Dream x3: A Semi-LIVE report from the Carnival Dream

[adam3313]

 

View from the lobby of the Hilton Rose Hall resort in Montego Bay!

 

 

Drink of the day...the Bam Bam!

 

 

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[adam3313]

 

Love that Mongolian Wok!!

 

 

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[DEBBIE 275]

Can you post the week of FUN TIMES?

[fkfad]

Did they have the Electric White event during your cruise? We sail on the Dream (for the second time) on 9/3...CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

[adam3313]

Can you post the week of FUN TIMES?

 

I believe I have them all. Let me see if I can get them scanned and posted sometime this week!

[sailor05]

How many nights did they have movies outside on the big screen and can you remember what they were?

[adam3313]

Did they have the Electric White event during your cruise? We sail on the Dream (for the second time) on 9/3...CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

 

I don't remember seeing Electric White event...they had the 80s rock and glow party on Thursday night, and the Mega Deck Party on Tuesday night.

[adam3313]

How many nights did they have movies outside on the big screen and can you remember what they were?

 

Here was a movie schedule. I'm not sure if these were the May or June movies, since we had both months, so they may have changed. If you check John Heald's page on FB, he usually posts the movies there.

 

Sunday: Ghostbusters; Sing

Monday: La La Land; Passengers

Tuesday: Jason Bourne

Wednesday: Hidden Figures; Arrival; John Wick 2 (midnight movie)

Thursday: Captain America: Civil War

Friday: No Movie on Big Screen

Saturday: Moana; Trolls

 

Enjoy!

[sailor05]

Those are some cool movies. Thanks!

[DEBBIE 275]

Thank you. That would be awesome.

[wingnt68]

Following! I am enjoying your great review and wonderful pictures! Be sure to leave the Dream in good shape for me in just under 3 weeks! ;):D:cool:

 

Are you sailing to Roatan, Belize and Cozumel? If so can you either take photos and e-mail / text them to me of the shore excursion booklet. Or you can mail it to me and I will mail you money for postage :)

[DisneyDreamn]

Thanks for the review. We board the Dream this Sunday. It will be our first time on her since the upgrades. [emoji322][emoji323]

 

 

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[eemama7]

Thanks for the review! We board the Dream on July 2nd. We have an evening flight after the cruise also. What did you do with your luggage all day in NOLA? We're hoping to get some more exploring in.

[adam3313]

Thanks for the review! We board the Dream on July 2nd. We have an evening flight after the cruise also. What did you do with your luggage all day in NOLA? We're hoping to get some more exploring in.

 

I just took my luggage with me, but I mainly was sitting at a blackjack table with it.

 

There is a company called Advance Check In that is at the cruise terminal. It seems for a fee, you can leave your bags there and they transfer them to the airport. Could be an option if you want to explore without the luggage!

 

Enjoy your trip!

[DEBBIE 275]

I believe I have them all. Let me see if I can get them scanned and posted sometime this week!

 

 

That would be GREAT!! Thank you!!!

[MDgal76]

Thanks for a great review, but now I am torn. I am booked on the Glory June, 2018 GC, Belize, Honduras and Cozumel but am considering switching to the Dream same ports minus GC. I see you have also been on the Glory what did you think? Would you stick with the Glory or switch? I know the Glory has received the updates but am wondering if the Dream is better. Plus I'd get a few days in NOLA vs Miami. Only negative I've read about the Dream is the lack of late night eating and drinking besides pizza.

[adam3313]

Thanks for a great review, but now I am torn. I am booked on the Glory June, 2018 GC, Belize, Honduras and Cozumel but am considering switching to the Dream same ports minus GC. I see you have also been on the Glory what did you think? Would you stick with the Glory or switch? I know the Glory has received the updates but am wondering if the Dream is better. Plus I'd get a few days in NOLA vs Miami. Only negative I've read about the Dream is the lack of late night eating and drinking besides pizza.

 

In my opinion, the Dream is probably my favorite ship I've sailed on, seeing as how I have cruised on her 3 times. I think you would be OK either way, but I'd prefer the Dream. I haven't been on the Glory since her most recent updates, but they have a lot of the same 2.0 additions (Guys Burgers, Blue Iguana, Alchemy, etc.).

 

NOLA is an awesome city as well if you haven't been. Definitely a fun city to explore pre/post cruise. Not to say Miami isn't, but not sure if you've been before.

 

Dream is slightly bigger, and you'll get an extra sea day instead of the stop at Grand Cayman. I don't think you can pick wrong, but I would personally pick the Dream vs the Glory with the mostly the same itinerary.

[adam3313]

How are the chairs in the dining room? I have arthritis in my back and can't sit on hard wooden chairs [emoji30]! Wondering if they are cushioned, or if I'll have to bring my granny seat as I call it?!

 

 

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The seats are cushioned. I didn't grab a picture, but if you google, there is a pretty accurate picture of the dining room to decide if you need to bring your "granny seat" :)

 

Sorry for the delay

[adam3313]

I'm enjoying reading your review, Adam. I had already booked Dream for the New Year's Eve cruise this year, and today I got a premier cruise offer for that very cruise. I rebooked under the premier offer and saved $161 plus got $400 cruise cash and the drinks on us card to boot.

 

It sounds like you have been receiving casino offers, so check your Carnival offers if you're interested in cruising Dream again. I'm thinking the New Year's Eve date will disappear pretty quickly since that is a very popular time to cruise.

 

I'm looking forward to reading more through the week. Have a great cruise.

 

Thanks for the heads up. I actually logged in when I was aboard, but did not receive an offer for that round. I've only received the Premier offer once, and since have not received another one :( New Year's would be an awesome time to cruise. Enjoy!

[adam3313]

Adam3313

I have been on the Dream Nov 2016 and March 2017

The staff is great could you do me a favorite?

Please go to Spa and give Henriette a spa worker a message from Bill

"Not much longer". She gets off the ship June11th after being on the ship for 9

months

Thanks Bill

 

 

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Bill, I only made it up to the spa to go for my massage, but did not see her around. I opted against the spa pass, so didn't spend much time around that area. Sorry! Hopefully she's enjoying her vacation now though!

[adam3313]

What's a reasonable time to fly out at would 1030 work or to tight?

 

 

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10:30am might be too tight...I know Carnival usually recommends booking at 11:30am or later.

[runjulierun44]

Awesome review! We are sailing on her in early November and can't wait! :cool::cool:

[adam3313]

Have a great time Adam! Will be on Dream for B2B Premier cruises in August. Would be interested to know who the Casino Hosts are.

 

Hey, sorry for the delay on this, but the hosts were Petra and Jerylyn!

 

Hope you enjoy your premiers aboard the Dream!

[adam3313]

So it's been a just over 2 weeks since I've returned from the Dream, and I have some time to piece together some of my final thoughts on the trip.

 

As I've stated, the Dream is the only cruise ship that I've sailed on multiple times. I am thrilled that it finally received the rest of the 2.0 upgrades in Dry Dock! After sailing the Sunshine, and getting semi-addicted to Guy's Burger Joint, it was definitely a disappointment last September when I cruised the Dream without Guy's! That won't be a problem anymore, and hopefully I can book my cruises on ships that have received the 2.0 upgrades.

 

I was impressed by the crowd on the ship. Memorial Day Week definitely brought out a crowd that enjoyed to party. As I may have stated, the nightclub was the busiest I've seen on all of my cruises. While it was a party crowd, it was not super wild. It seemed a popular week for people celebrating graduation.

