Carnival Dream--9-18-2010 Review (with pictures)

[valancy1]

 

 

 

[zabnee]

your pictures are like a homecoming, Debra! WE were on the ream's EAstern cruise back in June. Thanks for your review so far!

[valancy1]

Pictures of the Spa...

 

These chairs heat up... they are quite something! Made me want to book another cruise in a Spa Cabin...

 

 

 

 

 

 

[valancy1]

Are you tired of the ship pictures yet??? I have more throughout the cruise...

 

I visited the dining rooms. I personally thought they were stunning...

 

 

 

 

I thought the dining rooms were lovely. I didn't love my table location but LOVED our servers... loved them.

 

More photos...

 

 

 

[valancy1]

So Chelsea is our resident ham... she found this sign on the towels... so funny:

 

 

More pictures out and about (this is still the first day):

 

 

 

 

This is the Sun Deck. Really... nothing there but this:

 

[valancy1]

We went up to the Serenity Deck... it was lovely and secluded. For those of you looking for that sort of thing this is a very nice place to go and relax:

 

 

Morgan modeling the hammock:

 

One of my favorite nummies:

 

Chelsea and Barry... so cute:

 

 

 

 

[valancy1]

 

 

It was time for dinner. After taking a much needed nap, we were ready to go. Different from last year, there was a dress code for our first day at sea. It was Cruise Casual, rather than "Come as you are". We wore capris and the girls did wear flip flops without a problem. We are not ones for breaking the dress code, but they had nothing else with them but high heels for the other nights.

 

I didn't take a lot of food pictures, but we do have *some*. I will share them as we go along in the cruise.

 

Tonight's menu had ribs on the menu, as well as sweet & sour shrimp. The girls had flat iron steak and I was concerned, because I had one on our first cruise and it was tough as shoe leather. This time, both of theirs came prepared as requested (medium rare) and just as yummy as could be. I was very surprised when they shared a bite with me. It was a totally different experience.

 

I also got baked potatoes this trip and they were done all the way through and delicious.

 

Our servers were terrific--can't say enough about our dining room experience. It was great. We had a couple that sat with us and we really ended up liking each other. If Ronald and Roberta are reading this, HI!!!!

 

We went to the show every night save one. This first one was the one we see each time on the ships. I thought all the entertainment was going to be a repeat--boy was I wrong. Aside from the "FUN" show, each show was different and REALLY fun and impressive. More on those as we go along.

 

BUTCH was our Cruise Director and we absolutely LOVED him. I've always been ambivalent about a Cruise Director, but maybe that's because I've not been impressed and didn't know it? Well, we really liked Butch. He was out and about all the time, or Baby Butch (aka George, Assistant Cruise Director) was out there. Butch, if he saw you, he always had a smile and a wave for you. Chelsea was interviewed the last day and was on t.v. because everyone came up to her and talked about it. She was reading a book and couldn't put it down. So while laying out, she was reading.

 

Anyway, he was terrific.

 

So after the shows, they had a deck party with a birthday cake for the ship. She was delivered one year ago "today" to Carnival and they had music and a laser show with the cake. My camera battery died, but I did get a shot or two...

 

 

[Justthe2ofUScruisin]

oh please keep em coming..I love the pictures..we leave this Saturday for western :D

[jml1985]

Debra -

I am loving your review and pics! I am traveling on the Dream next 09/2011. So far and cannot wait!!!

Who did you use for the limo? I have been looking into several services. We want to hire one for a group that will pick us up at the airport and take us to our hotel on Friday afternoon, day before cruise! Any info you could share would be great!

Thanks so much!

[valancy1]

September 19, 2010 (Happy Birthday Me)

 

So today is our first day at sea...

 

The girls took a wakeup call at 8:45 and were out on the Sun Deck, worshipping.

 

It felt SO GOOD to sleep in and not have to get up to an alarm. We knew we were going to need our rest because of the 4 ports in a row, so we just took our time getting up and getting around. Ate breakfast at the Gathering (Lido) every morning. Our intentions to go to the dining room once or twice never materialized, but it was ok.

 

They had a BBQ on the Lanai at lunch time. A word about the Lanai... if you like to hot tub, you will have PLENTY to choose from. On our cruise, they were never full and often empty, so hot tub to your heart's content!

 

 

 

 

I never tire of the color of the water...

