We're on the Dream

[moonlightdancer]

I'm sitting in the Observatory Lounge as the captain brings our ship into port at Cozumel. We're having a great time and I will try to post some pictures of the ship tonight. The ship is great, smaller than the last ship we were on, the Star, and not as "fancy" but otherwise pretty much the same. The cabins are large enough and plenty of space for storage for us. No frig in the stateroom this time. We are in an Oceanview stateroom. Yesterday there were plenty of activities and it was sunny on and off. Barbque on the deck and all those pool side activities.Bingo was fun but we didn't win anything. Tried the Casino last nite but no luck there. The food at the buffet is just ok, but the dining room meal last night was good. It was formal nite, but not such great places for pictures like on the Star. Had the $169 for all your pictures deal. More later, they're docking now and we have to go snorkeling and shopping!!!

[ColoradoJuli]

Moonlightdancer - THANK YOU so much for posting. I have been looking for reviews on the Dream, but not finding very many. And those that I do find are negative. I am thrilled that you are having a great time and that the ship is wonderful. We are looking forward to our cruise. People keep saying that the ship is small and I am wondering if it is smaller than Carnival Paradise. That is the only other ship that I have been on, so I am wondering what the comparison is. Well...keep the review coming. I will anxiously await each day for you posting. Thanks again!

[ute_fan]

Juli --

 

If you want to know how the statistics of the ships compare, go to http://www.cruisestateroom.com, and go to the section on "compare ships". It lets you bring them up side by side, so you can compare # of rooms, # of passengers, etc.

[SweetEmi]

MLD!! Aloha!!! You two have a blast and so will we!! We can compare notes later. Give the cuddly bear a big hug for me.

 

Emi

[nurseone]

More about the $169. photo deal please. First time I've heard about this. Thanks

[ColoradoJuli]

Thanks for the information on comparing the ships. Looks like the Paradise is just a smidge bigger. I really shouldn't notice the difference.

[seasplease]

Thanks for the up-to-the-minute review, Moonlight! Glad you're having a great time. We're looking forward to the pics. Hang on to your Freestyle Dailies and post them if possible. We need lots of details because we're sailing the Dream Nov. 21.

We check the bridgecam often. We'll look for you ;) .

[OhioGirl61]

NCL offers all the pictures they take, for $169.00...

When I sailed on the Majesty in Feb 2004, I took the package...I came home with about 25 to 30 photos...(what is nice, is once you purchase your package, they make a effort to get you in as many photos as possible..)

 

The only problem is the package only applies to the people in your cabin...

so if you are traveling with a group, you have to purchase any photos with them.

 

(they have increased the package from 140.00 to 169.00 it looks like from

Feb)

 

Looking forward to hearing more up to the minute details of the Dream...

[IrishKathy]

Ohio Girl:

 

What time were you able to board? How early did people start lining up? Do they offer the egg carton mattress pads on the Dream? Thanks for your review.

 

Kathy

[OhioGirl61]

Kathy are you talking about the Majesty? I haven't taken the cruise on the Dream until this Sun the 31st...

 

As for the Majesty, we were able to board around 12:30...by the way, if you have access to a handcap parking sticker, you get free parking in Charleston, SC...

 

Hope this helps...

[nurseone]

Thanks for the reply - we alwys spend at least that much on photos and will be on the Star in April and the Dream next October. I will ask about this at the photo area first off on both cruises. Again thanks.

[birdie16]

We just got off the Oct 17th sailing...had a blast. If you are looking for a nice quiet out of the way place to relax...try the aft deck on the 8th floor...we didn't discover it until the last day. Enter from the end of the hall on that floor. Also, they have little windows to light the pool and we had a blast watching people swim!

 

As for photos...we took some really nice pictures posing behind the little cresent shaped bar in the middle of Dazzles...at least I think it was Dazzles...you are correct about how difficult is is taking photos on this ship!

 

We were disappointed with the desserts...but found the desserts and cookies in the casino at night were the best. Also, the Tiramisu in the Italian restaurant was outstanding!

[moonlightdancer]

Sorry, three days have past and no pictures as promised. Just having too much fun!! It's been a great cruise. The ship is great once you learn the layout, and the crew is tops. The food is just ok, but don't worry you won't starve to death. The ports have been great, but we missed Cancun this morning, a little disappointing but hey we get two sea days on the way home now! Check out a few pictures I've taken at <http://www.thewanderingwoods.com/Carib/first.html>

or direct to webcam at

<http://www.theoceanview.net>

Thanks Emi!! Will do.

Photo deal is working out great. Lots of pictures.

Have collected all the free style dailies and port info sheets to scan and post after we get home to Hawaii, but will take several days as I go straight back to work when we return next week. Will post new link when my official webpage for the Dream is ready!

Aloha for now, must go get a tropical drink and soak up some sun on deck!

[TxLnghrnz]

Thanks for the info moonlightdancer...I love the "live" updates while you're at sea!

 

It looks like a GREAT time! Sorry about Cancun, but sounds like the tropical drink and some sun time will be a great substitute! We are all anxious to see your photos and hear about ALL aspects of the Dream and your excursions! But, take care of going back to work first...gotta' start saving for the next cruise!

 

Jealous...until Thanksgiving week!

 

Great pictures on your site, too... looks like there is TONS of food! Can't wait...

 

Have a great "rest of the trip" in the Gulf!

[Al_Frescoe]

Have collected all the free style dailies and port info sheets to scan and post after we get home to Hawaii, but will take several days as I go straight back to work when we return next week. Will post new link when my official webpage for the Dream is ready!

Aloha for now, must go get a tropical drink and soak up some sun on deck!

