Documenting the dream western caribbean 01/21-28/2012; the money monkey goes cruising

[radrayjax]

Wow, I have been seeing your thread pop up for a couple weeks now and skipped over it as it says Western Itinerary. I finally decided to take a peek this morning. I am SO glad I did. This is exactly what I have been scouring the boards for, a review of the ship!!! We go on the Eastern Itinerary on March 10th I can't wait! We have 4 cabins right down from yours. We have 11206 (spa suite) 11208 (inside) 11210 (balcony) and 11212 (inside). I have been really worried about the noise from the treadmills above our balcony and suite cabins. From your pics though it looks like that area may not have treadmills? Anyway I love all the information and pictures, I can't wait for the rest!

 

Thanks!

 

Stephanie, THANKS. As I stated up front I'm doing this because it HADN'T been done. I did the same scouring since early last summer. 11206 seems to be below the Thalasso Pool. 11210 and 11212 appear to be near the leading edge of the curve, which is seldom utilized.

[radrayjax]

DOCUMENTING THE TRIP: SUNDAY EVENING JANUARY 22

 

As usual, I checked channel 3 for the latest position information. It now looked as though we were almost within striking distance of Cuba, perhaps within 15 miles.

 

Our position off the coast of Cuba 5:07 PM

 

 

Closer map of our position 5:07 PM

The speed was just under 19 knots (I don’t think I need to show the screen for that).

 

It’s about time to man up and suit up! Below is the suit with my two choices of tie. To be polite I asked Fran which tie she preferred. However, since I was not going on a job interview, only the MONEY tie would do!

 

The suit and tie choice 5:11 PM

[radrayjax]

I suited up and went forward shortly after 5:30 to the observation deck with the hopes that I could see Cuba off the port.

 

 

Looking southwest off the Panorama Observation Deck 5:37PM

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, CUBA! (KOOBAH!). Yes, I can see the misted mountains in the hazy distance! I’m probably the only one on board who cares. Below is a telephoto view.

 

You can just make out the shape of the mountains of Cuba through the haze 5:38PM

 

Looking ahead to the west, the sun is gliding lower in the sky. Too soon, I wouldn’t be able to make out the land at all, if I remained up here.

 

Pre-sun-down in the west, from the Panorama OD 5:38PM

 

Can you see the tiny spec above almost directly ahead under the sun? It’s another passenger ship. Is it the Norwegian Sun, tracking ahead of us? Below is a telephoto of the ship.

 

The other ship heading into the sundown 5:38PM

[radrayjax]

A minute later I go back to the cabin to left Fran know close we are to the big “C”. She is ready to go down to dinner. I get a picture of her in the hall way and than a nice cabin neighbor snaps a few shots of us together.

 

Fran gussied up, outside Cabin 11220 5:41PM

 

 

Both of us gussied up, outside Cabin 11220 5:42PM

 

Medium shot of us gussied up, in the hallway0 5:43PM

 

 

You can see why I won’t PAY for photos of myself. Take it for what it’s worth, but this was the first of perhaps only four or five times that I will wear a tie this year.

 

We then proceeded down to the Promenade deck to go to the Captain’s/Officer’s reception. Stopping along the way at the lobby atrium we looked down at others dressed up for the formal night’s dinner.

 

Prior to dinner, people milling around on the Lobby Deck lobby 5:48PM

[radrayjax]

We then continued our way aft. The Captain’s reception was at the Ocean Plaza Café at the starboard aft corner of the Ocean Plaza. The route through “Dream Street” is along the starboard side of the ship.

 

Our approximate path from the forward elevators to the Ocean Plaza Café:

 

We didn’t have too much time; by the time we got there it was about 10 to six.

 

Captain Marino, 2nd from right, talking to some passengers. CD Gary Brierly is obscured by the passenger 2nd from left. The assistant CD, whose name I didn’t get, is at the left. Chief Engineer Guiseppe Seccia is at the right 5:50PM

 

We then introduced ourselves and the Assistant CD was kind enough to take some photos:

 

Ray between the Captain and Chief Engineer. It’s amazing how much better their pants hang than mine. 5:52PM

 

Ray and Fran between the Captain and Chief Engineer. 5:52PM

 

Ray and Fran with Cruise Director Gary Brierly. 5:52PM

 

Before heading forward I asked a favor of the Captain. I told him that we were booked for the Behind the Fun tour on Friday. I said that I know that everyone gets two photos, a group shot in the galley, and another group shot on the bridge with the captain. I asked that instead of both of us getting two of the same shot, could we have one shot of just the bridge, a shot taken down the length of the bridge without the tourists?

