Crusin' & Chillin'

Great photos! Love that you both shared!

I can’t wait until May when the first selling of the season to Alaska happens and we get to hear how everything looks and see the new deck plans. I plan on spending a lot of time in the alchemy bar!

I am with you! Hoping folks are quick with reviews and youtube videos so we can see the upgrades!

Following! We sail end of July 2018! Just revealed the cruise to our 11 & 14 yr old kids for Christmas!!

July 31st sailing? We will be on it with 12 & 15 year olds!

We will be on the Magic, at Amber Cove. I have purchased glasses via Amazon for out entire group as I wanted to make sure we were prepared. We will be docked at the time of the eclipse. Interesting that Carnival is planning something and excited to see what that something is!

Great report! Can't wait to read more! I'll be on the Dream in 10 days!!

You just made my day MarathonMama629! I will be on the same sailing and seeing that 10 days in print is AWESOME!

It gives your baggage priority to your room, it gives you priority boarding, even if you don't get there early you will be placed in an area to board very next and it gives you priority disembarkation. You can get off the ship early am if you like they tell you where to meet you go there and when the ship finishes customs they escort you with saved elevators down to the disembarkation deck. We always book it up.

This will be our first sailing with FTTF. We are looking to get off the ship ASAP as we will have a 15 hour drive ahead of us. We have no problem using self-assist for debarking, but would we get off even before self-assist if we use our FTTF for debarking?

Gathering together my door decorations for our upcoming cruise. We'll be celebrating a birthday and St. Patricks Day on the Dream. Does anyone know if the cabin doors are metal or will I need to pack the tape and 3M products.

Gathering mine as well for the same sailing! Have never decorated the door before! 5th cruise, 3rd time with the kids along and they have NO IDEA we are going!!!! Can't wait for the 15th to get here!!!!!!!

Have never purchased anything like this before. Is the Cruise Cash (Bar and Photo Credit) just applied automatically to your sail and sign account or do you have to take a 'certificate' to guest services?

Here is the link to the February Listing.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2155032&highlight=movies

Places cruise heads to are Tracy Arm, Skagway 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Juneau 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Ketchikan 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Victoria at night 7:30 p.m. to midnight. The only place we've been to is Victoria. We spent a full week there a few summers ago. Also we aren't doing a cruise tour or spending any extra time in the area. We're just doing the cruise.

We have done Alaska twice.

On our first cruise (2005), we were fairly broke, so chose to do most of it on our own. Skagway we just walked around the town, visited a couple of the local tavern (for the history of course) and enjoyed the beauty of it all. Juneau we did a whale watching excursion through Carnival. Ketchikan, we did Sea Kayaking through Carnival as well.

Our second cruise (2014), we did it all on our own! I personally would say this is the one cruise that I am not nervous about non Carnival excursions. You are dealing with vendors in the US. However, I would only go with someone with GREAT reviews and I would allow LOTS of time to get back to the ship if you are venturing too far.

Due to the itinerary changes, we did not get to Skagway on the last trip.

In Juneau, we took the city bus to Glacier Gardens. It was beautiful and very worth the admission. We called a cab from there and went out to Mendenhall Glacier. It was AMAZING! I loved that we were able to spend a good deal of time there and hike out to the glacier. We took a cab back to port. I believe it was around $45 total for the cab ride from Glacier Gardens to the Glacier and back to port. (4 people). We still had plenty of time to explore close to the ship.

In Ketchikan we took a float plane ride with Mountain Air Service. Our pilot (and owner) Randy did an amazing job! (http://www.mtair.biz/Products-1.html) We did the Misty Fjords tour. I believe it was about $230 per adult. It was the highlight of the entire cruise! I would do it again in a heartbeat and would recommend Randy to anyone!!!!! If you decide to do this, I would book his earliest time that day. We were back in town and able to still walk down to Creek Street and enjoy a couple hours in port even after our flight.

No matter what you decide to do, Alaska is AMAZING!!!!

 

My husband's birthday is the day we embark. What are my options for doing something special for him? I see online at the Carnival store that you can buy cakes and things. If I do that will they have it in our cabin when we get on the ship or is that something they bring later? I am curious as to how this works and i am a terrible secret keeper! :eek: Only 291 more days to keep this one!

I am cruising in March and ordered off the 'store' for the first time! When I got to the checkout process, it asked you when / where you want it delivered. I have also read many others post that they have ordered cakes and had them in the room when the arrived or delivered to the dining room on a certain night (including the first night). Good luck with whatever you decide! PS...we are keeping our upcoming cruise a secret from our kiddos! So glad that I only have to keep the secret a few more weeks! I'm a TERRIBLE secret keeper!!!!

Thanks for all the tips so far. He was hoping to use the Jumbotron (I think), and yes it is for the 15th :D

EXCITED!!!! We will be on this cruise as well. Can't wait to see / hear what he decides!

