Does Dream feel really crowded?

[jenseib]

Just got off the Dream and was told there were 3700 guests. There were only a few times I felt like there were alot of people. After the safety drill, and just before meals. The gift shops were busy around the show times and there was usually a line at guest services. But it was no different then on the magic/wonder. I rebooked the first day on becuase i knew from past times the lines get longer and the cruise continues. I feel that the cast members did a great job! Alot of them just got on the ship a few weeks ago. Since I am a travel agent this was a educational cruise for me. I spent the first 2 days walking around and checking out every inch of the ship and talking to alot of the cast members about the ship. There was a short line to get off in castaway cay but it is because the ship is too long to use the forward gangway. Only the midship gangway was open. All in all it just took about 5-10 mins to get off. I have waited that long on the Magic and Wonder. I think people are over reacting about the crowds. I also ate at cabana's ...it was a big improvement But a little confusing. Ate at the places by the pool and never waited any longer than i ever did on the other ships. It is a beautiful ship and I cant wait to go back. 3 nights.....not long enough!

You were on the 3 day cruise? I keep looking for reviews of this cruise, since we are doing a 3 day as well. Do you plan to do a trip report...if so, let me know. Also do you have any navigators you can post?

 

[revans00]

We (me, dh, ds & dd - both 10) sail on the Dream March 13th. I was excited. Now I don't know what I am. Nervous, I guess. I can be patient when I have to wait in a line, but if someone cuts in front of me, I have NO problem letting them know how I feel about it and their behavior.

oh boy!

Don't be nervous!

1. It was a very small minority of guests who behaved like the south end of a north-bound donkey.
2. It was the maiden voyage, so the temptations to act badly, along with the pent-up energies waiting for MV, are now a thing of the past.
3. As I said, it was really only a distraction for me.

While the gift shops were crazy, yes, there was also a CM off to the side with a form taking orders from people. The CMs then worked overnight to fill those orders from the back-room inventory, then called our room to let us know it was being held behind the counter. I ended up with everything I wanted, less one t-shirt.

KUDOs to Lucious (SP?), the head (?) CM over the shops. That man should be sainted! He demonstrated all the best qualities of Disney in his handling of a bad situation.

We didn't have any trouble finding quiet spots on the ship when we wanted to, the shows, entertainment, and cooking classes were not full at all. We timed our 'Duck rides at 6:00pm when the majority of families were in 1st dinner seating. Never waited at all; did 4 runs the first evening and 3 runs the second evening, each time going straight up to the launch pad without any wait at all.

So, no, don't be nervous. It's a great ship, there's plenty of room, lots to do, and the CM's are there to help (those who simply ask nicely).

 

[jiminyC_fan]

sanctumsolitude, I am so sorry to hear about your incident. It wasn't right and I'm sorry your family was treated like that. We were on the MV B2B. The entire cruise was wonderful with the exception of the hoarders in the shops. How could those people live with themselves at the end of the day? Were they not born with a conscience?

 

[ppartekim]

A little late to this party but I will add our two cents:

Shopping was a nightmare if you wanted the limited edition stuff for sale. Someone I heard say it was like Black Friday or something...

Wonder if you were standing near us in the shops as I did mention to the staff and other shoppers that is felt very much like Black Friday shopping.

I too am a little late to the party with this note, my wife and I along with our tablemates (we're gold, their platinum and we cruised the last seven times together), both did the MV B2B.

Yes, there were problems with both the ship and staff. Both us and tablemates had several conversations providing feedback with the ship crew officers and Dining officers over the experiences we had that did not seem up to the Disney standard. Mind you, we were not complaining, we were providing our input from a guest's perspective so, that service can be brought to the Disney standard we expect and that any ship problems can be solved. And from talking to Libo at Guest Services about another matter, He stated that I can even take credit for the queue line in front of Guest Services after I commented to him the night earlier about the GS line wrapping around the lifts and suggested moving the couch and chairs and putting a queue line there out of the way.

Yes, there was as I heard during the cruise that there was an (quote) excessive (quote) amount of Platinum cruisers on the MV and many of them were Merchandisers and while I not mind them I totally agree with banning scalpers in the hallways (that is just totally rude - Dude, as Crush would say).

