I've been reading everyone else's impressions of the Dream - particularly the crowd level - with so much interest, both before and after our trip, so I thought I'd toss in my thoughts as well!
Full disclosure: The big caveat to any opinion I offer is that I don't really have a point of comparison. I haven't been on a cruise since a 3-day Carnival trip my sophomore year in college (want to guess how much I remember about that one?
), and DH hasn't cruised since a trip to Alaska when he was in middle school. So, this was really our first cruise experience of any type - let alone with Disney or with our kids (DS 7, DS 5, and DD 2 1/2). Some or all of the following may be typical - to DCL or to any cruise....
The Dream was more crowded than I expected it to be (or, rather, than the expectations I would have had if I hadn't read some concerns about the crowds here).
The terminal was absolutely packed at embarkation - there were no seats to be had when we arrived (via Disney transportation from Poly) around 1-ish. I don't know how long we waited to board, but our number was 24 and it seemed like a long, long time - especially with a restless toddler.
We went right up to Cabanas for lunch, since we hadn't yet fed the kids, and I was seriously concerned - we waited for 30 minutes to be seated, and I think the host entirely forgot that we were there. Total chaos - and the first of two instances when the crowd level briefly impacted our ability to have fun and relax (the other is described below). I now know to avoid Cabanas at all costs right after boarding (I also know to take private transportation so we can get to the terminal - and hopefully on the ship - before the crowds). Other than this one meal, we did not find Cabanas to be very crowded.
Right after we got into our stateroom, we called about Remy reservations - we had no trouble getting a table for 4 (we were traveling with my in-laws) for the third night. I was pleasantly surprised about that.
The Sail-Away party was very crowded. I don't think my kids could see very much - though they liked the music and streamers. We did get there a few minutes late, though, and all the spots at the railing were taken. We learned our lesson and arrived for Pirate Night about 40 minutes early - we got a spot for that one (on Deck 12), but my kids were going bananas by the time the show started. Exiting the deck to get back to the elevators on Pirate night was pretty intensely crowded - next time, we'll sit tight and wait for the crowd to clear out a little. This was the second instance when the crowd level "got to me".
We didn't have any trouble with crowds while entering the dining rooms - but we were always a little late, so that may be why! The dining rooms themselves felt pretty "full" - and I felt as though our servers were very, very, very harried. Occasionally, we would request more bread or some tea for my MIL, and it just never arrived. However, the waiters could not have been nicer - and they were particularly attentive to my kids. (I actually didn't even know we had a head server until the very last night - I don't think we ever saw him).
The pools were crowded - but DH and I didn't want to swim, and our boys couldn't have cared less about all the people. Because the deck chairs were all taken in the afternoon, however, we realized after the first day that we would have to do our swimming early. On the Sea Day, we went directly after breakfast, and there wasn't much of a crowd at all. Same for the afternoon that we were in Castaway Cay. We were able to ride the Aquaduct on those times without much wait (15-20 minutes) - super fun.
We didn't stand in line to get into the theaters - I'm not sure how we avoided that - maybe by being late again!
We didn't think that the wait to see the characters was bad at all - particularly when compared to the waits in the parks. We paid pretty close attention to the Navigator, since there were only a few must-do's for us. We arrived early for the princesses, and I don't recall any significant wait. The wait for Tinkerbell, though, WAS pretty long - I didn't have a watch, but I'd guess 20-30 minutes. But, we met some really nice parents in the line.
I was prepared for huge crowds on disembarkation day - and we did stand in line in the terminal - but it went amazingly quickly.
At the end of it all, I can only say that yes - there were crowds worth mentioning, and more than I anticipated - but they didn't interfere with our enjoyment of the ship or the trip one iota. Again, this might be because we have no point of comparison - I don't know - but we had a thoroughly delightful time and we re-booked while on board (for the Dream next spring - although I'd kind of like to try one of the Classic ships, I don't think the boys are going to be willing to give up the Aquaduck! My desire to try another ship has nothing to do with the crowds and everything to do with the fact that I just don't like Nassau much.)
Here are a few photos that may or may not give you a glimpse of the crowd level:
Sail Away
The pool on the afternoon of Nassau day (I'm sure my MIL will appreciate me posting this one of her in her suit - sorry!):
But...here's the pool on the afternoon of Castaway Cay day (the water in the ocean was pretty cold, so my kids wanted to come back to the ship after lunch to ride the Aquaduck):
Here is one of the "dance parties" - I think this was on the day at sea - we didn't actually attend this, and just happened to be walking past on Deck 4, so I can't say whether the crowds impacted anyone's enjoyment of the
I realize that my lack of cruising experience may make my opinion completely valueless, but I thought I'd offer it just in case anyone else - like me - is experiencing the Dream for the first time and is worried about the crowds. Again, the bottom line is that the crowds are definitely there and are noticeable....but we had a wonderful vacation and can't wait to go back again.
