Just back from the Dream 4-night!

[Dug720]

Had a fantastic time! Sad to be off!

Any questions? (Traveled solo, so I probably can't answer kids' club questions, but otherwise ..)

 

[kapoof]

How was the weather at cast away cay, were you able to go swimming? Glad you had a good time.

 

[Dug720]

How was the weather at cast away cay, were you able to go swimming? Glad you had a good time.

The day itself was gorgeous! It was a little breezy on Serenity Bay. The water was chilly at first, but once in I was fine. It was very "currenty" though - at one point I had been swimming for about a minute and was still in the same place - so I opted for no float rental.

I did the catamaran sail and snorkel in Nassau and it was great - the water wasn't that chilly at all and I saw a lot of zebra fish and several other species.

 

[lulucornbread]

Had a fantastic time! Sad to be off! Any questions? (Traveled solo, so I probably canny answer kids' club questions, but otherwise ..)

.

Your favorite restaurant?

What movies were showing?

Any excursions?

 

[ptcbass]

I would like to know more about your experience with the catamaran sail.

 

[Dug720]

. Your favorite restaurant? What movies were showing? Any excursions?

I love Animator's Palate - had that twice, and I honestly liked the Pirate Night menu. Palo dinner and brunch are always awesome!

Movies - Monsters Umiversity, Frozen (they did a special 3-D showing in the Walt Disney Theatre on the sea day as well), Saving Mr. Banks, and Thor the Dark World (whatever the full title is).

Nassau excursion - Catamaran Sail and Reef Snorkel which I loved.

 

[Dug720]

I would like to know more about your experience with the catamaran sail.

Sure!!!! I will get online at MCO and type on the laptop - easier than the phone keyboard.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Glad to hear you had a great time!!

Heather

 

[lulucornbread]

How was it as a single traveler? Did you have a fun group at dinner?

 

[Dug720]

How was it as a single traveler? Did you have a fun group at dinner?

I loved it!! I was assigned to a table with 5 others - the dining change person said a couple of others were solo - but I ended up changing to a table where my sister who is a crew officer and I could eat without her having to answer tons of questions at dinner.

 

[luv2sleep]

Had a fantastic time! Sad to be off! Any questions? (Traveled solo, so I probably canny answer kids' club questions, but otherwise ..)

Did it feel crowded and rushed?

 

[Dug720]

Catamaran Sail and Snorkel...

We met in 687 before debarkation in Nassau - I think there were 58 of us or so. We signed in and got our sticker (they use them to keep the groups together when we're all gathering off the ship - we had Chip and Dale), then we followed a cruise staff CM who was holding a paddle with our stickers' character on it and lined up outside where we were met by a rep from Seahorse. (We were given beach towels as we left 687 - just dropped them in bins once we were reboarding.) Once everyone was there, the rep took the paddle and walked us down past the cruise terminal to the end of that strip where our catamaran was waiting. There were maybe 5 or 6 people already on there - I guess booked privately? - and we were told we could sit anywhere we wanted - around the nets, on the roof, on the deck. Very casual.

We motored out to Atoll (not sure of the spelling) Island where we stopped over Rainbow Reef. We had already gotten our masks, snorkels, and fins, but they gave us brief instructions, then handed our vests to everyone under 18 and anyone over 18 who wanted one (they said the vests were only required for those under 18), and we were able to get into the water. This particular catamaran had the option of the ladder in the front or two jump off tails from the back (I opted for that one) - you just had to swim around to the front where the reef was.

The water wasn't cold at all (I was a little afraid it would be based on a couple of teenage boys yelping, but it wasn't bad.). As soon as I got everything straightened out and going, I started swimming around. There were a LOT of zebra fish, and they had no fear and would come right up to you. Other fish I saw (some I had to dive down a little for) included rainbow fish, trumpet fish, parrot fish, yellow tang, and about 3 other ones I didn't know the species of. I didn't have an underwater camera, but I wish I had. There were also some pretty colored things growing on the reef.

There were some other catamarans close by, but it never seemed overly crowded, and we were the last one to leave. We had up to an hour in the water, then they called everyone back. Once everyone was on board, they put up the sail for the trip back - but the motor was used at a low speed . Once underway, they opened the bar - they had one complimentary run punch, fruit punch, or soda per person, and you could buy extra as well as beer. They also had little bags of chips if you wanted them - also free.

The houses we passed going out and back were beautiful. We had a really nice view of the 4 ships at the dock coming back - two Carnival ships, the Dream, and the Allure of the Seas (sorry...but she is NOT pretty...big, but bland IMHO). We went to the far side of those ships and they put the sail down to take us back to shore. We pulled up close to Senor Frogs and just had a quick walk to the cruise terminal and then I went back onto the ship. We were back about 1/1:15.

I definitely had a great time and would consider this one again as it was really nice just to hang out on the deck as the boat sailed.

 

[sweetlovin']

Which dates were you on?

 

[ptcbass]

Wow sounds like a great excursion! Thank you for the details!
How early did you leave? I was wondering how many hours you were actually gone for this. Do you remember how much it cost? I can't book any excursions until this Saturday so I am excited! I actually didn't plan on booking anything but this sounds great (and relaxing)!

 

[Dug720]

Did it feel crowded and rushed?

I've only been on the Dream, so I can't compare it to the classics, but it didn't feel any more crowded than when we did the 3-night in the summer. The sea day you definitely knew there were people on board - it was GORGEOUS weather, so the decks and pools did get crowded but that's because everyone wanted to be out.

In terms of rushed... I didn't think so, but I'd already had a 3-night to get to know the Dream (granted, I didn't feel that rushed then either). I felt like I had plenty of time to do the things I wanted, and the things I didn't get to it was purely my own fault because I'd be so chilled out I'd literally forget until the thing had already started.

 

[Dug720]

Which dates were you on?

16-20. I literally just got off today.

 

[Dug720]

Wow sounds like a great excursion! Thank you for the details!
How early did you leave? I was wondering how many hours you were actually gone for this. Do you remember how much it cost? I can't book any excursions until this Saturday so I am excited! I actually didn't plan on booking anything but this sounds great (and relaxing)!

We met at 9:15 and were probably off the ship and all together by 9:45, so basically just the morning (but there was time for breakfast - I chose Cabanas). I think this was the $49 one (there's also a $37 one, but that one only had 1:15 departure available when I was looking).

 

[DisneySisters]

Glad to hear you had fun! Did you hear any news about summer 2015 sailings? Did your sister that is crew say anything?

 

[wiigirl]

Glad you had a great time!

 

[bbn1122]

Glad to hear you had great weather and a great time.

My family will be on Dream for a 2nd time this August for 3 nights. Last time it was after a hurricane went thru the Bahamas so that kind of ruined the port part of the cruise. No CC and a 2nd day at Nassau with an island that was still recovering

We are hoping for better weather and the excursion you did was one We were really considering. We did a snorkel trip a few years ago in Grand Cayman and loved it. And we snorkeled in Cozumel and the Keyes.

Was the catamaran big? Because you did mention around 58 people. That seems like an awful lot.

How were the crew? And do I have the time right 9:15-1:15p total time.

I read your review just wondering how it would compare to our previous trips. I really want to get off the boat and enjoy the. Bahamas. Thanks...