 

He said sure, just remind him on Friday on the bridge. I was quite pleased.

 

We then headed back forward and down to the Crimson Restaurant on the lobby deck.

 

Fran poses with the chains in front of the Fun Shops 5:56PM

[radrayjax]

Another shot of people in the lobby, just before dinner 5:56PM

 

Precisely at 6:00PM, we entered the Crimson Dining room. This is located just below the Casino, by the way (if you want to orient yourself from the deck plan above).

 

Our table is waiting, I’m among the first on this side of the room 6:01PM

 

Close up of a place-setting plate. These are for show only, the food comes out on plain white plates. 6:02PM

How were some of the people dressed. 6:03PM

 

This side seems to be more dressed up, for no particular reason at all. 6:04PM

[radrayjax]

Before moving ahead chronologically, I want to introduce our head and assistant waiters. These photos were taken near the end of the week, when I could get them to pose for just a few seconds.

 

Our head waiter, Hector, from Peru. Fran and he had a good time speaking in Spanish.

 

Our “first assistant” waiter, Wanpen, from Thailand. “That’s Onepen, not Twopen” she would say.

 

She was my favorite, but she was moving so fast all week that it was just about impossible to get a photo of her without some blur! See the example below.

 

Wanpen serving bread to Angela. Note the blurry hand! 6:20PM

 

 

Rossano (“Ross”) from the Philippines. He did not speak Spanish very well. He had had just rotated onto the Dream in the last week!

 

We now return you to the Chronological Order…

 

I ordered the shrimp cocktail appetizer 6:26PM

 

 

Fran had pumpkin soup and she said it was great. 6:26PM

[radrayjax]

I also had the Greek side salad (minus onions of course). 6:38 PM

 

I ordered TWO orders of the lobster and shrimp (excellent). Fran had at least one order of this 6:48 PM

 

Fran had this apple crisp concoction for dessert, which was a hit with her. 7:09PM

 

Ed ordered butter pecan ice cream, which looked so good, that I followed suit. It was GREAT! I didn’t take photos of it because it is fairly nondescript.

 

After dinner the maître d asked everybody to twirl their napkin over their head. You can see from the time stamps that even on the formal night the dinner was basically over about 7:15PM.

 

Let the napkin twirling begin! 7:19PM

 

The napkin twirling gauntlet is quickly picked up by others! 7:19PM

It is now time for the waiters to sing! They use the stairs between the two levels of the restaurant, and even a few couples dance to their singing. Ross is about mid-way up the closer staircase.

 

The waiters are singing, some people are dancing. 7:23PM

[radrayjax]

The maître d served as master of ceremonies and would also sing every night.

 

The maître d, center, foreground with microphone, leading the way. 7:23PM

 

Ross is seen, about third person up the banister. 7:24PM

 

After dinner we headed up to the room to change into more casual clothes. We had a new towel creature, a doggy, waiting for us.

 

The towel doggy. 7:45PM

 

You-know-who is giving the doggy special attention. Maybe it’s some kind of twisted revenge for Daisy humping Spunky years ago. But the MM wasn’t part of the household at the time and Spunky has NEVER complained! 7:45PM

 

8:00 rolled around and it was time for another position fix. The speed was over 20 knots.

 

The large scale map showing our route since starting. 8:01PM

 

The smaller scale map showing that we’re tracking even closer to Cuba than before. 8:01PM

[radrayjax]

I went out on the observation deck to see what I could see. Cuba was not visible but our friend, the other ship, could be seen.

 

Telephoto shot of the other ship, ahead of us in the night, passing by Cuba. 8:11PM

 

The big show of the evening, “Get Ready!” was scheduled for the first performance at 8:30 so we went to the Encore Lounge on Promenade and Atlantic Decks (depends on what tier of seating you chose) at about 8:15. We had no trouble finding seats. I behaved and did NOT photograph the actual show…

 

People gathering in the Encore Lounge (Decks 3, 4, and 5) for the big show. 8:19PM

 

The members of the band are taking their seats just before the show starts. 8:29PM

Gary introduced “Get Ready,” which was a musical review consisting of, and inspired by, the classic sounds of Motown. The band was hot and the lead singers and dancers were great.

