World Dream, Dream Cruise

Hong Kong – Naha – Miyakojima – Hong Kong
01 – 06 Sept, 2019

This is my first cruise trip. It is really new to me as staying in cruise is a unique experience. This trip totally changed my mind of a cruise. It’s not only luxurious enjoyment, but also diversified experience.
I write this Blog to introduce cruise industry to my readers by this cruise trip. Also, I want to provide information for first time cruise passengers.

Embarkation

Public Transportation To / From Kai Tak Cruise Terminal

• Green Mini Bus: The terminal is served by green minibus route #86, running between Kowloon Bay MTR and the cruise terminal with a 15-minute headway.
• Public bus: Citybus is operating a route #22 connecting Kowloon Tong MTR station and the cruise terminal.
• Public bus: KMB is operating a route #5R connecting Ngau Tau Kok MTR station, Kwun Tong MTR station and the cruise terminal.
• Ferry: North Point – Kai Tak Public pier – Kwun Tong ferry service provides connections to the Kwun Tong and North Point ferry piers.

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Luggage Check-in

Upon arrival at the terminal, the first thing you can do is checking-in your luggage. You can easily find the baggage drop area after entering the Embarkation Hall on G/F. Your luggage will be delivered to your Stateroom afterward.

Reminder:
– Don’t leave your travel documents in your check-in baggage.
– Each guest is allowed to bring along up to two pieces of personal luggage onboard.

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Check-in

In the check-in hall, you can approach to the check-in counters or self-service check-in kiosks to complete the check-in process. After presenting your cruise ticket and travel documents, you will be given a stateroom access card. Your stateroom access card is important as it serves as a boarding pass, stateroom key and charge card on board.
It is highly recommended that you complete online check-in on the official website of the cruise line. It is available from 90 days up to 24 hours in advance prior to departure. There are designated counters for guests that have done online check-in. This queue was 5 times shorter than the queue of normal check-in counters on my cruise embarkation day.

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Boarding

After completing security check and immigration clearance, you can board the cruise. Before you enter the cruise ship, your access card will be scanned. At the same time, your travel documents will be collected by the cruise staff and kept by the cruise line until disembarkation.

Tips: Remember to scan your access card whenever you leave or enter the ship.

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Now, vacation begins!!!!!!!!

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On the Cruise

Things to do first on board

There are a few things have to be done once you have board the cruise to ensure a seamless cruise experience.

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Download Dream Cruises Onboard App

Check whether you have downloaded the Dream Cruises Onboard App. If not, download it ASAP when you are still in the internet connection coverage.  This mobile app allows you to check the cruise daily timetable for all the onboard activities, stay connected with your friends onboard, view ship information, and check billing. Once you are onboard, log into the app and connect to the shipboard network.

Usage of Dream Cruises App is free of Wi-Fi charges.

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Book the shows and facilities

After check the daily schedule, do plan your schedule accordingly. To enjoy as many as many as possible, you can book the shows and facilities through the mobile app personally at Service Counter (6/F).

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Attend safe drill

By the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), it is mandatory for you to attend the drill and familiarize yourself with the location of assembly in case of an emergency. The location of assembly is printed on your stateroom access card. For my trip, it happened at 9pm at the first night.

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Rooms, Facilities and Entertainments on board

Rooms

World Dream has four types of accommodations: Interior Stateroom, Oceanview Stateroom, Balcony Stateroom, and The Palace. About 70 percent of accommodations feature spacious balcony staterooms. Aside from the toiletries and towels, the rooms also have hair dryer, mini-refrigerator, safe, water kettle, complimentary bottled water, tea, coffee, and sugar packets. These are replenished daily as housekeeping do regular cleaning.

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Facilities

You can enjoy the following amenities for FREE:

• Waterslide Park (Deck 20). Speed down slippery slides that tower high above the ocean. There are six slide types to choose from — from gentle slopes for the family to steep inclines for the adventurous. The highest slope leans over 28 degree while being over 10 metres above pool level.
• Sportsplex (Deck 19). A large outdoor multi-functional court that can host basketball, tennis, archery, bubble soccer, and other physical games.
• Ropes Course (Deck 18). Complete the course and punctuate it with the 35-meter zipline, gliding along the side of the ship above the water.
• Rock Climbing Wall (Deck 18). A 24 feet wall with three levels of difficulty.
• Mini-Golf (Deck 18). Nine-hole putting course.
• Main Pool Deck (Deck 16). The swimming pool and Kids Water Park
• Crystal Life Fitness (Deck 15). Ocean-view 24-hour fitness centre.

