May 8-15, JUST BACK FROM THE DREAM--GOOD CRUISE

[AmberTeka]

I am just back....like we walked off the ship before 8am this morning. Carnival and the staff at Port Canaveral has embarktation and disembarktation...down right. We sailed on May 8. Three days before Carnival had called and requested we board at 10:30am. We left Jacksonville at 5:30am and by 11:00am, we were sitting on the Lido Deck. We saw NO lines. We were seated for about fifteen minutes when we arrived, then our group was called. We had our Fun Pass Checked, got our Sign and Sail Cards with NO ONE in front of us. It was amazing. We did have to wait until our cabin was ready at 1:30pm. I sat and talked to some nice folks from PA, my husband wandered the ship, tried to find our cabin, wandered through the Spa and got to it that way. (We did not have a Spa Cabin, but we were on the Panaroma Deck.) We finally did get there when the steel doors were unlocked, it was a balcony, seemed a little roomer than the Freedom, and everything worked like it should. The AC can get chilly to the Max. Our CAbin Attendant was fine. We seldom saw her, but the few requests we had were immediately seen too, and while our cabin did not get cleaned until noon, it was because she was cleaning on the other side of the ship. We thought she did an exceptional job and tipped her extra. The TV's are digital, flat and mounted on the Wall. The Depressing Views of CNN was basically all the national news available. I don't consider myself extreme but I quickly tire of their rabid anti-anything USA message. So we did not watch TV all Week. Best thing that happened to us perhaps, because we had a grand time on the Dream. The Ship Safety Drill is Different. Our group went to the Encore Theater and saw a film and saw proper life jacket use demonstarted. Good way to do it. Everyone paid attention. BUT..after the drill, we discovered what I think was the only major flaw on The Dream. There are too few elevators. We have cruised on Carnival 8 times, on HAL, NCR,CELEBRITY..and this was a problem. People came close to having words over it. I was on an elevator where a group of large women, traveling together,were upset because my DH and I got on. They said they had been in an elevator that had so many people on it that the elevator stopped. Exactly what do you say in such a situation? We stayed on. The Elevator worked. They were not happy. My DH is not big and I am not as big as they were. Carnival needs to fix that problem. Run some more elevators to decks 5,4,3 for folks trying to get to dinner. We did not see crowding at any other place. I will do a longer review..add some more tomorrow, but I will say that We saw all three musical productions and there were empty seats at all of them. That is not to say that they were not very well attended, because they were, but we sat on Deck 3 each night and I could see empty seats at the back on upper levels. We got there about 20 minutes before show time. For the County Show, which I considered the best and it was the one with a long standing ovation, we sat two seats from the stage. I did not see long lines in the Lido "The Gathering". We were there early..we were there later in the afternoon. We were even there when they did the Chocolate buffet and I was like sixth in line. We had gone up for Pizza, which was divine, and just happened to be sitting near main front buffet line. They were making milkshakes, they had cakes, cookies and I think it was a mousse..chocolate.(what I tried).that was very good. The casino was crowded the first couple of nights but the slots were so tight that I think people stopped coming the last part of the week. They had a five dollar minimum for each bet at the 2 roulette tables and they sure did not pull crowds. I seldom saw more than a few people around them, and often no one was there. Our luggage arrived in time for us to be unpacked by dinner, with all of our bags tucked under the bed.

Dinner that first night was good. I had pork ribs with fries and slaw, DH had the Sweet and Sour Shrimp on rice. Both were delicious. We both had the Warm Melting Cake and it was good. We ate with a very pleasant couple from Missouri. It was fun catching up with their adventures every evening. After dinner, we went to the casino for a bit, then retired to our cabin for a shower and early bedtime. We slept like logs. It was like being rocked in a cradle. I will post more tomorrow and will answer what questions I can. I will say..Our trip was great. We loved the Ship and the Staff.:)

The Smell,,,,,,,,,We did smell it...a sewer smell that first day. But we did on the Westerdam toowhen it was new. After that first day, it was nothing that every ship does not have sometimes. I don't even see it being a factor in deciding to cruise on the Dream or not. It just is not a problem.

[TJB94]

Can't wait to read the rest of your review. We leave in 2 weeks and have a balcony room on the panoramo deck as well.

[Gary73]

We leave in three weeks and look forward to the rest of your review as well

[Cruisertommyboy]

Thanks for the review. Glad you had a good cruise

 

I leave in 2 weeks and cant wait. Waiting to read more

 

Tom

[AmberTeka]

Sunday--May9---Bahamas Day. We got up, DH went to the Lido, I ordered toast and coffee from room service, it came quickly, I tipped $3..then dressed. We did the Glass Bottom Boat excursion. The trip back and forth, seeing the homes of the Rich and Famous was great..the glass bottom was not very clean so did not see too much. Still--we enjoyed the tour of Nassau harbor. Lunch was pizza..really good..and chocolate chip cookies from the Lido dessert bar..fantastic. Ditto the ice cream machines. We played Trivia..had a lot of fun..big crowds...Mark and James were great fun. Then Casino. Elegant Night in the MDR. Most dressed at least like for Church..one woman in shorts. Lobster..I had Prime Rib..very good..also as a starter the Spaghetti Carbonelia(sp)--very good. Warm CMC..great. The Show was "Get Ready"..a Motown collection. I enjoyed it very much. After that...I was bushed. We went to our cabin..showered..DH sat on balcony and we were alseep before eleven. They had a Karaoke Party with Rozwin that sounded like fun, but we did not make it. ditto Piano Bar Party with Barry..Papa T played in the Casino and he was really good..line dancin..Name that Tune Trivia..EXCELLENT ACTIVITIES WITH LIKABLE STAFF. Very good day. No Crowds. We did eat lunch on the Lanai and I am sorry to say..the food was not good. That could just be us but we are not picky eaters.

[AmberTeka]

TBJ24...The Panaroma Deck was great. ONE problem..you cannot get to the Lido Gathering Restaurabtwithout crossing the Open Deck. When the wind is blowing....and you are going to dinner on a lower deck..your hair will look like you were hit by a lawn mower. We went to Deck Nine or Deck Five..walked to the Middle Elevator for the Lido and to the Back elevator for the Dining Room. We were in the Scarlett Dining Room..Deck 3..Early dining and we loved our wait staff and the couple we dined with each night. We also enjoyed the singing and dancing on the couple of nights they did that..it made it very festive. And we certainly did tip them extra on the last day. They were beyond nice. AND.....on the other end of the Cabins on the Panaroma Deck..the front of the ship...when you get to the back of the ship..same deck..The Pasta Room. The Garlic Bread is wonderful. The Pasta was OK but I think I did not order the right way. I would ask the wait staff what each thing was before I filled out the menu they give you when you walk in..pleasant atmosphere. I think you can get salad too. We were very happy with the cabin. We did hear a little noise sometimes but it sure never stopped us from sleeping like logs. The halls on that deck are quiet, quiet. Actually few children were on board and the ones who were seemed to be very well behaved. Everyone seemed to be very pleasant.