Dream headed to Europe

[Vovin]

As per title, the Dream has just set off for Brest where it will enter drydock.
What would you like to see changed? If anything

 

[BartmanLA]

Most likely it's not going in for major changes, just for inspection and also some reconfiguration to accommodate new safety "Covid-19" protocols, ie. Cabanas changing the buffet line to cafeteria style service, rearrange seating, removing self service food stations etc, also probably rearranging common area seating in MDR's, bars and public gathering areas for social distancing, and installing multiple hand sanitizing stations around the ship and HVAC filtering systems.

 

[mousefan73]

For my kids if Disney would add a Flo Rider then the choice would be 100% for Disney instead of The hard choice today between DCL and Royal.

I also like how on Royal their couch turns into a double sleeper. My kids are now teenagers and to be honest due to height and length having someone sleep in the upper birth is no longer fun. So for a four person family that just leaves us to having a deluxe family cabin which is more expensive with the Murphy bed. Granite it was a tight squeeze getting to the balcony when it was pulled out but it was still doable


If the cruise line sees this Covid situation being a more long-term thing and possible other viruses I can see them doing some major changes concerning how to quarantine guests while On board.

From my understanding the health clinic is on deck 1 with the crew quarters. It would make sense to create some cabins down there also for guests who are sick while sailing and have any type of communicable disease. Kind of making a bubble of cabins that use an exclusive ventilation system. Or doing the same on deck 2 With lower deck cabins.

It will be interesting also if they figure out a type of drink system goes completely touchless and safe. But to be honest I would have no issue today using those soda machines on the pool deck. Especially since Cove it seems to be more transmittable through droplets in the air anyways. And if you’re really a no you can just take a tissue to use to press the button. Or they come up with a new system where everyone gets a permanent drink mug like at the resorts that would reduce people touching touching other Paper cups.

 

[Husker Mike]

Wasn't the Dream scheduled pre-COVID for a dry dock in October?

 

[T & R]

Wasn't the Dream scheduled pre-COVID for a dry dock in October?

Yes, was supposed to be after the Oct 2 cruise, so I guess they're knocking it out early. The only thing that concerns me is that someone mentioned they may be adding more concierge rooms during the dry dock. We have concierge for upcoming April Dream cruise, was hopeful to get a cabana on CC. Don't like the sound of more concierge, that means diminished chances at a cabana.

 

[n2mm]

I saw that on the tracker and wondered where she was heading. So now only the Wonder is sticking around And keeping the light on for our return one day.

 

[BartmanLA]

Yes, was supposed to be after the Oct 2 cruise, so I guess they're knocking it out early. The only thing that concerns me is that someone mentioned they may be adding more concierge rooms during the dry dock. We have concierge for upcoming April Dream cruise, was hopeful to get a cabana on CC. Don't like the sound of more concierge, that means diminished chances at a cabana.

Honestly getting a Cabana on CC has become a real gamble, since a vast majority of cruisers are Gold/Platinum these days, scooping up one on the first day of booking is more down to how great your TA is or how fast you can click on the links. I don't really think adding more Concierge rooms will add to the chances of not getting one over all.

 

[BartmanLA]

I saw that on the tracker and wondered where she was heading. So now only the Wonder is sticking around And keeping the light on for our return one day.

There's rumors (unsubstantiated I know) that they're trying to finagle time in the dry dock in Freeport, Bahamas for a couple of weeks for the reconfiguration work needed, but it might not be that they need to take the ship out of the water, since most of the work would be done on the interior for redoing the ship to accommodate Covid-19 safety protocols they would just need a shipyard where they could get access to the materials and workers to do the work. We'll see, what happens, I believe the Magic is due to head to Cadiz, Spain in mid-Sept for her scheduled Dry-Dock refurbishment. That would mean all 4 ships would be worked on during this period, which is smart to get it all done now.

