Review of our Spring Break cruise on Carnival Dream

[David-n-Rita]

Thank you all for your kind comments. I really wish they'd get better satellite internet speed on board so I could post a live review with pics. I could adjust them to less resolution to make the file sizes smaller, but it would still take too much bandwidth at current speeds to upload them all.

 

KruznKel,

 

I have to confess that I lied in my explanation; I weighed myself at work today on two separate scales and I do not weigh 242.....I weigh 248! :o Time for me to get serious about getting in shape because my weight is offending me. :eek: It's a bad feeling to offend others, but rather sickening even for a shallow person like me to offend myself. :D

 

The good thing is that they don't charge by the pound when they bury you. All of us in the obese category will get more for our money, although we might have to have an extra pallbearer or two.

 

.....as for the pounds you gained...it's Lido-itis. you will probably go into remission shortly, but the the announcements for the muster drill cause relapses to occur again over the years...

[boaterette]

I am loving your review. Thank you so much for posting. I am looking forward to the rest of it.

[Luanne21]

I always love your reviews. I can't wait for more of it.

[gail811]

Hey Paul (or anyone else), could you please post a link to your Freedom review? I have searched but can't find it, and we booked the Freedom for next year. I had it bookmarked before my computer crashed but can't find it now. Thanks!

[lincdax]

Here's Paul's Freedom Review from 2005

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=754861&highlight

[gail811]

Just found the 2008 review too...thanks!

[poptart]

Enjoying your review as always. The boys are growing up fast!

 

Heading out of town for a long weekend and I'll be excited to see what you've posted when I get back.

[demos]

I know it is tough getting back into the swing of things again after a cruise. Loving your review and looking forward to hearing more when you get caught up. Also thanks for taking the time to post live I looked for your updates each day. We have 9 days to go for our Dream.

[seguincruiser]

Can hardly wait to see more of your review. You look like a fun loving family.

[navybaby1113]

Can't wait to see more of your review. I hope I get to see some pictures before we leave tomorrow.

[bcs819]

Me too! how horrible. I'll still read your review, but come on! Have a little respect or dignity or something.

 

he WAS respectful he didn't make fun of her, he stated facts. Do you think she doesn't know she's that size?

[TERMITEJR]

Just a bump to keep you on page 1 where you belong, love your reviews, especially since we will be there in 2 weeks :D

[xxjulzxx]

Looking forward to your reviews of the ports!

[PaulMedik]

Port Canaveral is noted for quick and easy boarding, our sailing was no exception other than for early arrivals like ourselves and there were plenty of us.

 

The Carnival rep had stated that boarding would begin at 11:50 and sure enough the lines began reforming and we were soon greeted by the Carnival photogs for our embarkation photo;

 

 

The boarding ramp onto Carnival Dream is a bit shorter than others and before we knew it we were on board walking into the Dream atrium on deck 3;

 

 

My first impression was that the atrium is very similar to Conqest class, but it seemed a little more roomy.

 

After a quick look around the atrium, we headed for the elevators and proceded to Lido for our customary first pic on deck;

 

 

Lido deck took us all by surprize even though I'd seen countless pics and studied the deck plans, I was still expecting the stadium seating from Conquest class. I knew it would be flat and not look the same, but I didn't expect the closed in feeling. Walking out on Lido on Dream is very much like walking out on Lido on a Spirt class ship.

 

After surveying the buffets Karen and I headed toward our customary eating area on all ships; the deck above the rear buffet. I had hoped the boys would all remember where we always went to eat, but Britt and Spencer ended up eating with our friends while Karen, Bryson, and I ended up in the right place. There was plenty of food in the right place;

 

 

Our favorite place on all ships is known as the pasta bar on Dream and all stations below and before were wide open for filling up;

 

 

There's a waitress at the top of the stairs at the pasta bar who asks if you'd like to order. She then hands you an order slip, pencil, and number on a small stand. Be careful how much you choose on the order slip, because they bring it all and it's all GREAT;

 

[PaulMedik]

Words don't do the food served in the pasta bar justice, so I'll just share pics instead;

 

 

As you can tell from the poor pic quality, I was focused more on the food than I was my camera's lens;

 

 

The food was great, but I really wanted to get a look at our cabin so Karen and I ate quickly then headed down to deck six, through the closed doors, down our hall, and made a brief pit stop at cabin 6477 the L shaped cabin on the starboard side of ours for a quick pic inside;

 

 

Our boys had the similar cabin on previous cruises and I'd hoped to book it along with ours, but the two passenger limit wouldnt allow it.

 

After the quick pic I stepped back out into the hall to get a shot of the entry area to our cabin;

 

 

Our bed for the week was neatly made and ready for luggage to be spread out on it. The drawers in the cabin were all open to reveal that the previous guest had taken all personal belongings with them;

 

[PaulMedik]

I realize this pic won't make sense to many people, but I wanted a pic of what the ship looked like looking up from our balcony;

 

 

After reading about how the aft wraps weren't wraps, I was completely relieved once actually on the balcony near the mid divider when I could not see the other end of our balcony;

 

 

The slope of the aft does make privacy in the mid sections a bit questionable;

 

 

I should have backed up a few feet to get the full balcony in this pic, but I'm sure I got it some time so I'll share this one for now;

 

 

The view straight down from our balcony was quite a bit different than we're used to;

 

 

The corner of our cabin with the window really begs for a chair. It looks like it was designed for one, but there wasn't one;

 

[lollylew]

Our bed for the week was neatly made and ready for luggage to be spread out on it. The drawers in the cabin were all open to reveal that the previous guest had taken all personal belongings with them;

 

I had always wondered why those drawers were open whenever I entered my cabin at the start of a cruise!