Great news. So you will have the dailies on a website that we can get to on our own without you being deluged with e-mail requests? What a concept! :)

 

Thanks again, looking forward to your report.

[moonlightdancer]

Well, the cruise is over and I'm back at work. We had a wonderful time, despite missing Cancun. We were prepared for that occurance as we read on the board that they only make it 1 in 4 times anyway. We loved the Dream and the crew was excellent. Our cabin stewarts were sweethearts, Aya and Nestor. and did a wonderful job and were always smiling and talkative. I will start to work on my website tonight but it will take me at least a week to sort through all the pictures and get the dailies scanned and reduced. But I will post a link as soon as possible. I will also so a detailed review tonight after work and post it. If any one has questions please feel free to ask.

In regards to embarkation, the traffic was really awful, and debarkation was worse. The Port of New Orleans is really not ready to have 2 cruise ships leaving and arriving on the same day. All the traffic gets backed up at the Carnival ship and no one can get to the NCL end of the terminal. We went early about 10:15am and sat in line at the Carnival end for at least 45 minutes. When we finally made it to the other end of the teminal it was easy. The porters met us at the curb, took care of our luggage, we were in line registered in less than 20 min. They did not let us onto the boat till almost 1130 as the rooms weren't ready yet, I guess. Once we were on the boat we took care of our soda cards, picture package, internet package, and spa appointments, and then had the rest of the afternoon to check out the layout of the ship. They was lunch at the SPorts Bar. Disembarking was a nightmare. We were off the ship at about 9:30 or so and my brothers walked to the Masison St. Charles to get the cars. It took them 3 hours to get back into the port due to the traffic jam. They sat in front of the terminal on the Carnival end for most of that time not even moving. One to the cars over heated and had to turn off the a/c, lucky it was a reasonalby cool day. Especially for those of us standing outside the terminal for 3 hours waiting. We will not sail out of NO again if they cannot do a better job of traffic control.

Everyone always asks about the food. If you are going on this cruise just for the food you will be disappointed. it is OK but not great. Le Bistro was very good and the service was really good as well, that was a surprise. The buffet was not outstanding but usually edible. Dinners in the restaurants were good some items were very good. They have the same menus as the Star had inthe rergular restaurants, but their buffet was not as good and did not have as many choices.

Excursions were great! We missed Tullum due to the Cancum problem. Belize cave tubing was great although there were lots of people in the river. but we had a wonderful time and it was my Mom's 70th birthday that day and she had a day she'll never forget, she said it was her most memorable birthday.

The Tabayana beach party was great and we took a taxi to Chankanaab Park in Cozumel and had a blast. More details in the complete review tonight.

 

Hope all of you going on the Dream sonn will have as much fun as we did!!

[ColoradoJuli]

Looking forward to your review. Was the length of wait in line at the embarkation due to you driving your own car? We are planning on walking from our hotel. We will also get stuck in the traffic?

[seasplease]

Moonlight,

You said you took your 70-year-old mom on the cave tubing excursion. We are considering that, but we'll have our 76 and 72-year-old dad and mom. Do you think it will be too much for them? Sounds as if your mom did fine. How taxing is the walk and tubing?

Thanks for all the information. We just received our documents today for the 11/21 cruise and can't wait.

[moonlightdancer]

Yes, the wait was due to being in a private car, although taxis were having a hard time getting down the road as well. If you're walking it shouldn't be any delay.

 

The cave tubing was not too taxing for my Mom but she is gets around quite well. There was a steep hill to climb right at the beginning that had us all out of breath, but you can just take your time, no one had mentioned that previously on the boards. Then when you get down to the river you have to walk across the river, but it's very shallow and moving pretty slowly, but there are large rocks in the bottom and you have to watch your step. Then you have to clim up about 6 or 7 very steep stairs. Some of the stiars are very tall and may be hard to climb for some folks. Then you have the 45 min walk through the jungle. The path is pretty much level , but it is very hot and humid. We were rushing down the trail as our bus had broken down on the way in and they were trying to make up time so we didn't get to take pictures. In all the walk was the easiest part. Then you have to repel down a small wall to "flop" into your tube. It's only about 4 or 5 steps down but you have to go down backwards and hold onto a rope. My Mom managed fine and the guides are very helpful in holding the tube in place and guiding your "behind" right into the right spot. I'd say if your parents get around well and are adventurous they will be ok and will love it, but the climbing the stairs would be difficult for some people. Hope that's helpful.

[seasplease]

Yes, thank you. That was indeed helpful. They really are adventurous, but I sure wouldn't want anyone to start feeling bad while out of the country. I think we'll look at some other options for Belize to be on the safe side. Thanks for answering so quickly!:)

[pam heins]

Hi,

You said that you were parked at a hotel, do you know where you park at the pier for the dream? We were there earlier this year but went on a Royal caribbean cruise so know where the parking is for that one, is it the same place for the Dream, or is there a different parking lot for that cruise?? Also do you check in at the same terminal as the Royal Caribbean cruises?? I thought there was only one building when we were there, but now i am not sure?? The one we went to was after the riverwalk mall, there was a walkway that attached the pier to the riverwalk mall. We will actually be in new orleans on Sat so we can get there plenty early on Sun Am, just would like to know where to go if possible, since it sounds like the traffic is crazy there.

 

thanks for your help

 

Pam

[CatherineNOLA]

The Dream docks at the Riverwalk; all the cruiselines share the same parking facilities. When you drive up, you'll find an unloading area for the Conquest; drive a little further, and you'll find the unloading area for the Dream. There were large signs directing people to the appropriate lanes when we sailed, but we still had to wait due to the large volume of people and cars.