The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps
This is part 2, where I will write about the shows and food at Universal Studios Japan with young children, aged 5.5 and 8 years old. You can start from Part 1 if you need more information about Universal Studios Japan (“USJ”) regarding ticketing, accommodation, the …
We were on the fence about visiting Universal Studios Japan with young children, aged 5.5 and 8 years old, during our trip. The rides at Universal Studios Japan (“USJ”) seemed more suitable for older children from Upper Primary, or so we thought. In the end, …
I was a kid when I went on one of the Star Cruises (gambling ships?). I remembered being bored. Then when my hubs and I were without kids, we went to Royal Caribbean. We concluded we are not cruise people. Yet, now with kids, we thought it might be fun for them. Cruises nowadays look more fanciful than the cruise I took as a child. So we decided to give cruises another try when we came across a good deal for Genting Dream. Will our opinion about cruises change after going on the Genting Dream Cruise with children?
I had high hopes because articles and social media posts (of influencers) were raving about Genting Dream of Resorts World Cruises when it was newly relaunched from Dream Cruises. The cruise seemed fun for everyone, including the children. Come, let’s explore the cruise ship with me in this post.
Jump to the relevant section:
For this 4D3N trip, we leave Singapore on Sunday at 5:00 PM and arrive at Port Klang the next morning. Then it’s Penang on Tuesday, and back to Singapore on Wednesday. We travelled from 31 July to 3 August 2022.
We booked our trip via Klook when it had a flash sale for
Genting Dream 3-Night Destination Cruises by Resorts World Cruises
It’s S$1,162.50 for 1 x Balcony Stateroom (2 adults, 2 children). The price includes port charges but not gratuities (for 2 years old and above): $22 per person per night for Interior to Balcony; $26 per person per night for Palace Suite onwards.
Book Genting Dream via Klook for sailings from April to September 2023 and enjoy $50 off with this promo code: RWCHOLIDAY50
Klook.comMy hubs, two children and I were waiting for the lift at Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore (“Cruise Centre”). As we were about to enter, a group of people (who were taking the same cruise) rushed past us and went in. There was still some space for us to squeeze in, but that was ungracious. Breathe in and out, “Don’t let them affect you,” I thought to myself.
The boarding time was 2:30 PM but we went earlier to clear immigration and administrative stuff. This is so that we could board at 2:30 PM and start using the pool and facilities before all others board. But many thought the same way too because the queue was snaking out of the Cruise Centre when we reached about 1:30 PM. It was not the school holidays and it was still so crowded! You can consider reaching even earlier than us to be the first few to board.
We joined the queue and were about to enter the Cruise Centre when we spotted my parents who reached earlier coming out. “The staff told us we have to finish this food in the cafeteria located outside of the cruise centre,” my mother said, opening a bag of bread and fresh fruit. *Facepalm* I told them not to bring any food but they insisted the cruise instruction was raw food – and in their minds, it was raw meat and its likes. There’s a minimum spending of S$5 at the cafeteria – and that’s the only place we could consume any food in the centre.
So remember not to bring cooked food, meat & poultry products, and fruits! Biscuits, tidbits and baby snacks with sealed packaging should be fine. For baby food, check with the cruise to be sure.
You can check in your baggage at the level below the main building entrance. It’s free. This was good for us because we had big luggage because of the children. They will bring your luggage to your room and make it easier for you to navigate your check-in.
You will check in and get your room cards and brochures at the cruise centre before boarding.
“Move forward!” the “usher” at the immigration counters shouted at me. I did as she said and stepped forward into a yellow box. I was perplexed at why she shouted at me when I was rightly waiting behind the yellow box. The “usher” looked like a neighbourhood auntie doing part-time, unlike the usual professional profile of those manning the queue at airports immigration. Along with her, a few other aunties were also shouting at people to queue here and there. Perhaps employed by the cruise to maintain order?
The chaos continued when we boarded the cruise. There was no proper order and we were at a loss on how to go to our room. So we had to grab hold of a staff to direct us. Also amidst the noise and disorder, we barely managed to catch the instructions on where to gather during an emergency. I was quite sure some of the older folks missed this. The cruise did give a safety drill (briefing) through a broadcast later on, including the demonstration of life jackets, just that people might not know where to gather.
Anyway, we found our way to our Balcony Stateroom and found the sofa bed not set up for the children. The sofa would open up and be big enough for two young children or one adult to sleep in. Our two kids slept on the sofa bed you see in the above photo. We love the balcony view as we admired the changing colours of the sky and relaxed at the wooshing sounds of the waves.
Tip: You can contact Klook to arrange for adjoining rooms if you book two rooms.
