Carnival Dream multiple Qs xpost with FirstTimeCruisers

My wife and I have a balcony room on the Dream, Deck 7. Did I do well? I'd heard that because the suites are on this floor that the stewards would probably be better (if there is a thing). Also, that it is insulated by rooms above and below for reduction of noise.

We know very little of the eating situation, but from research and reading threads here, it doesn't seem that we'll starve by a long shot. Are reservations needed to be made for the MDR for dinner? How expensive are the dining options that aren't included with fare (Bonsai Sushi for example)?

We applied for passports two weeks ago, so we can't check-in online yet. After doing so, will we be able to see what each day's activities are that have been planned? I'd like to know which night is considered elegant, which shows are available on which nights, which movies are showing on certain nights, etc.

We plan to purchase the middle wifi package. This is due to mainly wanting those that are watching our (then)3yo daughter having a means to contact us. We know we can use the ship's app to chat ($5). Would it be smarter for just ONE of us to get the internet package since we can communicate with the app?

We will also be purchasing the Cheers! package. When does it begin...as soon as we board...as soon as we leave New Orleans...some other time?

Besides our balcony, is there anywhere on the Dream that we will be able to sit in the DARK and stargaze? It's my understanding that most areas are lit in some fashion.

What is the boarding like? Do they go through your suitcase and carry on? As we were not able to buy the FTTF, what type of time frame would we be looking at considering it will be mid-July (which I assume means more people)?

That's all I have for now! Thanks In Advance!

Landshark (soon to be cruise shark)

I can't answer all of your questions, but I'll try to hit some of them.

My wife and I have a balcony room on the Dream, Deck 7. Did I do well? I'd heard that because the suites are on this floor that the stewards would probably be better (if there is a thing). Also, that it is insulated by rooms above and below for reduction of noise.

Room locations are subjective, but personally, I think you did great with Deck 7 Balcony rooms. We like to have rooms above and below us, because like you said, they are quieter.

 

We know very little of the eating situation, but from research and reading threads here, it doesn't seem that we'll starve by a long shot. Are reservations needed to be made for the MDR for dinner? How expensive are the dining options that aren't included with fare (Bonsai Sushi for example)?

 

 

When you log into Carnival, look at the Manage My Cruise area. It will list what time you have to eat. Your choices are Early Dining, 6:15 p.m., Late Dining, 8:00 p.m., and AnyTime Dining. You do not need to make any reservations to eat at your assigned time. If you want to eat at the Steakhouse, or the Chef's Table, you will need to make reservations for those. The Steakhouse is $35 pp, and the Chef's Table is $75 pp (I think). You can look at Carnival's website to see the charges for some of the other venues.

 

We applied for passports two weeks ago, so we can't check-in online yet. After doing so, will we be able to see what each day's activities are that have been planned? I'd like to know which night is considered elegant, which shows are available on which nights, which movies are showing on certain nights, etc.

 

You won't be able to see activities online, even after you do the online check it. You can do a search here for the Dream Fun Times. These listings will be pretty close to what's offered on your cruise.

 

We plan to purchase the middle wifi package. This is due to mainly wanting those that are watching our (then)3yo daughter having a means to contact us. We know we can use the ship's app to chat ($5). Would it be smarter for just ONE of us to get the internet package since we can communicate with the app?

 

We will also be purchasing the Cheers! package. When does it begin...as soon as we board...as soon as we leave New Orleans...some other time?

 

Besides our balcony, is there anywhere on the Dream that we will be able to sit in the DARK and stargaze? It's my understanding that most areas are lit in some fashion.

 

What is the boarding like? Do they go through your suitcase and carry on? As we were not able to buy the FTTF, what type of time frame would we be looking at considering it will be mid-July (which I assume means more people)?

 

Once you complete your Online Check In, it will prompt you to pick a boarding time. New Orleans does the staggered boarding, so they are supposed to turn people away if they show up before their listed boarding time. I would go ahead and do your Online Check In now, and then go back and add your passport information once you get it.

