Ship Review: Carnival Dream

It’s Day 12 on the Carnival Dream, and it’s an ideal time to share our observations and experiences aboard the ship.

The Dream recently emerged from a brief dry dock in March, but unfortunately, it didn’t include any room decor upgrades, which many of us onboard had been eagerly anticipating. Some guests mention a lack of bars on the ship, but we find plenty of options so far. There’s the Deck 3 Dream Bar by Guest Services, the Alchemy Bar next to the Deck 5 coffee shop, the Lido bars, and the casino bars. That sounds like a lot, but with approximately 4,000 thirsty sailors, it can definitely get crowded. Carnival Dream’s recent dry dock and refreshed spaces are publicly noted by Carnival, though your review focuses on what you observed onboard.

Apparently, the Dream Bar near Guest Services used to be a sort of atrium with a central bar and a small dance floor, similar to what we’ve seen on the Sun Princess. During the dry dock, it was reconfigured to house about 24 massive 5¢ slot machines, which completely changed the vibe of that space. On Day 12, they disassembled and removed the machines and replaced them with two sets of coffee tables and chairs.

The Lido area is always a lively place with demonstrations, dance choreography, and movie showings. Despite having multiple decks of loungers available, it is difficult to find seating on Decks 10 or 11, which is problematic because those are the levels where all the dining options are located. Of the two bars near the main pool, the Red Frog is the only one we can consistently get timely service from. There are long lines, a lack of stock, and it is even closed at times. So, unless we are specifically looking for food, we try to visit the other bars for hydration needs. There is an aft pool that isn’t very busy, and there are two hot tubs that are often full when the weather is nice. I believe there are two other hot tubs along the sides on Decks 11 and 5.

The Serenity, the adult-only zone at the front, does receive some updated furniture, and the views are lovely. However, the intermittent squeezing from navigation equipment often disrupts the peace and quiet we are after.

The casino area is also interesting. There are various games available, and the atmosphere is lively. The slot games are updated throughout the casino, although some buttons on Slice & Dice and Fortune Frenzy, my favorites, still stick. There’s a smaller nonsmoking casino annex on Deck 4, while the main casino is on Deck 5. Security patrols have increased due to several reported cases of pickpocketing, which is a bit unsettling but shows that they are taking it seriously.

Stateroom
Our mid-deck 2 Cove Balcony cabin feels older but surprisingly spacious, with enough room to move around comfortably. The layout works well for our needs, but the decor is clearly dated and needs a full refresh urgently. The curtains are ripped, stained, and the light fixtures are cracked, with the lampshades worse for wear. The long couch is a nice touch, and there’s enough walking space to prevent it from feeling cramped. I appreciate the full-length vanity/desk for remote working or getting ready to go out. While each side of the bed has a nightstand, the lamp is fixed and takes up most of the surface area, which I prefer to use for glasses, water, medications, etc. Instead, I use the window ledge or floor, and Justin uses the couch to set his CPAP on.

Bed and Pillows
Our bed is comfortable even without mattress toppers or extra blankets, and the pillows are excellent, which makes a significant difference. Only the linens and mattress fabric appear a bit worn, which is understandable given how frequently these cabins are used.

Storage
There are three closet areas: one with three shelves and two with single horizontal curtain rods. We end up using the shelves for folded clothes and the rods mostly for suitcases and coats, as they aren’t practical for hanging garments. It’s enough storage for a short cruise, but it isn’t elegant.

Bathroom
The bathroom is slightly larger than most cabins, featuring a curtain-style shower that Justin enjoys for extra movement, but I detest the “curtain attacks” while washing my hair. There are six shelves for toiletries, which is very convenient and more than most cabins we’ve encountered.

Balcony
The Cove balcony, located mid-ship on Deck 2, is our first experience with a Cove. It feels cozy and private, providing more security than a simple glass balcony. During a low-pressure weather system with rough waves, it is a bit frightening to see the seas outside, but surprisingly, it is the least turbulent place we feel on the ship. People in the Deck 5 common areas are unsteady on their feet, and the pool on Deck 10 overflows onto the deck. In contrast, our deck remains relatively stable and rocks us gently to sleep. It is loud due to its proximity to the water and poor weatherstripping, but not choppy. However, the aft section is noticeably bumpy and rocky, which is a major downside.

Tech
The 15-inch flat-screen TV is wall-mounted, but it feels small and difficult to see even with glasses. The remote is terrible and covered in grime, despite multiple cleanings with Lysol wipes. The placement of plugs and USB ports could be better. This cabin has two USB-A outlets on the lamp nearest the window and a single 210V and 110V outlet on the vanity. If you’re charging non-US gear, bring your own adapters, and plan to charge high-power devices at the vanity instead of the nightstand.

The Carnival app is 8/10 and allows for spa booking (or just looking up prices of treatments), checkin (but not a boarding pass as they require a physical print out), important daily info such as weather, current ship time, evening attire expectations. Ordering food was an option planned but not utilized on our sailing. Oh the Casino account info section was very helpful and i wish this was something seen on other cruise line apps. This gave a casino player a current snapshot of points played, fun play and your current digital wallet (no paper tickets for cash outs in use). Really liked the planner section to star interesting activities and the ability to chat with other guests albeit the latter costs $5 a person
for use.