Camp carnival ages 9-11 fun times carnival dream 1-18-2015

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxbbBoEti_SDYm4zOU5GZGxrRlE/view?usp=sharing

Thank you so much! Did you notice that the Camp Schedule shows 1-18-2014! :D Too funny. Wonder how many cruises before they realize they forgot to change the year!

We sailed last week. I have the camp carnival funtimes for these age groups:

 

2-5

9-11

Circle C

 

If i have one that in your childs age group, let me know and ill scan it and post it tomorrow

I would LOVE to see the 9-11 age group. Taking 2 in March in that age group!

Following! My hubs is a beer 'snob' and loves a good craft brew. Also sailing in March on the Dream!

Hi from your neighbor not that far North! Really enjoying this review. Going on the Dream for the first time in March and can't wait! We have been home for the last 2 days with no school due to the LOVELY (HA!) weather and your review is keeping me entertained! Can't wait to read the rest!

In Cozumel we were docked at Puerta Maya, and walked right off the ship to a nice, clean shopping area. We went to Dolphinarius and we all swam with the dolphins. Fun, but really expensive. I guess it was worth it for a once in a lifetime experience. The tour, thru Carnival, included all drinks and lunch. The lunch was mediocre at best, but they had a wonderful full bar and I had to dilute my Long Island tea down with some coke, it was so strong. After we got back we stopped at the Three Amigos cantina, which is right next to the pier, and it was SO much fun! Free Wi-Fi, too.

We are very much considering the Dolphinarius excursion as well. Did you have much time to enjoy the beach there after you did the Dolphin swim? We would like to take advantage of the activities they have available and make a day of it there if possible.

Did you purchase the pictures that they offer (at Dolphinarius)? Any idea on the pricing of that?

Thanks!

Hello all! We have not cruised in the Caribbean in over 14 years! I am in need of some great recommendations for biodegradable sunscreen (THAT WORK) and bug sprays! We plan to do a dolphin excursion and I know that they all say biodegradable sunscreen is a must! Any recommendations?

Thanks!

Hello -

We will be visiting Belize for the first time next March via a cruise ship. Would rather not do an excursion, but wondering if there are any close beaches, shops, or what we will find very near to where the tenders come to shore. We are traveling with kids, and would love to simply be able to get in the water. No need for fancy, all inclusive beaches. Suggestions? Or am I crazy to think that you can find something without having to take an excursion? (We would likely just be in the water for an hour, so can't see going on a beach excursion!)

Cool! Our daughter is named Harley! Will def be checking this out!

Thanks!

 

The mini golf on Miracle looks rather... small and dull. :confused: But that's good to hear that your kids liked it! We will definitely try it.

 

I'll be sure and look for the family friendly comedy shows.

 

I hope the face that CC is "small" doesn't mean they don't have as good of a program as other ships!

They offered the same programs and activities that we had seen on the Glory a year earlier. Still plenty for them to do, but just a smaller room to do it in!

Hope your family has an amazing trip!

Here you go!

http://www.carnival.com/cruise-countdown.aspx

OP...was on the Miracle in May with two kids (10 & 8). They have a candy store next to the fun shops. Finding and walking through Gatsby's Garden with them was fun. Mini golf and giant chess. Family Friendly comedy shows. Camp Carnival is very small on this ship. Kids still went and had fun, but much smaller than on other ships we have sailed. No 'movies under the stars' and in Alaska anyway, only one in cabin movie channel, so it was hit or miss as to if it would be 'kid friendly'. Not an issue for us though as the kids loved just exploring the ship, swimming, eating ice cream, etc. Enjoy your cruise!

We really do want to go to Alaska, and we do know Carnival, and like the prices, but what we don't like is (feeling like a dr suess story) NOISE NOISE NOISE-this is the last American Wilderness, does Carnival respect that when they cruise Alaska? or Is the lido the last place I want to be? do they offer classes and information about what we are seeing, or are we going to be moving to the right, to the right, to the right...

We just did our 2nd Alaskan Cruise with Carnival in May of this year. Granted we went when school was still in session for both of our cruises there. Very few children (less than 100 on both cruises). We are in our middle to late 30s and would say we were still among the 'young' on the ship. Most folks are 50 and up (IMHO), which leads to a much quieter cruise. Lido still played music, but not the same as the warmer weather cruises. They are very limited to the 'noise' they are allowed to make in Alaska.

The naturalist on Carnival cruises (Michelle) is amazing. We loved to listen to her and you can tell she LOVES what she does!

Whatever you choose, you will never regret seeing Alaska!

I agree with everyone! LAYERS! I live in a colder climate, so was thrilled to find USA made fleeces in a couple of the ports for cheap ($15 ish). I would def order some thermal underwear (Amazon) as you may need them. I personally would rather have them and not need them vs not ordering and freezing! :D Enjoy!!!!! Alaska is beautiful and the Miracle does it right! The crew was amazing (May of this year) and the ship is pretty. Though I find them all to be pretty and like you, roll with it and enjoy every minute of any time I get to spend on a ship! :D