Carnival Dream likes and dislikes

[tandemcruzr]

Im sure your right about the MDR service being better on the Fascination, the Dream has so many passengers and they cut back so much on the wait staff it sure showed.

 

We found this to be exactly opposite. We sailed the Ecstasy (same class as Fascination) last November, 5 day PC. We then boarded the Dream for a 7 day.

 

MDR service on the Dream was far better than the Ecstasy.

 

Last week, we did a 7 day on the Fantasy (same class as Ecstasy and Fascination.) Again, much worse service in the MDR - slow pacing, Head Waiter doing most of the work, very few assistants around - same as on the Ecstasy.

 

Our conclusion was that the smaller ships have cut staff more in the MDR than on the larger ships.

[Cruisegirl6]

Arpie05 hello and your welcome and thank you.

 

tandemcruzr I never had wonderful service on any of my Carnival cruises in fact found the dining room quality as well as the selection to be just fair. Service was always a hit or miss but never had the perfect service on any carnival ships that I had on all the RC cruises.

 

Im going on this cruise not for the food knowing it be fast food type stuff and not get quality, variety and selection I just happy to be going on another cruise 2 in less than a years time, maybe a third will happen lol.

[comeon530]

We are considering sailing the Carnival Dream in September. We have previously sailed the Carnival Fascination, the Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas, the Disney Dream, and the Disney Magic.

 

If any of you have been on the Carnival Dream and any of these other ships, can you tell me how it compares? Please tell me it doesn't have the tacky neon the Fascination had.

 

I thought the decor was a little more elegant and less flashy than on some of the other ships

 

How is the food and the service (service both in dining and stateroom).

We did Any Time Dining and had very good to excellent service every night. We never had more than a 5 minute wait for a table of 4.

 

Do they have lots of things for tweens to do?

Yes. :)

 

Does it have the Guy Fieri burger place?

No, but they have a very good BBQ outdoors on the Lanai on sea days.

The burgers were excellent.

Does anyone like the Cove balcony? How close to the water is it?

 

LOVE the Cove balconies. It was so nice to be close to the water.

Thanks for your input.

 

I haven't sailed the other ships you mentioned, but I added my thoughts on the Dream.

[berniez]

We just got off the Dream on Feb 2. The biggest issue we had was with anytime dining. We were a party of 4 adults. The wait on the first day exceeded 30 minutes plus 15 minutes in line to get a pager. We started in line at 8:00PM both days. The second day was worse. 15 minutes in line for a pager, 70 minute wait to be seated. There was just mass chaos the first 2 days. After those 2 days, it went very well. The food was hit and miss. Tough prime rib, under cooked lobster. Food that looked like it sat a while. The flat iron steak was consistently good. That does not say much for the rest of the food. Very erratic.

The best food was in the pasta bar and the Punchliner breakfast. Long lines at the deli. I don't think I will cruise again on a ship this size. Just too many people. Our room steward told us there were 4000 guests on board. They just could not quite handle everyone on that ship. Like I said the first 2 days were terrible, but after that it was ok.

Bernie

[DanJ]

That was our experience the week before with anytime dining. Although we went earlier, like 6pm most nights. Just doesn't make sense to me that they tell us how popular anytime dining is, but when it gets right down to it, the dining room is full of anytime diners at first seating time. I was on a Princess ship that had one dining room was assigned first seating and then open seating as tables opened up. Seemed to work well.

[lorim103]

What is the weekly couples pass?

 

Thank you.

[cruise_pirate]

Not really much to add but the Fascination staff is about 1 Million times friendlier than the Dream. The Dream was nice, but I have no plans on sailing on her again.

[CrimsonTideGal]

History- Cruised many carnival ships throughout my life (been on 48 cruises), we found Carnival cutting back since 2007 and in 08 and 09 took Royal Caribbean LIberty of the Seas perfect cruise line overall! In 2009 we decided to go back Carnival and took the Fascination with total disappointment in that ship overall we said we not going back to Carnival. Food at the lunch buffet didn't have any meat carvings, no soup, salad bar was very small and limited of items. (I have to be gluten free and do not eat seafood) The lunch buffet was all fast food type foods which I do not eat. It consisted of sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers, fries, pizza, calzones, chicken nuggets, one seafood dish usually a fish which I not eat, and had only one rice or potato dish and one vegetable only. Out of 45 cruises at that time it was the first one I actually lost weight. The service in the MDR was so so...the food was just ok nothing to even remember about right after our cruise. The lobster was small and just good nothing more and the steaks were a cheaper cut. Service was always good to very good it was always a hit or miss on Carnival. The entertainment diminished and got real "cheesy" cheaper lets say.

