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

[radrayjax]

The Jackpot Casino Continued....

 

Starboard view, the exit to the exterior promenade is on the far right:

 

Port view, slots against the far wall, aft:

 

Starboard view:

 

Forward view of the casino entrance from more than the half way aft point:

 

Mega-Slot on the port side:

 

Close-up of a model car in the case above:

 

[radrayjax]

Aft Area of the Jackpot Casino...

 

 

Close-up of another model car in the case above:

 

 

Aft and starboard view, the leading edge of the Jackpot Lounge is on the right:

 

 

Aft view of the Jackpot Lounge and Bar on the rear wall:

 

Starboard view of the lounge and bar:

 

 

Port view from the edge of the lounge, the exit to the center elevator lobby is on the middle left:

 

 

Aft view of the rear exit to the center elevator lobby:

[radrayjax]

Concluding the Jackpot Casino...

 

Moving back to the starboard side, we’re heading towards the starboard exit to the Dream Street Promenade:

 

Starboard side of the Jackpot lounge and bar, the aft exit in on the left:

 

Forward and port view from near the jackpot lounge above:

 

Aft view of the rear exit to the casino. The exit to the exterior promenade is on the left, just out of frame:

 

Starboard exit to the exterior promenade:

 

Forward view of the starboard side from the vicinity of the exterior exit:

 

Aft entrance to/exit from the casino. The Fun Hub is on the right, the Dream Street Promenade is on the left. Aft of the Fun Hub, the Ocean Plaza can be seen:

 

TOMORROW: Fun Hub, Ocean Plaza. Wasabi, and More!

[Pennyscandy]

Wonderful photos! Loved the closeups of the shops. Love to window shop.

[silvercrikhix]

Wow! You are certainly a man of detail. What an adventure for all of us to relive with you. You are a really cool dude! I really appreciate all of the time and consideration you have put into your trip 'n' ship review. While it is not for everyone, I believe you have certainly raised the bar for reviews! No one should dare utter the phrase "detailed review" again! Except for you, of course. Thank you, again, Ray.

[radrayjax]

Wow! You are certainly a man of detail. What an adventure for all of us to relive with you. You are a really cool dude! I really appreciate all of the time and consideration you have put into your trip 'n' ship review. While it is not for everyone, I believe you have certainly raised the bar for reviews! No one should dare utter the phrase "detailed review" again! Except for you, of course. Thank you, again, Ray.

 

Thanks!

 

I know what you mean. I didn't utter the word "epic" because that, too, has been abused to death.

 

As far as "not for everyone," I TOTALLY agree which is why I posted the WARNING/DANGER notice in the first post. Don't go down that road unless you are prepared with a thermos!

[Winterstale]

Thanks so much for this review and for all those pics!! We are considering a trip in November on the Dream!

[rjrice1]

Thanks so much for posting the review... really enjoyed it. Wish we could of met up more with you & Fran. We are planning another cruise with on the freedom in Jan. You guys ought to go. Nice islands too.

the unofficial leader :D:D

"Cathy"

[SpeedsterX]

Hey Ray!

I'm booked on the Dream next January! Yea, I know, booked very early. Anyway, Thanks for the review and detail, I already feel like I am familiar with ship. Going to be a blast! Keep up the good work! :)

[radrayjax]

Thanks so much for posting the review... really enjoyed it. Wish we could of met up more with you & Fran. We are planning another cruise with on the freedom in Jan. You guys ought to go. Nice islands too.

the unofficial leader :D:D

"Cathy"

 

Thanks, Cathy!

We both enjoyed the M&G. I can't speak about the future just yet....Not even what happens next on the cruise....

[radrayjax]

DOCUMENTING THE SHIP CONTINUED:

THE PROMENADE DECK: Fun Hub, Ocean Plaza, and Wasabi

 

Having gotten through the Jackpot Casino, we’re halfway through the INSIDE of the Promenade deck and the middle section.

 

Promenade Deck Plans:

STARBOARD

PORT

 

Tonight, we’ll finish at least the middle section which consists of the Fun Hub Internet Café, the center elevator lobby, the Ocean Plaza and the Plaza Café.

