 254 m2 / 2.734 ft2) is open between 10 am – 6 pm and offers non-alcoholic beverages.

In late-July 2020, Dream Cruises debuted (on MS Explorer Dream) the "Flexi-Feast" - a completely customized shipboard dining (food and beverage) concept that allows passengers to choose from more venues. Upon boarding the ship, cruisers receive a set of complimentary dining vouchers which can be used at designated restaurants, as well as OBC (onboard credits) for ordering meals at specialty restaurants, beverages at bars and also for room-service orders.

Genting Dream has the world's first-at-sea "Penfolds Wine Vault" via partnership with the Australian winemaker Penfolds) served by certified wine connoisseurs and offering an array of rare wines and premium vintages from the winery. The Vault's wine list includes unique selections like "Penfolds Bin 170" (celebrating the winemaker’s 170th anniversary) and "Penfolds Grange 2010" (a vintage top-rated by highly respected international critics) and "Penfolds Yattarna" (a special Chardonnay). The unique venue (open between 11 am - 12 midnight) offers food pairing (expert chefs and sommeliers select the finest wines to match the dishes) and also hosts wine-tasting events (reservation-only as part of the cruise brand's onboard enrichment programming.

The exclusive Genting-Penfolds partnership also resulted in the ultra-rare "Penfolds Aevum Imperial Service Ritual" - a distinctive vessel specially handcrafted by Saint-Louis Crystal (European glass- and crystal maker). It is also one of only five in the world. Designed to hold the 2012 Penfolds Grange Imperial in honor of the winemaker's flagship brand and one of the most highly regarded Grange vintages, the Aevum Imperial Service Ritual (hand-blown crystal masterpiece objet d'art) aboard Genting Dream is the only one showcased at sea.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Plenty of recreation venues are available aboard Genting Dream, including multiple pool types, 6 water slides, rope-climbing course, playrooms, card rooms, mahjong, bowling alley, and duty-free shopping. health and wellness facilities include state-of-the-art Western and Asian spas, Health Club, Beauty Salon, Barbershop, and enhance the guest experience.

Among the ship's most popular public spaces are the Zodiac Theater (999-seat main show lounge), numerous food and drink venues, Dream Palace (private clubhouse), Zouk Beach Club, outdoor adventure zone, Crystal Life (Spa and Fitness complex), Bistro (restaurant by Australian chef Mark Best), Johnnie Walker House, Little Pandas Club (kids facilities). The ship is also famous for its state-of-the-art outdoor LED lighting system.

Onboard entertainment features a comprehensive Dreamscape educational and enrichment program, Crystal Life (health and wellness facilities), large (over 1100 m2) duty-free shopping complex, 6-slide waterpark, ropes course, zip-line, the world's first "Johnnie Walker House" at sea, the world's first Penfolds Wine Vault at sea, private board rooms, real-time language translation capability (up to 4 languages) in the Zodiac Theatre for 400 guests.

Other activities include inspirational speeches and wine tasting to enrich passengers' time at sea.

Each Dream Cruises ship offers unique underwater excursions via 2 mini-submarines (underwater craft). They are able to carry cruise passengers deep under the sea while the ship operates in select Asian destinations. Each minisub carries 1 pilot and up to 4 passengers at a time.

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

• Zodiac Theatre (999 indoor seats, area 1.585 m2 / 17.060 ft2, real-time language translation capability / up to 4 languages)
• Tributes (120 indoor / 20 outdoor seats, area 244 m2 / 2.626 ft2) is a live show lounge and bar also hosting specially themed events. The full-service bar offers spirits, cocktails, beers, wines, fresh-made snacks. Tributes Lounge & Bar are open between 10 am - 11:30 pm.
• Zouk (126 indoor seats, area 345 m2 / 3.714 ft2) is the ship's disco nightclub that during the day doubles as a sports bar. It is open between 8 pm - 2 am and features 4 bowling lanes and pool tables, and reservations are required.
• Zouk Beach Club (267 outdoor seats, area 680 m2 / 7.320 ft2) offers cabana seating, swimming pool, a giant LED screen for movies under the stars and for live sporting events, two private outdoor decks. These venues can also be booked for private or corporate events.
• Karaoke (49 indoor seats) is a complex of 5 karaoke singing rooms, open 24 hours, with luxurious furniture, premium alcohol (cognacs, Armagnacs, whiskies, wines), gourmet snacks.
• Star Club; Star Club II; Premium Club; Humidor (smoking-allowed cigar lounge); Mahjong Room (Card Room).
• Crystal Life Asian Spa, Wellness & Fitness
• Le Salon (Beauty Salon/hairdresser, manicure-pedicure)
• The Gentlemen's Barber (barbershop)
• Boutiques (1100 m2 duty-free shopping arcade); The Dream Boutiques
• Boardwalk / Promenade is a 610 m (2000 ft) long wraparound outdoor promenade deck lined with outdoor seating venues.
• Little Pandas Club (kids club with complimentary children programming - Little Dreamers, Mermaid Academy, Astronaut Camp at Sea, dress-up parties)
• Meeting Rooms: Bintan (24 seats, area 40 m2 / 430 ft2), Langkawi (30 seats, area 50 m2 / 538 ft2), Penang (31 seats, area 71 m2 / 764 ft2)
• Kids Aqua Zone. The Waterslide Park has a total of 6 slides, of which 5 are for adults only (tubed) and 1 water slide is for kids only. The adults-only waterslides' entrances are on deck 20 (aft). All slides are free of charge.
• Sun Deck (sunbathing area with loungers)
• Rock Climbing Wall (height 7 m / 24 ft.) is free of charge.
• The Ropes Course attraction offers many outdoor activities and also unique photo opportunities. Part of the course is the Zip Line (length 35 m / 115 ft) available only for adults. The Zip Line is located aft, above the sea and over the portside. For children and teens is available the "Walk the Plank" (also above the sea)
• Mini-Golf Course is a 9-hole putting green course (free of charge).

Sportsplex is a 90-pax multi-sport course (full-size basketball court) also used for playing volleyball and 5-a-side football (soccer).

Resorts World Cruises' Genting Dream itineraries

For Resorts World Cruises, Genting Dream's itinerary program is currently based on homeporting in Singapore (docking at MBCCS-Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore). The liner arrived at MBCCS on May 29th, 2022, and was scheduled to start operations for Resorts World on June 15th (Maiden Voyage out of Singapore).

In early-June 2022, Resorts World announced that the brand's inaugural schedule will include Singapore roundtrips to destinations in Indonesia ( Bintan Island and Barelang Islands/Batam-Rempang-Galang), Malaysia ( Port Klang-Kuala Lumpur City , Port Dickson-Malacca City , Georgetown-Penang Island ), Thailand ( Phuket , Krabi ) and Indonesia (Bali Island's northern coastline).

• The first 2-Night Indonesia "Bintan and Batam Weekend Getaway" departed on July 1, 2022.
• The 3-Night Indonesia and Malaysia "Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Penang" voyages depart on Sundays, while the 2-Night "Kuala Lumpur and Malacca" voyages depart on Wednesdays. 
• The Thailand and Indonesia program started in October 2022.

On July 18, 2022, was inaugurated Genting Dream's homeporting in Port Klang/Kuala Lumpur.

• 2-night roundtrips from Kuala Lumpur (to Singapore) depart on Thursdays/Saturdays
• 3-night roundtrips from Kuala Lumpur (to Penang/Singapore) depart on Mondays.
• Departures from Singapore are on Wednesdays/Fridays/Sundays.
• Since July 22, 2022, are operated cruises-to-nowhere from Singapore (2-night "High Seas Weekend Getaway") departing on Fridays.

Resorts World Cruises' dual homeporting targeted the ~10 million population of Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia) living within a short drive distance of Port Klang. With the Kuala Lumpur Airport located nearby, foreign tourists now have more flexibility in choosing airlines, flights and fares.

Dream Cruises' Genting Dream itineraries

When operated by Dream Cruises, Genting Dream had 3 official homeports - Hong Kong , Sanya and Guangzhou (Nansha Port) . The vessel targeted residents of China's Pearl Delta and Hainan regions, as well as fly-cruisers served by the airports of Guangzhou, Macau, Hong Kong, Sanya, Shenzhen, and Zhuhai.

Genting Dream's itinerary program started with year-round 2-night weekend cruises from Guangzhou-Nansha (departures each Friday) to Hong Kong, and 5-night itineraries (departures each Sunday) to Danang Vietnam , Sanya and Halong Bay Vietnam . The ship also offered 7-night itineraries out of Hong Kong to Guangzhou, Danang, Sanya, Halong Bay, and Shenzhen/Zhuhai. Sanya roundtrip itineraries were 7-night (to Guangzhou, Shenzhen/Zhuhai, Halong Bay, Danang, Hong Kong).

During Summer, the ship also operated 7-night Guangzhou roundtrips to Japan, with 2 seadays followed by Naha (Okinawa Island) and Miyakojima .

In 2018, Genting Dream was homeported in Singapore. Between early December 2017 and late March 2018, the ship operated on a series of 5-night roundtrip itineraries (Sunday departures) combined with 2-night weekend mini-cruises to destinations in Strait of Malacca and the Java Sea. Passengers also had the choice to combine Malacca Strait and the Java Sea voyages into a 12-night B2B cruise , with the option of spending the weekend either onboard or in a Singapore hotel. Between April and October 2018, the ship's schedule had listed destinations in the South China Sea and the Java Sea, visiting ports in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam.

Departing from Singapore from December 3, 2017, thru March 25, 2018:

• 2 Nights Weekend Mini Cruise (departures every Friday)
• 5 Nights Singapore to Kuala Lumpur-Penang-Phuket (departures every Sunday on the odd week)
• 5 Nights Singapore to Surabaya Java -North Bali (departures every Sunday on the even week)
• 12 Night back-to-back cruise with optional Singapore hotel stays instead of the weekend voyage.
• Note: Surabaya's Port Tanjung Perak allows max draft 14 m and has a cruise terminal.

Starting July 6, 2018, Genting Dream includes Pulau Bintan island as call port on 2-night weekend mini-cruise itinerary roundtrip from Singapore. The ship docks directly at Bintan Resorts area. This is an alternative to weekend getaways on which (especially during summer) hotels are most expensive,

For summer 2020 season (April through November) the cruise liner visits some of Southeast Asia's best-known island destinations and ports of call. From homeport Singapore, Genting Dream cruises on 2-3-4-5-night voyages that vary from weekend getaways (2-day mini cruises) to 7-day roundtrips. The longer itineraries target mainly elderly couples, families and groups (exhibitions, incentives, group meetings, business conferences). Ship's special summer voyages (April-November 2020) include:

• 2-night Malacca
• 2-night Port Klang
• 2-night Bintan Island
• 3-night Langkawi - Phuket
• 3-night Penang -Langkawi
• 3-night Penang-Phuket
• 4-night Malacca-Phuket
• 5-night Belitung - Christmas Island
• 5-night Kota Kinabalu - Palawan (Puerto Princessa)
• 5-night Koh Redang- Koh Samui - Laem Chabang
• 5-night Penang-Phuket-Langkawi-Klang

Genting Dream - user reviews and comments

Photos of genting dream.

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Genting Dream Wiki

In January 2017, Dream Cruises announced the inaugural cruise itineraries of their first newbuild Genting Dream. The homeporting in Singapore (starting December 3, 2017) made it the first large-sized cruise ship based there for year-round operations. Genting Dream is the latest generation vessel (Germany-built) and is calling at more than 10 ports in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam during 2018.

The vessel (Meyer Neptun yard/hull number S712) has volume 150695 GT-tons, DWT-deadweight 15370 tons, mx width 44 m (with the bridge wings), max draught 8,6 m. The powerplant is based on MAN B&W marine diesel engines (model 14V48/60B) with combined output 62,4 MW (83680 hp).

Before Resorts World Cruises, the registered shipowner were three Genting Hong Kong Ltd-owned companies (Xiang CR18 HK International Ship Lease Co Ltd, Sea 172 Leasing Co Ltd, Compass Shipping 32 Co Ltd) while the registered operator was GENTING CRUISE LINES.

