Just off Dream..thoughts from a first time cruiser

[Minniemoo15]

We are long time WDW fans but recently took our first 5 night cruise on the Dream. Thank you to everyone on this forum for making the planning so enjoyable and answering lots of my questions.

Some quick thoughts
-First of all, we had high expectations for this trip and it exceeded this by a lot. My DH was very reluctant to book and take this cruise but he really enjoyed himself and is open to another in the future which is a huge win in my books!
-We used our DVC points to stay at Vero Beach for a few nights before the cruise. WOW - this is an amazing resort - a total hidden gem. I was worried about the drive down the morning of the cruise but we didn't hit any traffic. I would totally stay here again for a pre/post cruise stay.
-The Port of Miami was well laid out and everything with embarkation went very smoothly.
-DCL reminded me of the old school WDW that I loved so much - many things included in the overall price, amazing service and lots of unexpected touches. The postcards in the desk, chocolates on the pillow, daily fresh towels and in room movies were all little things that really elevated our experience. I did not feel nickel and dimed around every corner. I didn't have to wake up at 7am every day to book things in order to have a great day. DCL has got it right and I hope they are able to maintain this mindset.
-The beds were so incredibly comfortable! We slept so well. We had a family verandah room which was laid out thoughtfully and had tons of storage. I am glad we had a verandah for the fresh air.
-We are resale DVC owners and at WDW we always feel a bit awkward since we are restricted from so much. On DCL, we were treated like every other DVC member - we had DVC lanyards in our stateroom waiting for us, received daily "gifts", invited to the member event and were welcomed home all over the ship. A small thing, but it was a nice change from WDW.
-The kids clubs were astounding. When we went to the open house, I wasn't sure how my girls (7 and 9) would enjoy them. They looked beautiful but they seemed a bit...boring during the open house? The magic though is the CMs. During regular operating hours there were SO many organized activities going on. The CMs played Uno, Mario Kart and countless other games with my kids. They led them in activities, crafts and science experiments. Truly this was worth the price of the cruise alone!
-While my girls were spending hours at the kids club, my husband and I headed to the adult pools - WOW - those are amazing. So relaxing and comfortable. While the main pools were crowded and kind of gross, these were serene. The drink of the day was always delicious and a great deal!
-my daughter won $700 (USD! Even better for us Canadians) at bingo… that was exciting! It was first given as an onboard credit but then we were able to go to guest services and have it changed to cash.
-I had prebooked Castaway packages (snorkel, tube and bike rental). In the future I wouldn't do this - we didn't end up biking at all and my youngest only snorkelled for about 5 minutes before it was too hard for her which meant I didn't snorkel either. Next time I will just book what we want the day of.
-Castaway was everything I expected and more. A true paradise and I want my next cruise to be a double dip!
-On our way from Castaway to Cozumel we had a 180 degree turn and then stopped. The horn sounded 3x, a "Mr Mob Starboard side" announcement came on and we could see someone floating on a raft. It was a tense hour with everyone unsure what was going on, but Disney handled it very professionally and kept everyone as updated as they could. He was rescued which was a relief but we had a sense of sadness as we realized what that person must have went through.
-Cozumel was disappointing - we didn't book an excursion and just planned on walking around the port. There was not much there. The Mega store was a nice tip I had seen on the Dis and we were able to purchase some souvenirs there without being hounded to buy things or deal with negotiating. We were back on the ship by lunch and enjoyed a quieter atmosphere for the day.
-We were a party of 7 and this was the perfect multi-generation trip. Everyone could do as they pleased, at their own pace.
-One member of our party has pretty significant and uncommon food allergies - DCL handled it flawlessly as Disney does.
-I was able to get Palo Brunch for DH and I by refreshing often - this was a highlight and an absolute steal for $45 per person. Every bite was delicious.
-A small thing that made a big difference for me (as someone who struggles with stomach issues) was the "nearest bathroom" notation on the map outside every elevator.
-Speaking of washrooms, I couldn't believe how clean they were. More often than not, someone was in there cleaning. The whole ship was sparkling.
-The debarkation process was very smooth. We did express walk off and were off the boat at 7:20, through customs and back at our car by 7:45.
-We did not feel seasick at any point during our trip (my husband was quite worried about this before we left). But funny enough, since getting off the boat I have been struggling with nausea and motion sickness. I was not anticipating this but after talking with other cruisers I am hearing that it is quite common. The first 2 days were very difficult but today I am finally feeling better. If I had known, I would have continued taking Gravol and wearing my seabands even after debarking.