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Entertainments

Following entertainments are included in your cruise package:

• Shows at Zodiac Theatre (Deck 7). Live production shows every night. Reserve your seat in advance.
• Live Music. Live music is available in different venues. Check the schedule on cruise timetable.
• Movies at Zodiac Theatre (Deck 7) / Lobby (Deck 7) / Zouk Beach Club (Deck 17). Movie screening in different venues. Check the schedule on cruise timetable.

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WiFi

You can connect to the internet while at sea. Subscribe to WiFi through the Dream Cruises Onboard App and purchase for the Wifi connection onboard.

• Standard: Good for e-mail, chat, and social media. You can connect up to two devices.
• Premium: Good for e-mail, chat, social media, and light media streaming. You can connect up to two devices.

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Food and drink on board

Complimentary Restaurants

This is part your cruise package. Dining in these restaurants is free-of-charge. World Dream has four inclusive restaurant options:

• Dream Dining Room Lower (Deck 7). This restaurant serves either a semi-buffet type or Chinese set menu, depending on the schedule. You may check the Dream Daily/Dream Weekender directory for the info. This is located on Deck 7, Aft section of the ship. Reservation is required.
• Dream Dining Room Upper (Deck 8). This restaurant serves Chinese set menu. Suggest you to reserve table in advance.
• The Lido (Deck 16). This serves Asian and international buffet, including Halal and Indian cuisines. The indoor area serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The outdoor area serves morning and afternoon tea.
• Function 8 (Deck 8). This restaurant serves Halal Asian buffet. It has Halal Certificate which is carried out under the strict supervision of Imams.

Note: Alcoholic drinks are not free-of-charge.

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Additional Restaurants

You may also try the specialty restaurants! World Dream has nine. Charges apply when dining at any of these, but if you are craving any of their offerings, go for it. Here are your options:

• Umi Uma (Deck 8) – Japanese Cuisine, Teppanyaki and Korean BBQ
• Hot Pot (Deck 8) – Choice of meat, seafood or vegetarian hot pot; outdoor setting
• Prime Steakhouse (Deck 8) – Western Cuisine / Steak
• Seafood Grill (Deck 8) – Western Cuisine / Seafood
• Blue Lagoon (Deck 7) – Hawker Food / Asian and International; open 24 hours
• Red Lion (Deck 7) – Beverage / Asian Desserts
• Lobby Café (Deck 6) – Coffee / Tea / Bread
• Silk Road (Deck 6) – Chinese Fine Dining
• Crystal Life Cuisine (Deck 15) – Healthy meals

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Beverage packages

Beverage is not included in the cruise package. However, you could purchase on your own expense. Three beverage packages are available, allowing you to enjoy a choice of unlimited drinks throughout the whole cruise.
Options as follows:

• Refresh Package – Unlimited Coffees and teas, chilled juices, soft drinks and bottled water.
• Classic Package – Unlimited beers, house wines and beverages included in Refresh Package.
• Premium Package – Unlimited spirits, cocktails, mocktail and beverages included in Refresh Package

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Cruise Destinations

During my trip, the cruise was not able to dock in Miyakojima due to bad weather. But I have spent a nice day in Naha. Naha is the capital city of Okinawa and the southernmost part of Japan with a population of more than 300,000. Cruise industry in Naha has developed rapidly in the recent years and Naha Cruise Terminal began operations in April 2014 to meet the demand growth.

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Tourism Area Life Cycle (TALC)

In Naha, cruise industry is in the development stage of Tourism Area Life Cycle. No. of cruise passengers increases very fast as more cruise lines and cruise ships  consider Naha as the port of call. In this stage, more facilities are developed to supplement the original one. It would also attract more investors to invest in Naha.

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Impact to the Cruise Destinations

Economic impact

Positive impact:

On one hand, cruise passengers and crews spend money when they are on shore. Mostly, they consume food and beverage, goods, and transportation. On the other hand, Cruise lines pay for charges levied by government departments, port authorities, and shipping and logistics companies, including customs and immigration fees, quarantine fees, and port fees. Thus, job opportunities could be created and the economy could be diversified.  As a result, the economy in Naha would be vitalized.

Negative impact:

There will be a significant increase of prices of land, housing and food as cruise tourism places extra demand on local services. Also, the extra income brought by cruise tourism is seasonal. The infrastructures and facilities may only be required for part of the year. Moreover, Fund invested in cruise tourism cannot be used for other purposes. Lastly, over-dependence on cruise tourism will causes a big counter effect when cruise tourism in Naha has reached the decline stage in Tourism Area Life Cycle.