Overall, the entire room, 2354, could benefit from a thorough cleaning. There’s dust and buildup in the crevices of light switches and along the edges of the fixtures, as well as missing weatherstripping around doors. The window curtains look as if they got caught in a sword fight.

Layout
The ship’s layout is typical, with one notable exception: there’s a break between Decks 3 and 4 mid-ship, requiring an “up and over and down” maneuver to reach your destination. We primarily use Deck 5 as our main thoroughfare from aft to forward. There’s ample theater space and a buffet area, but seating is scarce during rush hours. The coffeehouse always has a line, but it’s the only place to get protein milk, so we accept the wait.

Entertainment
Planned programs on the ship is solid but not mind-blowing. There are acoustic singers, bands, and karaoke, as well as events on the Lido deck like an ice-carving demonstration and a dance class. We also visit the main theater, but we aren’t interested in the Burt Sideshow magician or the We Rock performances. We do participate in Deal or No Deal and plan to join a bingo session later in the cruise. Overall, it is enough to keep you entertained, but not enough to feel like a must-see every night.

Food and dining
We are disappointed in the MDR and buffet offerings. Many dishes are dry or overcooked and tough, and the buffet is too greasy for my sensitive stomach. The desserts also look unappetizing, so we don’t bother with them. Instead, we stick to a simple routine from the delicious Lido offerings:

- Breakfast: Bagels at Sea, with excellent soft, chewy bagels + Protein milk which we found at the Coffee-bar
- Lunch: Guy’s Burger or the Taco Bar.
- Dinner: Pizza or extra protein milk.

That might sound tedious to some, but honestly, our daily routine at home is pretty dull and repetitive, so this cruise spread works fine for us. All the extra calories come from frozen drinks since this is our first cruise with drinks included everywhere. Our favorite is a mango-strawberry drink called “Kiss Me On The Lips”; “Mango Magic” is also pretty good with a double shot of rum, though it is way too sugary for me.

Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi and connectivity on the cruise are decent but not amazing for working remotely. We ran a speed test at 10 a.m. and got roughly 0.2 Mbps download and 2.54 Mbps upload on a single device, with no VPN. Digital nomads should expect to be fine with messages and emails, but not heavy streaming. Carnival does offer multiple Wi-Fi tiers, including a Premium option which we chose due to our need for video conferencing.

Maintenance
The ship clearly needs some TLC. Overnight carpet cleaning, adhesive fumes, strong fragrances in common areas, and loud noises from carts and chatter all contribute to an unpleasant experience. The atrium-style bar near Guest Services has been transformed into a wall-of-slot-machines space, shifting the atmosphere from a social hangout to a purely gaming environment. However once they removed the machines and replaced it with 2 sets of table/chairs, the area became awkward as it was too small for a dance class to be held yet too much space for just those 2 sets of table/chairs with an atrium of multilevel couches looking down upon them.

Laundry
Laundrette facilities are available on three decks, each costing approximately $3.50 per wash or dry cycle. Liquid detergent and fabric softener are available for purchase, but dryer sheets are not, and there’s no automatic dispenser. As a result, you must wait for the rinse cycle and manually pour the softener in. While this system works, it adds an extra step that is not typically found in land-based laundromats.

Fitness
The gym equipment appears well-maintained but is packed in quite tightly, making it less ideal for those who prefer ample personal space. The spa area also leaves much to be desired and we didn’t book any treatments despite having a gift certificate to spend.

Embarkation / Debarkation
Embarkation process was quite lengthy. While it was indoors, we still waited about 3–4 hours to board, as the ship loads by strict group assignments only. Disembarkation took a quick 15 min due to luck. We opted for self disembarkation which was open at 8:15am since customs took a bit to clear the ship and open doors. We were pleasantly surprised to find a queue right in front of our door on Deck 3 leading to the gangways so we were off in minutes and through customs in a flash. Those guests doing the ordinary disembarkation process, setting their luggage out the evening prior, were to be out of their cabins by 8:30a and to wait on Decks 5 and 10 for their group letter to be called. Note each port is different so gangways used will vary.

In terms of value compared to competitors, Carnival Dream offers solid value for loyalists who prioritize a fun atmosphere and onboard activities over polished cabin finishes. After just sailing a TA on the Sun Princess, we noticed a slight decline in the ship’s age and decor. However, Dream avoids the heavy hallway traffic that plagued Sun and offered more space for groups to gather and socialize. While we preferred Sun’s service staff, cabin style, buffet, and desserts, Dream excels in lively Lido activities, casino offerings (staterooms offers, dinner comps, comp drinks) and friendlier fellow travelers.

Fellow guests
This sailing attracts a significant number of Carnival-style, craft-and-duck-trading cruisers. There are numerous self-hosted meetups, ranging from diamond art and crochet to duck and trinket exchanges, which seem to be an integral part of the onboard culture. The daytime decks are bustling with activity and social interaction, and the noise levels are generally acceptable.
Additionally, transatlantic journeys tend to attract a more relaxed and mature group of travelers due to the extended duration of the sailing, with a higher proportion of retirees and fewer families with young children. The average age on our TA sailing was about 65.Read more