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

[radrayjax]

Bazinga! I can't believe I'm back a week and you still aren't done! I usually do a review, but after yours, I figured "why bother." actually, the only thing I could contribute is pictures of Roatan since we did stop there. Mahogany Bay is awesome. Sorry you missed it. Maybe I'll post some if you don't mind.

 

Welcome back. I couldn't telegraph the fact that we didn't land and spoil the surprise. I have to thank my fellow 1/21-28 Dreamers for also not chiming in and spoiling the outcome!

Some Roatan photos would be great. I do all my photo processing on my computer.

I load most photos at 800 pixels wide (height varies due to cropping) X 600 pixels tall when uncropped. The “Vista” shots are up to 1000 pixels wide but usually less than half that tall. By doing the re-sizing and reducing on my computer, about a dozen photos load in around a minute.

All those people who complain about slow loading are trying to load 3-4MB photos straight. Most of my photos are 150-224KB by the time I load them.

[radrayjax]

I continue to be impressed by your observation skills. Where many would see a space you document intricate detail. Your photos capture the designers' use of light and vertical space which obscures the fact that you're inside.

 

A question - how did you get the views of crew only areas?

 

Thanks!

To answer your question, apparently by boldly going were no passenger had the temerity to go before!

I WALKED in or through! Surreptitiously of course. If someone from the crew was watching I wouldn't try. But SO many areas were not highly populated (to dispute what others have said) that at most times I didn't have a problem. If I got caught (it happed)...”Oh, sorry, just looking. Sorry.” A short time later, BACK through another door!

Tonight, when I post the photos of the lifeboat areas on the Atlantic Deck, it's ALL by dint of going where passengers should not go!

[radrayjax]

Really enjoying the review/novel about the Dream! I had been put off by some of the other reviews about her because of the crowding issues and if we did go I'd probably want to bring our kids so we would be traveling during peak times and I recognize that OP was not. Either way I am fascinated by ships and the design and engineering that goes into them!

 

 

Someone else mentioned earlier that you should give us some way to pay you, here is what I'd propose. I'd LOVE a review like this of the Elation, even though it is an older and smaller ship. I bet if all of your fans pitched in $25 per assignment we could send you to each ship in the fleet in turn! Don't know what your vacation rules are at your "real" job but if you could get free from time to time you should put your skill set to good use! Anyone agree?

 

 

Thanks!

 

Doing an unintended novel once is enough to last quite a while. I wouldn't be interested, or have the time, to go on a smaller ship just for the sake of doing it. I felt strongly that the Dream needed a less biased review. I've already read a review of the same voyage where the reviewer complained about overcrowding.

 

I think I've shown plenty of photographic proof, that there were many areas on sea days that were not overcrowded, if one would just get away from the central pool area. My wife never had a problem finding a place to sun; I wasn't looking for one.

[radrayjax]

More amazing photos and great review. Your documentation and photos of the clubs has made me want to go and see them. Normally, I would not have gone but your photos showed how beautiful the decor is, so now they are on my must see list. Also will seek out other areas we would not have gone to because of your photos and review.

Thanks

 

Penny, Thanks again!

[Cruzface]

OK, since I have received the "go ahead" and the only possible thing missing from this review is some pictures of Roatan (due to no fault of Ray), here are some pics of Mahogany Bay. When we woke up, it poured. It was not looking good for our planned day of ziplining and beach break. So, we canceled our excursion (private) and decided to just explore the man-made port and beach.

 

Entrance to Mo Bay:

 

 

The chair lift to the beach. $12 for the ride seemed ridiculous. After the walk which was easy and quick, it seemed outrageous. Trust me. Walk. There is even a nature trail you can walk through.

 

 

Pictures of the beach panning left to right as you face the water. As you can see it turned out to be a gorgeous day. Oh well, we will zipline someday. Those podium looking things are actually to put your drinks/food on while you hang out. Nice touch.

 

 

 

 

[Cruzface]

Sand scupture on the beach:

 

 

DW and I love to explore. So we walked the length of the beach to the left and went out on the pier they use for snorkeling. Nice pics of the mangroves:

 

 

 

[Cruzface]

To quote our fearless OP, here is a "money shot" of the Dream from the pier:

 

 

Mo Bay is a quirky place, with restaurants and bars, beach vollyball, steel drum bands. The food looked and smelled great. $30 got you a pretty nice all you can eat buffet. We waited to eat back on the ship.

