B2B Carnival Dream March 12-26 Review

[meatloafsfan]

I see. We noticed that the cove balconies were quite reduced about six weeks before our cruise. I wish I could remember the amount, but it was cheap! Unfortunately, we had the early saver, so we could not upgrade. I know it is a bit risky to wait that long to book, but on 2 cruises we got great upgrades due to price drops about 6 weeks before departure. So, from our experience that seems to be a good time to book if you have flexibility. Enjoy planning! :)

 

At a certain point, the cove cabins sold out on the Eastern cruise and once I realized there was no chance on getting the same cabin for both cruises I gave up looking.

 

Before early saver went away I checked the 4J (the ones at the front of the ship by the 'secret' doors) every single day and thought about upgrading. In the end I'm glad we stayed with the porthole cabin because it was perfect - the size was great and it was convenient. I didn't find it a long walk to the forward elevators (it felt like only a few steps and this comes from someone who thinks a city block is a long walk!).

 

The cove balcony would have been nice but looking back, I'm very happy with what we had and I'm glad I left the balcony for someone who really wanted it.

[meatloafsfan]

I have been waiting for your review! Are you Princess Trisha from the Disboards, I sure hope so because you write the best trip reports:D. Hope all is well with you and your family. I can’t wait to start reading your reviews; if you’re not the young lady from the disboards I am still excited about reading your reviews. I really want to find a good honest perspective on Carnival Cruise line. It will be refreshing for those of us that love Disney and Disney Cruise line to know that you can have fun on other cruise lines.

 

That's me :p

 

Carnival is very different from DCL but not necessarily in a bad way.

 

If you enjoy cruising, I think there's fun to be had no matter which line you sail.

[anamanxs]

I see. We noticed that the cove balconies were quite reduced about six weeks before our cruise. I wish I could remember the amount, but it was cheap! Unfortunately, we had the early saver, so we could not upgrade. I know it is a bit risky to wait that long to book, but on 2 cruises we got great upgrades due to price drops about 6 weeks before departure. So, from our experience that seems to be a good time to book if you have flexibility. Enjoy planning! :)

 

 

If you have early saver, you can upgrade - just not downgrade. If a better cabin goes for less than what you paid you can change it to that grade of cabin. We did it on my last November cruise (which you were so kind to take departing pics for me.. Thanks again) We got an OBC the first drop and then upgrade for a balcony from a porthole within a couple of weeks of sailing when the balcony dropped to only a few $ more than the PH, and the fairy called. I jumped on it!

 

Sorry, forgot to tell you what a GREAT Review you are doing! Thanks so much!

[Howard-Moore]

What a great review! AMAZING! Thanks for sharing!

[APDMOM]

If you have early saver, you can upgrade - just not downgrade. If a better cabin goes for less than what you paid you can change it to that grade of cabin. We did it on my last November cruise (which you were so kind to take departing pics for me..

 

Thanks for the clarification, anamanxs. Unfortunately the price of the coves were still higher than we paid, but I would have paid the extra bit if we could. However, we would have had to pay an extra $150 penalty, which we were not prepared to do. I agree with Meatloafsfan, the PT cabin ended up being excellent in size and value. BTW we still enjoy taking the pics. We have not had many requests lately, but still often go to see Fascination depart. :)

[CruiseLiz]

OMG! How weird! Ann also drove us to our cruise ship in St. Maarten last January. She is a very nice lady.

 

That's me :p

 

Carnival is very different from DCL but not necessarily in a bad way.

 

If you enjoy cruising, I think there's fun to be had no matter which line you sail.

 

PrincessTrisha huh? I am also on disboards as "Beauty & the Best" (I know, but all of the "good" names were taken.) That is such a friendly forum.

 

Totally agree w/ you. I think that lots of DCL cruisers are not necessarily "cruisers" in the sense that they cruise different lines and just enjoy cruising, I think some people only cruise b/c disney offers it. We are cruisers and adore DCL but aren't loyal to any one line, we just like cruising in general. Though the DCL product is very different compared to the other lines. We just booked the Magic TA in Sept, since DCL won't be going to Europe in 2012, it was our last chance for a 14 day DCL itinerary for a while.

