wychoo

I heard SG is the unofficial capital of WA due to the closer proximity than Sydney. (joking)

It will be packed with local families and children this being the year end school holidays.

On another matter Genting HK just posted a 1/2 year loss of USD203M.

I reckon Genting would not have survived if not for the very generous donations from Choo in their ships casino.

LOL... thats a funny one... they would have gone bust a lot sooner if they had depended on my contributions at the casino. I don't really spend a lot of time at the casino.. with my wife and kid around.. daytime is strictly family time and I only get to play 3-4 hours after my kid goes to bed. I do however spend a little at the spa, massage and paying restaurants.

Hi Guys

Came across a cruise leaving singapore on 3 Dec.

Just wondered what the demographics are for Genting dream?

We are a couple with a 15 yr old daughter from WA.

We've cruised with RCCL before so wondering how the passenger mix would compare.

TIA.

The Dec 3 GD cruise is a 6D/5N cruise to Penang/Phuket... IMHO, the longer duration cruises typically have more holiday cruisers than the shorter weekend 2N cruises where you will see more casino cruisers.

I don't think they publish the demographics but in Asia, you probably see more families with young kids than retired OA cruisers.... it also depends on when you cruise.... during school holidays, there will be more families with kids. Have fun.... GD is a different experience from RC... it depends on what you like... for me I just like to be on a ship and not having to do anything except eat and sleep. ;p

Just booked the 6D/5N China national holiday week cruise to Naha and Miyakojima. Fingers crossed we don't bump into any typhoons... been holding back my reservation until now because of the typhoon season.

Will try out the high seas cruise for World Dream first before the 6D cruises... new ship will have teething problems.

Btw, anyone compared the internet speed of VOOM of RC to Genting Dream? Just curious if they they are the same. I believe VOOM is also powered by Harris Caprock satellite solution.

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Just checked and World Dream is not showing up in the booking options... maybe they had took it off. I am keen to try out World Dream... wonder any difference to the facilities and interior.... its identical in size to the Dream.

I have always wanted to visit Boracay island but was wondering whether it's safe from pirates.... what are chances of pirates boarding a large cruise ship like World Dream?

Just spoken to reservations, the World Dream is departing from HK for weekend high seas on Nov 17. It's not open for booking yet but that's the planned schedule. For the 6D/5N cruises, understand it will be rotating between Vietnam and Philippines... maybe Japan is cold that time of the year so no point cruising there if you can't enjoy the pool and water slides.

If World Dream is in Singapore on Nov 14, it will have to cruise non-stop to get to HK in time for the Nov 17 HK cruise.

Dream is heading to Singapore mid Nov... they have a 5D4N HK to SG cruise lined up. "Its the Ship" charter is on Nov 17th... should be fun.

For Kai Tak cruise terminal, I don't think the problem is with Dream... its with the cruise terminal itself. Badly designed and managed. Check out the roof top park.... weeds everywhere. The check-in is relatively fast now, it's the embarkation side... they open up the security checks late when few thousand people are already waiting to board so you can imagine the chaos when embarking.

It's twice the problem when another ship is arriving/leaving around the same time.

Latest World Dream Hull Artwork.....

I think going out on an empty load is probably a more expensive exercise. But it could be other reasons why they canceled like maybe operation reasons etc.

But you can't compare Dream to the other Star Cruise ships... its almost 4 times the size of the Libra in tonnage. Honestly, I think Dream will fit nicely in SG ... there are good mix of regular VIP players and paying passengers to sustain.

HK market is a little saturated right now.... we are spoilt for choices. I used to be a Diamond member of Sands Macau (expired now... hard to maintain)... Macau casinos are quite aggressive nowadays offering free return ferry, 5 star hotels and shows too. Not to mention the free food and drinks plus the freebies like iPhones, gold bars etc. People will not go for Dream just for their casinos... its got to have a good mix of family fun and relaxation at least for me. I enjoy the private balcony time with my wife and the other ship activities with the family. I only go to the casinos at night after the family is asleep.

Dream is trying to tap into this market of high rollers with their Dream Palace offering. I think they will succeed because a lot of the high rollers does not like to be associated with Macau for obvious reasons. For Dream, they can embark in Nansha, Guangzhou.... don't even need to travel to HK.

