Just off The Dream... Pretty rough seas!

[harbin]

Hello,
Just off the 4 day Thanksgiving Merrytime cruise on The Dream. We had a fantastic time! The ship was completely full but didn't really feel overcrowded. Food was terrific as usual including our Thanksgiving Dinner! All the Christmas activities were phenomenal! We got in to gingerbread house making, kids were a little disappointed they couldn't take it off the ship at the end of the cruise, not allowed under customs rules. Saw the Good Dinosaur which was fantastic! All and all a fantastic time.

The weather and seas on the other hand were not great. This was not our first cruise, but it was the first time I have ever been on a ship that was rocking so much you couldn't walk straight down the hall. I went on deck to check it out last night because it was so bad, and woah! Those were some high seas! Captain Henry did a great job of pre warning us that it was coming. I am still dizzy from it though! It was really windy most days which made it somewhat chilly on deck, and forced the pirate party inside to. The atrium. The fireworks were still a go though which I was surprised about. Would highly recommend the late dining. It was the first time we were unable to switch to early dining and it worked out so well! We hung out at the pool from 5:30 until 7:30 every night with no waiting for aquaduck, and an empty pool. We have seen all the shows multiple times so didn't want to go to those... And everyone else was at a show or dinner. My two kids 9, and 5 did well with late dining we usually ate a late lunch and a snack from flo's around 5 or so. It was the first time we tried an inside stateroom and surprisingly I really loved it! The virtual porthole is so neat! We rebooked online not sure about going though... Disney prices have gotten a bit out of hand. Rebooked a 7 day western carribean on the Fantasy for 6/11/16 verandah cabin for four people and with the discount is was $8880.00. I love DCL but I can do pretty much the same cruise on Norwegians brand new ship for $3000 less in a suite! I don't know what to do... I know we will have a great cruise on DCL, but the $3000 up charge is a bit hard to swallow...anyway, happy to answer any questions!

 

[Ofinn]

Yikes on the 8800. A suite on Norwegian for 3k less I would probably go with NCL. I'm sure that also includes free drinks and free upscale dining. I know they are offering the pick 2 right now with free drinks, dining, internet, credit for excursions etc etc. Yep it's getting harder and harder to find a deal on DCL.

 

[staceymay00]

Glad you had a great cruise. My family was originally booked on the same cruise, but we ended up going in September instead - much better price, although the ship was still pretty much full believe it or not. I would have loved seeing the Christmas decorations, but we did at least get to experience the Halloween decorations and activities. And no hurricanes or rough seas thankfully!

I feel your pain with the prices. We booked another cruise on board but will probably end up canceling. I have trouble justifying the prices during peak season and we want to do something different for our only non-peak season school break next year.

 

[mershell]

Did you still manage to go to Castaway Cay. I had heard they sometimes have trouble docking when the weather is bad. We're sailing in two weeks. Was this a storm or is this what it's always like at this time of year?

 

[ppiew]

When we were on Norwegian my biggest gripe was the meals. There wasn't ONE that we liked at all. They just weren't very good and we are NOT fussy people. We were in a suite and yes, there was an upcharge for some specialty dining just can't remember the amount. Here the food looked beautiful but again, taste was very poor.

 

[DnA2010]

Hello,
Just off the 4 day Thanksgiving Merrytime cruise on The Dream. We had a fantastic time! The ship was completely full but didn't really feel overcrowded. Food was terrific as usual including our Thanksgiving Dinner! All the Christmas activities were phenomenal! We got in to gingerbread house making, kids were a little disappointed they couldn't take it off the ship at the end of the cruise, not allowed under customs rules. Saw the Good Dinosaur which was fantastic! All and all a fantastic time.

