Overall, we had a great trip! We received excellent service, enjoyed quality entertainment, and had a relaxing time. We would definitely visit Grand Cayman and Cozumel again. However, we won't be sailing on the Dream again unless it's the only ship that fits our need at the time.
Embarkation
2 out of 5
Unfortunately, embarkation was really frustrating and confusing. Our experiences in Port Canaveral and Jacksonville spoiled us in comparison. Be aware that parking at the official Port of New Orlean' Errato Street deck is $20/day and NOT guaranteed covered parking although the port's website says that it is! Also, we had a later assigned boarding time, and it looked like the deck was running out of available spaces by the time we got there at 1 pm for a 2:30 assigned boarding time.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
We ate in the dining room every night, and enjoyed some new additions to the menu since we last cruised- hello buttered popcorn pot de creme! We also enjoyed the addition of Guy's Pig and Anchor, Guy's Burger Joint, and the Blue Iguana- favorites were smoked chicken and mac 'n cheese at Pig and Anchor and pork tacos at Blue Iguana. My husband enjoyed some burger with his bacon at Guy's Burger Joint!
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
We found a couple of days into the cruise that the Serenity deck had a truly hot hot tub, and after that knew where to head! Too many of the hot tubs were room temp at best, and the pool decks were often too crowded to find room to enjoy. Enjoyed the free steam room in the locker room, outdoor walking track, and shopping. The spa facilities (steam chambers and such) are beautiful and look super relaxing, but weren't worth the upgrade for me this time- if you feel the same way, don't overlook the free steam room in the fitness locker room! Unfortunately I had hurt my back prior to our trip so I didn't take advantage of everything that was offered, but the fitness center looked nice and well equipped and mini golf course and Water Works looked like fun.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
We were amazed at the quality of the stage shows! Although they were similar to shows we've seen on Carnival before, we could tell that there were some updates especially to the special effects. The addition of Sam's Piano Bar was so much fun- Gregg performed during our trip and was a great entertainer, really drawing the audience in. We also enjoyed the comedy club when we could, but were frustrated because the timing of shows either were in the middle of dinner or by the time we could there after dinner, there were no seats available. We were really looking forward to the Dive In Movies as well, but the movies (like Beauty and the Beast) that we would like to have seen were played in the middle of dinner.
Children's Programs
no children
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The staff on Carnival is what keeps bringing us back! We make a point to choose an assigned dining time so that we can enjoy and get to know our waitstaff through the trip. They anticipated our needs, greeted us by name with a smile, and made sure we were taken care of! Our room stewards were excellent as well with the same friendliness and attention to detail. We also had a great experience with the tour guide on our excursion booked through Carnival.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
This was our second sailing on the Dream. The first trip was at Christmas when it was an almost new ship so we chalked the craziness of that trip up to timing. Unfortunately after this trip, we've decided that the Dream just doesn't have enough amenities for the number of passengers- for example, it was almost impossible to find a lounge chair anywhere near the pool and forget about shade. Also, the flow of traffic around the specialty food venues is really awkward and there are often long lines. We've sailed on older Carnival ships that were really well cared for, but didn't feel like the Dream was being kept up to the same standards. We'll continue cruising Carnival, but will probably seek out a different class of ship.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
We lucked out with this cabin! It had an "obscured" ocean view because it looked out onto a deck so we paid a little less for it. But, because it was at the front of the ship on a corner, it was an oversized cabin.
Ship tip
It looks like the spa suites would be the way to go if you can afford it because your fare would include access to the specialty spa amenities. If you're trying to stay on budget like us, don't forget that you can utilize the fitness locker room and it's steam room for free.
We had an excellent experience in Grand Cayman! We had scheduled an excursion through Carnival to go snorkeling, and it was canceled because of lightning. They refunded our money- so kudos for doing the right thing and prioritizing safety! We decided to hop on a $20 bus tour independent of Carnival. Our guide, Martin, was excellent and as customer service and safety oriented as I would have expected of an excursion booked through Carnival. Most of the stops were at shopping outlets like Tortuga Rum, but we did get some good history on the island as we rode around. In spite of the weather, we saw how beautiful the island is, and hope to go back for a shot at better weather and snorkeling.
We did an excursion booked through Carnival that included an air conditioned bus tour of the island, walking tour of the ruins at San Gervasio, and a stop at a beach on the Caribbean side of the island- beautiful but no swimming because of rough water and rocky shore line. Our guide, Dante, was very informative and fun! While we really enjoyed it, next time I might try taking a taxi to the ruins in order to spend more time or seek out a beach day where we could swim.
Disembarkation at the Port of New Orleans was much smoother than embarkation. I was experiencing some trouble with my back during the trip, and it was quite a long time standing in line. I noticed those using wheelchairs got moved to the front! If you experience mobility issues, I definitely would ask for some assistance.
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