 

However, something bothered me from the get-go. None of the dancers were Black or “of color.” This really bothered me. It was the only thing that very much bothered me the whole week. Considering how racially, ethnically, nationally, and culturally diversified the crew of the Dream (61 nations) and the Carnival fleet (93 nations) is, this was a huge misstep to say the least.

 

I didn’t discuss it with Fran at the time, but I have since talked to her about it and she noticed, of course, and said, that it just seems to be par for the course. Considering that the bulk of the Americans and Brits on the ship are in the entertainment division, this sorely sticks out. I don’t count the clearly diverse Fun Force Dancers, they were not part of this show.

 

The lead female singer, Janae Longo, did, in fact, have a very soulful voice and I can’t fault her performance, but I clearly remember that the dance troupes on the prior two ships were more diversified.

 

Some people spend their whole review complaining about food. I know there will be food foibles. But, unless I cack over tomorrow, there will be some 38,336 meals in my life over the next 35 years to make up for a meal that wasn’t perfect. And I’m more likely to pipe up than Fran.

 

End soapbox.

[radrayjax]

The show ended at 9:15 and then it was immediately time to head all the way aft to the Burgundy Lounge and the Punchliner Comedy Club. The first show was scheduled to start at 9:45.

 

Entering the Punchliner, shortly before the show starts. 9:33 PM

 

We actually got seats fairly close up, in one of the heckling rows. This mattered as you will see.

 

Closer view of the stage, a few minutes before the show started. 9:34 PM

 

Jeff, the Fun Dude, was the MC and a good comic in his own right. He introduced Joe Bronzi, who was up first. Jeff warned the audience that this was the adult’s ONLY performance and FUNSHIP would not be the only “F” word to be heard.

 

This shot of Jeff TFD was actually taken just prior to the 11:00 show:

 

Joe Bronzi 9:54PM:

 

Joe was very funny, his gig was to heckle members of the audience and I caught his eye when I lifted my huge thermos to take swig. At some point after dinner, I had gone to the Gathering to fill up on iced coffee. At this time of night it was decaf, but that’s not important, now.

 

JB: “Sir, what do have in that thing?”

ME: “Iced coffee.”

JB: “Why.”

ME: “Because I like it and it’s FREE.”

JB: “You must be once of those guys who walks through the ship’s photo gallery, taking pictures of the photos!”

ME: Laughs! [Zinging me for being el cheapo is almost a badge of honor.]

 

After the show ended at 10:30 we all had clear out so they could clean up and allow others to get good seats for the next show. I went up to Jeff and told him that I really AM that cheap. I also gave him a laugh by telling him the [deleted from here] quote from cousin Erich. He offered me his $15.00 comedy CD for $10.00 but I passed.

 

For those of you who missed the ORIGINAL post number two I will paraphrase so as not to get THIS post deleted.

 

Quote about me by cousin Erich (1910-2001):

“He’s so cheap he could squeeze a nickel so hard the buffalo would poop!”

 

You know Erich didn’t use the P word!

[radrayjax]

During the break I went to the large screens that are just aft of the Plaza Café’ to she the current position (you know me, I gotta know)

 

Ship’s position on the medium scale map on the large screen monitor 10:37PM:

 

Ship’s position on the smaller (closer) scale map 10:37PM:

 

We’re getting close to the far western tip of Cuba. Speed was just under 17 knots.

 

We went back into the Punchliner at about 10:45 and had no trouble finding good seats for the 11:00PM show.

 

From the good seat (different location) just before the 11:00 PM show. 10:54PM:

 

Roman was the 2nd comic up. His delivery was a little slower and more thoughtful than Joe’s but he got bigger laughs.

 

Roman, just starting 11:01PM:

Roman was done at 11:45. Fran went up to the room. I was going to do more exploring, this time concentrating on the Promenade deck as long as I was already there. I felt like taking a complete lap (or a few) around the exterior promenade (with a small ‘p’) and as I was nearing the bow I came across a sign and the forward area was roped off. Rats!

 

Sign cordoning off the bow areas of the Promenade exterior bow area 11:47PM:

[radrayjax]

After that little disappointment I just went back in and continued exploring and photographing decks 5 and 4 (Atlantic) for about 40 minutes. About 12:20 AM I was up on the Lido deck and I passed the pool and noticed something strange: The water was cavitating fairly heavily.

 

Lido central pool – see the wave to the left 12:24AM:

 

On the large screen Seaside Theater latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie was playing 12:27AM:

 

Lido central pool – Look at the height difference to the right12:27AM:

 

Lido central pool – Now see the water pitching to the left 12:27AM:

 

To the right again. 12:28AM

 

And one for good measure to the left. Jack Sparrow would be proud! 12:28AM

 

I was totally surprised to see such wave action and thoroughly enjoying watching it because I was standing on a perfectly SOLID deck feeling next to NOTHING! This is where my mention many leagues ago of the “Bad Ship!” idea comes in. DON’T trust photos or videos of cavitating pools. They do NOT mean that the SOLID objects are going to display the same motion as liquid.

[radrayjax]

Time at last to head back in. I got the final position fix at 12:45AM. You see the info channel below. Speed was still just under 17knots. Wind was moderate at around 28 knots.

 

Almost parallel to the far west tip of Cuba 12:46AM

 

From 12:47 until 1:45AM I uploaded and review the 738 photos taken on day two and of course deleted a few.

 

The next morning I had a SUNRISE to catch at 7:27 AM, a docking at 10:00AM and my first money expedition of the trip!

 

Tomorrow: Continuing to DOCUMENT THE SHIP: CHAPTER 3: The SUN DECK (12)

[BC Gal Ann]

Still so enjoying your review. I find myself looking forward to seeing what you are going to post next.

 

The pictures of you and your wife are wonderful, as are all of your other pictures.

 

Thanks for going to so much time and effort for us all. :)

[Ltcsquad]

Again you are doing a great job. I sail on the 25th but leave home on the 24th will I get to see all of it before I.

[radrayjax]

Again you are doing a great job. I sail on the 25th but leave home on the 24th will I get to see all of it before I.

 

Thanks. Somehow your question was cut off. But I don't think I'll be done in two weeks. I'll be well on my way, but I KNOW when I talk about the Promenade deck, it is a complex space and I have about 550 photos JUST of that deck to go through and tell the story. I will use LESS than 550 but I know it will take more than two days to go through that deck. It is the only deck with an exterior about as complex as the interior.

[radrayjax]

Still so enjoying your review. I find myself looking forward to seeing what you are going to post next.

 

The pictures of you and your wife are wonderful, as are all of your other pictures.

 

Thanks for going to so much time and effort for us all. :)

 

Thank you for hanging in there. Tonight I get to do a partial retraction about a deck...

[Cruzface]

Dude, this is awesome! Nevertheless, I LEAVE IN 5 DAYS!!!! At this pace you will not even make it to Roatan! Let's go! Sleep is over-rated!

 

Seriously, great job. I love to see a couple so happy on a cruise.

 

But, move it!!!:D

[radrayjax]

DOCUMENTING THE SHIP: CHAPTER 2 ADDENDUM: The SUN DECK MYSTERIOUS MIDDLE (14)

 

 

I made a big deal of the mysterious middle structure of the Sun Deck that was immediately forward of the Spa Deck golf course. I THOUGHT that I didn’t have any pictures from the top to the structure. As I continue to move hundreds of photos into the folders named for each deck.

 

I’ve got just over 2500 photos spread among the 14 decks and more in a special folder just for the Behind the Fun Tour. Some decks had only a few dozen photos (6-9) others have hundreds. As noted above, the Promenade Deck (5) is the champion with over 550 just in that folder. MANY of those photos won’t be used, as I went through the spaces multiple times and could have half a dozen different photos of single points of view to cull for the best shots to tell the story of the SHIP.

 

Anyway, back to the subject at hand. I’ve got 275 photos of the Spa Deck (12), more than twice the photos than I have for the Sun Deck. As I’m going through the photos again and again I noticed a few, taken near the big screen that hangs off the Spa Deck, that were clearly taken from ABOVE the screen, not behind it.

 

It turns out that apparently late on the first night I walked up the stairs from the Spa Deck to the top of the structure and took about a half dozen photos from that space. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, I didn’t take any direct photos OF the top of the structure, probably thinking I would obviously get to go back during the day time and get better photos. I never did. Here are those photos.