[4evertink]

I wanna read more.....I love it......We leave on May 7th and am really really enjoying reading your review. It is really great to read a positive review....

[happylady]

Our first cruise was on the Disney Magic.....spoiled us for other cruise lines. :rolleyes: But then again, a day on any cruise is better than no cruise at all!! :D

[Crusin Karen]

I had to pick my jaw up off the floor after seeing your pictures. Thanks for the share and what AMAZING weather you had in St. Mart. Would love to read your Disney review if you could post a link to it! Thanks again for taking us with you on this cruise.

[anamanxs]

OMG! How weird! Ann also drove us to our cruise ship in St. Maarten last January. She is a very nice lady.

 

 

 

PrincessTrisha huh? I am also on disboards as "Beauty & the Best" (I know, but all of the "good" names were taken.) That is such a friendly forum.

 

Totally agree w/ you. I think that lots of DCL cruisers are not necessarily "cruisers" in the sense that they cruise different lines and just enjoy cruising, I think some people only cruise b/c disney offers it. We are cruisers and adore DCL but aren't loyal to any one line, we just like cruising in general. Though the DCL product is very different compared to the other lines. We just booked the Magic TA in Sept, since DCL won't be going to Europe in 2012, it was our last chance for a 14 day DCL itinerary for a while.

 

Hi, You are both orginial I am afraid my dis name is the same as here. I have yet to have a chance to cruise Disney but am a Disney lover from way back and they are very friendly group (not the flaming that is here sometimes) and they have an area for people that have lost a loved one which is really nice and a wonderful scrapbook area. I have borrowed their Fish hanger idea for our cruise in Jan 2012 we are going to have Pirate Booty Bags. I do see some of my fellow "Waiter" are also following your review!

 

Sorry for the break, Thanks for the wonderful review on the Dream!

 

I cruise in 32 days and can't wait for the Western part to start! :D

[meatloafsfan]

Back to back sea days or Dear Lord! Don't let me mortgage the house!

 

Early to bed after St. Maarten meant an early rise on our first of two sea days for me. This was the night that Jenna and her little friends stayed out and had breakfast. I was getting up as she was getting in.

 

Let me just say - I'm not usually directionally challenged - I can read maps and, when on land can tell North from South and East from West (Never, Eat, Shredded, Wheat) but for the life of me, I could not find the serenity deck. I had taken my ereader and went to look for it but after wandering around by the waterslides so a while, I realized it was just not going to happen so I headed down to the Lido deck. Jenna later told me exactly how to get to the serenity area :p. For the average person it's not that difficult but for me, it seemed like once I got out in the light, I lost all sense of where I was and what I was doing. I think I had been reading one too many vampire books......

 

On the Lido deck, the pool area was already pretty busy and noise was just not what I was looking for.

 

I went down to the Ocean Plaza on Deck 5 and did a little reading. The chairs and benches in that area are nice and comfy. There were a few sea mornings where I decided to enjoy that area. It was super quiet, a little dark and mostly uninhabited. Outside, there were plenty of loungers in the sun and an empty hot tub had I decided to indulge.

 

I had wanted to get a coffee from the coffee bar but the worker went on break (or something - they just disappeared so I don't know if it was a break or they closed down or what). I was so engrossed in my book (got to love an ereader) that I didn't notice her come back.

