1st time Carnival cruiser (DREAM) complete review & pictorial (from a NCL cruiser)

Thank you to everyone else that made comments and are following along. I appreciate it and hope you are enjoying the review. :)

I have been in clinical all day, then doing homework for class tomorrow and have 6 chapters to read. It's going to be a busy night.

I'm going to try to get 1 day done if possible. :)

Day 3-Our first port day. I have always done these 4 ports in reverse order with NCL, so going to Cozumel first seems weird to me, but hey I'm up for it.

We had our usual routine and was happy that we were not going to be pulling in to port and going ashore until 10am...I'm NOT a morning person. Never have been, never will be. So the later the better and I don't growl as much during the day.

Off to eat sloppy eggs and fight for my right to eat bacon again. Same ole, same ole. Then up to the pool deck to wait on my very slow daughter and her family to arrive. The one drawback of traveling with another family is having to wait on everyone to be ready at the same time. She is slow and on "Kendra" time and I am always punctual to everything.

Daddy and Sakari having a conversation about the amount of Cheerios she "needed" that day... Daddy "Do you really think you need that many boxes for the day?" Sakari "Oh of course I do, I might get hungry and need a snack." Daddy "But we are going to a place that will have real food." Sakari "But Cheerios is real food." I'm tuning out at this point......la la la

Still waiting on the daughter and her family...Daddy and Sakari decided to kill some time by doing a little ball chasing all over the deck. (That is until daddy hit it too hard that it went overboard, the wind made it fly back to the ship, then it landed on the lower deck...thank goodness there wasn't anyone sitting at that table. Nothing worse than flying balls in your runny eggs. Save the bacon!)

We booked Playa Mia using Carnival. It was the only way to go there and Kendra had decided last year that it was a "must-do" for her, especially since they were building a kids water park there last year. I'm normally not a "pool" person when cruising. We have a pool, we live in the pool in the summer and I don't cruise to the Caribbean to swim in someone else's pool. I usually head to the beach. However, this was my grandson's first cruise, we didn't know how he was going to react, and thought maybe this would be a good "start" to our day of ports. We were just in Cozumel 5 months ago and did the Nachi thing because we didn't think that the water park was going to be done by December (it ended up being completed a week prior to our cruise). So we knew this was a place we wanted to try out for sure...for the kids.

Now this is a new "port" for us. NCL always docks down at Punta Laguna port...very LONG, very tiring to walk, 2 stories tall of trying to make your way out of there with all of the shops along the way. They do everything they can to make it the longest trip out and the shortest back.

I have to say, I REALLY liked this port better. All 1 floor, no winding around and up and down before getting out. It was a pretty neat port with a lot of picture opportunities. Me liking pictures so much, I took every opportunity of the props too!

Three Amigos was a pretty neat place and had most of the neat things to take pictures of. It's right off to the right side when you arrive.

My grandson is silly and you ask him to pose and he will do the weird stuff...usually involving laying down. You don't know how many pictures I have of him laying down. He even did it in the water park on the ship. If only that worked when he was being bad and I could just yell "picture time" and he'd drop to the floor.

They always have the people dressed up in the ports for you to take pictures of too...of course for a "donation". Kendra takes advantage of every one of these.

I am loving the review. Avid cruiser and I love to be prepared and your review is preparing me for our cruise on June 22. Now I can't wait. For our cruise and more of your review.

Plenty of shopping to be done in port and colorful as I always expect of Mexico.

 

The shrimp was suppose to be "blackened shrimp". It was just plain shrimp and didn't have much of a taste to them. The waiter came out and ask if I was ready for my next lobster and I told him sure. So instead of bringing me out another lobster, they brought me an entire second plate. Yikes! I can't eat all of that. All I wanted was a lobster.

 

From what I remember it is Black Tiger Shrimp - a certain species of shrimp, not how they are prepared :cool:

I think the Three Amigos invitied another family member that day...we'll have us Four Amigos today.

Climbing isn't easy for a 5 year old...yeah right...

From what I remember it is Black Tiger Shrimp - a certain species of shrimp, not how they are prepared :cool:

Oh yea, that was it. Tiger, pepper, blackened, something like that. Either way, they were pretty bland. :(

The deformed couple...notice 4 hands for each person....oops

Do donkeys really smile like this? Or do these have false teeth?

This is one big Mexican. Too many burritos

Ouch, it was too hot to sit on!!! I'll just stand by it ok mommy?

Do you think the grandson thought it was too hot? Psshhh, nope, not only was he going to get on the moo-moo, he was going to ride the moo-moo

We made it out of the port and in to a taxi...ready, willing, and available, at your service.

I took a picture of the taxi rates. It was went up since we were there in December and prior to that. We use to pay $15 for up to 4 people to Nachi Cocom from Punta Laguna (which is further away from there than this port) and I believe Playa Mia is before you get to Nachi Cocom. We have always paid $15 to Chankanaab twice before that too. So, maybe this is new or just for this port???

