Carnival Cruises
Fun for a first cruise, with a splash-tastic water-slide
The Ship. Carnival Dream’s bows are short, but the ship’s profile is balanced, with a rakish front and rounded stern. On deck attractions include Carnival WaterWorks aqua park, with a long orange multi-deck ‘Twister Water Slide’ and popular ‘Power Drencher’ – a big hit with kids.There’s also a main pool and large Seaside Theater movie screen. The general open deck space is really poor for the number of passengers carried, so sunbed loungers are packed like sardines.
Meanwhile, Serenity is an adults-only, extra-charge retreat.
Lower down is a full walk-around open promenade deck; it’s lined with deck chairs, and it’s difficult to navigate through them. Four ‘scenic whirlpools,’ cantilevered over the water, have sea views. Higher up, Lido Deck 10 offers an open-deck area.
The interior decor is bright (take sunglasses). Most public rooms, lounges, and bars are on Dream Street or Upper Dream Street. The Dream Lobby is the connection point for people and ship functions. Take one of the glass-walled elevators for a neat view. There are three main elevator towers: forward, amidships, and aft.
Many lounges, bars, and nightspots – including a dance club with a twist, offering indoor/outdoor access – are accessible via an 11-deck-high atrium, the ground level of which has a neatly cantilevered bandstand atop a large dance floor. The Page Turner (great name) is the library, although there aren’t many books. Jackpot is a colorful casino, with gaming tables and slot machines. Other rooms include The Song (Jazz Bar), and Ocean Plaza, a quiet area during the day, and lively at night. Three dozen Internet terminals are scattered around the ship, but most have no privacy. There’s also a 232-capacity conference room, The Chambers.
The indoor/outdoor Ocean Plaza, with around 190 seats, is a comfortable spot for people-watching by day; it’s a trendy entertainment venue by night, with dance floor and bandstand.
The ship’s layout is disjointed, and prior to second seating there is much congestion on Upper and Lower Dream streets. Passenger niggles highlight the barely warm food in the two main dining rooms, and long lines for self-serve food items in the food court.
Gratuities are automatically charged to your onboard account.
Accommodation. There are several cabin price categories, and six cabin types. The price depends on the accommodation grade and location you choose. Whether you go for high end or low end, all accommodation includes Carnival’s Comfort Bed with plush mattresses, good-quality duvets, linens, and pillows. Straight accommodation deck hallways create the cell-block look, and they are bright, very bright, even at night. There are also lot of interior (no-view) cabins. The cabins to go for are those at the stern: they are quieter and offer great aft ocean views on decks 6, 7, 8, and 9.
Some cabins can accommodate five persons – useful for families. There is a wide selection of balcony cabins and suites, including ‘Cove Balcony’ cabins that are the closest to the waterline.
Adjacent to the Serenity Spa are 65 ‘Cloud 9’ spa cabins. They include a number of amenities and privileges (all 20 are situated aft of the lower level, with direct access to it).
Dining. There are two main restaurants: the 1,180-seat Crimson (midships) and the smaller 828-seat Scarlet (aft). Each has two levels: main and balcony (stairways connect both levels), with the galley on the lower level. Forward of Crimson are two small annexes, used as private dining venues by small groups. Choose either fixed-time dining (typically 6pm or 8.15pm) or flexible dining (during opening hours). Note that the two main dining rooms are closed for lunch on port days, so you are forced to go to the self-serve buffet. Note also that bakery items are thawed and heated from frozen.
The Gathering is the ship’s Lido Deck self-serve buffet facility, with indoor/outdoor seating areas on the lower (main) level, and indoor-only seating on the upper level. The venue includes a Mongolian Wok and Pasta Bar on the upper level. Go off-peak and it’s better.
No-cost outdoor eateries include Guy’s Pig & Anchor Barbeque Smokehouse (for pork, chicken, and beef); Pizzeria del Capitano (with five types of pizza); BlueIguana (for Mexican-style tacos and burritas).
The Chef’s Art Supper Club (and bar) seats 139 and has great views from its aft location high on Spa Deck 12, and an à la carte menu. It has decent table settings, for premium-quality steaks and seafood items. On Promenade Deck you’ll find Bonsai Sushi, a tribute-to-sushi venue.
Entertainment. The 1,964-seat Encore Showlounge spans three decks at the front of the ship, with seating set in a horseshoe shape around the stage; the sight lines are generally good, except from some of the seats at the back of the lowest level. Large-scale production shows, with lots of feathers and skimpy costumes, are staged, accompanied by a live showband.
The 425-seat Burgundy Lounge, located aft, has a stage, dance floor, and large bar, and is the venue for smutty, no-holds-barred late-night ‘adult comedy.’ Caliente, a nightclub, provides ultra-loud Latin dance music.
Spa/Fitness. The expansive 23,750-sq-ft (2,206-sq-m) Cloud 9 Spa is set over three decks in the front of the ship. The uppermost deck includes indoor/outdoor private spa relaxation areas, at extra cost. A spiral staircase connects the two decks.
There are several private rooms for body treatments, including a VIP room, a large massage room for couples, a Rasul mud treatment room, and dry flotation rooms. An extra-charge ‘Thermal Suite’ has sensory-enhanced soothing herb-scented heated chambers, and Oriental steam baths.