Is Carnival on a Decline?

Item: Carnival Dream
Rating: 3
Author: bayareasooner

Carnival Dream Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

bayareasooner

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 53

Overall rating:

3 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Western Caribbean (New Orleans Roundtrip)

Sail date: July 17, 2016

Ship: Carnival Dream

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 12201

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

This was our 3rd Carnival cruise and 8th cruise overall. Until this point we had been very please with Carnival and the level of service and food quality when compared to the other cruise lines we have sailed with. This time, we were disappointed in what appears to be a decline in service, an overall reduction in the availability of food and the food quality. With regards to the service, we've always had our room cleaned after we left the cabin regardless of the time of day we finally got up and going. We always came back to our room each night to find our cabin had "Turn Down" service. This time, on the first day, our steward let us know that we would need to call if we left our cabin after a certain time if we wanted the cabin cleaned, we also had to opt for nightly "turn down" service. With the food, this was hit and miss. The dining rooms appeared to still have the quality of food that we've always known and the steak house was just absolutely excellent. But the buffet and food quality was definitely down as well as the "extra" offerings we've experienced in the past did not happen such as midnight buffets. Just another thing I noticed was that certain food items on the buffet were no longer serve yourself as much as you want and you actually had to request the item, ie., Bacon.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

What happen to midnight buffets? What happened to multiple choices at the buffet and it changing each day of the cruise? Also appears some food items are now controlled rather than serve yourself as down with other food items. This cruise bacon was only available by asking a serving in the line for what was a very limited serving.

Entertainment

5 out of 5

The comedian was incredible. We thought the Bingo offerings were very limited and offered at odd times. One day it was only during one of the evening dinner times.

Service and Staff

1 out of 5

Room steward was not up to standards we had had on previous cruises. We had let our steward know if we were going to need late service, we also had to "opt" in for nightly turn down service. This was always just down on previous cruises.

Cabin / Stateroom

1 out of 5

Absolutely horrible. While ships engineers stated that the room was within guidelines @ 72.5 degrees, the room was uncomfortably hot. The room was so warm we could not even sleep the last 2 nights. We had the thermostat turned as cold as it would go and the room never got below the apparent 72.5 degrees. It felt much much warmer. We were never able to enjoy having the drapes open because we could not risk having the room heat up more than what it already was.

Ports of call

New Orleans, Louisiana

5 out of 5

Of course no trip to New Orleans is complete without going to Bourbon Street and Cafe DuMonde, but take a tour of the WWII museum. The museum is well organized and gives such great interactive history to both the European theater but also the Asian/Pacific theater of the war. It was so compelling.

Thumbs Up 5

Mahogany Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras

5 out of 5

Belize City, Belize

1 out of 5

If you want to enjoy Belize City, you must book a shore excursion. Just going ashore on your own offers absolutely nothing except about 2 blocks of dirty shops.

Thumbs Up 0

Cozumel, Mexico

5 out of 5

Take a cab into the old downtown area. It is really a great area to see the true spirit of the people that live there and there is also great shopping and restaurants in the area.

Thumbs Up 9

27 Comments

whitemisty 8 years ago

Good info thanks

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southernpiper 8 years ago

My wife takes lots of clothes, shoes, makeup, etc and her luggage is a lot larger than 16X24. No problem with it, although it is much too large to stow under the bed, so we give up valuable floor space. If you're taking larger luggage, it's nice to have the kind with four wheels, unless you hire the porters to carry it from the luggage area to your car upon debarkation.

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whitemisty 8 years ago

16x24 is pretty small I know the rooms are small but I really hate to go buy all new luggage for 5 people

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blufire265 8 years ago

@whitemisty I am wondering the same thing about the luggage. Anyone know?

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whitemisty 8 years ago

Did anyone pre pay gratuities and does anyone know just how strict they are on the luggage 16x24 policy did anyone see people taking larger suit cases

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thobso 8 years ago

I totally agree with you bayareasooner! I just got off the dream and I was very disappointed at how things have changed! This is by far the worst cruise I've ever been on! I must say that the steakhouse was delicious and the wings from room service were good as well! They should be for the price of $5.

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rdoliver1121 8 years ago

My wife and I and our daughter will be on the Dream September 25-October 2

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keenewfarrow 8 years ago

8 more days and I'll be on a real vacation

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cruisingfam 8 years ago

Was on DREAM over thanksgiving November 15. Ended up back on it last minute on the July 10th cruise with my parents. No midnight buffet on either. Both cruises were great. Food was good . Different ports except Cozumel. Had a blast. Great ship and price was right on both of them. Booked on the oasis this thanksgiving. Looking forward to that also. Just like cruising! Beats being at home!

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batch123 8 years ago

I found Royals food no better, no worse. No midnight buffet there either. But then again, most of Royals passengers are in bed sleeping early...much older demographic.

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Bushwaker2013 8 years ago

We loved the little eateries around the pools , didn't care for the dinner menus or quality what so ever. Budget cruise line. To each there own.

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BillyHarrell 8 years ago

Sailed the Dream on June 26 ,2016 7 day cruise. There was no midnight buffet, just pizza,burgers, and hotdogs. I thought that was good enough

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cajun204 8 years ago

We are obviously taking about 2 different things. The one discontinued was the the extravagant midnight buffet that featured the ice sculpture in a dining room. They did however bring this back for the few journeys cruises each year. I promise you, it's been long gone and I'm sure that's what op meant. My platinum coworker said the same thing and definitely no midnight buffet on his July 3 cruise

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allthat815 8 years ago

We did too. Regular 7 night Western Caribbean Cruise in April of this year.

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shaeshae 8 years ago

I did to

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bettyboop22351 8 years ago

I was not on journey cruisre i was at midnight buffet everynight cause i played in casino went and ate them to the room. We did have midnighy buffets on the dream feb. 2016 i am not crazy

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cajun204 8 years ago

The ONLY cruises that feature midnight buffets are the Journeys cruises. Also most cruises have a late night Mexican buffet on one night. Like I said before it's been over 8 years since Carnival stopped the midnight buffet. Their reasoning was lots of wasted food.

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allthat815 8 years ago

We went on the Dream in April and there was a midnight buffet and also shortly after we boarded the ship, the room steward have us a choice of morning cleaning, evening cleaning or morning and evening cleaning (along with turn down service)). Though everything about the ship was great and honestly had the best time ever

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shaeshae 8 years ago

I hope all is good I sail sept 4 on the dream

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bettyboop22351 8 years ago

I was on the dream in feb. Of this year went to midnight buffett everynight

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cajun204 8 years ago

Must've been a while since you cruised Carnival. The Midnight buffet has been gone for a very very long time. The bacon "police" have been in place for many years. Nothing new but if you want 20 pieces of bacon they'll give it to you. No biggie. The once a day room steward service is kinda new. Some like it some don't. Overall, the Dream is still an excellent choice for cruising.

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hawkman16 8 years ago

Don't eat that late. I think pizza and burgers was still being served late at night

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bettyboop22351 8 years ago

Was the midnight buffet still on the dream. I was on there in Feb an we still had it then

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hawkman16 8 years ago

Remember one thing. Your getting what you pay for. Budget Cruising

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hawkman16 8 years ago

I was on The Dream July 10 -17

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cmayers68 8 years ago

Awful. Did you pre-pay gratuity?? This makes me sad. I'll be on the dream Aug 28.

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hawkman16 8 years ago

Truth be told...... Aman ........just remember....have a good time anyway

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