Documenting the dream western caribbean 01/21-28/2012; the money monkey goes cruising

[radrayjax]

Starboard Exterior Promenade Forward...

 

Forward view of the starboard side pilot’s station:

 

Aft view, now the deck has widened again:

 

Forward view from the forward wind screen:

 

Forward entrance to the starboard hallway by the Encore Lounge. This is where the trophy case can be found:

 

Aft view, moving further aft:

 

Forward giant chess set, starboard side:

[radrayjax]

Starboard, Forward Area of the Promenade Deck Exterior...

 

Wind screen, approaching the forward hot tub. This is alongside the casino:

 

Aft view of the forward hot tub. Ahead is the starboard rear exit/entrance from/to the casino, next to the casino bar:

 

Aft view, a few feet past the forward hot tub. A towel cabinet is on the right:

 

Forward view alongside the starboard entrance to the casino:

 

Just inside the starboard aft entrance to the casino. The Jackpot bar is center:

 

Aft view from the casino exit. The next hot tub can be seen on the left:

 

[cruzlovr75]

Wow fantastic review and pictures. I am hooked now! My hubby and I are sailing the Dream with this itinerary in April. I am really learning a lot about the ship and the ports through your review. Thank you.

[radrayjax]

Starboard Promenade Lanai Area...

 

Approaching the starboard Lanai and hot tub:

 

The starboard Lanai:

 

Hot tub at the starboard Lanai:

 

Aft view of the top of the Lanai hot tub:

 

Forward view from the top of the lanai hot tub:

 

Port view towards the entrance to the starboard side of the Ocean Plaza:

 

[radrayjax]

Starboard Promenade Aft Area...

 

Forward view, just past the hot tub:

 

Aft view, just past the hot tub:

 

Forward view to the starboard Lanai and hot tub. This is in the area of the upper Dream Street, just aft of the Wasabi Sushi Bar:

 

Forward view form the same area as above. The starboard entrance t the Caliente Dance Club and Future Cruise desk can be seen at the right:

 

Starboard entrance near the Caliente Dance Club and Future Cruise desk. This is just forward of Sam’s Piano Bar:

 

Just inside the door above. The Collection is on the middle left; Wasabi is on the far left. Just behind my shoulder is the Future Cruise Desk:

 

[radrayjax]

Promenade Deck Stern Area...

 

Heading further aft, the deck narrows again at the stern of the ship:

 

Forward view just before the turn to the stern of the Promenade Deck. The door we just past is in the center. The starboard pilot’s station can just be made out in the distance:

We’re now rounding the turn to the stern of the Promenade Deck, heading back towards the port side:

 

View towards port of the far aft of the exterior promenade:

 

Port view of the aft of the exterior promenade. The starboard exit from the Burgundy Lounge is on the right (we saw the inside of that door earlier):

 

Starboard entrance to/exit from the Burgundy Lounge:

 

 

Upward view from the aft area of the Promenade Deck:

[radrayjax]

Coming back to the the port side and the home stretch...

 

Moving to Port, the aft port door to the Burgundy Lounge is coming up on the right:

 

Aft port door to the Burgundy Lounge:

 

Starboard view, just rounding the turn back to the portside of the Promenade Deck:

 

We’ve rounded the final turn to the home stretch!

 

Forward view of the port side of the Promenade deck:

Forward view, the lounge chairs forward are outside the Caliente Dance Club:

 

 

Area just outside the Caliente Dance Club:

 

[radrayjax]

CONCLUDING THE PROMENADE DECK!

 

Forward view, exit from/entrance to the Caliente Dance Club is on the right:

 

Forward view, the aft hot tub and port Lanai, our starting point, is just ahead:

 

 

There is a lot of exterior space on the Promenade Deck. It never seemed as crowded as the Lido Deck.

 

This, at last, concludes the Promenade Deck. It’s taken 316 photos and illustrations to tell the story of this deck. The Spa and Sun decks together took 279 photos.

 

With this chapter we’re about ¾ through the ship and past the half way point of the trip. With the end of this chapter it’s time to break out another word document. The two documents now amass 1,096 pages and 63,241 words including this one!

 

TOMORROW: DOCUMENTING THE TRIP: CHAPTER 5: ROATAN

[cruzlovr75]

Can't wait to see and read more tomorrow.

I have to ask you... how many pictures in total did you take?

[radrayjax]

Wow fantastic review and pictures. I am hooked now! My hubby and I are sailing the Dream with this itinerary in April. I am really learning a lot about the ship and the ports through your review. Thank you.

 

Thanks! You should have a great time...

[radrayjax]

Can't wait to see and read more tomorrow.

I have to ask you... how many pictures in total did you take?

 

Thanks. I posted that statistic exactly one month ago in post #96. It is in RED text.

[WES143]

Is the two-piece carribbean band/duo still performing on the lido deck on sea days? They were there in March, 2011. I was wondering if they had gotten rid of them also. I hope not.......

[radrayjax]

Is the two-piece carribbean band/duo still performing on the lido deck on sea days? They were there in March, 2011. I was wondering if they had gotten rid of them also. I hope not.......

 

I didn't spend much time on the Lido during peak hours, but I don't recall seeing a live Carribean band.

[marygal]

I have to say your review is wonderful, thanks for all the great pics of the ship!

[EpcotBill]

Is the two-piece carribbean band/duo still performing on the lido deck on sea days? They were there in March, 2011. I was wondering if they had gotten rid of them also. I hope not.......

 

I was on the same cruise as Ray. I didn't see any live band on the lido deck. I think they've been replaced by a DJ.

[radrayjax]

I was on the same cruise as Ray. I didn't see any live band on the lido deck. I think they've been replaced by a DJ.

 

Bill, thanks for the confirmation...

[radrayjax]

I have to say your review is wonderful, thanks for all the great pics of the ship!

 

Thanks...and now for the next chapter...

[radrayjax]

DOCUMENTING THE TRIP: CHAPTER 5: JANUARY 25, 2012

WEDNESDAY AT ROATAN

First, the Fun Times for January 25, 2012:

 

[radrayjax]

Research for Roatan:

 

Before I get to the chronicle of this day, I want to discuss some of the research that went into this port.

 

I didn’t hold out much hope of getting new currency at Roatan, its largest town, Coxen Hole, has a single bank and a population of about 7,000, less than a tenth the size of San Miguel in Cozumel. And we all know how that went after five banks.

 

Still, last summer I tried to go the extra mile in research. I looked on You Tube and found a series of videos by a local realtor, T.J. Lynch, an ex-patriot Australian. His videos were marketing the REAL Roatan and real Coxen Hole. I decided to contact him and explain what I would be looking for when I arrived. “No worries, mate” he essentially said. I should have no problems getting new currency at the bank in Coxen Hole.

 

Well, my hopes were up. Of course, as some point I came to the realization that a non-collector’s idea of NEW currency and mine would not be the same. Still, it is a beautiful island and jaunt into Coxen Hole would be interesting. It has an interesting Mercado (market).

 

Google Earth Satellite/Map of Roatan:

 

 

 

The ship would be docking at Mahogany Bay, a fairly recently created port at a place locally know as Dixon’s Cove. When I looked at Bing Maps, the unimproved land could be seen in a three-year-old photo. Google Maps had updated satellite shots, but the name was still Dixon’s Cove.

 

The goal here was similar to Cozumel; by coincidence Coxen Hole was about two miles from Mahogany Bay, so I would have to hire a taxi for the ride. In Roatan, the taxis are negotiable. This could cost only half as much as the taxi in Cozumel. We would see.

 

If this really worked out, I could possibly end up with a stack of bills. The Honduran Lempira, the base unit of currency is only about $0.08 – 8 cents. Eight dollars would yield a stack of 100 Lempira’s.

 

Google Earth Satellite/Map of approximate route from Mahogany Bay to Coxen Hole:

 

 

Back to the day at hand:

 

When last we left our intrepid explorers, the Dream was winding and zigzagging its was through the far western Caribbean, heading toward Roatan after a fruitful day at Belize City.

 

According to the Fun Times (received the night before) I had a 7:20 sunrise, which I’m sure would already be on top of the northern approach to Roatan.

 

Well, I forgot to punch in the wake-up call the night before so my internal alarm clock went off at about 7:50AM.

 

First thing, as always, get a position fix along with speed and wind. We were already on the southern coast of Roatan, heading slightly north east towards Mahogany Bay.

 

The speed was just over 11 knots. According to the map, we had been winding around the night before.

 

 

Our position at 7:49AM, at the very western end of Roatan:

 

 

The wind was worrisome. It was a stiff 65km/hr or just over 40 miles an hour.

 

The wind, coming from slightly northeast 7:49AM:

 

I took a shower before going out on the observation deck. Fran was also rousing at this time.