 

They will look thru any bags that you are bringing with you thru the terminal.

 

That's all I have for now! Thanks In Advance!

 

Landshark (soon to be cruise shark)

Hopefully you'll get some other responses here soon! Have a great time!

Room location is great, rooms above and below, one deck down to the promenade, two decks up to the lido.

There will be a buffet open pretty much all time, then there is guys burgers, tandoori (Indian), blue Iguana (Mexican), guys seaside BBQ, and the MDR all open for lunch on sea days. Dinner in the MDR was already answered, you choose early (6pm), late (8:15pm), or Any Time, which is like going to a restaurant, show up while they are serving and wait to be seated. If you choose early or late you may be seated at a larger table with other cruisers, but that's half the fun, meeting new people.

As said before you can do a search for the Fun Times to get an idea of what will be going on during your cruise. Make sure to download the HUB app, once onboard you will have access to the entire weeks activities. There are 2 formal nights, Monday and Friday. The second one is not quite as formal.

Don't know about the internet plans.

Out of New Orleans Cheers kicks in as soon as you board, but you will have to pay taxes on your drinks until you are off the MS river, usually about midnight.

At night there are some some nice places to stargaze. They turn off most of the lights on the top most decks and during the movies the whole lido is dark.

Don't know if you are driving or flying in, but New Orleans is one of the easiest ports to drive and park at. The Porter's will take your checked bags and then based on your checked in time you will be allowed into the terminal to check in. Once checked in they will begin boarding. Once on the ship you can explore, play in the pools, hot tubs, water slides and eat lunch, but your rooms won't be ready until 1-1:30. Then you have muster drills about 4 then sail away.

Feel free to ask any more questions you can think of.

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We love stargazing on our balcony. There are a couple of really good star gazing apps which will describe what you are looking at. Star Walk and SkyView are a lot of fun.

Thank you all for the fast responses! This is our first cruise and is for our 10 year anniversary and will be the first real vacation we have had since our honeymoon so we're a nice level of stoked 30 somethings.

We will be driving into New Orleans. Her family is from Baton Rouge, but I think we'll be staying at the Harrah's close to the port in NO. I'd heard that they allow you to park for the duration of the cruise if you stay a night? Not sure on that one, yet.

I know it's a cashless system, so I'm curious what the casino uses? I like to play craps and planned on losing a couple hundred at some point there, but I'm not sure if I need to load up my SS card or what.

When you check in, or you can do it online, you will either attach a credit or debit card, or cash to your S&S card. They will then put a hold for $200 per person on the card. Toward the end of the middle of the cruise they will charge the gratuities (if you haven't pre-paid them) and the last night they will charge your CC whatever the balance of your S&S is.

Hope that helps.

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Sorry for the long rambling answers. Hopefully they will be helpful.

My wife and I have a balcony room on the Dream, Deck 7. Did I do well? I'd heard that because the suites are on this floor that the stewards would probably be better (if there is a thing). Also, that it is insulated by rooms above and below for reduction of noise.

 

I think it just depends on the attitude and personality of the steward. Some stewards for rooms not on a suite deck can be good too. The steward I had for a grand suite on the Sensation was definitely better than the steward I had on the Empress deck on the Inspiration. On the Inspiration, the steward didn't talk much and I only saw him twice(I think). On the Fantasy(also Empress deck), I was there one time to see the stewards working hard. On the Triumph, I had an upper/lower porthole(1A) cabin on deck 1. Elsa was really nice, and we had a nice long conversation. She seemed genuinely interested.

 

I like the idea of a cabin with cabins above and below it. However, when I am on Fantasy-class ships, I book a cabin on the Empress deck(under the midship dining room) so I can use the atrium elevators to get to almost anywhere I want to go. On the Sensation it was a PITA to not be able to take the midship elevators to the Lido deck. This isn't an issue on the Dream.

 

I booked a cove balcony on the Dream. It is cheaper, shaded by a lifeboat, and under the midship dining room. There shouldn't be too much noise after the dining room closes for the night.

