LIVE on the Dream -12/26 New Years Western Sailing

[xrayvin]

I am so excited to see a LIVE review of this cruise! We will have early seating and really would like to see the shows. By leaving early were you able to get a seat? Would we be able to do the anytime seating on nights of the big shows even though we are traditional diners? My 5 y/o son would love the breakdancing so I am weighing the options of dinner on that night. Do you know if the late show is as crowded?

Do your kids do the camp at all? I am interested in the activities they offer. My son is 5 1/2 and I am concerned about the activities for 2-5 y/o and if he will be bored or not.

We are also signed up to do the Manatee encounter in Cozumel and after your review I am even more excited. Did you get a deal by booking the two together or did you just purchase both encounters?

Thanks again and enjoy the rest of your cruise.

Happy Birthday to your son!

[ukiecruzer]

Thanks for the reviews. Looks like u r having a great time . Will be on the ship in March 2010.

[chandoe]

I heard from a few others on the Dream who had anytime dining that they had "hit and miss" service. We were on the main floor of the Scarlet Dining room. Service was superb (Rafaela) and Ken, the maitre d' is amazing!!!! The best ever!!!! Normally I could care less about a maitre d' and scarcely know who they are until they start making the rounds for tips. This guy is an entertainer, highly visible, visited with our table every night. Just amazing!! I'm so glad I was seated in his dining room.

 

 

We were on the Dream for x-mas and had a wonderful time. We had late seating for dinner in the Scarlet Dining room and also had Rafaela for our server. She was the best. If you can request her section.

 

Eileen

[tandemcruzr]

Would we be able to do the anytime seating on nights of the big shows even though we are traditional diners?

 

You can either do traditional dining or anytime dining. However, you cannot switch back and forth during the week. If you want to eat early on a night you want to get to show, your best bet is to eat on Lido.

[bellybutton]

You can either do traditional dining or anytime dining. However, you cannot switch back and forth during the week. If you want to eat early on a night you want to get to show, your best bet is to eat on Lido.

 

What are the dinner times on the ship??

[Nickymjw1]

I heard from a few others on the Dream who had anytime dining that they had "hit and miss" service. We were on the main floor of the Scarlet Dining room. Service was superb (Rafaela) and Ken, the maitre d' is amazing!!!! The best ever!!!! Normally I could care less about a maitre d' and scarcely know who they are until they start making the rounds for tips. This guy is an entertainer, highly visible, visited with our table every night. Just amazing!! I'm so glad I was seated in his dining room.

 

Thanks for the feedback on the anytime dining. So did you have a set dinner time in order to be on the main floor of the Scarlet Dining room?

 

Still thinking about switching to the 8:30 dinner time...

[Nickymjw1]

Thanks for the reviews.

 

I would love for some feedback on the hike with Jaguar paws to make it to the start of the cave tubing. I am out of shape, get back pain easily and not the healthiest around. I want to find out if it is a real "hike" or if it is mostly flat and doable.

 

Can't wait to hear about the actual tubing part either!

 

Thanks so much for your reviews.

Nicky

[stiej]

Day 5: Belize City, Belize

This is the day they harped on and on about getting up early, especially if you were going ashore independently. They strongly encouraged everyone to be on the tenders between 7-10am. There were 5 ships out there: us, another carnival ship, RCI Liberty of the Sea, NCL Jewel, and the Ryndam. We had 7am room service, got dressed and met in the Burgundy Lounge for tender stickers. We were in group 18 and were out of the lounge in less than 15 minutes. We booked cave tubing through jaguar paw and were told to meet our driver at the Radisson right outside the port between 8-9 local time (CST). We got there about 8:30-8:40 local time (9:30 ish ship time) and our driver was waiting for us. It was about an hour drive from belize city to Jaguar Paw Resort. We were the only 4 with our driver. It is a LONG drive. I suggest a book, some snacks, etc. We got out there and the one cave was flooded so we had to do the Crystal River cave. It was my husband, son (today is his bday), daughter and me and the guide. It is a slippery walk, about 10-15 minutes from the resort where you check in. We each got headlamps and hooked together for the trip. It is awe inspiring in there. It is absolutely unbeliveable. Unfortunately, on the way out, I slipped and one side was shallow, like ankle deep, the side I slipped in, I never felt the bottom and sliced up the back of my right leg and the top of my left foot. This is my tip for the day. Always carry a ziplock bag with like some alcohol wipes, travel neosporin and bandages. All they had there was alcohol. After tubing and my mangling myself, we went back to the resort for our lunch which was included. It was a delicious chicken with rice and beans and cole slaw with a soda. My kids even liked the chicken. My son decided he really wanted to try the zipline. However, the zipline at Jaguar Paw was too crowded, but the one at the front of the park was no wait and about a 40 minute event. So, my husband and son did that while my daughter and I waited. I talked to some people there on an excursion from NCL while I waited. They werent able to do the cave tubing because the only river they had access to was the one that was flooded, so all they were able to do was the zipline and lunch. I asked if they would get a partial refund and they said they didnt think so. This may be an advantage to booking privately. I mean, definitely do your research, we read the excursion board for weeks and Jaguar Paw was highly recommended as were the other private excursions we have taken, but the NCL excursion was about 30 ppl and ours was just us. After the zipline, we headed back to Belize City. The kids slept in the van. I dont recommend you leave the port area unless you have something planned. The area around the port is very crowded and rough. Once back in the port area, we bought my kids a couple of shirts, my parents some Belize coffee and browsed the stores. Ladies, Retin-a 1% is only $12 here, that was cheaper than in Mexico and WAY cheaper than the states. The .05% was $10. We bought drinks and got in line for the tender. The last tender left at 5:15 ship time, so if you go on your own, be sure to manage your time and dont forget they are on CST. Back on board, you guessed it, we napped again. These shore excursions are wearing us out! We ordered my son a bday cake. It was cute. Here is another observation. We have anytime dining, which I love and still have yet to wait longer than 5 mins to be seated. However, the late seating dining had lines backed up the stairs. I really think if you waited 10-15 minutes, you would just walk in and lose the aggravation of waiting in lines. So, dinner tonight, appetizer - Sushi (both) very good, I had Chicken Quesadilla (very good), DH had prosciutto and melon (he liked) and French Onion soup (he said it was excellent). Dinner was a penne in tomato sauce with scallops, shrimp, and calamari. I thought it was meh, DH liked it. We had tiramisu and Bitter and Blanc bread pudding (yes we both had both). Service has improved since the first night, too. After that, DH took our son to the arcade and my daughter and I went to buy him a bday present from her from the shop.

 

Some random thoughts: I know you CAN smoke in your room, but please try not to. The walls are super thin and we are very sensitive to smoke and last night it was quite noticeable. Bring your own laundry detergent and fabric softener if you are going to do your own laundry - otherwise it is an extra $1.25 per item single use. We have needed a lot of cash this trip - be sure to know your ports as to what you need to bring.

 

And I briefly browsed some of the posts on the Dream last night while I was online and I wanted to respond. Has this cruise been completely bump free? Absolutely not, my leg is all gouged up to prove it, but folks, its about perspective. Sometimes the food is not really good or just kind of bleh, but Im sitting with my family enjoying the time. Not every show is the best, but, again, its vacation. You have to wait in line sometimes, well yeah, there are 4000 people, there are going to be lines - but I have waited for Outback, Olive Garden, Disney World, the Chattahoochee Valley Fair, sometimes you just have to wait. And at least here, for the most part, you have time to wait. Its vacation! Lighten up and have fun.

Tomorrow should be a lot of fun - DH is diving and the kids and I are going with Native Choice on a ruins/Mayan culture excursion. Then there are a ton of activities on board tomorrow night. We have our Chefs Art steakhouse reservation tomorrow (without kids!!) and then the New Years Festivities all over the boat. It should be fun! Fortunately, we get to sleep in Friday to make up for it. I wish I had more time on the ship tomorrow because they have Ladies Night at the spa - massage, aromatherapy facial, etc plus free use of the thermal suite amenities for $119. Alas, I need a nap when I get back from my excursions so all of us can last till midnight. So, until 2010! Sweet 'Dreams'

 

Try to answer a couple of questions real quick:

1.) The water doors have not been shut. All balcony all week :) smooth sailing tonight, though! much better than last night!

2.) For the ppl using victor with the wheelchair, I would ask him to have his shuttle meet you closer to the gate. Outside excursions cant come in, but they can get near the gate. You should email and ask. Otherwise, it would probably be some work to get a wheelchair up the hill to where the shuttle met us.

3.) Horseback riding was an additional $40 pp payable at the ranch. My daugher rode with me and was free. Everything on Roatan is pretty much cash only, so be prepared! (And bring a poncho and hat - the rain was heavy! Just in case!)

4.) Jaguar paw is rainforesty and uneven terrain. There are cobblestone trails until you get further in the jungle. However, once you get to the caves, the steps are very steep and slippery. However, that said, both of my kids made it and my 8 yr old only fell once. The guides are patient and will help you carry your tubes down if you need to. It is definitely a more adventure based excursion. HTH!

[HokieDeb]

Thank you for your reviews! We've enjoyed reading them and cannot wait for our cruise in January. I love your outlook and how you see the glass half full. I've read way too many posts where folks let a few bad things ruin their vacation.

Happy birthday to your son and I hope your leg heals soon.

Happy New Year to you and your family!

