Loved the Dream! Review- June 24

Still on board, but thought I would get this started.

By far, the Dream has been our one of our favorite cruises. The ship is great but the crew is amazing!

First- arrival.

We had a 12:00-12:30 arrival time. We got there at 12:05. We took an uber from our hotel (Bienville House is the bomb!) and dropped our luggage with the porter who met us at the car. There was a person on a speaker announcing if you were FTTF or at your arrival window, go to zone A to enter right away. If you were early, you went to zone B. There was a very long line in zone B but they would put a few people in the check in line from time to time. So there is an opportunity to get on before your arrival window. Just expect a long wait.

We went up the escalators and were directed to one of the 30+ people holding iPads who checked us in and took our picture. We then went through the metal detectors. That is where we could have had our sodas and carry on wine checked. Group photo in front of the backdrop was next but not required. We walked past as we never buy that one. We then proceeded through the roped path and boarded the ship. Quickest, easiest process we've had yet.

Since we had our credit card on file at PRE check in, all of that was avoided.

Because there are 4,000+ people aboard and we are usually earlier to board, we weren't expecting the crowds for food and seating in the lido deck. Our plan was to get Guys burgers but the Line was long. Instead we got tacos from the Blue iguana. There was a line for burritos and bowls but the other side of the counter did smaller tacos and there was not one person in line. We got one of each- pork, chicken and fish and topped them with the great selection from the bar. Being from San Antonio I can sat the tacos were really really good. Fish Was our favorite.

We had the Cheers package and the bubbkes for DD16. So easy and well worth it. We figured the Hubs and I each needed to buy 5-7 drinks each per day and we did. So easy and made our sail and sign manageable.

We were in cabin 9402 and it was ready around 1:30. Possibly the largest cabin we've had for this level of balcony. Fridge in the room and beds were pushed together as we requested in Preboarding. Our steward, Papas, was great. We met him almost right away and told him we wanted early cleaning. He still touched up the room in the evening and swapped out towels. Turn down service was also done along with a towel animal

The only complaint, if you can call it that, is we did not have the new lamps with the USB chargers. Still the one outlet at the vanity. We brought our extender that adds 4 more plugs and the 220v converter which also gives us an extra outlet

Great to read! I’ll be there in August.

Great to read! I’ll be there in August.

You're going to love it! We've been on several cruises and Lee the cruise director is one of the best we've ever had and his staff is awesome!

Do you know if the Dream offers sangria at the Serenity bar? Or is it only on the Vista? TIA

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DOWNLOAD THE HUB APP! Best thing ever. We each paid $5 for the messaging option- well worth it. It was a little spotty the first day, probably because every one was getting on. Just log out and log back in. It was great to mark our favorite events on the fun times and receive a reminder 15 minutes before the event begins. The menu to dining options were also available. I only wish the included the kids program schedules too.

My 16 year old met friends in Club O2. They usually used it as a place to meet up and then went on to the shows or PG comedy club or the dive in movies.

They also met through out the day for trivia or other games

The fun staff got to know the all well. DJ Grinz, David and Steven did a great job just visiting with eveyone and making sure they felt

Comfortable participating

Do you know if the Dream offers sangria at the Serenity bar? Or is it only on the Vista? TIA

 

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We went to the serenity quite a bit but I never saw a sangria jar. But I know it was offered on the menu in several bars

Following along even though I have to wait....... FOREVER......for our cruise in February :D

Thanks for the review.

First night dining- we had anytime but always tried to get there around 6:00 so dd could go to Club 02 and the Hubs and I could go to shows or whatever in the evening

Natalia was our lead server and she was amazing. Then a big party of 12 was seated. They were very demanding and I felt bad for her and her team. But they busted their tails and the meal was great.

The Hubs and I went to the welcome

Aboard show, which we hadn't done in forever and fell in love with the entertainment staff! So funny, so energetic!

Since we were cruising the Mississippi, the shops and casino didn't open the first night. We didn't really miss it and gave us a chance to check out the ship. Alchemy Bar was well worth all the hype. Hubs got a revved up mojito martini and I had some yumminess. Don't miss this place. Also, the music on the ship was so goood! In all our cruises, we never followed the singers around the ship. But the Violin Trio were so good and there are no words as to how good Amelia Ray is. Even the crew talked about how amazing she is. A great acoustic singer who puts her spin on literally any song you can think of- so talented!!

Very happy about them going to the new embarkation process! The way they did it last year was very uncomfortable.

Thanks for sharing, DW and I will be returning to Dream in early August. How crowded was Alchemy and what is the bartender's name there? I appreciate the review, and will stay tuned for more as I get excited about my upcoming trip!

