RoperDK

We have had various levels of luck with football games. Depends on what channel it is on and what your location is. Sometimes we had to resort to watching the scroll on ESPN.

Good luck and Roll Tide Roll!!!

Dawn

Thanks everyone for your responses. Sounds like ordering the $20 upcharge for steak house items is a no go. We may try to go to the steak house twice instead.

For those who waited in line at Guys Pig and Anchor....was it worth it? What was your favorite dish? My DH loves BBQ and we are looking forward to giving it a try.

Still curious if the Dream has the new steak house menu. My DH is wanting to try the waygu beef!

Thanks!

Dawn

Hello Dawn,

 

I have ten days until I board her. So I can not answer your questions. I have enjoyed several recent reviews on the Dream. YouTube also has some great! VLOGS from EECC Travels.

 

When do you sail?

 

Bobbi

Hi bobbismith! I hope you have a great cruise! We are cruising in January. We cruised on the Dream 2 years ago and had a wonderful time. I'm sorry to hear that it is leaving New Orleans. Please let me know how your cruise was when you return.

Dawn

Headed out on the Dream soon and have some questions.....

1. Guys Pig and Anchor - open on embarkation day? I've heard conflicting information.

2. Ordering $20 steak house options in the MDR. Are they worth it? Delivered properly cooked and in a timely manner?

3. Is the new steak house menu being served? If it is, do you feel it is an improvement over the old menu?

Thanks in advance,

Dawn

We will be cruising out of New Orleans January 15th and we were unsure of the weather that time of year. I have only visited in the spring/summer when it is very hot and humid. Will it be warm enough to lay pool side on departure day? Or will we need pants and long sleeves until we get farther south? Up here in Kentucky our weather is so unpredictable. It could be 20 degrees one day and 75 the next that time of year.

 

 

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Hi MsMistiS! We have cruised out of New Orleans many times in January. The weather is unpredictable, just as it is throughout the South. That said, plan on long pants, light long sleeve shirt and have a light jacket available. The breeze over the water can be cool once underway. Also, the following sea day can be cool. It might not be a lay at the pool kinda day. Just plan accordingly and hope for the best. It CAN be in the 80s and just beautiful!

Enjoy your cruise,

Dawn

We are getting a Zuma on Las Olas!

 

BTW, have you tried the Craftsman yet in Mary Brickell? My friend just opened it.

 

I think Montys in Coconut Grove is a fun place for drinks and dinner right on the water. Agree with the Marriott Marquis, really great hotel!

 

Sort of across from Montys the Courtyard Marriott Coconut Grove (currently under Irma renovations) has simply stunning waterfront views from every room.

I remember Monty's! Perhaps I should consider the Marriott in the Grove. It would be convenient for my day rediscovering Coral Gables. How bad would the traffic be to the port from there on a Monday morning?

Thanks,

Dawn

I need some help. I've researched until I can't think anymore. We are driving and want to stay 2 nights pre-cruise near the Miami port. Our ship leaves on a Monday, so traffic is a concern. We are going to park at the port for convenience. Life is too short..... We have Marriott and Hilton points so price isn't a huge consideration. I have zoned in on the Marriott Marquis, Marriott Bayside, and the connecting Doubletree. Day one will be a long drive in to town, so a quiet evening is in order. Day two is visiting my childhood haunts as I grew up in Coral Gables and want to drive around and take some pictures of my favorite places. Again, the night would be quiet and close to the hotel. We are seniors and lots of walking is not an option. I grew up on the beach, so not a priority. A late night for us is 11, so nightlife is a no go. We do love fresh seafood (too bad my beloved stone crabs won't be in season), a great water view, and some drinks at the bar. So, please help my decide. I read the reviews. Some are downright scary, but I take them with a grain of salt. Here's where I am in my decision process:

Marriott Marquis - looks like an amazing property and I can guarantee water view

there is a $20 daily resort fee and only valet at $45 on top of my points

there is only one restaurant/bar listed with very little info and no menu posted

Marriott Bayside - onsite restaurant (Catch bar and grill) looks good

can't guarantee water view with points

can self park for a fee or valet for considerably less

connects to the Doubletree with several restaurant options

Doubletree - can reserve bay front with balcony with points

doesn't have in-room safe?

can only valet, but fee is $30, so less than the Marquis

appears to have several restaurants connected to the property

If anyone has been to one of these properties recently, I would love to hear your opinions. The room doesn't have to be new, but clean is a must and worn and dated are not my favorites.