Now, the 2nd half of the B2B cruise, was a total 180 degree difference. We had never been on a non-special cruise before (as the previous ones were Panama, Transatlantic and DVC member-cruises), and it was totally calming. They even found some more MV merchandise and so we got a couple MV Nike polos and T shirts in our sizes.

The crew staff were wonderful (new guys tried and some were trying ) but expect all to be Disney perfect when we come back to the Dream again in Oct for our 9/10th cruises (we need to Platinum for the Fantasy MV so we can also be part of the "excessive" Platinums. I even got to pick the MS Kinect times in 687 listed in the Personal Navigator for both cruises since I was talking to the entertainment staff at the right times and they asked me when I wanted to play (That is Disney Personal service).

It is true, that we were on the boat for the entire 8 days with the exception of 4 hours: 2 hours that we spent on Castaway Cay during the MV, and 2 hours during the disembark/embark time during the B2B. I was also up to 3:30am the first night exploring/checking out all the hallways and places that were new on the ship so I try to find my way without a map.

MV cruisers, were sometimes rude and greedy and I can easily find lots to complain about some of them, but why (besides being fun at times), we were there on the Maiden Voyage of the newest Disney Ship with Disney Characters.

WDW and the other Parks may be the Happiest Places on LAND, but DCL is the Happiest Place on any Water and will always be if I am there because I am there and not at work or anywhere else not have fun.

 

[LIFERBABE]

It has been posted many times that you should NOT form a line for the buffet on the Dream.

So there is no cutting in line. Just people not paying attention and causing their own problems.

Yes, Cabanas will take some getting used to, because people naturally want to line up at the stations. My Dh liked the no line concept and embraced it, but he got some nasty looks!

Not sure how they will address this.

We still had a great time and hoping to sail the Dream again in the Fall!

Also my DS(12) told me the other day, that several people approached him at sailaway and asked for his champagne glass!! (apple cider for the kids) A child no less! That is appalling to me! Thankfully he told them no. There are four of us and we brought home 4 Champagne glasses. It was his birthday cruise (26th) so as I was putting them away I told him the glasses have his birthday on them and we would bring them out each year on his birthday for a toast! and I was happy he did not give his glass away.
Shame Shame shimmy shame!!!

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I find it interesting that people were forming lines in Cabanas. Now that they escort you to a table the CM would tell us everytime NOT to form lines.

 

[withrow13]

I saw that Debbru had a room over Evolution. My sister is getting married in May and all of our rooms are back there. Other then my young sister-the bride, we all have kids and did not know at the time we booked, we were over the night club.
Our cruise is sold out so there is no chance for changing anything. You had mentioned you heard the base, if all you hear is the base we ought to be able to put the kids to bed with the TV on? or maybe head phones with a relaxing playlist? What do you think?

 

[rainstar]

I saw that Debbru had a room over Evolution. My sister is getting married in May and all of our rooms are back there. Other then my young sister-the bride, we all have kids and did not know at the time we booked, we were over the night club.
Our cruise is sold out so there is no chance for changing anything. You had mentioned you heard the base, if all you hear is the base we ought to be able to put the kids to bed with the TV on? or maybe head phones with a relaxing playlist? What do you think?

we were in 6690 aft and heard the base from evolution every now and then...

 

[Debbru]

I saw that Debbru had a room over Evolution. My sister is getting married in May and all of our rooms are back there. Other then my young sister-the bride, we all have kids and did not know at the time we booked, we were over the night club.
Our cruise is sold out so there is no chance for changing anything. You had mentioned you heard the base, if all you hear is the base we ought to be able to put the kids to bed with the TV on? or maybe head phones with a relaxing playlist? What do you think?

Yes, we had 5192 on the MV - dead center on the back of the ship. We loved this room (huge verandah, no traffic past the room since it was at the end of the hall) and would not hesitate to book it again! The bass noise was a low thumping - NOT a heart pounding thump, NOT a brain pounding thump, NO vibrations in the room. In reading some of the room reports for the port side aft rooms, I think these rear aft rooms seem to be much, much better.