 

 

 

 

 

[Cruzface]

The left side of the beach (facing the water) has the cabanas. I have no idea what they cost, but they were air conditioned and had a nice private beach area. Here is a view in between two cabanas:

 

 

Our son found this beautiful shell near the jetty to the right of the beach. He wanted to bring it home until he realized it had a living thing in it. He happily set free.

 

 

We enjoyed our spot under a palm tree, beer in my hand and the water just steps away. To quote Zac Brown, "Life is good today."

 

 

 

The obligatory "Shark Eating My Head" shot:

 

[Cruzface]

Sadly, it came time to leave Mo Bay. Here are pics of the beach area mostly deserted:

 

 

 

BTW, you could rent kayaks, paddle boats and big wheels at a spot just as you cross the bridge to the beach area. This pic was taken from the bridge:

 

 

Goodbye Roatan:

 

 

 

 

Now back to your regularly scheduled program...

[jaxcruiser23]

INTRODUCING THE MONEY MONKEY

 

Here is the Money Monkey (Macaca numismatica). This is a monkey, not an ape, because he has a tail.

 

 

The Money Monkey is significant because I am a numismatist (Money: Coins, Currency, Medals, etc) and have been all my life.

 

QUOTE 2:

 

 

“I started collecting at the age of five, before I knew I was alive, and by the time I was ten I was dangerous because I was organized!” - Ray

 

 

I’m a numismatic geek.

 

To provide some proof of the longevity of my involvement I present the following photo taken over 40 years ago:

 

Ray at the Franklin Mint, summer 1971. I’m standing in front of the world’s largest medal. I was 17 and about 5’5”, so the medal was 8 feet tall.

 

The photo was taken years before 60 Minutes’ 1980 expose’ on the deceptive marketing practices of the FM; but none of that was a surprise to me. I enjoyed the QUALITY of many of their products, but seldom bought anything.

 

During the late 1960’s and early 1970’s the US Mint (and other world mints) produced coins of poor or uneven quality, not just for circulation but also in the coins they put out in collector sets. I stopped collecting US coins by date in the late 1970’s and didn’t look again until the 1990’s, by which time the US caught up with and even surpassed the high quality of the Franklin Mint.

 

Back to the Money Monkey. The MM was given to me by a coin & stamp club in Flagler County (about 45 miles south of Jacksonville) for a presentation I did last year: Other Works by Coin Designers…Up to and Including the Supreme Court Building. This was a study of the works of 13 major artists/sculptors born during the 2nd half of the 19th century who had a great influence on art and coin design from the 1870’s until the 1960’s.

 

I do presentations every year at my local club and take them on the road to other clubs in North and Central Florida.

 

The hobby became a business in the mid-1990’s and I’ve been on eBay (seller search: radray) for almost 14 years. [That’s my night job; I still have a day job.] I travel to coin shows about three or four times a year on buying trips.

 

RULE 2 (an adjunct to Rule 1):

 

 

Never leave home without a tax benefit.

 

 

ALL of my travel (including the upcoming cruise) can be boiled down to buying trips. That will work here because I intend to go to a bank in each of the foreign ports of call (Mexico, Honduras, and Belize) and obtain new, crisp currency of use on eBay.

 

Goal 3: Obtain currency from three foreign countries.

 

In this write-up I may use photos/scans of currency or coins to illustrate points in my past or on this trip. Note that this is NOT a sales pitch, none of the photos of items in the write up (other than proof of achieving Goal 3) are for sale.

 

However, expect money Porn.

 

Speaking of which, how would you like to see a kilo of the pure white stuff from Mexico?

 

PSSST! Look in this box:

 

 

Open the box and look CLOSELY:

 

Too Close? How about this:

Okay, let’s back up a little…

 

 

 

 

That is so cool about the MM I see you live in Jax as we do as well born and raised We live near the regency area right now but gettin bad around here anyway I saw you where into coins I would like you to take a look at some coins I have found I am a avid metal detector and like to search alot of historical areas and homes in jax I think you may like what I have found, Ok back to the cruise we went on the dream last year and enjoyed it so much we are sailing her again in April. Cant Wait!!! Also I think I speak for everyone here thank you so much for taking time to write a nice thorough review, Michael

[radrayjax]

Sand scupture on the beach:

 

DW and I love to explore. So we walked the length of the beach to the left and went out on the pier they use for snorkeling. Nice pics of the mangroves:

 

 

 

Your photos are GREAT! This last one reminds me of mangroves on the Banana River Lagoon in Cocoa Beach. Yup, just six or so miles south of Port Canaverl. I took a two-hour eco-cruise there in December.

[radrayjax]

That is so cool about the MM I see you live in Jax as we do as well born and raised We live near the regency area right now but gettin bad around here anyway I saw you where into coins I would like you to take a look at some coins I have found I am a avid metal detector and like to search alot of historical areas and homes in jax I think you may like what I have found, Ok back to the cruise we went on the dream last year and enjoyed it so much we are sailing her again in April. Cant Wait!!! Also I think I speak for everyone here thank you so much for taking time to write a nice thorough review, Michael

 

Michael,

 

Come visit the Jacksonville Coin Club next Monday (3/12) at the Northeast Florida Safety Council Building on Art Museum Drive. We're not having a formal program but a sort of Meet and Greet mini-show.

 

I'm not currently into coins too much but someone there might be interested.

[radrayjax]

Sadly, it came time to leave Mo Bay. Here are pics of the beach area mostly deserted:

 

 

 

Goodbye Roatan:

 

Now back to your regularly scheduled program...

 

Cruzface, THANKS! This helps round out the coverage. I take it you did NOT have strong easterly winds...

[radrayjax]

CONCLUDING DOCUMENTING THE ATLANTIC DECK: THE AFT SECTION AND EXTERIOR LIFE BOAT AREAS

 

 

 

The aft third has:

The aft section of Lower Dream Street Promenade

The Warehouse Video Arcade (Port)

Circle C (Starboard)

Club O2 (Starboard)

The Aft Elevator Lobby

The Scarlet Restaurant

STARBOARD

PORT

 

There is a lot to see in the aft section of the Atlantic deck. Still, when I did my most exploring at the height of day on the 25th (Roatan Abort Day) the place was virtually EMPTY. This voyage had few teenagers or children; there were none in the Circle C or Club O2 on this day. The Warehouse Video Arcade was also unpopulated.

 

As long as we have the deck plan above in sight, a note about the entrance to the Scarlet Restaurant: On the Promenade deck above, there is a central “flying bridge” from the aft elevator lobby to the Burgundy Lounge. On this deck the path splits to port and starboard to enter the restaurant. The “mini atrium” is clear (the trapezoidal gray area in front of the restaurant above). You can see the upper bridge, of course from this deck.

 

 

THE WAREHOUSE VIDEO ARCADE

 

The Warehouse Video Arcade can be reached by a fairly long hallway to the aft side of the Chambers Conference room or by a branch hallway to the port of the aft elevator lobby. You could walk the length of the Lower Dream Street Promenade on the starboard side of the ship and not realize that the Warehouse was to the port side of you. I don’t doubt than many casual observers have missed it altogether.

 

Forward view: Aft entrance to the Warehouse, from the aft elevator lobby. The PORT wall is to the left:

 

A few feet forward of the entrance, the room widens out:

 

Port view of large wheel decoration on the port wall:

 

Starboard view of the air hockey tables:

 

Video “driving” games near the air hockey tables:

[radrayjax]

The Warehouse Video Arcade:

 

Aft wall of the arcade, more “driving” video games:

 

View to starboard alongside the above games:

 

Aft view of the aft entrance (from the aft elevator lobby) of the arcade:

[radrayjax]

THE CIRCLE C YOUNG TEEN CLUB:

 

The entrance to the Circle C is a few feet aft of the stairway that descended from the Promenade Deck, just forward of the Wasabi. It’s approximate location is just below the Collection on the deck above. It is a moderate-sized space.

