February 3rd, 2011: 3-NIGHT DREAM CRUISE (lots of pics!) - COMPLETED 3/3!

[twins4disney]

Thanks for the update! Question about the Mickey Captain ears, my daughter spotted those online and would like to get some. I noticed that yours are in the really nice box, so are the ears more of a keepsake, than something you would want a child to have? I'm really just now starting to look into the DCL, so everything is so unknown. We are used to WDW, but trying to plan the cruise has me so out of my element!

 

[KevieKev05]

Thanks for the update! Question about the Mickey Captain ears, my daughter spotted those online and would like to get some. I noticed that yours are in the really nice box, so are the ears more of a keepsake, than something you would want a child to have? I'm really just now starting to look into the DCL, so everything is so unknown. We are used to WDW, but trying to plan the cruise has me so out of my element!

You're welcome!

In my opinion, those Mickey ears are more of a keepsake...especially because of the price!

In the shops, there was another type of Mickey ears that appeared to be more for wearing. I believe they were blue (?) with a captain hat. Can't quite remember though.

Hope this helps! Happy planning!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Great report! Believe it or not I was on the fence about a cruise but you are persuading me!

 

[twins4disney]

If you don't mind saying, how my much are the pricey ears? Since your trip report started I have now priced a 3 day Dream trip for early November. We are thinking about a 7 day in the Fantasy. I started thinking about doing a 3 day to get us accustomed to DCL, and book the 7 day while on board to take advantage if ant discounts.

 

[Shell54]

Really enjoying your trip report and photos! It's getting me excited for our cruise in Sept. So it looks like there there were plenty of the Dooney Dream bags even after all the hysteria on the MV I've got my eye on one for Sept.

 

[twins4disney]

I would love to get one of the Dream bags!!! This trip report is going to get me in trouble

 

[orangemom]

Thank you for the time it takes to post pictures and the whole detailed trip report!

Thank you very very much for posting the link to the 3 day navigator -- a HUGE help for me! We will be travelling with a group ages 1-65 so this is soooo helpful!!!!

- -thanks for answering my questions from a few posts back -- i cannot say thank you enough. Can't you tell i am a cruise newbie mom


do you have any info on deluxe family state room that sleeps 5? or where i can find out how the beds are arranged for the room actually sleeps 5 - my kids are flexible but would be nice to know ahead of time.....

loved all the pictures and the show pictures are so good --- you must have a good camera!

i must say i was laughing reading cause i read "heard a noise from the room" and laughed that it was someone snoring -- my hubby snores so i had to laugh.

Well we leave in 4 days! weather report looks favorable! ocean water will be chilly but pools should be good.

we did the online pre-cruise reg -- and we have "check-in" of 11 -- i hope things go smoothly - i want to arrive earlier will they let us in the terminal?
and is there a place to get sandwhiches at the port terminal?

my kids loved the picture of the Eye Scream machine!

off to pack - how little can i actually take with me---that is my personal challenge

 

[rmcildw2m]

I cannot say WOW enough times, these are some great pictures and a mighty fine trip report to go with it .

 

[KevieKev05]

If you don't mind saying, how my much are the pricey ears? Since your trip report started I have now priced a 3 day Dream trip for early November. We are thinking about a 7 day in the Fantasy. I started thinking about doing a 3 day to get us accustomed to DCL, and book the 7 day while on board to take advantage if ant discounts.

$74.95...I know, we're crazy, haha.

And it sounds like you have a great plan set up. Just keep an eye on the prices for your 7-night Fantasy cruise. If they continue to go up, it may be better to just book now and then "re-shop" it onboard (especially if you can handle the deposit price now...just to be safe). If the price is more than you paid, even with the onboard booking discount, then you'll have made out. If it's cheaper, then you'll now save some money. Note that if you book now and hope to rebook while onboard, there has to be availability in the category you initially booked at the time you rebook it onboard. They essentially "cancel" your reservation and then "rebook" it on the spot. Also, if room location is important to you (or a specific stateroom), it might be better to book early rather than later. Just some food for thought (and hopefully that wasn't as confusing as it sounds...sorry)

Really enjoying your trip report and photos! It's getting me excited for our cruise in Sept. So it looks like there there were plenty of the Dooney Dream bags even after all the hysteria on the MV I've got my eye on one for Sept.

Thank you! And yes, there were PLENTY of Dooney's

Thank you for the time it takes to post pictures and the whole detailed trip report!

Thank you very very much for posting the link to the 3 day navigator -- a HUGE help for me! We will be travelling with a group ages 1-65 so this is soooo helpful!!!!

- -thanks for answering my questions from a few posts back -- i cannot say thank you enough. Can't you tell i am a cruise newbie mom


do you have any info on deluxe family state room that sleeps 5? or where i can find out how the beds are arranged for the room actually sleeps 5 - my kids are flexible but would be nice to know ahead of time.....

loved all the pictures and the show pictures are so good --- you must have a good camera!

i must say i was laughing reading cause i read "heard a noise from the room" and laughed that it was someone snoring -- my hubby snores so i had to laugh.

Well we leave in 4 days! weather report looks favorable! ocean water will be chilly but pools should be good.

we did the online pre-cruise reg -- and we have "check-in" of 11 -- i hope things go smoothly - i want to arrive earlier will they let us in the terminal?
and is there a place to get sandwhiches at the port terminal?

my kids loved the picture of the Eye Scream machine!

off to pack - how little can i actually take with me---that is my personal challenge

Hello again! Glad I'm helping out! Regarding staterooms that sleep five, I'm not sure. If I were to guess, you have the main bed, the couch that flips to a single sleeper, the bed that comes out of the wall (all these options were in my stateroom), and the fifth might be a bed that pulls down from the ceiling above the couch (?). Maybe? Pure speculation on my end.

Regarding the "assigned" check-in time, I'm not sure. It is rather new, and I don't think everyone knows about it. I can't imagine them turning you away. I think it's more for them to have an idea of what time all the "crowds" will be coming. I wouldn't stress over it. Get there when you want!

I cannot say WOW enough times, these are some great pictures and a mighty fine trip report to go with it .

Thank you so much for your kind words!

I hope to have the next installment up tomorrow!

 

[twins4disney]

WOW those are some pricey ears, really not for the casual souvenier They are so adorable though! Thanks for the input on booking now, versus later. I am so confused about what to do, and what to plan.
Keep this great report coming, I have to admit I check frequently throughout the day for updates, I know I have a problem

 

[KevieKev05]

DAY 2 - February 4th, 2011 - Nassau (Part 1)

We woke up at about 8:00am. I think we were woken up by noises, but I can’t remember. All I know is that I typically wouldn’t have been up that early, haha. But it actually worked out. I opened the curtains covering our porthole to this:

We were almost to Nassau! I sat on the ledge and watched Nassau get closer and closer.

There’s a shadow of someone in the bridge wing!

View once we docked:

Our wave phones...the one never worked the whole cruise (it says “No Network” and even the date and time are wrong!

We were fully docked at about 9:15am. By this point we had started to get ready for the day, and soon enough we were out of our room and heading upstairs to Cabanas for a breakfast buffet.

Krispy Kreme donuts!

Once we finished breakfast and since we knew we weren’t going to get off the ship, we decided to do what? EXPLORE! We just love walking around the ship!

The scene here only got worse as the day wore on...a lot of people had the same idea we did about not getting off the ship!

Something is supposed to go here...we’re curious as to what it’s supposed to be and when it will show up (outside the balcony entrance to the Walt Disney Theatre):

They can split up the D-Lounge with this wall/divider thing...neat!

 

[KevieKev05]

Back to Skyline Lounge we went...and what was the scene?! RIO! Again!

Two of my FAVORITE Enchanted Art pieces! If you stand in front of the ship, the “portraits” fire at each other!

Before we knew it, we were midship in the atrium.

And look who was there!

I wanted to try something coffee-like, so we walked just a few feet to the Vista Cafe:

I got a caramel latte frappe!

James decided he wanted to play the “Midship Detective Agency” game again, so he got it all set up and we went around the ship to find the Enchanted Art pieces and looking for clues. In the end, we found the culprit responsible for the missing puppies to be...the EVIL QUEEN!

Walking through one of the stateroom corridors (in search of our rooms for our December cruise), we saw this (we couldn’t believe someone set this out in the hallway...and the hallways aren’t that big to begin with!):

Next, we were wanting to try the “Drink of the Day”, so we went up to deck 11 to the Quiet Cove Bar. The “Drink of the Day” was an Apple Madras:

As we were sitting in our loungers sipping on our drinks, we saw the Carnival Sensation (who was docked with us at Port Canaveral) arriving in Nassau next to us:

After we finished our drinks, we decided to check out the line for the AquaDuck. It wasn’t too bad, so we decided to ride it together. The wait was about 10 minutes long. As we were nearing the loading area, James spotted A LOT of water running down a girl (of about 6 or 7 years old) running down her legs. He turned to me and said this girl was peeing! I said, nah! They’re probably just dripping from their last ride on the AquaDuck. However, there was no water leading up to her...she REALLY was PEEING! I guess she was awfully scared and nervous about riding the AquaDuck! But seriously, she peed right in the line on the steps just before getting in the raft. Her dad didn’t seem to care, and they got on their raft. I thought I had seen everything, until some boy behind them starting moving his FEET around IN IT! I guess he didn’t realize it was urine! He thought it was just standing water! Thankfully the lifeguard loading guests in rafts knew what happened and moved the stanchion to block off this area and kept the line from going through the puddle. He called for someone to clean it up, and by the time we got in our raft (approximately 3 minutes later), someone was already there handling it. Wow. What an experience!