Once you are settled in the room, head straight to use the swimming pool and water slides. The pools are not so crowded because others are still boarding or exploring the ship. A good time to easily get an empty Jacuzzi tub — very hot water but I enjoyed it. The adult slides were less scary than they look, although the sudden drop in the blue slide made water gush up into my nose.
Lifeguards around the adult pool were fierce like bouncers at a club. And at the adult slides, the person manning the slides kind of snapped at me when I walked up the wrong stairs (for which the signage wasn’t obvious to me).
Different people manned the various slides at different times, and they have different standards. For example, over the height requirement for slides and whether dangling earrings are allowed on slides. Some other restrictions I overheard – no diving in the adult pool, and no wearing of t-shirts over bikinis (the person was good to play at the children’s pool but not the adult pool).
You can drop off your child at the Little Dreamers Club if he or she is above 4 years old. The first two hours for drop-off are free, but charges apply thereafter. Younger children must be parent-accompanied.
The kid’s club is quite a small area with board games, toys, colouring and a television playing cartoons. The second floor has game consoles and other entertainment for primary school children.
Grace went on the lower rope course for children (see photo below). Some adventure playgrounds in Singapore have more exciting structures for her.
As for the upper rope course for adults, it was super scary for me! Firstly, it is quite complex and tiring to unlock and lock the carabiners with each step I took (I was not the only one who found it complex). The rope course was near the edge of the cruise ship and the strong winds were shaking the rope and steps rather violently, making the rope trail super wobbly. I felt like I was about to be blown away too. And the guy manning the station said the wind was already considered mild. What… not for the faint-hearted and weak. There’s supposed to be a zipline but we didn’t see anyone doing that – perhaps it was closed due to weather.
If you have a strong core, you can continue on to rock climbing.
Or have some fun with mini golf, table tennis and basketball with your friends.
Or if the heat is not for you, there’s an indoor gym to work out your muscles. Sadly, fitness classes are not free. One has to pay S$35+ per class. Look out for free dance classes in the afternoon!
After a long day or some intense exercise, you can relax with a massage at their spa – at a price. Many activities/events were chargeable too and so the cruise price is not as all-inclusive as Royal Caribbean.
If working out is not your thing, try recreational activities such as chess, shuffleboard, deck quoits, pool tables, and cosmic bowling. Book your bowling lanes for your preferred timing as there are only four lanes available.
There are also two game arcades available onboard. And of course the casino for the adults. Jackpot machines are so easily accessible in the walkways that my children could walk past and play the buttons like they did with claw machines, or any machines with buttons. Their sensory stimulation. Anyway, we didn’t insert any money and so thought it should be alright. But the kids were stopped the second time by the staff “guarding” the machines.
Otherwise, chill and relax in one of the chairs at Palm Court (Deck 19). Enjoy the view of the ship sailing forward.
There’s the Hokkien band singing on a podium in the middle of the casino. Then there are game shows guests could participate in. Night shows were available too. My hubs went to one but it was not really kids friendly – more of a love/dating show. Definitely not for children.
There seemed to be many parties going on, such as Bollywood Blast Party, and “Dream Boys” After dark show and party. You need to buy tickets for them. In the end, we decided to pay for the foam party at Zouk Beach (open-air)! Tip: Bring goggles, especially for the children. They will thank you for it! The foam kept irritating our eyes and we had to keep rubbing and wiping it off.
Not enough partying? Dance your way late into the night at the Zouk on Genting Dream.
There are many bars, lounges and restaurants for you to drink and eat. At all times, you will see people eating – breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper, morning and afternoon tea breaks. A gluttony journey awaits if you want it to be.
There are three places you can enjoy complimentary dining:
I am not really a buffet person, so I was glad that the food at Dream Dining Room are delicious for us to return. Of course, the buffet has more varied food choices.
For Dream Dining Room, I recommend you go for an early dinner to avoid queues. We waited quite a long for the Western main course. Also, the dessert could not be served early for us because they cooked and served in batches – and we were the first batch.
No friendly or prompt service here because the wait staff were busy managing the dinner crowd. The manager was even strict and fierce with my two-year-old – scolded her instead of a friendly reminder to sit down. Well, the super long wait for food had made the children restless, and I had made sure they were not in their way. Oh well.
If you are bored with the complimentary food, you can dine in specialty restaurants serving Chinese fine dining, Japanese cuisine and others. There might be a queue at the more popular restaurant.
From another person’s experience, it seems like the pricing can range from S$48 to S$100+ per person, and the Beef Short Ribs at the Bistro are a must-try.
As for us, we only paid for the gelato and enjoyed it on the windy deck! We did get bored with the complimentary dining and hence went to search for other foods in Port Klang and Penang.
We travelled from 31 July to 3 August 2022, during a school term. Hence, I managed my expectations about the cruise not having any shows or events for children. I am not sure if there will be one during the school holidays.