Full disclosure: The big caveat to any opinion I offer is that I don't really have a point of comparison. I haven't been on a cruise since a 3-day Carnival trip my sophomore year in college (want to guess how much I remember about that one?
), and DH hasn't cruised since a trip to Alaska when he was in middle school. So, this was really our first cruise experience of any type - let alone with Disney or with our kids (DS 7, DS 5, and DD 2 1/2). Some or all of the following may be typical - to DCL or to any cruise....The Dream was more crowded than I expected it to be (or, rather, than the expectations I would have had if I hadn't read some concerns about the crowds here).
The terminal was absolutely packed at embarkation - there were no seats to be had when we arrived (via Disney transportation from Poly) around 1-ish. I don't know how long we waited to board, but our number was 24 and it seemed like a long, long time - especially with a restless toddler.
We went right up to Cabanas for lunch, since we hadn't yet fed the kids, and I was seriously concerned - we waited for 30 minutes to be seated, and I think the host entirely forgot that we were there. Total chaos - and the first of two instances when the crowd level briefly impacted our ability to have fun and relax (the other is described below). I now know to avoid Cabanas at all costs right after boarding (I also know to take private transportation so we can get to the terminal - and hopefully on the ship - before the crowds). Other than this one meal, we did not find Cabanas to be very crowded.
Right after we got into our stateroom, we called about Remy reservations - we had no trouble getting a table for 4 (we were traveling with my in-laws) for the third night. I was pleasantly surprised about that.
The Sail-Away party was very crowded. I don't think my kids could see very much - though they liked the music and streamers. We did get there a few minutes late, though, and all the spots at the railing were taken. We learned our lesson and arrived for Pirate Night about 40 minutes early - we got a spot for that one (on Deck 12), but my kids were going bananas by the time the show started. Exiting the deck to get back to the elevators on Pirate night was pretty intensely crowded - next time, we'll sit tight and wait for the crowd to clear out a little. This was the second instance when the crowd level "got to me".
We didn't have any trouble with crowds while entering the dining rooms - but we were always a little late, so that may be why! The dining rooms themselves felt pretty "full" - and I felt as though our servers were very, very, very harried. Occasionally, we would request more bread or some tea for my MIL, and it just never arrived. However, the waiters could not have been nicer - and they were particularly attentive to my kids. (I actually didn't even know we had a head server until the very last night - I don't think we ever saw him).
The pools were crowded - but DH and I didn't want to swim, and our boys couldn't have cared less about all the people. Because the deck chairs were all taken in the afternoon, however, we realized after the first day that we would have to do our swimming early. On the Sea Day, we went directly after breakfast, and there wasn't much of a crowd at all. Same for the afternoon that we were in Castaway Cay. We were able to ride the Aquaduct on those times without much wait (15-20 minutes) - super fun.
We didn't stand in line to get into the theaters - I'm not sure how we avoided that - maybe by being late again!
We didn't think that the wait to see the characters was bad at all - particularly when compared to the waits in the parks. We paid pretty close attention to the Navigator, since there were only a few must-do's for us. We arrived early for the princesses, and I don't recall any significant wait. The wait for Tinkerbell, though, WAS pretty long - I didn't have a watch, but I'd guess 20-30 minutes. But, we met some really nice parents in the line.
I was prepared for huge crowds on disembarkation day - and we did stand in line in the terminal - but it went amazingly quickly.
At the end of it all, I can only say that yes - there were crowds worth mentioning, and more than I anticipated - but they didn't interfere with our enjoyment of the ship or the trip one iota. Again, this might be because we have no point of comparison - I don't know - but we had a thoroughly delightful time and we re-booked while on board (for the Dream next spring - although I'd kind of like to try one of the Classic ships, I don't think the boys are going to be willing to give up the Aquaduck! My desire to try another ship has nothing to do with the crowds and everything to do with the fact that I just don't like Nassau much.)
Here are a few photos that may or may not give you a glimpse of the crowd level:
Sail Away
The pool on the afternoon of Nassau day (I'm sure my MIL will appreciate me posting this one of her in her suit - sorry!):
But...here's the pool on the afternoon of Castaway Cay day (the water in the ocean was pretty cold, so my kids wanted to come back to the ship after lunch to ride the Aquaduck):
Here is one of the "dance parties" - I think this was on the day at sea - we didn't actually attend this, and just happened to be walking past on Deck 4, so I can't say whether the crowds impacted anyone's enjoyment of the
I realize that my lack of cruising experience may make my opinion completely valueless, but I thought I'd offer it just in case anyone else - like me - is experiencing the Dream for the first time and is worried about the crowds. Again, the bottom line is that the crowds are definitely there and are noticeable....but we had a wonderful vacation and can't wait to go back again.