 

[bcwife76]

There's rumors (unsubstantiated I know) that they're trying to finagle time in the dry dock in Freeport, Bahamas for a couple of weeks for the reconfiguration work needed, but it might not be that they need to take the ship out of the water, since most of the work would be done on the interior for redoing the ship to accommodate Covid-19 safety protocols they would just need a shipyard where they could get access to the materials and workers to do the work. We'll see, what happens, I believe the Magic is due to head to Cadiz, Spain in mid-Sept for her scheduled Dry-Dock refurbishment. That would mean all 4 ships would be worked on during this period, which is smart to get it all done now.

Doesn't the Wonder have scheduled dry dock time in September 2021 though? There is a gap in her schedule between the last Alaska cruise of the season and the Van-San Diego cruise.

 

[T & R]

Honestly getting a Cabana on CC has become a real gamble, since a vast majority of cruisers are Gold/Platinum these days, scooping up one on the first day of booking is more down to how great your TA is or how fast you can click on the links. I don't really think adding more Concierge rooms will add to the chances of not getting one over all.

Concierge cabins get to request a cabana prior to Gold/Platinum. Platinum or Gold CC status is not a factor. Concierge get to pick off a cabana at 125 days out while platinum is only 120 days out. My point was that with only 20 family cabanas, the more concierge rooms added on the Dream, the more people getting in on the cabana request at 125 days out, thus less chances of getting one of the 20 family cabanas. There is no clicking links, we simply send shoreside concierge an e-mail at 125 days out requesting a cabana. So adding additional concierge rooms definitely diminishes the ability to get a cabana when being concierge used to be almost a sure thing.

 

[T & R]

I have seen people on here say that DCL might not sail until there is a Covid vaccine and even some speculation that you might have to show proof of vaccine to sail. I have also seen people say on here that these dry docks will be used to reconfigure the ships with Covid safety measures. What would be the point of making Covid modifications if they are not going to sail until there is a Covid vaccine? Would be kind of pointless to make the Covid modifications if all those who board are both Covid free and immune via vaccination.

 

[Snowwhyt]

What would be the point of making Covid modifications if they are not going to sail until there is a Covid vaccine? Would be kind of pointless to make the Covid modifications if all those who board are both Covid free and immune via vaccination.

It is a good question you have there. Although Covid free will never be a thing, at least according to science so far, but I’m all for a positive outlook. Scientist have been saying these types of viruses are coming our way though. So modifications could be annoying but the new way of sailing in the future. I encourage DCL to get ahead of that curve. Better to make those changes now and have people asking questions like “why didn’t we have to do this back when we had Covid?”

 

[JM_97]

I have seen people on here say that DCL might not sail until there is a Covid vaccine and even some speculation that you might have to show proof of vaccine to sail. I have also seen people say on here that these dry docks will be used to reconfigure the ships with Covid safety measures. What would be the point of making Covid modifications if they are not going to sail until there is a Covid vaccine? Would be kind of pointless to make the Covid modifications if all those who board are both Covid free and immune via vaccination.

Well even when there is a vaccine I don't think self serve buffets will ever come back

 

[BartmanLA]

I have seen people on here say that DCL might not sail until there is a Covid vaccine and even some speculation that you might have to show proof of vaccine to sail. I have also seen people say on here that these dry docks will be used to reconfigure the ships with Covid safety measures. What would be the point of making Covid modifications if they are not going to sail until there is a Covid vaccine? Would be kind of pointless to make the Covid modifications if all those who board are both Covid free and immune via vaccination.

Potentially though that even when a Vaccine becomes available, many people will be cautious and want more measures to be taken for on board safety, as has been stated, it's unlikely that they're return buffets to self service, most likely they'll also need to rearrange the venues to accommodate the removal of many of the self service features that were on most ships prior to Covid-19, drink stations, self service food kiosks and stations which will result in a need to redesign the seating and layout of the locations. Cabanas is going to require a lot of work to reconfigure it to allow for the new precautions that a lot of guests will feel comfortable with. Also there will probably be a push for more single family/couple seating in the MDR's as guests might request more socially isolated dining seating. Same with other venues, pool areas, theaters, bars and even the coffee shop on board. Things ultimately will probably not be as they were prior to 2020 once this is over. DCL is going to try to give the guests on board a environment where they'll feel safe and protected as they do in their own home.

