Two Guy Friends Review: The 4-Day-3-Night Japanese Super Seacation
UPDATE (FEBRUARY 2023): With the lowering of Singapore’s Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) to GREEN LEVEL as of February 2023, the preventive measures and/or testing requirements mentioned within this article are no longer in effect. Guests are advised to enquire with the respective cruise lines for updated Testing, Vaccination Requirements and Preventive Measures.
WORLD DREAM, OUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME FOR 4 DAYS AND 3 NIGHTS
PHOTO: SINGAPORE CRUISE SOCIETY
Singapore Cruise Society is back onboard Dream Cruises’ World Dream with a new series: Two Guy Friends Review! The last time we were onboard, we reviewed our experience in Dream Cruises’ Dream Palace - the all-inclusive, ship-within-a-ship concept for suite guests, during Phase Two (Heightened Alert).
This time though, we are focusing on the “Around The World On World Dream” programme, and our experience and thoughts on the ship’s offerings for non-Palace guests. We were onboard in a Balcony Deluxe stateroom from August 29, 2021 to September 1, 2021, for a 4-day 3-night Super Seacation Cruise. We paid SGD 329 per person, including port taxes and fees, and SGD 63 per person in gratuities, at the rate of SGD 21 per night.
COVID-19 Restrictions - Changes since our last voyage:
Singapore continues to adapt its COVID-19 restrictions as the situation progresses. With most of the nation now fully vaccinated, Singapore has now introduced differentiated measures for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. Changes ashore are seen reflected onboard.
Sailing at 50% Capacity, up from 25% during P2HA
Maximum Group Size of 5 persons, up from 2 persons during P2HA.
Dining in for FULLY VACCINATED guests (children under 12 exempted with fully vaccinated adults)
UNVACCINATED / PARTIALLY VACCINATED guests have to continue dining in their staterooms.
Day 1 - EMBARKATION DAY
A longer-than-usual wait for the pre-boarding Antigen Rapid Test
PHOTO: SINGAPORE CRUISE SOCIETY
Pre-Embarkation Testing, Check-in and Boarding
We arrived at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre before 1:30 PM for our scheduled Antigen Rapid Test (ART), with a 2:00 PM boarding time. However, the wait was unusually long, and there was a backlog of guests waiting to proceed for their pre-boarding test.
Check-in was fast and easy, with no hiccups and friendly staff to guide you through the check-in process. We also collected our Tracey device, Dream Cruises’ Contact-Tracing device. After an hour, we were finally aboard World Dream at around 3:00 PM. We pulled away from the dock at Marina Bay Cruise Centre at around 8:30 PM.
Our Stateroom:
Our stateroom was a Balcony Deluxe stateroom, which came with a bathtub-shower combination and a dual faucet sink. This stateroom was on deck 12 located near the Forward Lift Lobby. Convenient, spacious and comfortable with magnificent sea views.
THEMED ACTIVITIES
Around The World On World Dream – Wonders of Japan
Just like the earlier P2HA Palace Experience, World Dream is currently offering the “Around The World On World Dream” programme, where the ship introduces themed activities based on different countries around the world. The featured region for this travel period was Japan.
The entertainment team planned special Japanese-themed activities like Anime Trivia, Manga Drawing Demonstrations, arts and crafts, and cultural presentations for the guests. Other highlights like the Torii Tunnel, inspired by Kyoto’s famous Fushimi-Inari shrine, and the Lavender Field, inspired by the Lavender Fields found in Hokkaido, can be found at Deck 17 Aft of the ship.
Social Sharing Programme
Guests can take photos of themselves with the themed decorations like the Torii Tunnel or Lavender Field, post them on Instagram with the hashtags #WorldDreamWondersOfJapan and #WorldDream, and geo-tagging “World Dream” to receive a special Japanese gift!
Dream Champion Passport
Inspired by the recent Tokyo 2021 Olympics, the ship also held a stamp rally called the “Dream Champion Passport”, where guests can try out the different sports activities like the Rock Wall and Ropes Course and receive a stamp on their cards. Guests can redeem a special gift by getting 5 stamps.
The Boarding Day Food Situation:
Unlike our previous experience during Phase 2 (Heightened Alert), we could dine in the restaurants on board as we were fully vaccinated
Lunch:
Boarding Day lunch was served in both the Upper and Lower decks of the Dream Dining Room until 3:30 PM, and 4:00 PM in The Lido buffet. However, because of delays faced during the pre-boarding testing, we could only dine at The Lido. There was a good selection of dishes for everyone to try.
