Carnival Dream

[lovetotraveltx]

I'm considering booking the Carnival Dream Thanksgiving 2023 out of Galveston, Texas. We are 3 adults and a 7-year old. Please tell me all the pros and cons as we don't travel Carnival often and I'm not familiar with the Dream. My most recent Carnival trip was on the Vista. Thank you

[Elaine5715]

Pros-Great Ship

Cons-None

[Banditswife]

We have been on the Dream 2x & have booked her again for Oct 2023. Have also sailed her 2 sister ships-Breeze & Magic.  I love the layout, easy to navigate.  She is an older ship, so probably has some wear & tear.  I have also sailed Vista, would choose Dream over Vista any day.  We enjoy the cove balconies of this class of ship.  I have not sailed Dream recently, so cannot speak for current crew or quality of food.  But love the layout of the ship. 

[jsglow]

The entire Dream Class might be Carnival's most popular.

[hillbillycruisers]

Sailed on the Dream in 2019, and much preferred it to our cruise last month on the Vista. The Vista was my least favorite cruise ever. The only thing I didn't like about the Dream was the art gallery. They put the art gallery in the space where the Red Frog Pub is on the Vista, and it was unfortunate. Who actually goes on a cruise for the art gallery??? We enjoy the Red Frog Pub on other ships, but not the Dream. I haven't been on the Dream in three years, maybe they came to their senses and moved the art gallery put of there...but I doubt it. The piano bar on the Dream was also a blast...on the Vista, it resembled a morgue.

[LatinaInTexas]

The only con might be sailing out of Galveston in late fall/winter can have the potential of weather issues.

We sailed the Dream for Halloween and dealt with some very windy, chilly days on the ship plus some rough seas coming and going. Were also delayed coming back 2 hours. Weather at the ports was great.

[spleenstomper]

I don’t like dream because of Deck 5 which is lit up like a city at night. If you are planning on a balcony, I would get a cove balcony which is deck 2 I think. 
 

if you have a balcony above deck 5, you look down on it and not the water. I’ve never seen anything like it. People would go in deck 5 and yell to family  on the balcony to toss them sunscreen etc. Its like a public street. 

You have to look out to see the water. I think it’s very poorly designed. 

Edited December 28, 2022 by spleenstomper

[jsglow]

1 hour ago, hillbillycruisers said:

Sailed on the Dream in 2019, and much preferred it to our cruise last month on the Vista. The Vista was my least favorite cruise ever. The only thing I didn't like about the Dream was the art gallery. They put the art gallery in the space where the Red Frog Pub is on the Vista. We enjoy the Red Frog Pub on other ships, but not the Dream.

That's where RFP is as well on both the Magic and the Breeze.  They DO need to add that during the next major drydock for Dream.

[spleenstomper]

To clarify, I’ve been on Dream twice lol, so I don’t HATE it. The first time we had a balcony on deck 7 so imagine how frustrated and aggravated I was, thinking I was going to meditate nightly looking at the ocean only to get blinded by the deck lights. 
 

The second time we had a cove balcony and it was MUCH nicer. 
 

Dream also has Tandoor so if you like Indian food, you can enjoy. 

[SERK]

I've been on the Dream 4 times and going on her again for the 5th time for a Journey's Cruise in a couple weeks.  Obviously I like the Dream.  I've spent 3 of the cruises on her for Thanksgiving including last month.  We really enjoyed the Eastern Carribean schedule especially Half Moon Cay beach break. I've been reading mediocre food reviews from various Carnival ships lately but we didn't experience that on the Dream last month.  The food was well seasoned and service was great. 

[SERK]

2 hours ago, hillbillycruisers said:

Sailed on the Dream in 2019, and much preferred it to our cruise last month on the Vista. The Vista was my least favorite cruise ever. The only thing I didn't like about the Dream was the art gallery. They put the art gallery in the space where the Red Frog Pub is on the Vista, and it was unfortunate. Who actually goes on a cruise for the art gallery??? We enjoy the Red Frog Pub on other ships, but not the Dream. I haven't been on the Dream in three years, maybe they came to their senses and moved the art gallery put of there...but I doubt it. The piano bar on the Dream was also a blast...on the Vista, it resembled a morgue.

I do agree here though that the Dream is still missing the Red Frog Pub.  It's a nice hangout but I still get most of my cocktails from the Alchemy Bar.

[notscb]

We just got off of the dream on 12/17, and while I haven't done a full review post yet, I hope i can help 🙂

 

Pro- the cruise director and his staff are on point and fantastic. They really elevated the experience. MarQ, you are a legend!

Pro- The ship is well-kept and is big enough to have plenty of options of activities at any given time

Pro- we could always find a deck chair, clamshell (havana area) and at night felt like we had the whole ship to ourselves at times while on deck (in certain areas). It's a bigger Carnival ship but still has a small ship feel.

Pro- food was good! Buffet had some lines but the upstairs seating area was always very quiet and relaxing.

 

Con- Elevators can be confusing, deck layout can as well. Not all decks connect fully forward and aft. It doesn't take long to get used to, but there's a learning curve.

Con- Galveston was FREEZING when we arrived, like, 40 degrees. It was quite the shock from when we got there (it was like 65-70 or something) and we were not prepared.

Edited December 29, 2022 by notscb
added a pro

[mexicobob]

The cove balconies are some of the best cabins at sea in my opinion. BUT......do not get one under the galley (can be noisy) or the ones toward the front (spray can be a problem if rough seas). 

Carnival ships are "fun" but do not expect 5 star food or accommodations. 

[jsglow]

12 hours ago, mexicobob said:

The cove balconies are some of the best cabins at sea in my opinion. BUT......do not get one under the galley (can be noisy) or the ones toward the front (spray can be a problem if rough seas). 

Carnival ships are "fun" but do not expect 5 star food or accommodations. 

We had Cove #1 Starboard.... Outstanding.  We were scheduled for the same Cove on Port but lost it to the pandemic.

[notscb]

13 hours ago, mexicobob said:

The cove balconies are some of the best cabins at sea in my opinion.

 

100% agree. We had a mid-ship cove near the mid-elevators (but just outside of being under the galley) and it was amazing! Being so close to the water while at sea and having that private space be shaded was a huge plus.

[SCBarker]

Pros: The beautiful (and last i believe) Farcus designed lounge. The 2 separate casinos.

 

Cons: Steakhouse is the only specialty restaurant and no red frog pub. These were changed on the the other 2 Dream class builds.

 

Someone above mentioned Tandoor above, but it's no longer there.

[Rudyard]

On 12/28/2022 at 5:47 PM, jsglow said:

That's where RFP is as well on both the Magic and the Breeze.  They DO need to add that during the next major drydock for Dream.

That and the Cucina. Right now the lack of those two venues are the only things keeping me from booking Dream.

[BlerkOne]

Dram has a non-smoking casino annex!!!

[spleenstomper]

10 hours ago, SCBarker said:

Pros: The beautiful (and last i believe) Farcus designed lounge. The 2 separate casinos.

 

Cons: Steakhouse is the only specialty restaurant and no red frog pub. These were changed on the the other 2 Dream class builds.

 

Someone above mentioned Tandoor above, but it's no longer there.

Oh no! I LOVED Tandoor!