All things Dream!

[bbmom2boys]

Any special theme nights that happen besides the formal nights? We set sail on April 20th, and trying to make sure we pack all the right stuff! Also, anyone have any tips about things to do in port (St Maarten, St Thomas) that are not a shore excursion?? Traveling with DH and DD(4) - first cruise for both of them!! :o

 

Best money spent on any excursion at any port is to charter the Simplicity in St. Thomas! They will take you on a half day sail or whole day depending on your time in port.

 

Captain Charlie, First Mate Josh and special deck hand Hinkley will make it the most awesome experience! We have sailed with them twice and will again as soon as we get a chance. http://www.simplicitycharters.com/gallery1.html

[arpie05]

late night snacks (on Lido) and no hamburgers on the grill for late night snacks. (on Lido)

 

The guest service staff were rude.

 

 

We had horrid experience with the Glory with Guest Service. If you kept your Fun Times - the 11:30 PM - 1:00 am snacks are inside in the food bar area.

The only food I remember outside on the Lido was the Mexican buffet.

[Kudos2Fly]

I think it is the worst menu ever! I can't eat eggs so except of just ordering protein - I don't think I can eat any of it :mad:

 

Their old lunch menu was ok (I hate the lanai menu) - Eating in the Dining room is one of the best parts of cruising and I feel like they have taken that away.

 

How has it been taken away? Just wondering. As on our last cruise we ate in the dining room many times. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & of course hit the Lido deck also. Although that was on the Sensation. Seems Dream has more places to eat then I would use. :eek: :D

[Kudos2Fly]

Has anyone been in room 7467 or has pictures of this room?

[mchelle77]

Has anyone pre-registered their child for the Camp Carnival online? We just filled out the form (which is supposed to be printed and brought to the Youth Director onboard)..however, when I went to print it, it does not show myself or my husband listed. The only information on it are my daughter's name, age, birthday, sailing date and stateroom number. There is a place to print and sign my name, as well as delegate 2 other adults if needed to be able to sign her in and out. Is this normal that it does not have our names on it, and we have to fill something else out on board, or was there an error with the form? I tried to go back in to verify, but it shows the status as complete and does not give me the option to make any changes.

 

I pre-registered my daughter as well (same cruise date :) ) I didn't even realize that, but I guess because the cabin number is on there, they'll just compare the printed name to the name registered to the cabin number? I can't imagine too many people trying to sign someone else's kid up for camp Carnival with evil intentions, right? lol

 

But really, thanks for pointing this out because I COMPLETELY missed the part where I could fill in other names. Don't want to miss filling that out!

[amoody914]

I pre-registered my daughter as well (same cruise date :) ) I didn't even realize that, but I guess because the cabin number is on there, they'll just compare the printed name to the name registered to the cabin number? I can't imagine too many people trying to sign someone else's kid up for camp Carnival with evil intentions, right? lol

 

But really, thanks for pointing this out because I COMPLETELY missed the part where I could fill in other names. Don't want to miss filling that out!

 

LOL I saw it and thought I filled it out wrong haha! That makes sense about the cabin number being listed they should be able to compare it to the names :) Yay for the same sail date!! Has your child been in Camp Carnival before?

[Fetchh]

My apologies if this has been asked.

Are there clothing irons in the laundry facilities for passengers to use?

[mchelle77]

LOL I saw it and thought I filled it out wrong haha! That makes sense about the cabin number being listed they should be able to compare it to the names :) Yay for the same sail date!! Has your child been in Camp Carnival before?

 

Nope, this is our first time sailing with Carnival. We did NCL last year for our first cruise and loved it.

[arpie05]

My apologies if this has been asked.

Are there clothing irons in the laundry facilities for passengers to use?

 

Yes there is. There are self service launderettes.

