We had an AMAZING Dream 12/26 - 1/2

[balcony bound]

I have to start by saying - what an amazing ship, we loved her. I think our entire first day was spent saying "wow"! If you are looking for negative comments about the Dream, you won’t find them in this review.

 

We were overly ready for this cruise. We had to cancel one earlier in the year due to health issues and it was a long, hard year for us. I read all of the early reviews about the Dream and got a little antsy about our cruise. I realize that different folks can have totally different cruises on the same ship, even during the same week. I could only hope that a positive attitude and good manners along with my absolute love of cruising would result in a wonderful time.

 

We were booked in cabin 8466, which was controversial early on. It is a 9A (now 9C) aft-wrap, and early reports were that the cabin was tiny and the balcony didn’t wrap. Thanks to many folks bringing the balcony issue to the attention of Carnival and John Heald, the balcony partition was relocated giving it more of a wrap several weeks before we left. (balcony pictures in a bit)

 

 

I got up way too early Saturday morning for our embarkation. We live only 15 minutes from the port, so 3:00 am was a tad premature:) By the time my SIL came by to drop us off at the port, I had worn a hole in the carpet with my pacing and I had posted here while waiting - that helped.

 

Even though I had seen Dream in port many times prior to this morning, the first glimpses had me grinning ear to ear.

 

 

We were about the 4th folks to check in and after a short wait, we were onboard and having our first DODs

 

 

and a lovely lunch by 11:00 with lots of complimentary champagne. The pallea was outstanding (love the crawfish), and I really liked the mango cookies!

 

 

I couldn’t wait to explore this new adventure, and I wasn’t disappointed as we found our way about. We were in love. Gorgeous! Host Mach had alluded to a repeating theme and many surprises - and I smiled and laughed as I noticed them.

[mrpayroll]

Hoping there is more to come..Will be DREAMING in 19 days..:rolleyes:

[w8ing2cruz]

OMG - this is the review I have been waiting for :D

 

We took the deck 8 aft wrap journey with you and are booked in 8466. Can't wait for pics!! Quick question - where the heck is the bathroom? I couldn't tell from zydocruisers pictures. Did you like the cabin overall? How about the noise factor. Seems a few posters are complaining about hearing their neighbors?

 

SO glad you had a wonderful trip - I truly believe if you go in with the right attitude you'll get WAY more vacation than those that go in with the wrong attitude. The negative ninnies are really scaring future Dream cruisers.

 

Can't wait for the rest!!

[*Mach*]

I have to start by saying - what an amazing ship, we loved her. I think our entire first day was spent saying "wow"! If you are looking for negative comments about the Dream, you won’t find them in this review.

 

=======================================================

 

I couldn’t wait to explore this new adventure, and I wasn’t disappointed as we found our way about. We were in love. Gorgeous! Host Mach had alluded to a repeating theme and many surprises - and I smiled and laughed as I noticed them.

 

 

I am SO glad that you enjoyed the ship as much as I did and I'm THRILLED that my review could help guide you to some of the fascinating features I found on the ship.

Can't wait to read the rest of your review!!!

:D

[cbressler76]

I hope that they have the pallea on the valor too....my husband would love it!!

[LBumb]

hoping more pictures are on the way. i am in st. louis where it is 5 degrees. i need some cruise photos to warm me up.

[balcony bound]

Hoping there is more to come..Will be DREAMING in 19 days..:rolleyes:

 

There is lots more to come!!! I've barely gotten into embarkation day:p

[balcony bound]

OMG - this is the review I have been waiting for :D

 

We took the deck 8 aft wrap journey with you and are booked in 8466. Can't wait for pics!! Quick question - where the heck is the bathroom? I couldn't tell from zydocruisers pictures. Did you like the cabin overall? How about the noise factor. Seems a few posters are complaining about hearing their neighbors?

 

SO glad you had a wonderful trip - I truly believe if you go in with the right attitude you'll get WAY more vacation than those that go in with the wrong attitude. The negative ninnies are really scaring future Dream cruisers.

 

Can't wait for the rest!!

 

I took lots of photos of the room, and will explain where the potty is:) Don't have any second thoughts about this cabin - we loved it!!

 

I should get to those by tomorrow. I just lost a whole day post when I timed out:eek:

[balcony bound]

I am SO glad that you enjoyed the ship as much as I did and I'm THRILLED that my review could help guide you to some of the fascinating features I found on the ship.

 

Can't wait to read the rest of your review!!!