 

[T & R]

Well even when there is a vaccine I don't think self serve buffets will ever come back

Yes, the self serve will be gone but the buffet will remain. I was reading an article over the summer that interviewed Richard Fain (Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited). He stated their buffets will remain but they just won't have those tongs where everybody touches the same tongs to move the food onto their plate. There will be a CM who will tong the food onto your plate for you. Hopefully DCL does this too because I do not want to lose the buffet. That's good and bad news for me. Good news because we don't lose the buffet. Bad news because it's going to be really embarrassing for me to keep standing there and asking the CM to pile more shrimp on my plate. He's going to be looking at me with that look like "really dude?"

 

[BartmanLA]

Doesn't the Wonder have scheduled dry dock time in September 2021 though? There is a gap in her schedule between the last Alaska cruise of the season and the Van-San Diego cruise.

That is probably the bi-annual out of water inspection and refresh in Victoria (or where ever they schedule it) I think if they do put the Wonder into a dry dock/shipyard it's for the previously mentioned Covid-19 reconfiguration for safety and sanitary protocols that are likely to be mandated upon resumption of operations, whether or not there is a vaccine.

 

[JM_97]

Yes, the self serve will be gone but the buffet will remain. I was reading an article over the summer that interviewed Richard Fain (Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited). He stated their buffets will remain but they just won't have those tongs where everybody touches the same tongs to move the food onto their plate. There will be a CM who will tong the food onto your plate for you. Hopefully DCL does this too because I do not want to lose the buffet. That's good and bad news for me. Good news because we don't lose the buffet. Bad news because it's going to be really embarrassing for me to keep standing there and asking the CM to pile more shrimp on my plate. He's going to be looking at me with that look like "really dude?"

I mean it'll be like in Olive Garden when I tell the waiter to put way more parmesan cheese on my pasta than I should!

 

[mmouse37]

For my kids if Disney would add a Flo Rider then the choice would be 100% for Disney instead of The hard choice today between DCL and Royal.

I also like how on Royal their couch turns into a double sleeper. My kids are now teenagers and to be honest due to height and length having someone sleep in the upper birth is no longer fun. So for a four person family that just leaves us to having a deluxe family cabin which is more expensive with the Murphy bed. Granite it was a tight squeeze getting to the balcony when it was pulled out but it was still doable


If the cruise line sees this Covid situation being a more long-term thing and possible other viruses I can see them doing some major changes concerning how to quarantine guests while On board.

From my understanding the health clinic is on deck 1 with the crew quarters. It would make sense to create some cabins down there also for guests who are sick while sailing and have any type of communicable disease. Kind of making a bubble of cabins that use an exclusive ventilation system. Or doing the same on deck 2 With lower deck cabins.

It will be interesting also if they figure out a type of drink system goes completely touchless and safe. But to be honest I would have no issue today using those soda machines on the pool deck. Especially since Cove it seems to be more transmittable through droplets in the air anyways. And if you’re really a no you can just take a tissue to use to press the button. Or they come up with a new system where everyone gets a permanent drink mug like at the resorts that would reduce people touching touching other Paper cups.

The circle of life......back before the "free" soda DCL would sell soda Mugs that you used to refill during the cruise. That idea may come back around. This is what they looked like.





MJ

 

[PrincessShmoo]

The circle of life......back before the "free" soda DCL would sell soda Mugs that you used to refill during the cruise. That idea may come back around. This is what they looked like.

View attachment 518858

View attachment 518859

MJ

But then you have the issue of people filling up their personal cups at the drink stations. Of course, there may not be self-serve drink stations after cruising restarts. Will they take someone's personal cup back to the kitchen to fill it up? I wouldn't think so.

 

[mmouse37]

But then you have the issue of people filling up their personal cups at the drink stations. Of course, there may not be self-serve drink stations after cruising restarts. Will they take someone's personal cup back to the kitchen to fill it up? I wouldn't think so.

Yep, no perfect answer!!!

MJ