Cruising the Dream on our 1st cruise ever!!! (5 Night Double Dip)

[Pinkocto]

SSHHH I don't want to jinx it!! We are very close! Now, for us we would be booking a deluxe oceanview family stateroom on the Fantasy. I would have absolutely no clue where would be good. How do you suggest I search this?? We are such newbies it is embarassing!!

p.s. I think I have slightly lost my mind!!

I highly recommend buying the DCL Passporter, the couple who writes them has been on many many cruises and knows DCL in and out. The Dream and Fantasy have the same deck plans so you can look up the Dream's reviews. Right here on the DIS under the cruise staterooms you can see the reviews. My thoughts are to avoid being above or under the clubs if you want to sleep before 2 am.

 

[Pinkocto]

Just for information did you get a DVC email showing you the discount price per person if you booked the Fantasy

No, what am I missing? I had booked using cash first, but it was a third of the cost using points so I switched over. Did you see an email on discounts?

 

[dgbg100106]

No, what am I missing? I had booked using cash first, but it was a third of the cost using points so I switched over. Did you see an email on discounts?

it is a DVC only offer, put using cash not points, and yes I got it in email early this morning.

 

[Donald_Quackers]

I highly recommend buying the DCL Passporter, the couple who writes them has been on many many cruises and knows DCL in and out. The Dream and Fantasy have the same deck plans so you can look up the Dream's reviews. Right here on the DIS under the cruise staterooms you can see the reviews. My thoughts are to avoid being above or under the clubs if you want to sleep before 2 am.

I hear on the Fantasy they had corrected that issue, at least that's the impression I got after listening to the DisUnplugged podcast about the Fantasy. Something about new soundproofing materials and they were looking for feedback from those groups to see how effective it was.

Granted it doesn't help on the Dream, Magic, or Wonder...

 

[Pinkocto]

it is a DVC only offer, put using cash not points, and yes I got it in email early this morning.

Oh my, I didn't open my email today. It was a 5:30-4:30 work day so no time to check it. I'll go see what it's about.

 

[Pinkocto]

I hear on the Fantasy they had corrected that issue, at least that's the impression I got after listening to the DisUnplugged podcast about the Fantasy. Something about new soundproofing materials and they were looking for feedback from those groups to see how effective it was.

Granted it doesn't help on the Dream, Magic, or Wonder...

That would be so wonderful. As detail oriented as they are about everything else it boggled my mind that they didn't make the rooms as sound proof as possible...

 

[marciemouse]

Loving your TR so far! We just took our first cruise on the Wonder in March and loved it, but yours is the first trip report I've read that has peaked my interest in cruising on one of the bigger, newer ships. Keep up the good work!

 

[Pinkocto]

Plans for the day were Parasailing at 11:00 and snorkling at some point.

I woke up around 10 am, only to find out mom had been up and gone to breakfast without me. She did bring me some fruit and some of the fabulous croisants I've already mentioned. I dragged myself out of bed and got ready for our marvelous parasailing adventure. I didn't mind at all that she went to breakfast since it allowed me to sleep in. Before heading out I did eat a couple croisants to tide me over until later.

Some pictures mom got before I woke up.

some people already out parasailing

We headed to Marge's Barges which is only a short walk from the ship, you don't even get to the first tram stop.

some staff were doing a safety course.

the topmost left cabin will be ours next March.

I was still in awe of the beauty and size of the ship.

We showed our tickets to the wonderful Ernestine who made us each sign a waiver, and was directed to the waiting area.

looks like the previous group was coming in. Our turn was fast approaching!

 

[Pikester]

Parasailing just freaks me out! My mom and I had one short discussion about it once but that was it. NO THANK YOU!!

 

[Pinkocto]

We were divided into two groups and directed to our boats. They asked us to leave our shoes on the deck but we had crocs on and it was quite windy. We just put our shoes in our bag so they wouldn't fly away.

Our wonderful parasailing experts.

It was so neat to see the ship from the ocean I got picture crazy.

Our stateroom on this cruise was the third from the left on the bottom level of verandahs. We loved it.

Mom was the third one to go up. She loved it so much, it was a highlight, if not the highlight of the cruise for her.

 

[Pinkocto]

Loving your TR so far! We just took our first cruise on the Wonder in March and loved it, but yours is the first trip report I've read that has peaked my interest in cruising on one of the bigger, newer ships. Keep up the good work!

The Dream never ever felt too big to us. Compared to the Magic and Wonder I'm sure it is though. Thank you, will try Do you have another cruise in the works?