 

:D

 

Mach, you were my hero while waiting for this cruise. Bless you. And bless you last Saturday morning when I was enduring those last few hours of waiting!!! I LOVE this ship. My DH started posing next to the glass bubble/circles because I kept taking pictures of them, it was hysterical. My DH has a wonderful sense of humor. This was a healing cruise for both of us - he's a 30-year navy veteran and currently battling cancer. This trip was scheduled at least a year ago, and they held off on his second round of treatments until this week so he could enjoy himself and feel good.

 

Believe me, he felt good;)

 

[balcony bound]

I really wanted to explore every inch of this ship - and it was time to get started. DH was interested to see what the serenity deck was all about -- he found out --

 

 

My first view of the mid-ship pool area (lido main pool) took my breath away, it's really gorgeous, and has more suprises than I had any clue about then -- more later!

 

 

 

Everywhere we went, there were staff wearing "ask me" and so getting around or finding what you were intersted was very easy. A smile on every face, very welcoming and happy to help.

 

For some odd reason, I really enjoy mini golf these days. This course did not dissapoint me at all - it really looked fun, and so it was, I found out later.

 

 

Darn, I was having such a great time exploring, and it was time for muster drill. Guess I spent too much time investigating foo foo drinks:rolleyes:

 

Muster drill, as you have read in other reviews, is virtually painless. Show up to your muster station without life jackets for a brief safety review. Our muster drill was in the dining room, so we sat comfortably and chatted with a few other guests while having a short wait.

 

Then, magically, it was time for sailaway! We waved at the friends we knew were at Grills watching us depart and we finally left the port. I was soooo ready!

 

 

It was a cold sailaway -- what an inconvenient time for cold weather in Florida~!!

 

One thing that I really wanted to enjoy this cruise was the spa. More than anything, I wanted a pass for the thermal suite. I was in luck, as we were headed toward the elevators to make our way up to the spa to enquire, a lovely young woman from the spa offered to escort us and give us a tour. I could barely let her give me the tour - I just wanted to be signed up!!! I really needed to curb my enthusiasm. But, I knew they limited passes to guests who were not in spa cabins.

 

Each cruise is different for us - some full of excursions and activity; but this cruise was for relaxing and enjoying the ship. I will take this moment to say that we visited the spa every morning for the thalasso pool, aroma sauna, chinese sauna, and warming loungers. We never encountered more than maybe one other couple, and many times had the place to ourselves. The spa pass was worth every penny.

 

The nicest thing about the spa is that it is co-ed. Usually DH has to go to the steam by himself, and it was really nice to be able to have a spa morning together each day.

 

That settled, it was time for dinner. We didn't change since it was "come as you are" but this is a good spot to mention that our luggage was in our cabin by 2:00!!! That was the earliest we've ever gotten our bags. Some times it has been past dinner.

 

We had early dining for the week. We had spent a bit of time discussing whether or not we should ask for a table for two. I generally really enjoy the dinner conversation with others and was torn between that and just some time alone. We decided to wait and see what kind of table we had and who our dinner companions might be.

 

Well, that turned out quite funny. We had a really comfortable booth for 4 (which we much prefer to a table). Our dinner mates were a really nice couple from Georgia, who were cruising with their family and their dinner table arrangements were oddly separated. They had visited the MD earlier who was working on the situation for them. So, after that first night, we did indeed have a table for two - in the comfort of a booth for four. We ran into our first night tablemates several times during the cruise, and that was fun catching up with them here and there. We wound up with the best of both worlds in our dining arrangements.

 

They were first-time cruisers, and right off the bat I encouraged them to order the warm chocolate melting cake. They had it every night of the cruise - I’m a horrible influence.

 

Our meal that first night was outstanding. On other cruises, first night dinner had been a not so good experience. Tonight was different. The chicken tenders were outstanding, as well as the caesar salad, gazpacho and fried shrimp. Ahhhh, my creme brulee was just great. Our server, Osden, was outstanding. Right off he told us he wanted us to enjoy our dining with great food and service, and if there was anything we weren’t enjoying to let him know. We never had a single complaint. All of our meals were hot, deliciously prepared, and served promptly - but not hurried. We couldn’t ask for better.

 

 

 

Next up, the infamous 8466 cabin and an end to our first day.

[Cruiser_SG77]

Awesome pics! Makes me miss my great cruise on the Dream!

[balcony bound]

I really loved the chandeliers in the dining room (I'm attracted to red).

 

[balcony bound]

Awesome pics! Makes me miss my great cruise on the Dream!

 

I hear you. I really wanted to stay on, I wasn't ready to come home at all. There were still lots of things I didn't have time to do or experience. Sigh...guess I'll just have to book her again:D Soon!!!

