Celebrate end of Ramadan with three-night cruises on World Dream
Dream Cruises is launching a Hari Raya-themed trip on the World Dream cruise liner to celebrate the end of Ramadan.
The three-night cruises to nowhere will have two sailings, departing Singapore on May 16 and 23.
They will feature halal cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs, who will whip up pastries and mocktails.
A new menu will be introduced at the vessel's Crystal Life Spa offering massages and body scrubs that use alcohol-free products.
The Straits Times understands that the Hari Raya cruises have been "selling very well" since the operator began marketing them last month.
While the cruises cater to Muslim guests, non-Muslims can also buy tickets. Dream Cruises said tickets for sailings in May start from $179 a person.
While the Hari Raya-themed cruises will take place after Ramadan, measures are in place for Muslim guests who take to the high seas during the fasting month, which is from April 13 to May 12.
Guests can join communal prayer sessions and spiritual lectures on trips from April 11 to May 14 as part of a Ramadan spiritual experience, the first itinerary of its kind on board a cruise liner.
Muslim guests boarding the World Dream during Ramadan can also have meals served before they start their fast at dawn.
The cruises announced yesterday come after World Dream received positive feedback from guests for its halal-friendly trips introduced last December.
The World Dream has welcomed around 5,000 Muslim passengers since it was recognised as the first halal-friendly cruise ship in the Asia-Pacific on Dec 11, said Dream Cruises president Michael Goh.
More than 100,000 people have taken trips on the World Dream and Royal Caribbean International's Quantum of the Seas ship since the pilot programme to reboot the cruise industry began in November.
Meanwhile, Dream Cruises signed a memorandum of understanding with non-profit Jamiyah Singapore yesterday.
Part of the collaboration involves Dream Cruises donating 10 per cent of its proceeds from selected group sales bookings to Jamiyah Singapore.
Ten families receiving aid from Jamiyah Singapore will also be invited on board the Hari Raya cruise on May 23.
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