Oct. 7 Left home for a relaxing vacation on the Carnival Dream. We drove to Port Canaveral with the Radisson at Port Canaveral as our destination. We arrived as the torrential rains began. We had purchased the Park and Sail package in advance. Rooms were adequate for an overnight stay prior to our cruise.

Oct. 8 We were assigned a 12 noon shuttle departure for the next morning and told to be in the main lobby at 11:45. We we arrived in the lobby, it was total chaos! Hundreds of people and 1000's of bags filled the lobby and the front portico. I asked the hotel clerk at check-out how I would hear our name being called and she told me that I would be able to hear but of course the 1 person who was attempting to get everyone on the shuttles was outside calling names, and noone in the lobby was remotely able to hear him. Again they had only 1 person attempting to get everyone on the three or four shuttle buses. Of course, the staff blamed the weather for the chaos...they also claimed that the draw bridge had malfunctioned, which we later learned was a total lie...according to the taxi drivers and shuttle drivers. We finally were loaded onto a shuttle to the port at 1:45. I realize that weather played a part, but the staff also used the excuse that there were 3 cruise ships in port which made it obvious that they can only handle 1 cruise ship at a time. They were totally unorganized, and only had 3 shuttle buses making the round trips to the ports. Many people gave up and called taxi's to take them to the port. More later about the return trip...just as chaotic! The package cost $133 plus taxes...total $155...NOT WORTH the HASSLE...fellow passenger staying at the Country Inn and Suites, and other area hotels had none of the same issues...and the weather was the same!

Embarkation: After getting to the port, getting on the ship was a breeze...the port staff was very efficient. Since we arrive so late, our cabins were cleaned and ready for us. Our luggage arrived very soon after leaving port. Muster drill was so easy, no standing in rows and rows on the deck. We simply went to the Encor Theater for the safety demonstration! The sail out was quite interesting as we experiences 16ft swells and 65+ winds...even with the Dream's size the ship did alot of pitching and rolling. Many stayed in their cabins sick. Thankfully, I wasn't bothered by the rough seas, and enjoyed a nice dinner in a sparsely attended late seating dinner. Read more