July 19 Dream Bahamas Trip Report

[jannh98051]

I took my 14 year-old and 10 year-old grandsons on the 5 day Bahamas Dream trip. We flew from their home in Virginia to Orlando the day before and stayed at the Hyatt Regency at the airport and then took Happy Limo's (highly recommended) town car to the cruise terminal. At online check-in I had been given a time and boarding number, but I chose not to pay too much attention to it and I am glad I didn't. As soon as we arrived and went upstairs we were handed a boarding number as we got in line. It was our first cruise so we were not Castaway Club members and still got number 4. We got to the terminal at 10:20. When they started boarding there were only a few people in number 1, quite a few in number 2, only a few in number 3 and then we were on. We went straight to Deck 11 so the boys could do the Aqua Duck Coaster a couple of times and splash a bit in the pool and then we did lunch at Cabanas. The pools are incredibly small for the number of people on board. Next we checked out our cabin and that's when the trouble started. I had booked a 5A category room which should have had 3 beds but got one with only 2. You can read more under the stateroom reports for 9516. The food and service was very good. There were different menus every night, even in the same restaurant. We ate in AP, EG, RP, RP (Pirate's Menu), AP (So Long Menu) and Debarkation Breakfast in AP. Beforewarned that if you have early dinner seating, your debarkation breakfast is at 6:45. If you have late dinner seating it is at 8:00. My teenager loved Vibe. In fact we never saw him. The ten year-old was enthusiastic at the start with Oceaneers Lab, but got a bit jaded after a couple of days. The weather was very, very hot (over 100), so Castaway Cay was sweltering unless you were in the water or use to that kind of weather. Oh, and don't bother with the recommended shoe organizer for the bathroom door. It won't fit. Hope this helps with your planning.

 

[Pataki]

I At online check-in I had been given a time and boarding number, but I chose not to pay too much attention to it and I am glad I didn't.

You were lucky because that is about to change and they are going to hold everyone to the time they pick online.

We went straight to Deck 11 so the boys could do the Aqua Duck Coaster a couple of times and splash a bit in the pool and then we did lunch at Cabanas.

My family did this the same way, Aquaduck first then lunch. We were able to walk all the way up and get on the raft with NO lines for at least 5 rides before having any wait.

Oh, and don't bother with the recommended shoe organizer for the bathroom door. It won't fit. Hope this helps with your planning.

I had no problem with this. Actually my wife said bringing the organizer was the best tip I got from the disboards.