Review: I Went On One Of Genting Dream's New Themed Cruises
We went on board the Genting Dream's themed Halloween cruise with lots of spooky fun
By Michelle Lee SM -
Going on the high seas has just gotten a whole lot more fun. Resorts World Cruises has recently introduced a line-up of thematic cruises that kickstarted with the Light Meets Night cruise with colourful and interactive installations, and most recently, the Clowning Around theme for Halloween. While its Halloween cruise is on only till Nov 2 (and available for booking if you're up for a last-minute getaway), it has two other themed cruises in the pipeline that you can pack your bags for.
Here's how our stay on board the Halloween-themed cruise went.
The stateroom and Halloween-themed rooms
Your choice of accommodation or staterooms (cruise speak for guestrooms) range from the standard Interior Stateroom to the Oceanview and Balcony Staterooms. For a fancier stay, you can opt for the Palace suites or rooms that allow access to exclusive facilities like the Palace restaurant, an outdoor pool and butler service.
We were housed in the Balcony Deluxe Stateroom (22 to 28 sq ft) that comes with a cosy balcony so you can soak in the gorgeous ocean views. It's also outfitted with a plush queen-sized bed, as well as a sofa bed. The bathroom isn't large but clean and well-appointed with enough space for a comfortable shower. I definitely appreciate the long trough sink with two faucets — no fighting over who gets to wash up first!
Amenities-wise, there's nothing fancy — a small electric kettle, bottled water, and two coffee and tea packets each as well as sugar and creamer. We didn't find a clothing iron in our room, too.
If you have a love for the macabre and are up for sleeping with imagery of killer clowns, there are exclusive cabins across three different themes – IT Clown, Joker, and Horror Clown Masks. These are available at a top-up of $80 (U.P. $160) per cabin and come with two complimentary tickets to the Horror Maze and foam party.
To really get into the Halloween spirit, the highlight of the cruise is undoubtedly the Horror Maze located at the basketball court. Up to four people can go in at once, and you'll have to go on a mission to track down gems hidden around the maze. Be prepared for a creepy clown (or three) to be lurking around the corners to jump at you. If it's any reassurance, the good news is that they can't grab or touch you.
Scare factor: We'll give it a six out of 10. Or a four if you're the sort who thinks the USS Halloween Horror Nights is a piece of cake.
Entry to the Horror Maze is priced at $30 per person, which includes a free ticket to the Foam Party at Zouk Beach Club. Open to visitors aged 18 years old and above only.
Over at the Main Lobby, there's a small Halloween-themed photo backdrop for fun snaps, as well as a game of bowl-over-clowns and a bean bag toss. The young ones can also make or snag a take-home souvenir at the "Eyeball Slime" and Halloween UFO Catcher booths.
And when they're tired out, the lobby cafe has cute Halloween-themed treats like a Jack-o'-lantern cake, a clown-inspired cupcake, and more they can dig into. (PSA: There's also bubble tea on the menu if you need a boba fix).
If you're on the search for non-creepy adventures, there's a seemingly endless list of things to do while you're on board. The sporty and adventurous can strap on their safety harnesses and get on the rope course, before whooshing down the 35m zipline, right above open water. (PSA: wear covered shoes and for those with long hair, your hair will need to be tied back).
Otherwise, put on your swimwear and have slippery fun in the waterslide park with six different waterslides, from thrilling three-storey ones that older kids will enjoy, and smaller slides more suited for younger kiddos.
There are various workshops to take part in, as well as mini golf, two arcades, and a small bowling alley (located next to Zouk nightclub). And speaking of which, party-goers can check out the indoor Zouk at Sea nightclub (we just couldn't pass up on $13.50 cocktails) and dance to party anthems by the DJ on the deck. Otherwise, join in the revelry at the main pool deck, where a live band will belt out tunes come nighttime.
Apart from the pool, you can also cool off with sudsy fun at the Foam Party at the Zouk Beach Club. Each ticket also gets you an iced tea or beer, alongside ice cream.
One thing's for sure — you don't want to miss the stellar performances by the top-notch entertainers on board. Grab a copy of the ship's itinerary for activities and showtimes each day.
Over at the Zodiac Theatre, we caught the interactive Love Matters game show that weaves together audience participation together with musical performances centred around love. There's also the Yin & Yang show, which showcased a spectacular Chinese face-changing display, jaw-dropping acrobatics and more.
And if you're travelling without kids (or once you've put them to sleep), you might want to consider catching the adults-only Dream Boys show. Lots of racy moments (read: men gyrating in their trunks), laughter, and saucy good fun.
