We've been spoiled by the layout and other options on The Breeze that Dream did not have so Dream is not my favorite ship in the Carnival fleet. (More details in the individual categories.) If I hadn't sailed several times on Breeze I probably would have been quite happy with Dream.
If the itinerary and price are in your wheelhouse, I'd say go ahead and book her.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
went smoothly
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
We don't expect "gourmet" dining on Lido or the MDR so we're relatively easy to please and were more than satisfied with the quality of meals in both of those locations. One change we liked was the ability to order the Sushi Boat in the MDR at a slightly reduced price as the MDR provided us with appetizers and desserts.
We always hit the steakhouse on every cruise and consider it a great value compared to mainland prices for prime steaks and sides. The steakhouse on Dream was excellent and we booked on the first elegant night to take advantage of the 50% off wine list. On cruises where we don't have OBC to burn, we opt for the free bottle of merlot on nights offering wine specials.
As for Guy's burgers and BBQ: Oh dear. Well, the burgers are still good but as others have already pointed out, they changed whatever they used or however they used to prepare their once outrageously good french fries. Nothing special about them anymore..just a pile of fries. As for his Pig & Anchor...only Yankees or those who never had really good Texas BBQ will know or care that it smelled better than it tasted. As for the rest of us, I'd advise not squandering your time standing in a long line for mediocre, overly dry brisket.
We missed not having a Cucina del Capitano on Dream as it's another favorite specialty dining option.
We did try the Chef's Table for the first time and it was quite a delightful experience. That being said, with all the chefs standing by to create several courses and to serve just 25 of us, I can see why Carnival needed to suspend Chef's Table on some cruises due to the labor shortage. The chefs in attendance services were better utilized on LIDO or the MDR.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
We hung out on the Serenity deck (blissfully empty on port days), used the jogging track, and also the treadmill in the gym on days it was too windy to comfortably walk outside.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
One thing that seems to be consistent on all ships is the fabulous violin trios that play in the atrium. These lovely and talented ladies hailed from Croatia and we always sat in or around the the atrium to catch their sets.
Heart be still: They actually moved a late night comedy show into the main theatre! No SRO and waiting in line to get into a small lounge.
The musical numbers were entertaining. Piano bar was OK.
Children's Programs
didn't travel with kids
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
We understood about the labor shortage so we packed our patience and expectations. Was our cabin steward as attentive as ones we had on other cruises? Not exactly... but the room was serviced and we always had a towel animal. I just always had to find a steward - any steward - roaming the halls so I could fill our ice bucket more than once a day. The only really noticeable service issue was on sea day brunch in the MDR. Maybe because we were seated on the second floor? We saw only 2 waiters handling the area and they were being run ragged. It took half an hour to have our order taken and an hour to receive our food. The next sea day brunch we insisted on being seated on the main level and service had greatly improved.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Cleanliness was fine. You could always see someone dusting, polishing, or vacuuming. The big difference between Dream and Breeze was no outdoor patio outside of the Red Frog Pub and no Cucina del Capitano.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
It's a standard balcony cabin. We don't overpack so there was ample storage and closet space. This location was 2 decks above Guy's Pig and Anchor so we were subjected all night to the tantalizing aroma of the briskets smoking (alas. as mentioned early, the actual brisket was not as good as the aroma.)
Ship tip
Before booking, see if your balcony's location is directly above a smoking area or Guy's bbq.
Although we've been there a few times we decided to stay on the ship as our form of "protest" against the Key West residents who wanted to ban cruise ships. If our money's not welcome at your local businesses, we're happy to not spend it there..
Although not my favorite port, since our last visit they did a great job of setting up quite a number of vendor kiosks directly next to the pier. We did a Carnival excursion to the botanical garden and used additional "shopping time" out and about to grab lunch, then hit the pier side vendors on our return.
Our favorite port of call! Why? It's a free beach excursion with free lunch. Yes, we bought a six pack of brews that came in a little Carnival souvenir cooler. We also paid for the use of a floatie that we didn't use this time. Shade is an issue unless purchasing the use of a covered chair OR you can walk waaaaaay down the beach, past the last of the cabanas, and towards the little scrub trees. This is where the crew hangs out and there are loungers scattered around the trees. It's a schlep from the bathrooms, bar, activities, and lunch area..also, too far for waiter/bar service but it's a lovely, uncrowded, secluded spot.
On previous trips we did an island tour or walking excursion but the straw market and shops are a bit too manic and crowded for us. We missed our boat tour booked through another company because we neglected to read that the tour was on local, not ship's time. As a consolation prize, we walked to Senior Frog's much quieter bar situated over the water and had cocktails and snacks.
Equally smooth! They're using facial recognition before you enter the luggage area which eliminates the customs lines. Also, no more customs forms as they figured out most people are just bringing home inexpensive souvenirs. However, the TABC was out in full force asking passengers if they had any alcohol to declare (Texas requires a declaration and collects taxes on alcohol.)
We are not Southerners but have had good Texas bar-b-q. Agree with your evaluation of Guy’s bar-b-q. Appreciate your feedback. Glad you mostly enjoyed your cruise.
Thanks for the great review. We agree Guys BBQ is over rated. My husband and son/ son inlaws do much better outside my kitchen door.The best part of the Dream to me was the Thalasso pool in the spa area.
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