 

So the next two cruises we went on the Freedom of the Seas (RC) and again a perfect overall cruise both times.

 

Then last year in October we wanted to use Pt. Canaveral as it was only two hour drive time and although we loved the Freedom of the Seas we been on that ship and her sister one 4 times in the past 4 years so we wanted a change of pace (would never consider Disney cruises) and we decided lets try the Dream since she was one of their newer and larger ships.

 

We went on the Dream knowing what we chose to give up by not going RC. She blew us away! Food in lunch buffets had carvings, hot meat dishes, vegetables, sides, decent salad bar, desserts were the best (desserts always better than RC), mongolian was excellent and so on. The pizza got bad different now but I can't eat it anyways had my other half try it and I took a bite. They still have your burgers, dogs, fries, sandwiches if you like but they also had the healthier items. I being gluten did not have any single problem finding multiple foods to eat. The pasta bar my other half and father in law raved about, the taste bar was a very nice touch with yummy choices that changed daily, they had indian food that looked very good too.

Service was excellent overall minus the MDR which Carnival has cut back staff they just overworked in the MDR. Punchliners was a nice added touch we didn't have breakfast there as we really not breakfast people much but moreso didn't want to wait in line and chose to wait for lunch.

 

MDR is still just so so, when we booked her up we made 3 nights reservations at the Steakhouse knowing that the MDR is just ok. We went the first evening to the Steakhouse its a must!!!! Lets say after experiencing the first MDR dinner which was first formal night on night 2 where they served lobster which was just ok and service was not good at all, the alligator fritters that night were all filler you did not taste alligator, the fruit was good,the prime rib was good nothing more we said we not going to dine there for dinner and chose to book up the Steakhouse for all other evenings, so we dined in the steakhouse 6 evenings. I think we had tried nearly everything if not everything on that menu and everything was very good to excellent. The lobster you did not even want that butter it was wonderful. All the steaks were very good, the dessert sampler was to die for, the carpachio was excellent everyhting was very good to excellent. There was only one thing I found that I didn't care for but that was our taste...the french onion soup was very very strong and a bit salty for us, but again, that was the only negative thing I could find there.

 

The ice cream machine was always running even in the wee hours in the morning so were the drinks offered in the lido deck such as coffee, lemonade (which was very good), iced tea and such.

 

They did offer nightly snacks grilled cheese, fries, burgers, pizza, calzones and I think a couple other items like mini sandwiches.

 

The cocktails are more costly than RC and they are in the smallest glasses possible. You can add on another 3-4 dollars and ask for a double saves in the long run.

 

Entertainment- Shows were not good in our opinon really didn't leave one show saying we were happy we went, in fact, we walked out of two shows. They not have shows every evening. They had punchliners comedy we went twice, well we didn't think they were funny much at all hardly actually. The Blackjack band which people say is the finest Carnival has was just good nothing more. They sang wrong notes played wrong notes just didn't have a great assortment in types of music, more country/southern rock type. The acustic guitarists I must say shame on Carnival whoever hired those horrible players!!! Nobody wanted to listen to them it was empty where they played they were bad.

 

Casino was decent and fun. The BBQ outdoors looked very interesting and good.

 

The ship is as stable as the Freedom of the Seas. There is plenty of outdoor deck space, we not into pools but they looked good not sure if they are fresh water like RC has. We do miss the viking crown lounge but we found our little private bar which was to the left side of the Blackjack band. The stateroom bedding is just as nice as RC.

 

There is no Guys burgers heck they just bad cholesterol high fat burgers that are bad for you in the first place. They did add in two bars in the outdoor deck space which were nice and one had a guitarist playing there that was just ok.

 

Cove balconies not for me too low in the water if its bad weather Im sure you get sprinkled with water and not sure whether you get noise from other open areas. We not want to be that low anyways. We were high on deck 9 I think it was totally stable.

