PUBLISHED November 17th, 2021 06:00 am | UPDATED July 22nd, 2024 03:37 pm
Even as travel looks set to take off in the months ahead, many of us aren’t up for the hassle and risks of jetsetting just yet. But that doesn’t mean you need to be grounded in Singapore this holiday season – we’re talking about cruise getaways, of course. For a dose of sun, sea, and sumptuous luxury, you couldn’t do better than Dream Cruises’ “ship within a ship” paradise: The Palace. Think the ultimate bespoke suite experience aboard the World Dream, which comes rigged out with thrills of all sorts: spectacular dining concepts, ziplines, and even a waterslide park!
Palatial Luxury at Sea
As the name suggests, a stay in The Palace will leave you feeling as pampered as royalty. A world away from your ordinary staterooms, this top-tier ship-within-a-ship concept spans over 140 suites across four categories (from S$699 per pax). There’s the spacious 37-square-metre Palace Suite, all the way to the Palace Villa with its 224 square metres of pure extravagance.
That’s not forgetting a slew of VIP facilities, including a private pool and spa – it’s basically your exclusive clubhouse at sea. Here’s the lowdown on the many, many perks that a stay in one of The Palace’s suites will get you on board:
The Suite Life
Each suite in The Palace is a luxe cocoon, beginning with the ‘Dream Bed’ draped in silky Italian bed linens from Frette. Start your day right with a leisurely soak in the spacious bathtub, complete with bespoke bath amenities from Etro. For breakfast, think a lazy brunch in bed delivered by your butler, as you soak up the sea breeze and glorious views on your private balcony. And if you’re splashing out for the ultra-indulgent Palace Villas, your duplex suite will come equipped with your own dedicated butler, not to mention a private sundeck with a whirlpool spa, a sauna, and up to four flat-panel TVs. In other words, it’s everything you need for personalized pampering.
24-Hour Butler Concierge Service
If your ideal vacay is one where you don’t need to lift a finger, Dream Cruises has that all settled for you. For The Palace guests, a dedicated team of Dream Butlers cares for your needs round the clock. Butlers are groomed to the standards of sister brand Crystal Cruises – known as The World’s Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line – so you can count on some top-notch hospitality. Fancy an in-suite cocktail, a priority spa booking, or simply need your suit pressed for the night? Your butler will arrange it without breaking a sweat.
Epicurean Indulgence
Even the most jaded foodie would be tempted by World Dream‘s impressive clutch of dining concepts. The Palace guests have access to the exclusive Palace Restaurant, which dishes up a medley of international cuisines paired with a sprawling wine list. You can also tuck into set meal entitlements at the specialty restaurants aboard World Dream, from prime cuts at Prime Steakhouse by Australian celebrity chef Mark Best to teppanyaki at Umi Uma. Did we mention there’s a Happy Hour with complimentary tipples too?
Priority Access
Forget waiting around for the fun to start. As a Palace guest, you get VIP access to facilities throughout the whole ship. Whether you want to snag a prime pool slot during sunset hour, schedule some spa pampering for the afternoon, or secure a coveted table at a specialty restaurant, it’s a breeze with priority booking for Palace guests. Did we mention you get complimentary wifi throughout your cruise too?
Can’t wait to hop aboard already? Check out this video for a sneak peek of what’s in store:
All Aboard the World Dream
One thing’s for sure: you’ll never get bored on board. Beyond The Palace’s exclusive perks, the cruise ship is packed with more than enough things to do to keep you excited on your two- to three-night stay. These are just some of the highlights:
Sky-High Thrills
If you love the thrill of heights, imagine upping the stakes with high ropes over the tossing waves. World Dream offers high ropes adventure courses on board, including a zipline suspended a dizzying 18 decks above the water and a ‘walk the plank’ challenge while swaying precariously in the sea breeze. Otherwise, try your hand at scaling the rock climbing wall with scenic views to keep you company.
Waterslide Park
If air isn’t your element, how about water? Plunge in for a splashing good time in the ship’s Waterslide Park, so named for its six adrenaline-spiking slides. Start out laidback with looping slides, then work up to steep drops that’ll have you screaming the whole way down.
Immersive Entertainment
Besides fun in the sun, you’ll also find high-tech entertainment on board in the form of Esc EXPERIENCE LAB. This virtual-reality adventure lab comes equipped with state-of-the-art simulators, motion platforms, and curved screens to plunge you into fantastical worlds. Feel your stomach turning on the Finger Coaster rollercoaster, soar through space with the Icaros flying simulator, and pit your wits in challenges like the Minotaur Maze.
Themed Experiences
World Dream keeps things exciting with a rotating lineup of themed experiences, and this festive season, they’re taking us on A Nordic Christmas Adventure. From 19 November 2021 to 1 January 2022, you can wander through a charming slice of Scandinavia with a Nordic village glittering with thousands of twinkle lights, complete with a Christmas market dishing up festive pastries.
Head over to the Nordic Art Lab to get hands-on with quirky cultural traditions, build yourself a Swedish tomte – a mischievous, gnome-like creature in Nordic folklore – or create a magical piece of scratch art inspired by the Northern Lights. Come Christmas, feast Scandinavian-style with complimentary Finnish salmon soup, saffron buns, roast turkey, and more.
The Palace Suite on World Dream is priced from S$699 per pax. UOB Cardmembers can now enjoy S$200 per pax off Palace Suites bookings with the promo code UOB 2021. Check out more of Dream Cruises’ itineraries here.
This post is brought to you in collaboration with Genting Cruise Lines.