September 15, 2013 Disney Dream

[Jeremysmom]

WOW! It's almost here!

 

[Jeremysmom]

Well, it's actually here. I'm still sewing for the trip, have to wash clothes, and pack. My daughter comes in tonight from KY and we're driving to FL tomorrow. We can't wait to cruise the dream! See you soon.

 

[GirlTideFan]

Thank you to everyone for the wonderful FE gifts! We loved coming back to find goodies! The cruise was amazing and I can't wait to go on another one!

 

[jennileigh]

I had such a magical time on board. live everything disney.. the FE gifts were great so many ideas for the cruise I booked while on this one!!!

 

[Jeremysmom]

The cruise is over. We had a great time. Booked another cruise on board. Can't wait to go again. We really enjoyed the FE. Thanks to all who participated.

 

[jcemom]

We rebooked onboard, on Tuesday. Then, on Wednesday night I got really really sick due to the waves/rocking. Now I am reconsidering that rebooking.

We had a great time, up to that point. I know at our table of six, five of us were sick that night at dinner, and DD is the only one of us who actually ate anything. I took one bite of my soup, one bite of my salad, and then I had to leave. The other two little girls were crying to leave because they were sick. All three of us moms took meclizine (which was brought to us by our server, for me that was on top of the meclizine I had already been taking the entire trip). We were still all sick. One lady at the table next to us looked as green as we did. The dining room seemed very empty to me, but maybe that's normal on the last night, I don't know. I spent the rest of the night on the couch with the verandah door open for somewhat-fresh air. It was miserable. I really wanted to sleep on the verandah floor but was too sick to drag pillows and blankets over there.

I felt motion the first night, in the theater mainly, but it didn't really bother me. The next two nights, nothing. I was perfectly fine. That last night was a doozy though, and not a happy ending to our otherwise awesome cruise.

 

[Kashabear]

The motion the last night was the worst. I felt it as we left the theater as well. I was a flight attendant and think I have adapted over the years to motion because of that. I am sorry your trip ended rough. My sister was with me on this cruise in Feb and she was sick during the last night and debarkation.

 

[Jeremysmom]

Melissa, Thanks for organizing the FE group. We loved it!

 

[Luckymomoftwo]

We rebooked onboard, on Tuesday. Then, on Wednesday night I got really really sick due to the waves/rocking. Now I am reconsidering that rebooking.

We had a great time, up to that point. I know at our table of six, five of us were sick that night at dinner, and DD is the only one of us who actually ate anything. I took one bite of my soup, one bite of my salad, and then I had to leave. The other two little girls were crying to leave because they were sick. All three of us moms took meclizine (which was brought to us by our server, for me that was on top of the meclizine I had already been taking the entire trip). We were still all sick. One lady at the table next to us looked as green as we did. The dining room seemed very empty to me, but maybe that's normal on the last night, I don't know. I spent the rest of the night on the couch with the verandah door open for somewhat-fresh air. It was miserable. I really wanted to sleep on the verandah floor but was too sick to drag pillows and blankets over there.

I felt motion the first night, in the theater mainly, but it didn't really bother me. The next two nights, nothing. I was perfectly fine. That last night was a doozy though, and not a happy ending to our otherwise awesome cruise.

I was sick that last night too. The first and last nights are always the worst because of the Florida Straits. This cruise I think was especially bad because we were only cruising at .8 knots almost the entire time we were on the ship except the last night when we cruised at 22 knots. So, the faster speed along with the roughness of the Florida Straits caused some major motion sickness for a lot of us. I usually use the patch (get a script from my doctor before sailing), but the last two cruises I've been using ginger pills....they worked on my February 2013 cruise, but NOT this one on the last night.