[MNmomof4]

Great review! Nice to have something positive. Despite all the negatives, I still can't wait to be on her Jan 30! Please keep it coming..I can't wait to read the rest.

[*Mach*]

Mach, you were my hero while waiting for this cruise. Bless you. And bless you last Saturday morning when I was enduring those last few hours of waiting!!! I LOVE this ship. My DH started posing next to the glass bubble/circles because I kept taking pictures of them, it was hysterical. My DH has a wonderful sense of humor. This was a healing cruise for both of us - he's a 30-year navy veteran and currently battling cancer. This trip was scheduled at least a year ago, and they held off on his second round of treatments until this week so he could enjoy himself and feel good.

 

Believe me, he felt good;)

 

 

 

You have no idea how good this post made me feel.

First, please tell your husband I said thank you for his service and I'll be keeping him, and you, in my prayers.

Second, I love to hear the happiness in your post. The ship IS beautiful. I know there are problems and they're being addressed but there is SO much positive about the vessel that I find it difficult to understand some of the amazingly negative reviews. Just doesn't seem like they were on the same ship I was.

I'm thrilled that your husband was able to enjoy the voyage. It's those happy memories that keep us afloat when things start to get tough.

God bless you both!!

:)

Mach

[GlendaleCruiser]

Awesome pics! Makes me miss my great cruise on the Dream!

Me, too! It was my favorite and best cruise ever! I'm homesick for her.

[azkcruizers]

balcony bound...............can you please skip your dinner to give us some more review????? I'll skip mine to read it :)

Just kidding but can't wait to read more. We will be sailing on February 20 and cannot stand the wait!

[Duckie26]

What a lovely review so far! I look forward to reading the rest of it! Perhaps one day, I will get to see this ship for myself!!

 

I'm glad you had a wonderful cruise. Mach is right.. you CAN hear the happiness in your posts. It's just lovely. :)

[teach21566]

more please more please:p:p:p:p

[deborahjo]

You said you were drinking free champagane. This is new for Carnival. I wonder if this will be on very cruise. I have 4 months and waiting.....

[balcony bound]

You have no idea how good this post made me feel.

 

First, please tell your husband I said thank you for his service and I'll be keeping him, and you, in my prayers.

 

Second, I love to hear the happiness in your post. The ship IS beautiful. I know there are problems and they're being addressed but there is SO much positive about the vessel that I find it difficult to understand some of the amazingly negative reviews. Just doesn't seem like they were on the same ship I was.

 

I'm thrilled that your husband was able to enjoy the voyage. It's those happy memories that keep us afloat when things start to get tough.

 

God bless you both!!

 

:)

 

Mach

 

Mach, I'll try not to stray far from my review, but isn't it interesting how we can impact others, without even knowing it? Our every day interactions and words usually have an effect that sometimes we are never aware. I'm much more attracted to positive influences, as I think most of us are.

 

My favorite question of my impatient DH at the end of each day (which he now finds amusing) is "were you nice to anyone today?" Sometimes he has an easy answer, sometimes it's more difficult. I don't care if it is as trivial as he let someone out into traffic, helped someone to the car with their groceries (ummm, Florida is a retirement state), or helped rebuild a neighbor's roof after a hurricane:)

 

Anyway, back on subject... you hear the happiness in my review, because the Dream is a joyful vessel, and how could you not feel the joy when you've had that experience?

[balcony bound]

balcony bound...............can you please skip your dinner to give us some more review????? I'll skip mine to read it :)

 

Just kidding but can't wait to read more. We will be sailing on February 20 and cannot stand the wait!

 

More will be in the morning (around 6) - I had trouble with photobucket and wound up re-uploading everthing to webshots...grrrr!!!!! Time consuming little glitch. But hang with me, I'll have it up soon!

 

You are going to have a wonderful time, and I will be envious of your departure.

[azkcruizers]

Balcony bound...don't be envious..it sounds like you and your husband made some wonderful memories and have made a lot of us more excited about doing the same!!!!!:)

[balcony bound]

You said you were drinking free champagane. This is new for Carnival. I wonder if this will be on very cruise. I have 4 months and waiting.....

 

Deborahjo, this was a New Year's cruise; complimentary champagne is typical of embarkation and again during the NYE party. It's freeflowing everywhere. We sailed the Sensation last year for NYE, and we were also served complimentary champagne. You might want to try one year, they are typically upbeat cruises, with a great NYE party - pictures and video upcoming of that:cool:

[Lizzzie35]

Awesome review so far!! I wish I could be on the Dream again!