Back from Dream Cruise to Bahamas

[GeekSquad4]

Hey cruisers! Just got off the Dream yesterday from our 7 day to Key West, Freeport, and Nassau. This is my first review on Cruise Critic, but our 3rd cruise. Here we go!

 

Camp Ocean/Night Owls

DH and I took our two kids this go 'round (a Stingray and a Shark), and they had a blast! This was their second cruise and, like last time, they were begging to go back every day. Three or four of the days, they had a scavenger hunt for the Sharks who could sign themselves out, and so on the second day of this, DD asked if she could sign herself out just for the hunt. We decided to trust her with the responsibility of her S&S card and told her that if she tried to sign herself out for anything else, she would lose the privilege altogether (We aren't ready for her to have full sign-in/out privileges yet). She did great with it and had a fantastic time with her new Shark friends. For those who aren't familiar with Camp Ocean, they have a variety of things for your kids to do, including craft time, science experiments, game time, movie time, and dance time. Of course, DH and I decided that we needed an extra hour or two to ourselves on several occasions, so we allowed the kids to stay for Night Owls. After grats, Night Owls costs about $7.50 per kid, per hour, with an extra cost on their "Party" nights. But the kids love it because they get to stay up late dancing and "partying" with their friends. Portia, Kody, and Sam were our kids' favorite counselors this trip. They always greeted our kids by name and with smiles on their faces. Gotta love that!

 

Staff and Crew

Over all we had good, friendly service everywhere we went, but I want to give you guys the names of staff and crew to be on the lookout for when you're cruising the Dream. Before you go on, please note that we will absolutely fill out Carnival's survey for these guys and mention each of them by name and we urge you to do the same. They deserve the recognition for their hard work and great service.

We had an amazing dinner crew in the MDR. We dined in the Scarlet Dining Room, with Rodel, Antonio, and Jani. They were super attentive, greeting us by name and with inside jokes every night. Our head waiter, Rodel, ensured that DH and I had plenty to eat, and even brought us extra at times. We were impressed. Goran, our maitre d, received our emailed request to have our own personal table at dinner and told DH that he understands that dinner time is family time. He placed us in a private booth, for which we were so grateful. Our favorite bartender this week was Savio in the Jackpot (casino) Bar. He's been doing his job for 17 years, and it shows with how quick and friendly he is. He joked around with us and remembered our names and our favorite drinks. Shawn, our bar waiter in the MDR, was similar with his friendly face, but meek personality. We enjoyed both of these guys, and hated to tell them goodbye on our last night.

As I've said in a couple of other posts, we had the absolute best CD on this cruise. Chris Williams (The Flying Scotsman) is an amazing performer/entertainer. He blew us away with his constant high energy and how friendly and hilarious he was, both during performances and outside of them. We hope to cruise with him again in the future! Francis on the Fun Squad was fantastic as well, and made trivia fun! You can find him most days in the Ocean Plaza doing games and trivia. Be sure to call him Francie (Fran-see). He just loves that! ;)

Our room steward was super friendly when we spoke with him over the phone after losing a favorite lovey. Other than that and one or two other phone interactions, we never really saw him or even knew his name. I've heard about Carnival making cuts to staff and crew, and I think housekeeping staff could really feel the cut on the Dream. On our two previous cruises, we have been able to get to know our steward's name and speak to him/her in the hallways as we passed. This week, they all seemed so busy. We got smiles and hellos from them, but that was about it.

Food and Drink

MDR food was great. We enjoyed everything we ate. I wasn't too impressed by the filet I had with my surf n turf, but DH explained to me that filet mignon is supposed to be chewy (?). Meh. Give me lobster and shrimp! :) Escargot, stuffed mushrooms, and conch fritters were some of our favorite apps. Lobster tails, Junkaroo pot, and short ribs were amongst our favorite entrees. Banana bread pudding and cherry pie were great, and as always the Grand Marnier souffle was delicious.

 

Lido deck buffet was hit or miss, as per the usual, but we did find ourselves enjoying it more than we have in the past. They stepped up their game on some of the dessert options as well.

 

The Pasta Bar (The Gathering) on Deck 11 was just ok for me. DH tried it one day and really enjoyed it, so I went with him for lunch the following day. The alfredo was runny and the "add-ons" I asked for were scant. Meh. The bread was good though.

 

Guy's Burgers and Blue Iguana were as great as they were on the Triumph. I learned this cruise that Blue Iguana has a taco salad. DO IT. You won't be disappointed.

 

I had Tandoor only once, when I was brave enough to try it. I had beans and lentils over rice, which was delicious, and tandoor chicken, which was also good but SPICY! Haha..

 

Guy's Pig and Anchor actually knocked our socks off. We are picky about our BBQ, so that's saying something! I was just going to try the pulled pork, some slaw and potato salad, but DH decided to get everything on his plate (EVERYTHING!). He shared a bite of the things I didn't get, and honestly I wasn't disappointed with anything I ate. If you're a BBQ fan, get in line early. It's on Deck 5, starboard side (right outside of the Ocean Plaza).

 

Get the Cheers package! Just do it. It's one less thing to worry about. Ok, that aside, I lost my list for the drinks I wanted to try, but I did get a Cucumber Sunset at the Alchemy Bar. It was like a refreshing melon flavored drink. Delicious. DH got a Basil Drop that I didn't like, but he enjoyed. Definitely a strong one there. The wine list is very scant now that they've gone to the Amercan Table menu. It's a shame. Our first cruise had a very extensive wine list with several varieties. We literally had six wines to choose from on this cruise (one Moscato, one Sauvignon Blanc, one Pinot Noir, one Merlot, two Chardonnays). I was a bit disappointed by that. But the wines they did have were tasty (can't speak for the Chardonnay - I'm not a fan).

 

HEADS UP: The lido buffet was not open for dinner on the last two sea nights. Guy's Burgers closed at 6pm and Pig and Anchor is only open for lunch. That leaves Pizza, Blue Iguana, and Tandoor, and I'm not sure about the closing times for those. The Pasta Bar on Deck 11 may have also been open, but don't quote me on that. We ate in the MDR and the kids ate with their friends in Camp Ocean on those two nights. This was our first seven day cruise, so I'm not sure if it's common practice for the buffet to be closed on these nights, but I befriended a Platinum guest who thought it was odd, too.

 

 

Ports

Key West was great for walking around and looking at shops. If you're wanting to get a souviner, get one here. Best selection and cheapest of the three ports. We did Ripley's Believe it or Not and paid online for a discount. The kids loved it and we got some fun pictures.

Freeport was hit hard by Hurricane Matthew, and you can really tell as you go through. We snorkelled at Dead Man's Reef (Paradise Cove). With it being April, the seas were a bit choppy and a storm rolled in toward the end of our excursion here. We did see a sea turtle and several awesome fish and coral. The swim out to the reef wore us out with the strong current from the storm. I wouldn't recommend this excursion for small children or for those with extra wide feet! Ha. Our youngest kept swimming away from us and it made this Mama extra nervous. DH had sore feet from the flippers not fitting well. We had problems with a couple of our masks leaking.

Nassau didn't have much for souvenir shopping, and we didn't book an excursion here. The people here we found a bit rude and pushy. Next time (if there is a next time), we will try Junkaroo Beach or something. We heard from many on the ship that Atlantis was not worth the money, but I've also heard and read here that others love it. Our recommendation for Nassau: Book an excursion or stay on the boat.

 

Tips

*Don't miss out on the Clue Game on the first night. This game looked like a lot of fun, but we didn't know anything about it until about day 3! :( We kicked ourselves for not paying more attention to the Fun Times.

*Make time to see the Flying Scotsman's One Man Show. We missed out due to casino comps for the Steakhouse, but heard that it was fantastic!

*Check out the whirlpools on the Lanai (Deck 5). There are two on each side and they're pretty good-sized tubs. Just make sure they're actually hot before you plunge yourself into them. DH and I learned the hard way that the one we wanted was cold one windy day! EEK!

*The Aft pool has a beautiful statue above it. There are also two more whirlpools here.

*Serenity Deck is two levels and it's just far enough away from the Lido to drown out the noise. The bar here is almost always clear of guests. There are two hammocks, some clam shell loungers, and a good many cuddle loungers. It is windy here, as this is at the bow of the ship, but worth it for some peace and quiet.

*The shows are awesome on this cruise. The 80s Pop show was super fun. Flick was moving in its own way. And don't miss out on America Rocks. Bring your leather jacket for this one. It's a rock concert like no other!

*If you like Jazz, check out the live band Jaccuzzi of Love in the Ocean Plaza (can you tell I spent a lot of time on Deck 5?). They were great!

*Chris' after-show parties in the Atrium are totally worth it. Make at least one of these!

 

Hope you guys found this helpful! If you have any questions, feel free to ask. :D

[Jamericannn]

Sounds like you had a great time. I can't wait to be on her next year. Do you know if there was a special reason why Alison buffet wasn't opened the last two nights or if this is the norm on this ship?

[GeekSquad4]

Sounds like you had a great time. I can't wait to be on her next year. Do you know if there was a special reason why Alison buffet wasn't opened the last two nights or if this is the norm on this ship?

 

We did have a great time! Not sure if it's the norm. I'm hoping to get some clarification from seasoned cruisers. There were no signs that said this was an error on Carnival's behalf, though. And even in the Fun Times there was no opening time for dinner. It was weird.

[Monalis]

We don't normally eat in the buffet in the evening but we will walk through it, just to see there. We've never had it closed at dinner time, seems odd to me. I guess I'll find out in a few weeks when I sail on her.

 

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[GeekSquad4]

We don't normally eat in the buffet in the evening but we will walk through it, just to see there. We've never had it closed at dinner time, seems odd to me. I guess I'll find out in a few weeks when I sail on her.

 

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Yeah, we usually don't eat dinner in the buffet, either. But since kids camp activities resume around 7pm, sometimes the kids will eat dinner in the buffet. Luckily, our kids were happy with the hamburgers and hot dogs in the kids' dinner with Camp Ocean. :)

[sbnuggie]

I've seen where "one side" of the buffet is closed. Perhaps that's what you saw because I've never heard of the lido dinner buffet closed

 

 

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[GeekSquad4]

I've seen where "one side" of the buffet is closed. Perhaps that's what you saw because I've never heard of the lido dinner buffet closed

 

 

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Nope. The whole lido buffet was closed. The only things open were what I listed. Fun Times didn't even list an opening dinner time either night.

[Missyp]

Just cruised on her the last week of March and they now close front Lido buffets, but far rear Lido buffets are generally open. This was also the case on the Breeze last June.

[GeekSquad4]

Just cruised on her the last week of March and they now close front Lido buffets, but far rear Lido buffets are generally open. This was also the case on the Breeze last June.

 

Hmm.. It's possible we didn't go far enough back when we checked it out.. The "deli" area may have been open.

[salvagegirl]

Thats odd about lido closing . We were on the dream last march and this past jan and both times the lido buffet was open every night till at least 8:30. Maybe this is something new they are doing,

[momof4girls]

Sounds like a great cruise! I am so sorry for you that you missed out on Chris's one man show. It is AWESOME! Carnival has something special with him as a CD. I'll agree with you about his atrium after-show parties...FUN!

 

I can't wait to be back on the Dream with the additions of Guys and Blue Iguana. :) I just wish they were open later.

 

Our dining service was most excellent as well. They do seem overworked (as did our room steward), but they would never hesitate to smile and say hi to us (using our names).

 

Thank you for sharing your review!

[AHD1]

Thanks for the review! Savio is our absolute favorite bartender. Glad to know where to find him when we sail in October. He was at the Atrium bar before drydock.

[tandemcruzr]

Thank you. :)

[sb4ever]

We loved Frances! He was a lot of fun. I agree that the room stewards seemed to be taxed. We sailed on her 3/26. Fantastic cruise; loved the ship and the layout. Would definitely sail on her again if NOLA wasn't such a pain for us to get to.

[kitkat6937]

Thanks for the review..Im leaving the end of May for 7 days of fun.What deck were you on ?

[GeekSquad4]

Thanks for the review..Im leaving the end of May for 7 days of fun.What deck were you on ?

 

We were on Deck 8, mid, and loved it. 8367 to be exact. Not too far away from the fun, but just far enough so that there was no noise from other decks flooding our cabin. Enjoy your cruise!

[GeekSquad4]

Thanks for the review! Savio is our absolute favorite bartender. Glad to know where to find him when we sail in October. He was at the Atrium bar before drydock.

 

He's great, isn't he? I can only hope to find another decent guy on the Triumph in June! One night, he was busy assisting someone else and so I got the attention of another bartender. Savio stopped me mid-sentence and said, "Hey! I'm your guy!" I told him he was busy, so I just asked the guy next to him, and he goes, "No, no, no! Just throw something at me next time!" So I did. ;) Pissed off some random lady. It was great! Haha

[GeekSquad4]

We loved Frances! He was a lot of fun. I agree that the room stewards seemed to be taxed. We sailed on her 3/26. Fantastic cruise; loved the ship and the layout. Would definitely sail on her again if NOLA wasn't such a pain for us to get to.

 

NOLA is the closest port for us. Eight hours to drive there. After driving it a few times, it's not so bad! haha.. I loved her, too. The layout was similar to Triumph, but with a slightly less crowded feel. We'll see how this June cruise is on the Triumph. We normally don't book during peak season, so it should be interesting!!

[happy cruzer]

Thanks for the review. Your list of six wines available caught my eye. The MDR wine lists that people have been posting show about 30 wines by the glass including 2 Cabernet Savignons and 3 sparkling wines. They did not offer those at all or were they out?

 

I am glad you had a good trip. We are doing the same ports out of Galveston.

[maldenmusic]

When we did the 8 day Christmas cruise on the Dream, the Lido buffet that was at the very back of the ship was open the last night while the other one was closed. Never saw them both closed during the posted times.

[GeekSquad4]

Thanks for the review. Your list of six wines available caught my eye. The MDR wine lists that people have been posting show about 30 wines by the glass including 2 Cabernet Savignons and 3 sparkling wines. They did not offer those at all or were they out?

 

I am glad you had a good trip. We are doing the same ports out of Galveston.

 

Those choices weren't on any of the wine list menus that we saw on our cruise. :/ Hope you enjoy your cruise!

[spleenstomper]

Nope. The whole lido buffet was closed. The only things open were what I listed. Fun Times didn't even list an opening dinner time either night.

 

We were on the April 16 sailing of dream and this happened to us as well. I ordered a sandwich from the carvery.