My Review...the Dream 10/15 -22

[Velvet Teddy Bear]

HELLO TO ALL...THIS IS JIM...AKA THE VELVET TEDDYBEAR... these are my thoughts and opinions.. if they don't mesh with yours.. just flame away...it won't bother me one bit.....just have at it...

 

I will do this in two parts as it is going to be long..so sit back, relax, and I hope enjoy...... PART ONE.......

 

BOARDING...Boarding was late due the late arrival of the ship..(bad weather). However once it did start at 3;00 pm, we were aboard by 4:00, but its a long walk (appx 2 city blocks, half up hill) to the ship. We sailed at 11;30 pm. Boat drill was put off till Sun morning..:eek:

 

CRUISE CRITIC MEETING.. We had a good turnout, there were approximately 20 of us as well as about 10 of the ships officers. They answered any and all questions put to them..even about the engine problem. The Capt stated he hoped it would be complete by the middle of Nov..there were some special folks due on board to assist with the problem..;)

The Capt was readily available on deck during the cruise, and would stop and chat with anyone who so wished..what more can you ask...However, I did not see the Cruise Director around except when he was performing.

 

CABINS...We were in 8243, midship, there were three of us, my brother, sis-in-law an myself..we had no problems fitting in there, my bed made into a small sofa during the day, we also had a coffee table extra chair and an ottoman. There was ample storage room, the bathroom, tho small worked well, and there was always plenty of hot water and the pressure was good. Our room steward, SHAWN, was excellent..we only saw him whee we ask for him...our cabin was alway clean, and ice bucket full, and when we needed more ice, it was there immediately...we had a bottle of wine given to us, he kept it cold the entire time until we opened it the last night.;)

 

KIDS PROGRAM.. Sorry no kids along, so can not comment..

 

CASINOS...Nice area, and well run thanks to the pit crew, actual mgt is lacking,DENNIS, the asst mgr is leaving the ship...this will be no great loss, he is very lacking in his ability to connect with the passengers, never spoke or acknowledged anyone. However his replacement, a young lady named LINI was alway around and available to assist, spoke to everyone, and alway had a smile. Two of the pit men ANGELETO AND CEASER, were both on the ball, and smile and spoke to everyone by name..there were two outstanding dealers, TAMMARA AND CAMELLIA, both always smiling and joking with the guest, and always knew you name....FOR THOSE INTERESTED ....I LOST......:(

 

So ends part one....tomarrow...Dinning rooms, entertainment, the bars, and my final thoughts.....

 

TILL I FINISH, jus me ...jim...aka....THE VELVET TEDDYBEAR

[starrynight27]

So glad to see that you made it home safely! Thanks again for the pictures and I look forward to reading the rest of your review!

[Don Haynes]

Hopefully, in the middle of November, we'll start to see better reviews of the Dream. Its been a long haul of negative reviews of the Dream due mostly to a change in her intineraries... And many of the negative reveiws have been from first time posters....

[karen2cruz]

Jim,

 

It was so great to meet you and all the others on our roll call. You always had a positive attitude on the ship. The cruise might not have been as positive as it was, without great people to share it with like you, Carolyn and the others. (This is a plug for CruiseCritic roll calls- wink, wink). Did you share the wine with the others at dinner Friday night?

 

As far as the cruise director, it was his first week on the Dream and he had some major reshuffling to take care of with the extra sea days, etc. I did run into him a couple of times and he was always friendly.

 

Karen

[Velvet Teddy Bear]

HERE WE GO AGAIN FOLKS.....

 

THE CREW;.....Always smiling and greeting folks, very helpful and attentive to all guest needs. I never saw one being rude to anyone...and when stopped and asked a question, always willing to answer, or help find out the answer....what more could you ask.....

 

ENTERTAINMENT. The shows were good, not great. The western night needs bit of tweaking, but that will come with a few more performances, I am not into stand up comics....so.....the Ryan Dancers were good. Must remember this is not Las Vegas.....but even setting in the back, found to noise level to be a bit high...but thats me...... I enjoyed the pianist music and the duo playing...

 

MEALS,,, We had coffee in the cabin most mornings..always on time, with a phone call just before arriving, always hot, (we had two pots .. l reg and l decaf..) and they included rolls and danish or fresh fruit always....just wish I had something like that now LOL....wishful thinking.....

BREAKFAST...We ate about four times in the dinning room...I do not do buffets....we were in the four seasons. A very good selection of breakfast items, with a different choice of egg entrée each day...The service was prompt and attentive...without being rushed...

LUNCH.. Also in the four seasons, (no buffet for me)..A pleasant time, without being hurried, good service, a nice selection of items for a luncheon menue.....

DINNER.. as with most, the main meal, We had dinner most nights in the Terraces...a very nice room abit noisy...but they all were...Everyone from the Dinning room Capt down to the second waiter were always smiling, greeting folks, and doing an excellent job...Our wine steward JOSE, was a jewel,,learned his guests by name, always with a suggestion of wine choice, (and not always the most expensive) and saw that it was properly poured.

The dinner selections ranged from Lamb, Veal, Steaks to Assorted Seafood. We would often order a 4th item to be split among the 3 of us so as to try something different...Me, I was lucky enough to have Escargots three different time while on board. The assorted l/2/3 courses were alway interesting and varried...and dessert....well.......

We dinned the first night in Le Bistro...the room is lacking something..I'm not sure just what it is...but it is pleasant enough...The meal was presented very nicely, my first Escargots of the trip....I know they ask for reservations, but it was not crowded that night, nor did it seem to be other nights.

BARS... Most seemed to be busy but never rushed, except service from the Rendezvous was very poor...It seemed to be the training bar for the bartenders..often having to ask twice about getting a drink, very slow about pouring it. and this just outside the Four Seasons dinning room, we would often meet there because of the convince before going to dinner.At the other bars, tho busy, service was prompt..

IN GENERAL; It was a very good cruise, not great, because of the missing ports, but this was not the Capt. or the crews fault..nor the NCL's fault..when mother nature does her thing..folks should listen....The ship was clean, and was kept that way. The Capt did an excellent job of keeping us out of bad weather....We never had a rough day..a little choppy one afternoon...but even that was enjoyable...made you know you were at sea.....

Would I sail on the Dream again, Yes, when they get her repaired..I am thinking about the April Atlantic Crossing.....just thinking mind you...got to get the bucks together first....:D

 

I hope this review has been of some help to any and all of you..till we sail again.....jus me...jim aka THE VELVET TEDDY BEAR:cool:

[Zeno]

Nicely detailed realistic review! I am sorry to hear that you had some minor service problems (but it is so nice to read review from someone who can tell the difference between minor and major service problems and it was absolutely refreshing to read a review from someone who realizes NCL has no control over the weather etc). I hope that engine gets fixed soon but I suspect it won't until a major dry dock repair is done. I am glad that you had a "good" cruise. I hope your next one is "great".

[SailAways]

Wow, a review of the Dream which is realistic after all of the previous downers.

 

So glad that you were able to have a good time on this cruise.

 

We would love to sail on the Dream after the repairs are completed too!

 

Thanks So Much for A Great Review!!

SailAways:)

[beckmars]

Thanks so much for your review. Its so easy to get worried by reading the negative comments about the Dream. I leave on 11/12/05 (YES!!!!) and you have put my mind at ease. Thanks.

[Velvet Teddy Bear]

hi all....for all of those who know me...please note..... per your request my name has now been changed...... My Email will stay the same.

 

old name.....semasneb

 

new name....VELVET TEDDY BEAR.....

 

yep...its true.............jus me ...jim ...The velvet teddy bear.....:cool:

[Goldryder]

I shall be aboard Dream on what is likely to be her final westbound Transatlantic under NCL ownership next September. I agree with the other posters that its great to have a balanced review of the ship and her crew. The crew especially have had to put up with harsh weather and a technical problem and probably some harsh comments from passengers.

 

I only wish/hope that the passengers on my trip will be as gracious as you have been about her and her crew.

 

Thank you :)

[House_Atreides]

Great review!!!!

You had a great attitude about missed ports. It salts my pickles when people complain about missing ports. It's mother nature, can't fight it, and if you HAVE to hit a certain port, I always say book a nice LAND vacation.

We missed Belize on Dream because of heavy weather. Capt. got our rears in gear and substituted Costa Maya, good for him, just ahead of a Carnival ship that didn't get to dock because 'we asked first!' Costa Maya isn't the greatest port in the world but crew sure went out of their way to get us there and we were grateful (and...had a lot of fun:) )

I'm so sick of hearing people bashing Dream, yep she has some 'issues' and your review was so refreshing--thank you!

Mary

[Velvet Teddy Bear]

Hi All....have I set a record or something??? So far not one person has bashed me for my review....All I can say is thanks much....:)

 

Til I said again.....jus me....jim THE VELVET TEDDY BEAR:cool: