4/14/2012 7-Nights Western Caribbean on the Fantasy

[BigDogHU75]

I live in Emmitsburg and my DD lives in Catonsville,
Where are you?

Oh ok. I know where that is. I am in Southern MD. I live near Patuxent Naval Air Station in St. Mary's County.

 

[Roadweaver]

Oh ok. I know where that is. I am in Southern MD. I live near Patuxent Naval Air Station in St. Mary's County.

Good to know that someone knows where I live. I usually have to do a song in dance that I live right over the PA border outside of Gettysburg but on the Maryland side.

 

[sistert]

Sooooooo.....what was your opinion on the Dream? Getting a little nervous reading some posts on the main cruise boards. Just don't want to feel "crowded". Which we never did on the Magic. Very excited about going on a new ship though!!

I loved the Dream! Didn't feel crowded at all. It should feel to you EXACTLY like on the Magic, just bigger. If you are cruising on a holiday cruise or some other event cruise, I can believe it might feel crowded. Most of reviews I've seen are from the MV or other earlier cruise. Those were filled to capacity and everyone was trying to be first, get at the same thing first, etc... Not pretty I'm sure. Our cruise was more normal. Only in the shopping area did I notice crowds and that was just after a show let out.

Quick thoughts on the Dream:
- It's a beautiful ship. Makes you proud to be on her next to other ships. Walking around her, she leaves you speechless. Or in my case only able to say "Wow!"

- I like where Shutters has moved to and the new viewing system. Much more civilized than the hunt and shove on the original ships. Two points of interest:
1. You have to take the photo as you're boarding or you can't use Shutters once on board. It "opens" your account/folder.
2. On your channel guide you'll see something called Screensaver if I'm remembering correctly. It's all of your photos playing on your tv!

- I'm not a pool person but the adult pool is very small if your a swimmer. The whole pool is more designed For lounging than anything. Some people liked it better others hated it. Personal choice. Also, though the Donald pool is smaller from what I hear, the fact that it is next to the Mickey pool makes it great for the whole family to be together.

- Who ever got the brilliant idea to put the sports deck over Palo's should be shot. Depending on your dining location during brunch you can hear people playing basketball above you. Didn't stop my good time but was occasionally distracting. Better soundproofing will do the trick though.

- Having the aft elevator open inside Cabanas is weird or convenient depending on your point of view.

- I don't have children but did get a chance to peek at the updated kids clubs... WOW! So jealous! And the fact that the counselors come and get the kids for you during the second dining seating must be a relief for parents wanting to have some adult time.

- The District is fantastic! Each space is unique and well thought out. Mom and I looked forward each night to trying a new club.

- Every cast member I met, if they weren't over the top wonderful in some way, always had at least a smile and a pleasant "Good morning" as I walked by. How could you not be in a good mood when met with a Disney smile?

- This is a brand new boat with lots of new features, new cast members, and new challenges. The cast members were amazing, working with the guests and each other to make the trip a happy one. It also helps if you don't take yourself and situations too seriously.

I hope to find a moment to write a trip report later but if you have the Disney spirit, you're going to have a fabulous time. On the 4/14 Fantasy trip you won't miss my mom and I. We'll be the two spending most of the cruise laughing and smiling every chance we can get.

 

[Roadweaver]

I am sistert's mom and totally agree. If you get on board looking for a problem, you will find it. The service and staff was up to Disney standards and some times better. When the server had to use a map to find our table and we were all over the restaurant that first night, we thanked him for the tour and we all fell out laughing. If you get strung out on something like this , then you are missing out.

 

[DisneyMomforLife]

Well, if all goes as planned, you guys can add ANOTHER family from the north east to this sailing!

We live in CT and although our school has not yet announced the calendar for next year, a few very close neighboring cities have and their vacation week is the week of April 14th so we are praying that is what our school ends up doing. We are guessing that they will work to line them all up ... I guess we will see soon enough. We have taken 3 Disney cruises in the past and were waiting for a western on one of the new ships. We might be jumping the gun just a little bit until the date is confirmed ... but we are just too excited to stay away! We had a dummy date reservation so I moved it to this sailing just in case since it was filling up so fast. We were able to score the same room we were in on the Magic ... we loved the location and it's just about the same on the Fantasy.

We are a family of 4 - I will be 40 at the time of the cruise, my DH will be 44, DS will be 22 and DD will be 14.

Has anyone here been on a Western yet? We are excited for the ports. We've done an Eastern w/Disney and two 3-days into the Bahamas w/Disney also. Just can't stay away!

