bbn1122
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2009
- Messages
- 3,050
I just got home from my long trip.... 4 nights at WDW AKL-Kidani, 3 night Dream and then family visit in NC. We were gone for 10 days....
Well, I have up and down feelings about my trip. I only sailed once before on DCL and that was the Magic - 7nights, Western Caribbean. That cruise was hands down unbelievable....I really missed the 7 nights.
I knew 3 nights on the Dream would short and hard to get the true feeling of the ship. Here goes my report, on our way down to FL we stayed in Brunswick GA and Sun am (8/21) I hear about Tropical Storm Irene. I worried that our cruise would be cancelled and our WDW trip would be a rain out.
Well, I kepted checking in here and looking for help and advice. Finally, the day came, Irene was passing FL by, but what did she do to the Bahamas and CC. We arrived at the port 20 minutes before 11am and were told to come back after 11. We went to a store for some Dramaminie and sunscreen and back to port. We got into the port lines looked really long, but then a CM rescued us to the CC line, which was much shorter. The line had looked like one big line, so we were thrilled to go to a much shorter line. I had gotten word from a CM at AKL that we would be leaving by 4pm instead of 5pm. Because of this we did not wait in the terminal we check in got our key, took our boarding photo and went right on the boat. I would say we were aboard by 12:15pm. We went right to Cabanas.....
.....this is where things seem to unfold .....the CM tried to explain to you how Cabanas works, but people did not get it... they lineup and slowly went through the entire buffet plying up there plates then looking for a table. I had my family find a table first and we tried a little at a time, going to each station that we were interested in. They had plates at each station and the ones further down the line were always empty. The variety was large and the food was good. My boys loved the hard scoop ice cream with the chocolate shavings...
....My younger boys ate and changed and got to ride the AquaDuck right away they waited at the entrance to the stack and it took about 15minutes. They liked but thought it went quick.
The pool deck got crazy real quick.
Our cabins were ready. We had two on deck 2 and they were no where near each other 2023 and 2519 and yes the reservation were connected and I asked for connecting cabins. The both were connecting cabins but with other guest. With the help of these boards I went to GS and go an extra key for each room...thanks everyone.
I went up to the adult pool area, oh boy....the forward elevator spills right out to the Quiet Cove pool. Kids were all over the place....DCL really should have a CM there on boarding day to remind peopl that it is a adult only area. You could use the Midship elevator or get out on Deck 12 and walk up there.
Later in the day after ship sailed I watch as a man was in the hot tub, by himself a few minutes later 4 kids showed up and climbed in the hot tub with him. I told my husband I could not take anymore and I got up and told him this was an adult only area. His response was that they would be leaving in a little will. I got up and left after this because just 20 minutes before a women sit down on a chaise with her 5 children and they start climbing into the pool. I was walking by from getting a drink and I reminded her that it was an adult only area, she looked at me and said she was there because her husband was on the deck above smoking. She too was not going to leave until finally a CM saw the kids climbing in the pool. It was crazy...people would come from the Mid ship section where you walk pass those glass walls that say adult area and 18 and older....people did not care.
It seem that about 75% of this 3 night cruise were 1st time DCL and maybe 50% had never cruised before. Two times during the cruise I was either at a show or dinner where they ask is this your first cruise and almost everyone cheered. People seem not to know cruise etiquette (sp sorry). I just did not have the same feeling as I did on the Magic. But I have to say by day 3 I felt better, but that first day was really ugly.
The ship was beautiful.....our rooms were really nice. I missed my balcony. WE loved the virtual porthole. Our stateroom attendants were lovley, my boys had Ronni (Thailand) very nice. Dh and me, had Healine from Jamaica, she was a doll. Our Dining room Staff, excellent, Dumetri from Romania, he was fantastic, what a terrific person. DH and me talked with him a lot. AS was Marjarian from Croatia, very sweet and attentive. Every dining room is beautiful....I really love AP, Crush spoke first to me and then wanted to know about my youngest son, it was so fun....
.....I saw the Goldern Mickey, I went alone....3 boys and DH did not want to go....it was very good ....but I was sleepy. What I loved is they showed the new move...The Help....it was fantastic, we all went to see it. My two younger sons went with me to see Believe....I loved it. We did not see Villians we were at the AquaDuck that night. We also caught CARS 2 in 3D on the third day.
