Fun but overcrowded with terrible disembarkation

Item: Carnival Dream
Rating: 3
Author: MiriamG411

Carnival Dream Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

MiriamG411

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 2-3 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 20

Overall rating:

3 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Western Caribbean (New Orleans Roundtrip)

Sail date: July 24, 2016

Ship: Carnival Dream

Cabin type: Oceanview

Cabin number: 1277

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

While the cruise was enjoyable (and the excursions especially fun - we booked two through Carnival and one through ), the trip felt as if there were too many people on the boat. We constantly were waiting in lines and the disembarkation process was a terrible, half-day experience that resulted in some members of our party almost missing their flight. Everything you buy (at least the drinks) also have an automatic 15% gratuity, while the tips are automatically added to your account, removing the option of actually choosing whether and how much to tip.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Service and Staff

3 out of 5

Some were wonderful. Some were average. Some were not that great.

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

Cabin was roomy and the two bathrooms was a nice touch.

Ship tip

Don't check your bags when planning to disembark.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

New Orleans, Louisiana

5 out of 5

Montego Bay, Jamaica

5 out of 5

George Town, Grand Cayman

5 out of 5

Cozumel, Mexico

5 out of 5

22 Comments

tikishoppua 8 years ago

Ahhhh...gotcha. 😆

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dupy94 8 years ago

I was just agreeing about the service staff.

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tikishoppua 8 years ago

Dupy94, glad you had an awesome time. Don't quite know why you directed your post at me?

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cajun204 8 years ago

Brenda gotta disagree with the port comment. Nola's port is one of Carnivals highest rated ports. Very easy to navigate. We got of the Triumph this morning and was in the car for 7. Piece of cake. As for op, a little research would've clued you in on the tips.

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dupy94 8 years ago

Tikishoppua, we had our first cruise last year on the Dream and it was a wonderful experience. We felt the service by the staff and crew were way more than accomodating and we tipped everytime. Fun is what you make of it. Being bitter and grumpy on a cruise just seems, well, DUMB!

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brendariffe 8 years ago

We just got off the dream. We were on the road by 8:30am. I even commented many times that it must not have been booked to capacity because it didn't feel crowded. This was the easiest debarkation we have ever had. I do however agree that it is much crazier at the port in New Orleans than others. It was pur 2nd time on the dream. It was a great cruise.

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Anthony40 8 years ago

Also when I go to a restaurant and they have automatic service charge on them I leave and go elsewhere. Even if it ends up being McDonald's. If they want to put an automatic gratuities on my bill at a restaurant just step up and raise your prices by that amount. Then you can pay your serves the difference. Living in California our tax rate is 7.5 to 10% it makes it easy to figure your tip. Double the tax and go up or down from there.

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Anthony40 8 years ago

And that is why when I have a great steward I tip $200.00 over the automatic gratuities. For those who gave their tips removed and end up tipping nothing. I also tip the waitstaff more if they are great. But if they are just ok the automatic is all I do. But have only did the automatic to the waitstaff on the Crown Princess.

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cruisingfam 8 years ago

Was on dream over thanksgiving. Ship was "sold out". Never seemed too crowded. Did luggage self assist. Was off and getting ticket by Louisiana state trooper by 845 three miles from port. Gotta love it.

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tikishoppua 8 years ago

Also, I'll never feel bad about tipping. Unless it's culturally unacceptable. But that's me.

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tikishoppua 8 years ago

My whole career has been in the service industry, and I'm 55. so you're preaching to the choir. I'm not arguing the point. I'm just saying you target your capitalism comment at Carnival, and word it as "its okay for folks receiving services not to tip, but ok for Carnival not to pay their employees a living wage. " Again, I think some perspective is in order with regard to the comparison of "living wages" between the US and say, the Philippines, where a lot of my family is from. Also, we're talking about an industry where you're on a ship for days, basically a floating resort where you're catered on 24/7, all meals, etc. I get your point, but this is a completely different industry.

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blacklivesmatter 8 years ago

@tikishoppua - I've worked in service industry. Basically, not anti- tipping, AND folks should be getting a wage where they can live, not where it's dependent on the customers to supplement what employers won't. That's my point. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/02/18/i-dare-you-to-read-this-and-still-feel-ok-about-tipping-in-the-united-states/

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tikishoppua 8 years ago

Mmm...don't know about that "liveable wage" comment. Having friends and family who've worked in the industry and also for Carnival specifically, "liveable wage" to many must be put into the perspective of those who call other countries their home, and that's the majority, which is why they work for Carnival. They make more than they would in their home countries. The sacrifice is being away from home and family for the duration of their contracts. That being said, they do work long hours, and we're talking about a $12/day tip? Break that down to a 24 hour day (because whether you see it or not, someone is always working on board). $12 ÷ 24 hrs is what? 50 cents? Split amongst how many people? Perspective.

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blacklivesmatter 8 years ago

It's interesting how capitalism works- it's not ok for folks receiving services to not tip, but ok for carnival to not pay their employees a livable wage.

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dkf97 8 years ago

When you cruise this time of year on a large ship it is crowded. We feel like the Dream is one of the most spacious ships with the last lines, but we cruise in the fall and in January or February usually. We did a July cruise on the Dream and could secondly tell the difference.

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joysb 8 years ago

As for tips, we tipped everyone we came in contact with additional cash. Service on the boat was above and beyond our expectations.

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joysb 8 years ago

We were on same cruise, off the boat by 1030. We were delayed getting into port. I am also assuming there was an additional delay once in port due to the death that took place during cruise.

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Bushwaker2013 8 years ago

We felt very crowded on this ship as well.

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gellmore 8 years ago

Sounds like this was your first cruise, or you just don't do much research before you sail.

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judes 8 years ago

Maybe you should have researched the ships a little more, afterall you were on a ship with the capacity for 3,600+ passengers, long lines are to be expected.

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mk3141 8 years ago

Hmm never took that long to disembark and im on my 10th cruise with carnival. And 15% gratuity is small amount for the way they wait on you.

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mslgrl2003 8 years ago

The website clearly states there is a 15% gratuity added to the price of drinks. Also, as it has been discussed many times in this forum, you can ask that tips be removed or reduced if you feel it is necessary, but you are stiffing the guys that operate in the background.

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