 

Spending our vaca time wisely:

 

[valancy1]

Debra -

 

I am loving your review and pics! I am traveling on the Dream next 09/2011. So far and cannot wait!!!

Who did you use for the limo? I have been looking into several services. We want to hire one for a group that will pick us up at the airport and take us to our hotel on Friday afternoon, day before cruise! Any info you could share would be great!

Thanks so much!

 

Thanks!

 

Here's who we used. We loved the service and our driver was punctual and all that...

 

Leah Hayes

Orlando Limousine Service.net

Reservation specialist

Office: 407-374-3420

Toll Free: 1-800-711-6219

Fax: 1-888-563-3086

 

Hope this helps!

[valancy1]

I went to the shopping talk. I like to shop and even though I know what they are going to say, I like to get the goodies, so I go. But I really liked the Burgundy Lounge and took pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is also where we came to tender to Belize. I'll talk about the tendering when I get to Belize Day :)

[valancy1]

 

 

 

 

Time to gussy up for dinner...

 

 

Chelsea is 6'3". She finally has gotten over the "I'm too tall" philosophy and now wears heels. Heads turned as they saw this extremely tall girl walking down the promenade. Here she is next to her 6'10" dad:

 

[valancy1]

Dining room on Formal Night:

 

 

 

 

 

 

[valancy1]

 

 

 

[manonreal]

Great reviews so far and awesome pics...can't wait for more!!!!

[valancy1]

September 20, 2010 COZUMEL DAY

 

Today is the day we get off the ship in Cozumel!

 

I used waterproof cameras for this day and they are not developed yet, but will include them later in the review after they get developed. However I can tell you about it:

 

The day was GORGEOUS. Blue sky, hot sun. We chose to go to Mr. Sancho's. I got an all inclusive for Chelsea and Barry and Morgan and I did a Mexican cooking class.

 

Our cooking class was FUN but it was so hot that standing over a bunch of hot cooking appliances was even hotter. But there were margaritas included, so we just cooled off with margaritas. :) We made salsa, guacamole, and chicken sopas... YUM. It was delish.

 

Then M and I joined Barry and Chelsea in the water. We saw angel fish and tiger fish swimming in the water... the water was so refreshing after that hot cooking class. I wasn't intending on going in the water but I fell, so I went swimming.

 

Mr. Sancho's is a bit deceiving about its "ALL" inclusive. Dos Equis beer is not included. The water toys are not included. You get a chair, and access to the beach, snorkeling and kayaking as part of inclusive. There is alcohol included and some menu items, but I wouldn't say it was ALL inclusive.

 

They made their money off of us in that regard. There are shops outside the beach area and they all wanted us to come and look at their wares. We didn't have a problem getting a cab, but for four of us it was $20 plus a tip.

 

I enjoyed the cooking class immensely. I was unimpressed with the rest of it, to tell the truth. The water though was wonderful.

 

Then we went back to the port area and did some shopping but we were so tired, we didn't do a lot of that, either. We got back on the ship at 5:30 p.m...

 

 

 

 

 

[valancy1]

 

 

So welcome after a hot day:

 

 

[valancy1]

There was a magician that came around to our table. I don't know how he did it, but you can see we were quite amazed (maybe it doesn't take much? (seriously, it was quite entertaining)):

 

 

 

Chelsea's pretty drink:

 

Ray, our assistant server asked Morgan to come with him, and he had her dancing during the dancing at dinner... so much fun to see her join him!

 

 

[bluenoser2]

Thanks for your review and unique pictures! I had been trying in vain, to find pictures of embarkation to show my daughter - we're scheduled for the Dream next March, and it's our kids' first cruise - she thought everyone just "stormed" the ship on a big gangplank, so now I can show her how it really works! You're giving me some great ideas for scrapbooking borders too - this coming from the one who took pictures of the roads when we were in Europe so I could use them as backgrounds for my layouts!

[valancy1]

Oh, and we also went to Fat Tuesday's (Chelsea and I) waiting for Barry and Morgan to get back from the ship. We got balloon hats. The next day, though, they were deflated (the good pictures are on the disposable cameras...). Chelsea put them on...

 

 

Chelsea and Morgan spelling out "WOW & MOM" (HAHHA)

 

 

 

 

[valancy1]

September 21, 2010 (Belize and Cave Tubing)

 

Again, pictures are forthcoming, but I want to talk about cave tubing with you.