The weather and seas on the other hand were not great. This was not our first cruise, but it was the first time I have ever been on a ship that was rocking so much you couldn't walk straight down the hall. I went on deck to check it out last night because it was so bad, and woah! Those were some high seas! Captain Henry did a great job of pre warning us that it was coming. I am still dizzy from it though! It was really windy most days which made it somewhat chilly on deck, and forced the pirate party inside to. The atrium. The fireworks were still a go though which I was surprised about. Would highly recommend the late dining. It was the first time we were unable to switch to early dining and it worked out so well! We hung out at the pool from 5:30 until 7:30 every night with no waiting for aquaduck, and an empty pool. We have seen all the shows multiple times so didn't want to go to those... And everyone else was at a show or dinner. My two kids 9, and 5 did well with late dining we usually ate a late lunch and a snack from flo's around 5 or so. It was the first time we tried an inside stateroom and surprisingly I really loved it! The virtual porthole is so neat! We rebooked online not sure about going though... Disney prices have gotten a bit out of hand. Rebooked a 7 day western carribean on the Fantasy for 6/11/16 verandah cabin for four people and with the discount is was $8880.00. I love DCL but I can do pretty much the same cruise on Norwegians brand new ship for $3000 less in a suite! I don't know what to do... I know we will have a great cruise on DCL, but the $3000 up charge is a bit hard to swallow...anyway, happy to answer any questions!

$8880? Whoa...our veranda for 2 adults, 1 child was $3580 (11) (may of this year) I guess DCL is out for us, especially with the Canadian dollar so low

 

[Bear3412]

Thanks for sharing.

Did you happen to notice the max winds on the TV Screen?

How high were the seas?

Where were the seas the most rough?
Most say/encounter them 6 - 12 hours out of PC.
Was you experience similar the first night?

Are you saying the seas were somewhat normal, them the Captain said the sea state will rise, then things got rocky.

In other words, the Captain warned the pax in advance of approaching rough seas?

Sorry it was rough at times.

Glad you had a Fantastic time.

 

[Weedy]

The waves have been much higher than normal. Here is the surf report from Cocoa Beach yesterday.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Buckets and Boards (who are awesome btw) just posted on FB and they were on the Fantasy:

"Two nights ago we did our toughest/most interesting adult show yet aboard the Disney Cruise Line‪#‎DisneyFantasy‬... 50mph winds, 20+ft swells. We were literally tap dancing all over the place, haha! We had a awesome crowd to experience it with us! ‪#‎BOOYAH‬‪#‎IKNOOW‬"

Heather

 

[jiminyC_fan]

We've been in some very rough seas several times on DCL. One time the swimming pool waves were reaching deck 10 before they closed the pools. We absolutely love rough seas and always hope that each cruise we might ride them again.

 

[harbin]

Yep the roughest seas were just several hours out of PC... It wasn't awful by any means, but the last night of the cruise (Thanksgiving) was much more rough than the others. We were all slightly green around the gills, but went to sleep and was fine by morning. The nice thing was the Captain was very informative and we knew we were "in for it". I have been on several DCL cruises and have never dealt with seas that rough. I was worried about them cancelling castaway cay due to the winds etc .. But we made it ok and it actually was one of the nicer day's weather wise, despite continued high winds. It was a great cruise! I am so conflicted about our booked on board cruise! It's hard when you know what to expect on DCL and have no idea on the other lines... But a $3000 difference to sail in a suite on a ship just built is a tough choice! I have a while to ultimately decide, and I know it's a tough problem to have LOL

 

[DisneyJenn23]

We were on the 11/20 cruise. Winds were pretty bad. They pulled us in to Castaway Cay Saturday night at 12:45 and told us if they hadn't we would not have gotten in. Sunday night right before we pulled out of CC guest services called our room and told us to shut and lock our verandah door and that we were not allowed out there. Then someone knocked on the door, told us the same thing, and warned us they would be around opening the dividers between verandahs. I didn't think it felt very rough but we also went to bed early that night.

 

[C6PT7]

We've been in some very rough seas several times on DCL. One time the swimming pool waves were reaching deck 10 before they closed the pools. We absolutely love rough seas and always hope that each cruise we might ride them again.

Some spray from the water hitting the end of the pool or actual waves of water were reaching deck 10?
Is this like those that claim waves were reaching deck 5 or 6?

