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Genner

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    Cruising In Hurricane Season

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Hey Guys

     

    I’ve never cruised during hurricane season. I’m traveling with a cruise newbie who is petrified of going on her first cruise right in the middle of the season.

     

    We’re looking at the Oasis doing the Eastern itinerary on 3 September

     

    Can I get weather predictions & temps and what the chances of hitting a hurricane, and if we do what is the Royal backup plan.

     

    Thanks

    All things Dream!

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    These are excerpts from the past year's Dream reviews that I compiled before our cruise. I thought it would be helpful for everyone. Please note that I do not take responsibility for all this info, since they are from reviews. I did find most of it to be accurate and very helpful!

     

    Happy planning...

    CARNIVAL DREAM

     

    BEFORE YOU LEAVE:

     

    • Make a sign for your door to find your cabin better



    • Make sure that your bank and credit card Company are aware that you will be out of the country. They will note it on your account so that you won't be flagged for fraudulent activity.

    BOARDING

     

    • See if Crimson or Scarlett Dining room is open for lunch on boarding day. (It was on our sailing but was not noted on the Fun Times.)
    • Even the first lunch after boarding was extraordinary. We skipped the buffet and went to the Scarlet Dining Room. I had salmon that was excellent.
    • If not, eat at the pasta bar or Lanai BBQ
    • The pasta bar is upstairs from the buffet - aft. You go up a set of stairs and get a number and a sheet. You then check off your ingredients and hand your sheet to the cook. You wait upstairs at a table with a number and they bring you your food when it is done. You can then take it anywhere
    • SPA: We went first day up there and they were giving free 5 minute hot stone and massages

     

    ENTERTAINMENT

     

    On the first sea day they had a cooking demonstration in the steakhouse (about 11am) This was fun and the food was very good- they will also give you the recipes (FREE)

     

     

    Not to miss:

    • Fun Force Dancers - They are down in the Dream atrium so get a spot on deck 4 or 5 and look down
    • Digital scavenger hunts make it easy to learn your way around the ship
    • Magician... the Magic of Bob Brizendine the Magical Cat himself
    • Family Welcome Aboard party Saturday night in the Caliente club.
    • Dancing in the Streets show
    • * There was a juggling comedian who was excellent—had a way with the kids!! “Edge”
    • “Butch & Baby Butch” live morning show in your cabin or out on the Lido deck.
    • Blackjack band who plays in Ocean Plaza is very talented and plays a pretty good variety

     

    FOOD

     

    • The menu is on your TV; you can just check and see if you like the selections ahead of time
    • You can order room service from your TV. If you try to order a lunch item by phone and are denied because "it's breakfast hours only," order through the TV and you'll get anything on the menu.
    • *Pasta Bar... The meat lasagna is amazing.
    • don't ever forget about the 24 hour Soft Serve Ice Cream (Chocolate, Vanilla and Swirled) and the Frozen Yogurt (also Chocolate, Vanilla and Swirled or on other days strawberry, vanilla and swirled).
    • We ended up in the main dining room with a table for 2 every morning for breakfast (Scarlett)
    • For a smaller selection, but way shorter lines, go to the breakfast buffets that are outside at the rear of the ship.
    • The buffet lines were less crowded towards the back of the ship
    • The coffee shop was outstanding from the product to the delivery to the deliverer. Don't miss the carrot cake!
    • Mongolian BBQ (always a long line but it was worth it)
    • We did manage to eat one day at the BBQ buffet. We unknowingly walked by at 11:45 and it was open. By 12:15, no way.. huge, huge line!
    • Outside on deck 5 near Wasabi, the put on a BBQ buffet that everyone raved about. - Just on sea days. Best Ribs!
    • By the back pool was an Indian Food spot and also a Deli Sandwich shop.
    • The chocolate extravaganza was yummy - last day at either 12:15-2 pm
    • The 24/7 pizza had seven different choices.
    • The deli is open until 11:00PM
    • Tandoori grill which had excellent Indian food

     

    MDR:

    • Baked tom turkey
    • Potato Soup
    • Creme Brulee can be ordered every day
    • Bitter and Blanc dessert was the best
    • Salmon
    • Tilapia (blackened)
    • New England Clam Chowder at lunch
    • Banana Cream Pie
    • The Chocolate Melting Cake is so very delicious
    • Pumpkin Soup
    • Grand Marnier Souffle
    • Free cappuccino with dinner was a nice plus.
    • Panko crusted shrimp
    • cappuccino pies
    • Warm Fig Date
    • When the lights start to dim in the dining room this means Entertainment is coming. Make sure you have your camera ready!!!!!!!!!!!!!

     

    Last Day:

    Farewell Party is on the last sea day from 5pm-6pm. It is poorly attended as folks are packing or getting ready for dinner. One hour of free drinks. Briefly mentioned in the Funtimes. They do not mention the free drinks, so the lounge was pretty empty. It was in the Burgandy Lounge. We tipped our waiter $1 after our first drink, and he would give us a refill even before we emptied the previous one. It really made his day!

     

    SHIP INFO

     

    • Wear T-shirt for slides - they have rough spots that will scrape the skin off your back.
    • This ship is loaded with hot tubs, I often found the ones by Ocean Plaza to be empty
    • There are 2 hot tubs on deck 11 that are rarely used
    • We used the AFT pool area only because it was never really crowded.
    • Spa elevator tower. SPECTACULAR!
    • Do not forget about the front deck on 5 (I think it is on 5 or 4). Great place to be when the ships enters and leaves ports!
    • laundry..... $3.00 for washer (about 30 minutes) and $3.00 for dryer (90 minutes for perm press/ 60 minutes for whites/colors). There were only 2 washers and 4 dryers on the 10th floor. Laundry soap (All or Surf) was 1.25 and so was Fabric Softener. *There was no bill changer in the laundry room. I had to go to guest services to get change
    • * "secret door" is on deck nine and 10. Go all the way forward and through two doors and you will be on the forward facing deck over the bridge.
    • If you need aspirin, seasick pills, or a variety of general medications, check the "0" deck where the waiting room is for the doctor. There were free samples for the taking in individual packets... also a weigh scale in case you need to weigh a suitcase (or yourself!).

    DEBARKATION:

     

    • were able to be in our rooms until 8:30 am



    • Don't rush this! We waited in the Ocean Plaza, which was pretty much empty. It was a nice relaxing time before leaving the ship.

     

     

    What a fantastic post, thank you will come in handy :cool:

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