Just looking for Infomation

[welikepalms]

My family and I are thinking of booking Carnival (the Dream) for next year. We have sailed NCL twice and really enjoyed it. Love the freestyle dining.

Just looking for opinions and info on how you feel Carnival works, what to expect, if you have cruised NCL how do they compare, what you like and dislike with Carnival. I know once we book I will have a thousand questions but just looking for general Carnival info for now.

 

Thanks in advance for your help

 

Happy Cruising

[momofzeke]

I have only cruised Carnival, so can't compare with NCL, but we love Carnival!

 

Dream will be the newest Carnival ship when you cruise, and I'm sure it will be fabulous.

 

Anytime Dining will be available on the Dream, as well as Traditional dining with assigned time and table. Anytime is similar to NCL's freestyle.

 

We have had excellent service on all 3 of our cruises. We love the food on Carnival. The beds are comfy.

 

What else would you like to know? :)

[welikepalms]

Thanks for the help. I am a planner so while trying a new line is exciting it is a little of the unknown. In reading many post on here it seems that while each line is unique there are alot of similarities too.

And of course as far as I'm concerned as long as a ship sails to blue water and palm trees its ok with me.

 

I don't really have any specific questions yet. I would love to know more about the Dream but other then what we hear on the Carnival site we have to wait.

 

Happy cruising

[realmccoy]

We were just on the Splendor, which will be similar to the Dream and we also will be on the Dream next year. We loved the Splendor...but study the deck plans before you go! Once we figured out the layout we could get from one place to antother with ease. The "Lido" deck is really nice with a big screen TV and it is covered at night (or when it is cold outside). Even though it was a big ship, we did not feel it was too big and we could always find a deck chair.

[Cathy p]

HI, we have a group cruise on the Dream Feb 20, 2010. We have all kinds of good stuff planned so check it out. We are the Dream Catchers and would love to have you all.

[KarenMF]

I have cruise both NCL and Carnival (but not the Dream). For me, Carnival has the edge, especially with food (except for the French Specialty restaurant on NCL - that was awesome!)

[SunnyinMA]

Actually I believe the Splendor and Dream will not be alike as the Dream is a whole new class of ship for Carnival.

 

The Dream ( which will be the largest ship to date for Carnival) won't have the covered Lido like the Splendor but will have a lot of new features not on any other Carnival ship in the fleet like family staterooms with 2 bathrooms and cove balcony's.

 

You can check out some pictures, deck plans and artist renderings on the Carnival website: http://www.carnival.com/cms/fun/ships/carnival_dream/default.aspx?shipCode=DR

 

I know I can't wait to go on this ship!

[katiel53]

I have sailed NCL Star & Pearl as well as Carnival ships. I think the biggest difference is that on Carnival the dining room food, to me, is far better than the free dining room service on NCL.

 

Also, on Carnival there is really only one charge restaurant and on Glory it was wonderful. It is better to me than Cagney's, but it is also $30 instead of $25 at Cagney's. There are not as many restaurant choices on Carnival.

 

In the buffet area, there is the main buffet, another buffet line which is a little different, an outdoor grill with burgers, hot dogs, an Oriental pick up station, a Deli, which is also pick up only, a pizza area and a fish n chips place.

 

I really prefer the food on Carnival to NCL except if I am at the pay restaurants. On NCL Le Bistro is great, the Italian restaurant was OK as was the Tex Mex restaurant. As previously mentioned, I don't like Cagney's anywhere near as well as the steakhouse on Carnival.

 

I also believe the cabins are larger on Carnival. The mini-suite on NCL is about the same size as a standard cabin on RCL and just a bit bigger than the balcony cabin on Carnival. I found the NCL cabin on the small side, but the bathroom was bigger.

 

I think service is about the same on both lines. I don't know how the dining room service is going to be with My Time Dining on Dream, but we will find out.

 

I think the casinos on both lines are about the same. At least, to me as I lose on both lines.

 

We are looking forward to the Dream and whatever new things it may have. I'm sure you will have a great time on Dream and my advice is to try it. Enjoy!