Dream sailing 10/18

[Cheburashka]

We sailed October 15-18th and were told there were 2200 people onboard (including 700 kids). Others in our FB group were told between 2000 - 2400 people. Highlights included arriving 10 minutes before our scheduled kids club booking and waiting 30 minutes in line to drop the kids off, waiting 20 minutes in line for a bowl of fruit, and waiting 30 minutes to spend 15 minutes in the pool. We know there were 700 kids on board because when everyone in line at the kids club was complaining about waiting so long to drop their kids off, cast members kept repeating there were 700 kids onboard. We were also unable to book additional kids club times on the app, just kept getting generic error messages. When we called the kids club, they were able to switch times but not book additional times, so guess that perk is going away. We are cancelling our future cruises and trying RCL and Carnival.

Where/how did the 20 minute bowl of fruit thing happen?

 

[LionKingCPA]

10/18 dream. As far as protocols, I agree with what previous posters have said. Most protocols being followed except that people were a little closer in certain places, mostly lines for theater, etc. can’t say that crew enforced. But more importantly I rately noticed the need to. Most people voluntarily seemed to try tostay on the safer side. We had a party of 6 and rarely found ourselves on the elevator with another party. Theater had crew seating and closed rows, nobody complained. Tables seemed really far apart in dining rooms with many still empty on top of that.

Announced capacity was 1500 on embarkation day.

 

[Brittany Fata]

I just got off the boat today but I didn't ask about the capacity. It was certainly much higher than on the Dream back in August. Decently sized lines for the pool, sit down breakfast and for debark. No relaxation of the rules that I could tell when I compare August to this last cruise. Masks all the time indoors and in shows. No food in the theaters, limited pool capacity with time limits, designated spots for fireworks and the Mouse-querade. If anything, maybe they were a little less voracious about enforcing masks above the nose because I saw a few people getting away with masks down at karaoke and during BatB. On the flip side, I still heard people being told to keep it up over the nose. I think they're picking their battles a bit more.

The interesting thing is that despite the enforcement of all those things, debark was pretty much like it used to be. Crowded foyer of everyone standing in a long line to get off the ship. I also had families in tables around me in the dining rooms.

Made a point to stop by GS and ask for the paper navigator. NO paper navigators. The guest services staff said that they were phased out a few years ago but I got off the Fantasy in February of 2020 and still had paper navigators.

Definitely no dining rotation or table number on the KttWC.

Edited to add: The cruise director is Ashley for those wondering!

Hi! What is KttWC? Also, I’ve been thinking about booking my first disney cruise for next year. The main thing that interests me is rotating dinner between three dining rooms as I want to experience them all. Is that still how it works? I wouldn’t want to go if they aren’t doing that.

 

[Kwami]

Hi! What is KttWC? Also, I’ve been thinking about booking my first disney cruise for next year. The main thing that interests me is rotating dinner between three dining rooms as I want to experience them all. Is that still how it works? I wouldn’t want to go if they aren’t doing that.

KttWC = Key to the World Card

It's basically your badge on the cruise. You can use it to open your stateroom door, to order food, and to get on and off the ship.

All ships are still doing the dining rotation. So, you'll get to experience all three restaurants on a cruise that's at least 3 nights long. Note that you won't get one of the main menus if you do a 3-night Bahamas cruise, though, because it'll be replaced by the Pirate menu.

 

[Brittany Fata]

KttWC = Key to the World Card

It's basically your badge on the cruise. You can use it to open your stateroom door, to order food, and to get on and off the ship.

All ships are still doing the dining rotation. So, you'll get to experience all three restaurants on a cruise that's at least 3 nights long. Note that you won't get one of the main menus if you do a 3-night Bahamas cruise, though, because it'll be replaced by the Pirate menu.

Thank you, good to know about the Pirate Menu!

 

[closetmickey]

All ships are still doing the dining rotation. So, you'll get to experience all three restaurants on a cruise that's at least 3 nights long. Note that you won't get one of the main menus if you do a 3-night Bahamas cruise, though, because it'll be replaced by the Pirate menu.

Interesting. On our last 3 night on the Wonder we had a pirate night but the regular MDR rotation menu was served- so no Pirate menu on that cruise.

 

[jktmom]

Anyone on this sailing do the Pearl Island excursion in Nassau? Reviews?

 

[Kwami]

Interesting. On our last 3 night on the Wonder we had a pirate night but the regular MDR rotation menu was served- so no Pirate menu on that cruise.

That sounds better to me! Was it a recent cruise?

 

[leannak]

I thought they weren’t doing deck parties. What is pirate night? I thought it was basically a deck party I must be wrong if they’re still doing it!

 

[KaityB]

I was on the 10/18 Dream sailing...crowd capacity was excellent I think, that being said several things did fill up quickly, so I can't imagine a larger crowd with the same protocols. There were lines for things, but I felt they moved pretty quickly. Social distancing is not enforced by the crew, so there are people who followed and others that didn't. It's up to you to enforce it or "let it go." There wasn't a pirate party, but 2 nights of the Halloween "party," so people could split up. I did experience the most wait getting my daughter checked into the kids club. It was also aggravating trying to schedule things that couldn't be done until you boarded the ship when you had to match the times with the kid's club reservations. But overall, we enjoyed it!

 

[closetmickey]

That sounds better to me! Was it a recent cruise?

That sounds better to me! Was it a recent cruise?

It was a couple of years ago. But I thought it had been that way for years?? Maybe I am misremembering!

 

[Kwami]

It was a couple of years ago. But I thought it had been that way for years?? Maybe I am misremembering!

I also might be misremembering.

 

[Kwami]

I thought they weren’t doing deck parties. What is pirate night? I thought it was basically a deck party I must be wrong if they’re still doing it!

On the 9/20 4-night Dream cruise, Pirate night (which was combined with Halloween in a weird way) was bandanas on the table at dinner, a small pirate-themed show during dinner, the pirate dinner menu, fireworks and a small dance party at about 10pm, and chocolate coins on the bed with the pirate-themed towel monster. So, everything except for the big deck party.