The Dream Boys show is non-inclusive and priced at $50 per person (standard tickets) and $60 per person (VIP front row seats).
There are three inclusive restaurants on deck: Buffet restaurant The Lido, Upper Deck Dining and Lower Deck Dining.
The most popular would be The Lido, which has a spread of international delights, as well as halal and authentic Jain vegetarian options. There are some hits and misses, but the food is generally decent. Feeling peckish after-hours? The outdoor deck at Lido doles out late-night snacks (think pizza, onion rings, chicken wings and buns) from 10pm to 2am.
Non-inclusive restaurants
If you like your meal with a side of theatrics, teppanyaki restaurant Umi Uma is where to be. Here, teppanyaki chefs entertain both kiddos and grownups with their culinary antics and showmanship — I couldn't help but chuckle when our chef created a 'beating heart' out of fried rice, or adorable flowers fashioned out of sunny side-ups. And the food's good, too.
For a fancy meal, hop on to the elegant Bistro helmed by chef Reinhard Mammes, who is also the executive chef of the Dream Cruises. European fare is on the menu, with diners treated to plates like pan-fried halibut and roasted lamb rack.
The Gelataria located on Deck 8 offers an array of luscious ice creams — park yourself at one of the outdoor seats to enjoy the sea breeze while you dig into a delicious frosty treat.
Psst: We got an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the galley, where the kitchen crew churns out an estimated 15,000 to 18,000 meals a day to feed both guests and the ship's crew. In the halal kitchen, the cooking equipment and tools are all individually marked and coloured to differentiate them from the rest.
Fun fact: For safety reasons, all meals are whipped up using induction heat, and no open flames are allowed.
You can book shore excursions through the cruise, which will take you on a guided tour (at an additional fee per person). The first of our stops was at Kuala Lumpur's Port Klang, where we headed to the Batu Caves, nestled within a four-hundred-year-old limestone hill.
Marvel at the colossal gold-painted statue of Murugan at the foot of the hill, then climb 272 steps (it's not as tough as it sounds, we promise) to reach the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple located at the top.
Pro tip: Don't bring plastic bags along with you, lest you want to be a target of the crowd of monkeys. Also, wear bottoms that go beyond your knees, or you'll have to rent a sarong or scarf from one of the vendors there.
Then there's Kwai Chai Hong in KL's Chinatown, which takes visitors on a journey back to the 1960s with nostalgic street art installations and murals. The surrounding neighborhood is home to a slew of trendy cafes and stores to check out.
For lunch, we stopped by Madam Kwan's at Pavilion mall, best known for its authentic Malaysian fare. The nasi lemak is its star, but don't sleep on the nasi bojari, which was delicious too, with a crispy chicken thigh, fragrant rice, and robust beef rendang.
Over in Penang, we swung by Georgetown — a Unesco heritage site — where you can marvel at and take pictures with vibrant street art strewn across the area. Yes, including the viral 'Kids On A Bicycle' mural by Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic at Armenian Street.
Then it's on to lunch, where we got to eat like a local. The tour includes a plate of Penang-style char kway teow, as well as a bowl of traditional Teochew cendol from Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul. If you're looking for edible souvenirs to bring home, there's the popular Ming Xiang Tai pastry shop with offerings like flaky chicken floss, meat and salted egg yolk pastries, as well as egg tarts.
When you're in Penang, check out The Top Komtar, Penang's tallest skyscraper. You can make stop at level 65 for the indoor observatory deck, with full-height glass windows and a floor that allows for marvellous views and photos. Then head to level 68 for the outdoor Rainbow Skywalk, a transparent glass walkway that allows for a thrilling walk at 249m above ground level.
While the 'Clowning Around' cruise is on till only Nov 2, Resorts World Cruises will also be introducing other thematic cruises in November and December. For a getaway that focuses on wellness, hop on the Sensational Voyage (Nov 2 – 13, 2022) that'll host exercises and meditation classes under the supervision of professionals, and onboard nutritionists.
And to get in a festive mood, make a booking for the Jelilo Christmas cruise (Nov 18, 2022 to Jan 1, 2023). From Christmas markets to sumptuous feasts and gift-making workshops, there's a magical time to be expected. Plus, the cruise has teamed up with famous homegrown art and toy designers from design agency Gagatree. Renowned for their unique art and toy creations, you'll get a glimpse of these magical toys on the ship.
Visit Resorts World Cruises' website for bookings or more information.