This Ain't No Disney Cruise, part 2 - My LIVE Trip Report From the Carnival Dream, January 13-27, 2024

[Frank12]

On 1/26/2024 at 7:23 PM, ninjacat123 said:

WOW!!  I told my DH and we were intrigued and slightly horrified by the "confined to quarters" for the whole ship.  We have never had that happen, granted I have only cruised out of Mobile in May with regard to the Gulf of Mexico.  Thanks for the blow by blow account and I hope I never have to experience that on a cruise.😬

37 cruises, some outrunning hurricanes with 10-12' seas.  Never, ever been confined to my cabin.😳

[Honolulu Blue]

1 hour ago, firefly333 said:

My 7 am in limon was one of the last called. We were way past 1 hour late. Floating dock or whatever had to be fixed. Not carnivals fault. The metal thing was dancing back and forth when I was getting off. Spirit was supposed to dock next to me and gave up so I'm thankful we docked at all. I did the jungle train. Sold out. Every seat sold on that train. Me as a solo crammed with a random stranger each way. We went to a banana plantation where a guy was chained to that overhead wire. He ran back and forth to show us how they do it without bruising the bananas. They put blue bags over the growing bananas and then have stripes of white or red as they grow, and change the color bands at certain weeks. We all got a free banana. There was a restaurant there I heard was awesome. I bought cocoa beans but seem to have lost them. Cocoa beans with ginger. Wish I'd had more time and tried the restaurant. I didnt see anything made me want to move there. The one I was early to meet left a hour late, the one I got there right on time they just left lol. 

 

I got lots of pictures of the birds and animals in the port sanctuary in Columbia. I deleted some but got more left. Free. 

Thanks for the pictures from Cartagena. The birds are pretty, but I decided that not going into a 100+ heat index was the right decision for me.

 

And thank you for sharing your excursion experience in Limon. Did you meet in the main theater? We did. It's possible I saw you there and didn't know it.

 

Its also possible that we were at the same banana plantation.  I saw similar things to what you dud. I was offered a free banana also, though a small one.

 

I sampled the cacao nibs with ginger at one of my stops. Not bad, but I preferred the ones with caramel. Though the ones with ginger might have come in handy when those seas got rough...

[Honolulu Blue]

34 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

As I'm sure you know there were 400 diamonds onboard. So they broke the lunch into 2 days. Did half day 2 and other half day 3. 400 at once was too many. I was day 2. The steak looked like a rib eye to me but I'm not a steak eater. Pulled up several places. Not a solid flat steak. Also had grilled shrimp if you didnt like the steak. And something else. Just bad luck as I would have eaten the guys steak sitting next table over. 

 

1200 platinums? I wasnt going to that drink party the last day on a dare. Not with 1600 people vying for a free drink. So the $25 obc was a bonus since I wasnt going anyway. It paid for my upgrade to the submarine excursion I got switched to. 

 

I'd sure do it again if the price was lower for solos. Loved it.

1 hour ago, firefly333 said:

 

I actually did not know the exact split of platinum and diamonds on this cruise. On my last Journeys cruise on the Breeze back in 2020, we had 400 diamonds with 1600 platinum.

[princess76021]

Thank you @Honolulu Blue and @firefly333 for this tandem review. I loved it!!

 

Hugs from Texas!!

 

[Honolulu Blue]

1 hour ago, princess76021 said:

Thank you @Honolulu Blue and @firefly333 for this tandem review. I loved it!!

 

Hugs from Texas!!

Thank you so much!  I'm definitely happy for the commentary from @firefly333, @satxdiver, and others.

[firefly333]

16 hours ago, Honolulu Blue said:

Thanks for the pictures from Cartagena. The birds are pretty, but I decided that not going into a 100+ heat index was the right decision for me.

 

And thank you for sharing your excursion experience in Limon. Did you meet in the main theater? We did. It's possible I saw you there and didn't know it.

 

Its also possible that we were at the same banana plantation.  I saw similar things to what you dud. I was offered a free banana also, though a small one.

 

I sampled the cacao nibs with ginger at one of my stops. Not bad, but I preferred the ones with caramel. Though the ones with ginger might have come in handy when those seas got rough...

Yes the train to the jungle meet in the theater.

 

The one I missed I thought meet in the theater but then I realized it said 9 am meet on the pier, depart 9 am. Oops. Got there at 9 am. Shouldnt have done that last pit stop on the way off the ship. 

 

I was like you in aruba. Got off and said omg this isnt for me. I was melting. Then I said I think my knee hurts, I'd run up some stairs. There is a free bus into town in aruba if you are up to a walking tour. I wasnt that day. There were lots of busses out there, not easy to figure which was the free bus and some lady complained it just goes into town and right back, not worth it (free) . Lol. 

 

I have ABC islands booked april 2025. I hope to do them better justice next time. And find those ostriches in curacao. 

 

Columbia port had a free port bus over to the birds, 800 ft. Lol. Now sitting home a free bus for 800 ft sounds ridiculous unless you were out there sweating in the heat. Yep 800 ft. They were running shuttle busses. 

 

These 2 birds the top one kept feeding the bottom bird, maybe courting. I know my pictures arent great but I tried. 

[CoasterGuy]

On 1/28/2024 at 9:25 AM, firefly333 said:

 

 

I had a girl at my Mdr table who hates texas. I kinda pulled back and she said see I didnt say I hate the people just texas. But it's her closest port. Hard not to react when someone keeps saying they hate texas. .. but dont take it personally. She was from Kansas or someplace cold. 

 

I like the food and music in Texas. But don't want to visit right now for other reasons I won't go into here. 

[CoasterGuy]

@Honolulu Blue and @firefly333 thank you for taking us along on your adventure. Enjoyed the pics and updates. 