Overall, I didn’t think the cruise is very much catered to children but to adults. We walked past the gambling tables and jackpots like they are any other facilities – no age check. To think my children could actually walk past and touch the jackpot machines when there were no “guards” around. There weren’t many indoor activities for children too – I thought of the ice skating rink in Mariner of the Seas (Royal Caribbean).
In hindsight, Royal Caribbean (“RC”) seemed more suitable or fun for young children. RC ship felt bigger and with more facilities too. We talked to another fellow passenger who had a 5-year-old with her and she agreed with us. She went on RC cruise before and she had booked their next cruise trip on RC which sailed shortly after.
Genting Dream got a revamp, but personally, it still feels like a gambling cruise. Also, the cruise is good for people who like to drink and club too. Or those who like to eat at all times. I am not a fan of gambling, drinking, clubbing, or buffets, so I was quite bored. So this trip didn’t change my mind about cruises (see my opening paragraph). Perhaps I might consider if I have a free room.
Moreover, be prepared to spend if you want to fully enjoy the ship with fitness classes, specialty food, entertainment, alcoholic drinks and longer drop-off at the kids’ club.
Of course, the above is based on my personal preferences. On the other hand, my parents enjoyed the cruise, because it had a relaxing pace for them to eat and enjoy the facilities while travelling to Port Klang and Penang (we didn’t drop off our kids with them often). This was shortly after post-covid and so this type of travel was less stressful.
Moreover, my children enjoyed the cruise because they could swim every day and entertain themselves at a kid’s club. So if your children are easily satisfied with just pool and kid’s club like them, go ahead! Though I reckoned a staycation would suffice if it’s a cruise to nowhere. The cruise might also be good for parents who can drop off the older kids at the kids club and head off to gamble or relax with a cup of drink.
If you want to book a trip on the Genting Dream cruise, remember to use my affiliate links/image below. I appreciate your support to maintain this website so that I can share more tips with you.
Klook.comBefore you go, you might want to check out my other posts on Mariner of the Seas (Royal Caribbean). Let me know if you have other questions. Or do share with me what you heard of Genting Dream. Leave your comments below. Love to hear from you. :)
Looking for more tips on travel, home, and baby? Subscribe to my mailing list and be sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube! If you like what you read here, keep it going with small support too. :)
Disclaimer: JoogoStyle and Christina accept no liability (whether in tort or contract or otherwise) for any loss or damage arising from any use, misuse, inaccuracy or omission of the information or other contents published on this website.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. An affiliate link means I’ll get a small commission if you make a purchase. There’s NO extra cost to you. I appreciate your support to maintain this website so that I can share more tips with you. Thank you!
“How is it to travel around France with children?” I asked a friend who had lived in France. “Paris is not really a kid-friendly city. It’s hard to push a stroller around because there are many steps and squeezy small restaurants,” she advised. I was …
Paris was okay, my friend said, I like (insert another European country) better. Other lukewarm responses came from family and friends who had visited Paris. We heard things about the French people too, especially their attitude towards the Chinese race. According to a friend who …
Family and friends generously dish out tips on being safe in Paris, such as how to spot suspicious characters, or how to guard our belongings against pickpockets. Over the years, I have also heard a fair share of horror stories about Europe.
So before a trip to France, it’s always good to read up and be aware of the tactics of pickpocketers and scammers. Read on for some good tips or jump to the section you prefer:
As the Chinese saying goes, 知己知彼 百战不殆 (translated as “Know yourself and your enemy, and you will win every war.”). Here are some articles for you to understand the tactics of the “enemies”: pilotplans.com/blog/is-paris-safe, fr.usembassy.gov, www.tripsavvy.com, bonjourparis.com.
I’ve summarised some of the travel tips from the articles. Though the list below is not comprehensive, it will help to make your trip to France safer and more enjoyable.
If you have unfortunately become a victim of crime,
I was always looking behind my back. “Stay close to me”, I kept telling Grace. The many warnings and safety tips about Paris had made me hyper-vigilant. In contrast, we were more relaxed when we went to Belgium previously with two-year-old Grace. We were nonchalant about the city being famous for pickpockets, but thank God nothing happened to us. Perhaps ignorance is bliss because this time I was on such high alert that Grace picked up my fear. She felt Paris was a dangerous place filled with many bad guys. Oops, my bad.
My takeaway, be cautious, but don’t be too focused on the “enemies” that you take the joy out of your holiday. Enjoy the beauty of the city and not the potential ugliness of it.
“Hello, miss”, I turned to the voice and jolted. A face was at a palm’s length distance from mine. The man was of a medium build, with ruffled hair and rugged clothes. We were surrounded by train passengers making their way to the platform, yet I felt unsafe. A red alert flashed in my mind, “So fast?! We just arrived in Paris and– what does he want?” Alone with my two girls, I was attempting to carry a small rolling suitcase up the stairs and follow my husband who was lugging up our heavy luggage.
“Do you need help with the luggage?” he asked and I heaved a slight relief inside of me. I thought he had wanted something from me. I had mistaken a kind man for wanting to help. Then again, in hindsight, I was not sure if it was genuine help, or if it was a distraction attempt to pickpocket. I hate to doubt but it’s hard not to with all that I’ve heard about Paris.
Another time, I was standing alone with the girls on the streets. We were waiting for my hubby. “Excuse me,” a couple who looked like tourists approached us for directions. “Yes? I am not sure where it is, sorry,” I replied and turned to walk away with my girls.
I took being able to blend in like a local as a compliment and was basking in joy when suddenly it dawned on me. That could have been a distraction and an attempt to pickpocket. I suspected even though there was no one else besides us and the couple. Now you see, I became highly suspicious of strangers in Paris talking to me.
On another occasion, I was alone with Grace and the sky had turned dark. We went ahead of hubby and Joy because we had wanted to take photos with the Centre Pompidou lighted up in red. Taking it from different angles, we somehow ended up in a shadowy corner of a tree. It was not a deserted corner, but one beside a pavement of pedestrians and with shops lining the side. An unkempt man walked towards us, staggering occasionally, muttering something. I couldn’t hear and didn’t want to know. I grabbed Grace’s hands and whisked us away from him.
The above three incidents happened when I was alone with my children, but nothing really quite happen to my hubby in Paris. So if you are a lady (with or without children), be cautious!
Somehow it’s amazing to see characters mentioned in stories and warnings coming to life in our travels. They are real. We were approached by people to do surveys. Ignore them, someone had cautioned me, or tell them you don’t know how to speak English. We saw them near major attractions such as Arc de Triomphe.
Be careful of the Gypsy mother and her children. This warning flashed in my mind when we crossed paths with this exact combination in Strasbourg (France). A woman was sitting at the side of the road and two young children squatted in front of her and blocked our view on what was on the floor — were they counting money in a bowl, or playing with something else?
We were walking toward them and wanted to see what they were doing. We got close enough and right before we could glance at what was on the floor, the two children jumped and ran away from the lady right before us. It caught us by surprise, and all of us stopped in our tracks. Naturally, we would watch on with curiosity and let our guards. My children were especially curious and easily distracted too.
Good thing, a warning of such an incident came to mind and I, firmly or rather fiercely, shouted at my children in Mandarin to move on and keep walking. My shout scared my children and the other two children. I did that on purpose to throw any pickpockets off guard with my unexpected response. The timing of the children running away felt so calculated. So I rather look like a crazy mother and be safe than sorry.
A police officer patrolling the platform of Châtelet station came to us and said, “Excuse me, tourists? Keep your belongings in your pocket, there are many pickpockets in this station.” Ironic though, shouldn’t I then not put them in my pockets? We walked away and I thought of how much we stood out as tourists that a police officer had to approach us.
A day later, I was back at the same station (Châtelet) by myself. I alighted the train with the crowd and noticed this group of tall guys standing in the middle of the platform and blocking the way. I walked past them and climbed the stairs behind this elderly man with his cabin luggage. Another man caught up with him and walked near like they knew each other, father and son perhaps. The son looked like he wanted to talk to his father, but soon he turned around and signalled “nothing” to someone far behind him. He continued his way and walk ahead of the elderly man.
Did I just witness a pickpocketing attempt? Did I see his hand near the elderly man’s pocket? Did it go in? Was he signalling to that group of tall guys at the bottom of the stairs? Then I remembered that this was the station that the police officer warned us about. Good thing I was cautious and had my hands in my coat’s pocket, holding on to my handphone.
Although there were brushes with suspicious characters, thank God we didn’t lose anything or were hurt in any way during our trip to France, especially in the extremely crowded Christmas market at Strasbourg. Phew!
Looking for more tips on travel, home, and baby? Subscribe to my mailing list and be sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube! If you like what you read here, keep it going with a small support too. :)
Disclaimer: JoogoStyle and Christina accept no liability (whether in tort or contract or otherwise) for any loss or damage arising from any use, misuse, inaccuracy or omission of the information or other contents published on this website.
“What’s your favourite food in Paris?” I asked the family. My husband and I voted Falafelat L’As du Fallafel unanimously. The runner-up for me is the burger we had at Alfred (Chessy Val D’Europe), it’s good, but we can find such quality in Singapore too. …
A year after my Review of Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa (Family Staycation), here’s the post on the yummy food we ate during our staycation. I forgot to follow up until a friend’s request, so here goes! Hope it gives you some ideas on …