I'll be taking my first cruise on the Dream next year. Can't wait!!!

Thanks for sharing, DW and I will be returning to Dream in early August. How crowded was Alchemy and what is the bartender's name there? I appreciate the review, and will stay tuned for more as I get excited about my upcoming trip!

They had three, 2 guys and a girl. It's dark there so I never really saw their names. ;p The menus are light up so you can see them. It was never crowded. There's also a very small lounge behind it but we never went in there. The Alchemy wasn't really a bar as in the lounge type. It was more of a counter off to the side of the Ocean Lounge.

You're going to love it! We've been on several cruises and Lee the cruise director is one of the best we've ever had and his staff is awesome!

My 11 year old daughter loved Lee.

Thanks for sharing, DW and I will be returning to Dream in early August. How crowded was Alchemy and what is the bartender's name there? I appreciate the review, and will stay tuned for more as I get excited about my upcoming trip!

I believe they would be Anca, Cesar, & Sinan.

On June 10th they announced the casino would open shortly after sailing. We did not go so I cannot actually verify this.

On June 10th they announced the casino would open shortly after sailing. We did not go so I cannot actually verify this.

It opened shortly after dinner but on the return the casino and shops closed about 9:00 when we entered the river. Also interesting, they could not sell Tabacco so the smokers who did not plan ahead were hating life

Very happy about them going to the new embarkation process! The way they did it last year was very uncomfortable.

Smoothest embark/Debark we've ever had

The first day at sea we woke up around 8:00 for brunch in the dining room. We were seated around 8:45 immediately with a window table. The new brunch menu is outstanding. The Hubs and DD got the steak and eggs which was an actual filet cooked perfectly as were the eggs. The waiter did tell us it would take a little longer for our order because of the steak but it was worth it. We were out the door around 9:30 and there was a fairly long line.

We have never been ones to play trivia and the various games but for some reason DD wanted to go to the first one and we loved it! More so because of the crew members running it. We all grabbed a nice coffee from the coffee bar right by the ocean lounge and it was a nice way to start the morning

We went to the welcome aboard show just to kill time and ended up liking that as well! Lee and Grinz made t really fun and the Hubs walked away with a gift certificate for free sushi!

I happened to be in the jewelry store when they started one of the many drawings. I didn't enter but walked away with a free bottle of champagne for being the person who was married the longest!

Lunch was guy's burgers. The line looked long but went fast- almost too fast as the toppings bar was slow. We ate them at the tables just inside the lido buffet. They had servers pushing carts with tea, lemonade and water plus some cookies. All a nice touch and convenient

We all set off on different things for the afternoon but we're cleaned up and ready for dinner at 5:45. We prefer to get there early 1) in hopes of a window seat 2) it fits better with the evening schedule 3)we're usually hungry by then anyway.

We ended up with Vadeem and his staff and they were great. Actually had a little song from the waitstaff. Yes, the menu options are not a vast as they used to be but we all found things we wanted and all were yummy and hot. We used the cheers package for several drinks at dinner and service was fast

I went to the Motown show but was a little disappointed. Only 8 dancers now. A couple of songs were not even Motown. Most performers were really talented but it just seemed flat. I know they like to build up the quality of the shows throughout the week.

It was nice that the show seemed to spill into the Dream lobby. Again, the fun staff was so great in getting people of all ages involved

We went to both r rated comedy shows and WOW! Best comic in the fleet is Doug Williams. If he is on your cruise- go!!!! The other comic Kyle was funny too but nothing like Doug. And word got around fast because the next nights of shows were always packed after that.

Tried to grab pizza after but the line was super long and super slow. But they had chili dogs, sandwiches, fries and cookies/brownies so a lite snack was available if you didn't want to wait

Thank you for sharing your experience on the Dream, considering taking a cruise on Dream in August 2018.

Enjoying your review. Looking forward to our first Dream cruise next May.

Enjoying your review. Going on the Dream in February, 1st cruise on her since the upgrades. Is Pasta Bella still above the buffet?

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Thank you for sharing your experience on the Dream, considering taking a cruise on Dream in August 2018.

I would strongly recommend it! Lee will still be the cruise director on board. He really made it onenoffhe best we've taken

Enjoying your review. Going on the Dream in February, 1st cruise on her since the upgrades. Is Pasta Bella still above the buffet?

 

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It is. That didn't change.

I believe they would be Anca, Cesar, & Sinan.

Thanks, I always wonder if I would see someone from a previous cruise on a new contact.