TRIED & TESTED_CRUISE
We review Genting Dream from Dream Cruises
we sail out, the view of Singapore will be on port side,” explains the captain of Genting Dream. “We’ll then head for Pulau Redang Island in Malaysia, Sihanoukville in Cambodia and Laem Chabang in Thailand.”
Genting Dream is a massive ship with 3,300 passengers and almost 2,000 crew so it takes a bit of time and concentration navigating your way around.
There are 35 restaurant and bar concepts including the Penfolds Wine Vault where, for $26 per person, a minimum of five people are entertained by the ship’s chief sommelier as he decants and serves premium wines, creating quite a theatrical half hour.
At the prestigious Prime Steakhouse & Seafood Grill, the menu is devised by one of Australia’s top chefs, Mark Best, who joined us on this voyage and happily shared his culinary delights.
At the Japanese Umi Uma, the chef proudly demonstrates his teppanyaki cooking skills on the large, steel grill producing premium Japanese cuisine.
There’s no shortage of Asian fare with the Blue Lagoon exploring its signature noodle hawker food; Snack Corner, ready constantly for the occasional top-up; the Korean BBQ for lunch or dinner; and the Lido international buffet featuring Indian,
Halal and Chinese food.
Slipped under our cabin door each morning is the Dream Daily where activities for young and old are listed along with opening hours for all facilities. Either standard or premium WiFi is available for a nominal charge on a daily or full-cruise basis.
Noticeable are the swift lifts with minimum waiting time. Go to deck 16 and you’ll find the pool, spas and water slides all bustling with action.
A totally exclusive area is The Palace. Spread across three decks, there are 142 suites including a Palace Penthouse and a Palace Villa; and Palace Deluxe Suites and Palace Suites – and all have stocked mini-bars and espresso machines. Palace passengers receive priority embarkation, full butler service, a beverage package, use of a private pool and two Jacuzzis, WiFi and shore excursions.
Dream Cruises offers an excellent Asian cruise as we sail along the coastline of Cambodia and Thailand. At the end of this year a new but smaller ship (1,800 passengers), Explorer Dream, will begin cruising around Australia and New Zealand.