Our "Dreamy" anniversary cruise....with pics 5/30/13-6/02/13 UPDATED W/ALL NAVIGATORS

[tweis]

Hi! I absolutely love reading the trip reports on the these boards. They have been so helpful to me so I thought I would try writing one to kind of give back and help cruisers. I am Trina (tweis) and this was my second time cruising with DCL and second time on the Dream. The first was last June with my DH and our two kids (9 &10) for a double dip. It was great but this time DH and I wanted to take a trip for our anniversary and adding on a 3 night cruise seemed like a great way to end our week long trip. I did not take many photos of this trip so I don't know that I will be able to post many.

We live in GA and would be driving down to the port. We decided to make the drive down part of our vacation. I absolutely hate long car rides so this was great for me. We stayed 2 nights in Savannah (beautiful), a night in St. Augustine (loved it), had a nice scenic ride down A1-A and Daytona Beach, then stayed the night in Cocoa Beach before our cruise.

Beautiful Savannah, GA


DH and I at Fort Castillo in St. Augustine


Either Daytona Beach or Cocoa Beach





Last year we stayed at the Radisson the night before our cruise and used their park and cruise service. The pool area was great at the Radisson but the beds were so uncomfortable and I really got impatient with the shuttle service so we have decided not to stay there again. We chose the lovely DoubleTree Inn at Cocoa Beach. We knew we would be arriving kind of later in the evening so we opted not to stay on the executive level because alot of the perks are evening snacks and drinks in the lounge. Since we are Hilton Honors members, we each received a complimentary drink from the bar and of course everyone gets one of the yummy warm cookies.

We had booked an oceanview king room. The room was great with really nice bedding and wonderful Crabtree and Evelyn toiletries. The shower was tile with glass doors. Really nice. We were hungry and luckily just across the street is a Sonny's BBQ. I love BBQ. The service was good but the pork was dry. The sauce helped and I was hungry. We went back to the DoubleTree and decided to get our free drink from the bar. We had the option of a blue lemonade or a blue lagoon. My DH asked what the difference was and the bar tender said one had alcohol and the other didn't. We chose the one with alcohol which was the blue lagoon. My DH really enjoyed it and had a second. It was getting windy and we really wanted to take a stroll on the beach before it was too dark to see. My DH had never been to a beach on the Atlantic Coast so on our drive down we stopped and visited different beaches along the way. We still prefer the beaches on the Gulf but he decided Daytona and Cocoa wasn't bad. We had stopped at Tybee Island and that gave him a bad first impression of Atlantic Beaches. The sand was really brown and course and their were piles of sticks all over the beach. The water also looked really dark brown. He is used to sugar sand beaches and emerald waters so it was a real shock to him. Lol We took a nice leisurely stroll down the beach and was having such a nice time that it was completely dark on our way back to the hotel. The DoubleTree has showers so that you can rinse the sand off before going either in the pool or back into the hotel. We decided to turn in since we had a port arrival time of 11:00-11:30 and we still need to stop to pick up beer and juice and to have some breakfast.

 

[tweis]

CRUISE DAY 1-PORT CANAVERAL

We got up around 8:30 and showered and got ready for the day. Wandered out onto the verandah and what do I see.....the Disney Dream. I also see that it's windy and rainy. Crap. Surely it can't rain on the day we are boarding the Dream can it? It can and does. By the time we check out and start loading our luggage it is absolutely pouring. We head to Publix which is also just across the street to pick up some beer to carry on and some pineapple orange juice for mixing with the vodka that we are also carrying on. We get completely soaked but we get what we need and pack it away in our carry on bag. Next stop McDonalds for a quick bite before heading to the port. We are somewhat familiar with the port since we cruised out of PC last year but we have never parked at the port before and weren't exactly sure of what to do.

We got there around 10:45 (ish) and drove right past where you are supposed to drop your luggage off. Oops. We are directed to the parking area and get our ticket to put on our windshield. We find parking in the first lot and now drag our suitcase over to where we were supposed to leave it to begin with. We head to security and show our passports and signature form and they ask for our room number. We give them our number and our pictures pop up on the computer screen and the officer welcomes us back and directs us to the terminal. Upon entering the terminal DH is worried that our heavy carryon full of booze will stop the belt when it passes through the scanner. I told him no worries it wasn't a big deal. It didn't stop the belt and we were finished in a matter of minutes. We were directed upstairs and into the terminal. There were already lots of people there and it was barely 11:00. We were given the health questionaire and directed to the Castaway Club line. We were in line maybe 5-7 minutes before we were at the counter. The CM gave us our KTTW card and our lanyards since we were returning cruisers. I was excited because we had gotten the dining rotation our TA had requested for us. We were given boarding number 3. Score!!




