Just got back from a 3 day cruise on the Dream. This review is intended for the ADULTS Only- traveling without children type of cruiser....so, if you are curious about how much the little ones enjoyed this cruise- the answer is "I have no idea". I am also including recommendations for times, food, entertainment etc.

Check-In: Use the Disney Planner ahead of time, show up with your verification form and be done with it. The terminal is BORING and you do not want to waste time there filling out forms. We paid for preferred parking ($60, which was $20 more than the parking garage) and I could only guess it was worth every penny when we walked 20 feet to our parking spot from the terminal when disembarking with our luggage- you can pull straight up to drop off luggage when you arrive to depart on your cruise. Our check in time was 11:00 but you typically don't have access to the ship until closer to 1:00 so I suggest selecting a 12:00ish check in time- again...use your Disney Planner. We are repeat cruisers so being a Castaway Club member does allow you to join a separate line that may go a tad bit faster than first time cruisers. Realistically, it is a quick process- and while waiting, take the photos with Mickey, Minnie, Pluto-whichever character is at the port because the lines move quickly and you are waiting around anyways to board.

The Ship- Gorgeous! You will suddenly turn into a cruise snob when you pull into port and see all of the other brands of cruise ships lined up nearby and how unexciting they compare to the beauty of the Disney line - Queen Mary here I come! Take time to ooh and aah over the beauty of the atrium, art, and hidden Mickeys- top of the line decor in every nook and cranny. A welcome greeting with family name called out by cruise personnel is a lovely touch as you board. You are encouraged to go straight to lunch at Cabanas once you board. I would do so in order to get an indoor table with a water view. Food reviews coming up soon... There is a very short cruise tour (1:00 P.M. or 2:00 P.M.- about an hour long), if you have never cruised with the Dream- take the tour- the tour guides are fun (especially Frankie- love his tongue in cheek jokes referencing Carnival Cruise lines) and it's a great way to learn more about the ship. The ship is HUGE, 40% larger than the other two ships, so there is a lot to explore. I did not have any issues with sea sickness (I did on the Wonder) so I think the smooth sailing could be attributed to the size of the ship. Read more