The vessel's physical construction/assembly officially started on December 4, 2015, with the keel-laying ceremony held at Meyer Werft GmbH's Neptun yard in Papenburg Germany . During the ceremony, a massive keel block (number 2 / one of the ship's all 92 building blocks) was lifted into the dock to officially start the assembly process. GHK's Chairman and CEO Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay laid the traditional "lucky coin" (a good fortune symbol) under the block to bless the new vessel.

The vessel was floated out from drydock on August 20, 2016. Its conveyance (northbound route to North Seas along Ems River) started on September 18, leaving the Papenburg shipyard at around 2 pm. It entered the North Sea waters on Sept 19, at around 6 pm. After the scheduled sea trials, the ship docked in Bremerhaven (at Columbus Cruise Center).

On November 14, 2016, was the christening ceremony held at Guangzhou (Port Nansha) . The ship's godmother is Mrs. Puan Sri Cecilia Lim - wife of Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay. He is Chairman and CEO of GHK (Genting Hong Kong) and second son of Genting Group's founder Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong. The naming ceremony was attended by over 900 distinguished guests, including numerous VIPs (prominent Chinese government officials, top executives from the cruise industry and shipping trade). Among the VIP guests were Cai Zhaolin (Guangzhou's Vice Mayor), Zeng Xiaofeng (Tourism Administration of Guangdong Province's Deputy Director), Chen Hongxian (Guangzhou Port's Chairman), Cai Jinlong (Guangzhou Port's General Manager). The welcome aboard event was held at the ship's Zodiac Theater (999-seat show lounge) led by Thatcher Brown (Dream Cruises' President). Next spoke Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay (GHK's Chairman and CEO). Followed the traditional for China exchange of gifts.

On October 12, 2016, the vessel was officially delivered to Dream Cruises by Meyer Werft in Bremerhaven. Ships' hull art (titled "Voyage of a Lover’s Dream”) is by the Chinese artist Jacky Tsai.

Wartsila Funa was the supplier of the ship's unique external "Dynamic Exterior Lighting" system. The order was placed in 2016-Q1. The innovative lighting system provides stunning visual effects (color, movement, and video) to the vessel's exterior. The technology is based on custom-designed and individually controlled LED RGBW lighting units. Wartsila Funa specializes in audio, video and lighting control design for large land-based public facilities (including theme parks, attractions, museums) and for cruise ships.

Ship's first Captain (Master) was Jukka Silvennoinen.

In late-September 2019, GHK (shipowner) sold Genting Dream (via sale-and-leaseback deal) to a consortium of three Chinese banks. The liner was sold for USD 900 million (~EUR 805 million) or 80% of its current market value (EUR 1,055 billion / USD 1,18 billion). According to a previous filing, as of June 30, 2019, the vessel's unaudited net asset value was ~USD 862,5 million (~EUR 777,3 M). The deal was finalized on January 15, 2020. The liner was immediately bareboat chartered (leased back to GHK) for 12 years, which means it will be purchased back by GHK in 2031.

The vessel's sale and leaseback transaction was with a 4-party consortium of Chinese financial companies - Bocomm Leasing (Bank of Communications Financial Leasing Co Ltd, 2007-founded), CMB Financial Leasing Co Ltd (part of China Merchants Bank), CCB Financial Leasing Corporation Ltd (part of China Construction Bank) and CDB Leasing (China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co Ltd). GHK's Financial advisor was DNB Markets (2003-founded, part of DNB Bank ASA / fka DnB NOR Bank).

Genting Dream refurbishments review

In January 2020, the ship was drydocked for 3 days at Sembcorp Marine Shipyard ( Singapore ) for general maintenance works and technical updates. During the drydock was installed a new dual water hybrid scrubber (exhaust gas cleaning system, supplied by Valmet) and 2 new overboard discharge valves (for the Valmet scrubbers). Maintenance works also included hull cleaning, swimming pools modifications (for reducing the vessel's draft/draught) and equipment tests - conducted by specialists from the companies Wartsila (engines), ABB (propulsion system) and DNV GL (classification society). Refurbishment works / new flooring received the World Buffet (Lido restaurant).

Genting Dream was last drydock refurbished in 2023 (February 17 - March 1) at Singapore's Sembcorp Shipyard. The drydocking was mainly for regular maintenance (technical and class works).

Itineraries 2017-2018

Genting Dream is departing from Singapore between December 3 (2017) and March 25 (2018), operating on the following itinerary routes:

• 2-Night Weekend Cruise (Every Friday)
• 5-Night Singapore-Kuala Lumpur-Penang-Phuket Cruise (Every Sunday on Odd Week)
• 5-Night Singapore-Surabaya-North Bali Cruise (Every Sunday on Even Week)
• 12-Night B2B cruise (back-to-back) combining the above 3 itineraries with the alternative of a land hotel instead of the weekend cruise.

In September 2017, CLIA Australasia (abbrev "Cruise Lines International Association") held its annual "Masters Conference 2017" onboard Genting Dream. The conference sessions were lead by Scott Koepf (motivational speaker) and were focused on the cruise industry's trends and how travel consultants can benefit from the sector’s growth. The annual event is open to consultants with "CLIA Ambassador" level accreditation and employed by CLIA member travel agencies. Masters Conference 2017 commenced in Hong Kong (China) on September 16. All booked travel agents enjoyed 1-night pre-cruise accommodation before boarding the ship for a 5-night cruise to Japan visiting Naha (Okinawa Island) and Miyakojima . Participation fees were included in cruise prices (USD 1880 pp double occupancy/airfare excluded).

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February 2023

What it’s like to go on Shore Excursions with Genting Dream to KL, Penang, & Phuket on a 6D5N Cruise (Review)

By June Wan

Once again, the world is our oyster. Travel lanes are open and there are flights to almost every part of the earth. But if the thought of folding yourself into a standard airline seat induces mental cramps, why not consider a cruise? Even better; say “bye” to those maundering cruises to nowhere that were de rigueur during COVID days, and voyage on a vessel to a destination – or three.

That’s what the child and I did when we were invited to cruise with Genting Dream on its inaugural sailing from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Penang, and Phuket. Genting Dream, which is run by Resorts World Cruises, offers specially curated shore excursions for each port of call. These are run by independent tour operators and can be booked onboard at least 24 hours before.

(See also: SingaporeMotherhood’s first 6D5N cruise on Genting Dream )

KUALA LUMPUR (PORT KLANG)

It is a 45-minute journey from Port Klang jetty to Batu Caves. This limestone outcrop north of Kuala Lumpur consists of three main caves featuring temples and Hindu shrines. A massive gold-painted statue of the Hindu deity Lord Murugan stands guard next to the iconic rainbow steps. Plain-clothed devotees ascending to worship cut a stark contrast against influencers twirling in gauzy skirts for that perfect social media shot. We buy a packet of seeds to feed the pigeons, but there is not enough time to climb the 272 steps and enter the caves to explore.

From here it’s a journey back in time to the 1960s, the golden era of KL’s Chinatown. Lovingly restored and meticulously curated, Kwai Chai Hong is a celebration of chinois nostalgia. Snap a photo with an installation, pose before a mural, and grab a cuppa of ‘gao’ coffee at the nearby Kafei Dian, a retro kopitiam housed in a 109-year-old Pos Malaysia Office building.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Madam Kwans (@madamkwans)

Chop Chop curry pok and we’re back on the bus heading to Petronas Twin Towers for lunch at Madam Kwan’s. This KL foodie institution serves classic Malaysian dishes, and its signature Nasi Lemak has been recommended as the best nasi lemak by the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia. We’re feasting on Nasi Bojari today though, a hefty indulgence of tri-coloured rice, Assam Prawn, Beef Rendang, vegetables, and deep fried chicken drumstick.

We need a walk around the mall to help move the meal down. By the way, the 88-storey Twin Towers is also home to Petrosains, The Discovery Centre. If you have the time, this science and STEM centre is definitely worth a visit with the kids.

Our final stop is the Regent Layered Cake Shop, an old school bakery whose layer cakes that alternate spongy chiffon and silky jelly were named ‘cake of the world’ by CNN Travel. In terms of flavour, pandan is the classic, but they also have corn, yam, a mix of the two, and, when it’s in season, durian.

If “Char Kway Teow” is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “Penang”, it might be a good idea to sign up for a shore excursion and learn more about this Pearl of the Orient. For instance, did you know that there’s a Penang Hill? And that a cool funicular takes you up there? At 833m above sea level, Penang Hill is where you can get breathtaking views of the city, and eat, hike, stay, and visit the UNESCO awarded Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve.

We descend one peak to scale another, this time in the heart of the city, and by less exciting means. Top @ Komtar has a Rainbow Skywalk on Level 68, and an Observatory Deck on Level 65. It’s a touristy thing but the view is spectacular, and there are cute installations to take photos with. The queues to the lifts for each viewing level are slow-moving, something to keep in mind as you will have to factor in time to return to the ship.

It is peak lunch hour when we make it to Lebuh Keng Kwee in George Town and the coffee shop is heaving with customers. There is more waiting to do, this time for our Char Kway Teow and cendol, but the flavours are worth it. We order the oyster omelette and Assam Laksa as well. When it comes to Penang hawker food, resistance is futile.

Of course we get to admire the street art that this UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for. After all, if you went to Penang and didn’t take a photo of the street art, did you even go to Penang?

Genting Dream is the first cruise ship to visit post-pandemic Phuket and the island is ready and waiting. The sun’s rays streak through a cloud mesh as we board our shuttle for our five-minute ride across the sea. Stepping onto the shore, it seems as if the entire island has come out to welcome us. Music is playing. The Governor of Phuket is here. Thai dancers in shiny costumes flow with grace in welcome. Tourism officials shake our hands and present us with specially-sewn tote bags. You win. I have my Baht and am ready to spend, spend, spend! But first…

We head for Phuket Old Town, a vibrant enclave of historic Sino-Portuguese architecture, cafes, museums, and shops. Our first stop is Woo Gallery, a shophouse museum that showcases how Chinese migrants in Phuket lived a 100 years ago. There are antiques and artefacts galore, from priceless glass-blown vases that signify wealth and status by their shape and colour, to ancient gramophones, porcelain, and even a wooden baby rocker.

From there we walk a few doors down to the quaint Bann 92 cafe where a couple of Nonya matriarchs teach us how to cook our Thai Hokkien Mee lunch. We eat in the lush backyard garden, and try our hands at making ang ku kueh. There is time to wander around the very photogenic and Instagrammable Phuket Old Town after this. Later we stop by Pornthip for edible souvenirs, and the Madunan T-Shirt Shop which sells tees at wholesale prices.

The van drops us back at the jetty. We’re free to wander, as long as we return to the ship by 6pm. Should we get a massage? Eat some Thai food? Go to the beach? Do some shopping? There’s enough time to do it all but the sky is darkening and the child – who has been waking up early for three consecutive days – is drooping like a withered daffodil. So we hop onto a shuttle and head back to our home at sea, the Genting Dream.

Shore and Sea on the Genting Dream

Three shore excursions over three consecutive days on a six day, five night cruise is no joke. Call times are at 8am and by the time we make it back to the ship after the excursions it is late afternoon. Hence there is only one full day to take advantage of the ship’s facilities.

To give you an idea:

• Sunday – board Genting Dream in the afternoon
• Monday – Kuala Lumpur
• Tuesday – Penang
• Wednesday – Phuket
• Thursday – At sea
• Friday – Back in Singapore

Of course, it is possible to plan your own shore excursions and return earlier, or skip the shore completely and enjoy a relatively less crowded ship. However the shore excursions are a good idea if you are new to the destination, or prefer to leave the planning in the hands of the experts. It may also be easier if you are cruising with young ones or the elderly.

To be honest, I’d have liked an extra day at sea to decompress and enjoy more of Genting Dream’s facilities (more on them in our first Genting Dream trip report here ), which is what the child and I did whenever we could. The best part? Chilling out at the cabin balcony, watching the sea meet the sky, and knowing that there’s more of this out there for us to enjoy and explore on another cruise, another day.

