GeekSquad4

Hey cruisers! Just got off the Dream yesterday from our 7 day to Key West, Freeport, and Nassau. This is my first review on Cruise Critic, but our 3rd cruise. Here we go!

Camp Ocean/Night Owls

DH and I took our two kids this go 'round (a Stingray and a Shark), and they had a blast! This was their second cruise and, like last time, they were begging to go back every day. Three or four of the days, they had a scavenger hunt for the Sharks who could sign themselves out, and so on the second day of this, DD asked if she could sign herself out just for the hunt. We decided to trust her with the responsibility of her S&S card and told her that if she tried to sign herself out for anything else, she would lose the privilege altogether (We aren't ready for her to have full sign-in/out privileges yet). She did great with it and had a fantastic time with her new Shark friends. For those who aren't familiar with Camp Ocean, they have a variety of things for your kids to do, including craft time, science experiments, game time, movie time, and dance time. Of course, DH and I decided that we needed an extra hour or two to ourselves on several occasions, so we allowed the kids to stay for Night Owls. After grats, Night Owls costs about $7.50 per kid, per hour, with an extra cost on their "Party" nights. But the kids love it because they get to stay up late dancing and "partying" with their friends. Portia, Kody, and Sam were our kids' favorite counselors this trip. They always greeted our kids by name and with smiles on their faces. Gotta love that!

Staff and Crew

Over all we had good, friendly service everywhere we went, but I want to give you guys the names of staff and crew to be on the lookout for when you're cruising the Dream. Before you go on, please note that we will absolutely fill out Carnival's survey for these guys and mention each of them by name and we urge you to do the same. They deserve the recognition for their hard work and great service.

We had an amazing dinner crew in the MDR. We dined in the Scarlet Dining Room, with Rodel, Antonio, and Jani. They were super attentive, greeting us by name and with inside jokes every night. Our head waiter, Rodel, ensured that DH and I had plenty to eat, and even brought us extra at times. We were impressed. Goran, our maitre d, received our emailed request to have our own personal table at dinner and told DH that he understands that dinner time is family time. He placed us in a private booth, for which we were so grateful. Our favorite bartender this week was Savio in the Jackpot (casino) Bar. He's been doing his job for 17 years, and it shows with how quick and friendly he is. He joked around with us and remembered our names and our favorite drinks. Shawn, our bar waiter in the MDR, was similar with his friendly face, but meek personality. We enjoyed both of these guys, and hated to tell them goodbye on our last night.

As I've said in a couple of other posts, we had the absolute best CD on this cruise. Chris Williams (The Flying Scotsman) is an amazing performer/entertainer. He blew us away with his constant high energy and how friendly and hilarious he was, both during performances and outside of them. We hope to cruise with him again in the future! Francis on the Fun Squad was fantastic as well, and made trivia fun! You can find him most days in the Ocean Plaza doing games and trivia. Be sure to call him Francie (Fran-see). He just loves that! ;)

Our room steward was super friendly when we spoke with him over the phone after losing a favorite lovey. Other than that and one or two other phone interactions, we never really saw him or even knew his name. I've heard about Carnival making cuts to staff and crew, and I think housekeeping staff could really feel the cut on the Dream. On our two previous cruises, we have been able to get to know our steward's name and speak to him/her in the hallways as we passed. This week, they all seemed so busy. We got smiles and hellos from them, but that was about it.

Food and Drink

MDR food was great. We enjoyed everything we ate. I wasn't too impressed by the filet I had with my surf n turf, but DH explained to me that filet mignon is supposed to be chewy (?). Meh. Give me lobster and shrimp! :) Escargot, stuffed mushrooms, and conch fritters were some of our favorite apps. Lobster tails, Junkaroo pot, and short ribs were amongst our favorite entrees. Banana bread pudding and cherry pie were great, and as always the Grand Marnier souffle was delicious.

Lido deck buffet was hit or miss, as per the usual, but we did find ourselves enjoying it more than we have in the past. They stepped up their game on some of the dessert options as well.

The Pasta Bar (The Gathering) on Deck 11 was just ok for me. DH tried it one day and really enjoyed it, so I went with him for lunch the following day. The alfredo was runny and the "add-ons" I asked for were scant. Meh. The bread was good though.

Guy's Burgers and Blue Iguana were as great as they were on the Triumph. I learned this cruise that Blue Iguana has a taco salad. DO IT. You won't be disappointed.

I had Tandoor only once, when I was brave enough to try it. I had beans and lentils over rice, which was delicious, and tandoor chicken, which was also good but SPICY! Haha..

Guy's Pig and Anchor actually knocked our socks off. We are picky about our BBQ, so that's saying something! I was just going to try the pulled pork, some slaw and potato salad, but DH decided to get everything on his plate (EVERYTHING!). He shared a bite of the things I didn't get, and honestly I wasn't disappointed with anything I ate. If you're a BBQ fan, get in line early. It's on Deck 5, starboard side (right outside of the Ocean Plaza).

Get the Cheers package! Just do it. It's one less thing to worry about. Ok, that aside, I lost my list for the drinks I wanted to try, but I did get a Cucumber Sunset at the Alchemy Bar. It was like a refreshing melon flavored drink. Delicious. DH got a Basil Drop that I didn't like, but he enjoyed. Definitely a strong one there. The wine list is very scant now that they've gone to the Amercan Table menu. It's a shame. Our first cruise had a very extensive wine list with several varieties. We literally had six wines to choose from on this cruise (one Moscato, one Sauvignon Blanc, one Pinot Noir, one Merlot, two Chardonnays). I was a bit disappointed by that. But the wines they did have were tasty (can't speak for the Chardonnay - I'm not a fan).

HEADS UP: The lido buffet was not open for dinner on the last two sea nights. Guy's Burgers closed at 6pm and Pig and Anchor is only open for lunch. That leaves Pizza, Blue Iguana, and Tandoor, and I'm not sure about the closing times for those. The Pasta Bar on Deck 11 may have also been open, but don't quote me on that. We ate in the MDR and the kids ate with their friends in Camp Ocean on those two nights. This was our first seven day cruise, so I'm not sure if it's common practice for the buffet to be closed on these nights, but I befriended a Platinum guest who thought it was odd, too.

Ports

Key West was great for walking around and looking at shops. If you're wanting to get a souviner, get one here. Best selection and cheapest of the three ports. We did Ripley's Believe it or Not and paid online for a discount. The kids loved it and we got some fun pictures.

Freeport was hit hard by Hurricane Matthew, and you can really tell as you go through. We snorkelled at Dead Man's Reef (Paradise Cove). With it being April, the seas were a bit choppy and a storm rolled in toward the end of our excursion here. We did see a sea turtle and several awesome fish and coral. The swim out to the reef wore us out with the strong current from the storm. I wouldn't recommend this excursion for small children or for those with extra wide feet! Ha. Our youngest kept swimming away from us and it made this Mama extra nervous. DH had sore feet from the flippers not fitting well. We had problems with a couple of our masks leaking.

Nassau didn't have much for souvenir shopping, and we didn't book an excursion here. The people here we found a bit rude and pushy. Next time (if there is a next time), we will try Junkaroo Beach or something. We heard from many on the ship that Atlantis was not worth the money, but I've also heard and read here that others love it. Our recommendation for Nassau: Book an excursion or stay on the boat.

Tips

*Don't miss out on the Clue Game on the first night. This game looked like a lot of fun, but we didn't know anything about it until about day 3! :( We kicked ourselves for not paying more attention to the Fun Times.

*Make time to see the Flying Scotsman's One Man Show. We missed out due to casino comps for the Steakhouse, but heard that it was fantastic!

*Check out the whirlpools on the Lanai (Deck 5). There are two on each side and they're pretty good-sized tubs. Just make sure they're actually hot before you plunge yourself into them. DH and I learned the hard way that the one we wanted was cold one windy day! EEK!

*The Aft pool has a beautiful statue above it. There are also two more whirlpools here.

*Serenity Deck is two levels and it's just far enough away from the Lido to drown out the noise. The bar here is almost always clear of guests. There are two hammocks, some clam shell loungers, and a good many cuddle loungers. It is windy here, as this is at the bow of the ship, but worth it for some peace and quiet.

*The shows are awesome on this cruise. The 80s Pop show was super fun. Flick was moving in its own way. And don't miss out on America Rocks. Bring your leather jacket for this one. It's a rock concert like no other!

*If you like Jazz, check out the live band Jaccuzzi of Love in the Ocean Plaza (can you tell I spent a lot of time on Deck 5?). They were great!

*Chris' after-show parties in the Atrium are totally worth it. Make at least one of these!

Hope you guys found this helpful! If you have any questions, feel free to ask. :D

We just got off the Dream today, and we had an amazing time! If you're a drinker (esp a drinker and a smoker), visit Savio at the Jackpot Bar in the casino. He's the best, hands down. All of the shows we saw were amazing. The America Rocks show, 80s Pop show, and Flick were the ones we were able to catch. They were all great in their own ways. The Flying Scotsman (Chris Williams) was our CD and the best CD yet! He really is a performer and entertainer first and foremost, and I think that makes all the difference. He should still be on board in May, as he said he leaves for his two month vacation in June. Make sure you catch his One Man Show. We missed it because we had comps for Steakhouse that night, during the only performance. I hear it was fantastic. Oh! Serenity Deck is two levels, which is nice. All the way forward, there were plenty of loungers most days. There are whirlpools all over the Dream. Two on either side of the Lanai (Deck 5). Just make sure you check to see if they're hot or not (one windy day we went out and found that the one we wanted was cold! lol). I'm sure I could go on. I'll probably end up writing a review tomorrow when I'm not exhausted! :)

No problem! Hope you guys can read them! I didn't realize how dark/blurry some of them were.

Thank you for posting these. We will be on the Dream in a few months and was wondering what bands were on the Dream right now? Did a band play in the Atrium in the evenings, and if so , do you remember their name?Thanks.

Jacuzzi of Love was the band that played this week. They played in the Ocean Plaza (Deck 5, behind the casino). I didn't notice a band in the Atrium, but also didn't spend much time there.

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I even got pics of the Camp Ocean schedule for the Sting Rays (our Shark kept losing hers).

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Friday

Saturday

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Thursday. Sorry some of these are dark. With zooming, I think it's still legible.

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Wednesday

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(In case you've lost track, this one's Tuesday. [emoji6])

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Also, found out that Fun Times are available to download from the Hub App!

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Just home off the Dream, and finally able to post our Fun Times. I think I got every day. Posting from my phone, so let's see if this works!

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Please still share yours when you get back as I will be going in a month and a half.

 

 

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Sure thing! And thanks for sharing!! :D

Hey, you bet! :)

Thanks for the review! We've been very intrigued by the Vista since we first heard of it's coming out. I think most of it was the "OOH! SHINY!" phenomenon that always occurs with new stuff, so it's nice to get an honest review from a seemingly down to earth cruiser. :) Glad your sister's bag was found and that you were able to get a new phone (hopefully they worked with you on that!).

??? What does being or not being on the Vista have to do with the OP's question? Also, the Dream is not a Conquest class ship. Totally different layout.

I think what Cruisegirl6 is trying to say is that all Carnival ships seem easily navigated, with exception of Conquest class and Vista (which she has yet to cruise on). I had to read it a couple of times, myself. I thought the same thing you did. ;)

*Plays Jeopardy theme song*

BTW, we'll be cruising on her in 2 weeks (!), so if nothing is posted before then, I'll be sure to share when we get back. :D

We're wait-listed for YTD, as well. Contacted the maitre' d and are waiting for a response. DH and I have been wondering if they might eventually have YTD as the only option in the MDR. I could see where we might have to wait to be seated at times, but that tends to happen on elegant nights anyway.

We're cruising on the Dream in 2 weeks. First time on this ship. I'm interested to see what others have to say, as well. :)

DH uses the patch when we cruise. He puts one on the day before we board so that his body gets used to it a bit. The kids and I have done the same with bonine. Bonine works great for us. DH, not so much. He's tried everything else - from essential oils to bonine and dramamine, even ginger and green apples (the crew swears by them). The patch is the only thing that works for him.

When they have the sliced tomato and mozzarella with pesto on the buffet bar, I put some on a plate and take it over to the deli and ask them to put it on a ciabatta roll and make a panini out of it for me! Awesome caprese sandwich.

 

Also love to get fries and add nacho cheese and chili from the grill with a little mustard for chili/cheese fries.

 

My husband loves to get the potato shoe strings (from Guys) and adds grated cheddar cheese and bacon bits from the salad bar to them.

Ooh, that sandwich sounds so good right about now! I'll definitely have to help myself to one in a couple of weeks! :)

Following. Excited for our April 9th sailing! :D Thanks for the info.

They are providing the shuttle from the cruise port? Please let me know how that goes. Also, looking at the Shoreexcursioneer website, I think someone mentioned above, tour the ship wreck, or movie site and possible sharks. So That is a 35 minute ride from the pier. They state that the afternoon tours will leave and head back to pier at 5:00 to 5:45. That's a pretty wide window, and with a "35 minute ride" back to pier, do you think we would be safe for a 7 PM sailing from the pier?

Hmm.. Yeah.. That does seem to be cutting it close. If "5 to 5:45" turns into "6 or 6:30", you'll be crossing your fingers the whole way for no snags in your trip back. I would check for reviews wherever possible to see what others say about their punctuality.

Sorry to get back to this thread so late! We ended up booking with deadmansreef. They seemed to have the best deal, and we can decide if we want to do 2, 4, or 6 hours for the same price. :)

We're just looking for a laid back, relaxing vacation. We're not forking out a crap ton of money for excursions, etc. The beach, maybe a little shopping, lots of food and drinks. We're not looking to go, go, go. I think we may get the day pass at the Hilton on Nassau, probably chill at the beach in Half Moon Cay, not sure about Freeport yet. We don't want to have to worry about taxis, getting back to the ship on time, etc,etc, etc. We've never cruised before, didn't feel like driving 20 hours to Miami. plus, a 5 day our of Jacksonville is a lot cheaper than a 5 day out of Charleston. We don't need a big, fancy ship. We're easy to please.

We're going snorkeling in Freeport. If you guys are snorkel people, check out deadmansreef.com. We're planning on using them for our excursion (different cruise, but in April!). Hope you guys have an amazing time!

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Shaking my head at some of these replies. The couple already booked. They are going on their honeymoon to enjoy themselves. Why try to tell them about all the nicer things on the other ships when they are already booked? I have never been on the elation but I am sure it has its perks. I am sure they would prefer to see some posts about exciting things they can look forward to.

 

Sorry but I had to go there.

I'm with you! Boo to the Negative Nancys.

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