Overall we had an absolutely wonderful time and can't wait to do another in the future! Happy to answer any questions.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

-DCL reminded me of the old school WDW that I loved so much - many things included in the overall price, amazing service and lots of unexpected touches. The postcards in the desk, chocolates on the pillow, daily fresh towels and in room movies were all little things that really elevated our experience. I did not feel nickel and dimed around every corner. I didn't have to wake up at 7am every day to book things in order to have a great day. DCL has got it right and I hope they are able to maintain this mindset.

Aulani gives you a small taste of that as well, but nothing compared to DCL. Couldn't agree more.

-We are resale DVC owners and at WDW we always feel a bit awkward since we are restricted from so much. On DCL, we were treated like every other DVC member - we had DVC lanyards in our stateroom waiting for us, received daily "gifts", invited to the member event and were welcomed home all over the ship. A small thing, but it was a nice change from WDW.

Just to manage expectations, don't expect that every time. We're resale DVC as well and we've gotten nothing on two sailings, everything on one sailing, and a lanyard but nothing else on a fourth sailing.

 

[Minniemoo15]

Aulani gives you a small taste of that as well, but nothing compared to DCL. Couldn't agree more.


Just to manage expectations, don't expect that every time. We're resale DVC as well and we've gotten nothing on two sailings, everything on one sailing, and a lanyard but nothing else on a fourth sailing.

Aulani is next on my DVC bucket list !! It looks like paradise.

 

[justafigment27]

Double dips are awesome and I hope you get to do one! In the “olden days” DCL used to have double dips every summer … we did one on the Dream and it was great. Now they seem to just happen on a couple random sailings a year.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Double dips are awesome and I hope you get to do one! In the “olden days” DCL used to have double dips every summer … we did one on the Dream and it was great. Now they seem to just happen on a couple random sailings a year.

There were a ton during COVID, I think because Key West stopped accepting ships so all of the Key West sailings became double dips.

I can't wait until Lighthouse Point opens up because you just know they're going to do some Castaway Cay - Lighthouse Point double dips.

 

[Mom2Anna&Elsa]

We are booked for our first Disney cruise, the 5 night on the Dream out of Fort Lauderdale, in March 2024. I am SO EXCITED to read your report that it exceeded expectations.

We are doing Grand Cayman on our cruise instead of Cozumel, but I'm still not sure we will do much besides go enjoy to the beach for a bit.

 

[Minniemoo15]

There were a ton during COVID, I think because Key West stopped accepting ships so all of the Key West sailings became double dips.

I can't wait until Lighthouse Point opens up because you just know they're going to do some Castaway Cay - Lighthouse Point double dips.

Yes a castaway - lighthouse double dip would be my dream cruise !!

We are booked for our first Disney cruise, the 5 night on the Dream out of Fort Lauderdale, in March 2024. I am SO EXCITED to read your report that it exceeded expectations.

We are doing Grand Cayman on our cruise instead of Cozumel, but I'm still not sure we will do much besides go enjoy to the beach for a bit.

You will have a wonderful time!! I am looking at March 24 cruises at the moment to book another , haha.

Double dips are awesome and I hope you get to do one! In the “olden days” DCL used to have double dips every summer … we did one on the Dream and it was great. Now they seem to just happen on a couple random sailings a year.

There is one that would line up great for us but it is right after Christmas so very $$$. I’ll have to keep my eyes out for another.

 

[MamaMermaid]

This review was a breath of fresh air! Glad you had a blast!

 

[brentm77]

We are long time WDW fans but recently took our first 5 night cruise on the Dream. Thank you to everyone on this forum for making the planning so enjoyable and answering lots of my questions.