Here is where you will get in your cab:

The sign out in front of Playa Mia at the road...I mean ROADS. I risk my life for this picture. LOL I didn't realize it was in the middle of two roads and started walking out there and here comes a truck on THIS side. So they are both 2 lane traffic, not a split road...if that makes sense.

This is the "Welcome" Mat (by the bathrooms, but still appropriate to start the review out with).

Once you arrive, you will check in at the shack to the right. They will give you arm bands to wear and they are different colors depending on the "package" you purchased. We decided to purchase just the "come and go as you want" package without the food. We brought money in case we wanted food later and had obtained a menu online to see what the rates were going to be for food. I'm really glad we did this...more on this later. So our rate included the entrance and use of the entire facility and all non-motorized sports of course. Then we are informed that the water toys in the ocean are being "repaired" and not out today. GASP! I think my oldest daughter nearly fainted. She was looking forward to this and it was HER main reason for wanting to come here (in addition to the water park for the kids). Ok, well, we will just have to suck it up without the water toys.

Now I do have to say that Kendra was CONVINCED that this would be her favorite port day. I was convinced that Little French Key would be the favorite port. So far, she is minus one on her port. lol

Of course like a lot of places these days, it's all about making money and this place was no exception. When you enter the place, you are walking down a covered mall basically with shops and people wanting to sell you stuff. They did not hassel us or bother us. It was pretty much stop in if you wanted, if not and you kept walking they didn't say a word to us. Kinda nice and not what we are use to at the ports.

Here is a map they have posted out front. It's huge for people that are blind like me. It was just a hassel to keep having to come out to the front to read where I was. j/k I sent my husband to do that. j/k again

BIG, blue, pink, yellow BOLD colors...yes!!! Love it. I love Mexico and Cozumel so much.

This was some mini pool swim up bar that I didn't see a sole use. So, we'll just get that picture out of the way and done with...not much to it.

We have arrived to our first destination of the day...the beach. Really pretty.

See all of those people in the chairs? Well that would continue the rest of the day. BIG GRIN!!

....And she can't wait like always. She's always the first in and the last to be drug out!!!! That's my water girl.

Hi all!

Kim ~ loving your review, thanks. I too went on the Dream for my 1st Carnival cruise in April & liked it so much I'd do it again. I'm platinum on RCI

& gold on NCL but reallly enjoyed Carnival so much. I loved how spacious the theatre was too especially after the cramped one on Dawn! It was nice how they provided paper towels to open the w/c doors & had a garbage outside to dispose of them.

I just learned 2 dings of the elevator bell means going down which was the same on NCL.;)

Looking forward to the rest of the review when you get your work done.

~ Jo ~ :)

Beautiful palms everywhere for a little shade.

Sakari found her a conch shell. It was old and abandoned. Maybe next time you'll find something live in it. She's an animal freak.

Time for Brayden to join Sakari in the water. Do you guys notice anything different about the 2 of them? Maybe one (my child who has the smart mommy) has a tee shirt on after being in the pool all day long the day before (even though she tans like a bronze godess) and the other one (not my child but my grandson with the not as smart as her mommy is) has no tee shirt on??? Yea, well, more about this later.

I love this picture. I just wish I was a little closer up or had zoomed in on them running down the beach to the water.

More of the crowded beach....haha NOT

Beauty at its best today

Wait, is that a person in the chair? Well, probably, but I can almost gaurantee it was someone from our party. hehe

The kids playing...one with a tee and one without

My daughter relaxing on the beach

I decided to do a little snorkeling...this is my gear I bought about 3 cruises ago. Pink so it attracts all of the fish...and usually a curious barracuda or two.

A bunch of neon fish

A yellow tang here and there.

Some surgeon fish everywhere

A few French Grunts I believe and some Rainbow Wrasse

This little anemone was really close to the shore line...I mean like about 5 feet from the beach. I was shocked that someone hasn't stepped on him and destroyed it already.

More sea life

Now these big suckers were circling me around and around. There was a lot of them. The picture turned out crappy because I was going around and around with them trying to figure out what they were and what they were doing. So, I was stirring up the sand.

This little Rainbow Wrasse was following me around for some reason. Then when I stopped, he went in and out between my legs over and over. It was kind of cute. I tell ya the fish here are curious and they must be use to a lot of people.

Sakari loves to snorkel. She started snorkeling when she was 3 and goes with us snorkeling at every place we go to. She hasn't learn to put a snorkel in her mouth yet, but I tell you what, she can probably hold her breath longer than I can. All previous cruises I would never let her out in the water snorkeling with me without her "puddle jumper" on. But the water was extremely calm this entire cruise and the places we went to that she begged (as she always does) not to wear it and I gave in. She snorkeled right beside me every time. She has become such a good swimmer and of course the sea water helps with the floating too. She loves to dive down to take a closer look at things.

More exploring...at this point she was trying to catch a fish. It was just too quick for her and it was funny to watch her come up each time with a clenched fist thinking something was in it. She just couldn't accept the fact that the fish were all quicker than her little hand in the water.