Looking forward to STAYING on this sailing and getting to know everyone!!

Kat

 

[Snow What]

WELCOME ABOARD, Kat! Hopefully it will all work out... this will be one FANSTAStYc cruise!!
We are waiting on cousins to confirm their ressies. Our group will be 19 people if everyone confirms!

 

[DisneyMomforLife]

WELCOME ABOARD, Kat! Hopefully it will all work out... this will be one FANSTAStYc cruise!!
We are waiting on cousins to confirm their ressies. Our group will be 19 people if everyone confirms!

Thanks for the welcome ... I sure hope we end up on this cruise!! The Board of Ed has a meeting coming up on March 2 so hopefully they will release the calendar soon!!

Has anyone done a Western before? We've done 2 three-day cruises on the Wonder and 1 seven-night on the Magic but it was an Eastern.

We are very excited for this itinerary!!

Kat

 

[RJAYL]

Thanks for the welcome ... I sure hope we end up on this cruise!! The Board of Ed has a meeting coming up on March 2 so hopefully they will release the calendar soon!!

Has anyone done a Western before? We've done 2 three-day cruises on the Wonder and 1 seven-night on the Magic but it was an Eastern.

We are very excited for this itinerary!!

Kat

We have done 2 Western's 1 on the Carnival Glory & 1 on RCCI Liberty & we are going on the NCL Epic this April!

Like All the ports! love Costa Maya as it was a sleepy little place not over developed when we were there 2 1/2 years ago probably changed by now we will know better this April!

Doing an Eastern on the RCCI Allure next February & then again on the Fantasy's 1st NYE cruise! only that one will be a little different depending on what DCL decides!

 

[burma]

Booked on the Dream Feb 17 cruise Deck 9 for us DD's 8 & 10 DW eternally 21
and myself.
I started a thread but found this one so here we go the countdown begins again.

 

[burma]

oh forgot to ask those here already I assume there will be a formal night what are your thoughts we have done it 2 times already and seem to be the only ones around us in Tux's I personally like it though..

and is anyone doing the FE thingy?

 

[bret]

Count me in as another MA family. We are from Franklin, MA. This is going to be soooooooo exciting on the new ship!

I am looking for trip reports from the Dream. I'll be up day and night reading them!

 

[DisneyMomforLife]

Count me in as another MA family. We are from Franklin, MA. This is going to be soooooooo exciting on the new ship!

I am looking for trip reports from the Dream. I'll be up day and night reading them!

Welcome!!

I've started to look at trip reports too ... particularly from the MV. This sailing is I think the 2nd or 3rd so I know there are tons of things that could come up as a result of being so close to the MV ... just hoping that they take whatever happened on the Dream and make sure it doesn't happen for us on the Fantasy!

kat

 

[burma]

I just came off the Feb 17 Dream and it was fine .. dont believe everything you read my TR is posted if you want to see what I had to say ... see you in April

 

[hgon76]

Welcome to all the new cruisers!! Wow, more MA cruisers, huh? We were afraid we may have to cancel this one. I just got a new job and vacation picks there go by order of seniority. Luckily, because I had this one booked prior to accepting the position, I will be able to get that week!! I was nervous though!! Only a little over a month to go til we hit that 1 year mark! Then the real countdown begins.

 

[stitchsbesty]

cant wait, the ship will be brand new..the kids clubs look good too!!!

 

[stitchsbesty]

So true. And, we might get some goodies leftover from the maiden voyage.

thats true!

 

[burma]

If they are the same as the Dream they are AWSOME .... our kids had a blast and the game floor is truly amazing

 

[stitchsbesty]

If they are the same as the Dream they are AWSOME .... our kids had a blast and the game floor is truly amazing

thats good...how old...anyone in the teen or tween clubs? some other mwe are going with have kids in that age range.

 

[stitchsbesty]

Welcome!!

I've started to look at trip reports too ... particularly from the MV. This sailing is I think the 2nd or 3rd so I know there are tons of things that could come up as a result of being so close to the MV ... just hoping that they take whatever happened on the Dream and make sure it doesn't happen for us on the Fantasy!

kat

i am concerned about that too! dont want anything unexpected to come up!

 

[burma]

thats good...how old...anyone in the teen or tween clubs? some other mwe are going with have kids in that age range.

2 DD 9 & 10 come April ....

I did not see the kids club but we took my parents on the cruise with us to spend time with the grandkids and they walked in to the teen club and said everyone looked at them like what the hell are you doing here