 

You will get warm melting cake but Im sure if you go to the Steakhouse and ask ahead of time for that they give it to you in fact, their dessert sampler did contain the warm melting cake! If you think the food on the Fascination was good you love the Dream. I went on the Fascination in 09 when did you go after that? If so can you tell me what was offered as far as food items for the lunch buffet, any carvings, hot meat entrees, etc?

 

I would jump back on the Dream in a heartbeat, try her you will love her.

 

 

I Have been on the Fascination 3 times in the past year and a half. Yes they have all the food items you mentioned on the open Lido Buffet. Along with a Rotisserie with carved meat. They also have in the inside buffet (cant remember the name) a large buffet of hot dishes that you didnt mention along with a separate salad bar. Did you even go through the glass doors behind the open Lido buffet?:confused:

The only complaint I have with the Fascination is they only have one pool. Everything else including the food was very good.

[danf161]

I'm only going to echo what a lot of people are saying. The Dream is awesome. Food is great. Room service is very quick (I used it because I got sick and didn't make it to dinner in the MDR) and will make anything you ask, even if it isn't on the menu. I cruised for my birthday and the little details here and there from my cabin steward really made it special. I NEVER write letters (good or bad) to company's headquarters and whatnot, but I made an exception for this cruise. Not only did I write about my cabin steward and his team, I also wrote about my cruise director and ACD, Jamie and Gumbie. Those two MADE my cruise. We had bad weather throughout so we had to find refuge in ship activities and the two of them, along with the rest of the cruise staff, truly made our time on the ship AWESOME! So much that my wife and I are planning our Eastern cruise on the Dream around Jamie and Gumbie's schedule. :)

 

As far as kids go, our sailing was sold out (approx 4200 pax) and 1200 of them were children...OMG!!! The nice thing is, we BARELY saw them. Camp Carnival does an excellent job keeping the kids entertained. For the older teens, they have club o2, which is exclusive for teen guests up to 17yrs old. Their "area" is on deck 4 and actually quite out of the way of everything else. You'd actually have to intentionally go to that area to run into it. That's the best way I can describe it.

 

Except for the bad weather days, there was barely any motion felt. We had about 2.5 days worth of a 60-70 knot headwind, at sometimes gusting upwards of 85 knots. THAT'S when you really feel it. It was bad enough to feel the vibration of the waves breaking on the bow in my interior cabin on deck 8.

 

Man, I can go on and on about this ship. I don't know what it is, but the Dream is something special. The size is almost perfect...I can't say perfect because I simply don't know what "perfect" would be and it's probably different based on personal likes/dislikes. I would look for a cabin on deck 6, 7, or 8 midship for the best ride and AWESOME access to Lido above and the shops, shows, casino, dining rooms below. If there's a wait for the elevators, you're only a deck or two away from your own. :)

 

I'd talk about food but I didn't have a chance to fully experience it due to getting sick (hint: it's not only the water in Mexico you shouldn't drink ;/)

 

Bottom line, BOOK the Dream! Once you get on, you won't want to get off....or at least want to get back on as quick as possible. I hope this helps!

[Captain Carnival]

My Ten Observations About the Dream; sailed on 7/7/12.

 

1. I am a BIG Carnival fan, but not so much of the Dream.

 

2. Ship is too big in terms of wasted space.

 

3. Service seemed a bit slow in the MDR.

 

4. Lido Deck bar staff were slim-to-none.

 

5. I found it odd that there were no drink stations (coffee/juice/ice tea/water) on the Lido Deck itself; you had to walk deep inside The Gathering and then try not to spill anything on the way back.

 

6. An ice cream station was placed in the passageway between Lido Deck and The Gathering that blocked traffic and was always quite messy.

 

7. The shows were OUTSTANDING (finally not another version of shout)!!

 

8. The food was fine.

 

9. Belize Sucks!

 

10. Costa Maya was great and should be an 8-hour stop and not only 5.

 

11. Bonus Observation: Never-Ever Exeperienced the Dreaded Dream Smell!!

[DanJ]

There is a beverage station immediately around the corner from the ice cream, which is right inside the Gathering doors from the outer Lido deck beside the Grill or Pizza stands. Not "deep" inside the Gathering at all, but rather immediately adjacent and accesible from, the midship elevator lobby.