[Will&Hel]

Thanks for the great reviews- we don't sail the Dream until Mar 2011 but its never too early to start planning. Particularly looking forward to your comments on Native Choice as that is on our list of things to do- did you book direct or is it a Carnival excursions:

[JTJ]

stiej, ask your husband what he thought of the dive operation in CM. We dove thru the ship and the diving was nice but he water was very rough and the boat had a bad engine. Also getting back in and out of the boat was an adventure in itself.

[crewsweeper]

stiej...great review. We're on the next Dream Western C so appreciate the port updates too. As far as lines for late dining, it's been our experience that this is typical nightly as everyone lines up waiting for them to let you into the dining room, which they don't do until it's 8:15 or what ever time the late dining is on the ship. Once the flow starts, the line moves very quickly after the first night as everyone has a table assigned.

 

 

Hope your leg heals quickly. Can't wait to hear about NYE on the ship! And your meal at Great Art Steakhouse.

 

Crew

[kptbylorraine]

stieg

 

Sorry to hear about your leg. Hope it heals quickly. Thanks again for all the info.

 

Happy New Year to you and your family!

[gail811]

Great review so far, and I really appreciate you taking time out to update us! As for your cave tubing accident; I hope you heal quickly!

And it was interesting to hear your perspective on the conditions with the one cave being flooded. My friend in Belize does independent tours and he called me last night. He told me he did not take his group cave tubing because the one cave was flooded and that he did not feel his group would get what they paid for. Since he does this for a living, I appreciated what a sacrifice it was for him to give up his paycheck for the day! With 5 ships in port I imagine it was crowded everywhere! I have never been to Belize with more than 2 other ships. I am also happy to hear that they got you on tenders as fast as they did! Do they hand out tender stickers as you enter the lounge, and do you know if you can get enough for your group, or if every person has to get their own? I liked the way they did it on the Legend our last trip and only one person had to stand in line.

I also want to commend you on your wonderful attitude! You have to be prepared for the occasional bump during vacation, then make the best of it. People do need to understand that it is not that unusual to have to wait in line, no matter where you go.

Happy birthday to your son, Happy New Year to you and your family, and a big thank you for taking time to allow us to join you on vacation!

[purpleblanket]

Happy New Year to you and your family.

I hope your leg heals quickly!!!

 

Enjoy your last couple days at sea.

I can't wait to hear more!

Thanks for the live review!

 

Debbie

[seadaisy]

Thanks so much for taking time for this. We sail in a few weeks and I would like to know if it is true (as one negative reviewer posted) that some pax are assigned to the main dining room for muster and sit at the already set tables and play with the silver, etc. This sounds disgusting. Thanks much if you can check this out.

[Naomi John]

So the Horseback riding was at Victor's Ranch?

[stiej]

Day 6: Costa Maya, Mexico (New Years Eve)

First off, let me wish all of you a happy new year live from the first new years celebration on the Carnival Dream. The party is still going strong and I am typing while the folks are upstairs at the buffet. They said the party will keep on until everyone is done, so it may be a loud long night out here in the middle of the ocean. FORTUNATELY, tomorrow is a sea day!