Genting Dream’s next 6D5N cruise to KL, Penang, and Phuket is on 12 March 2023 (during the March school hols, b tw ) . Three-night cruises from Singapore to Phuket will start in May this year. See the latest deals and book your cruise at https://rwcruises.com/

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February 2023: Eat, Play, Shop & More for Families in Singapore this Month

How Mastering Three Languages Will Help Secure Your Preschooler’s Future Success

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Published on: 2 February 2023

Category: Family Fun

Tagged in: activities , Cruise , Holidays , school holidays

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Cruise to Nowhere: Review of World Dream by Genting’s Dream Cruises

• March 25, 2021
• 7 minute read

Is a Cruise to Nowhere worth it? Absolutely! At under $400 per pax, my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our 4D/3N stay on Genting’s World Dream cruise ship and would totally do it again if we could. If you’ve been hesitating on whether to book a trip, here’s my review and I hope it helps with all the burning questions you have on how a cruise to nowhere will be like!

Note: this is not a sponsored post (although I wish it was :P)

Pre-boarding Process

Covid-19 swab test.

For Dream Cruises, we had to take an Antigen Rapid Test (ART) before you board the cruise. This is all done on the same day, so you don’t have to go out of your way for an extra trip down at all.

You’ll be given an allocated swab test timing once you have done your online check-in (up to a week in advance before your sailing date). We checked in as soon as we got our email notification, and the allocated swab test time was 5pm i.e. 4 hours before departure.

Lest you think the swab test is scary, it really isn’t! In fact, it felt more like a tickle up my nose – I was expecting it to go a lot deeper / higher up my nose and had to clarify with the swab test administrator that it was done correctly, lol! 

It took about 20 – 30 minutes for the results to be out, and we had to wait in a separate waiting area before being allowed to board. All in all, the whole process was faster than we expected.

Aside from your TraceTogether token/app, you will also be needing the boarding card which will be issued to you at the check-in counter (and you’ll need to bring it around with you everywhere on the cruise).

It is recommended to download the Dream Cruises app before you board the ship as well, which has everything you’ll need for your cruise including pre-bookings of events, shows and restaurants.

If you’re pregnant like me, note that you will need a “Fit to Sail” letter from your gynae and that mummies beyond 23 weeks of pregnancy will not be allowed to board, for safety reasons. So…do your babymoon before that like I did! 😉

Accommodation

Room and toilet.

I opted for the cheapest room – a Balcony Stateroom – which came with a queen bed, a long sofa, an attached bathroom and a private balcony deck. Lest you think cheapest room = worst, that was totally not true and I LOVED our room!

The bathroom was spacious enough even though I was juggling my 20-week-big pregnant belly, and toiletries (hand soap, shampoo, conditioner, body foam, body moisturiser) were provided. The fragrance was great and I didn’t have any skin sensitivity from the toiletries, but the real surprise was in the conditioner, because it was actually able to get rid of the frizz from swimming in the pool!  Bath towels and toilet paper were also provided, together with a floor mat.

You can view my in-room video of our Balcony Stateroom here on my Instagram highlights.

Other provided items

Another pleasant surprise was the hairdryer, which was wayyy better than what most hotels normally provide, and didn’t leave my hair roasted or frizzy after using it. 

Bathrobes came in handy when we had to go to the pool, and you’ll find them in your wardrobe (most people don’t realize this!).

The TV had on-demand videos which are FREE, and the selection of movies were awesome! We watched Fast and Furious, The High Note and Gemini Man on our trip.  You can view the entire selection on my Instagram highlights here .

There’s also 2 bottled water provided each day, and coffee/tea if you’re boiling any water in the kettle (we didn’t, as we got all our drinks at Lido each time).

There are 4 inclusive restaurants (i.e. no extra surcharges) on the World Dream cruise ship:

• Lido (international buffet with halal options)
• Upper Deck Dining (Western)
• Lower Deck Dining (Chinese)
• Lido 24-hour outdoors snack bar

Entertainment

There were so many entertainment options on the ship that we couldn’t finish them all, even though we had 2 full days onboard! 

Here’s what we did try out:

• Giant Chess
• Table Tennis at the SportsPlex
• Swimming Pool – pre-bookings required, which we did on the first morning
• Faith the musical – featuring tap dance, ballet, acrobatics, aerial silk, aerial hoop, trampoline acts and more! We loved this so much that we went for it twice!
• Vision by Vincent Vignaud – magic show
• Yoga – taught by one of the professional acrobats who starred in Faith (and she provided pregnancy-friendly variants on many of the moves for me – thank you!)
• Jackpot Bingo – this was the highlight for the guys, and they spent $60 each on 6 bingo tickets!
• Key Master – an extremely appealing but frustrating machine game
• Swimming pool – the length is pretty short so don’t expect much of an exercise here, although I did do my 20 laps before our 1-hour allocated timeslot was up.
• Jacuzzi – the guys tried this, but I didn’t because it isn’t suitable for pregnant mummies. My husband joked that the warm water would “cook” the baby, LOL!

Here’s what we skipped:

• Waterslides – not suitable for pregnant ladies
• Ropes course – not suitable for pregnant ladies
• Flying fox – not suitable fo pregnant ladies
• VR games at the Esc Experience Lab – we visited the place, but pregnant ladies aren’t suitable for many of the activities so we ended up not doing any 🙁
• Dream Boys – a male striptease show

Gambling / Casino

Once the ship sails, the casino / gambling dens are open 24/7! We only played a few games for fun since we’re not big on gambling, but there were many people who were playing until the wee hours of the night.

Final Thoughts

Safety and hygiene.

I had pretty low expectations, and packed clothes that I wouldn’t mind getting dirty because I wasn’t sure if the public seats or areas would be clean. However, as it turns out, I could have just brought all my prettiest dresses without worries because I was honestly impressed and blown away by the safety standards and hygiene levels observed on the ship, including:

• Check-in at each venue: with your boarding pass and TraceTogether token/app
• Social distancing: there were Cruise Ambassadors who went around ensuring guests who weren’t from the same group were of a safe distance apart
• Pre-booking: to reduce crowding, although this provided some inconvenience (worth it for the safety though)
• Toilets: there wasn’t a single dirty toilet I encountered which surprised me! It was always clean and dry no matter where I went

Seasickness? Nope.

Can you use singapore rediscovers vouchers nope., is the ship family-friendly / wheelchair-friendly, tip: packing list.

• Basic toiletries (facial wash, toothbrush, toothpaste, razors, any skincare routine items)
• 3 smart casual outfits – I was always in a dress, whereas the guys were in a T-shirt and shorts / bermudas
• 3 sets of underwear
• 1 sports outfit – or maybe 2 if you want to spend more days outdoors at the Sportsplex
• 1 swimming costume / bikini 
• Chargers – for your electronics
• Shoes – 1 slippers / casual and 1 sports shoes

I’d love to go on another cruise later this year again once I’ve given birth, and this time, bring along our parents and children. Now, if only Royal Caribbean would sponsor me next… well, I can continue dreaming 😛

• SG Budget Babe

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• GENTING REWARDS

Your leading choice in hospitality.

Experience luxury cruising with the Genting Dream.

Welcome aboard the Genting Dream, the flagship of Resorts World Cruises. We’ve been a pioneer and a trendsetter in hospitality for 50 years and we know luxury cruising like no other. We’ll be bringing you fresh, novel experiences and an array of cuisine, entertainment and themes from across the globe for a cruise that’s limited only by your imagination.

View Brochure 查看郵輪手冊 查看邮轮手册 View Cruise Itinerary 查看郵輪⾏程 查看邮轮行程

Your Top Experiences

An exclusive ship-within-a ship boutique hotel enclaved with private facilities and a 24-hour butler service for connoisseurs of true luxury.

Waterslide Park

Slip and slide on one of our six different waterslides! Perfect for those looking to get drenched with some thrilling waterpark-themed fun.

Rope Course & Zipline

For the more daring bunch, get your heart-racing with the feeling of gliding above the ocean on a 35-metre zipline and ropes course.

Our buffet-style restaurant with a smorgasbord of international and halal cuisine including vegetarian and non-vegetarian Indian dishes.

Crystal Life Spa

Rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit in our Asian and Western-style spas. You can also enjoy a selection of healthy meals and beverages here.

Enjoy world-renowned vintages, premium Scotch whiskies, cocktails or bubbly while we entertain you with performances and live bands.

The Boutiques

Splurge on international luxury brands at our boutiques and take your pick from some of the biggest names in fashion!

Little Dreamers Club

At our kids-only club, we have exciting games, workshops and costume parties lined up just for them! For kids aged 2 to 12.

Zodiac Theatre

Catch one of our live production shows from our critically acclaimed production team in our opulent theatre.

Zouk & Zouk Beach Club

If there’s one thing we know how to do, it’s partying! Dive in at one of our famous pool parties or dance till dawn to the beat of our guest DJs at Zouk.

Our Staterooms

Palace Villa

可容納人數6人 位於17層甲板 一張特大雙人床 + 一張雙人床 + 一張雙人沙發床" }'>Approx. 224 sq.m Max Occupancy 6 Deck 17 1 King-sized Bed + 1 Queen-size Bed + 1 Double Sofa Bed

Palace Penthouse

可容納人數4-6人* 位於13/16層甲板 一張特大雙人床 + 一張雙人沙發床 / 一張雙人床 + 兩張雙人沙發床 / 一張雙人床 + 一張雙人沙發床 (*如有特殊需求，指定皇宮行政套房的可容納人數可增加至6人，視預定情況而定)" }'>Approx. 56 - 115.4 sq.m Max Occupancy 4-6* Deck 13/16 1 King-size Bed + 1 Double Sofa Bed / 1 Queen-size Bed + 2 Double Sofa Beds/ 1 Queen-size Bed + 1 Double Sofa Bed (* The maximum occupancy of designated Palace Penthouss can be up to 6 guests upon request, subject to stateroom availability)

Palace Deluxe Premium

可容納人數4人 位於9/10/11/12/13/15層甲板 一張特大雙人床 + 一張雙人沙發床" }'>From 41 - 61 sq.m Max Occupancy 4 Deck 9/10/11/12/13/15 1 King-size Bed + 1 Double Sofa Bed

Palace Deluxe Suite

可容納人數4人 位於15層甲板 一張雙人床 + 一張雙人沙發床" }'>From 41 sq.m Max Occupancy 4 Deck 15 1 Queen-size Bed + 1 Double Sofa Bed

Palace Suite

可容納人數4人 位於13/15/16/17層甲板 一張雙人床 + 一張雙人沙發床" }'>From 37 - 40 sq.m Max Occupancy 4 Deck 13/15/16/17 1 Queen-size Bed + 1 Double Sofa Bed

Balcony Deluxe Stateroom

可容納人數3-4人 位於8/9/10/11/12/13/15層甲板 一張雙人床 + 一張單人沙發床/一張單人沙發床 + 一張壁櫃床/一張雙人沙發床" }'>From 22 - 28 sq.m Max Occupancy 2-4 Deck 8/9/10/11/12/13/15 1 Queen-size Bed + 1 Single Sofa Bed / 1 Single Sofa Bed + 1 Ceiling Pullman Bed / 1 Double Sofa Bed

Balcony Stateroom

可容納人數2-4人 位於8/9/10/11/12/13/15層甲板 一張雙人床 + 一張單人沙發床 / 一張雙人床 + 一張單人沙發床 + 一張壁櫃床" }'>From 20 sq.m Max Occupancy 3-4 Deck 8/9/10/11/12/13/15 1 Queen-Size Bed + 1 Single Sofa Bed / 1 Queen-Size Bed + 1 Single Sofa Bed + 1 Pullman Bed

Oceanview Stateroom

位於5/9/10/11/12/13層甲板 兩張單人床" }'>From 16 - 35 sq.m Max Occupancy 2 Deck 5/9/10/11/12/13 2 Single Beds

Interior Stateroom

可容納人數2-4人^ 位於5/8/9/10/11/12/13/15層甲板 兩張單人床 / 兩張單人床+ 一張壁櫃床 / 一張單人床 + 一張壁櫃床 + 一張雙人沙發床 (^上圖為2人房佈局圖，另有3人及4人房可供選擇） " }'>From 13 - 14 sq.m Max Occupancy 2-4^ Deck 5/8/9/10/11/12/13/15 2 Single Beds / 2 Single Beds + 1 Ceiling Pullman Bed / 1 Single Bed + 1 Pullman Bed + 1 Double Sofa Bed (^ The image shown is for a stateroom configuration for 2 persons - other stateroom configurations for 3 persons & 4 persons are also available)

At 335m end to end, we’re bigger than a skyscraper and way more fun.