Some quick thoughts
-First of all, we had high expectations for this trip and it exceeded this by a lot. My DH was very reluctant to book and take this cruise but he really enjoyed himself and is open to another in the future which is a huge win in my books!
-We used our DVC points to stay at Vero Beach for a few nights before the cruise. WOW - this is an amazing resort - a total hidden gem. I was worried about the drive down the morning of the cruise but we didn't hit any traffic. I would totally stay here again for a pre/post cruise stay.
-The Port of Miami was well laid out and everything with embarkation went very smoothly.
-DCL reminded me of the old school WDW that I loved so much - many things included in the overall price, amazing service and lots of unexpected touches. The postcards in the desk, chocolates on the pillow, daily fresh towels and in room movies were all little things that really elevated our experience. I did not feel nickel and dimed around every corner. I didn't have to wake up at 7am every day to book things in order to have a great day. DCL has got it right and I hope they are able to maintain this mindset.
-The beds were so incredibly comfortable! We slept so well. We had a family verandah room which was laid out thoughtfully and had tons of storage. I am glad we had a verandah for the fresh air.
-We are resale DVC owners and at WDW we always feel a bit awkward since we are restricted from so much. On DCL, we were treated like every other DVC member - we had DVC lanyards in our stateroom waiting for us, received daily "gifts", invited to the member event and were welcomed home all over the ship. A small thing, but it was a nice change from WDW.
-The kids clubs were astounding. When we went to the open house, I wasn't sure how my girls (7 and 9) would enjoy them. They looked beautiful but they seemed a bit...boring during the open house? The magic though is the CMs. During regular operating hours there were SO many organized activities going on. The CMs played Uno, Mario Kart and countless other games with my kids. They led them in activities, crafts and science experiments. Truly this was worth the price of the cruise alone!
-While my girls were spending hours at the kids club, my husband and I headed to the adult pools - WOW - those are amazing. So relaxing and comfortable. While the main pools were crowded and kind of gross, these were serene. The drink of the day was always delicious and a great deal!
-I had prebooked Castaway packages (snorkel, tube and bike rental). In the future I wouldn't do this - we didn't end up biking at all and my youngest only snorkelled for about 5 minutes before it was too hard for her which meant I didn't snorkel either. Next time I will just book what we want the day of.
-Castaway was everything I expected and more. A true paradise and I want my next cruise to be a double dip!
-On our way from Castaway to Cozumel we had a 180 degree turn and then stopped. The horn sounded 3x, a "Mr Mob Starboard side" announcement came on and we could see someone floating on a raft. It was a tense hour with everyone unsure what was going on, but Disney handled it very professionally and kept everyone as updated as they could. He was rescued which was a relief but we had a sense of sadness as we realized what that person must have went through.
-Cozumel was disappointing - we didn't book an excursion and just planned on walking around the port. There was not much there. The Mega store was a nice tip I had seen on the Dis and we were able to purchase some souvenirs there without being hounded to buy things or deal with negotiating. We were back on the ship by lunch and enjoyed a quieter atmosphere for the day.
-We were a party of 7 and this was the perfect multi-generation trip. Everyone could do as they pleased, at their own pace.
-One member of our party has pretty significant and uncommon food allergies - DCL handled it flawlessly as Disney does.
-I was able to get Palo Brunch for DH and I by refreshing often - this was a highlight and an absolute steal for $45 per person. Every bite was delicious.
-A small thing that made a big difference for me (as someone who struggles with stomach issues) was the "nearest bathroom" notation on the map outside every elevator.
-Speaking of washrooms, I couldn't believe how clean they were. More often than not, someone was in there cleaning. The whole ship was sparkling.
-The debarkation process was very smooth. We did express walk off and were off the boat at 7:20, through customs and back at our car by 7:45.
-We did not feel seasick at any point during our trip (my husband was quite worried about this before we left). But funny enough, since getting off the boat I have been struggling with nausea and motion sickness. I was not anticipating this but after talking with other cruisers I am hearing that it is quite common. The first 2 days were very difficult but today I am finally feeling better. If I had known, I would have continued taking Gravol and wearing my seabands even after debarking.

Overall we had an absolutely wonderful time and can't wait to do another in the future! Happy to answer any questions.

Great report! It literally took over a month for me to no longer feel the rolling sea motion after my first cruise as an adult. I loved the cruise so much that I still went back and the length of time shortened considerably each time. I don't even remember it happening after our last cruise. Hopefully your experience will be similar.

 

[goofy4prez]

-DCL reminded me of the old school WDW that I loved so much - many things included in the overall price, amazing service and lots of unexpected touches. The postcards in the desk, chocolates on the pillow, daily fresh towels and in room movies were all little things that really elevated our experience. I did not feel nickel and dimed around every corner. I didn't have to wake up at 7am every day to book things in order to have a great day. DCL has got it right and I hope they are able to maintain this mindset.