 

By the time I looked up from my book it was almost noon (I love, love, love to read and to have a quiet, cool place where I was completely uninterrupted was heavenly) and I was hungry. I debated on going to the dining room but I realized that I hadn't actually eaten at the buffet yet so I thought it was something I should go check out. Especially the burrito bar. ;)

 

The lines were not bad at all (only 2 people ahead of me). They make the burritos in front of you and will add any of the ingredients that you want. Yum, yum, yum. This was so good. I ended up getting burritos a few more times during the cruise. I love mexican and tex mex but I haven't found too many good places for fresh stuff here in Canada - especially for fast food type burritos. Thai, Greek, Chinese, Dim Sum, Lebanese, Caribbean - all of them are located in the mall next to where I work but you'd think that no one up here has ever heard of a fresh made burrito (unless you want to go to some cheesy "Mexican" restaurant filled with Somberros and Maracas). My burrito had shrimp, rice, beans, lettuce, tomato, cheese, sour cream and one of the sauces (medium spice) in it. I also picked up a few items from the buffet area immediately to the right side of the burrito bar - I think some fish and vegetables? And maybe a little salad.

 

I also got some chips and salsa on the side of my burrito. The only thing I would have liked would have been sour cream on the side (they have sour cream for the burritos but not with the salsa and stuff). It was a very satisfying lunch.

 

I sat in the buffet area after I was done and read some more. I was right near the back of the ship and it was not busy at all back there. The only thing I saw that was busy was the Pasta Bar. At some point they closed it because they could not accept any more orders until they caught up. The did eventually reopen it. What I don't understand is - there is so much food, and people sat at the bottom of the stairs waiting for the Pasta Bar to reopen, complaining about how hungry they were? Or parents had kids in tow, the kids had trays with hamburgers or hot dogs on them but the parents were waiting for the Pasta Bar - instead of having the kids sit and eat while they waited, the kids stood there holding their trays?

 

Eventually I got up and got some dessert - I mean, I was sitting right there so it just seemed natural.

 

I took a few of the small cakes and treats but I don't think I finished a single thing. The cupcakes were tasteless and the other stuff seemed dry. I pretty much bypassed the dessert buffet for the rest of the time because there never seemed to be anything even half as good as the cheesecake or chocolate cake from room service.

 

Sitting there with my ereader I had so many questions from Carnival workers about what it was and what it did. The one guy decided that he would buy one for his daughter who would be starting college in the fall as an English Major. He must have come back 6 or 7 times to ask me different questions. This was actually pretty common every time I pulled the thing out. In my office, they are pretty common - I personally know at least 10 people who own one but I didn't see another person on our cruise with one (doesn't mean no one else had one I just didn't see it). I did see a lot of paperbacks and hardcover books though.

 

I have a Kobo ereader and I highly recommend them to anyone who likes to read. I said I wouldn't get one because I'd miss the paper, turning the pages, the weight of the book in my hands - I've had mine since January and I've done more reading in the past three months than I did in the past year. It's so much easier to pick up and put down than a physical book. I can also keep it in my purse (it's so light and small) to read a few pages whenever I'm just waiting around. I also have (currently) 156 books at my disposal (100 classics that came preloaded and 56 books I've downloaded - most of them free or costing $1 - $3).

 

They do a pretty thorough clean of the buffet seating area - I can attest to that. I stayed where I was until they started setting up for dinner.

 

I headed back to the cabin to see if Jenna was up yet. When I got there, she was gone.

 

Having been denied a sweet treat earlier, I ordered chocolate cake from room service. Mmmm, mmmm, good. Most of the time it would come with a little dollop of chocolate mousse on the side but I guess whoever was doing the slicing and serving in the kitchen was feeling particularly generous because this was one honkingly large piece of cake with a huge scoop of chocolate mousse on the side and 5 chocolate pieces stuck in it. This was the perfect afternoon treat.

 

This was the second of our elegant nights. My back and arms were still very sore and I was having difficultly raising my arms high enough to touch my hair so I just washed it (ow, ow, ow!) and left it loose.

 

My hair is generally wavy but but this point - with the sea air and the humidity, it was Fuzzy (with a capital F). I think it looked like it shrunk 4 inches shorter than when I brush it out or straighten it.

 

I had brought my new travel curlers, straighter and hair dryer and used them a total of once (first elegant night). My skin was just too tight to raise my arms up long enough or often enough to do anything fancy to my hair. I'm just glad that I had gotten a good hair cut immediately before the trip so at least it had a nice shape - otherwise I expect people would have kept asking to rub my tummy for good luck considering my Troll Doll like appearance.

