Cruised the Dream and was dissappoointed

[ivanp91]

It was oppressively hot on the boat, with zero breeze. I realize it is summer in the Caribbean/ Florida, but how was there no breeze in the middle of the ocean? I have never been on a cruise before that was so incredibly hot and humid that it was not really possible to sit by the pool.

Speaking of pools, they were tiny, always full, and the water was warm. Not refreshing at all.

Is it a similar time of year to your other cruises? I've only cruised October/November, last year was dreadfully hot in Orlando but it was lovely on the ship. But I've never experienced that part of the world during summer months, so wouldn't know if what you experienced is 'normal' on the ship.

Regarding the pools, you've mentioned my biggest peeve with the Dream class ships. For the amount of passengers, the pools are tiny. I much prefer the Magic class in that regard, half the amount of passengers but no comparable reduction with the pools (in fact the adult pool in the Magic/Wonder is bigger than the one on the Dream/Fantasy).

...the App doesn't work, which I didn't know ahead of time, so I couldn't contact my family still on the boat)...

I know it's too late now, but the wave phones (the two handsets in each room) work on Castaway Cay.

The food was mediocre at best... I don't expect much from cruise food, but I did expect a little more from Disney.

Dunno if you mean just the MDR or everything, but I agree in the case of the MDRs. I much prefer the Cabanas breakfast/lunch buffet and the quick service counters, the quality of the MDR food isn't as high as it could be for the way those venues are promoted.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

I'm a teacher- my options are limited to the most expensive/ crowded/ hottest times of the year. But yes, thank you for restating the obvious

My DH is an educator as well so we are also limited to basically June/July, Alaska would be another option for summer cruising and you certainly wouldn't run into the same weather issues there.

 

[bakerworld]

We cruised the Wonder in mid-October and found the weather very nice and then cruised the Dream in late September and found the weather much hotter and the wind minimal. So we're trying the Dream again January end in the hopes the weather will be nicer. We're on the Magic next September but cruising to North so the weather shouldn't be an issue.

 

[EGHopeful]

So sad your trip wasn't enjoyable. We had the opposite with regards to crowds & wind. Coming from the West Coast we know NEVER to go to Fl May-Sep. So we went during the Christmas holidays. LOTs of cool winds & since we had a later boarding, as we will again this Dec since we will be coming from the resorts. We walked right no... Hardly no one. Sooo... Like most have said, adjust the season?

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

My DH is an educator as well so we are also limited to basically June/July, Alaska would be another option for summer cruising and you certainly wouldn't run into the same weather issues there.

People do, but no way would I recommend sailing Alaska with very small kids, as in 6 and under. Our boys, now 19 & 16, were 15 & 12 at the time. Ds15 loved it but ds12 got bored and restless on many occasions. Even while in front of Sawyer glacier at Tracy Arm, watching it calve and got the whole thing on video, you can hear the ooo's and aahh's of the crowd, like watching fireworks or a baby shower. In the midst of it all he said he was going back to Edge. What!!?? Whatever...

If I had a little one hanging on my legs and tugging on me to go do something else, I'd be really disappointed. Alaska is different. It isn't just a kick back, "fun in the sun" kind of cruise. It's a "make sure everyone has their own pair of really good binoculars because you won't want to share a pair" kind of cruise. It's the kind where a naturalist gives several talks about Alaska in the WD Theater and later on Tracy Arm day talks on the outside PA system describing what we're seeing.

OP, can you cruise of the Teachers' Convention week in November? We have cruised that week many times and it's been good weather-wise (except when Sandy hit us) If anything, we have had water sports cancelled on CC due to high winds. Definitely not hot, stagnant air.

Our kids get the Thurs & Friday off and back then would get Election Day off as well. So for 2 days missed we could do a 7 nt cruise.
My boss's daughter gets the whole week off. Our voting locations have since been moved from schools to churches so we no longer get Election Day off. We spent at least 2 presidential elections on a warm beach wondering who won.

We've also sailed some 3-night quickies over Jewish holidays in late Sept or early Oct. Spring break is nice too but some districts take these back for snow make up days so that may not be reliable time off.

 

[MaineChapmans]

I'm a teacher- my options are limited to the most expensive/ crowded/ hottest times of the year. But yes, thank you for restating the obvious

We teach too...hubby and me. We'd love to do the NYC cruise to the Bahamas again, but October? Seriously. Like EITHER of our principals would say, "Sure, take a week and a half off!"

 

[Bella29]

We did a B2B on the Dream its inaugural year and did not have this experience at all. We did not have to follow anyone. I think we didn't end up leaving the ship til after 9:30, went out to the check in area for around an hour, then checked in with a handful of others doing the same, then walked back on.
We were chillin by the empty pool when new guests started boarding. It was kind of funny to see the looks on their faces as they try to find their way around, carrying all their carry on bags, looking a bit bewildered, while we were enjoying the start of our 5th day onboard.
Still, I'd prefer a 7-night.

Glad you had a good experience! I'm not what you mean with this symbol , could you explain?

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

The worst was when we did a BTB - literally a 90 minute follow the leader, simon says stop here, wait here, walk now stop. Never again!

I was replying to this statement in particular. It's a "confused" smiley. (If you mouse over each smiley option, it tells you what it means.)
I'm just saying we didn't have the same experience with our B2B that you describe.