The Cruise Ship and Cruise Line Discussion Thread!

by **Swiminn6** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:40 pm

*Sorry for double post!*
Carnival Dream Trip Review!
Western Caribbean, April 02 - April 09 11'

First off a little background! I have previously been on 3 cruises (Disney Wonder, Freedom & Navigator of The Seas). My family really loves both lines and I have to say we are Royal Caribbean fans! We decided to try out Carnival on its newest and biggest ship, the Dream! Alright lets get started! (*Note this ship was at full capacity*)

Our Cabin
We stayed in Cabin #1338 which was a Deluxe Ocean View stateroom on Deck 1 (Riviera). Our room was actually very decent and barely found any problems. When we first got to our room our stateroom attendant introduced himself and informed us that the safe wasn't working properly but should be fixed soon. We ended up only having one problem with it during the trip but got fixed 10 minutes after we called! The beds were very comfortable and there was plenty of space for all of our things. We had two bathrooms (one was a regular stateroom bathroom and the other had a half tub/shower) which was awesome! My only complaint was that the water didn't drain immediately and I usually stood in about a half inch of water.

We traveled with two other families which one had a Junior Suite #7321 and a Balcony Stateroom #6305. The suite was large and spacious with a huge bathroom and the other room was really nice. Neither had complaints about their cabins.

The Ship & Features
I am 16 and found the ship to be very fun! My friend and I were at the slides most of the day during sea days. The line for the slides varied throughout the day but even at its busiest time I only waited about 25 minutes but the best time to go was around 5:30 when the 6:15 dinner group was getting ready because there was barely a 2 minute wait! Depending on how you went down the slide, it could have hurt. My favorite was the toilet bowl one as you got some good speed! My friend who has been about 10 Carnival ships said that they toned down the glitzy/cheesy look on the inside of the ship. My family thought the whole ship looked really nice and our favorite part was the glass elevators in the Atrium! Deck 5 (Promenade) featured a rap around deck which I enjoyed walking around at night! The teen club for my age group (Club O2) was fantastic! They had dance parties every night from 11:00 pm to 1:00 am with numerous other activities before. The ship also had teams (Red, White, or Blue according to what deck your cabin was on) and during the week they had family activities throughout different locations where you get points for your team which was very fun.

Food
Reading reviews of the ships food sounded like it was going to be terrible. Actually the food was amazing! It may not be the best in the industry but I sure wasn't gagging! Everyone has different taste preferences but our whole party of 8 people enjoyed the food! The Lido buffet (The Gathering) was not small by any means as was mentioned by some people. We never had a problem finding a seat! There was a line but it was usually only a 5 minute line at most. They also had some different buffets throughout including a chocolate and mexican buffet! Our only complaint is that there is only 1 specialty restaurant and was always full.

The People!
I had to put this is here to clarify Robb's statement that a lot of people that would choose Carnival are the Wal Mart type people! Not 100% true!!!!! We are Target shoppers!! We liked Carnival and would def. cruise with them again! We still are Royal Caribbean fans and would prefer them but Carnival is good in our eyes!

: Driving to Port Canaveral!; Viewed 656 times

: Ships on the horizon!; Viewed 656 times

: The Carnival Dream!; Viewed 656 times

: Disney Magic next to us in port!; Viewed 656 times

: Atrium; Viewed 656 times

: From 3rd floor to 13th!; Viewed 656 times

: The Crimson Dinning Room; Viewed 656 times

: Lido Deck pool and screen!; Viewed 656 times

: Carnival Water Works!; Viewed 656 times

: Massive freddy the horn!!; Viewed 656 times

: Yay for the aft pool that was filled with obnoxious college kids!; Viewed 656 times

: Las Vegas or Carnival Dream?! You decide!; Viewed 656 times

: Didn't see empty chairs in here a lot seeming how this was a buffet!; Viewed 656 times

: Magical portals with annoying circle c brats (young kids); Viewed 656 times

: I loved this area!; Viewed 656 times

: Water slides!; Viewed 656 times

: Part of the Promenade Deck!; Viewed 656 times

: Thumbs up for random chairs!; Viewed 656 times

: These over the edge hot tubs weren't as cool as Royal Caribbeans but at least someone my age could go in them!; Viewed 656 times

