Carnival Dream Picture Review, December 10th-17th, 2011

[Joie]

great to see and read.....we go in Nov....can't wait.

[marygal]

Beautiful pictures! I am enjoying your review!

[italianfemmy]

As soon as we arrived at Dolphinaris, we were greeted and escorted to an area where we were promptly fitted for life jackets and given snorkeling masks so we could peek under the water if we wished.

 

We had to wait about 10 minutes under a palapa hut for our group of 10 to be called. They added another family of 3 to our group, making it 13 of us total. In no time, we were in the water and our dolphin adventure was beginning.

 

I must pause here to talk about photos. This is one area where the snob in me truly comes out. I have busted my behind to crawl from the ground up from taking crappy photos to being a decent photographer. I wouldn't sell photos to clients if they weren't technically correct in regards to lighting at the very least. The light in an image is 90% of it. Bad lighting can ruin any image.

 

I did my research before going to Dolphinaris as did Roy from our CC roll call. We both knew that they do not allow you to take your own cameras into the water. I also already knew that everything would be set up more like a photo shoot than an interaction with the dolphins and I was cool with that because obviously, photography is important to me. The 10 of us all agreed to split the cost for our photo package up front before ever even arriving to Dolphinaris. We knew they charge $350 for 1 DVD of the photos of your group.

 

What I didn't know was that they don't put you in the best light and they don't do ANY editing to the images they take. At that cost, there should be light editing, even if it's batch editing. And since they build the entire experience around you smiling and waving for the camera and the video camera, you'd think they would watch the light *the sun* and adjust accordingly. Some of the photos were so bad lighting wise that my face looked almost black. Luckily for me, I was able to save the photos because I understand photoshop. A couple of them might look a bit off and I didn't edit every single thing - just enough to be able to enjoy the photos.

 

Amateur quality of the photos aside, I had a blast at Dolphinaris. The trainers were friendly and informative. Our dolphin, Olivia was a sweetheart, although she was a bit stubborn a couple times. Being able to touch her, snuggle next to her, feel her silky smooth skin was an incredible experience that I would highly recommend to anyone and everyone.

 

The Dolphinaris property is absolutely gorgeous (I took some photos after I got out of the water and will post them later). We spent 40 minutes in the water and one by one, we'd swim out to the Dolphin and do our little thing with her and then swim back so the next person could do theirs.

 

All of these photos were taken by the photo staff at Dolphinaris, not me. However, they are all edited by me, some of them more heavily than others.

 

Our entire group waving to Olivia as she introduced herself to us

 

 

These two photos were of all 13 people but I cropped them so you can see us better

 

 

 

Latanya and I giving our Dolphin hugs and rub downs

 

 

 

Me being a complete nerd the moment Olivia's perfect wet nose touched my cheek

 

 

Photo limit reached.. more in the next post!

[italianfemmy]

Once again..

All of these photos were taken by the photo staff at Dolphinaris, not me. However, they are all edited by me, some of them more heavily than others.

 

Continuing our kisses...

 

 

 

 

 

Then, Latanya and I got to hold the Dolphins "hands"

 

 

 

More photos in next post!

[italianfemmy]

Once again..

All of these photos were taken by the photo staff at Dolphinaris, not me. However, they are all edited by me, some of them more heavily than others.

 

The last thing that we got to do was a short ride on the Dolphin. We had to swim out to the furthest spot away in the pool where we held one arm out for Olivia. She would jump out of the water from the other side, swim out behind you and then offer you one of her flippers. Then, you'd grab onto her other one, putting you on her belly as she swam upside down. She took some people really fast. She took me at a fairly medium speed and took Latanya really gentle and slow.

 

I should note that while I am a good over the water swimmer, I've never been good at holding my breath under water. I've been on loads of cruises and had many opportunities to book a Swim with the Dolphins excursion but never did out of an irrational fear that the dolphin would take me under the water and I'd drown or something. I almost passed on the swim part and I am so glad everyone encouraged me to do it. Olivia was gentle and I was never in danger of going under. It was the best part of the encounter and I would have been a fool not to partake in it.

 

 

 

 

 

[italianfemmy]

After we got out of the water, we went to get our photos. We had some slight hiccups with the pricing structure we'd all worked out in advance but was able to get that sorted fairly quickly.

 

Then, we all sat down together for the lunch that was included in our ticket price. I read iffy reviews on the lunch here so wasn't expecting much. They served fajitas and they were delicious! I was so stuffed by the time I was done eating.