 

I feel at the end of any trip you try to figure out things you wish you did, etc. Here's my best attempt to cover those:

 

- I wish I didn't get so sunburnt on sea day 2/in Jamaica. Not reapplying between going to different hot tubs really set down a base burn on the sea day, and after the first half of my excursion in Jamaica in the lazy river, my shoulders and chest were burnt to a crisp. It was a very painful shower that night, and I was thrilled I packed by Aloe with lidocaine. Unfortunately, it put a damper on plans to hit the beach in Grand Cayman. I still am peeling away as we speak :-o

 

- I wish I felt better on Cozumel day. As I posted, after getting off the ship and walking around a bit, I felt pretty awful. I decided not to risk my excursion, and went back to the ship and rested, and luckily recovered by sailaway. I missed my day at Mr. Sancho's, but luckily was only out the $5 deposit. I still have no idea if it was something I ate, or just general fatigue, but I was happy I felt better the rest of the trip.

 

- I kind of missed the Steakhouse. On most of my cruises, I usually dine in the steakhouse at least once. On my September cruise, I actually ate in the Dream steakhouse twice! I was offered a dinner in the steakhouse by the casino, but declined. They offered a hot stone massage, so I think I got the better end of the deal. Besides, I was able to enjoy the Steak and Eggs at SeaDay brunch.

 

- Speaking of which, I was happy I made it to the Seaday Brunch finally! After all my Carnival cruises, I never made it to brunch for one reason or another. I'll definitely be trying to get to it again!

 

- I only ate in the main dining room on the first night. This really wasn't a regret though. Most nights after checking out the menu, I would walk through the Lido buffet and see what they had, and most nights they had what I would've ordered in the MDR anyway. Even though I've cruised completely solo a few times, I still have not shown up at the dining room for dinner and dined alone. (that's probably half the reason I turned down the Steakhouse invitation). I'm sure I will some day, but the menu at the lido buffet prevented that this cruise. Oh well, it probably saved me a few nights of Chocolate Melting Cake!

- I was surprised I didn't order room service at all. Late night pizza/ice cream never had a line, and prevented a late night call for a BLT or grilled ham and cheese!

 

- As for my stateroom, it was the typical. My air conditioning never seemed to kick on, but my room was never uncomfortable. I prefer a chilly room so I can cover up and sleep, but it never got to that. My refrigerator was excellent, and actually cooled drinks! I read a suggestion to prop open the cabinet door a bit, so maybe that helped? I know some have the issue of being able to keep drinks cold, but never actually cool them down, so props to that on Room 9262!

 

 

- Finally, I wish I didn't have that "one bad night" in the casino. Most nights on this trip I ended up around even, or hovering between $100-200 up or down. Thursday night I took a spanking, and kept trying to turn it around, and it never did, which made this a losing trip (my first one on the Dream).

[adam3313]

Here's some other general observations/thoughts on the cruise:

 

- I was thrilled that the Piano Bar was a blast on this cruise. On my Glory cruise, I didn't really care for the piano player, mainly because he didn't seem to play any requests that anyone asked for. I heard decent reviews for our PBE, and am happy to report Zack Daniels did a great job. It was his first week of his contract on the Dream, and I like to think our Piano Bar crew put up a high bar for others cruising in the future! I closed down the piano bar every night it was open, which was good because it cut down on time in the casino, haha. Zack knows a ton of different genres, and was even nice enough to learn a request I had early in the week by the end of the week! One thing I touched on was that corporate forced him to put away his song lists, which made it really hard to know what we could request that he would know. I made it a point to mention this on my Carnival survey. He did have the list available on his website, so luckily I was able to pull that up on my phone. Needless to say, if you are traveling on the Dream this summer, stop in and be entertained by Zack!

 

- I attended more shows in the main theater than I have on an previous cruise. I'm a fan of the Playlist Productions shows. Flick and America Rocks both have my recommendations. Lip Sync Battle was OK. I'd likely give it a shot in the future, but would've been OK missing it. I do wish I got to see more of the auditions on Lido though! In the future, I would probably give the 80s Pop to the Max show a try, as some of my friends gave it a good recommendation. Motown isn't really my favorite, so I had no intention of catching that one, but I did hear it was good.

 

- I was a little disappointed by the internet speeds. I know some people love to cruise and disconnect from the real world, but I do like to at least get the social package, if for nothing else than to post pictures to make friends/family jealous! I opted to pay for the top package, which promised upgraded speeds. This was partially to be able to hopefully run this live review. Unfortunately, after the first day or two, it was a struggle to post pictures using the app for this forum. My snapchats took forever to send as well. It was a nightly routine to re-send all of them late at night before heading to bed, when probably 90% of the boat was sleeping, haha. I didn't complain about it, but I didn't see much of a different in speed than with the other options.

 

- I wish the Dream had a Red Frog Pub, or a Sports Bar. It was slightly annoying that the only place to catch any type of sports was in the Casino Bar. While I do spend my fair share of time in the casino, I'm not a huge fan of cigarette smoke. I tolerate it at the tables, but there is always a ton of smoke around that casino bar. I wish they fixed that on the last dry dock and added the Red Frog Pub. It seems they could have moved the art gallery down a deck, and easily fit in the Pub there, like where it's located on the Breeze. Oh well, not every ship can be perfect!

 

- Guy's Pig and Anchor was a great addition that I tried for the first time on this ship. I only wish it was open every day! It's open for only a short amount of time during sea days only, so it attracts a little bit of a crowd, mostly because it's so good!

 

- Selfishly, I wish the Dream would have been moved around next year with the Ship Shakeup. While I enjoy sailing out of New Orleans, I'd love to be able to do some Eastern/Southern Caribbean routes on the Dream. Leaving from New Orleans limits the offerings to Western itineraries, and the Key West/Bahamas route. Again, this is just my selfish wish, but it would've been nice to swap out with a different ship to go to New Orleans to keep things fresh.

 

- I thought that Mat Seguin is a pretty good cruise director. Honestly, the CD would never make a cruise for me, but he has good energy, and was very entertaining at the Lip Sync Battle show. Most cruises I usually end up passing the CD in the hallway, and get a chance to chat with them shortly, and this cruise was no different, and Mat was very friendly to talk to. I was a little disappointed that Chris wasn't onboard, as I had been following his Vlog, but it is what it is. Mat did a good job!

 

- I went to a few trivias, and was happy to see they started to utilize a Tablet instead of the old binders. It seems like you get some randomized questions as a result, and trivias may be different between cruises.

From the top of my head, here are the trivias I played, and how I finished:

 

Friends: very poor

Divas Name That Tune: not great

Movie Quotes: 2nd Place

Mind Games: not great

General Knowledge: 2nd Place

"Fairy Tale" (Disney, but Carnival got sued so they have to call it Fairy Tale): not great

Game of Thrones: CHAMPION

 

I've got a ship on a stick from each of my 3 trips on the Dream. I was upset that I didn't get a chance to "defend" my title as champion of Full House trivia, as it was during our Montego Bay port day when I was at Hilton Rose Hall. My first ship on a stick came from winning the rubber chicken olympics on Lido, which they don't seem to have anymore.

 

 

- I would definitely recommend my excursion to Hilton Rose Hall. I booked through ResortForADay, and was pleased, other than the driver cutting it close to getting back to the ship on time. I wish I had more pictures to share, but I didn't bring my actual camera to the resort, and I forgot my waterproof case for my phone in the room as well, so the phone had to stay at my lounger for most of the day. I know that you can arrange your own travel and pay at the resort yourself. If you have a group of 4 it might be cheaper that way, since I believe it was about $30 over what the resort charges for the bus transportation. The resort has a lazy river, waterslides, tons of loungers, a separate pool, and a nice beach as well. Other than a short dip in the ocean, my time was spent riding the waterslides, floating in the lazy river, and perched at the swim up bar! You can also eat at their buffet, or at the poolside restaurant (where I ate).