VIEW 360 VR

Gross Tonnage

(下舖床位)" }'>Passenger Capacity (Lower Berth)

Meyer Werft Germany

Ship Manufacturer

Fresh Air Ventilation System

Resorts Cruising At Sea

來最佳的度假體驗。在您探索東南亞的所有景點 時享受難忘的體驗。" }'>At Resorts World Cruises, we bring the classic resort experience to you even while at sea. Enjoy elevated experience while you explore all that Southeast Asia has to offer.

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Heartland Boy

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Lifestyle Travel

Review of Resorts World Cruises Genting Dream Promotion Package on Klook

I have always wanted to try Genting Dream Cruises but my last attempt was unfortunately foiled by Olympia’s illness. When it subsequently filed for a winding-up application, I thought my hopes of ever sailing on it had sank to the abyss as well. After some shrewd corporate restructuring (depending on which side you are on), Dream Cruises returned under a new ownership structure and taken on the parent brand name of Resorts World. As I have been monitoring its cruise ticket prices for some time, I could immediately tell a good promotion if there is one. Acting decisively, I paid approx. an all-in price of S$320 per pax (including port charges and gratuities) for a 4-day 3-night cruise on a balcony stateroom over the Hari Raya Haji long weekend via the Klook platform. Considering that a cruise package is all inclusive (full-board), this is an attractive price that is much cheaper than a hotel staycation in Singapore. This is my review of Resorts World Cruises Genting Dream which also berthed at Port Dickson and Penang during my sailing.

1) Spanking new facilities that are under-utilised

First impression when I stepped foot on the cruise was how new it was. As shown in Diagram 1, the balcony cabin that I stayed in was clean and spacious while the toilet was of a comfortable size as well.

Diagram 1: Balcony stateroom in Genting Dream

Despite being modern facilities, they were strangely under-utilised throughout the cruise. I soon realised that this was because majority of the passengers were there for the casino instead. As a result, my family enjoyed the swimming pool, waterground slides, high ropes obstacle, gym and other facilities to our hearts’ content.

Diagram 2: Gym and high-element ropes course

There was minimal need to queue in line or share the facilities with other users. This meant that Olympia could use the Little Dreamer’s Club up to the 2-hour daily limit (chargeable after 2 hours) even though it has a maximum capacity of 18 pax at any 1 time.

Diagram 3: Little Dreamers Club and Aerobic Exercise

Some of the complimentary classes offered had so little attendees it almost felt like a private class at times!

On the contrary, the casino was packed to the rafters with virtually every slot machine taken up during peak hours. Little wonder that the line to sign up for membership was insanely long.

2) Penang stopover

My family really enjoyed the half day spent at Penang. It could have been longer if not for observing the little’s one nap time. Unlike at Port Dickson the day before, Genting Dream called at Port Swettenham directly. This meant that we could disembark and board anytime without having to wait for scheduled tender boats.

Once on land, we avoided all the land tour packages and car rental services as they were severely overpriced. We got around Georgetown with Grab and each trip never cost more than RM15 even with wet weather surcharge! Like most tourists, we went on a food tour and sampled great local hawker fare such as chendol, oyster omelette etc. Of course, we returned to the cruise not only with our stomachs full but also hands full of local goodies and souvenirs.

Diagram 4: Heartland Boy and family at Swettenham Port, Penang with Genting Dream

As a tip for travelling during the Covid pandemic, you will save plenty of time by downloading and registering on the MySejahtera mobile app before departure.

What Can Be Improved

Apart from the positives, I also find that there are certainly areas for improvement for Resorts World Cruises.

1) Check in and Check Out process

We were issued a check-in time of 1pm and expected to check in at this time as I had already completed the online check-in. When we arrived at Marina Bay Cruise Centre promptly at 1pm, we were greeted by 3 long queues outside the departure hall. It didn’t help that passengers with later reporting times were also allowed to join the snaking queues.

We finally received our boarding pass and room keys after waiting for 45 minutes and thought that this marked the end of further waiting. To my disappointment, the operator made all the passengers wait inside the departure hall as the cruise was not ready for boarding. After an almost 2-hour ordeal, we finally reached our staterooms at 3pm.

Diagram 5: 2nd round of waiting inside the departure hall

Checking out was an equally cumbersome affair as the operator held everyone up in holding areas before progressively releasing the groups. I understand that this is to stagger the passengers and minimise bottlenecks. However, I felt that this was not completely necessary. Based on my experience cruising with Royal Caribbean , there is usually no congestion as most passengers would have their own preferred times to depart the ship between the 3 or 4-hour window after arrival time.

2) Too many activities/facilities require additional payment

I also found that there were way too many activities and facilities that required additional payment. For instance, I completely understand if a fee per game is levied to bowl in the dark as I imagine that this will be highly popular if it is made free of charge.

Diagram 6: $10 per player per game for bowling

However, I find it slightly off-putting when fees are being levied for exercise classes, dance parties and performances:

• $35 fee is charged for HIIT classes in the gym
• $20 entrance fee to Bollywood Blast Party
• Up to $80 VIP tickets for Dream Boys Performance.

Let’s not forget that these tickets were also heavily advertised throughout the cruise to ring up sales. I was not entirely convinced and did not part with my money to enjoy these paid attractions.

3) On-board entertainment

During our 4-day cruise, 2 complimentary shows were available at the Zodiac Theatre during our 4-day cruise:

Diagram 7: 2 complimentary performances/shows on Genting Dream

• 1) Yin. Yang- At best, this felt like watching (insert Country) Got Talent. At worst, this was a mishmash of disparate performances with no central theme running through it. Think acrobat, face-changing opera, Western pop dance etc.
• 2) Love Matters – This was really good and helped to salvage the previous night’s disappointment. Interaction was high, genuinely funny and audience was engaged and enrapt throughout.

I am optimistic that with time, Yin.Yang will be better because I have the nagging feeling that the show was hastily put together to accommodate whichever performers/artistes that decided to stay with the new ownership. Overall, I would rate the on-board entertainment a mixed bag.

I always feel that a big part of a cruise experience is about the food although this may not hold true for Genting Dream’s target audience. There are a few plus points when it comes to the food offering on Genting Dream.

Diagram 8: Lido Buffet and Dream Dining Room Upper (Chinese tze char)

The Lido is a certified Halal international restaurant which makes Genting Dream a viable option for Muslim travellers. Overall, the Malay and Indian food offered here would be the better cuisines, but I would suggest skipping the Western and dessert sections. Outside of meal times, The Lido also serve snacks but these are largely plain congee or processed food that are deep fried.

Genting Dream whip up good Chinese food at the Dream Dining Room Upper. In the mornings, I also enjoyed dim sum with hot tea. Even though this is a sit-down concept, feel free to order second helpings if the initial round of food is not sufficient.

Diagram 9: Dream Dining Room Lower (Western)

Western food is offered at Dream Dining Room Lower and there’s nothing much to shout about. Let’s just say that I have had better omelette at army cookhouse.

Klook Promotion

Bookings for Resorts World Cruises are currently powered on Klook’s platform where the full itinerary for the particular date is available for viewing. My experience redeeming the vouchers was relatively straightforward.

A week before travelling, Klook reminded me to perform online check in . I also arranged for ART tests via the platform. The only negative was that cabin staterooms were randomly allocated. Since I had booked 2 staterooms for my family of 4, I contacted Resorts World Cruises after booking to request for them to be adjacent or at least on the same deck.

Diagram 10: Example of an ongoing Resorts World Cruises promotion on Klook (Source: Klook)

Besides taking advantage of the promotion on Klook, I could also triple-stack the following promotions to reduce my purchase price further:

• Take advantage of ongoing promotion codes – eg: Get $25 off with GrabPay
• Activate Shopback to receive 3% cashback. Cashback is enhanced during special dates such as 7.7 sale
• Offset purchase price with existing Klook coins

As a result, I paid an all-in discounted price of $320 per pax for 3 nights of sailing which I consider as a fantastic deal given the food and entertainment that I had on the seacation.

If you miss the klook promotion, you can also enjoy free upgrade from Oceanview to Balcony stateroom and an additional $100 off by paying with any UOB card ( UOB One Card , UOB Evol Card , UOB Absolute Cashback Card )

Finally, do not forget to purchase travel insurance especially now that the cruises will port in other countries. I purchased Starr Travel Insurance Cruise to Nowhere from SingSaver to enjoy $10 PayNow Rewards for premium value below $99.

After this review, I have now officially sailed on Quantum of the Seas , Spectrum of the Seas and Genting Dream to destinations that ranged from “Nowhere” to Malaysia. That should complete the grand slam 😀

If you enjoyed this article, I will be grateful if you could purchase your travel insurance from my affiliate links below.

• Great Eastern TravelSmart
• Singlife Travel
• AIG Travel Guard
• FWD Travel Insurance
• TIQ Travel Insurance
• Allianz Travel Insurance
• MSIG TravelEasy
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* Note that this article contains referral links that goes to maintain the sustainability of this blog

SINGSAVER MARCH MADNESS (6 MAR TO 31 MAR 2024)

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November 24, 2022 at 9:15 am

Thanks for sharing your experience. This will enable me to plan my seacation on Dream Cruise and prepare my level of expectation come Dec 2022 🙂

November 29, 2022 at 8:37 pm

You are most welcome! hope you will enjoy your holidays

December 13, 2022 at 1:04 pm

Hi, appreciate if you could advise the following:

(1) Where to get the check-in timing? (2) For onboard beverage package, what is the best way to purchase it? (3) Is there any tips on purchase onboard credit?

December 13, 2022 at 9:35 pm

Based on my recollection, check in timing will be emailed to you a few days before your actual trip. I did not purchase any onboard beverage or credit, so i am unable to advise.

December 18, 2022 at 11:18 am

Hi thank you for your detailed updates. May u help me with some questions below- 1. Can I use RWS membership card on resorts world cruise? 2. What’s the minimum bet in the casino? 3. What’s the wifi charges on board?

Thank you very much.

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Live Life Lah…….

Travel, eat and live life to the fullest…., cruising with genting dream cruise ….

For 5 years I yearned and wished I could enjoy a nice cruise onboard Genting Dream Cruise by Resorts World Cruises and my dream finally came true ….

And yes, it was definitely one of my best cruise experiences ever with world class performances and service and one fond memory I will cherish forever…

There is just soooo much to try, see, do on board this beautiful ship… and I was truly beyond excited boarding the ship…

The 18-deck Genting Dream Cruise can accommodate up to 3,352 passengers, and is definitely the one of the most spacious ship in Asia.

Resorts World Cruises is a brand extension of Resorts World, a global brand with 46 properties in 8 countries spanning 4 continents, welcoming over 80 million visitors a year and served by more than 30,000 employees.

Resorts World Cruises is a game changer, going above and beyond with its rich Asian heritage in culture, hospitality and cuisine, complemented by exciting music and entertainment onboard. Genting Dream is the only halal-friendly cruise ship in the Asia-Pacific region with both certified ‘Halal’ food that comes from the world’s first internationally halal-certified kitchen (and a specified halal food lift for halal food only) on a cruise liner, as well as authentic vegetarian dishes (including Jain vegetarianism) in addition to Western, Japanese, Chinese and other dining venues.

You will definitely be spoilt for choices with the selection of 1,674 modern accommodations, consisting of Interior staterooms, Oceanview staterooms and Balcony staterooms for that stunning panoramic view at sea…

Comel (my fellow blogger and roomie for the trip) and I were excited to be occupying one of the beautiful Balcony staterooms … our stateroom came with two single beds, a sofa, a work/dressing table, a pretty spacious and comfortable bathroom that came with jet shower and normal shower…

Our balcony too came with sun loungers and afforded us that amazing view of the ocean and waves and of sunrises and sunsets depending on which direction the ship was sailing in…

For those from T20 community, indulge yourselves in world-class luxury accommodation, “The Palace” – a luxury ship- within-a ship private enclave with its spacious suites, luxurious facilities and European-style butlers, as well as an exclusive restaurant, sundeck, gym, spa and other facilities!!!