After we had our fun on the AquaDuck, we went back to our room to change into dry clothes. Here’s what we opened our door to:

After changing, we headed back up to Cabanas for lunch! At this point, I feel I must say that I truly love Cabanas. I always found something to eat and we found we ate there a lot in this short 3-night cruise! Anyway, this time they were serving sushi!

Once we devoured our scrumptious lunch, we knew they were doing character meet and greets INSIDE D-Lounge, so we went to check it out. Sure enough, they had two fun backgrounds set up with Donald and Mickey! There were NO lines, so we went up to each and said hello! Mickey’s attendant played Rapunzel the night before in “The Golden Mickeys”. We absolutely LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, her, so I took the moment to tell her what a wonderful job she didn’t the night before. She shyly said thank you before turning a little red. I’m sure she probably doesn’t hear that too much from guests as most guests don’t realize the performers do double duty on the ship!

 

[KevieKev05]

At this point, the atrium was EMPTY, so we enjoyed a little “photo shoot” all by ourselves. I also took time to photograph the chandelier some more, as well as the detailing found throughout the atrium:

And I just had to photograph the LONG, EMPTY hallway next to the Royal Palace restaurant, leading to Animator’s Palate:

Next, we decided to walk around the open deck portion of deck 4. We noticed that the Dream was currently unloading a bunch of garbage:

Making the “circle” around the ship, we found the entrance to “Vibe”:

And I took a picture of the ship on our other side, the NCL Epic:

Soon enough, we found our way back to our room to notice yet MORE goodies! This time, from DVC (I am a DVC member):

We chilled for a second or two, then found our way back to the atrium to check out this “Princess Gathering” (six princesses! WOW!):

After some time, and more walking, we, yet AGAIN, were back in our stateroom. This time for a significant amount of time to “chillax.” We put on “Monsters, Inc.” and I may or may not have closed my eyes for about 10 minutes. Before we knew it, it was time to head down to the Walt Disney Theatre for “Villains Tonight!”

TO BE CONTINUED!

 

[newmommy_2010]

I have been looking at different TR's and yours is GREAT! My DH is wanting to take a 3 night cruise before we head to the parks next October. We have a son who would be 2 years old at the time of the cruise and I am unsure how he will do and also me. Everyone says the boats are huge and you can't feel them moving. Any advice?

 

[twins4disney]

Love the updated pics! We are also DVC members, did you let the ship know you were cruising, or do they have something that flags DVC members?

 

[KevieKev05]

I have been looking at different TR's and yours is GREAT! My DH is wanting to take a 3 night cruise before we head to the parks next October. We have a son who would be 2 years old at the time of the cruise and I am unsure how he will do and also me. Everyone says the boats are huge and you can't feel them moving. Any advice?

The only time I felt the ship moving (and this has been the same for all my cruise experiences) was the first night. It was slight though, and other than that, I didn't feel anything!

Love the updated pics! We are also DVC members, did you let the ship know you were cruising, or do they have something that flags DVC members?

They just "knew!" We have always received the DVC goodies on our cruises without having to mention anything! However, if you happen to get "skipped," just go down to the DVC desk and let them know, and they'll take care of it.

 

[Señor DonDuck]

Wonderful day 2 report! Well, minus the AquaDuck line experience

 

[S'sMom]

Soon enough, we found our way back to our room to notice yet MORE goodies! This time, from DVC (I am a DVC member):

TO BE CONTINUED!

Awesome pics!!! Keep em coming

Question?? Do they give all DVC members those items, or do you have to cruise on the points? I am a fairly new DVC member (Since June 2010). This is our first cruise as DVC members but we are not using points.

 

[KevieKev05]

Wonderful day 2 report! Well, minus the AquaDuck line experience

Thank you! And I still can't believe that AquaDuck experience!

Awesome pics!!! Keep em coming

Question?? Do they give all DVC members those items, or do you have to cruise on the points? I am a fairly new DVC member (Since June 2010). This is our first cruise as DVC members but we are not using points.

Thanks! All DVC members get those items regardless if you are sailing on points or not. If you've been "missed," just let the CM at the DVC desk know!

 

[S'sMom]

Thanks! All DVC members get those items regardless if you are sailing on points or not. If you've been "missed," just let the CM at the DVC desk know!

Thanks a bunch for the information Now I can do the happy . I just love cute free stuff.