 

From the top of the Sun Deck middle structure, Looking forward and port past the left corner of the big screen towards the upper areas of the Sun and Sky Decks in the distance:

 

Stepping back slightly to get a better view of the upper support structure for the large screen:

 

From the same spot, looking forward and slightly down at the port side Lido Deck central pool area and the Promenade and Sun Deck overviews:

 

From the Sun Deck middle structure looking directly aft and upwards to the funnel:

 

From the starboard side of the structure: Looking forward at the starboard side Promenade and Sun Deck overviews of the Lido deck and the starboard forward areas of the Sun and Sky decks:

 

From the starboard side, looking down at the starboard edge of the Spa Deck golf course and the jogging track alongside:

Hardly earth-shattering but there you have it. Sorry some are grainy but I had to pump up the brightness for many of the night shots.

 

I’ll be back later tonight to begin the SPA DECK (12).

[radrayjax]

Dude, this is awesome! Nevertheless, I LEAVE IN 5 DAYS!!!! At this pace you will not even make it to Roatan! Let's go! Sleep is over-rated!

 

Seriously, great job. I love to see a couple so happy on a cruise.

 

But, move it!!!:D

 

Well, At least you've seen some of decks 3,4, and 5, and WILL have seen decks 11 and up. More than that I can't say. Ah, Roatan...wish I could say more but that would be telling....

[Cruzface]

Well, At least you've seen some of decks 3,4, and 5, and WILL have seen decks 11 and up. More than that I can't say. Ah, Roatan...wish I could say more but that would be telling....

 

BTW, my boys loved the pics of the basketball court. That's where they will be spending most of their time until dinner, then they try to pick up girls for the rest of the night...

[radrayjax]

DOCUMENTING THE SHIP: CHAPTER 3: The SPA DECK (12)

 

The Spa Deck is the first deck (going from the top down) that pretty much goes from the bow to the aft of the ship. The foremost area of the deck is the lower level of the Cloud 9 Spa, followed by a small number of exterior cabins. The space that could have been interior cabins is taken up by the rear of the spa and the forward elevators.

 

Just to the rear of the elevators is the exterior area that is the bottom of the slides, then decking that overlooks the central pool area. Behind that is the large screen TV and the structure that makes up the Sun Deck middle. To the read of that structure is the mini golf course and then the structure supporting the funnel and other machinery.

 

The aft section houses the Chef Art Steakhouse and aft elevators. To the very rear is a small observation deck overlooking the aft areas of the Promenade and the Lido Deck aft pool.

 

Spa Deck plans:

 

We’ll start by taking a closer look at the forward areas of the Spa Deck. Starting by going up the spiral stars and class elevator from the Promenade Deck and looking first at the port side of the Spa, then Starboard side.

 

Spa Deck forward half:

 

The forward area of deck 12 can be reached by all forward elevators – the glass elevators that start on the lobby deck end here as do the six regular elevators. Of course the spiral stair case and single glass elevator that begin on the promenade deck forward also go to the forward area of the Cloud 9 Spa.

 

The port section of the Cloud 9 Spa is taken up by the Thalasso Pool, which is immediately to port of the elevator. The gym entrance is to the rear of the pool but the huge gym also surrounds the pool on three sides.

 

Forward spiral staircase from the Promenade Deck:

 

Spiral staircase landing on the Spa Deck, looking port to the Thalasso Pool chamber:

 

Door to the Thalasso Pool, this can only be accessed with the white key card:

 

 

Once you enter the pool chamber, there is a short flight of steps up to the pool deck (seen to the left in the photo above.

 

Forward and port view of the Thalasso Pool:

[radrayjax]

Thalasso Pool deck area, at the top of the stairs:

 

Bench, towel cabinet and hamper, just inside of stairs:

 

Forward, starboard corner of the pool. The forward section of the gym is visible through the window:

 

Starboard and upward view of the Sun Deck Spa Lobby from the pool chamber:

 

Aft view of the pool from the forward, starboard corner:

 

Port, upward view, showing the Sun Deck Aerobics room through the curtains:

[radrayjax]

The Dream Gym

 

Unfortunately, I did not get any photos of the Cloud 9 Spa check in desk on the Spa Deck and the lobby area near it. The desk is just aft of the gym entrance. The next few shots are of the gym, which is public.

 

View to port: The gym seen through the Spa lobby windows. The weigh machines are nearest the entrance:

 

View to port: Weight machines, just inside gym entrance:

 

View to port and aft: Beginning of the row of treadmills, starting at the aft wall of the gym:

 

View to aft.: Alongside the outside of the pool chamber, looking back along the row of treadmills:

 

View to port and forward: Front of treadmill row: