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

[radrayjax]

LIDO DECK CABIN AREAS

 

Next, we’ll look up and down one of the cabin hallways. From this point downward, they pretty much all look alike, so I’m not going to dwell on them, other than to verify that you won’t know exactly where you are until you read a deck directional plaque or a room number.

 

I’ve show a few bits and pieces of deck hallway art. I’m going to devote a special chapter to the hallway art from around the ship after doing deck 9.

 

Forward view of starboard side cabin hallway, taken about midway:

 

Aft view of starboard side cabin hallway, taken about midway:

 

Forward, starboard emergency exit:

 

Interior of Lido laundry room (I can’t find exact location on deck plans):

 

Sink in corner of laundry room, next to ironing board above:

[radrayjax]

Forward Elevator Lobby:

 

Next, we’re head aft towards the forward elevator lobby and atrium.

 

Aft view of portside stateroom hallway, around the corner is the edge of the glass partition surrounding the atrium:

 

Forward view of portside upward stairwell, this is forward of the elevator lobby:

 

Forward view of artwork at center downward stairwell:

 

Forward view of starboard upward stairwell:

 

Aft view of forward elevator lobby, the entrances to glass elevators are ahead:

 

Forward starboard elevator plaque:

[radrayjax]

Lido Deck Atrium area...

 

Referencing the prior photo, we go aft and to the right (portside) around the glass elevators to the atrium.

 

Starboard view across the atrium. A glass elevator is seen at the left:

 

Forward view of a glass elevator:

 

Looking downward and starboard at the atrium and the lobby deck below. How can you be sure? The glass elevators are facing rear; the yellow wall is facing forward.:

 

Looking upward and starboard at the atrium canopy:

 

Starboard and aft view of the lobby leading to the pool:

 

Looking starboard at a chair in the lobby leading to the pool. I don’t recall seeing another chair like this one:

[radrayjax]

Forward view of the atrium and rear of glass elevators from the lobby above:

 

Aft view of door leading to Waves Pool area:

 

We’re now heading aft and out onto the Waves Pool deck area.

 

Aft view of Waves Pool area:

Sometimes when you’re in the middle of something, you can’t see the forest for the trees. I’m going to repeat a photo taken from the Panorama Deck of the Pool area to better point out some of the features.

 

To the starboard side (Left) in the photo below is the Grill, just in front of the Gathering. Next to that on the right is the men’s restroom followed by the center entrance to the middle elevator lobby. To the port side (right) is the pizza stand, followed by the port entrance to the Gathering.

 

Aft view of Waves Pool area from Panorama Deck:

The men’s restroom by the central pool was one of the busiest on board, so I couldn’t take pictures inside. I did NOT stink. While I’m at it I can declare that there was NO ships’ smell anywhere on board. Whatever it was that plagued this ship in its early months is long gone. I would have been happed to document where the smell lingered if anywhere.

 

Continuing aft onto the pool area:

 

Aft and port view of Waves Pool from just outside the atrium lobby door:

Aft and starboard view of Waves Pool from just outside the atrium lobby door:

 

[radrayjax]

THE WAVES POOL AREA:

 

Moving rearward a few paces, we’re going to turn around and look at the forward features of the waves pool area from port to starboard.

 

Forward portside stairs leading from the Lido to the Promenade Deck:

 

Forward view portside Lido Waves Bar:

 

Port view of portside Lido Waves Bar. Note the popcorn machine. Popcorn is available during the nightly film showings:

 

Aft view of starboard Lido Waves Pool bar:

 

Moving to port and forward a few more feet, just aft of the showers at the end of the pool:

 

Forward and starboard view of Lido pool area:

 

Aft and starboard view of Lido pool area from about the same point:

[radrayjax]

Aft and starboard view of stairs leading from the Lido to the Promenade Deck. These are cattycorner from the stairs shown earlier:

 

Forward and port view of Lido Waves Pool area, taken from the starboard corner of the pool. The upper decks and waterworks can be seen:

 

We’re now moving forward to look closer and the Grill and pizza stand going from starboard to port.

 

The Grill, on the starboard side in front of the Gathering:

Display case of the pizza stand:

 

Aft view of the counter of the pizza stand:

 

Aft view of the portside entrance to the Gathering, just past the pizza stand:

[radrayjax]

Moving back to the center, behind the pool, we’re going into the central elevator lobby, which is just forward of the Gathering.

 

Forward view of the Waves Pool area from the central elevator lobby:

 

Aft and starboard view central elevator lobby:

 

Starboard side central elevator deck plan plaque:

 

Aft and downward view of the whimsical art on the down stairway leading to the vista deck:

 

Note the tortoises playing with beach balls above. The forward and aft stairwells would feature more “serious” abstract art. The central stairwell would feature more fanciful, but “realistic” art. That’s one way of telling where you are.

 

10-042-P1010596 Forward view of exit from the Gathering to the central elevator lobby:

 

Didn’t get as far as I hoped today. Tomorrow we’ll explore the Gathering and the aft pool area.

 

TOMORROW: CONCLUDING THE LIDO DECK.

[JesMil]

really looking forward to more of this very interesting review. Thanks for not being dull!

[RanchoDeluxe]

Oh no! I have caught up with your last post. Now I have to wait for more. DRAT.

 

Ray - you look very nice in your suit. You should wear it more then twice a year. And Fran is ROCKING the blue dress from Cozumel. It looks great on her and the color is Frantastic. Please tell her.

 

Finally, thank you for showing the laundry room. I’m not sailing on the Dream, but I imagine it will be something similar on the Miracle. At least I have some reasonable expectation. It's the first ship's laundry room picture I have seen.

[radrayjax]

Oh no! I have caught up with your last post. Now I have to wait for more. DRAT.

 

R

ay - you look very nice in your suit. You should wear it more then twice a year. And Fran is ROCKING the blue dress from Cozumel. It looks great on her and the color is Frantastic. Please tell her.

 

 

Finally, thank you for showing the laundry room. I’m not sailing on the Dream, but I imagine it will be something similar on the Miracle. At least I have some reasonable expectation. It's the first ship's laundry room picture I have seen.

 

 

THANKS!

This is NOT the last behind the scenes photo I have. I shot and have ohers that NO ONE seems to have.

[Pennyscandy]

Radray, do they still have color wars? Did you see that at all. We are all on deck 6 and think white t-shirts are our color. Heard they do red white & blue colors for the different decks.

Was that you spinning on your hand?

Can't wait to see those dancers.

[grima625]

Really enjoying your review! Leaving on the Freedom next Saturday, but will be trying to keep up on this review until then. If you need a break from all of the hard work, next weekend would be best for me.:) I'm not sure if everyone else would agree with that.

 

I was wondering if you felt that the Dream was ever too crowded. I've considered cruising on her in the future, but thought it might feel crowded with all of the extra people onboard. The spa looks like a great place to avoid the crowds.

[radrayjax]

Radray, do they still have color wars? Did you see that at all. We are all on deck 6 and think white t-shirts are our color. Heard they do red white & blue colors for the different decks.

Was that you spinning on your hand?

Can't wait to see those dancers.

 

Penny, I think that happened on the last sea day, but I was busy elsewhere. I didn't hear much about it. What post are you referring to me spinning something in my hand?

[radrayjax]

Really enjoying your review! Leaving on the Freedom next Saturday, but will be trying to keep up on this review until then. If you need a break from all of the hard work, next weekend would be best for me.:) I'm not sure if everyone else would agree with that.

 

I was wondering if you felt that the Dream was ever too crowded. I've considered cruising on her in the future, but thought it might feel crowded with all of the extra people onboard. The spa looks like a great place to avoid the crowds.

 

Thanks. As I noted earlier, the timing of this cruise was at a time when school WAS in session and the weather was not super hot, but still it was warm. There were 4250 passengers on this voyage, so it was not a max capacity. Things were busy but not too crowded. There were always quiet places to be found.

[radrayjax]

CONTINUING THE LIDO DECK.

 

Tonight we’re going through the aft half of the Lido deck, which consists of the Gathering and the aft Sunset Pool area. I could show endless close-up of food, but that wouldn’t exactly tell you were you were in the Gathering. Don’t worry, there will be some food porn.

 

There are four buffet lines, two forward and two aft. In the forward section the lines usually mirror each other and also they mirror from one end the other. For instance, during lunch, the two outer ends of each line will feature salads, then cold cuts, finally hot foods toward the center.

 

In the aft section the rear-facing line features a burrito bar, and also has two 3-burner omelet stations for breakfast. The forward bars also have omelet stations, so there could be 12 omelet burners going at one time. The last aft bar, which faces forward, is almost exclusively dedicated to cold foods and desserts. Desserts will also be found at the far ends of the forward bars, so there are multiple sweet treat locations.

 

Outside the Gathering, on the port side facing the pool area is the Deli. On the starboard side opposite the Deli, is the Tandoor Grill.

 

We’re going to start forward on the port side, go all the way aft and swing around the pool, by the aft sculpture, and then head back forward through the Gathering on the starboard side, as the deck plan below approximates.

 

Approximate route through the aft half of the Lido Deck

 

Large deck plan for the gathering, inside the center door/elevator lobby:

 

Portside aft view after entering the Gathering from the door by the pizza stand:

 

Portside entrance to galley:

 

Moving aft and turning to the left (starboard) we come to the first of four beverage stations. These have ice, water, juices, tea, and coffee.

 

Portside forward beverage station:

 

Condiment table facing the beverage station:

[radrayjax]

Close-up of Bigelow tea box on the condiment table:

 

Typical booth in the Gathering:

 

The carpet in the Gathering:

 

Just past the beverage station to the starboard is the first of the buffet lines.

 

Forward, portside buffet line set up for salads:

 

Forward, view to port of the backside of the omelet station:

 

Starboard view cold cuts prior to the omelet station:

[radrayjax]

More direct view of the omelet station:

 

The next few photos are of the forward buffet operating as the Mongolian Wok.

 

Forward view of the Mongolian Wok:

 

One of two 3-burner Mongolian Wok stations (port and starboard of center):

 

Aft view of the backside of the Mongolian Wok station:

 

[radrayjax]

Moving aft we’re at the rear section of the Gathering.

 

Forward view of the portside of the Gathering, the beginning of the buffet line is on the right:

 

Forward and starboard view of the first rear buffet line. This is the burrito station during the day:

Moving further aft we exit to the Sunset pool area. Immediately on the left (starboard) is the deli.

 

Starboard view of the Deli:

 

Starboard and slightly forward view of the Deli:

 

Aft view of the port side Sunset Pool Bar (sorry this is out of focus):

 

Forward view of the aft end of the port side Sunset Pool Bar next to the portside stairs to the Panorama Deck:

[radrayjax]

The Aft Sunset Pool Area Portside...

 

 

To get a better view of the overall Sunset Pool area, I’m again using a photo taken from the Panorama Deck.

 

Starboard view overlooking the Sunset Pool area from the Panorama Deck:

 

Aft and slightly starboard view of the rear port side of the Sunset Pool area:

 

Rounding behind the port side hot tub: Starboard view behind the hot tub and pool:

 

Forward and upward view of the Panorama, Spa, and Sun decks overlooking the Lido Deck Sunset Pool area:

Forward view of the back of the Lido Deck sculpture:

 

Portside and forward view of the Lido Deck port bar:

[radrayjax]

Sunset Pool Area Sculpture...

 

Forward view of the Sunset Pool and entrance to Lido aft elevator lobby:

 

Forward and starboard view hot tub and Panorama Deck starboard aft:

 

Aft and port view of the Lido Deck Sculpture:

 

Close-up of the Lido Deck Sculpture:

 

Before moving on, and to stop obsessing about this sculpture, I want to show you another work I saw a few years ago. The sculpture above, where the woman seems about to walk forward in mid air, is very reminiscent to this:

 

This is Wind on the Water, by Richard McDermott Miller, placed at Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina in 1990. I took this photo in October 2007:

 

[radrayjax]

Finishing the Aft Pool area...

 

Forward view, rounding towards starboard hot tub. Stairs to Panorama Deck on the right:

 

Forward and slightly to port view of Sunset Pool beverage station.

 

Forward view of the Tandoor, just outside the Starboard aft exit of the Gathering:

 

Closer view of the Tandoor, from the aft, starboard corner:

[radrayjax]

Starboard Side of the Gathering...

 

Moving forward back into the Gathering on the starboard side…

 

Forward view of the Gathering starboard aft area:

 

Moving slightly forward, view to port of the aft buffet lines, and the stairs to the Pasta Bar, on the left:

 

Closer, port view of the stairs to the pasta bar:

 

Port view of the starboard side of the aft dessert section:

 

Moving further forward towards the forward section of the Gathering:

 

Port view of the forward, starboard section of the Gathering:

[radrayjax]

Concluding the Gathering and the Lido Deck...

 

Forward view of the starboard end of the buffet line:

 

Near the starboard end of the forward buffet line:

 

Forward view of the starboard side of the gathering, doors leading to Waves Pool area ahead:

 

A last, loving look at the starboard soft serve stations. AHHHH…

 

That concludes the Lido Deck.

 

Wow, to be done THIS side of tomorrow...

 

NEXT, A QUICK LOOK AT THE VISTA DECK (9)!

[Banditswife]

Thanks for all the great pics Ray. Have been reading your review for a couple of weeks. Was going to wait til the end, but thought I'd input my thanks now during this break. You are obviously putting a lot of time & effort into it, just wanted to say how much I (we) appreciate it. Sailing the Dream in Nov 2012.

[Pennyscandy]

Penny, I think that happened on the last sea day, but I was busy elsewhere. I didn't hear much about it. What post are you referring to me spinning something in my hand?

 

Just kidding, about your photo of the dancers. LOL

 

Love the review. Know it's a lot of work, but I think a labor of love. Loved both of Fran's new dresses, but the blue is my fav.

Waiting for the next installment.