Hi everyone... After the successful maiden family cruise trip with Royal Caribbean in 2016, our family decides to go on another cruise adventure in 2019. Yay!!! This time round we will be embarking on Genting Dream (some of you might be more familiar with her previous name under Star Cruise), a cruise liner under Dream Cruises.
The main problem faced during the previous cruise was the waiting time to board the cruise. Therefore this time round I will share with you the things that you can do before your cruise to make it a better experience. Note that the following tips applies to Dream Cruises and mainly focus on Singapore as the departing port.
Sign Up for Dream Elite
Dream Elite is the loyalty programme of Dream Cruises that is designed to reward their most valuable customers with benefits and services that enhance their cruise experience. It is basically a membership that allows you to earn points from your cruise.
Not only can you exchange for various benefits using your points (Eg free stateroom upgrade), you can also receive the latest news and member exclusive offers. Even if you have no intention for any cruise trip in the near future, new member sign up entitles you to some complimentary benefits (Varies for each trip). The following are some of the benefits that I have received: - free lock - free handphone waterproof pouch - no complimentary neck massage nor welcome drinks that i saw given to new members previously :(
You can sign up for the Dream Elite Membership from their official website. Registration is free.
Download the Dream Cruise App
The Dream Cruise Onboard App (iOS and Android) is like your survival handbook when onboard the cruise. You can use it to check the daily timetable, register for shows, subscribe to Wi-Fi, check your bills, make payment by linking your credit card and many more.
Therefore my advice is to install the app before you board the cruise. City Check In
There is so little information about City Check In that I was not aware until I received the email reply from the most helpful staff Jaime Geronimo from Genting Customer Service Center whom not only promptly replies to my questions but also provided useful information like the City Check In process.
Basically City Check In is a counter service that allows you to check in up to 2 days prior to your departure. You just need to visit their main office with your passport and cruise ticket. The address of their office in Singapore: Genting Centre 3 Lim Teck Kim Road, #01-05 Genting Centre, Singapore 088934 The operational hours are as follows applicable on your sailing date (Sunday Departure) Friday - 10:00am to 2:00pm Saturday - 10:00amto 1:00pm
The nearest mrt station is Tanjong Pagar Station. I got out from Exit A and walk towards Seng Wong Beo Temple.
From here I walk along Tras Link to reach Tanjong Pagar Plaza Market. I turn left at the market and keep waling until I reach Abi Plaza. Genting Center is the building beside Abi Plaza.
Note that you do not need to enter the office (the entrance with gantries). You just need to head to the customer service center beside.
We are required to collect a queue number to proceed with the check in.
When it is my turn, I just need to hand over my passport and documents and they handle the rest.
After less than 5 minutes, the staff pass me back my passport together with a green slip and my cabin card. She told me that when I arrived at the Cruise Center, I just need to pass the green slip to the Staff to proceed with priority boarding. Easy Peasy.
Online Check In
If you find City Check In too much of a hassle, you can also opt for online check in via Dream Cruise Official Website. Online check in is available from 7 days up to 24 hours in advance prior to your departure.
You will receive a Sail Pass via Online Check In. You will need the Sail Pass for check in at the cruise center. There will be no priority check in if you do online check in. City Check In VS Online Check In
Priority of boarding is given to the vvip first, followed by family with wheelchair bound members or those pushing baby strollers, and finally those who did city check in. The rest will be released by boarding group. So in theory if you wish to board before the main crowd, city check in sounds like a good option. However my personal experience showed otherwise.
It does appears that my family have a boarding advantage due to city check in at first. After clearing the luggage checks, we were led to the priority zone while the rest proceed with the check in process to get their cabin cards. Either you need to do the full check in process or you just need to exchange your sail pass from online check in for your cabin card. From my observation, even though there is a queue at the check in counter, the process for those whom did online check in is pretty fast. The entire boarding group 1-3 was already filled up at the waiting area just after 12:00. At around 12:30, the staff approached us and informed us that they will open up our zone for people from boarding group 1 as we were the only one in the priority zone. In other words, there are no additional advantage for using city check in vs doing online check in and arriving early for check in at the cruise center. Hence city check in is only useful if : 1. You happen to be near their office at Lim Teck Kim road, or 2. You are those kind that arrived last minute for boarding yet wish to board as soon as possible.
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KelvinYo. I am from Singapore. I love to travel. Follow me as I share my experiences and tips for budget travelling as well as my hunt for Ho Kangs around Singapore. Archives
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