So we get to Costa Maya and DH has the 2 tank dive at 9 and the kids and I are supposed to be at Native Choice's outpost outside of the gate in Mahahual at 9 as well. We order room service early, but as we are getting ready to leave they announce they have to close the gangway for approximately 20 mins while another ship docked. So, DH got to the Dive check in right at 9 and the kids and I hustled to Native Choice outside of the gates. Once we get there, we were told the group had left a half hour before (but our paperwork said 8am local time which is 9? We got there at 9:10) Another family arrived about 10 mins after us also having been caught by the 20 minute gangway delay. So, they get us in a cab and out to the Chaccoben (sp) ruins. This is another long van ride - about an hour. Once we get there, we are introduced to our guide and told to use the restrooms. I have a 6 and 9 yr olf with me, so of course potty breaks are in order before we enter the park. When we come out, our group is gone - vanished, poof. I went to the tour information desk and was told they had already entered the park. So, here I am by myself with two small kids with no clue where my group is. Now, us being late, I guess that was partially our fault though we didnt budget for a 20 min delay in getting off the ship and definitely not them leaving at 830 instead of 9, but this was getting ridiculous. So, I took the kids and followed the trail into the park. I finally find my group and tell them they left us and the guide said oh I asked if everyone was here and the rest of them said yes. The other family told her that she thought the guide just was asking about her family. Anyway, so we are all together now. We have the tour and it was very interesting to me and the 9 yr old- not so much for the 6 yr old. She was more interested in the culture experience where she was going to get to make tortillas and have lunch. Well, after the tour, they told us since we we were so late, we werent going to be able to go to the mayan experience visit. So, they took us straight back to mahahual. Overally, and this was the first, I had read RAVE reviews about this excursion company and maybe I just picked a bad day. Or maybe since we had such an early reboard (2:30) you should stick to the ship excursions but I just cant recommend them. They were disorganized and had no clue who was on the tours. I frankly felt like they could have left us out there and not even noticed. But, I did learn some Mayan history and saw some interesting things. My DH enjoyed his dive - he said the water was beautiful and crystal clear. he wasnt impressed with Dreamtime (the company they used). The ship didnt provide a single return transport but had them each take a taxi back about 2 at a time. He wasnt on the ship when the horn blew and we got worried, fortunately he got on in time. Ok, shore excursions done. I received a phone call from the spa saying they were randomly drawing people from the first night raffle for prizes and I had won a body composition. It was interesting. Aidan, one of the trainers, is very nice and informative. I found out I was dehydrated (no kidding) and I had about 5lbs to lose - thanks Thanksgiving, Christmas and Cruise! He is dating one of the facialists and said she was one of Steiner (the spa parent company)'s best. So, I have a facial booked for tomorrow at 2pm. I have a great girl at home, so I will let you know what I think. After that, it was showers and the kids did Camp Carnival. They took them to dinner and DH and I went to the Chefs Art steakhouse. I am STILL full. It is lovely, service was exceptional and there was SO MUCH FOOD! It is $30 pp plus gratuities. For appetizers, we had escargot. I had ahi tuna tartar, DH had some raw beef thing. Then we both had lobster bisque. Lets not forget the foccacia bread. We had surf and turf for dinner - filet mignon and lobster tail. For dessert we had the chocolate sampler. Wow! We have pictures of just the dinner, it was so beautifully presented. Then, DH and I went to the mainstage R rated comedy. It was great. Then we collected the kids at 11:45 and joined basically the rest of the ship out on deck 10,11,12 pool side. They gave us all hats, horns, beads, and leis. Then we watched the ball drop live. It was fantastic. I cant wait to share the pics with you when we get home. The kids loved camp carnival tonight. They want to go back tomorrow because the breakdancing team showed them some moves and they are having a kids breakdance show tomorrow in the main theatre. Okay, I am plain exhausted and this is all youre getting for today OH - when the ship leans in certain directions the showers flood. Dont know why but it gets messy! Another one of those FYI things. Maybe they will get that fixed soon. Good night and happy new year. I am SLEEPING IN tomorrow!

 

I saw the new questions and will try to get them in tomorrow. Its about 1am ship time and my kids need to hit the hay! But to answer that one - yes some muster stations are in the dining room and ppl were playing with the china/silverware. I thought it wasnt cool myself. I didnt understand why they had the dishes out when this was going on.

 

I bought some Rx Neosporin at the costa maya farmacia (at least thats what I hope this is.) My leg still looks ugly, but I think its getting better.

[Illa Zilla]

Thanks for the informative review! The Mrs. and I are going in March on the same ship and itinerary. Nice to hear your opinions on the different excursions. Happy New Year!

[sports-mom]

Oh wow.. sorry you had a bad experience with that tour group. Good to know though.. cuz we were thinking of going thru them. I think we decided before reading your post that we were just going to make this port a beach day, cuz its the shortest port day.

 

Looking forward to seeing your pics when you return.

Thanks again for your time during your vacation. Its much appreciated.

[Chicopee]

Love your review. We leave on the Dream in one month :) We also have booked Native Choice for the ruins and really appreciate your comments.

 

One question ... I am super sensitive to bugs. Did you notice any on any of your tours this trip? I was thinking of bringing insect shield hiking pants (that zip off to shorts) and want to make sure they are not overkill.

 

Happy New Year and happy fun day at sea :)

[LBumb]

really enjoying your review. thanks for taking the time to post.

[ChrissyBTX]

Thank you so much for your live review of the Dream. I look forward to reading it every day.

 

Could you pleaseeeeee clear up an ongoing controvery for us? Please take the aft (all the way to the back) elevator and go down to deck 2. When you get off, walk to the side of the ship where the uneven cabin numbers are (starboard side). When you get to the hallway off the elevators, stop. Do you smell anything? Sewer smell?

 

I believe this has been taken care of since my cruise, but many people are still concerned about this. Hopefully, it's gone by now.

 

Thank you and enjoy the rest of your cruise. I'm glad you're having a great time! Look forward to your review tonight if you can do one.

[lesinsm]

Does the promenade thin on the side towards the front, or does it only thin out at the aft?

[johnlo81]

Great review! My wife and I can't wait to try Chef Art's! 34 more days until we Dream... :)

 

Did you make your reservation for dinner on the ship or before you sailed? We made ours online but have yet to receive any confirmation.