 

We know very little of the eating situation, but from research and reading threads here, it doesn't seem that we'll starve by a long shot. Are reservations needed to be made for the MDR for dinner? How expensive are the dining options that aren't included with fare (Bonsai Sushi for example)?

 

http://www.zydecocruiser.net/CarnivalVistaInaug/index.html

 

I know this is for the Vista, but 2/3 of the way down is the menu for Bonsai Sushi that still has prices on it. Carnival just took the prices off of the PDF menu on their site. Carnival's copy had prices on it less than a week ago. The prices were the same as this cruise on the Vista. I wouldn't be surprised if they are raising the prices at Bonsai Sushi.

 

For the coffee bar, I only know that a milkshake costs $3.95 before tax and 15% gratuity($4.54 without tax).

 

We applied for passports two weeks ago, so we can't check-in online yet. After doing so, will we be able to see what each day's activities are that have been planned? I'd like to know which night is considered elegant, which shows are available on which nights, which movies are showing on certain nights, etc.

 

You can check in now. Just select your birth certificate as your citizenship document. You can always go back in and change it to your passport when it arrives.

 

If the staggered check in times for your sailing have been released, you can choose a check in time now. Choosing a check in time can be done without entering any other information.

 

Don't use a debit card for your Sail & Sign account if you can help it. Sometimes it takes a while for your bank to drop the hold. You wouldn't have use of those actual funds until it drops.

We plan to purchase the middle wifi package. This is due to mainly wanting those that are watching our (then)3yo daughter having a means to contact us. We know we can use the ship's app to chat ($5). Would it be smarter for just ONE of us to get the internet package since we can communicate with the app?

 

You can share one internet package. Only one person can use it at a time. The second person will have to use the folio number of the person that bought the package. I personally always purchase the middle internet package because it covers more than the social package. If you can get by with Facebook Messenger, then you can go with the cheapest plan.

We will also be purchasing the Cheers! package. When does it begin...as soon as we board...as soon as we leave New Orleans...some other time?

 

As far as sales taxes are concerned, when the Triumph was still on the river, I ordered a daiquiri after supper(sometime after 8pm) and was only charged the 5% state sales tax instead of the combined 10% sales tax in New Orleans. I don't know when or where the parish sales tax ended. I paid a total of $9.90. I don't drink alcohol anywhere close to enough to justify Cheers, even with water, pop, juice, and milkshakes included.

 

Besides our balcony, is there anywhere on the Dream that we will be able to sit in the DARK and stargaze? It's my understanding that most areas are lit in some fashion.

 

What is the boarding like? Do they go through your suitcase and carry on? As we were not able to buy the FTTF, what type of time frame would we be looking at considering it will be mid-July (which I assume means more people)?

 

They don't open your carry ons or your checked bags unless they see something questionable/prohibited on the scanners.

 

They may release more FTTF slots closer to the cruise. Also, if someone cancels, their FTTF will be made available. You just have to keep checking daily.

 

I can't speak for the Dream when it comes to the time frame. To give you an idea of what it is like on a shorter cruise and smaller ship, I was on the Triumph in February(4 day). I had FTTF and the earliest check in time(10:00am-10:30am for the Triumph). I entered the terminal at about 10:05am(I walked from the Greyhound station via Julia St and the Riverwalk).

 

Once I got to the top of the escalator, I didn't wait more than a minute for any step in the check in process. I think they were trying prevent crowding/bottlenecks. There are several check in desks. Alot of the desks were open with no passengers at them. I was sitting and waiting to board for around an hour. I may have fallen asleep a few times. Boarding started at about 11:30am. Based on an announcement, I believe boarding was slightly delayed.

 

I was told by a Carnival rep that the earliest check in time for the Dream is 11:00am-11:30am. I don't know if that is true. I will have to wait until check in times are released for 1/28/18 to know for sure.

 

If you get there right at the beginning of the first check in slot, the lines might be short and move fairly quickly. I would add a few minutes if you have several bags or don't have FTTF. Then again, I may be wrong, and I was just lucky.

That's all I have for now! Thanks In Advance!