: Suite balcony; Viewed 656 times

: Thumbs up for a heavenly sunset!; Viewed 656 times

More pictures soon..

by **Swiminn6** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:58 pm

: Nighttime atrium; Viewed 647 times

: Movies under the Stars was cool!; Viewed 647 times

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: Hmm!; Viewed 647 times

: I believe this was Navigator of the Seas that we passed by.; Viewed 647 times

: Cozumel oh jeez! Who hasn't been here?; Viewed 647 times

: Viewed 647 times

: This shows just how big these ships are!; Viewed 647 times

: Cave Tubing in Belize!; Viewed 647 times

: Very neat excursion!; Viewed 647 times

: Viewed 647 times

: Scary cave water dripped off these!; Viewed 647 times

: Jen and I dancing with Juan from Peru!; Viewed 647 times

: Viewed 647 times

: Never got to stop here in Honduras because of strong currents.. Booo!; Viewed 647 times

: Good morning from Costa Maya!; Viewed 647 times

: Laaaa!; Viewed 647 times

: Uvero Beach!; Viewed 647 times

: Add your caption here!; Viewed 647 times

: Costa Maya Maya Maya!; Viewed 647 times

: Yay for Mexican Elephants!; Viewed 647 times

: I had to make my friends and I pose drinking water with our spoons! Trying to be like KidTums!!; Viewed 647 times

I had a very fun time and would go on another Carnival Ship! Hope my next review can be on Allure of the Seas!!!
-Mike

by **SharkTums** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 6:05 pm

LOL! KT approves!

by **crazydaveh** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 8:53 pm

Hey all!

I just learned I'll be going on my first cruise in a few weeks aboard the Disney Wonder up on it's first trip to Alaska! I'm looking forward to it, though it's not going to be warm and tropical. I'm kind of doing my own thing while at ports because they all seem to have their own brewery... Thus I'll be there enjoying some local beer that we can't get down here in Orlando!

Anyone else going on this trip? I figure it will be mostly older people and being in Alaska, the pool won't be a hot spot, but still, I'm looking to have fun.

One cool thing I see excursion wise is hanging out with some of the fishermen from Season Two of the "Deadliest Catch." I might just do that one!

by **MrMorgan** » Tue Apr 19, 2011 9:08 am

10ryansmith wrote:Going on my first cruise (s?) this December 10th through the 24th. (Back to back weeks on the Oasis). For one that is terrified of boats is this a good idea? I have no choice as the parents have already paid for the trip and I cant get out of it... I find the idea of cruising a great idea but not for two weeks my first try right?? Its bad enough that I cant ride the ferry from the MK parking lot to MK or Splash Mountain. I told the parents that I might be able to do a four day little excursion and they did this...

Also, can I bring high doses of medication onboard if I were to give then fair warning or are they not allowed?

I love coasters but I am really sensitive to sea-sickness and any kind of rythmic moving, like swing sets and stuff. Therefore, I was totally panicky before my first cruise last year, but I just took one Bonine pill every day and had absolutely no problem. It was like a miracle! Is that the kind of medication you are talking about? As far as being on a boat, you truly forget about it after a while, and seeing as the Oasis is so gigantic, that will make it even easier. I bet you will love it!

by **Hilltopper39** » Mon May 23, 2011 12:16 pm

I heard an advertisement for this on the radio a few days ago and thought it sounded pretty awesome. Sailing out of Ft. Lauderdale on January 1st, its the Rock Legends cruise aboard Royal Carribean's liberty of the Seas. 4 Day cruise featuring 18 bands including ZZ Top, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, John Kay and Steppenwolf, The Marshall Tucker Band, Dickey Betts & Great Southern, Foghat, Molly Hatchet, and many more. Here's the link check it out ....
http://rocklegendscruise.com/

While I'm not a huge fan of any of the bands performing (other than a little bit of ZZ Top), I could see this type of event being really cool. The type of crowd this event will attract will most likely be full of southern Redneck awesomness! Leather biker jackets in the dining room, mullets in the casino, and nasty topless chicks everywhere, it'll be the Wild Adventures of the cruise world

.

by **BeemerBoy** » Mon May 23, 2011 12:34 pm

Yeah, how is this not on Carnival?

by **Hilltopper39** » Mon May 23, 2011 12:37 pm

BeemerBoy wrote:Yeah, how is this not on Carnival?

