CARNIVAL DREAM SHIP PICTURES

Atrium

Riding the glass elevators up

You can never hide from your reflection on this ship.

Another one looking down into the atrium and the dance floor which my husband and daughter we use later that night.

I absolutely loved the glass elevators and the fact that they have glass on BOTH sides. So when you are standing in the hall waiting on the elevator, you can see all the way to the other side and even seen the elevators coming up and down.

The fact that they had regular elevators on each side in addition to the several glass elevators running made it nice for "people transport". The only thing is, you had to push both buttons and then make a run for it when one opened since there were so many of them and so far apart. These elevators don't give you a whole lot of time to run to them and get in before the doors close.

Up at the top of the atrium it was glass as well. You could see the water slides above it. Kinda neat and gets you pumped for some more excitement.

Did I mention all the glitter? Yes tons of glitter too...glitter swirly balls everywhere you looked.

We headed up to the pool deck to check it out but I was sure to stay away from the water park/slides area because I knew that my little one would immediately want to go in. She is drawn to water everywhere we go. I didn't need a melt down this early in the cruise.

The following pictures are from various days throughout the cruise, in no particular order. I take thousands of pictures while on vacation and it's hard to determine at what time they were taken (without looking at all the dates which would take too long). I use 3 cameras...all point and shoot water cameras that I'm very happy with so I no longer bring my DSLR with me on cruises. It's just too much to carry with all of the lens and equipment and I don't want to risk anything happening to it. I needed an all around good, small, waterproof camera that I could take with me everywhere, easily fit in to a small purse I carry around and could go on the islands and ports of call. I shoot with a Canon D10 (I have 2 of them) and an Olympus Tough. I'm real happy with the results from both so far and content with leaving the DSLR at home. So I have the 3 cameras, about 10 various SD cards, a memory stick and a small 10" computer that I take to download copies every day on to. I put them in folders pertaining to what they are of, various ports, where we were at, and sometimes the days.

With that all being said...here are some pictures from around the ship in no particular order.

You will find "Fun Hubs" all over the ship. I have to say I have never used their internet but I do know that I have read multiple post about just how slow the internet is and that it's worse than having dial-up. So, I prefer to "check-in" when we are in port if there's wifi. I can say that as many times as we passed one of these Fun Hubs, I only found 1 couple on them during the cruise.

Another Fun Hub that didn't seem to be too "fun"

This is "Sams" Club...my husband is Sam hehe It was very RED, especially at night.

This is the main pool deck. I loved the way it looked and especially loved the big screen t.v. I remember being on the NCL Star 5 months ago and watching the Carnival ship pull out before us in NOLA and they had the big screen t.v. going and I thought, man that would be neat. The only ship that I have ever been on with a big screen like that was the Epic.

They always seem to have something playing on the big screen. It was pretty popular at night. I loved the way they had movies playing every night and making full use of the area. During the day they would usually have either a sports channel on (x-games or golfing) or some news and if that wasn't on then they would have some type of water scenery playing...like a waterfall or creek or something. During the entire cruise, they had someone going around taking video footage (that they would try to sell you during your cruise) and then they would have that playing on the big screen as well on your tv's in the room. YES, I was in that video footage and was forced to watch myself dancing during the sailaway party over and over and over. YIKES! LOL Then later at one of the "RED" parties they got my husband and daughter dancing as well.

Now I had heard people talking about the Red Frog Bar, but I don't remember anyone mentioning the Blue Iguana, which is basically the same thing, just different drinks? Either way, it is not at all what I expected. They are on opposite sides of each other on the pool deck and they were extremely small areas. People would crowd there to get a drink and it was next to impossible to get a soda with ease most of the time. Everyone hung out here and there is NOT much room at all. There was a few times when I was standing in this extremely long line not moving that one of the servers ask me what I needed and when I flashed him my "soda" sticker, he went back and got me one real quick. Kudos to that server several times.

As you can see, not much room there. There's a bar and 2 long tables. Everyone felt compelled to stand in there however. I'm not sure why?

More pool pictures

As always, even at night, there's glitz and glamor with tons of lights everywhere. It always set the "mood" and made you feel relaxed.