Fish in the water, fish on my leg

Time to come out of the water and fight for a place to sit again. Ugh, such a chore.

They had a place that you could get paddle boats and canoes.

Kendra and her family decided to give it a try. I was a little worn out from snorkeling so much that I passed on the idea of having to use my legs some more for some paddling.

I am loving the review! I am in nursing school too and graduate next May!! Woot, WOOT! I so know what you mean about cruising between semesters. We have a girls cruise planned to celebrate getting through Critical Care and Community. Our HUGE cruise is for graduation. Can't wait to go.

Love the review!!!

I never did see them come back and the next time I looked out, they were in a canoe.

They have a playground there but honestly, I'm not sure how anyone could use it since it's so hot, which made it too hot to touch let alone play on.

Another area for the "little" kids to play in. Of course with all of the people there that day, I'm surprised we didn't see this place packed. j/k

We decided it was time to try out the pool area and the water park. The one thing that I had been wanting to see since I knew they were adding it. We had went to the beach first because I knew once we made it to the water park, the little ones would never want to leave and therefore we would miss the beach all together.

This is the building that had the wall of lockers. With so many people there, we probably should have locked our things up but...not. j/k On the end of this building was the bar. This also had the restrooms in it as well...complete with a lady who sat in there with you to supervise.

We had White Russians (the drink, obviously not the people since there wasn't many there), Miami Vice (which I am now completely hooked on and it's my new favorite drink), strawberry daiquiris, pina coladas=Miami Vice again. LOL The drinks were included in the admission, just not the food. We definitely had our fill for sure and our moneys worth between the 4 of us.

Kendra went for 2 at one time and came back saying that this time around that they tasted a little more "watered down". So next time she went up they told her that they have a policy that they do not allow "drunks" at their place and will start watering down the drinks if they are afraid you are drinking them too fast to keep people under control. Well, we are not drinkers and rarely drink (except for when we are on a cruise, out to eat dinner at a fancy schmancy restaurant, or celebrating something...which doesn't come often). So we will drink and if we start to feel a little "tipsy" we stop and convert back to soda. Then go back to the drinks again later. So, we do not fit that category of "fallen down drunken arses" that you'll find sitting at the bar until you can't walk. Put that liquor back in my cup please!!! And they did. Then that was the last one I had or needed. LOL

Cheezing for the camera. Yes, I'm always the one behind the lens snapping pictures, so in order to get a picture of me to prove that I was even there is usually to snap the picture myself.

I am loving the review! I am in nursing school too and graduate next May!! Woot, WOOT! I so know what you mean about cruising between semesters. We have a girls cruise planned to celebrate getting through Critical Care and Community. Our HUGE cruise is for graduation. Can't wait to go.

 

Love the review!!!

Yes, another Nurse in the making. I'm currently in OB and community this semester. I got to see a 28 week pregancy with twins deliver in the OR/OB today. One vag and the other c-section. Although I have watched several births, I had never seen a c-section and it was amazing. :)

I almost forgot...I tried the Dirty Monkey a few times too.

Time for the water park. I ask over and over what it was like and for pictures prior to going and it seemed as if no one has really been here. So, now I have my answers.

The pool area and the water park in the background.

After awhile, an employee came by and told us that we were not allowed in the water park with the kids. Um, ok. What if we had a toddler that couldn't go by themselves? Are you telling me that we would not be able to get in the water with them? At first I thought this was strange, then I remember taking this picture. Yes, Kendra again being a big kid and I have a feeling that is the reason they said this.

It's not like she was actually playing on the slides. She simply went up for me to take a picture of her. However, after she told me they said that, I completely ignored it because I'm not sitting in the hot sun while I watch my child play in the water, not being able to get in and not being able to leave to go over to the pool because she is playing at the water park. Sorry senior.

Ok, so it was time to try out the water slides. Everyone went several times. Everyone liked it, I just didn't like having to climb to the top of the stairs over and over. So, a few times was good enough for me.

On to the pool area. The kids were all game for it because they were ready to actually swim.

If you look at the blue area (above) around the pool, it has built in seats that you can just lay there in the pool if you want.

You can see the massage area here. The lady walked around several times asking if we wanted massages. Once she came by and Kendra's boyfriend didn't realize who she was and couldn't understand her, so he placed his order for a drink. (rolling my eyes really loudly now). It was funny.

My grandson in his puddle jumper. He has not learn to swim yet.

Sisterly love

Jump time

And here we go again with the ritual of throwing the kids

This bridge led you over to the "hot" tub. LMBO

The little ones sitting in the "hot" tub

They were just sitting there talking...for a good 15 minutes or so. Then once again, that same employee came over and told Kendra that they did not allow kids in the hot tub. Now, I'll have you know that before they ever went in there, I was in it and there was NOTHING hot about it. It was in fact colder than the water. After getting out of the so called "hot" tub and jumping back in to the water, the water actually felt like a hot tub. Hmmm

Another wrist band to add to our collection