I am so in agreement with you on this one. I have become so discouraged with the park experience that I really have no plans on returning anytime soon. I'm not criticizing Disney, I know millions love it in it's current form. Maybe it's because I'm getting old and Disney has moved past me. I just don't want to be slave to a smartphone all day long. And like you, while I am up and awake at 7:00am, I really don't want to hope and see if I get something booked on the day I'm there. WDW, for me has lost too much of that magic for me. But with DCL, I absolutely love it. I got off the Dream the cruise before you and loved my 5 nights on it. I did the Fantasy in 2019 and loved it as well. I have another cruise booked in April 2024 on the Fantasy again.

 

[CisforCookie991]

I am so in agreement with you on this one. I have become so discouraged with the park experience that I really have no plans on returning anytime soon. I'm not criticizing Disney, I know millions love it in it's current form. Maybe it's because I'm getting old and Disney has moved past me. I just don't want to be slave to a smartphone all day long. And like you, while I am up and awake at 7:00am, I really don't want to hope and see if I get something booked on the day I'm there. WDW, for me has lost too much of that magic for me. But with DCL, I absolutely love it. I got off the Dream the cruise before you and loved my 5 nights on it. I did the Fantasy in 2019 and loved it as well. I have another cruise booked in April 2024 on the Fantasy again.

Also agree with you. Our first trip to WDW, I did the whole up at 6am at the 180 day and 30 day marks to get all the reservations, rope drop this and rope drop that, checking the reservations all the time trying to get "better" ones... it was a good trip but literally 7 months of planning. The next year, we knew what to expect and what was important to us, so no reservations before 10:30 or 11, roll out of bed and get to the parks whenever. We went to Disneyland for the first time this year, and our first experience with Genie+ and LL was overall not pleasant. It's clearly all about the money and not the guest experience anymore. Customer service was a joke, though I don't fully blame them because they're clearly sick of dealing with the same complaints. And the constant refreshing and being attached to the phones, like you mention. Made me really miss MagicBands, because any time you can scan that is one less time you have to pull our your phone. Looking into maybe going back to WDW next year, but at the same time, so overwhelmed by all the new "research" I need to do to plan it, especially since so much has changing with dining options. So very much looking forward to our first Disney cruise.

 

[sparty7798]

We are long time WDW fans but recently took our first 5 night cruise on the Dream. Thank you to everyone on this forum for making the planning so enjoyable and answering lots of my questions.

Some quick thoughts
-First of all, we had high expectations for this trip and it exceeded this by a lot. My DH was very reluctant to book and take this cruise but he really enjoyed himself and is open to another in the future which is a huge win in my books!
-We used our DVC points to stay at Vero Beach for a few nights before the cruise. WOW - this is an amazing resort - a total hidden gem. I was worried about the drive down the morning of the cruise but we didn't hit any traffic. I would totally stay here again for a pre/post cruise stay.
-The Port of Miami was well laid out and everything with embarkation went very smoothly.
-DCL reminded me of the old school WDW that I loved so much - many things included in the overall price, amazing service and lots of unexpected touches. The postcards in the desk, chocolates on the pillow, daily fresh towels and in room movies were all little things that really elevated our experience. I did not feel nickel and dimed around every corner. I didn't have to wake up at 7am every day to book things in order to have a great day. DCL has got it right and I hope they are able to maintain this mindset.
-The beds were so incredibly comfortable! We slept so well. We had a family verandah room which was laid out thoughtfully and had tons of storage. I am glad we had a verandah for the fresh air.
-We are resale DVC owners and at WDW we always feel a bit awkward since we are restricted from so much. On DCL, we were treated like every other DVC member - we had DVC lanyards in our stateroom waiting for us, received daily "gifts", invited to the member event and were welcomed home all over the ship. A small thing, but it was a nice change from WDW.
-The kids clubs were astounding. When we went to the open house, I wasn't sure how my girls (7 and 9) would enjoy them. They looked beautiful but they seemed a bit...boring during the open house? The magic though is the CMs. During regular operating hours there were SO many organized activities going on. The CMs played Uno, Mario Kart and countless other games with my kids. They led them in activities, crafts and science experiments. Truly this was worth the price of the cruise alone!
-While my girls were spending hours at the kids club, my husband and I headed to the adult pools - WOW - those are amazing. So relaxing and comfortable. While the main pools were crowded and kind of gross, these were serene. The drink of the day was always delicious and a great deal!
-my daughter won $700 (USD! Even better for us Canadians) at bingo… that was exciting! It was first given as an onboard credit but then we were able to go to guest services and have it changed to cash.
-I had prebooked Castaway packages (snorkel, tube and bike rental). In the future I wouldn't do this - we didn't end up biking at all and my youngest only snorkelled for about 5 minutes before it was too hard for her which meant I didn't snorkel either. Next time I will just book what we want the day of.
-Castaway was everything I expected and more. A true paradise and I want my next cruise to be a double dip!
-On our way from Castaway to Cozumel we had a 180 degree turn and then stopped. The horn sounded 3x, a "Mr Mob Starboard side" announcement came on and we could see someone floating on a raft. It was a tense hour with everyone unsure what was going on, but Disney handled it very professionally and kept everyone as updated as they could. He was rescued which was a relief but we had a sense of sadness as we realized what that person must have went through.
-Cozumel was disappointing - we didn't book an excursion and just planned on walking around the port. There was not much there. The Mega store was a nice tip I had seen on the Dis and we were able to purchase some souvenirs there without being hounded to buy things or deal with negotiating. We were back on the ship by lunch and enjoyed a quieter atmosphere for the day.
-We were a party of 7 and this was the perfect multi-generation trip. Everyone could do as they pleased, at their own pace.
-One member of our party has pretty significant and uncommon food allergies - DCL handled it flawlessly as Disney does.
-I was able to get Palo Brunch for DH and I by refreshing often - this was a highlight and an absolute steal for $45 per person. Every bite was delicious.
-A small thing that made a big difference for me (as someone who struggles with stomach issues) was the "nearest bathroom" notation on the map outside every elevator.
-Speaking of washrooms, I couldn't believe how clean they were. More often than not, someone was in there cleaning. The whole ship was sparkling.
-The debarkation process was very smooth. We did express walk off and were off the boat at 7:20, through customs and back at our car by 7:45.
-We did not feel seasick at any point during our trip (my husband was quite worried about this before we left). But funny enough, since getting off the boat I have been struggling with nausea and motion sickness. I was not anticipating this but after talking with other cruisers I am hearing that it is quite common. The first 2 days were very difficult but today I am finally feeling better. If I had known, I would have continued taking Gravol and wearing my seabands even after debarking.

Overall we had an absolutely wonderful time and can't wait to do another in the future! Happy to answer any questions.

Can you tell me specifically about parking at the port of Miami?

 

[Minniemoo15]

Can you tell me specifically about parking at the port of Miami?

We had a PAT of 11:30 but arrived at 10:50 due to how smoothly the drive from Vero went. They didn’t care. We pulled up, unloaded our luggage which got tagged by the porters. We then went to wait by the terminal entrance while my husband parked the car. The parking garage was just up ahead and only took a few minutes.

Upon leaving the self serve payment machines weren’t working so we just paid at the exit. I believe it was around $110 for the 5 nights.

 

[sparty7798]

Thanks so much.

 

[lscrivan18]

The drink of the day was always delicious and a great deal!

Do you recall what the drinks were and how much they cost?

 

[Minniemoo15]

Do you recall what the drinks were and how much they cost?

They were around 5$ and I remember there being Bahama Mama, Sunken Treasure and Mai Tais for sure ..

 

[bobbiwoz]

I am so happy to read what a great time you had on your first DCL cruise!

We are also DVC owners who enjoy Vero Beach resort. We were there last week, January 3-6. Maybe we were there when you were?

 

[greensombrero]

I’m so glad you had a great cruise. I know you read and commented about your pre cruise excitement on my recent TR. I’m so glad things turned out great for you! Not that I had any doubt which is why we cruise DCL!

It sounds like you have the same problem we did after our first, you want to go again .

 

[greensombrero]

We are booked for our first Disney cruise, the 5 night on the Dream out of Fort Lauderdale, in March 2024. I am SO EXCITED to read your report that it exceeded expectations.

We are doing Grand Cayman on our cruise instead of Cozumel, but I'm still not sure we will do much besides go enjoy to the beach for a bit.

We were just in Grand Cayman and really enjoyed getting off and exploring on our own. 7 mile beach was great and easy to get to but there were also fun shops right in the port area. There are some great excursion options there too but it is definitely an island you can enjoy on your own.

 

[princesscinderella]

We were on the same sailing, it was great weather and seas. I think I was at the bingo when your daughter won, that’s so exciting! Glad you guys had a great time!