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Social impact

Positive impact:

Cruise tourism could enhance the cultural exchange. Locals could promote their culture to all around the world to avoid the extinction of the culture. Also, locals and cruise passengers could gain knowledge from each other.  Moreover, local culture could be preserved as tourists visit places for their local culture. So, destinations will make a conserved effort to protect the local culture,

Negative impact:

Cruise tourism would cause overloading in the city. As there will be more than 2,000 cruise passengers explore in the city within a short period of time, there will be a high demand of food, beverage and transportation. Therefore, congestion in the city would affect the other tourists’ schedule and local’s normal life. Finally, the locals would dissatisfy if the benefits they got from the cruise tourism is not adequate.

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Environmental Impact

Positive impact:

The positive environmental impacts are not making the cruise pollution free. Instead, cruise tourism helps to arouse the public sense of environmental protection by promoting the beautiful sea view.  Also, cruise lines focus on reduce pollutions created by the cruise ship. So, they have invested a large amount of money to invent new technologies to minimize the pollution level. We could prospect that these new technologies invented by the cruise industry could be widely used in our daily life in the future.

Negative impact:

First, air pollution occurs from particulate matter emitted when ships burn fuel while docked at a destination without adequate purification systems. Second, noise pollution may also occur as ships arrive and as large numbers of passengers disembark. Lastly, wastes from the cruise ship, which are Ballast Water, Waste water (Gray water and Black water), Hazardous Waste, Solid Waste.
All above pollution should be managed under MARPOL – International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships.

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Cruise as a destination?

Nowadays, cruise is definitely a destination on the sea.
Before, Cruise is treated as a place of socialization for nobles and rich people or as a transportation mean for travelers to transfer from place to another, especially for those who fear of flying.
Along with the development of the cruise tourism, cruise becomes more popular. Instead of a ship for transportation with accommodation and dinning, cruise becomes bigger and bigger in size and provides the guests with a wide range of facilities and entertainments.
Few years ago, tourists would still thinks that travelling by cruise is only an upgrade of their travel experience, but the most important component is still the countries they travel to. However, cruise has totally changed the travelers’ mind. Travelers would choose from different cruise lines by considering the food, rooms, facilities and entertainments on board, rather than considering the places the cruise will dock.
That’s why people would say that cruise is a city on the sea.

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Current issues / trends impacting the industry

Recently, cruise industry develops rapidly. However, does destination development keep pace with the industry progress?

In 2019, there are more than 20 new cruise ship were launched. Moreover, the size of the cruise ship become bigger and bigger. Take World Dream as an example, it could take more than 3,000 passengers. So, every time a cruise ship dock at a city, it would cause a big burden to the area nearby. First, transportation and infrastructure are not enough to manage, congestion occurs. Second, Restaurants and shops are lack of staff to handle a sudden increase of guests, it deprives the local people of their right to enjoy the local facilities. Third, the capacity of tourist attractions and heritages is not able to cope with this tourist amount, damage occurs. As a result, it would totally affect the local people’s life and ruin the running of the city.
Dream Cruise will launch a new cruise ship, Global Dream in 2021. Global Dream’s berth is more than 9,000, which is nearly 3 times of World Dream. I could see Naha’s tourist handling capability is saturated when serving World Dream, I can’t imagine what will happen when Global Dream docks in Naha.

Cruise industry development is not only increasing the cruise ship size, but also considering the coping capacity of the cruise destinations. If this issue is not properly solved, no matter how good is the technology of making bigger cruise ship, slow development of cruise destinations would drag the industry down.

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Disembarkation

Arrangements

The day before disembarkation, you will receive a Disembarkation Notice explaining the check out procedure, disembarkation procedure, travel document collection, and baggage collection.

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Luggage

If you don’t want to carry your luggage throughout the disembarkation process, you may leave it outside your cabin on or before the specified time. Reclaim your luggage at the Baggage Claim Area after going through the immigration process.

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Check-out

You can use the onboard app to settle the bill by credit card or go the check-out counters personally. It is highly recommended to settle your account’s balance before checking out to avoid delays during disembarkation. All onboard billings will be charged in Hong Kong dollars for Word Dream.

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Leave the cruise ship

After settling the billings, you can collect your travel documents back from the cruise staff leave the cruise ship according to the schedule. Afterwards, you have to complete the immigration and customs process.

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End of vacation.
And I’m sure there will be a next time soon.

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To be continued…