 

Most of our group went ahead and left after lunch (you could leave on your own time). Latanya and I decided to stay. She had a beer while I took photos and then took more photos. We were the last ones there and the trainers started working with them and realized I was taking photos so they had them do some tricks for me like walk on their tail, jump out of the water, etc.

 

If you're not already dol-finned out :-) ... I'll happily edit some of the shots I took here to share. They're not edited yet though so it'll be later :-)

 

Would I return to Dolphinaris? YES! But I wouldn't buy the photos again. And I would book the Trainer for a Day package which is a full 5 hours and really not that much more per person.

[italianfemmy]

What a beautiful couple and great photo. I'm a photog and love these snapshots of a lifetime of experiences on faces.

 

Nice work!

 

Thanks!

[italianfemmy]

Okay folks, over 2,500 views and only a few people posting! I need some energy to keep me going here! If you're just a lurker (never made a post), now is the time to do so! :-)

 

I will continue the review regardless though :p

[olsona]

Keep it coming-can't wait to be on the Dream in March. Love the Dolphin pictures.

[rtfnl]

Hi there, family here. This is my second post PLEASE KEEP GOING. I wish that you and Latanya could do the same cruise on 04/28/12. I'm in the process of getting some friends to join me for my 45th. I checked my phone around 2 a.m. and read your posts. Is this the motivation that you need?

 

If you don't mind my asking, how much was the dolphin encounter tour and the trainer for the day? Your pictures are great.

Edited December 28, 2011 by rtfnl

[hbmom2]

I already posted on here, but I'm posting again to tell you that I'm still following. I love your photography and how this review is detailed...makes me feel like I was actually there. :) Anyways, please keep it coming, I can't wait to see more! :D

[BentleyF]

Please continue!! We leave on the Dream on New Year's Eve and can not wait!! I am enjoying your posts so much!!

[01 Cobra]

Your photographs are spectacular! I would love to see more and read more about your experience on the Dream overall. I spent half a day reading reviews about the Dream and very few of them were "happy" in nature. Actually, most of them were down right scary. You seem to be having a wonderful time though!!!! Perhaps after your review I'll have a new perspective to draw from. Right now I've shifted from the Dream to maybe a Spirit class ship like the Carnival Legend or the Pride for my next cruise. I'm quite overdue. Post on!!!!!

[sunseeker04259]

Your pictures are absolutely beautiful! We are sailing the Dream in March and cannot wait. I have been at bit nervous as we usually cruise on Princess however, taking the two children has us choosing Carnival. This review is putting my mind at ease! I only wish you could be our photographer while we are traveling. I sometimes think I am missing things because I am constantly looking through the lens of the camera. I cannot wait to see more! Good work!

[funat55]

Thank you for your review and your beautiful pictures. I can't get enough. I'm not sure if the Dream is in my future or not. I am waiting for the 2013 schedules to come out. But from what I've seen, I'm sure I would love it.

[DREAMGIRL2012]

I am enjoying the review. Your pictures are beautiful. Thank you for taking the time to do it.

[NeuroQueen]

I just wanted to tell you that this is a great review!!! The pictures are amazing! You must do a super job for your clients. We just sailed the Dream over Thanksgiving and had a wonderful time. This review is my "Therapy" for Post Cruise Depression. We should pay your way for our Oasis cruise so you could be our own personal photographer. Plus, you two look like fun to cruise with! Keep up the amazing review. It is definitely the best pictures I've ever seen!

[OceanDreams]

Great review and awesome photo's ...... thanks for taking the time to share them.

 

OceanDreams

[smc0320]

I am so glad Steve got to you 1st with the critiques!

 

I also thought the service on thise cruise was far & above what I had been expecting based on the reviews I had been reading.

 

I also LOVED the spa....thought Luke was great...LOVED how I felt after leaving the T-pool.

 

We're booking the Legend for next year....love that ship....sorry you'll be someplace else as I enjoyed meeting you, Latanya, Steve & Kim.

[teamkern]

back on Cruise Critic trying to figure out our next cruise with our family and you are making a great sale. This is a fabulous review, thanks for the time and energy!

[Catrin]

WOW!

Those are some amazing pictures. Thank you so much for sharing the pics and your terrific review. We were on this same cruise in August and it is a lot of fun to re-live through someone else's eyes.

 

We were going to book the Breeze on the same day as your trip, but we decided on the Liberty instead. Can you please switch to the Liberty and become our friends so we can use your photography expertise?? ;) I know nothing about editing, but you did an amazing job on the dolphin pictures.. they are wonderful!!