I was thinking the same thing

by **AllenA07** » Tue Jun 07, 2011 8:49 am

Just booked a cruise on Mariner of the Seas for next year! We're going to Roatan, Belize, and Cozumel. This will be my third cruise, having also done a short 3 day trip on Monarch, as well as a 7 day Caribbean Cruise on Carnival Conquest. The only repeat port between this Caribbean cruise and the one on Conquest is technically Cozumel, however due to H1N1 we were not able to dock in Cozumel last time. I'm look very forward to it!

by **MrMorgan** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 3:13 pm

Speaking of the Mariner of the Seas, I am finally getting around to re-sizing my pics and want to start sharing them with you all here! Since there are already so many great pics posted in Robb's 40th Birthday thread, I will focus on other aspects of our 14 day Holy Land Tour on the Mariner...

Beginning with the FOOD!

We do a lot of our own cooking at home and have kind of become "foodies". Plus, living in a big city in Europe, we have more authentic options as someone who might live in Kansas, for example. That being said, we were still very pleased with the food on the ship and ate until we were uncomfortably full at every. single. meal. Ugh. Don't go on a cruise to lose weight, that's for sure. Oh, and I'm a picky vegetarian and still got stuffed.

: I had the Asian Fried Tofu, which was pretty good.; Viewed 627 times

: Tofu fo yoo.; Viewed 627 times

: Surf and Turf. Better than it looks in this pic, (so I am told).; Viewed 627 times

: Banana Cream Pie. Any dessert that starts with the name of a fruit is healthy and should be enjoyed without guilt.; Viewed 627 times

: Hurray for Jalapeno Potato Soup!; Viewed 627 times

: The Vitality page in the menu shows the healthier options. So, basically just forget that page.; Viewed 627 times

: I'd like to start with five Choco-Chino Trilogies, please.; Viewed 627 times

: So small, but so tasty. That's why it's OK to have five. At least that's what I told myself and everyone around me.; Viewed 627 times

: The Mediterranean Spinach Pie was amazing. I had two.; Viewed 627 times

: Spinach Pie!; Viewed 627 times

: One page is always the "Chef's Signature Menu", which is either a recommendation of the best stuff for that day, or whatever they are trying really hard to get rid of.; Viewed 627 times

: Who is Diane, and why is this Steak named after her???; Viewed 627 times

: I had the Polenta Pyramid, (I think there is a picture coming), but it wasn't very good. With only 367 calories, how could it be? Can I have some grated Manchego cheese and a butter dipping sauce with that?; Viewed 627 times

: It was at least presented well.; Viewed 627 times

: The (slightly out of focus) menu at Portofino; the up-charge Italian restaurant.; Viewed 627 times

: Because I was being a picky b*tch and didn't want anything from the starter menu, the nice chefs made me this special salad... which they probably all spit in.; Viewed 627 times

: I think this is the Carpaccio from the top of the menu.; Viewed 627 times

: More Portofino.; Viewed 627 times

: Filetto di Manzo, which Markus said was awesome.; Viewed 627 times

: This is my mountain of Taglierini al Pesto. Burp.; Viewed 627 times

: This, my friends, is the main reason for going to Portofino.; Viewed 627 times

: We ordered all the deserts except for the Torta thing, and risked rupturing our stomach lining in order to try everything. They were all really, really excellent.; Viewed 627 times

: Three chocolaty taste explosions waiting to happen right inside your mouth.; Viewed 627 times

: We didn't eat at Chops, but you could always order this slab of meat in the main dining room.; Viewed 627 times

: During certain hours in Vintages Wine Bar, you get free Tapas with any glass of wine. Unfortunately, you don't get to choose what Tapas you want, and we got a big ole plate of meat, (some of it was already eaten when I took this pic), and a few olives. I enjoyed the olives.; Viewed 627 times

And that's all the pictures that can fit in this post, so stay tuned for the next best thing to all the food on board: the drinks!

The Cruise Ship and Cruise Line Discussion Thread!

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