Dinner:
For dinner, banquet-style Chinese cuisine was our choice, served in the upper level of the Dream Dining Room. However, guests had to make an appointment and come back later if the restaurant was full because of the limited seating. We turned up at around 6:30 PM and reserved a slot at 7:30 PM.
Side Note: Dream Cruises also charges a nominal fee if guests visit multiple complimentary dining options per meal. But don’t worry, additional helpings of dishes in each dining venue come at NO extra charge, so if you find yourself liking a particular dish, no need to be shy. Ask the wait staff for more. They will be happy to bring you another serving.
Pool Deck - Reservations Required:
World Dream requires guests to book slots to use the ship’s swimming pool, kids pool and jacuzzis to ensure adequate distancing in a mask-off environment. Slots are usually one hour long, and each guest is entitled to only one slot a day. The ship’s water slides, however, require no reservations.
Entertainment:
As the Antigen Rapid Test (ART) before boarding is considered pre-event testing, the ship’s theatre showed both production shows on the first night of the voyage to give unvaccinated guests a chance to enjoy both shows in the theatre. The seating capacity was capped at 350 guests. The shows would be restricted to vaccinated guests only after 11:00 AM on Day 2 of the cruise.
The shows currently onboard are Vision, a magic show by magician Vincent Vignaud, and Faith, one of the production shows that you can find onboard. Both shows require reservation beforehand, which can be done through the Dream Cruises app once onboard the ship. If you’re unable to enjoy the show in the theatre, you may enjoy it on the TV in the comfort of your stateroom.
Yukata Fashion Runway
There is also a pre-show Yukata Fashion Runway, where models show off their traditional Japanese outfits before the production show Faith.
Day 2 - SEA DAY
Western Cuisine - Dream Dining Room (Lower):
For Day 2, we opted for the Western option for all meals. Western Cuisine is served at the Dream Dining Room (Lower).
Breakfast:
We opted for eggs cooked to our preferred style for breakfast, served on a platter of bacon, ham, baked beans, grilled tomatoes, sausages, and hash browns. Fruit compote and yoghurt were also available. The special for the day was American Pancakes.
Lunch and Dinner:
For Lunch and Dinner, meals were a 4-course affair - salad, soup, entrée and dessert. The salad, entrée and dessert are fixed, and you only select your choice of entrée. There’s usually around three entrées for you to choose from.
Culinary Demonstration - Kapowww! Chef Mel Dean Culinary Journey
We were taken on a Culinary Journey with Chef Mel Dean of Kapowww!, who taught us how to prepare a selection of dishes using his brand of Kapowww! Sambal and Kapowww! Kari pastes. This was on Deck 6 in the Main Lobby. Chef Mel Dean introduced guests to Kelantan Grilled Percik Chicken with Blue Pea Rice and Herbs, Minang Chicken Rendang and Chicken Kebabs with Pilaf Rice.
Arts and Crafts:
Keeping to the “Wonders of Japan” theme, the ship has various arts and crafts workshops available for guests to participate. However, slots are very limited, with only 15 guests per session. We tried to register for the Star Sand Miniature Bottle-Making workshop, but the workshop was full by the time we turned up.
Feeling Lucky? Why not try your luck at Jackpot Bingo?
Bingo seems to be a big thing across the Dream Cruises fleet. Games are held every day, evenly distributed throughout our time onboard. The Jackpot prize increases by a good amount as well. Tickets were sold in sets of 3 at SGD 30.
Day 3 - SEA DAY
Buffet Breakfast - The Lido
Today we opted for a buffet breakfast at The Lido, as we were rushing for our pool appointment. A large variety of breakfast favourites were available for guests to choose from. Waffles, toast, fried noodles and congee were just a few of the options. Beverages like coffee, tea and fruit juices were on offer as well.
Chinese Lunch and Dinner - Dream Dining Room (Upper)
For Lunch and Dinner, we opted for Chinese cuisine in the Dream Dining Room (Upper). Multiple dishes are served, and each meal usually consists of soup, a mix of fish, pork, chicken and vegetable dishes and a traditional Chinese dessert. Chinese lunch and dinner are served with a bowl of rice. Free-flow Chinese tea is available by the teapot as well.