...On the 2nd and 3rd night we went up to Deck 11 after 6pm that what we did on the Magic. AquaDuck, hot tub and pool when everyone was at dinner or the show. On the 3rd night I rode it 4 times....I loved it. My two younger boys rode it almost 10 times. That is my favorite time on the ship when the deck is almost empty. So much fun.
The sad part....very rough seas the first night....a lot of sick people, especially the kids....we were falling into things. During dinner we were rocking back and forth.
We arrive in Nassau on day 2 were ther 12pm to 7pm. Alll excursion were cancelled. The Atlantis closed everything but the casino and shops. We stayed on the ship. We were praying for CC. I met a family whose daughter was supposed to get married on CC.
Well on Friday night the Capt. gets on and tells us that due to Irene they lost the beaches and channel would have to be re-dredged. So, not Castaway....I was so sad.
Day 3...back to Nassau 730am - 230pm...we did not get off the ship.
We tried to make the most of it...on day 3 I got everyone to a movie and my younger boys went to the 4pm showing of Believe and like I said we hit the Aquaduck and pool.
My oldest son, really enjoyed the Vibe. He was there till about 2am the first 2 nights and till about 1am the last night. At one point I see him roaming ship with a nice young lady. They were doing the A-Z crew Savanger Hunt. Where they have to find crew member names from A-Z. He loved the Stack on the Magic.
My 11 and 13 years old did not go to the Edge more than once. I sent them on day 3 but it was very crowded. The were not into the tween club on the Magic either.
My DH used the gym everyday, he said it was really nice and he thought it was bigger and nicer than the Magic.
I never got to the Spa or the gym.
We had a very nice time. I just felt the guest were a little different this time.
I wanted to book for 2012, but the prices were insane. Around $8900 for two inside stateroom on the Fantasy 7 night and over $12,000 for 2 Verandah rooms for the same cruise. I just could not justfiy $12,000 for a cruise in August!!! And July and June were even more.
We may do they 2 nights our of NY, no discount or OBC for this cruise.
All and all DCL lovely....but I need a week....this way if the weather is bad we have more time.
Well, I have up and down feelings about my trip. I only sailed once before on DCL and that was the Magic - 7nights, Western Caribbean. That cruise was hands down unbelievable....I really missed the 7 nights.
I knew 3 nights on the Dream would short and hard to get the true feeling of the ship. Here goes my report, on our way down to FL we stayed in Brunswick GA and Sun am (8/21) I hear about Tropical Storm Irene. I worried that our cruise would be cancelled and our WDW trip would be a rain out.
Well, I kepted checking in here and looking for help and advice. Finally, the day came, Irene was passing FL by, but what did she do to the Bahamas and CC. We arrived at the port 20 minutes before 11am and were told to come back after 11. We went to a store for some Dramaminie and sunscreen and back to port. We got into the port lines looked really long, but then a CM rescued us to the CC line, which was much shorter. The line had looked like one big line, so we were thrilled to go to a much shorter line. I had gotten word from a CM at AKL that we would be leaving by 4pm instead of 5pm. Because of this we did not wait in the terminal we check in got our key, took our boarding photo and went right on the boat. I would say we were aboard by 12:15pm. We went right to Cabanas.....
.....this is where things seem to unfold .....the CM tried to explain to you how Cabanas works, but people did not get it... they lineup and slowly went through the entire buffet plying up there plates then looking for a table. I had my family find a table first and we tried a little at a time, going to each station that we were interested in. They had plates at each station and the ones further down the line were always empty. The variety was large and the food was good. My boys loved the hard scoop ice cream with the chocolate shavings...
....My younger boys ate and changed and got to ride the AquaDuck right away they waited at the entrance to the stack and it took about 15minutes. They liked but thought it went quick.
The pool deck got crazy real quick.
Our cabins were ready. We had two on deck 2 and they were no where near each other 2023 and 2519 and yes the reservation were connected and I asked for connecting cabins. The both were connecting cabins but with other guest. With the help of these boards I went to GS and go an extra key for each room...thanks everyone.
I went up to the adult pool area, oh boy....the forward elevator spills right out to the Quiet Cove pool. Kids were all over the place....DCL really should have a CM there on boarding day to remind peopl that it is a adult only area. You could use the Midship elevator or get out on Deck 12 and walk up there.
Later in the day after ship sailed I watch as a man was in the hot tub, by himself a few minutes later 4 kids showed up and climbed in the hot tub with him. I told my husband I could not take anymore and I got up and told him this was an adult only area. His response was that they would be leaving in a little will. I got up and left after this because just 20 minutes before a women sit down on a chaise with her 5 children and they start climbing into the pool. I was walking by from getting a drink and I reminded her that it was an adult only area, she looked at me and said she was there because her husband was on the deck above smoking. She too was not going to leave until finally a CM saw the kids climbing in the pool. It was crazy...people would come from the Mid ship section where you walk pass those glass walls that say adult area and 18 and older....people did not care.
It seem that about 75% of this 3 night cruise were 1st time DCL and maybe 50% had never cruised before. Two times during the cruise I was either at a show or dinner where they ask is this your first cruise and almost everyone cheered. People seem not to know cruise etiquette (sp sorry). I just did not have the same feeling as I did on the Magic. But I have to say by day 3 I felt better, but that first day was really ugly.
The ship was beautiful.....our rooms were really nice. I missed my balcony. WE loved the virtual porthole. Our stateroom attendants were lovley, my boys had Ronni (Thailand) very nice. Dh and me, had Healine from Jamaica, she was a doll. Our Dining room Staff, excellent, Dumetri from Romania, he was fantastic, what a terrific person. DH and me talked with him a lot. AS was Marjarian from Croatia, very sweet and attentive. Every dining room is beautiful....I really love AP, Crush spoke first to me and then wanted to know about my youngest son, it was so fun....
.....I saw the Goldern Mickey, I went alone....3 boys and DH did not want to go....it was very good ....but I was sleepy. What I loved is they showed the new move...The Help....it was fantastic, we all went to see it. My two younger sons went with me to see Believe....I loved it. We did not see Villians we were at the AquaDuck that night. We also caught CARS 2 in 3D on the third day.
...On the 2nd and 3rd night we went up to Deck 11 after 6pm that what we did on the Magic. AquaDuck, hot tub and pool when everyone was at dinner or the show. On the 3rd night I rode it 4 times....I loved it. My two younger boys rode it almost 10 times. That is my favorite time on the ship when the deck is almost empty. So much fun.
The sad part....very rough seas the first night....a lot of sick people, especially the kids....we were falling into things. During dinner we were rocking back and forth.
We arrive in Nassau on day 2 were ther 12pm to 7pm. Alll excursion were cancelled. The Atlantis closed everything but the casino and shops. We stayed on the ship. We were praying for CC. I met a family whose daughter was supposed to get married on CC.
Well on Friday night the Capt. gets on and tells us that due to Irene they lost the beaches and channel would have to be re-dredged. So, not Castaway....I was so sad.
Day 3...back to Nassau 730am - 230pm...we did not get off the ship.
We tried to make the most of it...on day 3 I got everyone to a movie and my younger boys went to the 4pm showing of Believe and like I said we hit the Aquaduck and pool.
My oldest son, really enjoyed the Vibe. He was there till about 2am the first 2 nights and till about 1am the last night. At one point I see him roaming ship with a nice young lady. They were doing the A-Z crew Savanger Hunt. Where they have to find crew member names from A-Z. He loved the Stack on the Magic.
My 11 and 13 years old did not go to the Edge more than once. I sent them on day 3 but it was very crowded. The were not into the tween club on the Magic either.
My DH used the gym everyday, he said it was really nice and he thought it was bigger and nicer than the Magic.
I never got to the Spa or the gym.
We had a very nice time. I just felt the guest were a little different this time.
I wanted to book for 2012, but the prices were insane. Around $8900 for two inside stateroom on the Fantasy 7 night and over $12,000 for 2 Verandah rooms for the same cruise. I just could not justfiy $12,000 for a cruise in August!!! And July and June were even more.
We may do they 2 nights our of NY, no discount or OBC for this cruise.
All and all DCL lovely....but I need a week....this way if the weather is bad we have more time.
) and I must say we also had some cruisers with no cruise etiquette, especially at the pool area-bringing drinks in the pool when you weren't supposed to, eating right near the pool. My DH and I couldn't get over it. We also had Dumitri as our waiter, that's funny! He was very nice! But we had a different asst. waiter. We had first seating for dinner and also went on the Aqua Duck after, no wait, it was great! We have done two 4nts and one 5nt, would love to do a 7nt, maybe next time!