[radrayjax]

Lessons in the shower:

 

Now for a little aside. I’ve read in CC where people were complaining about the water from the shower escaping and getting the bathroom floor wet. I did not seem to have this issue so I decided to look into it at this time. The bottom of the shower curtain must be fully INSIDE the lip of the shower stall basin. See the two photos below.

 

View of the curtain within the shower basin close to the outer wall of the bathroom:

 

View of the curtain within the shower basin close to the inner wall of the bathroom:

 

Further, at the top of the curtain, be sure to have the curtain extended to the end of the support rail:

 

Top of curtain, just past the end of the support rail by the inner wall:

 

 

Top of curtain as fully around the curve at the outer wall:

 

View from outside the shower; the curtain is inside the lip:

[radrayjax]

FIRST VIEWS OF ROATAN!

 

It was about 8:20AM when I was dressed and ready to go forward to the observation deck. Another quick look at the position showed us a few more miles to the east.

 

Latest position. 8:26AM:

 

I head forward. As I round the corner to the door leading to the observation deck, I can see sunlight streaming in through the porthole on the door.

 

Door leading to the Panorama Deck observation deck. 8:26AM:

When I got to the outer door, it was very tough opening it. The wind was coming straight from the east, exactly where we were heading. However, the day looked GLORIOUS!

 

View to port: First view of ROATAN!. 8:26AM:

 

 

The island stretches before me in the distance to the east. From this distance, without using the telephoto, I can just make out a few small, scattered structures near the shore line.

 

A few small structures on the coast. 8:27AM:

 

The coast tapers off to the north-eastern horizon. 8:27AM:

 

Telephoto shot of a portion of the coast. 8:28AM:

[radrayjax]

Sailing Along the Southen Coast of Roatan...

 

Telephoto shot a little further down the coast, more houses can be seen. 8:28AM:

 

Moving to the Starboard side I can see the coast of Honduras in the distance. It is very mountainous.

 

The coast of Honduras. 8:30AM:

 

Telephoto shot of the coast of Honduras; it is very hazy at this distance. 8:31AM:

 

A little further east on Roatan, more structures/small towns can be seen. 8:32AM:

In the middle distance above, I can see a large antenna near the shore and zoom in on that.

 

Telephoto shot of small village with a large antenna. 8:32AM:

 

Telephoto shot of water tower on a large hill. 8:33AM:

[radrayjax]

A few more shots before breakfast...

 

Uncropped shot of the coast, sea, and sky. 8:33AM:

 

One more telephoto shot of the island for now. 8:33AM:

 

Supposedly we’ve still got an hour and a half until we dock, so we must not be particularly close to either Mahogany Bay or Coxen Hole. The island above is very pretty, but, for now, there are no distinguishing features. I decide to get some breakfast before going back out for the closer approach.

 

As usual, I get a quick position fix before heading aft to the gathering.

 

Our position, still tracking east. 8:36AM:

 

 

I make my way aft and down, towards the Gathering. Someone has asked about me near-empty shots of the Lido Waves Pool area during the day. Here is how it looked at this time.

 

The Lido Waves Pool area this morning. 8:42AM:

[radrayjax]

BREAKFAST IN THE GATHERING:

 

I head to the aft section of the Gathering to hitch up with an omelet. The omelet station (one of four) is not overly crowded and my order is in the works in short order (pun intended).

 

The burners in the omelet station “a-bubbling’ and a-brewing.” 8:46AM:

 

Breads and sweet treats on the buffet line. 8:47AM:

 

My omelet is on the left. I’m giving it plenty of time to get plenty cooked. 8:52AM:

With the ham and cheese omelet I have some bacon, a croissant, and a chocolate muffin (ALMOST the breakfast of champions – actually that is where little chocolate covered donuts come in.). The omelet was great, again.

 

Breakfast on the table. 9:00AM:

 

AND a bowl of melons, also very good. 9:00AM:

[radrayjax]

A few more photos during breakfast...

 

I sit by a portside window, and snap a few.

 

Roatan, as seen through a portside window on the Lido Deck – a little hazy through the glass. 9:01AM:

 

Also, through the window, I see another cluster of building and take a telephoto shot.

 

Telephoto shot of buildings to the right above. 9:01AM:

There is something else I notice, here in the dining area. Something is wrong here, very, very wrong:

 

“That ain’t right!” – John Wesley Austin. 9:03AM:

 

And it doesn’t get any better from the rear! 9:11AM:

 

Moving on. To the east, I grab a shot of the sunlight glistening on the water, the sun itself, just out of the frame.

 

Sunlight on the water. 9:07AM: