For the second consecutive year, Dream Cruises proudly served as the official venue sponsor for the HalalTrip Gastronomy Awards (HTGA) 2025, specifically for the highly anticipated Gastronomy Cook-Off Showdown category.
The event was held onboard the Genting Dream during its 3 Night Phuket Cruise from Singapore, sailing from 30 September to 3 October 2025, welcoming 43 distinguished participants and invited guests.
Building on the success of the inaugural edition in 2024, HTGA 2025 expanded its reach beyond Singapore, with Johor confirmed as the first stop in its global journey. The awards celebrate excellence in Halal dining, honouring restaurants, chefs and culinary innovations that push the boundaries of creativity and quality in Halal gastronomy.
“We were delighted to continue our partnership with HalalTrip and Singapore Halal Culinary Federation for the second year running,” said Michael Goh, President of StarDream Cruises. “Hosting the Gastronomy Cook-Off Showdown aboard Genting Dream was a perfect fit, as our ship offers certified Halal cuisine and a wide range of Muslim-friendly offerings. It provided an unforgettable environment for talented chefs to showcase their creativity and for guests to enjoy a truly unique dining and entertainment experience.”
During the Gastronomy Cook-Off Showdown aboard Genting Dream, participants showcased their culinary skills in front of an audience of passengers. From this intense competition emerged the winners for the Singapore and Johor (Malaysia) categories, with congratulations extended to the Singapore winners, Chef Abdul Rashid Mahmood from The Butcher’s Table (Best Forward Chef category) and Chef Derek Ng Meng Tat from Loong
Dim Sum (Most Promising Chef category).
The Johor winners include Chef de Partie Jannahtul Akhma Juraini from Pawana Restaurant Tunamaya Beach & Spa Resort (Best Forward Chef category) and Demi Chef Mohammad Riezafi Jamri from Suasana Suites Café (Most Promising Chef category), who were officially announced at a separate ceremony.
“As the world’s first Muslim-friendly cruise, Genting Dream continues to offer exceptional experiences for travellers of all backgrounds. Muslim guests from across the region can enjoy certified Halal cuisine and a range of Muslim-friendly offerings. These include exciting 2 and 3 Night cruises to Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Phuket, as well as a special 5-night Bali Cruise departing 30 November 2025. Additional itineraries to Bangkok, Redang and Koh Samui will be available in 2026, providing even more options for travellers.” said Chef Muhammad Kamal Khamis, President, Singapore Halal Culinary Federation(SHCF)