Carnival Dream - too crowded?

[Waterloomarc]

I'll avoided the Dream class for a long time because I prefer smaller ships. However until my daughter get a little older we've been restricted to drivable ports...therefore I was forced to try her last year. I was sure it would be the crowded hellish behemoth I had made it out to be.

 

It was fine. In fact we're going on her again in September. There were actually several areas of the ship that I quite enjoyed. I didn't find it that crowded at all. However like others here I'm not the "gotta have a chair by the pool" type. As long as I can get one in the sun I'm fine and that was never a problem. I don't eat and the buffet except for lunch and then I don't use the 'specialty' stations so those may very well be crowded but I wouldn't notice. There are plenty of Mongolian and Mexican restaurants around here so I'm not about to try to eat that on vacation ;) We did anytime dining and never had to wait once. I can't comment on how hot the food was since my daughter was 15 months at the time... It's only recently I'm starting to get to eat hot food again!

 

Relax. Enjoy your cruise. I wouldn't say she was my favorite ship but she was much better than I was prepared for. Much.

[day-day]

My wife and I sailed the Dream on May 3rd - 10th. The ship is big indeed. So big that with the exception of Chef Art's steakhouse where the food is cooked when ordered, we didn't really get a "hot" meal at any time in the main dining room; just too many people getting fed at the same time.

We encountered long lines at the omelet station, the mongolian station, and most buffet lines. When at sea I would definitely recommend going to the Scarlett aft dining room for the sea day brunch. It is open for dining from 8am to 1pm. They will try to seat you with other passengers so if you want to eat privately then you will have to tell so.

Unless you are a platinum or diamond cruiser you will encounter long lines to embark the ship in New Orleans. I would definitely recommend going to the shore excursion portion of the manage my cruise and look for the excursion called "faster to the fun'. For $49.95 for everyone in the cabin you get head of the line on embarkation and debarkation, and a special line at the information desk.

Hope some of this information helps

 

We arrived at the port at around 11:40am (May 17) and felt that the FTTF would not have been of any value for embarkation. We moved through very quickly without FTTF or any other priorities. The only wait we had in the entire process was less than 5 minutes at the check-in counters. We were told at the counter that our cabin would be ready at 1pm; it was ready before that.

 

We parked at the cruise port parking lot and the lot was almost full; maybe less than 30 spaces still open. We parked at the top level and it appeared that there were no more cars coming up by the time we unloaded. I think the parking personnel were getting a count of how many spots were still available and held cars back for a few minutes.

[Beacher123]

Sailed on the Dream two years ago. We did not find it particularly crowded. We don't really sit by the pool but it is probably crowded during prime time. We like the Serenity area and go early to get the seat we want. Now, I'm not implying that there are no people, and prime time at the buffet is probably crowded, but not ridiculously so. Never had trouble trying to find a place to eat or sit.

 

My only complaint about the Dream was the so called "barbecue" on Deck 5. Did not enjoy that at all.

 

Don't know if this was mentioned previously, but was kind of surprised that some of the balconies look out over decks rather than right over the water. Just wasn't used to that.

 

Would not hesitate to sail on her again.

[madge57]

I can't reply for the Dream ( which I will be on in October) but I have been on the Freedom, Valor and never thought they were over crowded. But I went in January my other cruises have been in October. Going in the summer theres going to be more people and more kids because of the summer break so the pools will be crowded( duh) lol. Just make your cruise what you want and don't worry what others say! they may think 50 people is a crowd where you might think 50 is a small crowd. It all depends on you not others!! Enjoy!!!

[Namelocg]

Just off the Dream last Sunday. The only place that I found extremely crowded was the casino because it was both a Premier Casino cruise and the blackjack tournament finale cruise so there were lots of gamblers on board. We never waited more than 5 minutes for ATD and never had trouble finding good seats in the theater.