 

Landshark (soon to be cruise shark)

We love to spend time on the wrap around deck on 5. There are quiet places to sit, 4 hot tubs, some nice places to stargazer at night and there is a designated smoking area aft that hubby always has to find.

In addition to your questions remember that you can each bring one bottle if eine and a 12 pak of canned sodas, juice onboard. Just put everything in a roller bag since they will open cardboard container

Sorry hit send too quickly. You can bring any type of non-alcoholic canned beverages just nothing in bottles except wine.

If you find that Harrah's will charge you for parking, check out Fulton St garage online. We reserve rooftop parking there and last time for 7 night cruise was $59 including tax. They have shuttle and guys to handle bags. If you do keep car at Harrah's and have in/out privileges I would drive checked bags to port and check them but be aware that traffic is really bad between 9 am and 10 am when the previous cruise is still disembarking and new cruisers beginning to arrive.

The spa on the Dream is one of the best in the fleet. They have day passes and week long passes you can purchase to use the "Cloud 9" saunas, steam rooms, mineral water therapy pools, etc. Massages & other services are extra

There are 2 elegant nights where the dress cost doesn't require formal evening attire but men are asked to wear slacks and collared shirt and ladies most anything but exercise apparel, swim attire or shorts.

We love the Dream and always have a great cruise. It was just refreshed in drydock a few months ago and should look great!

Thank you all for the fast responses! This is our first cruise and is for our 10 year anniversary and will be the first real vacation we have had since our honeymoon so we're a nice level of stoked 30 somethings.

 

We will be driving into New Orleans. Her family is from Baton Rouge, but I think we'll be staying at the Harrah's close to the port in NO. I'd heard that they allow you to park for the duration of the cruise if you stay a night? Not sure on that one, yet.

 

I know it's a cashless system, so I'm curious what the casino uses? I like to play craps and planned on losing a couple hundred at some point there, but I'm not sure if I need to load up my SS card or what.

Take cash if you are playing the table games. You can get cash at the table with your SS card but they will charge you.

If you go to deck 5 the lanai goes all the way around the ship. At the very front there were no lights at all and it was perfect (no chairs though) to stargaze.

When you check in, or you can do it online, you will either attach a credit or debit card, or cash to your S&S card. They will then put a hold for $200 per person on the card. Toward the end of the middle of the cruise they will charge the gratuities (if you haven't pre-paid them) and the last night they will charge your CC whatever the balance of your S&S is.

 

Hope that helps.

 

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I would NOT recommend using a debit card. They will charge daily holds and one final charge at the end but it can take 7-10 days for the holds to drop off and people sometimes find themselves in a pickle upon return when all the $ in their checking account is tied up.

The casino DOES take cash or sail & sign card at tables and machines. I

Also, if you chose to do cash for your s&s account, you can put a certain amount down and use the kiosk on board to add more if needed. Since you're doing the Cheers package, your spending onboard will be limited obviously except for any upcharge restaurants or if you choose to gamble off your s&s card.

You asked "Is there a place on the Dream where its dark and you can gaze at the stars?" There is. If you go to deck 9 forward, walk on the port side all the way forward. Open the door. Be careful, because it is windy. There you will find a hidden deck. It turned into my favorite spot to go late at night.

From there, I took a shot of the moon with my dslr camera. It is shown on my B2B review.

You asked "Is there a place on the Dream where its dark and you can gaze at the stars?" There is. If you go to deck 9 forward, walk on the port side all the way forward. Open the door. Be careful, because it is windy. There you will find a hidden deck. It turned into my favorite spot to go late at night.

 

From there, I took a shot of the moon with my dslr camera. It is shown on my B2B review.

 

 

Not so hidden now ;)

Following

Most people still don't go to these decks, even when they know about it since it is so quiet. Also we seemed to be the ones that closed down the ship every night. Maybe that is why it was so quiet in the first place.

You can check in without a passport. Check Birth Certificate. Can add your passport later online or in port.

If you haven't done so, choose your Staggered Check in Time.

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