Carnival Dream Review
Rating by category
Additional details
This was our 14th cruise, and 3rd on Carnival. Overall, we enjoyed it, and it was a big improvement over our last Carnival cruise.
Embarkation: It seems that most passengers embarking in New Orleans drive to the port. There is a 6-level parking garage that made it very easy to check your bags, park and board the ship. We did not pay the extra $50 to buy "Faster to the Fun" express embarkation, and for us, that was a good decision. When we got there (approximately 1:30), the fast line was longer and slower than the "normal" line.
Overall the food was very good, with the notable exception of their Prime Rib. I didn't know you could mess up prime rib, but they did. My husband sent his food back one night because it was cold, but otherwise it was quite good. We regret that we did not discover the Pasta Bar until the last day. You fill out a form indicating the type of pasta, sauce, and add-ins, and they custom-make it for you. It was delicious and very fresh. Another hint: the Tandoor station on the back of the Lido deck never had a line. In the mornings when the other lines were long, Tandoor had a smaller buffet selection of standard breakfast items, and no line. On embarkation day, the Lido was very crowded with long lines and we had to hunt for tables, but the rest of the week was much more manageable.
Cabin Review
Balcony
This was a typical balcony cabin. The bed was very comfortable and the cabin had plenty of storage space. I've read complaints about the Promenade deck jutting out below, but really didn't see it as a problem. The people on that deck are a floor below, so it's not like they're walking by your balcony at eye level. And it doesn't obstruct your view of the water. The cabin is above the back of the show lounge, but noise was never a problem. One afternoon we could hear the performers rehearsing, but it wasn't enough to keep me from a good nap. I wondered if having a smoking area below our balcony would be a problem, but I never noticed anything. The cabin is near the elevators/stairs, and we never had a problem with motion.