Correction - Sapphire Princess is a fly cruise package from SG or Taiwan. Costa Victoria is offering 5N to Japan in Sept very cheap but I am not a Costa fan.

Any news about the World Dream inaugural cruise from SG to HK?

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IMHO, they are not getting enough passengers for the 5N cruises so they are cancelling. I think the people in HK are being spoilt for choices... we have RCL, Princess and Costa coming in this period. Voyager of seas is about 20% cheaper while Costa is around 30%. Sapphire Princess is around 10% cheaper I recall but these ships are older and smaller.

Ovation is priced around the same and will be in HK in Oct and Nov. Paying an extra 20% I can get a fly cruise package on Norwegian Joy. Furthermore, my HK friends normally book their cruise holidays a year in advance and the fly cruise packages are pretty good too.

The regular gamblers can't afford the 5N cruises which costs 50 CCs for inside and 100 CCs for balcony cabin. Having said that I am saving up my CCs for a 5N hopefully in Oct/Nov before the ship home ports in SG from Dec.

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Just got off Genting Dream an hour ago. It was chaos at Kai Tak cruise terminal... voyager of the seas arrived an hour before Genting Dream so you can imagine 7000+ people disembarking then another 7000+ embarking. Zouk foam party was "happening" and there was a young and vibrant crowd this weekend.... you can see the drunk party crowd at Blue Lagoon for their after party late supper.

I was very lucky and grateful RWAS upgraded me to Dream Executive Suite - 12508. Corner suite at FWD area with separate living room and access to Dream Palace. My wife and kid wanted to play the water slides so didn't try the Dream Palace private pool. It was also a first experience for me having a butler... thank you Stan and Xiao Yue.

It was full house cruise... went to Lido for lunch and had to wait 15 mins for a table. So for dinner went for Umi Uma Teppanyaki instead which was around one third full only. There was a lot more activities this time.. live bands singing at a few places, children games, 3D movies, special performance by some TVB folks, etc.

Also found time for body massage this time... only just found out we can leave the kid at the panda club three times a day for 2 hours each time.

Best trip so far.. won some pocket money too.. [emoji4]... see you again Genting Dream - July 21.

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I suspect the turnout at zouk will be pretty good this weekend. Zouk is offering a special package includes cabin, dinner party and champagne etc I think. Checked out Dreamcruise website.... they have sold out for this weekend only Dream Suite still available.

Going with family so no partying... but will definitely check out Zouk and the pretty DJ (see banner below). The drinks package quite good too. 2 bottles Moet + Gun @ $3500 and 6 bottles + Gun @ $6000

I noticed the this thread is rather quiet so like to start a discussion. For the guys who has been on the cruise, did you notice any roulette tables at the casino? I mean real tables with chips not the computer machine. On my last trip didn't recall seeing any roulette tables.

Btw, I am going on this weekend's cruise - 23rd. Wondering if anyone else has signed up.. they are having a form party with few guest DJs at Zouk this weekend.

Chinese buffet is on 7th floor AFT side. Going again June 23... will see if any improvements.

Btw, Norwegian Joy stopping by in HK tomorrow.

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On my last trip, didn't see any queues for dinner. In terms of food, (to me) the free buffet food was probably about the same with RCL. However, the hawker food (not free) was really good... the fried kuey teow and bak kut teh was good. The hainan toast, eggs and coffee at 6th floor bakery was also pretty good and cheap (around HK$35 for the tea set I recall).

Actually, the buffet on Ovation was better but the Chinese buffet at Dream Dining wasn't too bad... the roast beef was pretty good.

Have the queues for the Genting Dream MDR been improved yet? Always heard long queues when someone goes for dinner. And is the food comparably better than RCL or about the same? Thanks

On my last trip, didn't see any queues for dinner. In terms of food, (to me) the free buffet food was probably about the same with RCL. However, the hawker food (not free) was really good... the fried kuey teow and bak kut teh was good. The hainan toast, eggs and coffee at 6th floor bakery was also pretty good and cheap (around HK$35 for the tea set I recall).

I have booked Ovation for 3 Nov ... 5N to Vietnam. Initially wanted to book the 9N from HK to SG but didn't want the hassle of booking hotel and travel back to HK. Been on Ovation before but just booked first... paid minimum deposit first.