 

[Pinkocto]

Parasailing just freaks me out! My mom and I had one short discussion about it once but that was it. NO THANK YOU!!

It was amazing. There was no woosh off the boat like I was worried about. We literally felt like feathers being lightly picked up by the breeze. I'm afraid it's going to be a must on each cruise now mom loved it that much.

 

[tiggrbaby]

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

I've been following your trip report, and I just have to comment now. I am so excited to read about your parasailing adventure. I just returned from my first cruise (4/30 4-night on the Magic). I tried to talk my DH into parasailing with me, but he wouldn't do it. We were by ourselves, but we are going as a family in December. My daughter says she will do it with me. She will be 8, which is the age listed in the port adventures information, but she is below the weight (I really can't imagine that there are very many kids under the age of 11 or 12 that meet the weight limit). Do you know if they will let us go in tandem so that she meets the limit? Also, did you take a nice camera up, or was it some cheaper version? I am worried about taking my camera up there!

 

[Pinkocto]

I'm giving up for the night. I had parasailing part 2 almost done and the page just closed itself... Do not have the energy to try again. Thanks everybody for following along with the adventure

 

[Pinkocto]

I've been following your trip report, and I just have to comment now. I am so excited to read about your parasailing adventure. I just returned from my first cruise (4/30 4-night on the Magic). I tried to talk my DH into parasailing with me, but he wouldn't do it. We were by ourselves, but we are going as a family in December. My daughter says she will do it with me. She will be 8, which is the age listed in the port adventures information, but she is below the weight (I really can't imagine that there are very many kids under the age of 11 or 12 that meet the weight limit). Do you know if they will let us go in tandem so that she meets the limit? Also, did you take a nice camera up, or was it some cheaper version? I am worried about taking my camera up there!

Oh yes, there was a mother who went with two of her daughters who didn't meet the weight requirement.

I took my nice camera that I'd been taking all my pictures with. You can thread the strap through one of the buckles on the life vest for extra security.

What is with DHs not wanting to try new things

Thanks for following along how in love with cruising are you? I'm still amazed it took me this long to try it.

 

[jennyjinx3]

Amazing pics of the parasailing!! What a wonderful thing to do....for now I can only live through this trip report! Such a great job you are doing, thanks for sharing it all.

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

Oh yes, there was a mother who went with two of her daughters who didn't meet the weight requirement.

I took my nice camera that I'd been taking all my pictures with. You can thread the strap through one of the buckles on the life vest for extra security.

What is with DHs not wanting to try new things

Thanks for following along how in love with cruising are you? I'm still amazed it took me this long to try it.

HA! What's up with DH? Well, he is not a risk-taker AT ALL. This is one of those things that I'm so thankful for because he's my dependable, solid-as-a-rock husband that I can always count on, except when I'm trying to get him to do something like parasailing. My 10yo DS is just like his dad, but my 7yo DD will try anything. She did Summit Plummet at Blizzard Beach when she was 6 (as soon as she hit 48 in), while others older and bigger were doing the walk of shame back down the steps. I know she'll do it with me!

Thanks so much for the info. I am so glad to know we'll be able to do it together, and I can't wait to show my DD your pictures.

We LOVED our cruise, and I am kicking myself for waiting so long to try it. I was always hesitant b/c I get motion sickness, but we took Bonine, and we were fine. I'm writing about our 4 day cruise if you want to check it out (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2922952), but it will not include the fabulous parasailing adventure. I did think of you, however, when we were at Castaway Cay. I had already read about your trek to the observation tower when we left for our trip, so I thought of you as I looked down that long road!

 

[dgbg100106]

Loved the update and the pictures from above!

 

[Pinkocto]

I am so amazingly upset right now. The other day I was only a couple pictures away from finishing Parasailing Part 2, and the page closed on me. The exact same thing happened again. I can only think it's a DIS problem because photobucket remained open...

Ok, the earlier pictures were from mom's parasailing adventure, the following are from mine.

It was really a fabulous adventure, I highly recommend it. I was a little scared that we would be swept up in a whoosh of air, but it was almost like I was a little feather just being gently pulled up by the breeze. It was so calm and peaceful up in the sky alone, a wonderful feeling of being somewhat one with nature.

When we got back to the dock I heard the others asking each other how much they planned on tipping. I didn't even think about tipping, a little bit of panick set in. So I whispered to mom what she thought we should do and we decided to go back to the room, get some cash and bring it back. So as we got off the boat I told our guide, don't worry, we'll be back with your tip, so he didn't think we were skipping out on them. I truly and honestly didn't think about it, or read anywhere that tipping was a norm...