Imagine going on a luxury cruise with your family – and never worrying for a second about where to find halal food or a place to pray. In 2025, this dream is a reality. Cruise lines are adapting to Muslim travelers’ needs, and the Genting Dream Cruise stands out as a pioneer. This guide will walk you through why halal-friendly cruises are booming and spotlight the Genting Dream Cruise – one of the best Muslim-friendly cruise options in 2025.
Halal tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors of travel, with Muslim families, seniors, and young explorers all looking for faith-friendly experiences. In the past, finding halal food or prayer spaces on vacation (especially on a cruise) was a challenge. Many Muslim travelers had to pack their own meals or skip activities to find mosques on shore. Now, companies are filling that gap. In fact, as early as 2018, Dream Cruises made waves by offering halal-certified dining on their Genting Dream ship – a first in Asia!
Fast forward to 2025, and halal-friendly cruising is making waves. Cruise operators have realized that providing no pork, halal food options, prayer facilities, and even women-only amenities attracts a huge market of Muslim travelers. From Southeast Asia to the Middle East, itineraries are being designed with Muslim-friendly services in mind. (There’s even talk of fully Islamic-themed cruises launching from Saudi Arabia, with onboard congregational prayers and religious lectures!)
All of this is great news for us – it means we can enjoy a cruise vacation with peace of mind. No more fretting about whether that soup has pork broth or if you’ll miss Maghrib prayer while at sea. Let’s look at the cruise ship leading this trend.
When it comes to Muslim-friendly cruises, the Genting Dream Cruise is a shining star. Operated by Resorts World Cruises, this ship has the distinction of being the world’s first OIC/SMIIC-standard halal-friendly cruise ship. It was the first cruise liner to be certified to OIC/SMIIC halal standards (a high bar set by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation), and it earned a CrescentRating of 5 for its comprehensive Muslim-friendly offerings. In June 2022, Genting Dream returned to service with the world’s first internationally halal-certified cruise kitchen, and it has been renewing those standards each year to assure travelers everything stays genuinely halal.
What does this mean for you as a Muslim traveler? In short: everything you need for a comfortable, halal holiday at sea is on board. Here are the Genting Dream’s key Muslim-friendly features and amenities:
You won’t go hungry or have to stick to vegetarian-only. The ship’s main buffet, The Lido (Deck 16), is a dedicated halal restaurant serving a wide range of Asian and international cuisine. This isn’t just “halal-friendly” in name – it’s actually certified by halal authorities (UNWHD and OIC standards) so you can dine with confidence. From breakfast through dinner, all meals here are halal. There’s even a halal room service menu available 24/7 if you feel peckish at night. Special menus like Jain vegetarian are also available in a separate section, so all dietary needs are respected.
One cool thing: the ship’s kitchens use separate halal-only equipment and even dedicated halal elevators to transport food, preventing any cross-contamination. When you queue at The Lido, you’ll even see signs politely reminding passengers not to bring alcohol into the halal dining area – talk about thoughtful touches!
Finding a place to pray on a cruise used to be tricky, but Genting Dream has a prayer room (musollah) on board. The musollah is located on Deck 5 (near the medical center) and comes fully equipped with prayer mats, a Quran, prayer timetables, and even digital Qibla compasses to track the Qibla direction as the ship moves. So whether you’re in port or in the middle of the ocean, you can always face Mecca accurately.
The prayer room is open for daily prayers, and if you’re traveling with a large group and need more space (for example, for Jumu’ah or group du’a sessions), the crew can convert larger venues like a conference room or the Palm Court lounge into a congregation prayer space. During Ramadan, the ship truly shines – they arrange sahoor (pre-dawn) meals and iftar buffets for fasting guests, and even organize Tarawih prayers at night in the prayer room. You won’t miss the blessings of Ramadan just because you’re at sea!
Traveling with ladies or as a female traveler? Rest assured, Genting Dream has taken extra care to make you comfortable. There are female therapists available on request at the spa, so you can enjoy a massage without worries. The onboard clinic can arrange for female doctors or nurses to attend to women who prefer same-gender healthcare – a big plus for elderly mothers or anyone who values that privacy.
