RCI Diamond member tries Disney Dream- WOW!!

[Trekker954]

Dan- Good points and I forgot to mention they have wonderful movie theater ( Buena Vista Theater) that shows first run movies and in 3D when available...we saw "Planes" in 3D...very cool....

 

 

Do you think its possible they will be showing Frozen by mid January??? My daughter thinks it will be too soon, since it only just opened in theaters. I hope so, looks cute.

[big al]

Do you think its possible they will be showing Frozen by mid January??? My daughter thinks it will be too soon, since it only just opened in theaters. I hope so, looks cute.

 

Disney runs movies as soon as they come out- I mean ASAP!! YOU MIGHT BE IN LUCK....

 

Big Al

[sassy12]

My dh and I took our two daughters, their husbands and their four daughters on the Disney Dream. We all loved it. We, too, have sailed on other cruiselines but keep coming back to RCCL.

 

Both my dh and myself said that the other lines could take some lessons from Disney regarding embarkation and debarkation. We couldn't believe it could be done so quickly for ten people. We were onboard the Dream less than 45 minutes after leaving our hotel. We had our individual family pictures taken as well as a group photo with Minnie. The kids were signed up for the kids programs, etc. Couldn't believe it and it was only a little after 11:00 a.m.

 

I agree with you that the ship does seem to close down around 11:00 p.m. or so but that was fine with us as we were tired from the daily activities. Granddaughters loved the pool and being able to watch a movie while in the water.

 

Yes, it was a LOT more expensive to take them on the Dream but they only wanted a four night cruise and at the time they could all cruise the Dream was about all there was to choose from so we splurged for them. We have absolutely NO regrets other than wishing it was longer!!!

[Jimbo]

No idea where prices are now for DCL but my wife and I did a 11 night cruise on Disney Wonder back in September of 2006 (Southern Caribbean) which had the following ports:

Sept. 17, 2006

 

Sunday. . . Port Canaveral

Monday. . . At Sea

Tuesday. . . At Sea

Wednesday. . . St. Thomas

Thursday. . . St. Lucia

Friday. . . Barbados

Saturday. . . Antigua

Sunday. . . St. Kitts

Monday. . . At Sea

Tuesday. . . At Sea

Wednesday. . . Castaway Cay

Thursday. . . Port Canaveral

 

We booked a Inside (Category 12 GTY)

Price was $1165 per person.

 

Balconies were really expensive, actually it was the only time we have ever had an inside cabin. Didn't bother me but my wife would much rather have a balcony.

So we have not gone on Disney since but we loved everything else about the cruise except my wife couldn't do another inside even though the room in my opinion was quite large.

 

Couldn't beat the price so we had to try it aleast once.

 

I say if the price is right TRY IT !

 

Jimbo:)

Edited December 25, 2013 by Jimbo

[FLACRUISER99]

No idea where prices are now for DCL but my wife and I did a 11 night cruise on Disney Wonder back in September of 2006 (Southern Caribbean) which had the following ports:

Sept. 17, 2006

 

Sunday. . . Port Canaveral

Monday. . . At Sea

Tuesday. . . At Sea

Wednesday. . . St. Thomas

Thursday. . . St. Lucia

Friday. . . Barbados

Saturday. . . Antigua

Sunday. . . St. Kitts

Monday. . . At Sea

Tuesday. . . At Sea

Wednesday. . . Castaway Cay

Thursday. . . Port Canaveral

 

We booked a Inside (Category 12 GTY)

Price was $1165 per person.

 

Balconies were really expensive, actually it was the only time we have ever had an inside cabin. Didn't bother me but my wife would much rather have a balcony.

So we have not gone on Disney since but we loved everything else about the cruise except my wife couldn't do another inside even though the room in my opinion was quite large.

 

Couldn't beat the price so we had to try it aleast once.

 

I say if the price is right TRY IT !

 

Jimbo:)

Yes, I Did the Dream Repo/TA in April of 2010 for $499/pp in a cat 11 inside.

[denamo]

Big Al, thanks for the great review. DH and I are like you guys, in that our experience on Disney is as "seasoned citizens". :) Thought your assessment was spot on!

 

Have done two DL cruises on their smaller ships, the Wonder and the Magic. First was an 8 day and other one was a 14 Panama Canal. While I'm not an avid Disney fan, I'm not an anti one either.

 

Did at times tire of the "all things Disney" for the shows, but these are well put together with great effects. The 14 day Panama allowed for a couple of shows in the theater that were my favorite. One evening the singers performed a tribute to Alan Menken's music. It was just the singer(s) and a pianist. Great talent on board. The other was a talent show of the staff on board. Everyone from the officers to staff performed. Delightfully entertaining!

 

Did enjoy watching the children of all ages interact with the Disney characters on board.

 

DH says he'd do another Disney cruise for Palo's alone! Yes, it is that good. We've eaten at RCCL's specialty restaurants and enjoyed, but Palo's is a cut above. So wish RCCL would do a brunch event with the same flair in one of their specialty restaurants. They would have a hard time living up to Palo's.