[k2excursion]

We love to hear the Blackjack Band play. We just retuned from the March 23rd sailing and spent a lot of time listening to them in the Ocean Plaza. The beauty of it is that they play lots of different types of music that appeals to people of all ages. We saw everything from toddlers dancing to 80+ dancing & having a great time. IMHO,nothing compares to live music.:)

We also caught the other band that plays in the Plaza and they were no comparison to Blackjack. A gentleman requested a song and the arrogant lady from the band told him, "I told you when we first started playing, we play want we want to." :eek: We got up & left and returned when Blackjack played later that night. We saw them happily taking & playing requests as time permitted. There is no comparison of vocal talents as the female from Blackjack can sing circles around the lady with the other band in the plaza.

We also enjoyed the duo that played in the lobby bar. She is so cute & friendly and we loved hanging out sipping our DOD while listening to them.

 

Thank you for your positive report on Black Jack Band. I consider them to be friends of mine, as I've cruised with them 5 times now, and they've gotten to know me & my family. They recognize us right away when we show up again, and we always get to talk plenty with them. Melanie Michaels Hodge is the lead singer. Her husband, Jimmy Hodge, plays the fiddle, guitar, and sings. He also plays in the country show and does a couple songs with only him on stage. "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" always brings down the house. I hope that they will not be on vacation when I return to the Dream in January. According to their website, they will be on vacation from May 18 - July 6 coming up. Sorry to all that will be crusing the Dream during that time. I certainly hope that Carnival doesn't dump Black Jack Band when their contract runs out.

Edited April 8, 2013 by k2excursion

[ncshp955]

Thank you for your positive report on Black Jack Band. I consider them to be friends of mine, as I've cruised with them 5 times now, and they've gotten to know me & my family. They recognize us right away when we show up again, and we always get to talk plenty with them. Melanie Michaels Hodge is the lead singer. Her husband, Jimmy Hodge, plays the fiddle, guitar, and sings. He also plays in the country show and does a couple songs with only him on stage. "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" always brings down the house. I hope that they will not be on vacation when I return to the Dream in January. According to their website, they will be on vacation from May 18 - July 6 coming up. Sorry to all that will be cruising the Dream during that time. I certainly hope that Carnival doesn't dump Black Jack Band when their contract runs out.

Thanks for ruining my vacation. I have been reading about this band on board and was looking forward to hearing them. Hope they have a good vacation since they have ruined mine.:mad: :mad: Just kidding. I am sailing on May 18th and will miss hearing them. Everyone says they are good. Hope Carnival comes up with a good alternative.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

It is the best ship ..

[arpie05]

My apologies if this has been asked.

Are there clothing irons in the laundry facilities for passengers to use?

 

They used to show on the general map but not now. Here is zydecocruiser's link that tells you where. (at the bottom) What I did one night was used the deck 10 - checked my watch - went to deck party - went back put in dryer - went back to deck party - kept eye on my time and then got stuff out of dryer. (For our Dream trip we only had one carry on each and we were gone a total of two weeks so I did have to do laundry mid-week) I also took the Purex 3 n 1 sheets and a roll of quarters so I wasn't trying to find (Casino has but is closed if you want to do laundry while in a port)

 

On our Glory Cruise - I bought one of those $1 store mesh Pop Up hampers to use. That way my teenager could throw in his sweat clothes when he took off and not contaminate any of my clothes! :D

 

http://www.zydecocruiser.net/carnivaldream/grandmed/Ship/laundry.htm

[arpie05]

PS - the Irons are free to use. I recommend doing as you unpack as there is always a rush to use an hour before dinner on Elegant evening night.

[amoody914]

Does anyone know how to get to the beach in St. Maarten that is supposed to be right by the cruise port, or has been there before? I know there are a bunch of beaches that you can take taxis too, but I've heard the one right by the port is really nice. Any info or suggestions? St. Maarten is definitely going to be beach day for my DH, DD(4), Brother and SIL!!:D

Edited April 8, 2013 by amoody914

[Notaworryintheworld]

Does anyone know how to get to the beach in St. Maarten that is supposed to be right by the cruise port, or has been there before? I know there are a bunch of beaches that you can take taxis too, but I've heard the one right by the port is really nice. Any info or suggestions? St. Maarten is definitely going to be beach day for my DH, DD(4), Brother and SIL!!:D