[Honolulu Blue]

Here's a YouTube video describing what happened.  No endorsement, but it is short - about 4 minutes.

 

 

 

[princess76021]

3 hours ago, Honolulu Blue said:

Here's a YouTube video describing what happened.  No endorsement, but it is short - about 4 minutes.

 

 

 

The holy crap button isn't big enough for this!!!😬😬

 

thanks for sharing 😘,of which I will not share with my brother because I'm trying to get him on a ship!! 😁😁

 

Hugs from Texas

[Shipcats6]

Thank you Honolulu Blue for your report on the Dream.  My daughter and I are embarking on the Dream on the 10th.  You’ve answered so many questions that I was thinking about.  The only question I can’t find is if you tried the Pig & Anchor at lunch time.  Is it good?  Is it open only on sea days?  Any opinion?

 

thanks for any input.

[Honolulu Blue]

32 minutes ago, Shipcats6 said:

Thank you Honolulu Blue for your report on the Dream.  My daughter and I are embarking on the Dream on the 10th.  You’ve answered so many questions that I was thinking about.  The only question I can’t find is if you tried the Pig & Anchor at lunch time.  Is it good?  Is it open only on sea days?  Any opinion?

 

thanks for any input.

I didn't try Guy's Pig and Anchor on this trip. It's only open on sea days, and only for lunch.

 

My opinion is that I wish they still had their a la carte dinner menu. I had the ribs for dinner on the Horizon back in2019 and enjoyed it.

[Shipcats6]

Thank you!  We have 3 sea days so I’ll at least give it a look.

[mamiamjo]

1 hour ago, Shipcats6 said:

Thank you Honolulu Blue for your report on the Dream.  My daughter and I are embarking on the Dream on the 10th.  You’ve answered so many questions that I was thinking about.  The only question I can’t find is if you tried the Pig & Anchor at lunch time.  Is it good?  Is it open only on sea days?  Any opinion?

 

thanks for any input.

P&A is open on sea Days and Embarkation Day during lunch hours. The BBQ is good but nothing spectacular. You should give it a try though. Since it's already included you might as well try it to see what you think. If you don't like it you can always get something else to eat.

[firefly333]

On 1/30/2024 at 7:49 PM, CoasterGuy said:

 

I like the food and music in Texas. But don't want to visit right now for other reasons I won't go into here. 

I thought she was nice but just to keep saying she hated texas seemed wierd. She mentioned it quite a few times. I'm originally from ohio, just happen to live here right now. After the 3rd time I'm like ok already. 

 

Just my bad luck got sick after I got home. Monday last week that night I started to cough and still sick. Seeing doctor tuesday morning already had a appointment. Full blood work up and fasting. Take your vitamins c before you go. Lots it seems are sick after this cruise, not just me. Negative covid.

[firefly333]

1 hour ago, Shipcats6 said:

Thank you Honolulu Blue for your report on the Dream.  My daughter and I are embarking on the Dream on the 10th.  You’ve answered so many questions that I was thinking about.  The only question I can’t find is if you tried the Pig & Anchor at lunch time.  Is it good?  Is it open only on sea days?  Any opinion?

 

thanks for any input.

I ate there 3 times and imo it was vastly improved. I did vista and b2b breeze after covid and the pork was dried out and beans werent good. Everything was good. I had the pork and the blackened ends of beef. Didnt try the chicken. Beans and cole slaw and potato salad. Didnt try the greens. 

 

In carnivals defense the last time it was almost too windy to go and that I'm sure helped dry out the pork. Though the last day of the storm I ate there and windy but maybe they added some water or something to keep it from being dry and stringy. Mine was good all 3 times. I ate there the day of the storm is why i was still sitting there when the storm hit.

[Honolulu Blue]

40 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Just my bad luck got sick after I got home. Monday last week that night I started to cough and still sick. Seeing doctor tuesday morning already had a appointment. Full blood work up and fasting. Take your vitamins c before you go. Lots it seems are sick after this cruise, not just me. Negative covid.

I'm sorry to hear this.  I've felt fine since I got home, just to add a counterexample.  Get well soon. 🙏

[firefly333]

2 hours ago, Honolulu Blue said:

I'm sorry to hear this.  I've felt fine since I got home, just to add a counterexample.  Get well soon. 🙏

Just talked to my table ate and she got sick too, on the drive home, so she came down with it sooner. She said a lady in back of us was hacking coughing she thinks could be to blame. Someone else posted they boarded sick but arent losing their money so they boarded. 

 

I'm reading stories from voyager who was in the same storm. Cabins that took on water were offered 30% FCC or 100% refund and rebook later. Hard choice as many on cheap casino vouchers. 30% isnt worth anything. They got the letter of course the night they flew into Galveston and already paid for a flight and hotel. Ripping out carpets, and running fans to dry ceilings as fast as they could. Fully booked, couldn't move them. Makes me convinced royal are bigger whiners though. I havent read anyone on carnival wanting money back. 

[firefly333]

Double post sorry but I've seen quite a few who came home sick, not just me.

 

But weather no refund lolol. Voyager only offered to those who might be in cabins with a mildew smell. They were redoing carpets and ceilings as fast as they could. Not sure what I'd do once I was already there ready to board. 

Edited February 3 by firefly333

[TravelWith FunShips]

How was the wifi on the Dream, was it updated to Skylink.

[Honolulu Blue]

2 hours ago, TravelWith FunShips said:

How was the wifi on the Dream, was it updated to Skylink.

The WiFi on the Dream was very good most of the time on this cruise. We had Starlink.

[skywalkr2]

Every time I have cruised during severe weather season, The captain has always kept me in a safe location even if it meant skipping ports.  For some reason I have some morbid curiosity to be on a cruise where it can't be avoided.