 

My take for one of the reasons for the extra cost of a Disney cruise is no casino on board. Of course, they have branding down to a science in a league of their own. Had a comedian on board who made a great joke. Aww...it's a Disney souvenir, add $10! LOL!

 

Caught the Panama Canal cruise fare when DL reduced the price so significantly, it was too hard to pass up. I had a guarantee balcony cabin and it was not assigned until about a week prior. Had heard of others not knowing until they checked in what their cabin assignment would be.

 

Would we do another Disney cruise? Probably, if the price is right. Our experience was cruising out of Galveston for the 8 day and from LA to Galveston on the Panama Canal. Convenience and price were definite factors.

 

[Jimbo]

Yes, I Did the Dream Repo/TA in April of 2010 for $499/pp in a cat 11 inside.

 

16 Night Transpacific-Samoa & Fiji

13 Night Hawaii Cruise

7 Night Alaska Sawyer Glacier Cruise

 

Aren't I related to you? :D

 

Now that is what I call cruising!

 

Jimbo:)

[Trekker954]

Just got home off my RCL Legend cruise to find my Disney Dream Cruise Documents with my mail. OMG, actually a cute spiraled handbook with actually luggage tags (RCL stopped that years ago). I love the cute cards, how to contact me on the ship. Great to give to the dog sitter and my son. It just seems like they've thought of everything.

 

I'm so excited, I did my laundry and repacked my smaller suitcase ready to cruise the Dream in three weeks. I've even thinking of ordering a pirate hat for Day two.

 

I was reading someone's recent review and yes, they were showing Frozen in late November already.

 

Disney doesn't have enough ships for me to leave Royal, but I am definitely psyched to try something different.

[ahecht]

Flat screen TV was a tad small, and was 90% Disney channels. Only non- Disney was 3 ESPN’s, 3 CNN’s and an ABC channel.

 

ESPN and ABC are both owned by Disney, so I guess that means that CNN is the only non-Disney channel!

[onyourtoes]

were already booked for the Majesty. We just got off her today - it was horrible. That ship had gone downhill. Quite the booze cruise now. AND we had to skip Coco Cay....

 

I am so sorry to hear that about Majesty. She is my favorite "small" ship:). I have sailed her six times and hate to think she has become a "Carnival ship in training.":( I have some wonderful memories of Majesty and think of her fondly whenever I look at my photo album. Oh well. Nothing good lasts forever. Merry Christmas (Happy Holidays) everyone and a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year filled with many, many cruises :)

[3DBeach]

What a wonderful review!! Thank you for sharing!

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[clean1owner]

I totally agree with your assessment of Disney service.

 

In 2005 we sailed the Wonder when our Daughter, Breanna, was 11 years old.

This is Our story of what I now call typical Disney service:

 

 

Our first night's dinner was in Parrot Cay, the more casual of the three Dining Rooms. The other 2 are Triton's and Animators Palate. While giving her order to the Waiter (Oscar), Breanna mentioned she could really go for some fresh strawberries. Oscar told her that strawberries weren't on the menu, but he would see what he could do. Sure enough, when Oscar brought out our desserts, he had a bowl of fresh strawberries for Breanna. The Assistant waiter later told us that Oscar ran down 3 flights of stairs to the Pantry to get the strawberries for Breanna. From that point on, at every meal we had in the MDR, Oscar brought Breanna a bowl of fresh strawberries.

 

Besides Disney, I have sailed RCCL, NCL, Carnival, and Regency. I have always said that Disney's service stands alone at the top, and I am glad to see that it hasn't changed.

 

P.S. When giving dessert orders, the daughter of the family we were paired with for dining told Oscar she wanted nothing for dessert, as she was full from dinner. He still came out with a covered plate for her, and this is what it was

 

 

 

That Disney cruise still ranks as my favorite of all that I have taken. Yes, they charge a premium, but to me, it was worth every penny.

[UNV-IT!!!]

Can't wAit to try my first one next year

[Paulette3028]

I am so sorry to hear that about Majesty. She is my favorite "small" ship:). I have sailed her six times and hate to think she has become a "Carnival ship in training.":( I have some wonderful memories of Majesty and think of her fondly whenever I look at my photo album. Oh well. Nothing good lasts forever. Merry Christmas (Happy Holidays) everyone and a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year filled with many, many cruises :)

 

I was on Majesty over Thanksgiving Weekend, and the ship was fine....Staff was as wonderful as ever....is she aging, yes.....and we all do. They keep her as well maintained as possible...for a ship that is dealing with new passengers every 3-4 days. I have sailed on Her Majesty 10 times, and although she does attract a crowd that is in 'party mode' for the weekend getaway -- the ship herself has held up very well, overall -- at least from my experience.

 

RCCL has over the years we have cruised on Her Majesty, refurbished cabins and public areas. The cabin that we book for ourselves (as long as available when we are booking), we know has been redone...with a new bathroom, for instance.