Ok enough of the pool pictures. Now for a little discussion about the pool. To me, it is the same as any other cruise ship I have been on. It's way too little for the amount of cruisers on the ship. It seem to always be crowded during the days with standing room only. We did manage to find a day that it wasn't as bad (the last full day at sea...which surprised me). But when you're on a pool with not just 1 pool but 2...yes, there's another one on the back of the ship (even smaller than this one) and then there's the waterpark and slides, I found it not to be bothersome to me that's for sure. We made full use of all of them. No problems or complaints here.

Now I do remember when I decided to sail with Carnival and everyone was telling me not to do it and they complained about all of the "cut backs" that have been happening over the years. Well, since I had never been on Carnival, I have nothing to compare it to as far as cut backs, but I thought someone said that one of the cutbacks was the fact that there was no music on the deck. I was picturing this silence at sail away (or the sounds of the screaming munchkins on board and the obnoxious drunks falling all over the place causing a disturbance) throughout the cruise instead of the "missing music". Well I was real happy to see that they did indeed have a sail away party and man was it fun. We did all of the line dances and yes I was "caught on video" doing the funky chicken. (Just kidding, I wasn't doing the funky chicken). So, I guess I'm a little confused about the "no music" that I was told. As a matter of fact, they had a party out on the deck almost every night and it was a lot of fun.

The cruise director is Julie and she was in on everything and so much fun. She lead the dancing, she showed us new moves and she was always the light of the party. She wasn't annoying like you hear some cruise directors announcing over and over to go here and buy this or that and it's non-stop. You could tell she loved her job and she was at every nightly event and show as well. We caught her during one of the nights we watched the dancers and she was back stage, but at the angle we were that night we could see her, and she was dancing along with the dancers and trying to do their routine. She was so full of life and so much energy! WOW! I wish every cruise director was like her.

Now back to the pool deck. Yes, they did do quirky pool games like the hairy man contest, but I have to say, it's nothing different than on an NCL ship I've been on. They have done those before too. They can be pretty funny. They played games with diving for spoons, a scavenger hunt (which was hilarious) and other games. I finally found out what the "Ship on a Stick" was all about. LOL Yea, some may find the games dumb, but when we were up on deck hanging out, it was just something to watch and get a few laughs out of. I didn't mind it at all. It's not something that you would see listed in the Fun Times and say "Hey, I think I'll go to that because it's a do-not-miss show". It's just fun and entertainment. People like to have fun and it's the FUN ship remember?

Ok, so I guess enough about the pool deck. 

If you didn't want to be around the games, you could head to the back pool. It was always quiet and just swimming. We only hung out here when we would go to the deli to eat or here and there a few nights when eating outside and then the last sea day we swam here for awhile.

They had 2 hot tubs located back there and we made use of one of them. It was nice on our sore muscles after a week of extensive port calls.

Once again, still out on the back of the ship where the smaller pool is, you will find a deli bar. They had the best sandwiches and they make them right there while you wait and how you want them. You could have a sandwich on regular, rye, sub like bun, a wrap...tons of different things and meats and cheeses. The draw back was usually there seem to only be 1 person out there making them instead of 2 people (which they had 2 duplicate sections at the station for 2 employees) and there was always a line and wait when we would show up. There was only one day we were there that they had 2 people working it. Maybe it was the time of day we showed up, maybe not. Oh also, I was told this was one of the many options that was open all the time? Maybe someone else can confirm this.

On the opposite side they had another bar that was like an Asian bar. We never did try it for some reason. We were always full when it was open or it wasn't open when we was hungry, but it looked appealing to us.

A view of the deck area between the pools/hot tubs and the deli area

My daughters grilled cheese sandwich. It was obviously good because she ate 2 of them without coming up for air.