 

Port view of the entrance to the Circle C:

 

Port view of the interior of the Circle C:

 

Starboard wall (Right) of the Circle C:

 

Alcove (left) on the forward port corner of the Circle C:

 

Closer view, the alcove has computers. Whether this is an internet hub or closed loop, I can’t say:

 

Port wall of the Circle C:

[smplyblessed619]

So I just wanted to say that I'm *still* loving this review!!! :) Great job radrayjax! (Those pics of Roatan are beautiful as well Cruzface)

[radrayjax]

The Circle C Young Teen Club Continued:

 

Center of the floor of the Circle C, aft view:

 

Starboard, aft view towards the entrance:

 

Circle C Glass Table:

 

Forward view of the Lower Promenade, aft of the Circle C:

 

Crew-only exit to the life boat area on the starboard wall across from the entrance to the Circle C:

[radrayjax]

CLUB O2 OLDER TEEN/YOUNG ADULT CLUB

 

Club O2 is a fairly large space comparable in size and in placement on the deck to the Caliente Dance Club on the Promenade deck. It has an aft entrance to the aft elevator lobby.

Club O2 symbol to the right of the entrance:

 

Entry doors to club O2:

 

Port view through the door glass:

 

Port view, just inside the entrance:

 

Forward and starboard view, the entrance is on the right:

 

Forward, port corner; bar area is on the right:

[radrayjax]

CLUB O2 OLDER TEEN/YOUNG ADULT CLUB Continued:

 

Wider view of the bar area on the right:

 

Starboard view of the bar:

 

Aft and starboard view. The couches on the far wall are to the left of the entrance:

 

Starboard view. The bar area is to the left. The chairs near the entrance are seen through the hole on the right:

 

The alcove area just to the left (aft) of the entrance near the starboard wall:

 

Another view of the alcove area:

[radrayjax]

Concluding Club O2 OlderTeen/Young Adult Club:

 

Same area as above:

 

Looking forward from inside the alcove:

 

The next three shots are looking at the colors of the lights in the alcove to the left of the entrance:

 

 

 

 

Sign near the entrance to Club O2:

[radrayjax]

THE AFT ELEVATOR LOBBY

 

The few photos I’m presenting of the elevator lobby area are not typical. I’m starting from the forward port corner, near the hallway to the aft entrance to the Warehouse Video Arcade, then proceeding starboard, to the center of the lobby, and aft towards the Scarlet restaurant.

 

STARBOARD

PORT

 

Starboard view from the portside hall. The stairs are on the right (forward). The elevators are around the corner on the left (aft):

 

Forward view towards the aft entrance to the Warehouse Video Arcade:

 

Forward view, between the staircases, the aft entrance to Club O2:

 

Aft view from the elevator lobby towards the Scarlet Restaurant. The starboard (left) and port (right) walkways can be clearly seen:

 

Forward view from the mini atrium towards the elevator lobby:

[radrayjax]

THE SCARLET RESTAURANT UPPER TIER

 

The Scarlet Restaurant is aft of all of the lifeboat stations, so it has actual windows to the outside, and seems much lighter and airier than the more forward areas of the Atlantic Deck.

 

Aft view of the front of the Scarlet Restaurant from across the Atrium, the Lobby deck can be seen below. The bottom of the “flying bridge” to the Burgundy Lounge is above:

 

Starboard view from the portside walkway:

 

Downward view from the starboard side staircase at the front of the restaurant:

 

Starboard and aft view from the top of the starboard staircase above:

 

Aft view from the front of the starboard side of the Scarlet Restaurant:

 

Prep area at the forward, starboard wall:

[radrayjax]

THE SCARLET RESTAURANT UPPER TIER Continued:

 

Aft view from about mid-way back along the starboard side:

 

View to port from about the mid-way point aft:

 

Aft area along the starboard side:

 

Aft view of the center aft area:

 

Forward view of the starboard side of the Scarlet Restaurant:

 

Forward view of the starboard side of the lobby deck tier:

 

[radrayjax]

CONCLUDING THE SCARLET RESTAURANT UPPER TIER:

 

Forward and port view of the lower section of the Scarlet Restaurant:

 

The aft port side of the Scarlet:

 

Starboard view from about the portside midway point:

 

Aft and starboard view from near the front of the port side:

 

Downward view of a fruit prep area on the Lobby Deck:

 

Aft and downward view from the top of the port side staircase:

 

NEXT: EXCLUSIVE: THE EXTERIOR LIFE BOAT AREAS!