 

[C6PT7]

We were on the 11/20 cruise. Winds were pretty bad. They pulled us in to Castaway Cay Saturday night at 12:45 and told us if they hadn't we would not have gotten in. Sunday night right before we pulled out of CC guest services called our room and told us to shut and lock our verandah door and that we were not allowed out there. Then someone knocked on the door, told us the same thing, and warned us they would be around opening the dividers between verandahs. I didn't think it felt very rough but we also went to bed early that night.

This is one of the benefits of CC now having that pesky check point and charging the Bahamian VAT.
It considered a point of entry to the Bahamas and a foreign port, and dcl can now dock early, but not debark pax until a Bahamian official to complete the process.

 

[SuperDry]

This is one of the benefits of CC now having that pesky check point and charging the Bahamian VAT.
It considered a point of entry to the Bahamas and a foreign port, and dcl can now dock early, but not debark pax until a Bahamian official to complete the process.

I don't think the checkpoint has anything to do with it. CC has always been considered a foreign port. Guests have always not been able to debark prior to Bahamian Customs clearing the boat. And, the VAT was introduced earlier this year for everywhere in The Bahamas.

 

[tidefan]

We are just back from sailing the Carnival Sunshine to the Eastern Caribbean out of Port Canaveral. We rocked and rolled as well. Some of the roughest seas we've encountered.

BTW, this was my first Carnival cruise after 4 Princess, 8 DCL, and 1 RCCL cruises. I went in with really low expectations, however, we had a great cruise and, to our surprise, really enjoyed CCL. Loved the made to order tacos and burgers. We all thought it was much, much better than our experience with RCCL last year.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

We are just back from sailing the Carnival Sunshine to the Eastern Caribbean out of Port Canaveral. We rocked and rolled as well. Some of the roughest seas we've encountered.

BTW, this was my first Carnival cruise after 4 Princess, 8 DCL, and 1 RCCL cruises. I went in with really low expectations, however, we had a great cruise and, to our surprise, really enjoyed CCL. Loved the made to order tacos and burgers. We all thought it was much, much better than our experience with RCCL last year.

Thanks for posting this, we're trying the new Carnival Vista next summer. I'm really looking forward the Guy's, Blue Iguana breakfast burritos and the Italian place for the pasta bar at lunch.

Did you use the Carnival Hub app? What was your experience with it?

What was your experience in the MDR like?

Thanks!

 

[bceagle76]

Yikes on the 8800. A suite on Norwegian for 3k less I would probably go with NCL. I'm sure that also includes free drinks and free upscale dining. I know they are offering the pick 2 right now with free drinks, dining, internet, credit for excursions etc etc. Yep it's getting harder and harder to find a deal on DCL.

I would never do it NCL again did it once out of Boston. Couldnt wait to get off the ship. $8800 is a lot. I did RCCL liked alot close to DCL . Ship seem bit crowded. Hating having to get tickets to things and having preplan so much. Just like to do.
I hear Celebrity and princess are also good.
I am still DCL guy will try to find times that work. There are some deals out there just have to find ones that work.
8/99 4day Magic
4/02 7 day Magic
8/03 7 day Magic
11/05 4 day wonder pin cruise
8/06 7 day Magic
8/08 15 night Panama Canal
8/09 7 day Magic un- planned double dip on CC
8/11 Alaska
12/12 Christmas on the Fantasy
2/14 5 day out of Miami on Wonder
12/14 New Years on the 7 day Magic
2/16 7 day Fantasy

 

[1buckeyegirl]

Just off the magic Thanksgiving cruise and Friday right after the pirate deck party things got pretty rough, plates crashing and people falling. It lasted a few hours and we were all feeling pretty bad. We were able to port at castaway yesterday and it was still a little windy but beautiful! The whole cruise was a little rough but still had a great time!!!

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Some spray from the water hitting the end of the pool or actual waves of water were reaching deck 10?
Is this like those that claim waves were reaching deck 5 or 6?

Believe what you wish. Roll your eyes if you wish. I have the pictures and the memory. In fact, I have a video. No need to be like that. I can go on about the waves completely covering our deck two porthole but you won't believe that either. Just stating a fact that we love riding the waves.

edited to clarify that all wave riding has been on the classic ships. Never encountered anything on the Dream.