It was maybe 11:10 so we went and had a seat and looked over the navigator that we had been given. DH went ahead and put his phone in airplane mode so as not to forget later. We had decided that I would leave mine on but turn off all notifications that way if there was an emergency our children could contact us. I'm still not sure how that worked out because I received 3 texts while on the ship and none of them were about our kids. I'm not sure yet how much that is gonna cost.

DH was starting to get antsy by 11:20 and wanted to stand up and wait with this massive group that had formed around the area that was roped off in front of the Mickey Ears. Right after this there is an announcement about boarding only when your group is called. We must be getting close. Then the family of the day is announced. Boarding group 1 is called at exactly 11:30 followed immediately by number 2. Then boarding groups 1-4. Awesome! I should mention that a fellow standing beside me is confused because they called group #1 and he is #40. How are we #40 he asks his wife. My guess is that he chose a later PAT and showed up way early. They key to not having to wait in long lines is showing up at your correct PAT. Anyways.....we are heading through the Mickey Ears and get our KTTW card swiped. I see where they are taking photos before entering the ship. I tell DH that I read on the DIS that you don't have to have a photo taken and that you can board without it. Not true. They said it was for facial recognition and that EVERYONE has to have the photo. No problem. We get the pic taken and then we are being announced by the CMs that are waiting to welcome us onboard. The atrium on the Dream is so beautiful. There are CMs lining both sides of the entrance smiling and welcoming you onboard. We take it all in for a minute and then head to guest services. I inquire about mixology and the CM says it is on our Nassau day at 3:00. We get our tickets which is $15 pp and applied a gift card to our account. I look at the time and it is only 11:40. Awesome!

 

[tweis]

I found some pics that I took this trip (not many) and some from our previous trip that I am going to try to post if anyone is interested. They will be a mix of both cruises but should get the point across.

This is a photo from last trip and you can see part of the atrium and the lovely chandelier. The Dream is such a beautiful ship.



After guest services we decided to have a little lunch. Last time we chose Enchanted Garden because we thought that would be easier with the kids since servers seat you and bring you your drinks but since it was just DH and I we decided to go to Cabanas. There was hardly anyone in there at this time and we were able to move through it rather quickly. Even though it had been raining earlier all the tables and chairs out on deck were dry. The CMs really work hard. We decided to sit outside and enjoy our lunch. Probably 10 minutes later a CM comes by and recommends us moving to a table under the overhang of the ship. Rain will be here in about 10 minutes he informs us. So we moved and sure enough just a few minutes later it was raining again. This is a lunch pic from EG but it is pretty much the same food that Cabanas has. It was all very good.




I found an actual pic from Cabanas during embarkation lunch. As you can see my DH had already started before the pic was taken.



This was the view we had of the port while enjoying our lunch at Cabanas.

 

[tweis]

After lunch we decided to go visit the adult's only sections of the ship. On our last cruise we were unable to do this. It's like walking into a different world. So quiet and peaceful. There are padded loungers on both sides of the deck as well as round little "love seats" and couches and chairs. All padded. Nothing like on the family side of the ship. AND we were finally gonna be able to get in the pool!



Not only is it an adult's only pool but it also has a bar! This is where we met Craig from Jamaica.


The drink of the day was the "paradise" and he made it beautifully. He presented me with a slip to sign and for 2 drinks was less than $10 with gratuity added in.

 

[ALMinVA]

I'm here! I love your report! Enjoying being along for your adult cruise

 

[tweis]

I'm here! I love your report! Enjoying being along for your adult cruise

Thank you Amanda! I was beginning to think no one was reading.

I'm so excited to see the Falmouth excursions up today. It just makes it seem more real.

 

[Cheryl726]

Enjoying your TR so far! Looking forward to reading more and seeing more pics!