 

Thanks for sharing and looking forward to the rest!

Catrin

[misand]

Great review and wonderful pictures! I am always taking pictures! I think I missed my calling. I'm a teacher instead and teach hospitality! We sail on the Dream in March!

[PrettyHazardous]

Hi I am really enjoying your review. I will be taking the same cruise in 8 days!!!! Keep your review coming. Also I love Latanya's hair!! Also your photos are beautiful. I can't wait for you to post more :)!

[barefoot cruiser]

I just called and upgrade to the spa room...geez! I don't think I can take anymore of your review, as you are blowing my budget:D

 

Honestly, I booked this cruise a few weeks ago, but haven't really had a chance to truly start being excited about it and to think too much about the cruise. Then I happen upon your review, and now I have upgraded from a 1A to a 4S less than 24 hours later...I might need to unsubscribe for the sake of my bank account.

 

but maybe I will hang around a little longer.........

Edited December 28, 2011 by barefoot cruiser

[italianfemmy]

Olsana, thanks so much! You're going to love it. Glad you love the photos!

 

Rtfnl, your profile shows over 200 posts... whose leg are you trying to pull? lol. Thanks for making me smile though.

 

Hbmom, glad you're reading and loving the photos!

 

Bentley- New Year's Eve cruise sounds awesome! Another goal of mine that I hope to do one day!

 

Cobra, if you switched to another class of ship based on reviews, perhaps you should reconsider the Dream. Of course, this depends on what you want to get out of a cruise. I plan to lay it all on the line in this review and get into some of the nitty gritty of why I feel some will love this ship and why some won't. Thanks so much for the kind words about my images!

 

Sunseeker - I've only sailed RCCL and CCL and for specific reasons outside of just cost. I believe cruising is what you make it with any line. If you go into a Carnival cruise expecting the service you get on a Disney or a Princess ship, you're sure to leave with a bitter taste in your mouth. Again, I'll get into this more and separate everything into categories later :-) Glad you love the photos. I'll happily come be yours or anyones official cruise photographer for the cost of a basic interior spa cabin :D

 

Funat and Dreamgirl and OceanDreams- thank you both very much for your kind words!

 

NeuroQueen - The Dream is better than the reviews give it credit for. This is actually part of why I was motivated to do my first review. I really feel most people only review things they don't like which winds up putting a bad taste in peoples mouths where there shouldn't be one. Going on the Oasis of the Seas is on my to do list. Again, I am willing to barter. :-) lol. I don't know why I am laughing since I am serious. :-) Our clients actually fly us all over the place to photograph their weddings. We just photographed a 3 day Hindu wedding in NY over Thanksgiving weekend and last year, clients flew us in to St. Thomas to photograph their wedding in St. John, Virgin Islands. It's an incredible job, especially since it truly is what I love doing!

 

SMC (Stan) - gosh I am starting to think you and Steven could out-nitpick me. Haha. :-) Love you both and it was awesome cruising with you guys!

 

Teamkern, if you decide to book off of my cruise, make sure you give them code name :Italianfemmy so I can get a discount off my next booking. :cool: Haha.. how I wish that were true! Glad you're loving the review though!

 

Catrin, thank you so much! I love that people are really into the photos since I have already spent more than 10 hours selecting them, editing them, resizing them for web, uploading them and writing about them! :-) I think a better plan is for you to switch back to the Breeze. It's the first 8 day U.S. Inaugural sailing with what I've heard to be true, some great things planned for this special sailing so I would be very sad not to be on it. I am glad you think I did a good job recovering the dolphin photos. Honestly, I am still not happy with them but I am very critical. I had to edit the Jpg files. Would have been much easier if I had the RAW files. Oh well. Smiling still. :-)

 

Misand- thank you so much! It's never too late to go for your dreams (pun semi-intended). Being a teacher is a rewarding career path though.

 

PrettyHaz - I don't know if I'll be able to finish my review by the time you take yours since I really have to buckle down and start working for my clients again tomorrow *xmas vacay is over now*. But, I am sure that your cruise will be amazing if you allow it to be. Some advice... try the fresh foods for lunch. The tandoor station, Indian food is deck 10 aft on the left side by the aft pool. The Mongolian grill is in the Lido buffet. If you go all the way aft and walk inside the ship through the middle door and go up one flight of stairs, you will find the pasta bar. I haven't reviewed it yet but I'll spill the beans and say it's worth the wait. (15-20 minutes) and the best part about the pasta bar is you get to sit down and they bring it to you when it's done.