Guests can also enjoy international performances and blockbuster movies at the Zodiac theatre with an impressive 1,000 seat capacity…The state-of-the-art Zodiac theatre occasionally host award-winning and international production shows, led by varied multicultural professional performers, such as Ziana Zain on my trip….

And before that which we were enjoying their showtime entertainment entitled Affinity by a troupe of super talented and beautiful Ukrainian performers….

There is never a bored moment on board the Genting Dream Cruise as the magnificent ship also comes with a theme park at sea with pools and waterslides, ziplines, a rock-climbing wall, a wide sundeck, state-of-art Virtual Reality and popular arcade games; bowling alleys, amazing duty- free shopping, spas and many more attractions…

Personally I had so much fun on the rope courses as well as the waterslides… and even more fun grooving away at the foam party at Zouk Beach Club…

And of course, whenever the ship docks at a port, you can choose to follow the ship’s excursion or explore the place / town/ city yourself or just relax onboard the ship….

There are also a multitude of thematic on-board activities and fun-filled workshops inspired by popular international destinations and trends will be available, including Styling & Make-Up Workshops, Cultural Workshops, Ikebana Flower Display Classes, Mystical Magic Classes, Play & Learning activities, which are all perfect for kids and families and more…

I definitely hope and want to explore more with Genting Dream Cruise in the future especially with new routes and such…

So be sure to come experience “Resort Cruising on High Seas” at least once in your lifetime or more to create amazing memories with your families or partners or besties!!

For more info, please email [email protected] or check out https://rwcruises.com

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Singapore Genting Dream Cruise Deals

Book your Singapore Genting Dream Cruise 2024-2025 itineraries now and enjoy exciting deals with Resorts World Cruise Line!

Genting Dream 2 Nights Kuala Lumpur Cruise From Singapore

Sailings ( 2024 ) - 7, 14, 21 & 28 Jul'24 / 4, 11, 18 & 25 Aug'24 / 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 Sep'24 / 6, 13, 20 & 27 Oct'24 / 3, 10, 17 & 24 Nov'24 / 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 Dec'24

Every Sunday Weekly Sailings

Genting Dream 2 Nights Weekend Getaway Cruise From Singapore

Sailings ( 2024 ) - 5, 12, 19 & 26 Jul'24 / 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 Aug'24 / 6, 13 20 & 27 Sep'24 / 4, 11, 18 & 25 Oct'24 / 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 Nov'24 / 6, 13, 20 & 27 Dec'24

Every Friday Weekly Sailings

Genting Dream 3 Nights Penang & Kuala Lumpur Cruise From Singapore

Sailings ( 2024 ) - 2, 16 & 30 Jul'24 / 13 & 27 Aug'24 / 10 & 24 Sep'24 / 8 & 22 Oct'24 / *5 & 19 Nov'24 / 3, 17 & *31 Dec'24

Alternate Tuesday Sailings

Genting Dream 3 Nights Phuket Cruise From Singapore

Sailings ( 2024 ) - 9 & *23 Jul'24 / 6 & 20 Aug'24 / 3 & 17 Sep'24 / 1, 15 & 29 Oct'24 / 12 & 26 Nov'24 / 10 & 24 Dec'24

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Your Top Experiences

An exclusive ship-within-a ship boutique hotel enclaved with private facilities and a 24-hour butler service for connoisseurs of true luxury.

Waterslide Park

Slip and slide on one of our six different waterslides! Perfect for those looking to get drenched with some thrilling waterpark-themed fun.

Rope Course & Zipline

For the more daring bunch, get your heart-racing with the feeling of gliding above the ocean on a 35-metre zipline and ropes course.

Our buffet-style restaurant with a smorgasbord of international and halal cuisine including vegetarian and non-vegetarian Indian dishes.

Crystal Life Spa

Rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit in our Asian and Western-style spas. You can also enjoy a selection of healthy meals and beverages here.

Enjoy world-renowned vintages, premium Scotch whiskies, cocktails or bubbly while we entertain you with performances and live bands.

The Boutiques

Splurge on international luxury brands at our boutiques and take your pick from some of the biggest names in fashion!

Our Staterooms

Palace Villa

Palace Penthouse

Palace Deluxe Suite

Balcony Stateroom

Oceanview Stateroom

Interior Stateroom

Last minute cruise deals, at 335m end to end, we’re bigger than a skyscraper and way more fun..

Gross Tonage

Passenger Capacity (Lower Berth)

Manufactured by

Meyer Werft Germany

Fresh Air Ventilation System

Star Cruise - Old Memories

Super Star Gemini

Super Star Libra

Super Star Virgo

Super Star Aquarius

Note: The current fleet of Star Cruises ships is operated by Resorts World One under the name Genting Dream Cruises.

• The Covid-19 outbreak destroyed the cruise ship company Genting Hong Kong (formerly known as Star Cruises), and Malaysian billionaire Lim Kok Thay is closing the cruise line and starting a new one from Singapore.
• 1,856 people may be accommodated on the 75,338 gross ton cruise ship Resorts World One. The ship was previously used as SuperStar Virgo for Star Cruises and as Explorer Dream for Dream Cruises.
• Resorts World Cruises has revealed that it has purchased the Explorer Dream, a former Dream Cruises ship. After being renamed as Resorts World One, the ship will begin two-week cruises from Singapore and then, on March 10, 2023, two- and three-night cruises from Hong Kong.
• Genting Dream is the first ship constructed under Dream Cruises, a luxury cruise line operated by Genting Hong Kong. Dream Cruises was introduced in November 2015, making it the first brand in Asia to provide premium cruise services. Based in Hong Kong, Genting Hong Kong is a multinational leisure, entertainment, and hospitality corporation.
• According to Michael Goh, the president and head of international sales at Resorts World Cruises, who was quoted by Bloomberg during a media event, the company will initially operate just one ship, Genting Dream, offering cruise to nowhere services from Singapore. Goh served as president of Dream Cruises before it was one of the firms that went bankrupt due to the insolvency of its German shipbuilding arm, MV Werften, and parent company Genting Hong Kong's inability to acquire finance.

Dream Cruise Story & Blog

Genting Dream Balcony Deluxe Stateroom vs. Other Cabins

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Genting Dream Cruise WiFi Charges & How to Connect

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Genting Dream Cruise: Size, Capacity and Ship Information

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Frequently Asked Question

Yes, the Genting Dream cruise ship does have a casino. The casino is known as the " Resorts World at Sea " and offers a variety of gaming options including slot machines, table games, and poker . It is a popular feature on the ship, providing entertainment for guests who enjoy gambling.

There is no entry fee for the casino, but you must be at least 21 years old to enter and gamble. The prices for the games vary depending on the type of game and the stakes you choose to play.

Yes, food is included in the Genting Dream cruise fare. Several complimentary restaurants are offering a variety of cuisines, such as Chinese, Indian, Western, and international dishes. You can enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks at these restaurants without any additional charge.

However, there are also specialty restaurants onboard that require an additional fee. These restaurants offer premium dining experiences with unique menus and ambiance.

The starting price for a Genting Dream Balcony Deluxe Stateroom typically begins around SGD$540 per person per night. However, the final cost can vary depending on several factors, including itinerary, sailing date, additional costs, and promotions.

• Resorts World Cruises is a new luxury lifestyle cruise brand headquartered in Singapore that has been involved in the hospitality and cruising industries for over five decades.
• The Genting Dream is the first in a planned fleet of vacation cruise ships called " Resorts Cruising on High Seas " by Resorts World Cruises.
• The Genting Dream's inaugural cruise will depart from Singapore on 15 June 2022.
• Starting in March 2023, Resorts World One will be based in Hong Kong.

SINGAPORE DEPARTURES:

• 3 Night Kuala Lumpur & Penang Cruise departing on Sundays
• 2 Night Kuala Lumpur Cruise departing Wednesdays
• 2 Night High Seas Weekend Getaway Cruise departing Fridays
• 3 Night Phuket Cruise

KUALA LUMPUR (via PORT KLANG) DEPARTURE:

• 3 Night Penang-Singapore Cruise departing Mondays
• 3 Night Phuket - Singapore cruise departing on selected Monday
• 4 Night Singapore cruise departing on selected Thursday

During the entire trip, present a valid passport and other necessary travel documents.

• Valid for a minimum of six months from the cruise's return date
• Valid Long-Term Pass; Singaporean resident's re-entry permit
• A valid visa for foreigners

The cruise offers a variety of accommodations, including interior staterooms, oceanview staterooms, balcony staterooms, suites, and palace villa, palace penthouse each providing different levels of comfort and amenities.

Yes, Genting Dream Cruise provides a Kids Club and a Teen Club with age-appropriate activities and entertainment. There are dedicated spaces and programs to keep children and teenagers engaged.

Outside food and beverages are generally not allowed on the cruise ship. However, specific rules may vary, and exceptions may be made for dietary or medical reasons. It's advisable to check the cruise line's policies before embarking.

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Genting Dream cruise review and survival tips by an indie traveller

By: Author Jaclynn Seah

Posted on Published: December 24, 2017  - Last updated: October 23, 2019

Categories Review , Malaysia , Singapore , Thailand

Excluding the time I spent a week sailing through the Galapagos Islands , the last time I went on a proper fancy cruise was back when I was a very young child and I remember absolutely nothing from that experience. So tagging along with my family on the Genting Dream cruise over the holiday season was a rather interesting experience for me, and I thought I’d share with you what my cruise experience was like, and some hacks I figured out to make your cruise better (and involve less queuing).

Also – this is not a sponsored post , I wasn’t even planning to write about this trip at all since it’s a family vacation and it’s not my usual style of travel, but I was looking for info on the Genting Dream the day before I departed (wooh for last minute research), and only realised then that this was a pretty new route that launched just a month earlier in late November 2017 and the ship will spend a year with Singapore as its home port . There were pretty mixed reviews from Tripadvisor , so I thought I’d add my voice to the conversation. Also, I’m sure other indie travellers might be in the same boat (hurhur pun) as me and this might help them survive their own vacations a little beter.

I did the 6D5N Island Escapade that followed a route from Singapore to Klang and Penang in Malaysia, and then to Phuket , Thailand before heading back home, my last trip of 2017 . Click on the hyperlinks to see my experiences and recommendations travelling in these areas.

Why would an indie traveller even join a cruise?

I’ve established through my travels that I like to travel in a certain way that I describe as Indie Flashpacker, where I figure out my own travel plans and don’t have much of an itinerary, and while I travel pretty cheaply I’m willing to spend on occasion. But taking a cruise is quite the antithesis of being an Indie Flashpacker, my biggest issue is that it sometimes feels like you are trapped in a Marina Bay Sands Twilight Zone that you can’t escape . Sure, this ginormous ship has 19 decks and planned activities, but it does get stifling after a bit.

And the most important thing about travel for me is being able to explore a place on my own terms and time, and that’s quite difficult to do on a cruise schedule, where you are pretty much limited to very short day/half-day trips every time you are in port. You could do it, but you’ll need to do a lot of prep work to squeeze the most out of your limited time on land. To be fair, I love waking up each morning in a new city or country, and the plus points of not having to squeeze on planes or go through tedious airport security is awesome, but if I wanted to properly visit a place, this is not how I want to do it.

You think being on a somewhat inclusive cruise (I’ll get into why I say ‘somewhat’ further down) means being able to turn your brain off for a bit, but frankly I found having to figure out their schedule sometimes a tad stressful, especially because there are quite limited hours for certain activities, so I couldn’t quite laze around as much as I wanted to if I wanted to get stuff done.

The Genting Dream Survival Guide

Enough of my whinging – regardless of how or why, you’re headed on a cruise, and here’s how you can survive the next few days and actually have yourself a decent time. Read on for more details on my Genting Dream cruise experience as well.

Board early if you can

The Genting Dream is HUGE. And I mean GINORMOUS. The ship has 19 levels, accommodates 3,400 pax and easily towers over any other ship in port with it. Correspondingly there are a massive ton of people trying to board the ship, so boarding early means less arduous queues to suffer through, and if you have luggage, it gets sent up to your room much faster then if you come on board later. Hot tip: pack your essentials in a day bag that you can carry with you so you aren’t stuck waiting for your bags to get sent to your room.

The ship set sail at around 6pm, and the final boarding call time was at 430pm, but we decided to head in much earlier and reached the Marina Bay Cruise Centre at around 12pm. It was about 1pm when they called for our group to board, and about 120pm by the time I put my stuff down in my room. I was definitely quite a lot faster than my sister who had to take her kids through the regular counters while I went through the automated check-in for Singaporeans. There are a lot of foreigners who fly into Singapore just to hop on this cruise, mostly Asians – the nationalities I was seeing/hearing a lot of: Singaporean, Malaysian, Chinese, Indian, Indonesian.

The main perk of boarding early is that it is the best time to go try out the popular activities that you really do not want to queue up for – everyone else is just getting oriented to the ship, so you have a lot of people wandering around exploring, but no one is really ready to do anything. We had the main pool on Deck 16 mostly to ourselves that first afternoon, and my sis and I hit the water slides multiple times that evening without having to queue or wait as others had to do in the following days, and I saw some people doing the rope course as well.

Other optimum times to hit the facilities with less crowds around are during mealtimes or if you come back from your day trips a little earlier than everyone else – most people aim to return in the last hour or so before the boarding time, so if you put your things down in your room and head straight out, there’s a good chance you’ll get less of a queue.

Of course if you can afford it, the Dream Palace VIP level means no queues wherever you go, but it costs about 2x as much as a regular room, so I’d say only if you can afford it and want to live the lux life.

Know the daily activity schedule

The timings of meals and activities fluctuates every single day, which is a bit of a pain for someone like me who likes having a fairly stable time schedule to remember. There is a daily newsletter with highlights that gets placed outside your room or in the main areas, or download the Dream Cruises app, which has the same info that they have on the e-notice board located around the boat.

There were a ton of families on board with kids of all ages. I think you need to be at least 1.4m in height and about 8-10 years old to fully utilise all the fun facilities like the slides and rope course, otherwise you might end up a tad disappointed like my poor niece.

Some random activity comments:

• Water Slides: There are 2 baby slides, but for the real fun you have to climb up 3 decks to the large water slides. There are 3 levels, my favourite was the Medium level because there is a particularly steep vertical drop right at the start which is like, woah.
• Rope Course: You’re about 2m in the air walking over obstacles and climbing stuff which is pretty fun – stick to the outside of the course where you can look down over the side of the boat, but the best part is the zipline at the end of the course where you zip over the side of the boat. Most thrilling to do on the last day while the boat is on the move!
• Glow Bowling: This can be found at Zouk at Level 17 and is UV lit later in the night, but it usually is a lot less crowded if you go earlier in the evening as it starts getting crowded after dinner and there are only 4 lanes. It also costs $8/game (10 frames) – which means each person pays $8 to bowl 10 frames unless you’re happy to share.

You have to sign up for slots for some of the activities like the night shows in the theatre. Unless you have a really big group and want to guarantee a slot for your entire group, I honestly don’t think you need to bother, especially later in the trip when the theatres seemed more empty. My mum who’s pretty organised about this sorta thing signed us up for 4 shows, I ended up going to only 2 of them:

• The Santa’s Leading Ladies show was a medley of Christmas songs sung by 3 ladies that I personally found very boring and made worse by the amount of typos in the song lyrics flashed on either side of the stage, as well as the poor gif like animations used in the background. I’ve seen more polished school projects, come on.
• The house show Voyage of a Lover’s Dream is a bit of an abstract mishmash of everything and there seems to be a very loose storyline based on an astronaut and a mermaid falling in love (you’ll see the artwork on the side of the boat as well), and it’s entertaining at least. Some of the acrobatics are mindboggling, the trampoline act is like woah.

This is a Genting boat after all, so there are tons of gambling opportunities for you all around as you walk around Levels 6-8 where all the dining and shopping happens. I hardly went to the casinos because I’m just not interested so I can’t tell you very much about that.

Where and when to eat

Genting Dream boasts of over 35 dining concepts within its ship , but here’s a bit of a reality check, only 3 of these are inclusive dining areas like The Lido (International buffet, deck 16), Dream Dining Upper (Chinese food, deck 8) and Dream Dining Lower (Western food, deck 7), which is what you are limited to when you’re on a plebian tier (my words, not theirs). Everything else you pay extra for unless you are in the Dream Palace tier (that’s like the VIP tier).

The meal timings fluctuate, and you would think going to eat early would mean less queuing, but that seems to be what everyone thinks as well, so you are actually better off going at around an hour or so after the opening meal time for that first wave to leave, especially on the first day. My friends on the VIP tier say that the premium restaurants were mostly uncrowded, so if you are tired of queuing, maybe consider forking out the cash for a fancier experience.

For breakfast, I had a much better experience in Dream Dining Lower than in The Lido – it was much easier to get a seat and much less crowded. There was less food selection of course compared to the buffet spread in The Lido, but the food quality was definitely better, actually warm and better tasting in my opinion. The Dream Dining rooms do set meals, so you get assigned a table and either get to choose from a list of set meals (western), or you get served family style (chinese).

The Lido definitely does lunch and dinner better – I like having variety, but it also gets pretty packed compared to the other 2 dining areas. It’s a U-shaped room with multiple food stations, but it isn’t entirely identical on each side. The starboard (right side when you face the front) of The Lido tends to be less crowded compared to the port side (left side). The bend of the U is an extremely popular Indian food section – this cruise seems to be quite popular with the Indians, which means yay curries and papadum for variety but holy moly it gets crowded when the Indian folk all come into the restaurant at once.

If you have super picky eaters, there’s a bakery on board and some smaller meal options where it’s not crazy expensive that might work for you. Donuts were going at around $3.50 and a Breakfast Set for around $7, not cheap but hey you’re a captive customer, it’s not insane either.

Some food comments:

• I’d recommend: beef (DDL as a set meal and the carved roast up in the Lido), bak kut teh (DDL – it’s Malaysian style with lots of ingredients but the soup quantity itself is quite small), live noodle stations (super spicy tom yam, great prawn noodle soup and lor mee, I liked the fishball noodle soup but the fishball itself was forgettable), fried chicken (can’t go wrong honestly). We had a seafood Chinese dinner that was pretty good on our last night (DDU)
• I’d skip with no regret: juices (these are very much cordial drinks and very sweet at that. Stick to water), dory fish (DDL – it’s kinda soggy and fishy), porridge (especially if it’s not hot like our first breakfast in The Lido)

The ship docked in different ports every day – Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang, I skipped this and stayed on board), Penang (Swettenham Pier which is really near George Town) and Phuket (near Patong Bay).

For Phuket, you’ll need to pick up a ferry transfer ticket to transfer you from the boat to the land, unlike the other 2 where you can walk off the boat directly. Whatever time you pick, hustle down to pickup area (ours was in the Zodiac Theatre) as early as you can, because they board on a first-come-first-serve basis and it can take awhile. We waited at least half an hour for our 945am call time to finally board a ferry. The return is much faster though, possibly because the seas are less choppy in the evening and there are more boats.

The moment you disembark, you will be surrounded by people offering taxi services – do your research beforehand so you know how much to pay and not get ripped off. It’s a bit of a swarm, I let my family work out the details and just tagged along. You definitely could consider walking, catching a cheap public bus or taking a Grab in Penang because of the proximity to George Town, unless you plan to travel further. For Phuket, there is a decent stretch of beach within walking distance of the port if you rather not travel too far. It’s a bit crowded, but you can do your sea sports and the water/sand are nice enough.

The ship also organises day tours, which I honestly thought were pretty pricey, but that’s to be expected. We had actually planned to go on a Phi Phi island tour but the weather wasn’t great so that got cancelled. Instead we ended up heading to some sort of activity centre for ATV rides, and they also offered elephant rides and ziplining.

Looking for ideas on things to do in Penang and Phuket?

• There is so much street art to see and easy to get to in George Town ( click here for a detailed guide ), or if you are more adventurous and are hiring a driver anyway, why not head to Balik Pulau or take a quick ferry transfer to Butterworth ( here’s where to go exactly )
• Of course Penang is a great foodie destination, so make sure to eat, eat, eat !

Most of my Phuket experience has been about their resorts, but there was that one time I ate insects , which was pretty memorable :p

Where to find street art in Penang outside George Town Core

My first experience eating insects in Thailand

The Penang weekend trip recap of hawker food and street art

So that’s a bit of my experience on the Genting Dream and cruising, there are good things about cruising and as can be seen from the sheer number of people on board, lots of people love this type of travel but it’s just not for me, so I doubt I’ll be cruising again anytime soon. Drop any questions you might have below and I’ll try and help.

If cruising is not your thing either, I have plenty of stories and travel tips to help you out – Check out my Where I Have Been page for full details or use the menu bar to navigate.

Dharmendra Vyas

Tuesday 21st of January 2020

I am going to spent 5N6D on genting dream cruise with my wife and two kids. I will have 4 shore excursion i.e. port klang, lagkawi, penang and phuket. My querry is that can i get shore excursion options outside the port from local travel agent or i have to book in advance.

Jaclynn Seah

Usually at the port when you disembark from the cruise ship, there are lot of drivers etc offering you tours and other services, so you can book from there. You can probably make your own arrangements as well, or book via the ship's tour desk.

Monday 30th of September 2019

Going on the Genting Dream cruise in the 1st week of October.

Can you please tell us what kind of wall sockets for power are available in the rooms?

I honestly don't remember offhand, sorry!

Thursday 25th of April 2019

Hello, I'm curious on where did the ship docked at penang? From the port is there any form of transport available to go george town? If so, how much should i set aside for it?

Hi Estie - if you look at the section under day trips, in Penang the boat docks at Swettenham Pier which is quite close to downtown George Town. There are lots of taxis waiting and guides waiting for passengers coming off the boat, Price really depends on where you go though, hard for me to advise about that.

Franklin joseph

Wednesday 13th of February 2019

Do u have To pay The Tip at the end of the cruise ?

Wednesday 20th of February 2019

to be honest I can't remember now >_<

Monday 11th of February 2019

Do you need to pay for pools and water slides .

Tuesday 12th of February 2019

nope no extra charge! the main pool is accessible to all guests

Does Singapore’s 5-year deal with Disney Cruise Line mean ship has sailed for Hong Kong?

• Hong Kong's two cruise terminals have not fully recovered from Covid-related lockdown

The great fanfare with which Disney Cruise Line revealed more details about its maiden voyage from Singapore, its first home port in Asia, in 2025 has raised questions over whether Hong Kong has missed the boat.

Although the deal between the cruise line, part of US entertainment giant Walt Disney Company, and the Singapore government was signed last year, a series of high-profile marketing activities in the city state on Wednesday made waves in Hong Kong.

The cruise line's senior vice-president and general manager, Sharon Siskie, revealed that the new Disney Adventure ship would call Singapore its Asian home port for five years from 2025 and offer three- and four-night voyages.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge , our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

"We're bringing the magic of Disney Cruise Line to Asia for the first time ever, and we want to give our guests the cruise relaxation and Disney fun they can only experience aboard one of our ships," she said.

Hong Kong's two deepwater cruise terminals - Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui and the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal - are still recovering slowly from a three-year Covid-related lockdown.

Jeff Bent, managing director of Worldwide Cruise Terminals which operates the Kai Tak site, said he tried to reach out to Disney during the pandemic in 2022, but in vain.

"It was bad timing," he said. "While Hong Kong was in a lockdown, it was a done deal [between Disney and Singapore]."

In April last year, the Singapore Tourism Board and the cruise line agreed the new 208,000-tonne Disney vessel would berth exclusively in the city state for at least five years. The ship, the company's sixth, can hold 6,000 passengers and will have a crew of 2,300, with seven themed areas.

Bent said Disney would not put all its eggs in one basket and wanted to tap new markets such as Asean, as it already had theme parks in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo.

"Having a cruise ship in Singapore is like having a floating theme park in the sea," he said.

Singapore is one of 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, along with Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

Asia will be a new piece in the Disney Cruise Line jigsaw, with the firm already serving the Caribbean, Europe, Canada, Mexico, the South Pacific and elsewhere.

Disney Adventure has been converted from an unfinished ship, Global Dream, that was being built in Germany in 2022 when its owner Genting Hong Kong went bankrupt and subsequently sold the vessel.

Bent said he visited Orlando, Florida, to meet the cruise line's senior managers but to no avail, as they and the Singapore government were already discussing their deal.

Exclusivity is a strategy Singapore has used before. US pop diva Taylor Swift's only Southeast Asian stop on her world tour was Singapore, which signed an exclusive deal with her.

Asked what lessons Hong Kong could learn from missing out on a big player such as Disney Cruise Line, Bent said: "The lesson has to be to keep in close communication with potential partners and investors and help them when they need help.

"Be a solid partner, even when times are tough and show your merit."

The cruise ship deal also turned the tables on Hong Kong, who beat Singapore 20 years ago to secure a Disneyland resort. The city had promised a large site connected to the international airport and a rail line to the theme park, which debuted in 2005.

Economist Simon Lee Siu-po, an honorary fellow at the Asia-Pacific Institute of Business at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said the government needed long-term policies on tourism so global investors would be more comfortable with investments.

"Another thing is government departments should be better coordinated, for example, in how to promote tourism," he said.

Frederick Yip, an executive director of one of Hong Kong's largest travel agencies, Goldjoy Group, said the company was among key agents for Disney Adventure cruise products and he expected the new services would fuel intense competition in the region.

"Based on the three-to-four-night voyages, return trips will probably reach Malaysia and Thailand and will not be enough to get to Hong Kong," he said after attending the Disney event on Wednesday.

The Tourism Board said it was continuing to provide support and concessions for overseas and mainland cruise companies to attract more ships to Hong Kong and make the city their home port.

It said it would drive the development of fly-cruise and rail-cruise products.

Bent said the Kai Tak terminal was operating at about half of its pre-pandemic capacity after the borders reopened in January 2023.

He said he did not expect it to return to pre-pandemic levels until after 2026 as cruise companies planned two to three years ahead.

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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.

Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Protect Your Trip »

The 26 best new cruise ships for 2024.

Check out these exciting new vessels before booking your next cruise.

The Best New Cruise Ships

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas will be the world's biggest new cruise ship.

Cruising is one of the fastest growing sectors of tourism, with passenger numbers projected to reach 37.2 million by 2025, according to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Cruise lines are responding to this growth by building new (and often, larger) vessels with all the bells and whistles, including technological advancements that are more environmentally friendly and create the capability to use alternative fuels.

U.S. News has compiled this roundup of new cruise ships that have just set sail or are scheduled to launch later in 2023 and in 2024, plus a preview of new ships coming in 2025 and beyond. The list includes everything from expedition and luxury yacht-style vessels to reimagined ships and megaships – plus the debut of a brand-new cruise line.

• New ships for 2023
• New ships for 2024
• New ships for 2025 (and beyond)

Oceania Vista: May 2023

Courtesy of Oceania Cruises

Top feature: Luxurious, distinctive spaces

Fares begin around: $2,899 per person (double occupancy) for a 10-night Caribbean cruise

Sails to: Mediterranean, Caribbean

Debuted in May 2023, Oceania Vista is the first ship in Oceania Cruises ' new Allura class and the line's first new ship in 10 years. The 1,200-passenger, all-veranda vessel features a fresh interior design inspired by nature. The elegant new signature spaces include the dramatic Grand Staircase, the reimagined Martinis bar, the clubby Grand Lounge and 180-degree ocean views from the floor-to-ceiling windows at Horizons.

Another highlight of the new ship is the luxurious Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center. Elevated dining concepts on Oceania Vista include the new venue Ember, wellness-inspired cuisine at Aquamar Kitchen and The Bakery at Baristas, which specializes in French and Italian pastries.

Book an  Oceania  cruise on GoToSea, a service of U.S. News.

Carnival Venezia: May 2023

Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line

Top feature: Italian-style ship

Fares begin around: $419 per person (double occupancy) for an eight-night cruise to the Bahamas

Sails to: Caribbean, Bermuda, Canada and New England, Panama Canal

Originally built for the Chinese cruise market in 2019, Carnival Venezia first sailed throughout Asia under the Costa Cruises brand. It headed to Europe in 2020, then was reintroduced as a Carnival Cruise Line vessel in 2023. The rebranded ship, now homeported in the U.S., features Carnival's "Fun Italian Style" concept, with Venetian-style artwork and the Piazza San Marco atrium – not to mention Italian-inspired beverages and dishes at venues like Frizzante, Amari, Marco Polo, the Canal Grande Restaurant and La Strada Grill.

The 4,090-passenger ship has classic Carnival favorites, too, like Bonsai Teppanyaki, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, Piano Bar 88 and the Serenity Bar. Guests will also find Carnival's Serenity Adult-Only Retreat, three kids clubs, the outdoor SportSquare and onboard water park WaterWorks.

Find a  Carnival  cruise on GoToSea.

Resilient Lady: May 2023

Courtesy of Virgin Voyages

Top feature: New and exciting entertainment offerings

Fares begin around: $2,550 per person (double occupancy) for a seven-night cruise to the Greek islands

Sails to: Europe, Middle East, Asia, Australia and South Pacific

Virgin Voyages' third adults-only ship , Resilient Lady , debuted with its MerMaiden voyage sailing the Greek islands in May 2023. The new 2,762-passenger ship offers the same features as its sister ships, including more than 20 dining venues with menus created by Michelin-starred chefs, an impressive fitness and wellness program, and superyacht-inspired cabins.

The immersive entertainment is one highlight on the new Virgin ship, with shows like rock 'n' roll "Persephone," a concept from the Brooklyn nightclub House of Yes produced by Kaleidoscope Immersive. The Supper Club Series featuring Another Rose is a new show by Randy Weiner of theatrical performance "Sleep No More." The evening with the Supper Club includes a dining experience with cabaret and acrobatic performances in a tale of ill-fated love.

Explore  Virgin Voyages  deals on GoToSea.

MSC Euribia: June 2023

Courtesy of MSC Cruises

Top feature: Commitment to sustainable cruising and environmental stewardship

Fares begin around: $219 per person (double occupancy) for a seven-night Northern Europe cruise

Sails to: Northern and Western Europe

The LNG-powered MSC Euribia has several features that exemplify the line's commitment to sustainable cruising , including an advanced onboard wastewater treatment system and energy-saving equipment like smart heating, air conditioning and ventilation. MSC Euribia's hull, decorated with the hashtag #SaveTheSea, was designed by artist Alex Flämig and is also a symbol of MSC Cruises ' dedication to preserving our fragile marine ecosystem.

One of the most striking features on MSC's fifth (and final) Meraviglia-class ship is the two-story Galleria Euribia. The 360-foot-long Mediterranean-style promenade – lined with shops, restaurants and bars – sits beneath the longest LED dome at sea. Another highlight is the Carousel Lounge at the aft of the ship. The new space features floor-to-ceiling windows, indoor and outdoor areas, and Big Band at Sea: a 19-piece in-house group of musicians and entertainers. MSC Euribia can accommodate up to 6,327 passengers.

Compare  MSC Cruises  on GoToSea.

Viking Saturn: June 2023

Courtesy of Viking

Top feature: "Residential design" (found on all Viking ocean vessels)

Fares begin around: $2,799 per person (double occupancy) for a seven-night Mediterranean cruise

Sails to: Mainland Europe, British Isles, Iceland, Mediterranean and India

The 930-passenger Viking Saturn is the ninth ship in the Viking Ocean Cruises fleet and identical in design to its eight sister ships. The all-veranda vessel offers six categories of accommodations ranging from the 270-square-foot Veranda Stateroom to the spacious 1,448-square-foot Owner's Suite. On board, guests will enjoy the sleek, elegant Scandinavian-inspired public spaces and lounges. The line's enrichment program includes lectures with resident historians, TED Talks and sessions with world-renowned guest speakers. There are eight dining venues featuring destination-focused cuisine, the Nordic Spa with its snow grotto, two pools and hot tubs, and a sports deck.

Book a  Viking Ocean cruise on GoToSea.

Norwegian Viva: August 2023

Courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line

Top feature: Indulge Food Hall

Fares begin around: $629 per person (double occupancy) for an eight-night Greek islands cruise

The line's second Prima-class ship, Norwegian Viva mirrors the elevated design of sister ship Norwegian Prima . The new ship features six complimentary dining venues, including globally inspired dishes at Indulge Food Hall, pub fare at The Local Bar & Grill and 270-degree ocean views at the beautifully redesigned main restaurant, Hudson's.

The Haven on Viva is the most exclusive and spacious private enclave in Norwegian Cruise Line 's fleet; it was designed by one of Italy's leading designers, Piero Lissoni. Guests will also find updated styling at Mandara Spa. There's no shortage of entertainment on Viva; it's home to the first free-fall dry slide in the world, a three-story racetrack, high-tech mini-golf and the musical "Beetlejuice." Viva has the capacity to carry up to 3,099 guests.

Find a  Norwegian Cruise Line  itinerary on GoToSea.

Explora I: August 2023

Courtesy of Explora Journeys

Top feature: Luxury details and design, with a focus on sustainability

Fares begin around: $3,000 per person (double occupancy) for a six-night cruise to the Caribbean and Columbia

Sails to: Mediterranean and Western Europe, Caribbean and Central America, U.S. (including Hawaii) and Canada, Red Sea and Arabian Peninsula

Explora I is the first of six luxury vessels for new cruise line Explora Journeys. Owned by the Aponte family and MSC Group, the elegant 922-guest ship combines Swiss precision with modern European craftsmanship, offering suites and residences that are comfortable and spacious enough to be considered "homes at sea."

Guests can explore 14 decks offering nearly 27,000 square feet of outdoor space. Lounge at four pools (one with a retractable glass roof), book a rejuvenating body treatment at the spa, work out at the fitness center or browse the boutiques. There are also six dining venues, 12 bars and lounges, and a Chef's Kitchen for culinary classes and private dining. Regional wine pairings will accompany the onboard dining experience, which includes Pan-Asian, Mediterranean and French cuisine, as well as classic steakhouse offerings.

Compare  Explora Journeys  cruises on GoToSea.

Silver Nova: August 2023

Courtesy of Silversea Cruises

Top feature: Ship's asymmetrical deck plan, which offers more open spaces and higher ceilings

Fares begin around: $3,850 per person (double occupancy) for a seven-night cruise to Central and South America

Sails to: Caribbean, Central America, South America, U.S. West Coast, Alaska, Canada, Asia, Australia and New Zealand

Silversea Cruises' newest ship is the 728-guest Silver Nova . The 12th vessel in the fleet is ultra-luxurious and offers one of the highest space-to-guest ratios in the industry. Two highlights are the ship's asymmetrical design and aft suites, which have 270-degree views. Silver Nova's nine dining options include S.A.L.T. Kitchen's destination-inspired menus, Silversea 's classic dining experience at Atlantide and French cuisine at La Dame. Silver Nova is also Silversea's most environmentally friendly vessel yet.

Explore  Silversea  cruises on GoToSea.

Seven Seas Grandeur: November 2023

Courtesy of Regent Seven Seas

Top feature: "Journey in Jewels," the first Fabergé egg at sea

Fares begin around: $3,799 per person (double occupancy) for a seven-night cruise to Mexico and Central America

Sails to: Mediterranean, Caribbean and Panama Canal

The 746-passenger Seven Seas Grandeur will be Regent Seven Seas Cruises' third Explorer-class vessel when it launches late this fall. While Grandeur is similar to its two sister ships, Explorer and Splendor , the new vessel features updated lounges, restaurants, spa spaces and suites. The line's signature Regent Suite – coming in at an impressive 4,443 square feet – has also been redesigned by Miami firm Studio DADO.

A few additional standout spaces include the art nouveau design of the Observation Lounge (located at the bow of the ship) and the reimagined Serene Spa. The stunning new Compass Rose is the ship's main dining room. Meanwhile, the onboard art collection is also notable: Seven Seas Grandeur will set sail with the first Fabergé egg at sea.

Compare  Regent Seven Seas  cruises on GoToSea.

Celebrity Ascent: November 2023

Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Top feature: 32 restaurants, bars and lounges, including the redesigned Le Voyage by Chef Daniel Boulud

Fares begin around: $756 per person (double occupancy) for a seven-night cruise to Puerto Rico and the Caribbean

Sails to: Europe, Caribbean

The fourth ship in Celebrity Cruises' Edge class, Celebrity Ascent , will accommodate up to 3,260 passengers and offer the same features as other ships in the series. There are 32 bars, lounges and restaurants, including the newly designed Le Voyage by Chef Daniel Boulud.