Just a random picture of the tile work in the hot tub that is located back on this deck...I know random...I'm a random kinda girl 😜

So since I was talking about food, I'll take you to the buffet area. I found the buffet area to be nice and pretty. It was forever long with plenty of room when we went. However, we found that either our timing was off a lot or it just wasn't open as much as NCL has theirs open. We could always go to the buffet on NCL and find something available, even if it was just 1 area open and serving sandwiches, salads, deserts and a few side dishes. There was always something open it seemed like. This time around we almost always missed it (with the exception of breakfast of course). I found it weird that on the days we would return back from port, by the time we were dressed and looking for food, it was never open. Was I too late? Too early? I already know I was too hungry to wait and would end up at the deli or pizza bar. Can anyone explain?

Anyhow, I found it nicely decorated or maybe I was just impressed because the last cruise I was on it felt like a school cafeteria and left a lot to be desired. Who knows.

There was an area in the buffet that had stairs leading up to something. I'm not sure what it was up there. A noodle bar/Asian food? A steakhouse? It always had a sign saying no entry and looked closed. I actually never found any of the "pay" restaurants, not that I had any intention on going to them, but I still usually take pictures. Could it have been this place? If so, I found it weird to have steps going up from the buffet area.

Now the buffet food when we did get to eat there...hmmm, well I didn't starve and I tried different things. I walked away with a full belly, but yet I have to agree with others on the food quality...it wasn't as good as NCL. They didn't have the variety either. The same goes for the breakfast. I didn't feel like there was too much to choose from and they had the same thing every day. The last 2 days of the cruise I did try out the omelet station and enjoyed that but didn't care too much for the rest of the food. The eggs were runny every day and didn't set well with me. AND THE BACON POLICE???? WHAT???? ARE YOU SERIOUS??? I'm not use to that and I love my bacon and I love to CHOOSE my bacon. I want it COOKED, not ready to come up off the plate and walk away. I want more than 2 pieces and I will stand there and tell them more and more until I give me the amount that I want. I also stood there and told them "no not that uncooked piece, give me the cooked stuff." So what good does it do to have someone serve you your bacon if you are still going to get more? I just found this ridiculous and humorous at the same time. Ok, off my rant.

As I mentioned, many times we had to go to the pizza bar for food. The pizza was pretty good and we enjoyed it. Was it the best pizza ever? No but it definitely wasn't bad and definitely something none of us had a problem eating. The lines were crazy to get to it and they were constantly making them. They would pull out 2 pizzas, slice it into 4 pieces and give each person 2 of the huge slices. If one person was standing up there for their spouse or someone else, there goes the entire pizza. You do the math...2 pizzas can be gone in a matter of only 2 people being served.

I noticed there was a "menu" of the different kinds of pizzas. However, the only pizza I ever seen them make was pepperoni. I wanted to try this garlic pizza they had listed, but they never had any. Oh well, I still didn't go hungry.

One thing that I really enjoyed about this ship were the SIGNS!!! Signs everywhere. I get turned around easily on a ship and have to use my husband as a navigation tool every time. But this time I only needed for him to tell me which way is the front of the ship and which way is the back, then I knew where I was going. On my other cruises, I never could get it right once we got off the elevator, which side to go down to our room. Carnival made this easy for people like me:

Yep, I showed my husband what's up. LOL I was sprouting wings on this cruise and flying solo a few times and I was able to make it back safely.

Of course every elevator had the normal listing as other ships do:

But this was the greatest...when you were on any particular floor, there was more "bling" with signs to let you know where you were headed. I loved this!!! Of course it just had to be lit up in LED lights to fit in with the rest of the beauty of the sparkle ship.

Did I hear you say you wanted more sparkle bling? Well you got it...even the signs for the restrooms are lit up!

Blue=boy, White=handicap Red=girl...all I had to do was look for the red. Easy peasy for a turned around cruising chick like me.

Stairway bling and a sign to let you know where you are headed...no surprises:

So I always manage to forget something when cruising. My last cruise on the Star I forgot something REALLY important...my battery chargers to my camera. It forced me to have to buy an entire new camera just so that I could give everyone an awesome review once I returned. (This turned out to be a blessing in disguise because I am now in love with this new camera).