 

Promenade Deck middle area:

STARBOARD

 

PORT

 

Forward view of the aft exit from the casino:

 

Moving aft a few feet, forward view of both sides of the casino aft exit:

 

Aft view of the Fun Hub and exit to the central elevator lobby:

 

 

Forward and port view of the Fun Hub:

[radrayjax]

The Fun Hub and Amidships Elevator Lobby:

 

Starboard view of the Fun Hub from the elevator lobby exit:

 

Port view of the Elevator Lobby exit from just behind the Fun Hub:

 

Moving into the amidships elevator lobby:

 

Aft view up the stairs to the upper deck, the whimsical art is seen:

 

Port view of the amidships elevator deck plan plaque:

 

Inside look at a crew-only area off the amidships elevator lobby:

 

Another look at the crew-only area off the amidships elevator lobby:

[radrayjax]

The Ocean Plaza:

Doubling back and heading slightly aft to the Ocean Plaza. This is a large space of tables and chairs and a dance floor. The Ocean Plaza stretches the full with of the ship. On either side of the Ocean Plaza are exterior Lanais, with more tables and chairs and hot tubs. We’ll cover the exterior spaces later in the Promenade Deck chapter.

 

The Dream Street Promenade is an area along the starboard wall that runs from the rear of the casino to just in front of Sam’s Piano Bar, almost half the length of the ship. It consists of chairs, couches, and tables.

 

Aft and starboard view of the Dream Street promenade alongside the Ocean Plaza:

 

A few feet further aft, the starboard Dream Street Promenade on the left, with the curved glass around the Lanai. The Plaza Café is seen far right:

 

Starboard Lanai through the glass:

 

Port view across the Ocean Plaza towards the port Lanai far center:

 

Aft view of the Plaza Café:

 

Close-up of the Plaza Café:

[radrayjax]

The next few shots are of the Plaza Café menus and some of the items offered. These were not part of my food porn because I abided by Rule 1 and didn’t buy anything.

 

Plaza Café Menu:

 

Plaza Café Menu Continued:

 

A Plaza Café delicacy:

 

Fruit tarts at the Plaza Café:

 

Gelato case, facing starboard, at the Plaza Café:

 

Port view towards the Ocean Plaza Bar:

[radrayjax]

We’re now crossing through the Ocean Plaza to the port side:

 

Forward view of the Ocean Plaza bandstand and part of the dance floor:

 

Forward and port view of the port side of the Ocean Plaza:

 

Port and aft view of the leading edge of the Ocean Plaza Bar:

 

Port view of the port Lanai and the hot tub beyond:

 

Turing the corner aft the bar continues…

 

Forward view from the side of the Plaza Bar:

 

Aft view just beyond the plaza bar: The “rear” entrance to the Collection Art Gallery. This entrance is often blocked by artwork stacked up for auctions:

 

NEXT: THE WASABI SUSHI BAR and SHIP’S MONITOR.

[BeneClone]

At last, I've caught up and have to wait with the others for the next installment. I may never sail on the Dream, but, I feel I've learned about Carnival and something about the ports you visited. Thanks for your considerable effort.

[radrayjax]

THE WASABI SUSHI BAR and SHIP’S MONITOR.

 

From the STARBOARD side of the Plaza Café, we continue aft to the final third of the interior Promenade Deck.

 

Tonight we’ll cover the Wasabi Sushi Bar, the Collection Art Gallery and the Caliente Dance Club.

 

PROMENADE DECK AFT SECTION

STARBOARD

PORT

 

Just prior to the transition area to the final third and just aft of the Plaza Café is a large high resolution monitor showing ship’s position, speed, distance travelled, and wind. I’ve show a number of shots of the monitor during the week of the trip. Here is the monitor in context:

 

Aft view show ship’s monitor on the right. The Collection Art gallery is seen down the hall on the right and Sam’s Piano Bar is seen far down the hall on the left:

 

High resolution monitor seen on the wall above:

 

Just past the transition point: The Wasabi Sushi bar is on the right, the Collection Art Gallery is beyond it. The Dream Street promenade is on the left, Sam’s Piano Bar is in the distance on the left:

 

These descending stairs are just forward of the Wasabi Sushi Bar:

 

Port view of the Wasabi Sushi Bar, set up for salads and wraps. It doesn’t just server sushi:

