mcoakle

We sailed on the Silhouette on Valentine's Day -- the Molecular Bar was still there, although we never made it, but we did enjoy the Martini Bar and the martini flight "show." My father-in-law is a big fan of craft beer, and was happy to find that Cellar Masters had an interesting selection -- perhaps not the largest selection afloat, but some thoughtful choices. He participated in a craft beer tasting one evening (I believe it was $20 per person) and enjoyed it very much.

Thanks for the tip. We probably would've never gone in there since the drink package doesn't apply.

Also, just booked the ParkNGo

Thanks for all the responses. Usually I spend quite a bit of time on these boards before a cruise, but I've been slammed at work this go round with little time for researching.

I'll check out the Park N Go today. We are staying at the Hyatt Place by the port using Hyatt points, so it is free already.

With the Park N Go - We do the "self assist" debarkation where we are off the ship by 7:30 or so. Do the shuttles run that early? We ran into an issue in Miami where we had to wait for 45 minutes or so to get our shuttle. That was a little frustrating.

We'll probably check out the World Class Bar and see how it goes. We have the upgraded drink package to give us some more wine options. We were a little disappointed to see Molecular go.

Thank you. We are really looking forward to it. We'll get back to RCCL at some point, but Celebrity will be tough to beat.

My wife and I loved our one Celebrity Cruise a few years back. We're sailing out on Sunday. If anyone has any insight to share, we'd really appreciate it.

The Molecular Bar was our favorite. Does the Silhouette have the World Class Bar as a replacement? It sounds to be similarly themed. Any thoughts on it? Also, I love craft beer. Does it have Gastrobar, which I read is on the Eclipse.

Next - any thoughts on parking? Have most people parked at the port?

What about other last minute ideas? We have been looking forward to this cruise since we stepped of the Eclipse a few years back.

We sailed last month on the Dream. Had a cabin on the Lido Deck (#10230.) I was nervous about the noise, but my travel agent did some research and found some good reviews. There are cabins above and below which helps, plus it is towards the front of the ship, limiting traffic. We loved the location of it and would definitely do it again. We could be to the spa, gym, pools and buffet in just a matter of seconds.

Just got off the Dream with an inside cabin last Saturday. No sitting area. They have a vanity with a stool where my wife did her hair. Other than that, most of the sitting in the cabin was done on the bed.

For us, we spend very little time in the cabin except to sleep and get ready for dinner, so it was not a problem. Definitely wasn't the largest interior cabin I have ever been in, but it was plenty large enough for the two of us.

I actually got back on Saturday, but I've been swamped at work. I'll put together a mini review with some pictures when I have a little more time.

We had a blast. Had a total washout at Isla Roatan, but other than that, it was a great trip.

I'll be on the Dream on Sunday, and it's good to know we'll have some football. ESPN International is great, but one can only take so much soccer.

I am sailing on the Dream in three days. From this board, I have gathered that Carnival has cut everything nice out, the food is going to be terrible, the service will be awful, it is going to be way overcrowded, there aren't enough pools.....I could go on.

I have the same attitude you do. It would be tough to not have a blast on a cruise. There will be some negative things, but reading the posts makes it sound like it will be the worst vacation ever.

I'll bring some positive thoughts back in two weeks.

Have fun!

I'm booked to go on Triumph in 13 days (Dec 2,2013) and will review when I get back. But curious to those who have sailed Triumph since 2.0 and after the engine fire cruise, is it as bad as some are letting on? I'm sure that it's a lot of "people only complain, and rarely compliment", but being on a review website, I just get a lot of negative from the new Triumph. I am excited and not in the least bit concerned about it, and am sure that I will have a great time, so if it's bad, it's not because I'm going in with a negative thought in mind.

 

I have done a lot of digging and really thought I would see more positive than negative, just wondering.

 

Thanks all

 

Jim

My wife and I are in our early 30's. We love the fact that Celebrity doesn't have as many children. One of our big concerns was the average age of the cruisers on board. We had to search a little harder to find some young couples, but there were plenty on board. It was during Spring Break, and there were quite a few children. One thing about Celebrity, though, is that they actually enforce the adults only areas. It is the only cruise I have ever been on where I saw a pool butler actually tell children they had to leave certain areas.

I'll probably have a better idea on which I would prefer after next week when we cruise on the Carnival Dream.

If they are the same price, I believe I choose Celebrity.

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.
  

 

This is great stuff. Hope it still applies a couple years later

I went on a cruise with my brother and parents when I was 14 or so. It was on the Carnival Sensation. Don't have any pictures, but Mary-Kate and Ashley Olson were on there filming their show "Mary Kate and Ashley, The Case of the Mystery Cruise." It was pretty cool. Lots of people on the ship were extras. I didn't want to spend a whole sea day not doing anything fun, so I decided not to be.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Adventures-Mary-Kate-Ashley-Mystery/dp/6303454895

My wife and I are going on our third Carnival cruise in a couple of weeks. We have been on a few more RCCL and one Celebrity. We probably enjoyed the Celebrity the most. It has a different atmosphere than the other two. That being said, they are all loads of fun. Each has their pluses and minuses. We typically look for the best deal on a cruise that goes places we have never been when booking and wouldn't put one that much ahead of the others to spend a whole lot more money on it.

That's great. We are sailing out with the others that have already posted on the 23rd. Looking forward to it. Third Carnival, but the first on a big ship. Actually, on my first Carnival the Sensation was considered a big ship. Times have changed in 20 years.

I went on a family cruise on the Fantasy a couple years back. We had a blast. We've been on several of the smaller RCCL ships, and it is pretty comparable. We like some things better with RCCL and some things better on the Fantasy.

It doesn't have all the bells and whistles as the newer ships, but we don't let that bother us. My wife spends time at the spa; I spend time and the casino. We both enjoy the sun and fun.

The water park is a nice feature that occupies the children pretty well, but the pool gets pretty crowded since they only have one.

My wife and I are headed out on the Dream in less than a month. Doing the Western Caribbean, though. I love the Eastern and looking forward to hearing about your trip.

Looks great. We are headed on the same itinerary in a couple of months! Thanks for the input.

We've always just got ours stamped on the way back through customs when we debark on the last day.

My first cruise, in 1995, was on the Sensation. I agree that Carnival is great for an affordable vacation. If you go on expecting a Celebrity Cruise, you will be disappointed. Book it for what it is, and it is a great time.

Thanks for the review. I don't think they had the Hand Room back in the 90's.

Thanks again for sharing. I thoroughly enjoyed your review. Our November 23rd trip on the Dream is a long way away but will get here before we know it!

Sailing on this itenerary the week of Thanksgiving and am really enjoying all the information. Thanks!

I will now. Thanks! I'm thinking we could go without spending that much, but the packages will allow us to try some drinks that we wouldn't normally get. I"ll check out the spreadsheet to get a little clearer on my decision.

I think we are both going to get a package. Reading the other things it includes, coffee, bottled water and such, I think it makes sense for us to get them. I'll crunch the numbers and make a final decision.

Thanks for the info. Just saw someone on another thread that said they just purchased one and thought it was fine. I've seen numerous people do it with the soda packages on past cruises, but I'm not one for trying to sneak around.

My wife and I are probably going to get the premium alcohol package for our sailing coming up. Do you all think we can get away with just getting one? I saw someone said they did it on another message board. I will drink some of the high end beers, and she would love to be able to get some of the higher priced wines, but I doubt we would drink enough to substantiate two of them.