Thanks so much in advance,

Dawn

Thanks so much for the information everyone. We are so excited about our first premier cruise. We plan on enjoying it to the fullest!

Dawn

Following.....going on the Dream in January.

I have done in excess of 20 premiers.. here goes

 

you will board the ship priority, Premier guests.

Your room will not be ready because of the premier itself, meaning the premier gives you priority boarding but no other perks of diamond platinum etc.

 

When you arrive in your room, there will be a black bag. In it there will be two tumblers ( only once did we receive other than tumblers, and that was two pairs of slippers) They will be specifically marked with the Carnival Players Club logo.

 

In the bag will also be a drink on us card for two people, lanyards, the casino schedule for the week ( games etc) and a folded card holding two playing cards. These two playing cards are used later in the week for a game.. basically if your card is chosen, the face value of cards do not matter, if you have 2 Hearts and that is turned over during the game, anyone holding that will pick a bag with a check and other gifts in it.

 

day one at 5pm, there will be a cocktail party for the premier group. I have seem these groups between 25 people and 125 people approx. There you receive free drinks, going around with trays or you can order specific wine or drink of your choice. Also the food that you see at past guest parties, diamond gatherings etc. They do have chicken wings always, which is not normally at the past guest party.

 

During this cocktail party they explain how the week will go, and also do the first snowball raffle ( draw for money which happens every day or night of the cruise, and snowballs if the winner is not there. It often reaches 700 to 1500 dollars)

 

As mentioned throughout the week, there will be various games. Snowball raffle is simply drawing for money. Other games include fill my bag, matilta the cash cow, take it or leave it ( like deal or no deal pick a box that contains 1 to 1000 dollars) cash pong, bouncing balls in games of various amounts etc.

 

to play these games your names must be picked frm the drum with all other premier players names in the drum. only premiers get to play these games.

 

if you accumulate 2000 points throughout the week, you get to play in a free slot tournament, again only for premiers. the last 8 will all receive a prize, usually a premier towel, tshirt, and cash. first place 500 , second 400, third 250, 4 5 67 8 goes down in value.

 

Finally, the gifts.

You will receive chocolate covered strawberries one evening, champagne another, box of dozen fresh cookies another, and on the second to last night, the larger of the gifts.

 

for the larger gifts we have received two towels similar to serenity but engraved with Players club logo, or the small throws which are actually quite nice, or magonogy cases which include two packs of playing cards, each card having a different casino staff member throughout the fleet on it, picture, name position etc. the box also included dice game and a silver pen or travel bags, laptop cases, etc. The last gift is always the larger of them all.

 

throughout the week, anything you receive over and above this, will be totally dependant upon your play in the casino.

 

depending on your points, and if you accumulate couple thousand, they will offer you a steakhouse dinner for two with wine to value of 65.00, or, you will enter the dining room to be told there is a bottle of wine from the casino and you get to choose from a list of wines, they will offer spa treatments to the value of 250.00 ( i always ask them to give it to me in product rather than treatments, and get many oils and creams, hair products instead of massage etc.)

 

last night of the cruise they draw for a free cruise for two, only premier members.

 

i think i have covered quite a bit, i may have left out some details but thats it in a nutshell.

Thanks for the info ImaNewfie! When you say the drawings and prizes are just for premiers, do you mean just the person who got the offer or does it include their cabin mate, too? My husband received the offer, but I was under the impression that I would be eligible for the drawings, too.

Thanks!

Dawn

Following......we are on the Dream in January.

I know as of last year there is a 15 a day limited on DOU card. Really don’t know why you are getting cheers if you have a DOU Card.

DOU Card can ONLY be used if you a playing a table game or slots.

The Bar servers used a special charging machine that will not charge DOU Card people. You. An not use a DOU car at the bar. It will charge you.

 

I get the feeling Carnival does not want us to drink more then 15 drinks a day.

Hi jakeT. I am getting a DOU card because my husband is on a Premier cruise. We are not getting Cheers. I don't plan on getting all of my drinks in the casino.....way too expensive to sit at a slot machine and wait for service. :D I was just curious if they tracked the DOU card and Cheers the same and if you could get specialty coffee in the casino using the DOU card.

Thanks

Dawn

Here's another DOU question. I know you are limited to 15 drinks on the DOU card and if you have the Cheers package, you can only get 15 drinks in 24 hours. When I BUY a drink at say the Alchemy bar, does it count against the DOU card? I can't imagine maxing out the card, but sometimes I like to try something new and not worry about actually drinking it, if I don't like it. I would experiment with the DOU card and buy my regular drinks if need be. Also, can you get specialty coffees in the casino with the card?

Thanks in advance!

Dawn

LOL. When I read your post I started thinking about the song from the '80s by Adam Ant called Goody Two Shoes. Now I can't get it out of my head!

Here is the youtube version.

 

Oh my......I remember that song. Now it is stuck in my head, too. LOL!

Dawn

Hi Dawn! Just off a Premier Getaway on Fantasy this morning. We checked in as Platinum, not with the Premier folks, and missed nothing. All of the info will be in your cabin. Also, the gift on our cruise was 2 white Carnival Premier beach towels. Haven't unwrapped them yet, but I'm sure they're lovely. :) Other gifts from the casino included a box of cookies (SO MANY COOKIES!), a bottle of Chandon sparkling wine, 2 small bottles of water, comped steakhouse selections in the dining room, and a bottle of wine with dinner (although those last two were due to play, not being part of the Premier group).

 

We had a great time on our first Premier cruise - I won a drawing for $900, and hubs won one for $350. (Who knew you had to fill out a tax form for a drawing win over $600? Not this chickie! But you do.) Also had some great wins on the slots, got a bounce back offer for a comped cruise, and met some really great people. We'll definitely be doing this again. :D

Thanks for all of the info samiam0403! Glad you had such a good time on your Premier cruise. We are definitely looking forward to our cruise. Hoping that we have the good luck that you did!

Dawn

Hi 1bets1. I've heard people say that some days pay off better than other days on a cruise. In my experience, it all averages out. Sometimes I've done well at the beginning of the cruise, other times it's better at the end. I have found that the last day and night seem to be really busy, though. I guess people are trying to fit everything in on the last day. Good luck whenever you decide to go.

Dawn

I looked at the Carnival site and the made to order pasta place doesn't show up anymore. I've heard of cruisers still talking about it, so is it still there? I believe it was one deck above the buffet and only open for lunch. Is that still true?

Thanks in advance,

Dawn

LOL.....I thought we were the only ones. I have taken my sugar free hazelnut powdered creamer onboard for years. For us, a container lasts enough for a 7 day cruise.

Dawn

We are going on our first Premier Cruise in January. On the mailer it said that first time Premier cruisers get a special gift once onboard. Does anyone know what that might be?

Also, we are Platinum so we already have priority embarkation. If we go to Platinum check in will we miss handouts or information at the Premier check in area?

Thanks is advance,

Dawn

Thanks everyone. My husband received the Premier offer (our first) and I was hoping I would also get the card. I usually qualify at some point in the cruise, but it is great to be able to start off that way!

Dawn

Do both people in the cabin get the drinks card or just the person with the offer?

Thanks in advance,

Dawn

Leaving soon and have a couple of questions about formal nights.

1. I believe the first formal night is on Day 2 (Hubbard Glacier), but when is the second formal night? Day 5 (Juneau) or Day 6 (Ketchikan)?

2. What is usually served on each formal night? In Alaska, they serve king crab legs one night. Do they substitute those for other formal night options?

We've only been on Princess once before so we aren't familiar with the usual menu rotation.

Thanks in advance,

Dawn

Just returned from the Coral. Late dinning was 7:30. It was cloudy cool to cold for both cruises.we did a b2b.

Thank you tiffany'smom. A 7:30 dining time is great for us. Thanks for the weather report, also. I have had a difficult time deciding what to pack. Going with lots of layers and hoping for no total rain outs.

Dawn

My cruise planner says 8:00, but I read somewhere that the Alaska cruises had different dining hours. Any recent Coral Alaska cruisers know the correct time?

Thanks in advance,

Dawn

Following...we are on this cruise next month.