 

Also, those throw pillows on the bed are a nice touch! Makes the room (to me) feel a bit "homey" :D

[snookymom]

We enjoyed the pasta bar too. Wish we were leaving this Saturday instead of looking at pictures!

[PaulMedik]

Even though we were early, we did have personalized Platinum stationary already stocked;

 

 

 

As we left our room to head back up on deck, I got some pics along the way. As I recall, this one is of 6481;

 

 

This one is of the aft wrap on the opposite corner from our cabin. 6492 I think;

 

 

The hallway of the L shaped 6490;

 

 

Deck 7 aft wrap. 7459 I think;

 

 

Odd shaped Category 8 aft wrap on deck 9. 9475 I think;

 

[Time2CruiseAgain]

Paul - what deck were you on? We are cruising in a few weeks and we were just upgraded to an aft balcony on the upper deck (6).

 

Awesome review! Keep it coming!

[PaulMedik]

9475 has a very nice balcony, but I'm not sure how much sun they'll get;

 

 

The balcony does wrap, but it gets a bit narrow in the mid section;

 

 

View from the opposite direction of the narrow center;

 

 

View from 9475 looking down;

 

 

The view from Lido looking down at the same angle as from 9475 is similar;

 

 

And here's the view I looked all over the internet for, but could not find. The view looking straight down from center of Lido;

 

[demos]

Yah!!! I just got home from work after a long day getting extra hours before vacation. What a great thing to come here and see you posting more of your review. :DThank you!

 

Your photos are really good, just the kind of things we are curious about. Love your cabin....the photos of the 9s on deck 7 looks like the ones we sayed in on the Glory, which we were very happy with. I like the layout of your cabin...not so sure about the view of the deck below though. What did you think?

[PaulMedik]

Paul - what deck were you on? We are cruising in a few weeks and we were just upgraded to an aft balcony on the upper deck (6).

 

Awesome review! Keep it coming!

 

 

Time2CruiseAgain,

 

Our cabin was 6479 on deck six, but the pics I posted are from deck six and from several decks above.

 

 

 

 

 

Aft port side looking down from Lido deck;

 

 

 

Sorry for the brief interlude into areas of the ship I was most interested in. We do love aft wraps and this ship does offer a few choice locations that are comparable to other class ships in the aft wrap category. Some cabins and balconies I checked out do not measure up to what I had hoped Dream would offer, but they are nice. Luckily for us, our cabin choice turned out to be one of the cabins / balconies that do measure up and favorably compare to other ships we've sailed on. I must say that at this point I was still concerned about the Lanai deck being right below our balcony. We are used to peaceful sounds of the surf kicked up by the propulsion system and not sounds of people passing by or partying their way along beneith our cabin so we still didn't know what to expect at this point.

 

 

We met up with our friends and the rest of our family on Lido;

 

 

The ship was still boarding early arrivals so Karen and I headed toward the front of the ship to make a spa couples reservation for thermal suites VIP pass. I'd heard that sales are limited to forty per sailing and I was pretty sure we didn't want to miss out. Along the way we passed by the atrium and checked to see if it was full yet, but it was still fairly devoid of occupants;

 

 

 

 

We began our spa tour in the gym. Compared to Conqest class, it's freakin HUGE;

 

 

The front of the ship's gym is lined with eliptical trainers;

 

 

We then toured the heated ceramic loungers of the VIP area;

 

[Time2CruiseAgain]

Thanks, Paul - can't wait to hear more about the cabin - we are in 6496 = our daughter and SIL are in 6494. Anxious to hear about noise, etc.

[PaulMedik]

...................I like the layout of your cabin...not so sure about the view of the deck below though. What did you think?

 

 

demos,

 

It took some getting used to, but after all was said and done it did add a bit to our amusement and didn't detract from our relaxation which is the main thing. I won't be able to share pics of all the amusing activities we witnessed, but suffices to say there is a Lanai club similar to balcony clubs. I don't know whether we witnessed the initiation or just a couple of new members though.

 

 

 

Britt approved of the heated lounge chairs, but I agreed with him that it would have been nicer for them to face the windows, but you can lay in them in either direction I guess;

 

 

 

Britt playing with rocks in one of the steam rooms;

 

 

 

Given that all of the thermal suite offerings are HOT and tend to dehydrate, it's nice to find a cool room with cold drinks and refreshing fruit available at the end of the hall;

 

 

 

The Thallostherapy hot tub. We spent a LOT of time in here enjoying the bubbly waters;

 

 

The spa elevator and circular stairwell;

 

 

 

The shower adjacent to the mud wrap room was awesome! Our guide explained that when couples book a mud wrap they secure the area and leave them alone in the shower room;