[Beacher123]

Like some of the others, I cannot compare to the ships that you mentioned. We sailed March 17,2012 with another couple and had a great time, despite missing CM. They had an aft cabin and we had a wrap 6479. I would definately get this room again if the budget allowed. It was quiet and out of the way from traffic. It allowed us to do lot of people watching and provided some unique views.

 

We enjoyed the food, service and general mood of the crew on this ship. We enjoyed cave tubing in Belize as well as the ride to and from. I think our driver was key because he made it interesting and fun ( VIV ). The walk was not bad at all and was again, interesting because of our guide. We loved Belize and would hate to see the port scrapped by Carnival.

 

When we first arrived, the decor did not impress me ( just not my thing) but it grew on my over the course of the week and now the "bubbles" and "upside down red glasses" are etched in my mind as fond memories. Its alot of yellow and red tho :p

 

The weekly spa pass was probably our favorite "feature" of the ship. We also enjoyed the hammocks at Serenity and the fact that they don't close that deck off overnight. We enjoyed the spa pass so much that we booked a spa room for our next cruise. Wish there could be more than 2 hammocks :rolleyes:

 

We booked the Dream again for Jan 2014 same itinerary when we bring our kids back with us.

 

CD was "eh" but I hear that the new one is really amazing.

We never found the ship to feel anymore "crowded" than any of the others that we had been on.

We are sailing the Dream in May. We have an aft balcony cabin. I would love go get the Spa pass but don't know if it would be worth it since the Spa, I think, is way forward. Did you find it hard to get to the Spa from your cabin?

[1153rsmith]

Great info folks.

 

Someone had mentioned the inside buffet restaurant on the Fascination. I believe it is called Coconut Grove. We really enjoyed it. My son still wants some pizza and a reuben from there!

[Athankfulheart]

We are sailing the Dream in May. We have an aft balcony cabin. I would love go get the Spa pass but don't know if it would be worth it since the Spa, I think, is way forward. Did you find it hard to get to the Spa from your cabin?

 

 

We were on deck 6 aft ( 6479) and yes it is a walk to the spa. We would walk all the way fwd and then take the elevator up. I don't remember ever waiting more than a minute for an elevator. I suppose it may create difficulty with mobility issues, but we don't have those challenges. Because there are nice lockers at the spa as well as robes, you could hit the spa without going back to your cabin first. This would work if you kept a swimsuit in your tote bag. The spa robes are rolled up and inside a cabinet like the towel cabinets, right near the walkthrough showers in the thermal suite.

 

Because most of my traveling was through the deck 6 cabin hallway I felt fine throwing my coverup robe on and heading back to the room without much fanfare. The only time I felt like I was "in public view" was the trip out the spa and into the adjacent elevators. I never felt like I had to get doll'ed up to go from spa back to cabin. I would highly recommend the spa pass. It may be why I never found the 1400 children and full sailing to never seem crowded :D We have spa rooms for our next sailing even tho we will have the rugrats with us, no, strike that, especially because we will have the rugrats with us :o

[KrystalWaters]

Can't compare to the other ships you have listed as we haven't cruised on any of them yet, but have a little bit of input for you.

 

The cove balconies are 20-25' off the water and after returning from my recent Dream cruise will always select this balcony choice if available. I would suggest a cabin not too far forward if you want to avoid the wet balcony's. We had very rough seas and missed two ports due to wind but never had problems with water on our balcony 2349.

There is no Guy Fieri burgers on board, this 2.0 upgrade did not make it to the Dream.

The decor for the Dream was rather pleasant for us, not neon but modern and attractive. The only thing we laughed about was all the "colored giant glass spitwads" that lined elevator walls, we found those interesting and wonder what the designers were thinking.

Service in the ATD was fabulous with our server Lucio and his team. There was only a couple of nights that we waited more than 5 minutes to be seated, on these wait nights we got other wait teams and were also happy although they did not seem to work as flawlessly as a team as Lucio's team did.

Never had room service, no teens so that's about as much as I can share.

 

Will be trying out the Fascination in December:)

 

2349 that was our cabin on the Dream!! Loved it! We had ATD too. Our waiter was Alexi he and hs team was the best. We N

NEVER waited for a table and we were the first sailing right out of drydock!!

 

If you choose a Cove try to get around this area.

[jacksmom09]

We loved Dream! We had ATD which we thought was great! only complaint is that pools are small and crowded! Would be nice to have a pool in the Serenity area!