 

Jenna came back to the cabin at 8 and was ready in 15 mins.

[anamanxs]

Sorry, computer glitch

[meatloafsfan]

OMG! How weird! Ann also drove us to our cruise ship in St. Maarten last January. She is a very nice lady.

 

 

 

PrincessTrisha huh? I am also on disboards as "Beauty & the Best" (I know, but all of the "good" names were taken.) That is such a friendly forum.

 

Totally agree w/ you. I think that lots of DCL cruisers are not necessarily "cruisers" in the sense that they cruise different lines and just enjoy cruising, I think some people only cruise b/c disney offers it. We are cruisers and adore DCL but aren't loyal to any one line, we just like cruising in general. Though the DCL product is very different compared to the other lines. We just booked the Magic TA in Sept, since DCL won't be going to Europe in 2012, it was our last chance for a 14 day DCL itinerary for a while.

 

Ann was wonderful. She gave me her card in case I or anyone I knew would be in St. Maarten. I had originally tried to get a tour with Joyce Prince but she already had another family. We were so happy with this day. Ann was so open about the island, her vehicle was new and very comfortable and the weather was perfect.

 

DCL (only) cruisers are a unique bunch :p. It's funny I read cruise critic and there is all of this talk about how mean the board is but when I go over to the Disney board, sometimes I find the same thing - especially if you talk about cruising another line (and enjoying it) - the claws can really come out.

 

I had to pick my jaw up off the floor after seeing your pictures. Thanks for the share and what AMAZING weather you had in St. Mart. Would love to read your Disney review if you could post a link to it! Thanks again for taking us with you on this cruise.

 

My Disney cruise line review was a dining review only (see, that's why I am so disappointed in myself for stopping the food pictures). I don't think I can link it because it was not posted on cruise critic but on the dis boards.

 

Hi, You are both orginial I am afraid my dis name is the same as here. I have yet to have a chance to cruise Disney but am a Disney lover from way back and they are very friendly group (not the flaming that is here sometimes) and they have an area for people that have lost a loved one which is really nice and a wonderful scrapbook area. I have borrowed their Fish hanger idea for our cruise in Jan 2012 we are going to have Pirate Booty Bags. I do see some of my fellow "Waiter" are also following your review!

 

Sorry for the break, Thanks for the wonderful review on the Dream!

 

I cruise in 32 days and can't wait for the Western part to start! :D

 

Originally my screen name over there was the same as it was here, but my email blocked the confirmation email so I had to pick a new name and sign up again (how PrincessTrisha was created). I too originally found the Disney World boards and then when planning our first DCL cruise, wandered over to the cruise boards.

[Sunnyday2010]

I am reading & enjoying every word of your review ! You really should consider writting !

 

Thanks again ! :o

 

Lynda

[ccm1281]

Awwwww! I am loving this review. I found this thread yesterday and have been reading ever since. Can't believe I caught up aleady. I had an extremely dispointing Carnival Paradise cruise a few years ago that made me stop

cruising altogether. I finally found the courage to book with RCL on Oasis and with this review will definately consider the Carnival Dream.

[beachbratt]

My burrito had shrimp, rice, beans, lettuce, tomato, cheese, sour cream and one of the sauces (medium spice) in it. I also picked up a few items from the buffet area immediately to the right side of the burrito bar - I think some fish and vegetables? And maybe a little salad.

I am really enjoying your review....we are taking are first non Disney cruise in Dec. I have a question about the burrito...was the shrimp breaded and fried or like shrimp cocktail?

[Kimmie36]

I knew it was you!!!! Your cruise reports rock, but I am going to have to get on you;) because I was looking for your fabulous food pics and you teased me the first couple of post. I see in your signature that you are going to B2B it again WOW…. I hope that you do another cruise report with lots of food porn. How am I going to know what to order if I can’t see it lol…..Keep up the great work and your God daughter is lucky to have such a wonderful fairy God Mother:D

[islandgirl71]

Looking for more!! Great review!

[meatloafsfan]

I am reading & enjoying every word of your review ! You really should consider writting !

 

Thanks again ! :o

 

Lynda

 

Thanks Lynda. I thought your cruise next year was on the Magic?

 

I am really enjoying your review....we are taking are first non Disney cruise in Dec. I have a question about the burrito...was the shrimp breaded and fried or like shrimp cocktail?

 

Neither. It was more like grilled or sauted shrimp - no breading but certainly cooked. They were whole, real shrimp and tasty good - not fishy or mushy.

[meatloafsfan]

Dinner and Evening Entertainment or Hell's Bells, I want to marry Jack.

 

So this was our second elegant night. I wore a long black dress and Jenna wore a very short grey dress - so short I asked if there weren't pants or tights or something to go under it :rolleyes: Apparantly I'm old fashioned.

 

Dinner Attire aside, our evening meals had been going very well. Jenna would fill me in on her evenings and days, and then we'd start in on some "heavy" conversations - many of which ended up being about God, drinking, self esteem, politics or history.

 

Tonight's conversation was about Catholics who think it's immoral and against God's law to drink. This is how we met our 2 top neighbours.

 

We had a very lively, respectful conversation and it was very nice with a mother and daughter. Though the daughter was younger than Jenna they found stuff to talk about as well - Jenna is a horseback rider and the daughter was a swimmer - both what they considered underappreciated sports in their hometowns.

 

The casino sent me a bottle of wine with dinner tonight. I got my choice of several kinds and asked for a white one (I'm not good with wine) and the lady asked if I wanted sweet or dry (sweet). I wish I knew what kind of wine it was because it was very good. I managed to drink about half the bottle with dinner.

 

Anyways, for appetizers I ordered the baked mozzarella and Jenna ordered the green bean and roma tomato salad.

 

The baked mozzarella was different than I was expecting. It was like little triangles stood upright with a touch of cheese on top. They were okay but pretty unmemorable.

 

Jenna was disappointed with her green bean salad because it only had 2 beans in it - 1 green and 1 yellow. Since those are her favourite veggies and the reason why she ordered it, it was a let down. There was nothing wrong with the salad, it just wasn't what she expected or wanted.

 

The entrees though made up for the less than stellar appetizers.

 

I had the grilled jumbo tiger shrimp with mustard mashed potatoes. They were definitely JUMBO (large enough to cut with a fork and knife), and they were cooked perfectly. The potatoes were good, but I prefer my mashed with the skins on and mashed in (just personal taste) and a little lumpy. Still I cleaned my plate.

 

I also ordered the Cinnamon Pumpkin, Squash, Yam and Cheddar pot pie. I took off the top pastry and put it to the side. The insides (the pumpkin, squash & yams) were so good. The cheese was like a sauce over them. The big pieces of yam were the best. They were cooked perfectly - not quite mushy but fork tender. I can see that not everyone will like this but I really did. It reminded me of the start of Fall and Thanksgiving.

 

Jenna ordered the Chateaubriand. She was going to order the flat iron steak (which she'd had earlier in the week) but I convinced her to try this instead. I explained that is is highly sought after and tends to be expensive in regular restaurants. Of course, she eats her beef well done so I'm not sure the cut of beef really matters. She enjoyed it though and stated it was better than any steak she'd had. To her surprise and pleasure, there were green beans on the side. :D

 

Dessert tonight was cappucino pie and warm chocolate melting cake for both of us.

 

I have to say that the cappucino pie was excellent. It's basically coffee ice cream pushed into a pie shell - tasty!

 

The dining servers were nice enough to store the remainder of my bottle of wine for the next night.

 

After dinner, Jenna went her own way and I of course went to the casino. :p

 

I was there for about an hour when Carla came by to ask if I wanted to go to the dance club because there was some Shipendale (or something like that) show - like chippendales but with some crew or entertainment staff.

 

I was drinking Jack and gingerale (and had already imbibed two of them when Carla saw me - on top of the half bottle of wine I'd had with dinner). We went to the Caliente club where we enjoyed some music and had a drink (using my drink coupons that I'd gotten as a gift) while waiting for the show. (1/2 bottle of wine - 3 Jack and gingerales so far)

 

They did a little "pre show" activity like musical chairs but with an uneven number of men and women. When we were standing there watching, more and more people started coming in. We were by the door so it seemed like everyone coming in bumped into me or stood next to me or behind me. I started feeling like the room was getting smaller so I had to get out of there. I could have taken the crowd if I hadn't kept getting bumped.

 

I told Carla I couldn't take it anymore and I was going to wait in the Ocean Plaza.

 

After the show she came out and told me about it.

 

By that time I'd ordered a double Jack and gingerale. The server had brought the can of gingerale because she said by the time they put the ice and the Jack in the glass there had been only enough space for a quarter of the can and she assumed I'd need more gingerale. Boy was she wrong.

 

I was feeling pretty good.

 

Eventually I found myself back in the casino with another Jack in my hand, and then another and maybe another.

 

I suddenly realized I was drunk.

 

And all it had cost me was $14 (the double jack).

 

I cashed out at the casino onto my card and called it a night about 2am. Before leaving one of the casino hosts asked why was I leaving so early? with a laugh of course.

 

I went back to the room and ordered room service and grabbed a diet coke. Cause here's my secret to never getting a hangover......

 

 

 

Ready........

 

 

 

Are you sure..........

 

 

 

Okay, here it comes...............

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't go to bed drunk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Genius, eh? No matter how much you want to crawl into bed when you're drunk, don't. Have something to eat, have something to drink, take a couple of aspirin and stay up - until you're sober. No hangover.

 

There are times that I've stayed up for hours and hours after drinking but when I follow this rule, I wake up fine, maybe a little rough around the edges but no hangover.

 

Jenna actually came back to change (and she went back out) shortly after I got back to the cabin so I tried to "act straight" but apparently I didn't fool her and she called me on it the next day. Getting drunk may have not been responsible but it sure was fun. I'm not a parent and I don't pretend to be one (and God, do I love Jack Daniels). :D

[Texarribean Chick]

I have sooooooooooo enjoyed your well written review. BRAVO!

 

Speaking from experience - we've all had a few too many at one time or another. Hangovers are caused by dehydration - alcohol induced of course. If you will just drink at least 16 ozs. of water before retiring, you should be fine. Yes, you'll be up all night going "rain rain" (as we call it); but at least in the AM you'll feel like getting out of bed. Also try really hydrating well in the AM before you start drinking - that will certainly help. The massive amounts of sun during a cruise doesn't lend a hand either!

 

Continue - this is really a treat. We are sailing July 2nd.

[Sunnyday2010]

Thanks Lynda. I thought your cruise next year was on the Magic? quote]

 

It was but sadly I had to change it because of timing. I love the Ports of my new cruise however ! I am going on the Magic Aug 2012 ...... WAY TOO LONG from now !

[CruiseLiz]

still enjoying your review!

[happylady]

 

Tonight's conversation was about Catholics who think it's immoral and against God's law to drink.

 

You might be thinking of another religion, because I was born and raised Catholic. Even attended Catholic school.....never heard it said that we believe that it is immoral and against God's law to drink. :rolleyes: Our parrish priest, Father Ignatius from St. Jude's (Warrensville Heights, Ohio), never passed up a glass of wine when Grandma had him over for Sunday dinner. :D

 

Edit: After reading your post again...I guess I'm not sure who thought it was immoral...you or the other person in the conversation.....maybe it's hard to remember after a half bottle of wine...:p:D:p

[sunseeker04259]

Thank you for making me seriously laugh out loud! I'm loving this review and can't wait to sail her next March! Keep up the good work!:D