 

I am, admittedly a large person. I am out of shape and fat. (I am having bariatric surgery a week from Wednesday.) I researched cave tubing over and over again.

 

Had anyone mentioned that this excursion was as rough as it was, I would have scheduled it for after my surgery. They try and tell you that it is a short 15-20 minute walk. Don't let them fool you. I don't know about any other excursion than the one done through cave-tubing.com. Please let me do my full explanation...

 

First of all, the guys on our excursion were WONDERFUL. The bus ride was fun. Myles gave a lot of history in a very fun way. We all got a tot of cashew wine (DELISH). We laughed and chair danced in the bus.

 

When we got off the bus, there was a changing area and a bathroom. We doused ourselves with Skin So Soft to prevent mosquitoes (but honestly, I didn't even hear any buzzing around) and we started walking.

 

They make you take your tubes with you. Then after about 5 minutes, you have to cross a stream that has rocks on the bottom. We all nearly lost our balance. (Note: WATER SHOES ARE REQUIRED and if you can, BUY YOUR OWN.) This was only the beginning.

 

Then we climbed up the opposite shore and started really walking. A couple of times we had to walk up and then down irregular stairs and through a cave (stepping down like mountain climbing might be). WITH A TUBE, mind you.

 

Barry, bless his heart, started carrying my tube for me. I was miserable. I have foot problems and this didn't help them. I basically should not have taken this excursion, but honestly, no one ever said how strenuous this was. TRUST ME: THIS IS STRENUOUS. If you are not in good shape, don't take this tour.

 

The guys on our excursion did everything they could do, but a lot of the work was up to me, and I wasn't up to it. By sheer perserverance, I continued on.

 

It ended up being about a 45-minute climb/hike. Don't let the word "Walk" fool you.

 

So we get in the tube, and I wasn't positioned correctly in the tube, so going down the river was uncomfortable. It *was* neat seeing all the formations and hearing about Mayan culture and all that, but I couldn't wait to be finished with this tour. Again, I can't speak highly enough for the people--they made sure we were safe and worked very hard.

 

After we got out of the tubes and had that walk back across that stream again, we got in the bus and went to their little tiki area and had lunch. Since we were late and they wanted to make sure we didn't miss our ship, we had to eat in a hurry... but it was good. That red Fanta soda I had never tasted so good!

 

Back to the bus and the hour trip back. This is when we paid. Because it was Independence Day, all the guys said their tips would be split in 1/2... 1/2 of their tips were going to be given to a local orphanage.

 

After Belize, we shopped in the shopping area a bit, but I was so tired and hot and grungy, I needed to get back to the ship to shower and relax. That shower never felt so good ;)

 

Please don't flame me--I know that many of you really enjoyed cave tubing and that was the single reason I booked this cruise to do this excursion. I only want others who might have physical limitations to know what I experienced so they might think seriously about it before they book and know what they are getting into.

 

More to come. I have to get ready to go for my surgery, so I will probably be back with more tomorrow. I have more to share!

 

Thanks for your patience!

[kenrod]

valancy1

Thanks for taking the time to share your review with us. It looks like your family had a grand time!

 

What I like the most about your pictorial are the ship's pictures. While it is nice to see the destinations, it is also as nice to see the interior of different ships.

 

Thanks for posting, and look forward to more!

[htkodiak]

Thanks for your review.We will be on the Dream this Dec.

[jml1985]

Thanks!

 

Here's who we used. We loved the service and our driver was punctual and all that...

 

Leah Hayes

Orlando Limousine Service.net

Reservation specialist

Office: 407-374-3420

Toll Free: 1-800-711-6219

Fax: 1-888-563-3086

 

Hope this helps!

 

Debra-

Thanks so much for your quick response. I have put the info in my cruise "folder"!!!

BTW- beautiful family and WOW !!! Chelsea is tall!! However, she's confident in that and that is awesome!! My cousins are all very tall and handle it well!!!

Thanks again!!! I'm still loving reading about it! I have heard that the BBQ on the Lanai was always really crowded with super long lines. How was it for you?

Of course, I personally don't mind standing in lines. I mean your on the water, on the Lanai and with a drink in hand. What could be better??

 

and I saw the pix of the Miami Vice and I believe what was a Mojito!! YUM!!YUM!!!