Still tempted to try Norwegian Joy..... but need to fly to Shanghai.

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I just try the SG hotline again before posting again. And Walla!!!!! ............The line is working now. So I will make the booking again.

 

Let me just mention that I have been a casino VIP member for the last 20 years. But with all the fantastic increases in points to cruise I am about the last 5% of members still cruising SC in SG. Been on SC ships 2 times this year and did not do any gambling. My next trip will be to use up my remaining points and will be my last cruise on SC.

I can imagine you must a high roller.... it takes 50 Cruise Points to redeem a 6D/5N inside cabin or 100 CPs for balcony stateroom. I managed to collect around 55 cruise points from the last weekend trip which is not enough to comp a 6D/5N balcony cruise so will keep the points for a couple of weekend trips instead. Btw, did you stay at dream palace suites the last trip? I wonder how much they cost and how to book it, the best you can book thru website is a dream suite which is not dream palace.

I just tried calling SCSG number and the message was call back Mon - Fri 9.30am-6.30pm. Then I tried HK number... got thru within seconds. Already booked my next travel on 23rd Jun.

Suggest you try the HK number now. +852-23782088.

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Interestingly, the weekend cruises are still packed.... maybe the members are booking when onboard.

I managed to be thru to their hotline but have not booked yet because I need to nominate list the accompanying guests online first prior to booking. Will try again soon and let you know if I get thru.

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They are still doing the 6D/5N to Okinawa from HK. Nansha is still available in July.. check out "www.dream***************" website for the itineraries.

The hotline works ... just takes a long time for someone to answer. Tip: they log off at 11.30pm so good time to try calling would be at night and select mandarin language. I suspect they have more mandarin speaking staff.

Did you try their new resortsworldatsea.com website?

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I notice you are local. Did you pay cash for the cruise or points from the casino.

I was on the 5N and 2N weekend cruise in February. Yes the weekend gambling cruise is really packed, 3600 pax. 2 Chinese restaurants fully book, and the buffet restaurant ran out of food. Don't even have roast pork which was about the only meat dish when I eat there.

Dream is changing their schedule again and the Jun 30 and Jul 2 cruises have been cancelled.

How do casino members book for the cruises now since the booking call centre hotline is not operative and the booking website is down for more than 1 month now.

I paid in cash. There was a 25% off promo for HK residents... paid HK$8443 excl gratuities. There was roast pork at the lido buffet in fact a lot of it. The Jun 30 and Jul 2 cruises have been cancelled I think may be due to the 20th Anniversary of the HK handover. Premier Xi is in town so security is very tight all over HK and surrounding. The Jun 25th cruise will embark from HK but disembark in Shenzhen. DC will provide free transportation back to HK.

For casino members you can redeem by calling the hotline. I actually called yesterday and had to wait around 8-10 mins to get thru.... think they are extremely busy.... running a buy 1 free 1 promo now. Redeem a room (inside, oceanview or balcony) for discounted 18 cruise points and get another weekend trip free. You have to book the free trip by 28th Jul. Same points for balcony or inside room so better hurry before they run out.

Tip: Call the gold/platinum card hotline to get thru faster. Once thru, they don't care what level member you are.

Went on the weekend cruise - 26th May. First impressions were quite good. Had the balcony deluxe room (8530) near FWD on 8th floor which was quite a walk from the centre. Overall, the room was quite spacious and comfortable with extra large balcony. The bed IMHO was actually better than RC's Ovation. The bathrooms were spacious and had all the basic amenities (unlike RC's) provided and replenished. However didn't get the designer Ferragamo toiletries as shown in the youtube videos.

Last weekend cruise was quite packed consisting of HK and Mainland guests.... also noticed significant number of Indian guests...

Bottled water was provided but not replenished.. can be bought at HK$5 per bottle if required. Tip: you can pick up free bottled water from the slot machines near the casino. Plenty of things to do to keep family occupied but the ping pong table should be moved indoors like Ovation.... too windy to play.

Only had one show - "Voyage of a lover's dream".... no concerts or "China got talent" shows.

The weekend cruise is too short (you only get a full day to enjoy the ship)... the ship arrived back in HK around 7am and you are expected to disembark by 8.30am after breakfast.