Norweigan Dream-Questions

[cruisingkimo]

I am looking for feedback from those that have recently sailed the Dream. My Frommer's book states there are no buffets except at breakfast. Is this true and if so how are the wait times for the restaurants, particularly at lunch since we'll be in the dining room for dinner anway. How is the food? The service?

 

It's an older ship that is being retired. I am not expecting top of the line but am wondering what kind of shape she's in. Public rooms, cabins?

 

My Frommer's book also says that, due to the stretching of the Dream in 1998, that you can not see the ocean while you are at the main pool. Is this true?

 

I could try to switch to the Dawn which sails to Bermuda on the same day out of NYC. I am struggling with this. I like the idea of a smaller, more mature ship but, after several years, I have finally convinced my very best friend to cruise with me (with the help of her husband). I do not want to scare her away from cruising. We are booked to sail on 10/12/08 from Boston to Bermuda.

 

Activities/shows-what is offered and how are they? I know that she is not sailing the Bermuda itinerary yet but I am assuming that activities, quality of shows, etc. will be similar no matter the itinerary.

 

Thank you in advance for your feedback.

Kim

[packman266]

I just returned from a SA cruise onthe DEAM my sixth cruise on this ship.

The ship is cut-up but it isn't a real problem once you get the hand of it. Cabins are large and comfortable Deck 6 is the best outside. The service in the dining room is very poor as they don't have the staff to utilize all the tables so there are often long lines. The food is the worst I have eaten in 37 cruises.( poor quality and served warm when it should be hot)

They did not listen to guest's requests to raise the temperature in public rooms so we had to dress warmly in order to survive. I caught bronchiis and had o see he ship's Dr three times. Others had the same problem and werre coughing all the time. NCL had a good product but seem to have cheapened it on the DREAM. I hope they will change!:(

[Gram Cape Cod]

I am looking for feedback from those that have recently sailed the Dream. My Frommer's book states there are no buffets except at breakfast. Is this true and if so how are the wait times for the restaurants, particularly at lunch since we'll be in the dining room for dinner anway. How is the food? The service?

 

It's an older ship that is being retired. I am not expecting top of the line but am wondering what kind of shape she's in. Public rooms, cabins?

 

My Frommer's book also says that, due to the stretching of the Dream in 1998, that you can not see the ocean while you are at the main pool. Is this true?

 

I could try to switch to the Dawn which sails to Bermuda on the same day out of NYC. I am struggling with this. I like the idea of a smaller, more mature ship but, after several years, I have finally convinced my very best friend to cruise with me (with the help of her husband). I do not want to scare her away from cruising. We are booked to sail on 10/12/08 from Boston to Bermuda.

 

Activities/shows-what is offered and how are they? I know that she is not sailing the Bermuda itinerary yet but I am assuming that activities, quality of shows, etc. will be similar no matter the itinerary.

 

Thank you in advance for your feedback.

Kim

I spent 13 days on the Dream in Sept. We had no problems with lines going into the dining rooms. There was also a buffet for all the meals, although I prefer to be seated and waited on in a dining room. It was to cool in the Baltics to swim in the pool so I couldn't tell you if you can see the water. I will say that eating in the Terraces dining room there was a small pool outside the window (where a couple of brave souls kept us entertained while we dined) and you could see the sea from there. Unless things have changed since Sept. we had a wonderful cruise on the beloved Dream!:)

[Soda's Mom]

Just returned from the South American sailing on 3/30. Answers to your questions:

 

Buffets - breakfast in Four Seasons main dining room & the Sports Grill on deck 12 (logistical nightmare given placement of waffle and omelette stations). Also, buffet (sandwich and whatever special for the day) in Trattoria most days and always at the Sports Grill. Waits aren't bad, but be prepared to share tables in all venues (except Le Bistro). Dinners were generally good and definitely better the second week than the first. Breakfast is breakfast (what can I say), lunch was ho-hum, again dinners were good to very good and every fish entree I had (probably six of them) were great!

 

Service - cabin service EXCELLENT, wait staff inconsistent...had some great...some bad, bar service outstanding, happy-hours everyday certainly helped ;)

 

Ship's condition - great....cabins and public areas. The nicest standard outside cabin we've ever had (very roomy with separate sitting area with loveseat, chair, ottoman and table)

 

See the sea from the pool - sorry didn't really pay close attention...not a lot of sunning on a South American itinerary

 

Entertainment - Jean Ryan company good as always. One great singer. I heard the flutist (I know...I screwed up the spelling) was great, but I didn't see her. Magician, etc. OK. On the SA itinerary, lots of bridge play, scrabble play, etc., not a lot of other activities. That may be itinerary specific though.

 

We thoroughly enjoyed the ship....she looks great for her age!

[newmexicoNita]

thanks Soda's mom,

 

I have clients that just returned. They said much the same as you. They had a great overall cruise with the main complaint being it wasn't designed for freestyle. I beleive that is one of the main reasons she is being moved the Asia.

 

Nita

[WatchHill]

We were on the Dream in October & Novemebr of 2007 and were quite pleased with the food and service. Even though the Dream is heading for [uS] retirement, it is in good shape, kept clean by a wonderful crew. You need to have realistic expectations with an older ship.

 

Sailing to Bermuda and having so much time in port, will make dining easier. In Bermuda, fellow passengers tend to dine ashore, so the ship often feels empty. When we were on the ship, we ordered breakfast in our cabin. Coffee, fruit/juice and muffin/toast/bagle. Terraces is by far the nicer dinner restaurant, and we never had to share a table. By the end of our cruise we grew tired of the multi-course dining, and opted for the buffet. Although it's a small area, people didn't linger and we were always able to find a seat.

 

Loved our cabin - plenty of closet space, sitting area, etc. We were on deck ten, adjacent to an outside door leading to a forward deck.

 

We are thinking about taking the Dream to Bermuda in June - easy as we live SW of Boston. The Dawn spends more time at sea, less time on Bermuda.

 

Don't believe everything you read - my most recent copy of Frommer's for Bermuda still lists Trimmingham's as a great place to shop!

 

Darcy

[Thrifty]

Soda's Mom's review was excellent, but I have to dissent from one small particular. I'm a breakfast person and I thought the breakfasts in the Terraces dining room were by far the best I have ever had on a cruise ship.

[ladybug M]

Loved Bermuda-Have a few favorites ashore at St George. Sharing taxis saves $ and the roads are narrow-no outsiders driving.The Frog and Onion-western part of island -dock yard.Artist colony there also. Bus passes for the whole day good. Been on the Dream at least three times-have favorite servers. Had a system of getting coffee ist thing and bring it back to the cabin before the morning breakfast served. The menu for the meals next to the casino helps choicing.Food- order 2 appetizers or soup or 2 desserts-mix etc. Ice tea my favorite.