[radrayjax]

Continuing the Wasabi Sushi Bar:

 

Forward and port view of the Wasabi Sushi Bar, with a sushi set up:

 

Forward port view of the Wasabi Sushi Bar area behind the front counter:

 

Forward view from just aft of the sushi bar. The bar is on the left (port) and the transition back to the Ocean Plaza is center:

 

NEXT: THE COLLECTION ART GALLERY

[radrayjax]

THE COLLECTION [ART GALLERY]

 

The Collection [Art Gallery] is just aft of the Wasabi Sushi Bar. Its “front” entrance is facing to port. As noted earlier it as a rear entrance from the side of the Ocean Plaza Bar.

 

It also as an exit to the “rear” portside of the Caliente Dance Club, which doubles as the art auction venue during the day. Earlier in my report (Documenting the TRIP) I showed a few photos of the Caliente as the auction gallery.

 

The Collection is a large “L-shaped” space.

 

Because it is not called an art gallery officially, but just The Collection, the art is part of the space and in this section I will showcase some of the artists, and the art, as well as the space. A number of images are from the pages of a slick booklet (36 or 40 pages) that was available at the Collection. Park West Galleries rents the space from Carnival on all the ships.

 

I’m not being a shill for Park West, but I do enjoy art and did enjoy looking at many of the works. I followed Rule 1 this trip and didn’t bid on anything.

 

Of course, individual works are temporary and by the time you take a cruise many could have changed. Where possible I will try to note the artist, but I only have the titles of a couple of works.

 

The Starboard entrance to The Collection. A work by Peter Max is on the right:

 

Port view just inside the entrance above. Note the sculptures on the left:

 

Cat Fish sculpture by Nano Lopez:

 

Sketch for Cat Fish by Nano Lopez. I wasn’t sure if the sketch was included or separate:

 

Further view to port within the Collection:

 

This view is to starboard, back towards the entrance:

 

[radrayjax]

The Collection Continued....

 

This view is along the far port wall, after entering from the Plaza Bar:

 

Forward view from the Plaza Bar “rear” entrance:

 

The rest of the shots are of artwork and scans from the booklet and other handouts:

 

Artwork inspired by classic comic books of the 1940’s:

 

Scan from booklet of page on Andrew Bone:

 

Artwork by Andrew Bone:

[radrayjax]

Scan from booklet of page on Csaba Markus:

 

Artwork by Csaba Markus:

 

Scan from booklet of page on Tomasz Rut (root):

 

Large work by Tomasz Rut:

 

Scan from booklet of page on Nano Lopez:

 

Artwork by Nano Lopez:

 

[radrayjax]

More on the artists and The Collection...

 

Sketch for artwork above:

 

Scan from booklet of page on Alexander Chen:

 

Artwork by Alexander Chen:

 

Artwork by Alexander Chen:

 

Back cover of the Park West booklet:

 

Invitation to an auction; featuring Thomas Kinkade:

 

[radrayjax]

Another work; artist unknown to me:

 

Flyer for The Collection:

 

Disney-inspired art [Jungle Book]:

 

Disney-inspired art [Peter Pan]:

 

 

NEXT: THE CALIENTE DANCE CLUB

[radrayjax]

THE CALIENTE DANCE CLUB

 

As noted above the Caliente Dance Club is located just aft of The Collection and they share “rear” portside entrances. The Caliente doubles as an art auction venue during the day. The photos presented here are daytime photos when the club was not in use.

 

Starboard entrance to the Caliente:

 

View port through the window of the Caliente. Funship Freddie is in the house:

 

View to port, the dance floor is aft. Note the bar in the far corner:

 

View to port of the far side of the Caliente:

 

Starboard view from the far side:

 

View to starboard from near the aft port corner bar:

[radrayjax]

Continuing the Caliente Dance Club...

 

View aft of the port corner bar:

 

View starboard behind the corner bar:

 

Aft view from the dance floor to a window facing the aft elevator lobby:

 

Forward view from the window above, across the dance floor:

 

Starboard view from the dance floor to the main entrance:

 

Starboard view: The Future Vacation Desk is against the starboard wall, across the hall from the Caliente:

 

TOMORROW: THE SONG, SAM’S & THE BURGUNDY LOUNGE