The Dream is Alive!!!

[billybuzzy]

It's Alive!!! It's Alive!!! The Carnival Dream is on our home shores and She's one beautiful, aesthetically pleasing masterpiece!!
What's more she's one tough but gentle lady! The first 34 hours at sea we rode out 105.9 km/hr winds (65+mph) with gusting of hurricane force and 32ft+ seas! With gentle rocking she proved to be the true queen of the seas she was designed to be! The ride was no worse than a tractor ride across a field - if you have ever crossed the wake of a small boat in a speedboat
you'll understand the ride!!I'll take this ship in a hurricane any ole' day! She's a true sweetheart and an instant love affair!

If you like Chateaubriand and/or lobster prepared to your liking in the main dining rooms (that's right - included in your fare!)- and you want to be able to enjoy it even in a heavy sea - this is the liner for you!! Bar none!

I don't want to praise the new show "Dancing in the Streets" too much! This is a show that'll pop your socks off for it's dancing, music, acrobatics and ...electric men (Move over Bluemen - there's a new kid on the block)!

I had two future cruises on Carnival scheduled for the coming year - I'll be adding at least a third - It'll be on the Dream and I'm hopeing it'll be in the face of a bloomin' gale!!

More later - I just got home!!

BillyBuzzy

PS The casino was good to me too!

[Dwayne]

First off,..Welcome Back!!

Secondly,.. WOHOO! and WOHOO!

I am so glad to hear this news. And, Thank You for this report! I was getting concerned how it would go with the weather conditions being so bad. I commented elsewhere that she'd get sea tested "Northeast coast style". Again, I am so to hear she passed with flying colors, and that you had a Great Inaugural Cruise!

Chateaubriand and Lobster huh? Sounds awesome to me!

I'll let you get rested and find your land legs.

Dwayne

[LHP]

We are looking forward to find out first hand on December 3rd.

Thanks for the info!!

[penny3333]

Welcome home I LOVE Chateaubriand, lobster is ok, but crab, oh my I can eat my weight. Lobster is great if it's really fresh, which on cruise ships is impossible. I'm glad to hear she rode the seas so well, but really sorry the weather wasn't nicer. She must have been very impressive for you to have booked another cruise on her. I prayed so hard for nice weather, maybe next time, it will cooperate. Sounds like the entertainment was top notch, as well. I don't know how they do it in seas like that. Heck, I can lose my balance on solid ground.

Still hope you can go on the Epic next year! Thank you so much for taking time to write your review!

[denjoker]

Thanks for the positive comments - can't wait!

[Sandy]

Welcome back, BB. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the cruise so much despite, or maybe because of, the weather.

[billybuzzy]

Sandy - I slept like a baby thru the storm -- I guess you might say Mother Ocean was really rockin' my cradle!!

BillyBuzzy

No problem traveling on the Dream in a storm at any time of year!!

[billybuzzy]

You know - I forgot to mention my "open dining" experience on the Dream and after reading some of the comments of some of my fellow cruisers who had chosen the "fixed" dining option (Posted on other sites!) I think my fellow cruise-chatters should hear how it went.

First of all - the service was quite fast and efficient, the beverage service was also quickand well done(Unlike those who had chosen a conventional dining experience) and...surprise of surprises...despite the fact that I dined at different times both nights - I had the same dining crew and bar steward - and they were just as great the second time around! (Yes ...they did remember my name and my preferences...chocolate melting cake and all!!)

Way to go Carnival!!! A Full Five Forks!!!

BillyBuzzy

[Dwayne]

Thanks so much for this info Billy!

I was wondering how it would go. Did you have to wait to be seated?

Chocolate Melting Cake memories as I type this.

Did you have a chance try the casual food restaurant or any of the specialty food venues/outlets?

Sorry for so many questions.

Dwayne

[billybuzzy]

Dwayne - There was really no waiting - it took about 30 seconds just long enough to tell the hostess how many in my party and to establish that we did not mind sharing a table. There might be a longer wait if you desired a twosome or a tensome seating! The casual dining was, quite naturally, the bulk of our eating. The lines averaged 15 to 20 people and it took 5-8 minutes to pass thru the line. Pizza took the longest and an 8-10 minute wait in line could be expected! (If you would settle for a cheese or a pepperoni) Otherwise you need to add another 7-10 minutes for a special order.

We had reservations for the Chef's Table Steakhouse but finding that the quality of the dinner in the main dining room was soo good- we canceled (It was only a 2 nite cruise)!! On a longer cruise I would have given it a shot. I would also have loved to give the new Pasta Bar a shot but our bellies were filled to the brim from all the gooood eatselsewhere!!

Like all new ships there were a few minor glitches such as forgetting to post the evening menus ahead of time but they are to be expected on a brand new ship to give the crew a chance to develop group/team cohesion! By the time she gets to Port Canaveral the bugs should be pretty well worked out! The Dream really is a Fun Ship, she meets Funship Freddy's criteria!!

A favorite haunt we found ourselves gravitating to in the late evening was Sam's ,the piano bar, where the camaraderie was 1st class along with the music and the cocktails. The Carnival Dream is a ship worthy of multiple cruises (and multiple cocktails)!!

BillyBuzzy

BillyBuzzy