10 May 2019

Genting Dream Cruise (星梦邮轮) To Penang & Phuket

Embarked on Genting Dream Cruise for 4D3N to Penang and Phuket!
The cruise offers selection of interior (no window), oceanview, balcony/balcony deluxe, palace/palace deluxe suite, palace penthouse and palace villa staterooms.

Booking of palace suite room comes with some privileges (conversion fee applies for credit card payment for booking). When we arrived at Marina Bay Cruise Centre, priority lane was provided for palace guests to check-in their luggage and were guided to the Palace Lounge for refreshment.
Once the check-in procedure was completed, each palace guest was given a Gold cabin card and were guided to the Immigration. Thereafter, we boarded the ship and handed our passports to the ship crew. Passports will be returned on the last day before disembarkation. The crew will settle the immigration procedure at Penang and Phuket. Guests will only need to show their cabin card when they disembark and board at Penang and Phuket.
Checked in! 入住我们的皇宫套房!
Complimentary one-time beverage and snacks. Additional requests are chargeable.
Our friendly and helpful 24-hour butler, Jay informed us to call her anytime for assistance by dialing "Dream Butler". Palace guests enjoy complimentary internet access throughout the cruise and our butler assisted us to get connected to the WiFi on board.

She also handed us the note that listed "The Palace Exclusive Privileges" such as complimentary premium beverage available at all bars & lounges, complimentary 3 choices of specialty dining restaurants, complimentary shore excursions, opening hours of Palace Restaurant and the assemble locations for priority disembarkation. Very useful information!
Balcony for the sea view
Toiletries (Shaving kit, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, shower cap)
Shampoo, conditioner and body lotion
Seafood buffet dinner at palace restaurant (For palace guests only)
Snow Crab Leg (雪蟹腿), King Crab (帝皇蟹) and Red Sea Prawn (红海虾)
Cream of Mushroom (蘑菇浓汤) and Braised Scallop Soup (带子海皇羹)
Poached Scallop with Apple sauce 
Prawn and Avocado salad
Prawn Wanton Noodle with Abalone
Steamed Cod Fish
Took a stroll before we head for the entertainment show
Priority access is given to palace guests for the shows and free seating in the first few rows. 
Supper at The Palace Restaurant (Bread, porridge, fruits, green bean soup, fried kway tiao)
For breakfast, you can choose from different types of eggs (hard boiled, well done, scrambled, sunny side up)
Tap your Gold cabin card to access the exclusive pool and gym for palace guests on Deck 18.
Arcade games are paid separately which costs about S$2 per game.
Lunch at specialty restaurant - Uma Teppanyaki
Served with salad
Chicken and salmon teppanyaki
Fried rice with sunny side up egg
The cruise ship soon docked at Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal. We reached Penang! Upon disembarkation, we were swarmed with taxi drivers providing chartered transport service. We took the chartered transport service provided by Mr Lim at RM 200 for 4 hours' drive to Penang Hill (Bukit Bendera), Wat Chaiyamangalaram Thai Buddhist Temple (卧佛寺) and Dhammikarama Burmese Temple (缅佛寺) and had the popular Teochew Cendol along Lebuh Keng Kwee before heading back to the ship.
Back on the cruise ship for dinner at The Palace Restaurant
Soup of the day
Sushi, fried fish skin, apple salad
Lobster Hor Fun
Braised duck with sea cucumber
Our usual routine is dinner followed by entertainment show that was scheduled at 8.45pm.
Next destination on the third day - Phuket!
For Phuket, we'd need to board the tender boats to reach Patong Bay Pier. The crew assisted us by carrying my grandma who was in the wheelchair down the stairs to the tender boat. When we returned to the ship, they offered their assistance to carry her up to the cruise ship. Awesome!
Our Klook driver drove us to the Big Buddha, lunch and Big C supermarket. Do take note that Phuket is an hour behind Singapore so book your driver an hour earlier. The cruise follows Singapore time for departure. 

On our way to the Big Buddha, our driver told us that there were 3 locations along the road where we could meet the elephants. After an hour drive, we reached Big Buddha. Free entry but dress appropriately to pray.
Shopped for a short while at Big C supermarket before returning to the cruise ship for our high tea at Palace Restaurant.
Complimentary beverages at Bar 360. Drink, drank, drunk!
Our Butler made the dinner reservation for us at the specialty restaurant - Silk Road Chinese Restaurant (Chinese fine dining)
Soup of the day
Braised Sea cucumber and abalone 瑶柱烧肉海参鲍鱼时蔬
"Traditional style" poached farm chicken 古法白切鸡
Deep fried soft shell crab with Japanese Mayonnaise 芝麻酱軟殼蟹
Baked Lobster with garlic butter sauce 牛油蒜香焗龙虾
Explored the facilities on Deck 18 on the fourth day where there is mini golf area,
Ping Pong
Rock climbing
Outdoor rope course
Basketball court
Glow Bowling (chargeable)
Pool (chargeable)
Followed by lunch at Specialty restaurant - Hot Pot
Seafood combination set
Meat combination set
Choose your sauce for the hot pot
Tom Yum and Chicken soup base
Our Butler, Jay is very attentive and thoughtful. She informed us to place our luggage outside the cabin with the tags provided and arranged for us to have priority disembarkation. It was an enjoyable trip and quality time spent with my family members. =)