I think this was a great cruise, too....the entire staff on the ship seemed to be very friendly. This was my fourth time on the Disney Dream and the CM's aren't all quite so outgoing and friendly as they were on this cruise. They weren't rude, but typically on a Disney cruise, ALL CM's smile at you and say some sort of greeting to you (Good morning, Good afternoon, etc) as you pass them by, the first few Disney Dream cruises, the CM's didn't really do that. But this one, they ALL did. So I think I wasn't the only one to mention that lack of Disney pleasantness on the comment cards! LOL

 

[jcemom]

I was sick that last night too. The first and last nights are always the worst because of the Florida Straits. This cruise I think was especially bad because we were only cruising at .8 knots almost the entire time we were on the ship except the last night when we cruised at 22 knots. So, the faster speed along with the roughness of the Florida Straits caused some major motion sickness for a lot of us. I usually use the patch (get a script from my doctor before sailing), but the last two cruises I've been using ginger pills....they worked on my February 2013 cruise, but NOT this one on the last night.

I think this was a great cruise, too....the entire staff on the ship seemed to be very friendly. This was my fourth time on the Disney Dream and the CM's aren't all quite so outgoing and friendly as they were on this cruise. They weren't rude, but typically on a Disney cruise, ALL CM's smile at you and say some sort of greeting to you (Good morning, Good afternoon, etc) as you pass them by, the first few Disney Dream cruises, the CM's didn't really do that. But this one, they ALL did. So I think I wasn't the only one to mention that lack of Disney pleasantness on the comment cards! LOL

I'm sorry to hear that you were also sick the last night. Yuck.

I had read so much here on the forums about head servers never being present, introducing themselves and not being seen again until tip time, etc. I was very pleasantly surprised that our head server was so nice and friendly. He stopped by our table every single night, and was visible in the immediate vicinity at other times should we have needed him for anything. He brought a team of servers over to sing Happy Birthday to girls at our table and nearby tables more than once. His name was Gonzo from Portugal. Our server was Richie from Jamaica. I love Jamaican accents and he was very knowledgeable and helpful when it came to menu recommendations. Our assistant server was Franko from Indonesia and he was a riot. He gave us brain teaser games every night and spent plenty of time chatting and explaining things to us, from how his contract with DCL works, to magic tricks, and everything in between. We were nearly the last people out of the dining room every night lol. I think that was my favorite part of the cruise...the dinners.

Also, DCL did an terrific job of assigning our tablemates. I was a little apprehensive going in, thinking we might be misfits seated with a family of four. No need to worry though. DD and I were seated with two other moms travelling with their little girls. We were all near the same age, and all three of us moms have older children that are the same age, in addition to our younger ones! I could not have chosen better myself! We got along wonderfully and thoroughly enjoyed each others' company.

Unfortunately, we saved the taking of group photos and exchanging of email addresses until the last night when we were all too sick to do any of that.

 

[squaggles]

Sorry you were so sick! My husband's mom got sea sick too on the last night and couldn't really enjoy her dinner. And we were at Royal Palace that night - which in my opinion was the best dinner of the trip! The motion sickness pills from the bin at health services helped her - but she only took one after we started eating. So, it was a little late to enjoy the dinner.

We had such an amazing time! So happy we did the FE exchange. We loved making gifts, and delivering was fun!! And we loved every gift we got too!! Thanks Melissa for heading that up - and Liz too for heading up the second list! You both made it easy. I will definitely be participating in that on our next cruise!

 

[Luckymomoftwo]

I'm sorry to hear that you were also sick the last night. Yuck.

I had read so much here on the forums about head servers never being present, introducing themselves and not being seen again until tip time, etc. I was very pleasantly surprised that our head server was so nice and friendly. He stopped by our table every single night, and was visible in the immediate vicinity at other times should we have needed him for anything. He brought a team of servers over to sing Happy Birthday to girls at our table and nearby tables more than once. His name was Gonzo from Portugal. Our server was Richie from Jamaica. I love Jamaican accents and he was very knowledgeable and helpful when it came to menu recommendations. Our assistant server was Franko from Indonesia and he was a riot. He gave us brain teaser games every night and spent plenty of time chatting and explaining things to us, from how his contract with DCL works, to magic tricks, and everything in between. We were nearly the last people out of the dining room every night lol. I think that was my favorite part of the cruise...the dinners.

