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

[jollytammy]

I just wanted to add my thanks for all your hard work. I am a planner, and I hate getting lost! Put those things together and your report is an answer to my dreams! By the time my cruise comes around (January 5, 2013), I will know exactly where everything is located and how to get around on the ship!

Thanks again!

Jollytammy

[jbhcw]

Thanks again for such an amazing pictorial review:):):) Booked yesterday for November...Carnival cruise # 21....excited to see a new layout for a Carnival ship...we booked deck 7..balcony:)

[sewell08080]

that is true..I forgot about the timeline !! Am enjoying your hard work in documenting your trips

[radrayjax]

I just wanted to add my thanks for all your hard work. I am a planner, and I hate getting lost! Put those things together and your report is an answer to my dreams! By the time my cruise comes around (January 5, 2013), I will know exactly where everything is located and how to get around on the ship!

Thanks again!

Jollytammy

 

Thanks! I'm a planner, also [but, I think I've said that already], and this would not have been possible without a lot of pre-planning.

 

Thanks again for such an amazing pictorial review:):):) Booked yesterday for November...Carnival cruise # 21....excited to see a new layout for a Carnival ship...we booked deck 7..balcony:)

 

Thanks! Bring deck plans from the internet!

 

that is true..I forgot about the timeline !! Am enjoying your hard work in documenting your trips

 

Thanks!

[radrayjax]

DOCUMENTING THE PROMENADE DECK CONTINUED:

THE AFT ELEVATOR LOBBY, SAM’S, THE SONG, & THE BURGUNDY LOUNGE

When last we were heading to the far aft of the Promenade Deck we left off at the Future Cruise Desk, across the hall from the Caliente Dance club. That is the red dot on the deck plan below.

 

Continuing further aft we’ll go straight into Sam’s Piano Bar, then head toward port to briefly look into the aft elevator lobby and the Song Jazz Lounge before concluding the interior of the Promenade Deck with the highly stylized Burgundy Aft Lounge.

 

Take another look at the plans below. Note the path from the elevator lobby straight back towards the Burgundy. There is a divided walkway, overhanging the lower decks. The two five-sided gray shapes are actually a mini-atrium. From the Lobby deck to the ceiling of the Promenade deck, this appears to be a fairly open area. The pathway divides to starboard to a second entrance to Sam’s Piano Bar and to Port to the entrance to the Song.

 

Naturally we’ll see more as the photos unfold.

 

PROMENADE DECK AFT SECTION

STARBOARD

PORT

 

SAM’S PIANO BAR (STARBOARD)

 

We’re starting where we left off last night, at the Future Cruise Desk across from the Caliente Dance Club.

 

Aft view from the Future Cruise Desk towards Sam’s Piano Bar:

 

Forward view from the same area, The Collection is on the near left and the Wasabi is far left:

 

Aft view of the front entrance to Sam’s. The rear entrance, to the aft mini-atrium is at the far right:

 

Forward view from inside Sam’s. The Caliente can be seen through the left (port) entrance. The Future Cruise Desk, is cut off on the right (starboard) side:

 

Aft view from within Sam’s Piano Bar:

[radrayjax]

Sam's Piano Bar Continued...

 

Starboard view inside Sam’s:

 

Starboard View at night:

 

View to port from the piano bar. The aft exit to the Burgundy Lounge is at the left:

 

Aft and starboard view at the bar:

 

Forward and starboard view from the port side of the bar:

 

Aft view from the port side (crew exit is at the rear):

 

NEXT: THE AFT ELEVATOR LOBBY

[radrayjax]

THE AFT ELEVATOR LOBBY (CENTER)

 

Exiting to port from Sam’s we clearly see the mini atrium and the overhanging walkway.

 

View downward and aft to the mini atrium and both levels the Scarlet Restaurant:

Moving to the center of the atrium:

 

Forward view into the aft elevator lobby. At the far wall between the stairs are two windows on the aft wall of the Caliente Dance Club (Instead of the usual artwork):

 

Starboard aft elevators:

 

Starboard aft elevator deck plan plaque:

 

Forward view of the aft stairway. The dance floor of the Caliente can be seen through the windows:

 

Turning around: Aft view of the atrium and the main entrance to the Burgundy Lounge:

 

NEXT: THE SONG JAZZ LOUNGE (PORT)

[radrayjax]

THE SONG JAZZ LOUNGE (PORT)

 

The Song Jazz Lounge is on the port side of the mini atrium. It is a fairly straight-forward space with a small band stand, some lounging tables and chairs, and a bar on the back (forward) wall, since the lounge faces forward.

 

Port View to the entrance to the Song Jazz Lounge:

 

Port view of the band stand:

 

Port and slightly forward view of the lounge chairs in the center of the room:

 

Forward view of the bar at the back of the room:

 

Starboard view towards the entrance/exit of The Song: Sam’s can be seen across the atrium:

 

Aft view of the atrium and en:rance to the Burgundy lounge from the entrance of The Song:

 

Incidentally, The Song is where the Behind the Fun Tour would meet on the last sea day.