This time around, I forgot my watch. Now when cruising, I know they say when you are on vacation you are off the clock and time doesn't matter. It's time to relax and enjoy your vacation. However when is this ever true? Definitely not on a cruise. You have a certain time to get off the ship in port, a certain time to get back, a certain time to go eat, a certain time a show is to begin, and a certain time you have to pick your child up from the kids club. Everything revolves around the time on a cruise and I didn't have mine. grrr

Carnival made it easy in several ways, to know what time it was, just as a friendly reminder to those idiots who might have left their watches behind. (Pointing at myself with shame)

Now one other comment about the picture above. It was actually a neat place. There was a night club (and I'm trying to remember if it was the teen club or the Caliente) but this window was located half way down the steps in one of the stairwells and you could view in to the room right where the dance floor is. I thought it was a clever idea.

I will go in to more about my "time" problem later in the review.

On to more exploring of the ship...I know, how did I fit all this in when I first got on the ship you ask? Well remember, this is a compilation of pictures throughout the cruise. hehe

More glitz, this was on the wall and I took several pictures of it. I was trying to capture the way that it kind of changed colors but it just wasn't working out of me. It reminded me of a fountain that NCL Star had in the atrium (I think it was)...I never could get that right either. Blah

This is the library. Every time I ever tried to go in there it was closed/door locked. One night I was out exploring when we had taken a nap after returning from Costa Maya, I couldn't get the daughter or hubby to wake up from this so called "NAP!!!" that turned in to an all-nighter...so I went exploring. That night I found the door locked once again, but wait, there's people in there. Do they know that I'm an NCL person and I have been marked as a "no entrance allowed" person? That had to be it. On to investigate a little more. I walked around and happen to find another entrance on the opposite side...ah ha! I'm in anyhow Carnival. You can't keep me out. I actually like you now. So in I went to take pictures trying to keep others out of the frame.

When I quietly snuck out, across the hall was another place I had not noticed before now. It was called the Rendezvous Club Lounge. There wasn't anyone in there and I'm completley unsure of what it was to be used for. It was small and had a few places to sit. There was a huge big screen tv in there and everything was done up in like a western theme. To me, it reminded me of a cigar bar or something.

Thanks to the lovely settings of cc, it will only allow you to add 6 pictures at a time for each posting. Here is the other picture of the lounge (the ceiling painting):

Some of the art work in the stairwells. I loved the colors.

There's my time again...just so I know.

If you can't tell by now, I was walking the stairs taking pictures of just the artwork there (you can tell by the time changes, which gives you an indication just how fast I was moving along from floor to floor=1 minute each...huffing and puffing the entire way from all of the food I consumed all week and the nice 6 pound weight gain souvenir that I brought home with me). Well except for that last picture, which was an hour later. Maybe I had to stop for more food and there was a delay in picture taking. Oops.

I believe this was called the Song Lounge?

Time to throw in another odd ball picture just to keep you all on your toes.

This place was never used (that I could tell) and was always empty and abandoned when I passed this area. I'm not sure what it is suppose to be or what it use to be? I believe I took this picture after heading up the blingy steps (which you see to the right of the picture).

Once again, just so you know which way you are heading...more blingy signs.

According to Carnivals Dream layout, I think this is the Ocean Plaza maybe? Someone let me know and feel free to correct me on anything that I have misnamed or don't know the name of. All I know is I liked the blue and red mixture of the colors.

There was a little bridge like entrance that went over to this place. I think it was Caliente? When we boarded the ship, there was a wedding going on and a reception in there.

I felt that Carnival did have the little "extra" added touches that I usually find on NCL. Here is one and I will point out others later in the review:

Walking along another glitzy hallway you will find the places for the older children and teen clubs. It made me wish I was a teen still because it looked like a lot of fun to hang out in.

Circle C Club. I believe it was for the kids ages 12-14:

Club 02 for those that were 15-17 years old. I thought about trying to act hip and sneak in a few times.

The hallway past the Crimson Dining Room (for those that had assigned dining times). I guess I didn't realize that you were actually separated from those that had assigned dining times by another restaurant. I just thought if you had the anytime dining, you just simply show up at one of the MDR's between whatever time they told you and there was a place to sit. I kinda missed not being able to sit in either restaurant and had to stick to just the one.

Here is the Encore theater (I personally think it should have some type of Safari name to it because it looked like a zebra fabric in there).