Even the recreation gets thoughtful tweaks: certain hours are set where the gym, sports facilities, or swimming pool areas can be women-only. This means you can swim or work out with full peace of mind in a ladies-only setting. These considerations make the cruise especially inviting for hijabi sisters, mothers, and neneks (grandmothers) alike.
The Genting Dream isn’t just about ticking the halal boxes – it’s a full-fledged luxury cruise for the whole family. Kids will have a blast at the Little Dreamers Kids’ Club (for ages 2–12) with fun activities, workshops, and even costume parties. There are multiple waterslides on the top deck for some adrenaline-pumping fun in the sun, plus a challenging rope course and a 35m zipline that give you thrilling ocean views while securely harnessed. (Yes, teens and adventurous dads will love that!)
For a more relaxed pace, the ship offers live entertainment shows and movies at the Zodiac Theatre every evening. And because this is a Muslim-friendly environment, you won’t have to worry about any non-family-friendly surprises. There are no onboard nightclubs or adult-only shows, and even the in-cabin TV has no adult channels. The atmosphere is festive but wholesome, perfect for families and elder travelers who just want to enjoy a good time without the loud party scene.
If you need more reassurance, know that the Genting Dream’s halal-friendly efforts have won industry praise. In 2023, it was named “Muslim-friendly Cruise Line of the Year” at the Halal in Travel Awards. It’s also the only cruise ship in its region providing a truly holistic Muslim-friendly experience as of now. This ship basically set the standard that others are now trying to follow. So you’re literally sailing with the pioneer of halal cruising! 🏆
Genting Dream primarily sails in Asia, which means many of its port stops are in Muslim-majority or Muslim-friendly countries. The cruises depart from Singapore or Malaysia and visit destinations like Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Penang, Melaka, and Phuket. This is great for Southeast Asian Muslim travelers – not only are these locations close to home, but you can also easily find mosques and halal eateries during shore excursions.
For instance, when you dock in Penang or KL, you’re still in Malaysia so halal food is everywhere, and even in Phuket around 35% of the population is Muslim, meaning halal food and mosques are available there too. Knowing that your onshore days will be as worry-free as your time on the ship is a big relief. Plus, the itineraries are usually short (2 to 5 nights), which is perfect for families or seniors who prefer a manageable trip length rather than a long voyage.
In short, Genting Dream Cruise has you covered from halal food to prayer times. You get to enjoy the same luxury cruise experience as anyone else – think swimming pools, spas, live shows, and sumptuous buffets – but with your faith needs thoughtfully catered for at every step. It’s a game-changer for Muslim travelers who have always wanted to try cruising but hesitated before. 🎉
Traveling in 2025 as a Muslim is easier than ever, but a few smart tips can make your cruise holiday even smoother. Whether you’re going with kids, parents, or friends, keep these pointers in mind:
With options like the Genting Dream Cruise, exploring the seas as a Muslim traveler has never been easier. ✨ Halal-friendly cruises mean you get to focus on making memories with your family – enjoying sumptuous halal meals, watching stunning sunsets, and experiencing new cultures at each port – all without compromising your beliefs. 2025 is set to be a fantastic year for Muslim-friendly travel, so why not take the plunge (maybe literally, down a waterslide 😄)?
Whether you’re a family with kids, a couple of adventure-seeking friends, or elderly parents looking for a relaxing getaway, the Genting Dream offers something for everyone, minus the worries. So pack your bags, grab your sunscreen and prayer essentials, and get ready for a cruise vacation that’s fun, friendly, and full of barakah. Bon voyage and Selamat jalan – your halal cruise adventure awaits!
Yes, Genting Dream Cruise is halal-certified to OIC/SMIIC standards. It offers halal meals, prayer spaces, and services that cater to Muslim travelers.
Yes, the cruise ship has a dedicated prayer room (musollah) with Qibla direction, prayer mats, and Qurans available for guests.
Absolutely. The Lido restaurant onboard serves 100% halal-certified meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Halal room service is also available.
Yes, it's perfect for Muslim families. It offers halal food, prayer areas, kid-friendly activities, and modest entertainment with no nightclubs.
Yes. Genting Dream Cruise sails from Singapore and offers Muslim-friendly services including halal food, prayer rooms, and women-only facilities.
Yes. Genting Dream Cruise provides sahoor and iftar meals during Ramadan and arranges Tarawih prayers on board for fasting guests.
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