 

NEXT: THE BURGUNDY AFT LOUNGE

[radrayjax]

THE BURGUNDY AFT LOUNGE

 

As noted before the Burgundy Aft Lounge is one of the most highly styled/decorated spaces on the ship.

 

Aft view across the atrium walkway to the main entrance of the Burgundy Lounge:

 

Aft and downward view of the port side of the atrium. Again, both levels of the Scarlet Restaurant can be seen from here:

 

Starboard view of the rear entrance to Sam’s from the center of the atrium:

 

Aft, center view of the Burgundy Lounge, towards the stage:

 

Close-up of the Burgundy stage set up for the Punchliner Comedy Club:

 

Starboard view towards the Burgundy bar near the sun-lit windows. Note closer in the harlequin masks on the ceiling:

[radrayjax]

The Burgundy Lounge Bar and Starboard Side...

 

Aft view of the Burgundy Lounge Bar. Note the harlequin head on the ceiling:

 

Starboard view of the bar:

 

Starboard, upward view of the harlequin mask over the bar:

 

Aft and starboard view towards the left side of the room behind the bar:

 

Starboard, aft corner of the room. A slightly better look at the masks on the ceiling and floor:

 

Starboard aft exit door to the exterior promenade. Seen behind the couch above:

 

[radrayjax]

The Dance Floor and Starboard Side...

Port view across the dance floor in front of the stage. Note the inlaid wood harlequin masks:

 

Detail of one of the inlaid wood masks on the floor:

 

Closer, aft view of the stage during the day:

 

Another inlaid wood mask. I could not see a difference between them:

 

Starboard view from the port side of the room:

 

Aft port corner of the room:

[radrayjax]

The Lounge Forward view and the Wall Masks...

 

Forward view from the dance floor. The entrance/exit to the atrium is at the far center:

 

These next few shots details of the harlequin masks on the wall. There are about five different masks with various paint jobs.

 

 

 

 

 

[radrayjax]

More Harlequin Wall Masks and huge harlequin masks on the ceiling...

 

 

 

These final shots are of some of the huge harlequin masks on the ceiling. These are about six feet long and they were on huge “medallions” that were perhaps eight feet across. I had to get on the floor to take these and, still was not able to get far enough away to get a dead on shot. There were three basic styles, but the decorations never repeated.

 

 

 

 

[radrayjax]

Final Ceiling Masks, Concluding the Burgundy Lounge...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At last, we come to the end of the [iNTERIOR!] of the promenade deck!

 

TOMORROW: THE EXTERIOR PROMENADE. A WALK AROUND THE ENTIRE SHIP! IT’S THE ONLY PLACE YOU CAN DO THAT!

[pcrum]

As a fellow cat lover, you had me at the photos of the cats. I can't believe you missed Hemingway's house in Key West! We will be making our second trip there next month to see those glorious cats!!

 

Enjoying the review...we sent my DH's parents on the Dream for their 50th anniversary and they loved it!

[pcrum]

My original SECOND POST was deleted by the powers that be some time ago because I had a naughty word in it. Many of you good people who came on late have no idea what I mean when I refer to RULE 1.

 

I am NOT going to try to repost that entire post but I do need to put RULE 1 back (to cut off any potential questions):

 

RULE 1:

 

I AM CHEAP

 

I'll just recap the end of the long post:

 

How cheap am I? Is it Nature or Nurture?

Behavioral psychologists could argue this point for decades. In the NUTURE corner is my mother, who is 100% German of Scottish decent!

La Cheapa

spawned

El Cheapo

. I learned the art of the cheap at momma’s knee (or is it KID-NEY?).

In the NATURE corner is Gene Mapping, setting the record straight once and for all. In my case the gene has been identified as the Yar54. By the way, my wife, Fran, has a variant that has been mapped to the Narf56. Her instincts are pretty good but she doesn’t have my sharpness for the math of the cheap.

Where does this fit in this write-up? Let’s just say that I take the ALL-INCLUSIVENESS of room and board offered by Carnival very seriously and am loath to spend more for something I’ve already paid for. In other words, don’t expect me to pay more for food when I’ve got all the food included. Although, the café with the nice chocolate desserts may give me a run for my money late in the voyage.

 

We now return to our story in progress....

 

Thanks for clearing that up! I arrived to this party rather late (just found the review yesterday) and I actually re-read your first couple of posts to try to find Rule 1 (although I could kind of guess what it was based on your references to the rule). Nothing wrong with being a savvy shopper!

[sabhoy]

Ray,

I got sucked into this when I asked a question about the Chocolate Buffet on the Dream!

What gives, man? You ever gonna get there or what?

Anyway, I am enjoying this in spite of myself. Thanks for all the info.

All caught up now and 100 days to go before our Cove balcony.

Waiting for your surprise finish.

PS how was the behind the scene tour? We did the one on the RCCL Allure and had a blast. The only difference was: we were allowed to take as many pictures as we wanted.

