Back from DREAM- 1/14

[EDelPinoRN]

I have to say I was soooooo worried after reading so many negative reviews for the NCL Dream, but our group of 9 had a blast. :D :) :D Service was great, bathrooms were small (I have to agree on that), boat moved more than normal (but no sea-sickness, just a bit of sea legs after the trip). We had a great time!!! Any questions, please feel free to ask. I wrote a review (who knows when it'll be posted).

 

Cozumel- we did our own thing by renting a private taxi (we did an entire island tour, ruins, beach, lunch & shopping) for $30/person. Four of our group members did the NCL dune buggy & snorkel (they had fun except they had to follow a red ball... follow the leader... while snorkeling).

 

Roatan Bay- we did the Gumbalimba park with lobster lunch (had a blast) via NCL. Two of our group members talked to employees at the monkey ranch and told them they also wanted to zip-line (and it was done).

 

Belize- we did the Old Belize River (saw mantees, birds, lots of iguanas, monkeys and crocs) with the Altun Ha Ruins via NCL (loved it).

 

In all our group had lots of fun. I took some additional supplies as was listed on previous boards (like over the door shoe rack, duck tape, bubble wrap, small magnet for the door, and a lanyard pouches), all of which were used.

 

Now it's time to plan the next vacation, and like another cruise critic member said in a past posting... "I'm suffering from post-cruise depression".

[WaldosPepper]

Sounds like a wonderful cruise! So glad to hear that everyone had a nice time! I look forward to reading your review when it gets posted! Thanks for sharing. ;)

[michigansal]

We're looking forward to our trip on the Dream next month and have plans for activities in both Roatan, and Belize. What you did in Cozumel looks interesting to me. Please tell, did you pre-plan the taxi or just get one when you got off the ship. Did you have an idea of what you wanted to see, or let the driver give suggestions?

 

Looking forward to reading your Dream review.

[kannruss]

I have to say I was soooooo worried after reading so many negative reviews for the NCL Dream, but our group of 9 had a blast. :D :) :D Service was great, bathrooms were small (I have to agree on that), boat moved more than normal (but no sea-sickness, just a bit of sea legs after the trip). We had a great time!!! Any questions, please feel free to ask. I wrote a review (who knows when it'll be posted).

 

Cozumel- we did our own thing by renting a private taxi (we did an entire island tour, ruins, beach, lunch & shopping) for $30/person. Four of our group members did the NCL dune buggy & snorkel (they had fun except they had to follow a red ball... follow the leader... while snorkeling).

 

Roatan Bay- we did the Gumbalimba park with lobster lunch (had a blast) via NCL. Two of our group members talked to employees at the monkey ranch and told them they also wanted to zip-line (and it was done).

 

Belize- we did the Old Belize River (saw mantees, birds, lots of iguanas, monkeys and crocs) with the Altun Ha Ruins via NCL (loved it).

 

In all our group had lots of fun. I took some additional supplies as was listed on previous boards (like over the door shoe rack, duck tape, bubble wrap, small magnet for the door, and a lanyard pouches), all of which were used.

 

Now it's time to plan the next vacation, and like another cruise critic member said in a past posting... "I'm suffering from post-cruise depression".

EdelpinoRn - you were getting on as I was getting off - I'm so glad you had a great time as did my brother and I. I certainly suffered all of last week from major post-cruise depression. I am doing better this week and trying to save some money to go to Alaska with more family in summer 2007. Can't wait for your review.

[pateoreo1]

So what was the temperature like we are going on the Dream on 2/25? We would like to know what to take, was it warm\cold. The wife is cold if it is 90° outside. :D

Thanks

[satman]

February in Houston, could be 63 like today or snowing. Cozumel is 81 today and sunny, Roatan was raining this morning, 82 now. Belize is 75 and raining. Courtesy of the Weather Channel website.

[satman]

February in Houston, could be 63 like today or snowing. Cozumel is 81 today and sunny, Roatan was raining this morning, 82 now. Belize is 75 and raining. Courtesy of the Weather Channel website.

[kas37]

EdelPinoRn, sounds like a great time...can you tell me how much time you actually had in Coz? I know with the ship docking at 1 and with tendering...I was afraid we would only have 4 hours actually on shore? Which beach did you go to? Was it packed since you arrived late in the day??? Thanks for the info!!!

[EDelPinoRN]

We arrived earlier than scheduled in Cozumel, that being the case (and since we did not book via NCL for any excursions), we were the first off the ship. In Dazzles nightclub (deck 10 forward, before the casino) they allow for a member of a group to pick up tender tickets (as many as needed). We were on land by noon (meeting time for shore excursions, if I'm not mistaken for the rest of our group was at 1 p.m.). In Cozumel, we just spoke with persons that were trying to sell their excursions. We had no pre-arranged agreements with anyone. Originally they were trying to charge us $35 per person for a partial island tour, lunch and shopping, but since there was five of us I knocked down the price $5 to make it an even $150 (and the additional $5 went toward the driver's tip, although in all honesty I think the price could have been lowered a lot more since they took the offer quickly). Weather for us was great. I went online on the weather channel the day prior to our sailing an got the temperatures. I have to say Houston is a lot colder than Los Angeles (thank goodness I took my blanket to put over my shoulder at the time of disembarkation). It was cute because a group of older ladies told me to hold on tight to my blanket otherwise the four of them were going to fight me for it... lol. Here are the temperatures for the day's on our cruise:

Houston 67

Cozumel 81 (but it felt a lot warmer w/ 70% humidity)

Roatan 84 (with 80% humidity)

Belize 81 (w/ 80% humidity), the weather channel mentioned there was supposed to be showers, but per some locals it usually rains at night into the morning

Houston (return) 65 and when we left it was starting to sprinkle out.

 

Any other questions, please feel free to post and I will respond as soon as I can.

 

Wish I was back on the Dream!

[EDelPinoRN]

Ooops, I forgot to answer some questions. I have all the Freestyle daily sheets at hand. We were supposed to arrive at Cozumel at 1 p.m., the last tender was at 6:30p.m. I arrived at noon, so we had a good time. Our taxi guide asked which beach we wanted to go (there was one other ship in port), so I figured Playa Mia was full. The taxi driver knows all the tricks. For example, if we had gone to Playa Mia the cost for the beach (I believe if I remember correctly) was $12, then I can't remember the beach next to were we went which was $8, so he took us to Don Francisco, told them we were going to have lunch there and we could use the beach at no cost (unless we went to use the water iceberg, jet skiis, or water trampolines).

[joediver]

Any chance you can post the dailys? We'd love to see the latest. We'll be on our way soon.

[EDelPinoRN]

I have to figure out how to post them... any advice?:confused:

[pateoreo1]

If you have a scanner, you can scan them in as a jpg or a word doc and attach them to your post. If not you can always take a picture of them and attach them that way.

[kannruss]

Any chance you can post the dailys? We'd love to see the latest. We'll be on our way soon.

I have the dailies - I have a scanner too. I've been lazy but I'll do it this week and post them. :)

[EDelPinoRN]

woooo hoooo.... I do not have a digital camera (actually we do, but I can't figure out how to work the thing), and I've gotten mini-lessons from my husband (but it's just not sinking in). Thanks sooooo much for your help.... :D

[kannruss]

woooo hoooo.... I do not have a digital camera (actually we do, but I can't figure out how to work the thing), and I've gotten mini-lessons from my husband (but it's just not sinking in). Thanks sooooo much for your help.... :D

No problem at all - now that I know people are counting on me maybe I can be less lazy and get it done...haha :)