 

You just get off the ship and go on the water taxi--there are big huge signs showing you where the water taxi is. I think it was about $7 per person for the day. The beach is alright---definitely white sand and blue water and easy to get to and not expensive to rent chairs and such. But it was very crowded and all the chairs were very close together. I think there's also issues with the quality of the water if i'm remembering correctly and a lot of people said not to swim in it. (I read about it on the St Maarten port board...so youll probably find more info there). I recommend going to one of the nicer beaches on St Maarten, but if you want a really easy day, that's very close and very easy to get to!

[DaCruiserFromtheATX]

Hello all i am just wondering if there is a guy's burgers on the dream?

[cruisinqt]

No there's not a Guys Burgers, just the normal burger grill.

[arpie05]

I know we were posting about Laundry and I just came across this info...

Cashless Washers and Dryers – on Carnival Breeze & Carnival Dream

This cashless system allows guests to swipe their Sail & Sign card in a card reader machine inside the launderettes and then choose the number of the machine they want to use. Guests will be able to view these charges on their Sail & Sign account.

Note: The cost is $3.25 for the washer and the dryer each and $1.50 for the detergent.

[bguppies]

I know we were posting about Laundry and I just came across this info...

Cashless Washers and Dryers – on Carnival Breeze & Carnival Dream

This cashless system allows guests to swipe their Sail & Sign card in a card reader machine inside the launderettes and then choose the number of the machine they want to use. Guests will be able to view these charges on their Sail & Sign account.

 

Note: The cost is $3.25 for the washer and the dryer each and $1.50 for the detergent.

 

Using the sign and sail card instead of having to tote rolls of quarters was great.

 

Bill

[singergal1]

I enjoyed the mushroom/goat cheese pizza on our January 26, 2013 Dream sailing. The original sushi bar has been turned into the Taste Bar but you can still find the sushi on the lido buffet each evening. This was a big relief to our sushi-loving kids! :)

 

On our March 30th, 2013 sailing there was no mushroom/goat cheese pizza served. There was just Mushroom/cheese pizza. Sad :(

 

Sushi (two varieties) are put out on the Lido buffet area at about 6pm so depending on when you are doing dinner, you may or may not get it.

[amoody914]

You just get off the ship and go on the water taxi--there are big huge signs showing you where the water taxi is. I think it was about $7 per person for the day. The beach is alright---definitely white sand and blue water and easy to get to and not expensive to rent chairs and such. But it was very crowded and all the chairs were very close together. I think there's also issues with the quality of the water if i'm remembering correctly and a lot of people said not to swim in it. (I read about it on the St Maarten port board...so youll probably find more info there). I recommend going to one of the nicer beaches on St Maarten, but if you want a really easy day, that's very close and very easy to get to!

 

Ive been reading in different threads that the water at Great Bay is polluted...however, the posts are from 2011, I haven't seen anything from recent times. Do you know if the water is still bad to go in? I liked the idea of Orient Beach...but with part of it being a nude beach, I'm not sure my 4 year old should be playing there lol...aside from Great Bay, are there any other local beaches that you'd recommend if GB isn't water friendly? I like Maho Beach, but DH isn't too interested in having planes fly overhead, and BIL just returned from serving in Afghanistan for a year, and the noise from the planes flying so close wouldn't be the best for him right now.

Edited April 9, 2013 by amoody914

[tncap]

I like Maho Beach, but DH isn't too interested in having planes fly overhead.

 

As you can see from my avatar, this is pretty much the only thing I want to do in St. Maarten. Hoping to get there on the Dream in September 2014!

[amoody914]

As you can see from my avatar, this is pretty much the only thing I want to do in St. Maarten. Hoping to get there on the Dream in September 2014!

 

I think it'd be lots of fun...but I understand my BIL not feeling comfortable there. One day though! :)

[sbnuggie]

Does anyone have a copy of the luggage express flyer that I could read, want to make sure we can take advantage of this program.... Thanks.