First Time Disney Dream Cruiser - 9/28/14 - 10/2/14

[buzzrelly]

I'm loving your trip report! Your family is so cute! We just booked the Dream for April 2016…I know…so far away! But I am gathering all kinds of helpful tips here in the meantime. We booked 9574 on our trip so I think the view will be very much like yours, which looks amazing! I will definitely book alternate transportation to the port, as we will also be coming from WDW. I would like to get there and checked in as early as possible. Can't wait to read more and see your CC pics! Thanks!

 

[packerbeth]

Thank you for your report! We go on our first DCL cruise after thanksgiving and I'm learning a lot.

Question about character meets: can you have them sign an autograph book? I'm planning on leaving a photomat with guest services, but we have unfinished books from previous trips and i'd love to finish them up. Thanks.

 

[caughtabug]

Great report. Thanks for this, and looking forward to the rest!

Thank you for leaving a message

 

[caughtabug]

I'm loving your trip report! Your family is so cute! We just booked the Dream for April 2016…I know…so far away! But I am gathering all kinds of helpful tips here in the meantime. We booked 9574 on our trip so I think the view will be very much like yours, which looks amazing! I will definitely book alternate transportation to the port, as we will also be coming from WDW. I would like to get there and checked in as early as possible. Can't wait to read more and see your CC pics! Thanks!

Awesome! Appreciate the feedback That's wonderful - something to look forward to for sure We're planning to book the Fantasy - Eastern Carribean summer of 2016 so our countdown will be similar lol.

Our view was fine. Of course I can't differentiate because I wasn't on any other verandahs but it was enough for us.

I kept reading about the buses arriving late but I never realized the impact until our first trip. It's sad though because they really do make it convenient with handling your luggage.

Looking forward to sharing more - it's just a bit more time consuming than I thought since I have to upload photos into photobucket in order to post here. I should be able to add more this week.

 

[caughtabug]

Thank you for your report! We go on our first DCL cruise after thanksgiving and I'm learning a lot.

Question about character meets: can you have them sign an autograph book? I'm planning on leaving a photomat with guest services, but we have unfinished books from previous trips and i'd love to finish them up. Thanks.

AWESOME!!! It's almost here That should be a lot of fun - a Christmas cruise

You can definitely bring an autograph book and have the characters sign. We did

 

[caughtabug]

This is a great trip report and very helpful for me, since we will be going on our first cruise in January on the Dream for 3 days. I wanted to do the 4 day, but the 3 day sails on a Fri - Mon, so the kids will only miss two days of school.

I find the Nassau info very helpful also. We were thinking of doing the dolphin encounter or the beach thing, but I think we should stay on the ship to get to know it better and take advantage of all the amenities onboard, since we are only onboard 3 days. Of course, we will take advantage of Castaway Cay - I have heard nothing but glowing remarks about it!

I am looking forward to the rest of your report.

Thank you so much for letting me know and I'm glad it's helpful 3 days will go very quick. I definitely would spend it on the ship but I know that everyone is different. Your first day you kind of feel like things are back to back since you get on and it's the Sail Away Party, the Muster Drill, Dinner, Show, and you want to unpack and get organized. I couldn't imagine getting off the ship the next day to then come back and hurry for dinner and show again. This way it was more relaxing to stay on the ship and enjoy what we paid for Next time I would like to go to Atlantis since it makes a huge difference when you are familiar with the ship plus we already got to enjoy staying on the ship. Castaway Cay is paradise!!! I wish there was a cruise that would stay docked there for a couple of days

 

[NOKA06]

Thank you so much for the TR. We haven't been on the Dream yet so it is fun learning about it through your experience! Your storytelling is great and your photos are wonderful!!

 

[Walt & Di]

Fantastic Trip Report.

Going on the Dream this month, great ideas from your report. Taking 2 grandkids.

Thanks

Walt

 

[kp3690]

What a great trip report! It looks like you guys had an amazing time. Thanks so much for sharing!

 

[caughtabug]

Thank you so much for the TR. We haven't been on the Dream yet so it is fun learning about it through your experience! Your storytelling is great and your photos are wonderful!!

Thank you so much for the feedback - appreciate it very much

 

[caughtabug]

Fantastic Trip Report.

Going on the Dream this month, great ideas from your report. Taking 2 grandkids.

Thanks

Walt

Thank you

That's wonderful. I hope you have the most magical time with your grandkids

 

[caughtabug]

What a great trip report! It looks like you guys had an amazing time. Thanks so much for sharing!