[radrayjax]

Ray,

I got sucked into this when I asked a question about the Chocolate Buffet on the Dream!

What gives, man? You ever gonna get there or what?

Anyway, I am enjoying this in spite of myself. Thanks for all the info.

All caught up now and 100 days to go before our Cove balcony.

Waiting for your surprise finish.

PS how was the behind the scene tour? We did the one on the RCCL Allure and had a blast. The only difference was: we were allowed to take as many pictures as we wanted.

 

 

Thanks.... All I can say to the questions is "All in good time." With the Roatan Chapter, at least I'll get to the MEXICAN Buffet. The others still have to wait....

[radrayjax]

Thanks for clearing that up! I arrived to this party rather late (just found the review yesterday) and I actually re-read your first couple of posts to try to find Rule 1 (although I could kind of guess what it was based on your references to the rule). Nothing wrong with being a savvy shopper!

 

Thanks for both posts. You're not late since this is still a work in progress.

[radrayjax]

DOCUMENTING THE SHIP: CONCLUDING THE PROMENADE DECK: THE EXTERIOR PROMENADE

 

 

I mentioned yesterday that the exterior promenade on the Promenade Deck is the only place on the ship where you walk completely around the ship. Though the Panorama Deck has plenty of exterior deck space, it is limited by the rooms forward of the Waves central pool area.

 

The 4/10 of a mile of exterior decking on this deck make it the clear winner.

 

For our tour around the deck, we’re going to star by exiting at the port Lanai outside the Ocean Plaza, head forward on the port side, go around the bow area, head aft on the starboard side and then around the aft and forward again on port until we reach the port Lanai. Occasionally we’ll look back to see where we just came from.

 

The “bulges” you see on both sides, starboard and port have various uses. The forward “bulges” are where giant chess sets are set up. On the port side aft, there are exterior lounge chairs set up outside the Caliente Dance Club to handle overflow and some of these are in the “bulge.” As noted in the plans below the amidships bulges are hot tubs.

 

As we move along the exterior promenade, you will see a number of wind screens. Because of these I could never get a super-long straight shot down the whole length of the deck. In spite of these screens, the bow area, in front of the most forward screen, could be roped off during times of very high winds.

 

PROMENADE DECK PLANS – Path around the exterior promenade:

STARBOARD

PORT

 

Port view of the port Lanai and the hot tub beyond. Our Starting point:

 

The exterior Lanai on the port side:

 

Forward view of the portside hot tub by the Lanai. Note the portside Bridge Pilot’s station. If you see the pilot’s station sticking out on the left, you’re on the PORT side:

 

Forward view on top of the hot tub:

 

Aft view of the portside Lanai hot tub as we walk past it:

[radrayjax]

Forward Port Side of the Exterior Promenade...

 

Forward view beyond the Lanai. Ahead on the right is the ship’s plaque. This area is just aft of the casino:

 

The Ship’s Construction Plaque. There is another plaque forward and above the central Wave’s pool area on the Lido Deck:

 

Forward of the plaque is the portside aft entrance to the Jackpot Casino. View towards starboard, just inside the entrance:

 

Continuing forward towards the forward portside hot tub. This is alongside the Casino. Note the wind screen up ahead:

 

Forward view of the forward portside hot tub:

 

Forward view, next to the wind screen seen above:

[radrayjax]

Far Forward on the Porside Exterior Promenade:

 

Giant chess game in the forward “bulge”:

 

Forward view. The door on the right is the portside exit from the hallway just aft of the Encore Lounge:

 

Forward view, nearing the bridge. The deck narrows near the bow of the ship:

 

Aft view back to the forward set of wind screens:

 

Telephoto shot of portside pilot’s station:

 

Forward upward view of the portside pilot’s station. Note the window in the floor:

[radrayjax]

The Promenade Deck Bow Area...

 

Forward view of crew-only descending staircase:

 

Aft view from the front of the staircase:

 

Downward view of the staircase:

 

We're turning the corner to the bow area of the Promenade Deck...

 

Just past the staircase, rounding the turn to the bow area of the promenade deck. Note the staircase to the Upper Deck observation deck on the right:

 

Forward and starboard view of the ship’s bow:

 

Forward view of the ship’s bow from the center of the forward promenade:

[radrayjax]

Promenade Deck Bow Area...

 

Closer view of the ship’s bell above:

 

Close-up of the ship’s bell:

 

Forward, port view of the ship’s bow:

 

Aft, upward view of the stairs to the Upper Deck:

 

Starboard view along the bow area of the Promenade Deck:

 

Aft view of the center of the wall at the bow area:

[radrayjax]

Rounding About to the Forward Starboard Side...

 

Port view along the forward Promenade Deck bow area:

 

Starboard stairs leading to the Upper Deck observation deck:

 

We’re now rounding the turn to the starboard side of the exterior promenade.

 

Aft view of the starboard side of the promenade:

 

Aft and downward view of the crew-only descending staircase seen above:

 

Aft view, behind the staircase:

 

Forward view of the crew-only staircase: