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Just off Dream and a few thoughts..

Tongiejayhawk

By Tongiejayhawk,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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FSHLOT

FSHLOT

Posted
Posted
Usually within an hour of sailaway. You are in Louisiana waters until reaching the Gulf around midnight, until which time you are still paying sales taxes on drinks (including Cheers). None of the onboard shops are open the first night for that reason--they'd have to charge sales tax.

 

But the casino is definitely open before you reach the Gulf. Carnival must prefer to pay LA riverboat gambling taxes vs. giving up the casino revenue until they reach the Gulf.

 

Sent from my SM-J727P using Forums mobile app

 

Thanks, that's good to know. I thought it might not open till int'l waters like some cruises. We left out of Philadelphia one time and it took hours to reach int'l waters and the casino didn't open till 10pm at night. I was worried with the long ride to the Gulf, this would be the same scenario. Thanks again

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teague38

teague38

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Posted
We arrived back in New Orleans yesterday after seven fun nights on the Dream. I have a few comments/observations to share.

  • We parked at the Fulton Parking Garage. We could see the Dream behind the convention center so we had the brilliant (heavy sarcasm) idea to skip the shuttle line and walk to the port terminal. It seemed so easy to cut through the convention center. Well, you cannot go through the convention center - you have to go around it. Ok, we'll walk. Do not do it! Looks are deceiving. One person in our party had 6,000 steps after that fun hike pulling our suitcases behind us.
  • And while on the subject of the Fulton Parking Garage...if you plan to use it, buy your parking pass on-line in advance and have it printed out. There was a major traffic jam caused by the line of cars trying to get into the garage by the people who had to pay. We just handed them our print-out and up we went.
  • After several cruises, DH did not know the coffee bar has free daily crossword and soduku puzzles with pencils.
  • I did not know Carnival has coffee mugs in the gift shop with the ship and associated specs (tonnage, capacity, etc.) detailed. This may be my new souvenir - especially as the cruise ships grow in size.
  • I agree with others who have noticed the heavier burden the wait staff and room stewards have. I am a Carnival stock owner and like the returns but when you can see the stress in their faces and hurried steps, I truly feel for them. I'll be sure to comment in my survey.
  • For being on a newer ship, it was very disappointing to experience the sports viewing venue. Saying it's a part of the casino may be incorrect but that's how it felt. All of the smoke was awful and it was small. We loved the sports bar on the Liberty. To watch the NCAA tournament, chairs were stacked in the aisle and I'm sure some fire core was being violated.
  • And while discussing smoke, my mother had a balcony in the aft, port side. This is not a great place to be if you don't like smelling the smoke. Deck five with the outdoor smoking section was below her.
  • At the Diamond/Platinum party, I met a Diamond and we discussed all of the different cruise lines he'd been on. He said MSC was the absolute worst. He mentioned the cuisine is more geared towards an international palate and this meant (in his opinion) very little meat. Being from the Midwest, I'd say that might be a big deal. Can anyone else comment on this? Just curious.
  • I almost missed the Future Cruising meeting. It was called "What's Next". Using the app on the phone, you have to click on the meeting description. I just assumed this was some sort of game. Luckily I was bored enough and actually clicked on the item. The meeting itself was a total bust. I like to learn about the new ships and itineraries. Their projector wasn't working so it turned into an audience-initiated Q&A session.
  • I was bummed the Deli doesn't actually use a Panini press. I ordered a reuben and it was not warm at all - cold sauerkraut, yuk!
  • We did Sunscape Splash in Montego Bay through resort for a day. They will tell you to be a the pick-up spot at 9:15 a.m. What they don't tell you is that they have multiple shuttles going and 9:15 a.m. is the last one. We left the ship early but stayed in the nice air-conditioned port terminal. If I had known early shuttles were going, we would have gone to the meeting spot as soon as we debarked. Since we ended up on the last shuttle, all of the shaded spots were gone. Sunscape does not rent umbrellas nor chairs (it's first come; first get) and we had several fair skinned people in our group. We had to have the resort staff hunt down chairs for us and pull them under trees.
  • On a couple of lighter notes, this was my first cruise with the Flying Scotsman. I could have listed to his brogue all day. And to add his dancing moves and singing chops, he made the voyage very entertaining.
  • A girl around ten years old also shared something new with me. She said if you hold down the button for the deck you want on the elevator, it will skip all other deck stops. This seemed a little evil so I didn't try it but I guess if you're in a hurry...

I think that's it. If I think of more, I may add later. Have fun cruising!

 

My family was on the same cruise. We arrived a day early and dropped our bags at Hilton Riverside Hotel where we stayed and then dropped the car at Fulton and walked back to hotel, then just walked through the mall the next day with our luggage to get to port. It was pretty easy until you get to the long staircase that you have to carry all the luggage down. lol . I also didn't discover the crossword puzzles until the last sea day. I will remember next time. We didn't watch any of the games because the smoke in the casino was unbearable to me this time. The only 2 times I walked through there I nearly passed out from trying to hold my breath. We also went to Sunscape Splash but we booked through shore excursioneer. We were on the first bus and we did get an umbrella seat by the pool and my husband slept there most of the day and looked like a lobster the next day. We also loved the Flying Scotsman. And on your last note about the elevators, I can't tell you how many times the elevators wouldn't stop when we were waiting for one. I knew that somebody was doing something in there to make it pass us up. Who would have thought it was a 10 year old girl? LOL. She must have shared her secret with quite a few people. I agree that it is a little evil though. Overall we had a great time.

