Updated on 14 December.
Dream Cruises has been the go-to cruise liner for Muslims in the Asia Pacific for the past few years because of its Halal-certified kitchen. The liner is taking it a step further by getting Muslim-Friendly certification and rating. The United World Halal Development (UNWHD) has worked with World Dream Cruise to make it Asia Pacific’s First Halal-Friendly Cruise Ship. Based on the facilities available for Muslims on the cruise ship, CrescentRating has awarded it a Crescent Rating of 5 and it is the first cruise liner to receive a rating.
"Although there have been some efforts in the past by the cruise segment to make halal food available, Dream Cruises has taken a more holistic look at making Muslim travelers feel inclusive within the cruise sector," Crescentrating CEO Fazal Bahardeen said in a video congratulating the liner.
The CrescentRating system rates the overall Halal-friendliness of cruises on a scale of one to seven - with one being the lowest rating and seven being the highest. A rating of 5 is awarded to cruise ships that are able to provide facilities/services such as halal-certified food, provide prayer information & facilities, and have bidets in the washrooms.
The Muslim-friendly amenities provided on the ship are as follows:
A major necessity for Muslim travellers is the availability of halal food. This is important for tourism and hospitality companies to keep in mind if they want to market to Muslim consumers. Dream Cruises has designed a cruise experience that meets this need, offering a dedicated Halal buffet section in their onboard restaurant, the Lido, certified based on OIC (Organisation of Islamic Corporation) / SMIIC (Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries) Standards. Muslim guests may also dine fuss-free at the Dream Dining Room Lower (Deck 7) or request for halal room service.
The liner will also be providing Ramadhan-based services during the Muslim Holy month. Suhoor meals will be delivered to rooms, and Iftar meals will be prepared for those who are fasting. Terawih services will also be held at night, allowing Muslim guests to comfortably carry out their Ramadhan obligations and sunahs.
To ensure convenience in Muslim guests' prayer obligations, Dream Cruises provides prayer mats in their rooms, and dedicated prayer rooms on board the ship. They also provide Qurans, the Muslim Holy book, for Muslim guests.
Dream Cruises has taken special considerations to curate women-only services to meet female Muslim (Muslimah) needs, namely:
For Muslimahs who require medical attention, special attention from doctors and nurses can be granted based on the female patient's requirements, upon request.
Muslimah guests who visit the spa can request for female therapists and can be assured that privacy will be granted, along with any other Islam-based arrangements they might need.
The ship also has women-only reserved time-slots for swimming pools and sports centers, for Muslimahs to enjoy the full cruise experience with peace of mind.
Adapted from article posted on HalalTrip.