Thanks

We had a dream vacation. I miss the ship and especially Castaway Cay

 

[AmyLyn]

I loved reading about your trip. My family and I will be going on this same cruise next September. This will be our first cruise so I really appreciated reading all your tips!!

 

[caughtabug]

Thank you so much for the TR. We haven't been on the Dream yet so it is fun learning about it through your experience! Your storytelling is great and your photos are wonderful!!

Thanks so much!! Appreciate the feedback

 

[caughtabug]

I loved reading about your trip. My family and I will be going on this same cruise next September. This will be our first cruise so I really appreciated reading all your tips!!

Glad to hear it Thank you so much for letting me know.
Have a wonderful time on your cruise next September. You have plenty of time to plan

 

[caughtabug]

Fantastic Trip Report.

Going on the Dream this month, great ideas from your report. Taking 2 grandkids.

Thanks

Walt

AWESOME
Have a blast with the grandkids

 

[caughtabug]

Yay, we're at Castaway Cay. Now this is why the ship is called a DREAM!!! This place is just PARADISE!!!! The sand felt amazing (doesn't stick all over you because it's so fine), beautiful palm trees/scenery, pretty colored umbrellas, and that water (blue/green).






Here's our beautiful ship...










As soon as you get off the ship there is someone there handing out towels. Then we saw some people standing on line. They were waiting for Stitch to come out.

Here he is...


family shot with Stitch...


By the way, while we were waiting in line for Stitch our youngest daughter was cranky. Her sleep schedule is off on the cruise and she didn't want to do any characters. She went off to the side where there is dirt with my husband and then he noticed what looked like ants crawling on his legs. He came onto the concrete and he flicked it all off and checked our daughter too. OK...now she's really cranky after this happened. Fast forward to after the cruise, my husband was itcy and had bites. We wondered if it was Sea Lice. I hear people talking about it on these boards that they have encountered it at Castaway Cay. Thankfully our daughter didn't have anything. My husband just said it was very itchy and annoying. He put an ointment on it and it went away after a few days. They got nothing from the water and we were in the Pelican Plunge section and they got nothing from there as well. Some people claim they got it by Pelican Plunge. Again, I don't know if that's what bit my husband. They looked like ants but I don't believe that ants leave bite marks and that they are itchy.

Then we took the Tram to the 2nd stop (Pelican point). Where the big slide is.
Later at Shutters when I saw photograhaphs with beach characters is when I found out that they were on the 1st stop.
How did I miss this from reading some stuff on these boards. It must have not sunk in. I missed the Mt. Rushmore section with those cute character rocks where everyone takes pics. Both stops have family beaches. While on the tram, I thought the 2nd stop was the family beach. The 3rd stop is Serenity Bay (adults only).

I was bummed that we missed the beachy characters. I love when they are outfitted that way. They look so cute plus you can't see those at Disney World only on a cruise.

 

[caughtabug]

Here we are riding the Tram....what scenery...








Here's where you can do some shopping. The only thing we purchased here was a scrapbook kit with really cute papers and border frames. The dream also has a set but I didn't care for that kit. Just as FYI in case there are any other scrapbookers out here. I did buy the scrapbook album on the Disney Dream. Since I'm on the subject and it may not come up again, we also bought a 2014 cruise ornament that you can put a picture in it. Soon we will be hanging it up on the tree and I like that we will be reminded of this wonderful vacation every year when we hang up the ornament










Look how many chairs are empty If you want to be able to pick good spots, don't get off the ship late. I think this was between 9am-9:30am.




Pelican Plunge...














We were told Castaway is noramlly not like today. That today was a picture perfect day with a nice light breeze. It was not muggy and sticky. It was a really comfortable day. As I sat out here, I wish I could stay there for a couple more days.




Here I am relaxing...we kept the chairs in front of us in case we wanted to sit on regular chairs but truth be told they weren't needed.

 

[caughtabug]

Isn't this place stunning....








I believe this is the section that belong to the 1st tram stop...


Our youngest daughter spent the whole time in the water. I realized after I uploaded my photos, that I didn't capture all those pretty shots of her in that gorgeous water. I just wanted to relax and enjoy myself and that I did

 

[caughtabug]

We had the nicest drink server. We ordered Mango drinks. Delicioso!!
Our daughter got the non-alcoholic one. It turns out to be more of a smoothie which I really like so the server brought out another one in a souvenir cup for me. Drinks are $10 Each. The ones in the souvenir cup are a little more. I think an additional $3.50 because of the cup but it brings more than double of what is served in the regular clear cup. In other words that is the best value!!







While my husband was at Pelican Plunge with the girls, I got up to see if I could see them to take some pics. I didn't see them so I took a short walk and took some pics...