Cultural Immersion
Geisha Makeup and Kimono Demonstration
We immersed ourselves in some Japanese Culture at the Geisha Make-up and Kimono Demonstration. Guests learnt about the make-up and Kimono worn by Geisha and were also introduced to the history and culture of Geisha.
Japanese Pop-Culture (Anime Trivia Wall & Manga Drawing Demonstration)
Maybe you’re into Japanese Pop Culture (just like one of our writers here at SCS). Dream Cruises hasn’t forgotten about you!
Feeling artsy, or just want to try a different style of drawing? Why not pick up a pencil and paper, and join in on the Manga Basic Drawing Lesson to learn how to draw in that distinct manga style!
For our friends who are into Anime, you’ll be pleased to learn your countless hours spent watching anime has not come to nought! Flex your knowledge at the Anime Trivia and walk away with a prize sponsored by the JNTO.
Spot The Ship!
One of the highlights of our cruise was Spot The Ship!, where participants were tasked with identifying different types of ships, based on the information given like position, bearing and distance relative to our ship, as well as the status of the vessel (Overtaking, Stationary, Crossing or Meeting). Participants are to guess the ship that the bridge team and activity’s host are seeing and write the information in a booklet that guests receive when registering for the activity. Binoculars are provided by the ship for the activity.
If Bearings and Distance sound too technical to you, don’t fret! These will be explained during the briefing before the activity starts. Upon completing the activity, you’ll receive a special certificate, signed and stamped by the Captain and Cruise Director. The team with the highest points will also receive a special prize.
We also had an opportunity to meet Captain Jan Blomqvist, the Captain of World Dream, and visit the Helipad! Slots are limited, so book early! We booked our places for this activity at the Esc Experience Lab at Deck 17 Aft right after we embarked.
Adventure Laser Display
Another highlight of the cruise was the Adventure Laser Display, a laser light show taking place on the ship’s upper decks. Standing space is limited, especially with the strict adherence to safe distancing between groups. The show took place three times on our cruise, at 10:00 PM, 10:30 PM, and 11:00 PM. Be sure to arrive early at your desired viewing time. If not, you may find yourself having to settle for some less-than-ideal viewing spots.
Day 4 – DISEMBARKATION
The Last Breakfast:
On Disembarkation Day, the restaurants open earlier at 6:00 AM and seat guests up to 8:30 AM. For our final meal onboard, we went for Chinese Breakfast at the Dream Dining Room (Upper). Chinese breakfast is usually an assortment of congee, fried noodles and dim sum. Free-flow Chinese tea is also available by the teapot.
Disembarkation
Disembarkation was done by deck, and guests were asked to remain in their staterooms until their deck has been called and when their stateroom attendant gives the okay to disembark. We stayed onboard until the last disembarkation group was called at around 10:30 AM, giving us some extra time to pack, freshen up to get ready for disembarkation. The process was smooth and quick.
THE REVIEW
First Impressions:
This trip certainly had one of the rougher boarding days, with the delays at pre-boarding testing pushing our boarding time back by an hour. This certainly had a knock-on effect, like not having other dining options for lunch and leaving us with less time to enjoy lunch at The Lido buffet. Honestly, not the best first impression for anyone and quite the damper for day 1 of a vacation which some may have been looking forward to.
Dining:
Unfortunately, delays at pre-boarding testing weren’t the end of boarding day issues. Our Chinese dinner on boarding day could only be described as unsatisfactory, with appetizers brought out of the galley early, and then served when guests were seated. While we understand that the crew may be working their hardest on limited manpower, we don’t think it is very pleasant to be served food that isn’t warm.
But things only got better from there. With feedback given to the ship’s Food and Beverage team taken seriously, we can see that the crew is willing to take swift action to remedy shortfalls in the process.
Our experience greatly improved in subsequent days, with food coming out of the galley hot and fresh. We were served by an attentive crew who would, for example, take the initiative to re-fill our empty teapot before we noticed.
Entertainment and Activities:
If there is one thing I like about Dream Cruises, it’s the entertainment. It’s plentiful, with many choices ranging from crafts, trivia and game shows, cooking demonstrations and cultural activities to keep guests occupied while at sea and immerse guests in the “Wonders of Japan” theme. It is undeniable the entertainment staff work hard to come up with new ideas and cater to everyone’s likes. The Anime Trivia Wall particularly interested me, being an Anime fan myself. The anime series quizzed are understandably mainstream, but a nice touch nonetheless. I never thought I would come across Anime Trivia on a cruise.