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mdsgu

mdsgu

Posted
Posted
My family was on the same cruise. We arrived a day early and dropped our bags at Hilton Riverside Hotel where we stayed and then dropped the car at Fulton and walked back to hotel, then just walked through the mall the next day with our luggage to get to port. It was pretty easy until you get to the long staircase that you have to carry all the luggage down. lol . I also didn't discover the crossword puzzles until the last sea day. I will remember next time. We didn't watch any of the games because the smoke in the casino was unbearable to me this time. The only 2 times I walked through there I nearly passed out from trying to hold my breath. We also went to Sunscape Splash but we booked through shore excursioneer. We were on the first bus and we did get an umbrella seat by the pool and my husband slept there most of the day and looked like a lobster the next day. We also loved the Flying Scotsman. And on your last note about the elevators, I can't tell you how many times the elevators wouldn't stop when we were waiting for one. I knew that somebody was doing something in there to make it pass us up. Who would have thought it was a 10 year old girl? LOL. She must have shared her secret with quite a few people. I agree that it is a little evil though. Overall we had a great time.

 

We are sailing on the Dream in June, and we've booked Sunscape Splash through RforaD. What time does that first bus leave? We'll have three kids and three "elders" who will need some shade!

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teague38

teague38

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We are sailing on the Dream in June, and we've booked Sunscape Splash through RforaD. What time does that first bus leave? We'll have three kids and three "elders" who will need some shade!

 

We were gone within 30 mins from getting off of ship and we got off of ship really quick.

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FanofFlorida

FanofFlorida

Posted
Posted
W

  • A girl around ten years old also shared something new with me. She said if you hold down the button for the deck you want on the elevator, it will skip all other deck stops. This seemed a little evil so I didn't try it but I guess if you're in a hurry...

 

This wins Tip of the Day!!! :evilsmile:

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Saint Greg "Live from...." Rare

Saint Greg

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Thank you for your review! I didn’t even realize there was any kind of “sports bar” on the Dream. Because of the smoke from the casino we stay away from that area. Guess that’s why we didn’t know!:confused:

 

I agree that The Flying Scotsman is wonderful! Did you see his own show (hopefully he’s still doing it)?

 

The Dream needs to add a Red Frog Pub like the Breeze has. It does a good job of doubling as a sports bar. I believe the Dream has a library or art gallery in that space.

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ParrotRob

ParrotRob

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The first time it stops when holding the button, I'll know it doesn't work.

 

Yes, but failure to stop doesn't prove it DOES work.

 

Of course, you COULD stage someone else on another floor between you and your destination, but then they could get picked up by another elevator, who knows?

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Saint Greg "Live from...." Rare

Saint Greg

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Yes, but failure to stop doesn't prove it DOES work.

 

Of course, you COULD stage someone else on another floor between you and your destination, but then they could get picked up by another elevator, who knows?

 

If I go 7 days with out the elevator stopping...I’ll say it works.

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gbrob

gbrob

Posted
Posted
The Dream needs to add a Red Frog Pub like the Breeze has. It does a good job of doubling as a sports bar. I believe the Dream has a library or art gallery in that space.

Library is on Deck 4 beside MDR. Art Gallery is on Deck 5 but down past Ocean Plaza and the sushi bar. Behind the casino is the fun shop and Cherry on Top.

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Saint Greg "Live from...." Rare

Saint Greg

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Library is on Deck 4 beside MDR. Art Gallery is on Deck 5 but down past Ocean Plaza and the sushi bar. Behind the casino is the fun shop and Cherry on Top.

 

 

 

This is where the RFP is on Breeze. Labeled as art gallery on Dream.

 

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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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teague38

teague38

Posted
Posted (edited)
I think it's an old wive's tale and doesn't really work. Besides, how would you have any way of knowing whether it "skipped" a floor someone was waiting on?

 

You may not know from the inside for sure but the people outside waiting knows it works

when it shows the elevator is on deck 2 and going up and you are on deck 6 with the up button pushed waiting on it to stop and get you and it just skips on up past you with out stopping. Trust me it works !! It happened to us quite a few times.

Edited by teague38
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FSHLOT

FSHLOT

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You may not know from the inside for sure but the people outside waiting knows it works

when it shows the elevator is on deck 2 and going up and you are on deck 6 with the up button pushed waiting on it to stop and get you and it just skips on up past you with out stopping. Trust me it works !! It happened to us quite a few times.

 

Has anyone ever tried to do it vice-versa? LOL

 

Can you imagine standing there holding the up/down button.....:)

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  • 1 month later...
wesorbeth

wesorbeth

Posted
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Thanks for the review. We will be on the Dream in October and I must admit I am a bit nervous about it. This will be the biggest ship we have been on.

Did you drive in on the day of or spent the night some where? Also were they going by arrival times at the port or just letting everyone in regardless of their time?

Any pointers or tips you would like to pass along...any do's or don'ts? LOL

We always drive in at least the day before, for our cruise on the Dream this October we are staying in the Garden District Friday and Saturday for our Sunday cruise.;p;p

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Cafedumonde

Cafedumonde

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My kids do that elevator tip all the time. It does not work!! Every time we get on the elevator they do it, and nine times out of ten it stops along the way. lol. The one time out of ten that it "works," they are like, "See, it works."

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peteandpris

peteandpris

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Great review, my husband and I were on the Liberty with a young couple on an elevator and as they got off he hit every button. We stopped at every floor. They were having fun. Thanks for the tips. I like the Bingo tip. On one of our cruises we won Bingo with another couple and split the money. Turning Platinum Sept.8 on the Sunshine.:hearteyes:

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