As a fairly recent entrant into the world of cruising, I’ve heard
positive reviews about Resort World Cruises' The Palace from travel
agents and cruise experts. Naturally, I was eager to discover what's behind the "luxury ship within a ship" concept, which
features an exclusive all-suite enclave with private facilities and
butler service.
The opportunity arose when I had the chance to embark on a 4D3N
cruise experience on Genting Dream from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur (Port
Klang) and Penang. While I've cruised twice before, this was a new
experience for my family—two kids (8 and 6 years old), my husband, and
my parents—making it an fascinating test of their reaction.
Here's what makes this family-friendly Asian cruise line stand out:
The Palace perks and dedicated amenities
Palace guests enjoy priority check-in and embarkation, a handy perk that allowed us to breeze through security clearance at the cruise terminal, granting us more time to enjoy the ship’s facilities and amenities.
The standout feature of Palace is the 24-hour butler service. Renzo, who greeted us upon check-in, ushered us aboard and led us to our Palace Suite. He quickly learnt what our preferences were, making sure we were ahead in our restaurant bookings and always inquiring if there was anything we needed.
Measuring between 37-40sqm, the Palace Suite sleeps up to four pax. Photo Credit: Xinyi Liang-Pholsena
Our Palace Suites on Deck 15 were nothing short of grand, plush, and
incredibly comfortable. The 40 sqm space provided ample room for a
queen-sized bed with Italian fine linens, a wardrobe, dresser, a double
sofa bed, a sizeable balcony offering relaxing ocean views, premium bath amenities from Etro, and complimentary coffee and minibar. The complimentary Wi-Fi for Palace
guests was certainly a sweet bonus too.
Another plus, of course, are the dedicated Palace facilities, located
on Decks 15 to 18 towards the front of the ship. The Palace Pool &
Sun Deck offered a crowd-free oasis with ample cabanas and day loungers.
Plus, there’s also daily Happy Hour serving up complimentary drinks at
Palm Court.
Dining to one’s heart content
On Genting Dream, expect to dine to your heart’s content with its
wide array of dining options. Buffet restaurant Lido caters to all
cruisers, offering a smorgasbord of international, Asian and halal
cuisine, alongside the semi-buffet dining outlet The Dream Dining Road.
In addition, specialty dining options include Hot Pot, complete with al
fresco sea breeze and views; and Chinese fine dining at Silk Road
Restaurant.
Umi Uma is one of Genting Dream's popular specialty restaurants, offering a variety of Japanese and Korean cuisines.
A meal at Umi Uma was as delectable as it was entertaining, with the
teppanyaki chef’s singing and amusing antics (anyone seen an omelette
cobra before?) keeping us entertained throughout dinner. The delightful
staff, upon finding out that my father had just celebrated his 70th
birthday, even threw in a surprise cake and song, showcasing a
thoughtful touch.
My family’s favourite spot was the all-day-dining Palace restaurant,
where steaming food are churned out round the clock. Breakfast, lunch,
high tea, or craving a post-show supper? This is the place to be.
Diverse facilities, service with heart
Genting Dream, of course, has plenty of facilities and activities
beyond the Palace zone. The Waterslide Park was a hit with my kids, who
took to the different slides and water guns dotting the kids’ play area.
But there’s different degree of difficulties, so kids of any age can
find their own fun zone.
Younger kids will certainly love the wading pools, while teenagers or
tweens (as long as they’re above 1.2m) can opt for the thrill of
snaking slides and zipline suspended over the ocean. The foam party at
Zouk Beach Club was another memorable highlight for my kids, where they
got to soak in bubbly fun.
Genting Dream’s Palace Pool and Sun Deck is a relaxing haven for Palace guests.
We also enjoyed the Captain Bridge’s Tour led by Captain Jukka
Silvennoinen, who took a break from his ship steering duties to offer
insights into the bridge's functions and equipment, and take photos with
the captain and crew.
Live production shows are a highlight of any Genting Dream
experience. The Crew Talent Show showcased the staff's amazing talents,
while Jingle Belles combined ballet, aerial acrobatics, singing, and
comedy. For the two shows that we caught, both kids and adults were
riveted in their seats for the 45-minute performance. And the best part of being Palace guests? We get priority seating at
the Zodiac Theatre, so that meant we didn't need to rush through dinner
to get the best view.
'Tis the season for 'Jingle Belles’, a performance featuring acrobatic performance and aerial acts with a comedic touch.
Our 4D3N voyage felt too short a time to properly enjoy and discover
every amenity this floating wonderland has to offer, while also carving
out time for shore excursions and relaxing by the poolside.
But for those in search of a mid-sized ship teeming with amenities, attentive service, and activities catering to both adults and children, Genting Dream’s Palace is a stellar choice.