Other favorites from the Edge-class ships will return on Ascent, such as the multideck Sunset Bar and an open-air Rooftop Garden with floating pools that are cantilevered over the edge of the ship. It's also home to Celebrity's Magic Carpet, a multipurpose 90-ton deck that moves up and down the side of the ship between Decks 2, 5, 14 and 16; it's used for everything from tendering passengers to hosting happy hours and private functions and late-night parties. Guests will also find Celebrity 's innovative Infinite Veranda staterooms and the exclusive ship-within-a ship concept of The Retreat.

Book a  Celebrity Cruises  itinerary on GoToSea.

Carnival Jubilee: December 2023

Top feature: Two new ocean-themed zones, Currents and The Shores

Fares begin around: $669 per person (double occupancy) for a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise

Sails to: Western Caribbean

Carnival's newest ship in the Excel class, Carnival Jubilee , will offer six zones (fun themed areas) for up to 6,631 passengers. The LNG-powered vessel features two new zones: Currents and The Shores. Currents is an immersive space with innovative technology such as LED windows and a wave-shaped LED Ceiling. Located on Decks 6 and 7, the space offers new venues for imbibing, dining and listening to live music, such as casual bar Inks, Ph.D and stylish lounge The Golden Mermaid. This is also where you'll find Emeril's Bistro 717.

The Shores, located on Deck 8, features a three-deck-high art installation of a school of fish, a boardwalk, and vibrant colors throughout the indoor and outdoor spaces. Dining and bar venues include Rudi's Seagrill, Cucina del Capitano and Marina Bar. Enjoy other returning Carnival favorites on Jubilee such as the BOLT sea coaster, Waterworks, SportSquare, the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat, Guy's Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina.

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Icon of the Seas: January 2024

Top feature: Largest cruise ship in the world, carrying up to 7,600 passengers

Fares begin around: $1,930 per person (double occupancy) for a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise

Sails to: Eastern and Western Caribbean

Icon of the Seas is the first Icon-class vessel in the Royal Caribbean International fleet – and the first new class of ship since 2014. When the massive vessel debuts in January 2024, it will replace Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas as the largest ship at sea (Icon of the Seas is 6% larger). The ship features eight distinct neighborhoods – including the new Surfside neighborhood, a colorful space geared toward family fun with kids clubs, Splashaway Bay, themed eateries and bars, adjacent staterooms and more.

There are four additional new neighborhoods as well. Thrill Island features Category 6, the largest water park at sea, while Chill Island boasts the line's first swim-up bar and The Hideaway features the first suspended infinity pool at sea. AquaDome, the impressive glass-enclosed space at the top of the ship, is home to the AquaTheater, panoramic ocean views, a waterfall, and bars and restaurants.

Sun Princess: February 2024

Courtesy of Princess Cruises

Top feature: Princess Cruises' largest ship and the first in the line's Sphere class

Fares begin around: $577 per person (double occupancy) for a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise

Sails to: Caribbean, Mediterranean

Sun Princess will have many new attractions when it launches in early 2024. It has the most balconies on any Princess Cruises ' ship, and you'll find exciting new dining, activity and entertainment offerings. One notable highlight is Park19, a top-deck space with activities for kids of all ages, including the Sea Breeze Rollglider, the first ride of its kind on a cruise ship. This new attraction soars 19 decks high and offers unparalleled views of the ocean below.

Cruisers can enjoy additional spaces like a two-story dome that is a pool during the day and a stage for shows at night; the European-inspired Piazza, which offers ocean vistas from nearly every angle; the Princess Arena, a high-tech performance space; the elegant three-story Horizons Dining Room; and the new Wake View Terrace with an infinity pool. There are also new styles of accommodations and expanded offerings for young children, tweens and teens. Sun Princess can accommodate up to 4,300 passengers.

Queen Anne: May 2024

Courtesy of Cunard Line

Top feature: The Pavilion, a glass-enclosed pool area with a retractable roof

Fares begin around: $1,199 per person (double occupancy) for a seven-night Western Mediterranean cruise

Sails to: Canary Islands, Mediterranean, Northern and Western Europe, Iceland, British Isles, Australia, Asia, Africa and Indian Ocean

When Queen Anne launches in spring 2024, it will be Cunard Line's 249th ship since the company's inception in 1840, and the line's first new vessel in 14 years. The 3,000-passenger ship will feature a fresh, modern design, yet still give a nod to the Cunard's art deco past.

Once on board, guests will discover new entertainment venues like the Bright Lights Society show bar and more wide-open spaces throughout the ship, as well as Cunard 's first two-story theater. New international dining options include Japanese restaurant Aji Wa with sushi and omakase menus, plus Indian cuisine at Aranya. Queen Anne also offers an extensive health and wellness program in collaboration with health group Mareel that features a large thermal suite, a spa pool and a top-deck wellness studio.

Find a  Cunard  cruise on GoToSea.

Utopia of the Seas: July 2024

Top feature: Three- and four-night ultimate weekend getaways

Fares begin around: $471 per person (double occupancy) for a three-night Bahamas cruise

Sails to: Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay (Royal Caribbean's private island)

Utopia of the Seas will be Royal Caribbean's sixth (and final) Oasis-class ship when it debuts in summer 2024. With a capacity of 5,668 passengers, the vessel will join the line's other Oasis- and Icon-class ships as the largest cruise ships sailing on the high seas. The ship will have the same eight neighborhoods as other Oasis-class ships, including Central Park, The Boardwalk and the Pool & Sports Zone.

The 40-plus food and beverage options will include new additions like the Pesky Parrot bar and a themed "mixed reality" dining experience that takes place on a train. A reimagined playscape is another addition, with nets, games, puzzles, slides and climbing walls for junior cruisers. The line's Ultimate Abyss – a dry slide with 10 stories of thrilling twists and turns – will now stretch an additional 43 feet, making it the longest dry slide at sea.

Explora II: August 2024

Top feature: Luxurious cabins

Fares begin around: $4,500 per person (double occupancy) for a seven-night Mediterranean cruise

Sails to: Caribbean and Central America, Mediterranean, Arabian Peninsula and Red Sea, India, Indian Ocean and Africa

As sister ship to Explora I, Explora II will offer the same transformative travel experience for 922 guests. The luxury vessel will feature 461 oceanfront suites with private terraces. Cruisers can take advantage of 11 culinary options across six dining venues, a dozen indoor and outdoor bars and lounges, and a Chef's Kitchen. Guests will also have access to four pools, 64 private cabanas and wellness facilities.

Silver Ray: Summer 2024

Top feature: One of the most spacious ships ever built; extraordinary space-to-guest ratio

Fares begin around: $4,000 per person (double occupancy) for a nine-night cruise to South America

Sails to: Mediterranean, Northern Europe, British Isles, South America, Caribbean and Central America

Silver Ray, Silversea's second Nova-class ship, is scheduled to set sail in summer 2024. The 728-passenger, low-emissions vessel will offer the same advanced hybrid fuel technologies as its sister ship, Silver Nova. It will also have Silver Nova's horizontal layout and asymmetrical design, creating more open public areas and providing suites with 270-degree views. In addition, guests on board the luxury vessel will have their choice of eight dining venues and a wide selection of bars and lounges, including The Marquee, a new alfresco restaurant.

Viking Vela: December 2024

Top feature: Larger than Viking's other ocean vessels, carrying up to 998 passengers

Fares begin around: $4,999 per person (double occupancy) for a 12-night northern lights cruise

Sails to: Scandinavia, British Isles, Iceland

Measuring 748 feet long and 101 feet wide, Viking Vela will be the line's largest ship when it debuts at the end of 2024. It will accommodate 68 more passengers than its sister ships, but feature Viking's signature veranda staterooms, public spaces, amenities and dining venues. Seasoned Viking cruisers can look forward to favorites like The Nordic Spa, the Wintergarden, Mamsen's, the Explorers' Lounge, the Sports Deck, Manfredi's Italian Restaurant and The Chef's Table.

Disney Treasure: December 2024

Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line

Top feature: Debut of new Disney Parks-inspired onboard venues

Fares begin around: $4,028 per person (double occupancy) for a seven-night Caribbean cruise

Sails to: Eastern and Western Caribbean, Castaway Cay (Disney Cruise Line's private island)

Fans of Disney Cruise Line will find many familiar venues, attractions and restaurants on the new Disney Treasure, sister ship of Disney Wish . However, there will also be plenty of new features, including the theme of the ship: adventure. The Grand Hall, inspired by the movie "Aladdin," is designed with dark shades of blue, turquoise and gold and features a golden statue of a magic carpet with Aladdin and Jasmine.

Plaza de Coco replaces Disney Wish's "Frozen" dining experience with a two-night Mexican, "Coco"-themed theatrical dinner show. Meanwhile, "Disney The Tale of Moana" – a Broadway-style production based on the film "Moana" – will be exclusive to Disney Treasure. Adults will also find new lounges, such as the Jungle Cruise-themed Skipper Society and the Periscope Pub, which is inspired by "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." Disney Treasure can carry up to 4,000 passengers.

Explore  Disney Cruise Line  deals on GoToSea.

MSC World America: Spring 2025

MSC's new futuristic ship – and sister ship to MSC World Europa – will be based in Miami and sail the Caribbean. The LNG-powered, 6,762-passenger ship will offer more than 420,000 square feet of public space and many of the attractions found on World Europa, such as the MSC Luna Park Arena and World Galleria. There will also be more than 30 dining venues, bars and lounges, as well as the line's private enclave, MSC Yacht Club.

Oceania Allura: June 2025

Oceania Allura will be the eighth ship in Oceania's fleet, the second vessel of the line's Allura class and the sister ship to Oceania Vista. The 1,200-passenger Allura will offer the same upscale amenities as Vista, as well as a new Chef's Studio and one of the highest space-to-guest and staff-to-guest ratios in the cruise industry. Allura is scheduled to debut in June 2025.

Star Princess: August 2025

Star Princess is scheduled to set sail in 2025 as the sister ship to Sun Princess. The 4,300-passenger, LNG-powered ship will offer the same features as Sun Princess, including the Dome, the Piazza and the line's Signature Collection Suites. The vessel will also have 29-plus restaurants and bars.

Star of the Seas: Summer 2025

Royal Caribbean plans to introduce Star of the Seas – the second Icon-class vessel and sister to Icon of the Seas – in summer 2025.

Disney Cruise Line: 2025

Disney purchased the former Global Dream from Genting's Dream Cruises in 2022, when it was still being built at the German shipyard MV Werften. Disney plans to base the ship in Singapore for at least five years, offering Disney vacations to the Southeast Asian market. When it launches in 2025, the vessel will be the line's seventh ship and is expected to carry 6,000 passengers. Another newly built, currently unnamed Disney ship is planned to debut in 2025, as well.

Norwegian Cruise Line: 2025 and beyond

The third Prima-class ship is expected to be approximately 10% larger than the first ship in the class, Norwegian Prima (143,535 gross tons). The following ships for the line are anticipated to be even larger, with the fifth and sixth Prima-class vessels (debuting in 2027 and 2028) weighing as much as 171,000 gross tons.

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity's fifth Edge-class ship will be more eco-friendly, thanks to the addition of a new tri-fueled engine model and the capacity to store three different kinds of fuel, including methanol. The effort toward net-zero emissions and more sustainable cruising is a partnership between Royal Caribbean, the French shipyard Chantiers de L'Atlantique and the technology firm Wärtsilä. A debut date for this ship has not yet been announced.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Gwen Pratesi has been an avid cruiser since her early 20s. She has sailed to destinations around the globe on nearly every type of cruise ship built, including the newest megaships, luxury yachts, expedition vessels and traditional masted sailing ships. She used her extensive experience with cruises to write this article. Pratesi covers the travel and culinary industries for major publications, including U.S. News & World Report.

You might also be interested in:

• The Newest Royal Caribbean Ships
• The Best Cruise Lines
• Cruise Packing List: Essentials for Your Cruise
• The Best Gay Cruises
• The Best Transatlantic Cruises

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