For Dance Classes and specific Arts and Crafts Sessions, make sure to arrive early as slots per session are capped at 10 and 15, respectively, to adhere to social distancing.
The two Theatre shows available were ample for a short three-night cruise. Though we watched both shows on Day 1, we should point out that Faith is also scheduled on Day 3, but limited to 350 vaccinated guests per showing only.
Facilities:
Onboard facilities are plentiful with places like lounges, swimming pools, waterslides, a gym, spa, and the (very) large casino. There is also the Esc Experience Lab located on Deck 17 aft, where there are things like Racing Simulators and VR Games, though extra charges do apply. For us, we won three tickets for the VR Games from Spot The Ship! Overall, the ship is jam-packed with a LOT to do. And like the entertainment, there’s something for everyone.
The (Very) Large Casino:
The Casino on board is most likely the most prominent and grandest casino we have seen on a cruise ship, spanning three decks, in what is essentially a second lobby. There is no shortage of table games like Blackjack and Roulette. There is one clear favourite, though - Slot Machines.
Yes. Slot machines can be found in several places onboard the ship. We were finding slot machines in some not-so-casino-like places. The hallway leading from the Main Lobby to the Casino is filled with slot machines. Tributes on Deck 8, a bar and lounge, is now also filled with slot machines, as is The Dream Store, which has now been decked out with, yes, slot machines.
Internet Packages:
Unlike our previous Dream Palace experience, internet access is not included for guests not residing in suites. Dream Cruises offers internet packages with different speeds and limits on the number of devices connected per session for those who require an Internet connection whilst at sea. Packages start from SGD 9, but we opted for the Premium WiFi Package for two devices, for SGD 25/night.
Standard packages offer basic speeds, suitable for social media and messaging. Premium packages provide higher speeds where you can stream video and make video calls.
SOURCE: Dream Cruises
Crowds:
Even though World Dream is currently sailing at 50% capacity, certain activities definitely had noticeable lines. Lines to reserve pool slots can be seen, as well as for some craft activities with limited slots. However, the ship itself never felt crowded. We know, because the elevators did not stop at every other deck, when ships were sailing at full capacity pre-pandemic.
SUGGESTIONS
More Japanese Food, Please.
Food is a significant way to immerse yourself and understand a different culture. While World Dream has Umi Uma, it’s speciality Japanese sit-down and Teppanyaki restaurant, there was a noticeable lack of Japanese food options outside of it.
Unlike the previous feature on “Around The World On World Dream”, Thailand, Japan had no food stands selling reasonably-priced cuisine. I personally thought the absence of the food stand concept was a wasted opportunity to introduce guests to Natsu Matsuri, or Summer Festivals held across Japan, where there are food stands set up, selling favourites like Okonomiyaki, Kakigori (shaved ice) and Ramune soda, packaged in a distinctive codd-neck bottle.
There were no Japanese-themed dishes in the Dream Dining Room either, even though Western kids meals were being served in Japanese Bento Boxes. The one see here was from Day 2’s Western lunch at the Dream Dining Room (Lower)
The lack of Japanese food is also evident in the culinary demonstrations we watched. Not to say that Kelantan Grilled Percik Chicken with Blue Pea Rice and Herbs and Minang Chicken Rendang was not enjoyable (we actually found it quite interesting), but we’d figured that on a cruise with the theme “Wonders of Japan”, the culinary demonstrations would also highlight some Japanese dishes. Once again, if Thai dishes were showcased in culinary demonstrations for Thai-themed cruises, why not Japanese dishes for Japanese-themed cruises?
IN CONCLUSION
This trip certainly had one of the rougher boarding days of the many cruises we have taken. However, we were pleased to learn that the management took our feedback seriously, and the ship’s crew were quick to make changes to improve guests’ experience. Dining wasn’t the most fancy, but it’s not a negative experience either. Entertainment was plentiful, and the Japanese-themed activities added a breath of fresh air to the mix, though we feel there is still a lot of untapped potential.
Overall, it was a delightful four days onboard, and for the price, we paid, definitely worth the money.
READ MORE