 

[tweis]

I checked my bill and the two drinks of the day were $9.78 with the gratuity. I thought that was pretty good considering DH paid $4.95 for his second drink at the Double Tree and it was less than half the size.

We had boarded so early that we were able to have a second drink and some more conversation with Craig. We also watched the mountains of luggage being loaded onto the ship. I couldnt believe the amount considering it was only a 3 night. I can only imagine the amount for a 7 night. It was finally nearing 1:30 so DH and I went up to the 8th deck to see if our room was ready. The hallway was still roped off and you could hear the stateroom host vacuuming the hallway. At precisely 1:30 we were racing down the hallway to room 8028. Well racing as fast as we possibly could with DH pulling our rolling carryon. Lol This was our first verandah room and we were so excited. We had originally book a 9A GTY but we were assigned an accessible room and we didnt need one. We paid to upgrade to a 7A which was also GTY. Less than a week after upgrading we received our assignment and had been upgraded to a 5B. Score!

I forgot to take pictures of our room the first day. I think these are from the last morning.






This is a stock pic from the internet but this is how our room looked.

We were so excited to have a verandah room. For our double dip last year we had an 8D which is one of the deluxe family ocean view rooms with the huge portholes. It was a great room and our kids love laying in the porthole seat. After we were assigned this room I realized it had what alot of DISers refer to as a "skin" on the verandah. I think you can see it on the left side in the pic above. It didn't bother us at all and actually made for a more private verandah which we enjoyed.

We got into the room and unpacked our carryon. The room had a fridge which came in handy for the beer and juice we brought on. I know it sounds as though we are lushes with all the drinks but this was a rarity for us. We were traveling without the kids and decided to let loose a little. Our Palo ticket, bike tickets, dining tickets, as well as our Castaway Club gift, and our gift basket from Dreams Unlimited were all waiting for us in the room already.

 

[tweis]

Enjoying your TR so far! Looking forward to reading more and seeing more pics!

Thanks for joining in

 

[jedijill]

I'm here and reading along.

Jill in CO

 

[tweis]

I'm here and reading along.

Jill in CO

Thanks for joing in!

 

[Madzac]

Reading along and enjoying too! We are heading on our very first cruise in 11 days and seeing the pictures is so exciting!!! Thank you!!

 

[Madzac]

Reading along and enjoying too! We are heading on our very first cruise in 11 days and seeing the pictures is so exciting!!! Thank you!!

 

[tweis]

Reading along and enjoying too! We are heading on our very first cruise in 11 days and seeing the pictures is so exciting!!! Thank you!!

Thanks for reading along. I'm glad you are enjoying it. I know you are so excited to be taking your first cruise. We have loved both of ours on the Dream. It is a truly beautiful ship and I'm afraid my pics don't do it justice. You will have so much fun! I will try to post more pics later.

 

[RDP]

Enjoying the TR! we took a 3 night Dream last November, our next one is booked for August 2014.

 

[tweis]

Enjoying the TR! we took a 3 night Dream last November, our next one is booked for August 2014.

Thank you! We don't have one currently booked on the Dream but we do have the Fantasy booked for May 2014. I love the Dream and thought we had excellent service.

 

[ALMinVA]

I think our Fantasy cruise is going to be sold out with it being over Memorial Day.
I can't wait to see your pictures and review of Palo - you are going to post pictures - right??

 

[tweis]

I think our Fantasy cruise is going to be sold out with it being over Memorial Day.
I can't wait to see your pictures and review of Palo - you are going to post pictures - right??

I wish I could post pics of all the yummy goodness in Palo but we didn't take our phones with us. We were really wishing we had by the end of dinner because they wrote on a plate in chocolate wishing us a happy anniversary. Sorry

 

[MinnieMommy2381]

Thanks for reading along. I'm glad you are enjoying it. I know you are so excited to be taking your first cruise. We have loved both of ours on the Dream. It is a truly beautiful ship and I'm afraid my pics don't do it justice. You will have so much fun! I will try to post more pics later.

Tricia I'm reading along too despite the weather we still enjoyed the cruise I can't wait to read your trip report.

 

[Toria]

DH and I took an adult only last year and we are going to do the same thing next week. I am looking forward to the rest of your report. After living in Destin no other Beach can compare, outside of Castaway Cay of course.