Also, DCL did an terrific job of assigning our tablemates. I was a little apprehensive going in, thinking we might be misfits seated with a family of four. No need to worry though. DD and I were seated with two other moms travelling with their little girls. We were all near the same age, and all three of us moms have older children that are the same age, in addition to our younger ones! I could not have chosen better myself! We got along wonderfully and thoroughly enjoyed each others' company.

Unfortunately, we saved the taking of group photos and exchanging of email addresses until the last night when we were all too sick to do any of that.

That's neat that DCL matched you with such similar families for dinner! Someone once tried to tell me that they try to seat people together who are in the same profession....I couldn't figure out where they came up with that because I don't believe you ever give DCL your professional background. LOL But, that is so sad about not being able to exchange email addresses and get pictures with your table mates!!! We have made some of the best friends we've ever had on DCL cruises....well....they were DVC DCL cruises. We've vacationed together since meeting, and keep in touch via facebook, DISboards, phone, and email. A lot of us get together at least twice a year, and those of us who live closer to each other (a lot of us are within 1-5 hours of each other) we get together more often. They are as far north as Canada, as far South as Texas, as far South East as Florida, as far North East as New York, and as far West as California. So, basically we have Disney friends all over the country and beyond. LOL

On our first couple of DCL cruises (back in 98/99), the lack of presence of the Head Server was one thing we mentioned on our comment card. We were quite upset that we had to pay this person tips when we never even met him or her. For all we knew, it was extra tip money that DCL kept or gave to the servers to split. LOL On one of those first cruises, my husband was picked to participate in a private meeting with DCL CM's for input on what they could improve upon....and that was one thing he mentioned. Ever since then, we've seen the head server every night at dinner. Some of them have been great, some have been just ok. He also said DCL ships (Magic & Wonder at that time) lacked festive lighting (like when other ships are sailing at night and they saw the Disney ships, there wasn't much lighting for them to see). The next time we cruised, they had lights strung from one funnel to the other. Then they took those down and added the cool lights on the DCL logo's on the funnels. So, DH is quite proud of his suggestions! LOL

I wonder if you could write to DCL and ask them to share your contact info with your dinner mates. They have everyone's contact info.... It's a long shot, but who knows, maybe they would do that for you.

 

[jcemom]

We were at Animator's for the Crush show. I had already taken two meclizine pills (the same thing they give out on the ship) as I had every day since before we left home. I took one more at dinner and gave a half to DD. I got in one bite of my soup and one bite of my salad before I had to leave dinner. DD stayed and finished eating lol. She brought her dessert back to the room to show me...a mickey bar with syrup and sprinkles. At the time I was just thinking yuck get it away from me haha!

 

[Luckymomoftwo]

We were at Animator's for the Crush show. I had already taken two meclizine pills (the same thing they give out on the ship) as I had every day since before we left home. I took one more at dinner and gave a half to DD. I got in one bite of my soup and one bite of my salad before I had to leave dinner. DD stayed and finished eating lol. She brought her dessert back to the room to show me...a mickey bar with syrup and sprinkles. At the time I was just thinking yuck get it away from me haha!

Did you have the early dining? Because we were in Animators for the Crush show the last night, too! But our Head Server was Simone, not Gonzo, and we were at the late dinner. And he actually talked to my sister in law, but sadly I wasn't there for it...darn motion sickness!!

 

[jcemom]

Did you have the early dining? Because we were in Animators for the Crush show the last night, too! But our Head Server was Simone, not Gonzo, and we were at the late dinner. And he actually talked to my sister in law, but sadly I wasn't there for it...darn motion sickness!!

We were also late dining, table # 99.

 

[Jeremysmom]

I have post cruise blues. I would go again tomorrow. I love it! I think I could live on a cruise ship. Lol

 

[PrincessJasmine21]

Great Vacation the weather wasn't to good but we had fun. Need to go back. The Fish extenders where totally awesome.

 

[PrincessJasmine21]

The last night my Family also got sick. It was pretty bad. But even with all of that. My sister will go back.