Documenting the dream western caribbean 01/21-28/2012; the money monkey goes cruising

[radrayjax]

LOL...oops sorry, am not supposed to use LOL on this thread.

 

Great review, radrayjax. I am highly enjoying each installment.

 

Thanks...More coming late tonight....

[radrayjax]

LOL...oops sorry, am not supposed to use LOL on this thread.

 

Great review, radrayjax. I am highly enjoying each installment.

 

Bob, YOU can use the "L" expression all you want. I've sworn off it for the time being.

[radrayjax]

DOCUMENTING THE SHIP CHAPTER 11: A STUDY IN LIGHTS

 

Before tackling the Promenade Deck, I want to share a short study of changing lights on the ship. You’ve noticed many of the photos I’ve taken in public areas where the hues change. I was not the lighting, it was the lights – THEY are constantly changing color in all public areas except the theater, restaurants, and spa.

 

The changing lights are very prominent in the atrium/lobby, casino on the Promenade Deck, and in Circle-C and Club O2 on the Atlantic Deck.

 

Late in the voyage I was in the atrium area on the Panorama deck and decided to take a series of photographs of different lights changing color. The colors were red, violet, yellow, green and blue. I present those photographs here.

 

This first series was from the light on the top of a glass elevator.

 

 

 

[radrayjax]

This second series was from one of the lights on the wall framing the glass elevators.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[radrayjax]

This last series was from one of the light pairs lining the top of the atrium wall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEXT: DOCUMENTING THE SHIP: CHAPTER 12: THE PROMENADE DECK (5)

[radrayjax]

DOCUMENTING THE SHIP: CHAPTER 12: THE PROMENADE DECK (5)

 

The Promenade deck is the “IT” deck on this ship. Below the Lido Deck, this deck has more venues than any two decks put together. It is a complex deck but I’m going to “break” it down into components (but still show the segue’s between them) so you can see what is what and what is near what.

 

We’re going to cut the deck in approximate thirds and go through each major area in the third.

 

 

Starting from the bow (left):

 

The forward section has:

The top tiers of the Encore lounge

The forward elevator lobby

The Dream Atrium & Fun Shops

 

 

The middle section has:

The Jackpot Casino and Bar

The center elevator lobby

The Ocean Plaza and Plaza Café

 

The Upper Dream Street Promenade (starboard)

 

The Aft section has:

The Upper Dream Street Promenade continues along the starboard side

The Fun Hub Internet Café (one of a number of these)

The Wasabi Sushi Bar

The Collection Art Gallery

The Caliente Dance Club

Sam’s Piano Bar (Starboard)

The Song Jazz Lounge (Port)

The Burgundy Aft Lounge

 

 

And that’s just the INSIDE.

 

The Promenade deck is only the only lower deck with a full wrap around exterior promenade. I know the deck plans for the Atlantic Deck appear to have a similar outer deck, but the plans are misleading. I’ll get into that in a later chapter.

 

Below is key to our travels through the deck. A main point to remember is that if you want to go all the way from the forward the rear section stay to the STARBOARD SIDE. See the thicker red arrow below. The red arrows below will be our primary path and the blue arrows show the branching paths.

[radrayjax]

PROMENADE DECK FORWARD

THE ENCORE LOUNGE

 

We’re going to start on the starboard side and work our way to port.

 

Promenade Deck forward area:

 

Forward view of the starboard hallway leading to the Encore Lounge:

 

Trophy case outside starboard entrance of the Encore Lounge:

 

Starboard entrance to the Encore Lounge. To the right is an exit to the exterior promenade:

 

Starboard Stairs leading to upper tiers in the Encore Lounge:

 

Stools and table to the left of the entrance:

 

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Encore Lounge Starboard Side:

 

Crew-only area behind the control booth:

 

Forward and downward view of the stage from the area next to the table above:

 

Port view from in front of table above:

 

Starboard and forward view of the upper tiers:

 

More tables and stool along the upper starboard wall.

 

Port and downward view midway to the forward wall:

[radrayjax]

We’re now doubling back towards the middle of and portside of the lounge:

 

Forward and downward view towards the sound/control panel:

 

Forward and starboard view from the other side of the control panel:

Starboard view from aft port area of the lounge:

 

Moving forward and port a view the same area above:

 

Starboard and forward view from the upper port tiers:

 

Forward view toward the forward port seats:

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Portside of the Encore Lounge:

 

View of the stage from a more forward area:

 

This door is against the forward wall, marked crew only:

 

We’re now doubling back aft to the portside entrance of the lounge.

 

Tables and stools in the rear port corner of the lounge:

 

Just inside the port entrance is another crew-only door and area:

 

Stairs going down to the port entrance to the Encore Lounge:

 

[radrayjax]

Portside Entrance Hallway to the Encore Lounge:

 

The port entrance to the encore lounge. To the left is a portside exit to the exterior promenade:

 

Starboard view from the hallway leading to the exterior exit. The entrance to the Encore Lounge is on the left.

 

Portside hallway leading to the port entrance of the Encore Lounge. The forward elevator lobby is on the right middle.

[radrayjax]

THE FORWARD ELEVATOR LOBBY.

 

The forward elevator lobby occupies the area between the Atrium/Carnival Shops and the Encore Lounge.

 

Continuing from above, this is the portside exit to the exterior promenade:

 

Aft view of portside hallway leading from the Encore Lounge, the elevator lobby is ahead on the left. The shops can be seen in the distance:

 

Starboard view from forward portside entrance to elevator lobby. The trophy case can be seen through the opposite entrance:

 

 

Forward view of artwork between the Atlantic and Promenade Decks stairwell:

 

Forward view to port of the artwork between the Promenade and Upper Decks:

 

Aft view toward the entrances to the glass elevators:

[radrayjax]

Forward Elevator Lobby Continued:

 

Starboard view from the rear entrance to the elevator lobby. The glass elevators are on the immediate right:

 

Aft view from the starboard entrance of the elevator lobby, towards the Atrium and the shops:

 

Starboard exit to the exterior promenade, just aft of the Encore Lounge:

 

TOMMOROW: CONTINUING THE PROMENADE DECK

[Steve-N-Steph]

 

 

Can't say Thanks enough for the wonderful review and pictures!! I will be up bright and early waiting for your next installment of this floor.

 

Can I ask what the blue kiosk looking machine is in the right side of this picture?

[radrayjax]

 

 

Can't say Thanks enough for the wonderful review and pictures!! I will be up bright and early waiting for your next installment of this floor.

 

Can I ask what the blue kiosk looking machine is in the right side of this picture?

 

Steph, Thanks. The kiosk was an informational kiosk, pretty much the same as the info channel in your stateroom. I tried it for a few minutes and took a few pictures. Since I was already used to using my in-room TV for the same information, I didn't "play" with it very long.

[radrayjax]

CONTINUING THE PROMENADE DECK: The Atrium and Fun Shops:

 

Just to keep track of where we are: We’re moving just aft of the elevator lobby to the central atrium and the fun shops. To keep our heads from spinning with all the lights, sights, sounds, I’ll cover the Atrium first and then the Fun Shops before moving aft again to the Jackpot Casino.

 

Promenade Deck forward area:

STARBOARD

PORT

 

Starting with the last picture, this was taken just inside the port side of the shops and atrium, looking forward.

 

 

Forward view from the port side of the Atrium:

 

Aft view, towards the shops and Atrium, just a few feet forward from the prior view. Note the same couple in the photo:

 

Starboard view from the forward port side of the Atrium:

 

Aft view towards the center of the Atrium Lobby, bandstand, and bar:

 

Aft view to the rear of the portside shops area:

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The Promenade Deck Atrium Portside Continued...

 

Upward view of glass elevators and the Atrium Canopy:

 

Starboard view towards the rear shops on the starboard side:

 

Starboard view from to the middle of the shops on the starboard side:

 

Forward view towards the glass elevator wall:

 

Forward and starboard view towards the forwards shops on the starboard side:

 

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Walking to aft and to port behind the staircase, crossing to the Starboard shops:

 

Forward view from on top of and behind the spiral staircase in the Atrium:

 

Forward and port view of the elevator wall, and starboard shops beyond:

 

Port view of the bandstand on the Atlantic Deck, overhanging the Atrium Lobby:

 

Port and aft view of the staircase, bandstand, Atrium Bar and Lobby:

 

Port view of the elevator wall and Atrium Lobby:

[radrayjax]

Portside Fun Shops...

 

We’re now going to double back to the port side and start with the forward shop area and move towards the aft port shops. There is no hard wall between these areas.

 

Just inside the forward, port entrance to the fun shops: Liquor and Carnival souvenirs on the back (port wall):

 

Close-up of Carnival souvenirs on the port wall, forward:

 

Forward view, Small pharmacy area in the liquor area:

 

Aft view from the liquor area towards the souvenirs and clothing:

 

Portside, center entrance to the shops:

 

Forward view of the Portside shops, past the clothing area:

[radrayjax]

Portside Fun Shops continued:

 

View of the mosaic tile on the floor:

 

View of the aft portside area of the shops:

 

Aft portside wall of the shops:

 

Close-up of items on the aft portside wall:

 

 

[radrayjax]

Celebrations is on the aft portside of the shops, opposite the entrance to the Jackpot Casino. It is a small shop.

 

Exterior of Celebrations:

 

The flower case is on the starboard side (left) of the entrance:

 

Cashier area of Celebrations:

 

Aft view of area behind the register:

 

Close-up of Funship Freddie dolls:

[radrayjax]

We’re now crossing over to the starboard shops, going from aft to forward.

 

Aft starboard entrance to the shops, this is closest to the entrance to the casino:

 

Aft area of the starboard shops: fragrances:

 

Further aft in the fragrance area:

 

Starboard wall display cases:

 

Forward view of starboard shops: Jewelry:

 

Aft view from the jewelry area back toward the fragrance area:

[radrayjax]

Finishing the Fun Shops and Atrium...

 

Further forward in the jewelry area:

 

Near the forward wall of the jewelry area:

Leaving the forward shops we head aft toward the casino:

 

Starboard side of the entrance to the casino:

 

NEXT: THE JACKPOT CASINO.

 

[radrayjax]

THE PROMENADE DECK CONTINUED: THE JACKPOT CASINO.

 

Promenade Deck middle area:

STARBOARD

PORT

 

The Jackpot casino is split by the winding path on the starboard side. To the port side (the right as we head aft) are a few slot machines. However the port side is dominated by card tables. The starboard side (left as we head aft) is almost entirely taken up with slot machines. On the aft starboard side is the Jackpot Bar. In front on the bar is a small lounge area and bandstand.

 

In the center of the aft wall of the casino is the forward entrance to the amidships elevator lobby. Again, the main path to the aft venues on the Promenade deck is on the starboard side of the casino.

 

Forward view from the entrance to the casino of the Atrium and elevator wall:

 

Forward view of the entrance from a few feet further aft:

 

Starboard view from just inside the entrance to the casino:

 

Port view from just inside the entrance to the casino:

 

Aft view down main aisle separating the starboard and port sides of the casino:

[radrayjax]

Continuing Aft through the Jackpot Casino...

 

Starboard view from a few feet further in:

 

Port view from a few feet further in:

 

Starboard view during the daytime:

 

Port view during the daytime:

 

Port View further towards the aft:

 

Port and forward view of a table: