dream cruises new ship

• Cruise Ships
• Carnival Dream

Carnival Dream ®

• Dining & Activities
• Past Guest Photos
• Sails From:

It's one thing to be fun, but it's another thing to be first. Carnival Dream was at the forefront of a recent wave of amazingly innovative and fun Carnival ships. As the genesis of the Dream class, Carnival Dream set the direction for the ships that followed in her footsteps — first Carnival Magic and then Carnival Breeze. But back to Carnival Dream: the ship itself is a unique experience with the way-fun RedFrog Rum Bar ® and the very cool BlueIguana Tequila Bar ™ . Get your appetite ready, because you're gonna need it. Carnival Dream features two dual-level dining rooms, a gourmet steakhouse and dedicated sushi spot Bonsai Sushi ™ . It's also got a full menu of our latest and greatest casual spots for a bite: BlueIguana Cantina ™ , Pizzeria del Capitano, Guy's Burger Joint ™ and Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse ™ . (That's Guy as in Guy Fieri, by the way — so you know the food's delish.) Carnival Dream also features the borderline-magical Alchemy Bar ® and Ocean Plaza, which combines tasty treats with perhaps even tastier entertainment. Entertainment options are all up and down the ship, and so is soaking-wet fun, from the heart-racing waterslide action at Carnival WaterWorks ™ to the soul-soothing Thalassotherapy pool at the Cloud 9 Spa ™ . Despite its name, Carnival Dream is definitely a reality. Can't believe it? Pinch yourself... and book your dream cruise today.

• 130,000 Gross Tonnage
• 3646 Guest Capacity
• 1004 Length In Feet
• 1367 Onboard Crew

INSIDE THIS SHIP

Just like a delicious cake, your ship is made of layers. Find out which fun ingredients — staterooms, dining, activities — go into each deck.

YOUR STATEROOM

Cloud 9 spa interior.

Amenities exclusive to Cloud 9 Spa ™ staterooms and suites:

• Unique welcome ritual
• Priority spa reservations
• Unlimited use of Thermal Suites, plus scrub kit
• Unlimited use of Hydrotherapy Pool
• Two complimentary fitness classes (per guest)
• Complimentary body composition analysis
• Exclusive discounts on treatments during port days
• Cloud 9 Spa bathrobes and slippers
• Upgraded ELEMIS in-stateroom toiletries

Plus, every room includes:

• Dedicated stateroom attendant
• Soft, cozy linens
• Plenty of closet and drawer space
• In-room safe for valuables
• Stateroom climate control

Interior with Picture Window (Walkway View)

Every room includes:

Interior Upper/Lower (Porthole)

Interior upper/lower, cloud 9 spa ocean view (walkway view).

The best way to enjoy the relaxing, invigorating Cloud 9 Spa while on a cruise is in a spa stateroom, and this one fits the bill, providing comfy accommodations and convenient, priority access to treatments and services at the Cloud 9 Spa. (Note that rooms of this type have obstructed views.)

Deluxe Ocean View

On Carnival Dream, Deluxe Ocean View staterooms are a great choice for families who want to let the sun shine in as they sail. Rooms of this type feature great views, a full bathroom — plus a separate washroom — and while stateroom configurations vary, certain Deluxe Ocean View rooms have space to sleep up to five cruisers.

Deluxe Ocean View (Obstructed View)

On Carnival Dream, Deluxe Ocean View staterooms are great for families. These rooms feature a full bathroom — plus a separate washroom — and while stateroom configurations vary, certain Deluxe Ocean View rooms have space to sleep up to five. (Note that rooms of this type have obstructed views.)

Premium Vista Balcony

Premium Vista Balcony staterooms were designed to wrap around the aft corners of Carnival Dream, giving you a unique vantage point from which to enjoy luxuriously panoramic views of the sky and the sea — and yes, take in even more of that sunshine.

Cloud 9 Spa Balcony

Whether you're warming up for your spa appointment or winding down after your treatment, there's no better place to do it than on your Cloud 9 Spa Balcony. Breathing is important — take the ocean breeze in, then let it out — you're already getting the hang of the whole spa thing!

Aft-View Extended Balcony

Aft-View Extended Balcony staterooms feature a larger balcony for more lounge-around room, more kick-back space; not to even mention some of the best stern-side views you'll find anywhere. Get ready to relax as you gaze upon Carnival Dream's gentle wake from your spacious balcony.

Balcony (Large Balcony)

We designed Carnival Dream Balcony staterooms for maximum sea breeze and the most stunning views, and this stateroom features a balcony that's even wider than our standard balcony. Enjoy the extra outdoor space, along with all the standard Carnival stateroom amenities.

Balcony staterooms were designed for maximum sea breeze and the most stunning views, so look to a balcony if you're looking to cruise aboard Carnival Dream. Any time you're in your room, you're just steps away from your own personal outdoor oasis, featuring the sort of sea view you can also feel.

Cove Balcony

Love the sea? Carnival Dream's Cove Balcony staterooms are the best way to see the sea — these rooms get you close to the waterline, and feature balconies that let you make the most of your location. Enjoy things from a whole new perspective: one amazing up-close view of the wake and seafoam as the ship cruises along.

Grand Suite

A Grand Suite aboard Carnival Dream features even more space than the standard suite — plenty of room in your room! This stateroom is loaded for an unparalleled experience: VIP check-in, a huge balcony, and even a convenient dressing area with vanity.

Amenities exclusive to suites:

• Priority check-in and boarding
• Priority Main Dining Room time assignment
• Priority debarkation at homeport, and ports of call requiring a water shuttle or with arrival times later than 9:30 Am
• Two large bottles of water
• Pillow-top mattress

Cloud 9 Spa Suite

A Cloud 9 Spa Suite is the ultimate in both stateroom and spa accommodations. There's room for you and your things — with a large room and balcony — and a walk-in closet. The soothing in-room whirlpool tub will help you stay relaxed after your relaxing spa treatment. And like all suites, a Cloud 9 Spa Suite features VIP check-in, which lets you easily get right up to your amazing stateroom.

Plus, all suites include:

Ocean Suite

A Carnival Dream suite is the ultimate way to cruise. With more space for stretching out indoors, plus a large balcony for kicking back outdoors, try an Ocean Suite to experience private, luxurious relaxation. Ocean Suites also include VIP check-in, walk-in closet and bathroom with whirlpool tub.

Junior Suite (Obstructed View)

As you step into a Junior Suite aboard Carnival Dream, you can't help but feel that you're stepping into full-size luxury in a smaller package. Featuring a standard-size balcony, in a Carnival Dream Junior Suite you'll find everything else there is to love about a suite, including VIP check-in, a walk-in closet; and even a whirlpool tub for relaxing. (Note that rooms of this type have obstructed views.)

ONBOARD ACTIVITIES

Onboard dining, where to for you.

This ship is always visiting great vacation spots. Where will your next vacation take you?

* Taxes and fees are included.

TAG & THEY'RE IT!

The Disney Cruise Line Blog

An unofficial disney cruise line news, information, weather, and photo blog..

Disney Cruise Line Announces Purchase of Partially Completed Global Dream Cruise Ship – Expected to Set Sail in 2025 Deployed Outside of the United States

Today, Disney announced the acquisition of a partially completed ship that will bring the magic of a Disney Cruise Line vacation to new global destinations. Disney will work with the esteemed Meyer Werft shipbuilding company to complete the cruise ship previously known as the Global Dream in Wismar, Germany. The ship will be renamed with certain features reimagined under the world-renowned expertise of Walt Disney Imagineers and is expected to set sail in 2025.

“Our cruise ships give us the unique opportunity to bring Disney magic to fans no matter where they are, and the addition of this ship will make a Disney Cruise Line vacation accessible to more families than ever before,” said Josh D’Amaro, chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.

The acquired Global Dream project will help Disney Cruise Line’s fleet to grow to 8 cruise ships and will not impact the 7th Triton Class cruise ship scheduled for after the launch of the Disney Treasure schedule for a 2024 launch.

The new ship, to be based outside the United States, will feature innovative Disney experiences along with the dazzling entertainment, world-class dining and legendary guest service that set Disney Cruise Line apart. The exterior will be adorned in the iconic, Mickey Mouse-inspired colors of the fleet, complete with signature red funnels.

The 208,000-gross-ton ship is expected to be among the first in the cruise industry to be fueled by green methanol, one of the lowest emission fuels available. Disney Cruise Line expects the passenger capacity to be approximately 6,000 with around 2,300 crew members.

Construction will be completed at the former MV Werften shipyard in Wismar, Germany, under the management of Meyer Werft, the Papenburg-based company that built the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wish. The ship’s previous owner filed for bankruptcy before completing the vessel, enabling Disney Cruise Line to secure it at a favorable price and within the capital expenditure guidance The Walt Disney Company provided on its recent earnings call. The project also secures employment for hundreds of former MV Werften employees and will provide opportunities for numerous maritime industry suppliers in the region.

When the construction halted at MV Weften at the beginning of 2022, the 208,000 GT Global Dream was three quarters complete. The cruise ship, which measures 342 meters (1,122 feet) in length, beam of 46.4m (152ft 3in), with a 9.5m (31ft 2 in) draft. Originally, the ship was designed to carry 9000 passengers.

The Global Dream was originally ordered on March 3, 2016, with the keel laid on September 11, 2018

More details about the maiden voyage, itineraries and onboard experiences will be announced at a later date.

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

20 Replies to “Disney Cruise Line Announces Purchase of Partially Completed Global Dream Cruise Ship – Expected to Set Sail in 2025 Deployed Outside of the United States”

I hope they have a designer who has sailed on a ship before design this one as opposed to the Wish…….

I couldn’t agree more. Wish was a huge disappointment for us. Terrible layout, ridiculously small pools, awkward arrangement of stations in Marceline Market, rock hard sofas in the staterooms…definitely a “one and done” for us.

200% agreed! Once was enough for me!

Will this be ship #8 or are they going to cancel the third Triton class ship?

Will help the fleet expand to 8 ships.

Should have read it slower, I see this will be #8. Based outside the US makes me think they will finally break into the Asian cruise market.

That’s where this ship was supposed to be based anyway. Makes sense.

That is a monster of a ship that might eat up DCL in the end. Way too big to offer a premium product

I really hope they create some kind of subsidiary for this and don’t make this 6 funneled monster and instead make it closer to its original design under a different company centered around the Asian market.

NO! I was really hoping this was just a rumor. I think this is a (literally) HUGE mistake. How can they put the quality of theming we’re used to on a ship this massive? I have zero interest in this. I would prefer they build more ships the size of the Wonder and Magic. I LOVE those ships. I’m guessing it will cruise out of Asia – they can keep it!

I would also love to see a new build closer to the size of the Magic-class.

@ Heather and Scott, I agree 100%

i’m willing to bet they got a “GREAT” deal on this hull since it’s been sitting around with nowhere to go. Maybe saving a few bucks on construction will allow for lower sailing rates… and I realize how stupid that sounds as I type it. LOL!

Off to Asia (China?) and will cater for that market. Casino taking a good portion of the space.

Casino is being removed, according to the news article released in Germany.

Where will it’s itinerary’s be

Too big for my tastes!

The interesting thing to me is that Disney is going to have a single ship in their fleet that isn’t like the others and that they didn’t get to spec out. With the target sailing market also being separate from the rest of DCL, this acquisition will result in what I expect to be a very different experience from the rest of DCL. (And the opportunity for a sibling ship is lost since the Global’s sister ship wasn’t as far along and is already nearly fully scrapped out.)

I’m betting they will keep it in the Asis market as it makes sense of the ship as it was designed for that area and market. I’m betting $1.00 to a dozen donuts it will stay over in Asia and wouldn’t come to the US waters for a while. Good move Disney buying a cruise ship on the clearance rack.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

New Dream Cruises Ship Named Global Dream

• August 28, 2019

Genting Cruise Lines today officially announced that the first Global-Class vessel will carry the name Global Dream and is set to enter service in early 2021 from MV Werften. 

The news came at IBTM China, the nation’s largest business travel and MICE show, in Beijing. Building on the successful debuts of Genting Dream, World Dream and Explorer Dream, the Global Class vessel — Global Dream will enter into service in early 2021 to invite even more Asian travellers to sail globally on inspiring voyages on board the largest cruise ship to homeport in the Asia Pacific.

“Global Dream, the first Global Class ship of Dream Cruises, belongs to a new generation of cruise ships designed for this region featuring the most advanced technology and state-of-the-art facilities. Global Dream will deliver a cutting-edge cruising experience through Artificial Intelligence that will maximize both convenience and speed for our guests on board,” said Kent Zhu. “To balance the new with the traditional, our guests will also be able to enjoy an authentic Asian experience and our signature heartfelt Asian hospitality on Global Dream, developed through the Genting Group’s over 50 years of experience in the Asian hospitality industry. 

During the event, guests were treated to an exclusive sneak preview of Global Dream with the unveiling of a specially constructed balcony show cabin, built in Germany and shipped over for the occasion. Featuring 20 square metres of space, the cabins will be the industry’s most spacious staterooms, at approximately 15 percent larger than standard cabins found on most other cruise lines.

Designed for two guests, the staterooms can also accommodate up to four with a unique two bathroom design to allow several people to get ready at once and a sofa bed that easily unfolds to sleep two comfortably. A thoughtful touch is a privacy curtain that can be closed to divide the room into separate seating and sleeping areas, making the cabins suitable for families and group travellers.

State-of-the-art technology will include Bluetooth locks and a new smart system allowing passengers to control different functions such as the LED mood lighting and climate control with a smartphone app, voice recognition or through a touch-screen control panel. Smart sensors will also be able to detect occupants in the cabin to automatically adjust the lights and temperature for better energy efficiency and triple vent air-conditioning outlets ensure even air distribution for maximum comfort. 

“Dream Cruises is excited to begin a new chapter in its story when Global Dream begins her journey to take Asian travellers around the world on grand voyages to Australia, New Zealand, the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean in the future,” added Zhu. “We invite everyone to come on board to experience our innovative facilities, thoughtful amenities, impeccable service, authentic Chinese cuisine and the largest variety of Asian and International dining at sea.”

Cruise Industry News Email Alerts

• Breaking News

Get the latest breaking  cruise news .  Sign up.

62 Ships | 154,146 Berths | $50.1 Billion | View

Highlights:

• Mkt. Overview
• Record Year
• Refit Schedule
• PDF Download
• Order Today

• 2033 Industry Outlook 
• All Operators
• Easy to Use
• Instant Access
• Advertising
• Cruise News
• Magazine Articles
• Quarterly Magazine
• Annual Report
• Email Newsletter
• Executive Guide
• Digital Reports

Privacy Overview

672 Wine Club

• Motorcycles
• Car of the Month
• Destinations
• Men’s Fashion
• Watch Collector
• Art & Collectibles
• Vacation Homes
• Celebrity Homes
• New Construction
• Home Design
• Electronics
• Fine Dining
• Benchmark Wines
• Brian Fox Art
• Chase United
• Disneyland Resort
• Gateway Bronco
• Royal Salute
• Sports & Leisure
• Health & Wellness
• Best of the Best
• The Ultimate Gift Guide

Disney Just Bought the World’s 7th-Largest Cruise Ship, the 1,122-Foot ‘Global Dream’

The vessel's original shipbuilder halted construction earlier this year after declaring bankruptcy..

Senior Staff Writer

Bryan Hood's Most Recent Stories

• BMW Just Sold More EVs In Europe Than Tesla for the First Time
• Acura Is Working on an All-Electric Sports Car to Replace the NSX
• Infiniti Is Going SUV-Only After Discontinuing Its Last Sedan
• Share This Article

Disney just bought a ship as big as one of its blockbuster movies.

Related Stories

• First Drive: This 1968 Mercedes-Benz ‘Pagoda’ SL Is an EV Restomod That’s Better Than the Original

No amenities have been announced yet, but the company said the ship will feature “innovative Disney experiences along with the dazzling entertainment, world-class dining and legendary guest service that set Disney Cruise Line apart.” The ship, which will be based outside of the US, will also be one of the first fueled by low-emission green ethanol.

The finished boat will have room for 6,000 passengers and around 2,300 crew members. That would make it smaller than its sister was expected to be— Global Dream II was supposed to have room for 9,000 passengers—but the 208,000-gross-ton boat will still be the world’s seventh largest and the largest in Disney’s fleet. The conglomerate did not reveal how much it paid for the Global Dream , other than to say it was secured at a “favorable price.”

“Our cruise ships give us the unique opportunity to bring Disney magic to fans no matter where they are, and the addition of this ship will make a Disney Cruise Line vacation accessible to more families than ever before,” Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, said in a statement.

Bryan Hood is a digital staff writer at Robb Report. Before joining the magazine, he worked for the New York Post, Artinfo and New York magazine, where he covered everything from celebrity gossip to…

Read More On:

More marine.

This Revamped 161-Foot Trinity Superyacht Could Be Yours for $16 Million

Rescuers Find Remaining Missing Aboard the Sunken ‘Bayesian’ Superyacht 

Tech Mogul Mike Lynch and 5 Others Are Missing After a Yacht Sinks in Italy

A Fleet of Candela’s Electric Foiling Yachts Is Rolling Out to the Red Sea in 2025

Meet the Wine Club That Thinks Differently.

Receive editor-curated reds from boutique California producers four times a year.

Give the Gift of Luxury

Latest Galleries in Marine

‘La Dea II’ Superyacht in Photos

12 Must-See Yacht Debuts at This Year’s Cannes Fest

More from our brands, what was kamala harris trying to relay with her chloé designer suit at the dnc, diamond sports group reaches deals with nba, nhl, tate mcrae sings with kid laroi, shouts out jake shane at madison square garden debut: concert review, christie’s first sale at new asia headquarters led by $35 m. monet, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors.

Disney Silently Cancels 5000 Paid Vacations, Mass Notification Sent to Guests

in Disney Cruise Line

If you were planning a Disney Cruise Line vacation in 2025, be aware it may have just gotten canceled.

Recently, Disney Cruise Line unveiled plans for four new ships.

But they aren’t the ones you might be thinking of.

We already knew about the Disney Treasure launching this December, the Disney Adventure and Disney Destiny setting sail next year, and Disney’s collaboration with Oriental Land Company, which owns Tokyo Disney Resort, on a new OLC-owned ship inspired by the Disney Wish.

At the D23 Expo, Disney announced four additional ships scheduled to launch between 2027 and 2031. Combined with the previously announced ships, this expansion will double the size of Disney Cruise Line’s fleet within less than a decade.

“🚢 BREAKING 🚢 Disney Cruise Line will add 4 NEW CRUISE SHIPS to its fleet between 2027 and 2031!”

🚢 BREAKING 🚢 Disney Cruise Line will add 4 NEW CRUISE SHIPS to its fleet between 2027 and 2031! https://t.co/1GD2SapY6C 🤯 https://t.co/1GD2SapY6C #D23 #Horizons pic.twitter.com/XsMR3OkLY4 — Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) August 11, 2024

“The demand on our existing cruise fleet is extremely high, which presents a significant opportunity for us to invest in additional ships,” said Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences.

He added, “We know that a substantial percentage of our guests choose to cruise with us specifically because it’s a Disney experience, and they rate us very highly, often leading to repeat visits.”

The new ships will help Disney reach even broader audiences. For instance, the Disney Adventure will be the first to sail Southeast Asia. “With this expanded fleet, we can connect with our fans globally and share our incredible stories,” D’Amaro noted.

In addition to this exciting news, Disney has been gradually revealing details about their upcoming ships.

Just yesterday, Disney offered a glimpse of the Disney Imagination Garden.

“Discover the Disney Imagination Garden, one of seven themed areas, coming to the @disneycruise Adventure 🌱✨”

Discover the Disney Imagination Garden, one of seven themed areas, coming to the @disneycruise Adventure 🌱✨ https://t.co/bwWLhCC1vn pic.twitter.com/4z8qOfKFkC — Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) August 20, 2024

The Disney Imagination Garden, one of seven themed areas aboard the Disney Adventure, is designed as an open-air deck that serves as the “central hub” of the ship. It features an enchanted valley backdrop with a three-deck-tall fairytale castle mural—reminiscent of the castles at Disney’s theme parks. A garden courtyard in front of the castle features a statue of Mickey Mouse from Fantasia, surrounded by meticulously manicured plants.

The area is styled like a pop-up storybook, with nature-themed elements that resemble paper cut-outs, bringing a fairytale to life. Guests will also encounter beloved Disney, Pixar, and Marvel characters throughout the space.

Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the Imagination Garden will house a Garden Stage for live performances and character appearances. One of the confirmed shows is Avengers Assemble!, featuring exciting stunts by Marvel superheroes as they battle evil.

While there will soon be a massive fleet of ships to choose from, the original and more “classic” Disney ships like the Disney Magic, Wonder, Fantasy, and Dream are still incredibly popular, with higher prices than ever, which forecasts the clear demand Disney must be seeing from their DCL side of the business.

Next year, however, it has been confirmed that two sailings have been pulled prior to guests booking them.

One DCL fan on Reddit shared, “About a week ago, the November 8 and 13 2025 Dream cruises were removed from the website, and in the past day people with reservations on those cruises were informed their cruises were cancelled. Does anybody have the inside scoop on what’s going on?”

At the moment, Disney has not yet given an explanation as to why these cancelations occurred, but with the Disney Dream typically holding around 2,500 guests per trip, that means up to 5,000 passengers likely just had their vacations ruined.

While those guests could possibly book another cruise, Disney cruises have a vast range in price depending on the time of year, and the closer that guests get to Christmas, the more pricey those cruises will become.

Fans are speculating that there may have been a dry dock change, however that is not confirmed.

In the past we have seen Disney cancel “sailings” on a much different type of ship — the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser — toward the end of its run due to a lack of guests, but that is likely not the case for the Disney Dream.

Are you planning to sail with Disney Cruise Line in the near future? 

• CruiseMapper
• Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Dream

Cruise line Carnival Cruise Line

• Galveston (Texas)

Carnival Dream current position

Carnival Dream current location is at Gulf of Mexico (coordinates 28.93106 N / -94.00830 W) cruising at speed of 16.8 kn (31 km/h | 19 mph) en route to MX COZ> US GLS. The AIS position was reported 13 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Carnival Dream

Carnival Dream current cruise is 6 days, round-trip Western Caribbean . Prices start from USD 759 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 18 Aug, 2024 and ends on 24 Aug, 2024 .

Specifications of Carnival Dream

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Carnival Dream Itineraries

Carnival dream review, review of carnival dream.

The 2009-built Carnival Dream cruise ship is one of the Carnival fleet's largest and the first Dream-class vessel, together with Breeze and Magic  as well as Costa Diadema .

The vessel (IMO number 9378474) is currently Panama- flagged (MMSI 370490000) and registered in Colon .

History - construction and ownership

Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) is a US shipping company, trademarked brand and subsidiary of Carnival Corporation (shipowner). CCL was founded in 1972 as an independent company by Ted Arison (1924-1999, co-founder of NCL Norwegian ).

CCL has the Corporation's largest fleet as number of vessels and GT-tonnage (ship sizes/volumes and passenger capacities). In 2023, CCL had ~9% (by revenue) and ~19% (passengers) share of the cruise industry's worldwide market. In 2024, the parent company (Carnival Corporation) had ~51% stake in the US$64+ billion industry.

The 3646-passenger ship Carnival Dream was floated out on October 24, 2008. When first launched, Carnival Dream was the biggest ship operated by Carnival, though she was later surpassed by Carnival Magic and Carnival Breeze, which were delivered in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

The liner features facilities similarly designed on the previous CCL ships while presenting some new features. Significant alterations were made to Deck 5's public areas and the exterior promenade running the boat's entire perimeter. A comedy club and a couple of themed bars were added during the 2012 drydock refurbishment . An interesting fact is that around 20 minutes of the "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked" movie was filmed on Carnival Dream.

Decks and Cabins

Carnival Dream staterooms (1823 total) include 56 Suites, 841 Balcony, 221 Oceanview and 719 Inside, including 254 connecting, 35 wheelchair-accessible, 61 Spa and 193 Family cabins, in all 34 grades. On Carnival Dream were introduced the fleet's new categories "Deluxe Oceanview", "Cove Balcony" and "Cloud 9 Spa" cabins.

Most staterooms are sized 170-185 ft2 / 16-17 m2. Most cabin balconies are sized 35-45 ft2 / 3-4 m2. Deluxe Oceanviews are with two separate washrooms and advertised as "Family cabins" having max capacity 5 passengers. Cove Balcony (located beneath the lifeboats on Deck 2) have partially enclosed verandas.

The boat has 14 passenger decks of which 9 are with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The two formal dining rooms on Carnival Dream are Scarlet (1122 seats) and Crimson (744 seats). Both restaurants are the focal point of dining onboard and feature red decors with Murano glass chandeliers. For those who like laughter with their food, is the Punchliner Comedy Brunch, taking place in the MDR (main dining room) only on sea days. The real foodies who are curious about how the galley feeds so many people, have to check out Chef's Table. For US$75 per person, you'll be able to meet the head chef and tour the galley, as well as dine on a multi-course meal at a private table, while watching the chefs at work.

Follows the complete list of Carnival Dream restaurants and food bars.

• Crimson Restaurant (744-seat forward Dining Room, with two fixed dinner seatings and “Anytime Dining”)
• Scarlet Restaurant (1122-seat aft Dining Room, with two fixed dinner seatings, open seating breakfast and lunch; "Seuss At Sea"-themed breakfasts for $5 cover charge)
• Wasabi Bar (sushi bar, complimentary; serves as salad bar during the day)
• The Gathering Lido buffet restaurant (825-seat self-service restaurant with various complimentary takeaway food stations)
• The Chef's Art Steakhouse (108-seat, reservation-only specialty restaurant, serving seafood and prime beef).
• Seafood Shack (added in 2018; open only for lunch and dinner at an additional cost; offers New England clam chowder in a bread bowl, fried buffalo shrimp, steamed lobster, and other options; prices range from around US$5-$12 and orders can be made at the counter).
• Guy's Pig and Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse (added in 2017) is an open-air complimentary BBQ restaurant on Promenade Deck.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The Lanai's outdoor seating areas are one of the best features aboard Carnival Dream. Ocean Plaza is another important venue and meet-and-greet hub, often missing on smaller Carnival ships. It offers a little something for everyone with a specialty coffee bar, dance floor, and bars offering drinks-of-the-day. In 2012 two new bars were added as part of Carnival's Fun Ship 2.0 refurbishment program. BlueIguana Tequila Bar and RedFrog Rum Bar offer tequila and rum-based cocktails, as well as the signature ThirstyFrog Red beer of Carnival.

Carnival Dream is the first Carnival ship to boast (as a newbuild) a water park with multiple slides. Dream also features a wide outdoor promenade with an outdoor cafe and whirlpools in four different places along the outside edge of the deck.

The following official YouTube video reviews Carnival's Dream-class vessels (Breeze, Dream, and Magic) as facilities and onboard amenities.

Follows the complete list of Carnival Dream lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens, and adults.

• Encore! Theatre (1400-seat show lounge for a live show and music productions; features the “Playlist Productions” live musical mixes and “Hasbro Game Shows")
• Dream Atrium (11-deck high midship open floor area, featuring Dream Lobby Bar with piano and dance floor)
• Cherry on Top (candy shop; offers branded gear, special occasions gifts, tuxedo rentals)
• Rendezvous Lounge (a 23-seat club with bar)
• FunHub (24-hour Internet computers room; free Intranet offered for information on onboard programs, menus and scheduled events)
• Circle C (complimentary kids' club and lounge area with video games, parties, movies, planned activities)
• Club O2 (teens only lounge with movies, karaoke, video games, themed parties); Warehouse Video Video Games Arcade
• Jackpot Casino (484-seat, with slot machines and gaming tables; features gambling tournaments and complimentary classes)
• FunHub (with Internet/Intranet computers)
• The Lanai (60-seat promenade with Lanai Bar-BQ Bar and four cantilevered Whirlpools; Power Walking/Jogging Track)
• Ocean Plaza (270-seat lounge with Plaza Cafe)
• Caliente Disco and Nightclub; Sam’s Bar; Burgundy Lounge (hosts the Punchliners Comedy Club); Song Lounge and Bar
• BlueIguana Tequila Bar (for Mexican drinks)
• RedFrog Pub (120-seat, with indoor and outdoor seating, games, live music, international beers selection and Thirstyfrog/RedFrog beer)
• Sunset Pool area; Waves Pool area
• Camp Carnival (complimentary kids play area)
• Cloud 9 Spa (Thermal Suite, Oriental Steam Bath, Aroma Steam Bath, Steam Rooms, Sauna, Lacanium, Thalassotherapy pool)
• Carnival WaterWorks (kids pool play area with Twister water-slide and AquaPark)
• Seaside Theatre (with a huge LED screen for movies, sports events, concerts, with a stage for live performances)
• City Sports Park (featuring outdoor relaxation area, 18-hole mini golf course, Ping-Pong Tables, multisport court and Sports Bar)
• Serenity (adults only relaxation area and Serenity Bar).

Itineraries

Carnival Dream cruise itinerary program is based on departures from New Orleans LA to Eastern and Western Caribbean. Feature port destinations include Cozumel Mexico, Nassau Bahamas, Belize , Jamaica, Roatan , Grand Cayman (George Town) .

Photos of Carnival Dream

Carnival Dream ship related cruise news

Crew missing from Carnival Dream ship during Western Caribbean cruise from Texas

A female crew member from CCL-Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Dream has been declared missing at sea after she failed to report for duty on...

Port Galveston TX charts course for continued growth as new cruise ships set sail in 2024

As the 4th-busiest cruise port in the United States, the Port of Galveston, Texas, is gearing up for another year of expansion. Coming off a record...

Carnival Jubilee debuts as Galveston's first new cruise ship

On CCL-Carnival Cruise Line's ship Carnival Jubilee, Santa Claus took a break from his sleigh to assist in the debut of the first newbuild cruiser...

CCL-Carnival Cruise Line unveils ships and itineraries visiting Grand Bahama's new port Celebration...

CCL-Carnival Cruise Line has commenced the sale of ~400 voyages that visit Celebration Key, its newly developed private cruise port destination in...

CCL's Carnival Legend ship to homeport in Galveston TX in 2025

In the ongoing rollout of its 2025-2026 deployment, CCL-Carnival Cruise Line has announced that in the fall of 2025, Carnival Legend will join...

CCL-Carnival opens 2025-2026 Caribbean schedule with new itineraries from Galveston TX

With a strategic focus on forward planning, CCL-Carnival Cruise Line initiates the commencement of its 2025-2026 deployment phase, unveiling an array...

Carnival Dream cruise ship helps rescue 17 people close to Belize

Carnival Dream’s crew members helped rescue 17 people stranded in the Belize Channel on Wednesday, May 17th, after the boat of the group...

Passenger medevaced from Carnival Cruise Line's ship Carnival Dream

On May 6th, 2023, a medical emergency took place on CCL-Carnival Cruise Line's ship Carnival Dream shortly after it left Galveston Texas for an 8...

Coast Guard helicopter nearly crashes into ocean while performing medevac from Carnival Dream

A US Coast Guard rescue helicopter attempting to perform a medical evacuation from a cruise ship on Saturday, April 29th, nearly crashed into the...

CCL's ship Carnival Jubilee to boast 2 new sea-themed zones

CCL-Carnival Cruise Line's newest ship - Carnival Jubilee, will debut later this year and introduce two new ocean-themed areas, The Shores and...

•   show more news

Other Carnival Cruise Line cruise ships

• Carnival Breeze
• Carnival Celebration
• Carnival Conquest
• Carnival Elation
• Carnival Firenze
• Carnival Freedom
• Carnival Glory
• Carnival Horizon
• Carnival Jubilee
• Carnival Legend
• Carnival Liberty
• Carnival Luminosa
• Carnival Magic
• Carnival Mardi Gras
• Carnival Miracle
• Carnival Panorama
• Carnival Paradise
• Carnival Pride
• Carnival Radiance
• Carnival Spirit
• Carnival Splendor
• Carnival Sunrise
• Carnival Sunshine
• Carnival Valor
• Carnival Venezia
• Carnival Vista

Carnival Dream Wiki

The Fincantieri Monfalcone -built Carnival Dream was one of the biggest stars in the movie "Alvin and the Chipmunks - Chipwrecked" (2011). Dream is Carnival's first vessel of the DREAM-class, and at the time the biggest-ever built in Italy (until 2016 when was launched Carnival Vista ). Sisterships from this series are Breeze and Magic , and also Costa Diadema .

Carnival Dream drydock 2021

In 2021 (July-August) Carnival Dream was drydocked at Chantier Naval de Marseille (CNdM Shipyard in Marseille France ) for mainly general maintenance works.

During the drydock, the liner's old hull design (white hull, with a red line running its entire length) was replaced with the new trademarked livery (red-white-blue) introduced on Mardi Gras.

Carnival Dream refurbishment 2017 review

The list of deckplan changes after the 2017 drydock refurbishment (January 30 - February 11) in Freeport Bahamas included:

(Promenade Deck 5) "Guy's Pig & Anchor Barbeque Smokehouse" is a complimentary, open-air complimentary restaurant located on the Lanai Promenade. The Smokehouse is designed by Guy Fieri (Food Network). Guy's Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse's menu features BBQ favorites, like pork butt, blue ribbon chicken, sliced smoked beef, smoked Andouille sausage, Guy Fieri's traditional sides and gourmet burgers, a variety of BBQ sauces, hot sauce bar. Signature menu items are named Mac Daddy Mac'n Cheese, Old Skool Potato Salad, Scratch-Made Slaw, Collard Greens with Smoked Turkey, Molasses Baked Beans with Bacon and Burnt Ends.

(Lido Deck 10 / portside, replacing the "Pizzeria" poolside bar) BlueIguana Cantina is a complimentary poolside Mexican cuisine eatery. Among the specialties are fresh-made burritos and tacos on homemade tortillas, salsa bar, a huge selection of toppings.

(Lido Deck 10 / starboard, replacing the "Grille" poolside bar) Guy's Burger Joint is a complimentary poolside premium burger bar.

(Promenade Deck 5) Alchemy Bar is the Carnival's "cocktail pharmacy"-themed lounge with professional mixologists (dressed in lab coats) "prescribing" traditional and exotic (moniker) concoctions from a variety of liquors and ingredients.

(Promenade Deck 5) Bonsai Sushi is a premium sushi restaurant offering sushi, sashimi, bento "ships", plus popular Japanese beers, sakes, cocktails.

(Lido Deck 10) Pizzeria del Capitano offers 5 different varieties of hand-tossed pizzas - Margherita, Quattro Formaggio, mushroom, prosciutto, pepperoni. It is complimentary, and open 24 hours a day. All pizzas are traditionally oven-baked.

The ship's drydock in June 2021 (at Chantier Naval de Marseille shipyard in Marseille France ) included mainly general maintenance works as well as repainting of the hull.

Disney Dream cruise ship review: Mostly magic with a bit of mayhem

TPG's Erica Silverstein accepted a free trip from Disney Cruise Line to cruise on Disney Dream. The opinions expressed below are entirely hers and weren't subject to review by the line.

A Disney Dream cruise is not just for families with young children who love Mickey Mouse and princesses. Disney lovers of all ages, including many couples who choose to get married on board or on the cruise line's private island, will appreciate setting sail in an immersive Disney atmosphere.

A Disney Dream sailing is also attractive to travelers who love a good show, as the ship offers stellar musicals, captivating deck parties and all the movies you can watch from the many Disney-owned production companies (Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and more). Cruisers seeking a more midsize ship, with attentive service and plenty of activities geared toward both kids and adults, will not be disappointed.

Unsurprisingly, Disney Cruise Line does themed sailings well. My five-night Western Caribbean cruise was a Very Merrytime sailing, complete with holiday decorations throughout the ship, seasonal shows and activities, and visits from Santa. Mickey and friends, as well as my fellow passengers, were sporting red and green attire, too. The ship gets equally passionate about Halloween and Marvel-themed sailings.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

A Disney cruise might be a magical experience for some, but Disney Dream isn't perfect. On my cruise, dining venues were crowded and loud, and the lobby atrium and pool deck did not have enough space for all the cruisers who wanted to watch the signature shows. Cruisers looking for varied nightlife might be disappointed that many adults are tied up with childcare at night and unable to venture out to the adults-only bars and lounges.

A cruise aboard Disney Dream is pricey, especially when compared with family-friendly lines such as Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line . Make sure that Disney Dream is the ship for you by learning everything you need to know about the ship — from its cabins to its restaurants, attractions and activities — as well as my take on where the ship excels and where it misses the mark.

Overview of Disney Dream

The 130,000-ton Disney Dream contains 1,250 cabins and can carry 2,500 passengers at double occupancy and 4,000 at maximum capacity. That makes it small for a family ship when comparing it to Royal Caribbean's family favorite Oasis Class ships. The biggest Oasis Class ship, Wonder of the Seas , for example, measures 236,857 tons — 82% bigger than Disney Dream — and carries 5,734 passengers at double occupancy or 6,988 passengers when full.

The ship also stands apart from competitors in that it defies categorization. The ship would be considered mass-market because it offers a range of cabins from windowless insides through suites, appeals to families, does not focus on gourmet food or high-end finishings, and does not offer all-inclusive fares.

Yet Disney Dream's sailings are priced higher than most family-friendly cruise ships because the Disney brand commands a premium. Plus, you could argue that the service levels are higher and the entertainment is of a higher quality than on Royal Caribbean, Carnival or Norwegian Cruise Line ships.

Related: 5 best cruise lines for families

So who's on board? Obviously, families with young children make up a large fraction of Disney Dream's passenger base. You'll find babies, kids and teens, as well as three-generation groups and extended family or friend groups. Yet the ship also attracts adults who are Disney fans or appreciate Disney's entertainment and service. It is common for couples to plan onboard weddings or take their honeymoon on a Disney cruise.

Because Disney cruise fares are so high, most Disney Dream passengers are willing to spend money, either because they have a high vacation budget or have saved up for a special trip where they will pull out all the stops. I was surprised how many passengers were paying extra for princess makeovers at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, high-priced Disney paraphernalia from the onboard shops, and souvenir drink and popcorn containers.

The other thing to recognize about Disney Dream is that the kid activities are central and the adult amenities peripheral. The pool deck features several bars, but they are tucked away at the ends of the deck, not set out by the main pool. The sports pub, nightclub and other themed bars are hidden at the back end of Deck 4 in a warren of interconnected rooms that aren't always easy to find, and the adults-only specialty restaurants are relegated to a quiet corner at the top of the ship. There is no casino on board.

Because so many of the adults on board are traveling with children, not all are free to go out at night. So, some adult venues and evening activities can be sparsely populated. (Others generate a larger crowd, though.) On the upside, I did not encounter obviously inebriated folks on this cruise — though that could be because I, like so many adults, was traveling with a child and not often in the adult spaces.

What I loved about Disney Dream

The crew and waiters.

Every cruise line promotes the attentiveness of its crew, but the Disney Dream crew really shined, especially our waiters, who traveled with us from restaurant to restaurant. They quickly learned our preferences, bringing us our preferred drinks as we sat down, giving us butter in addition to the day's dip for the bread and remembering our tea preferences.

Our main waiter, Richard, always had a riddle or magic trick for the kids in his section, and Afandi, our assistant waiter, made origami for the kids each night. They would patiently listen as our 7-year-old companion told them jokes and stories, even though they were busy delivering meals and clearing plates.

Our room steward, Panca, left us towel animals every day and always inquired if there was anything we needed. The kids club counselors were always welcoming and ready to answer any parent questions. The entertainment staff did a great job involving as many kids as possible in the activities and were friendly and patient.

I love a good Broadway show, but the song-and-dance revues featured on so many cruise lines often fall flat. The singing ranges from great to mediocre, and while the costume changes and high-tech effects are cool, the shows don't always have a strong thread connecting the various numbers.

Disney Cruise Line takes a different approach — a more Disney approach, if you will. Disney Dream offers three featured musicals, all with a clear story to tell. Adults can appreciate the strong performances and creative use of costumes and scenery, and kids enjoy seeing some of their favorite characters and stories come to life on stage.

This was especially true of the ship's version of "Beauty and the Beast," an abridged version of the story based on the live-action movie. Kids and adults alike were riveted in their seats for an hour and a half, and the performances were stellar, with some of the actors even hailing from Broadway.

The only downside to the shows being so good is that you never want to miss one. That meant my friend and I never sent her daughter to the kids club after dinner, which would have allowed us to enjoy one of the ship's bars and an after-dinner cocktail together.

Related: The ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line ships and itineraries

Palo brunch

I'd heard from many people that brunch at Palo was amazing, and the experience did not disappoint. If you can sneak away for a couple hours, it's a lovely way to enjoy a relaxed, quiet, kid-free meal without missing one of the featured rotational restaurants. It's also good value, leading some people to claim it's the best $50 you can spend on a Disney cruise .

Our waiter, Victor, was as handsome and charming as any Disney prince. He brought us passionfruit mimosas when my friend said she didn't care for orange juice. We started the meal with a bread basket, and the almond croissants were the best I'd ever had, warm and flaky with a delicious almond filling that elevated the pastry.

The menu is so varied that it's hard to choose. Winners included poached eggs with spinach, asparagus and mornay sauce and the goat cheese flatbread. The mushroom ravioli fell flat, but that was OK because I was getting pretty full by then. The chocolate hazelnut dessert was thankfully small because I only had room for a few delectable bites.

My tip: Book an early brunch, and don't eat anything beforehand. You will definitely want to arrive hungry and with a very empty stomach.

Family-friendly cabins

Disney really thought about what families need in a living space when it designed the cabins on its ships, including Disney Dream. As a mom who has cruised with kids since they were babies, I understand the unique challenges families face when sharing a small cabin together. Disney does, too, and has created cabins to eliminate some of those challenges.

It starts with the split bathrooms, one with sink and toilet and the other with sink and shower. That means two can brush their teeth at once, and if a little person suddenly has to go potty when Daddy is in the shower, it's not a problem.

The cabins have plentiful storage space with lots of drawers because little kid clothing does not fit on grown-up hangers. Our cabin host even left a kid-size bathrobe in the closet, along with the two adult-size ones.

There's a dim light on the ceiling of the room's living area where kids will sleep in sofabeds and pulldown bunks to serve as a nightlight. A floor-to-ceiling curtain can extend across the entire room to separate the kids' sleeping areas from the adults. This way, adults can have the lights on in their section of the room after bedtime.

Even the balconies have childproof locks high up on the door, so you can prevent kiddos from sneaking onto the veranda without adult supervision.

What I didn't love about Disney Dream

Crowds and queues.

Disney does not get everything magically right, unfortunately. One way its ships resemble its parks is in the crowds and wait times for nearly everything.

I was dismayed at how much time we spent on this cruise waiting around. Sometimes, it was waiting in the always-long lines for a meet-and-greet and photo opp with characters or to drop off or pick up kids at the Oceaneer Club. I waited 40 minutes on a sea-day afternoon to ride the AquaDuck, and there was no entertainment in that line, as there might be at a Disney park water attraction.

Any show we wanted to see involved arriving early to get seats, occasionally waiting in line to enter the theater. Show up late to one of the Pirate Night shows or any of the events in the atrium lobby, and you will have terrible sightlines and be unable to see much of the show.

The ship also felt small for the number of people it carried, possibly because of bad design and passenger flow. Unless you go very early or late, the pool deck and its two pools are insanely crowded. Even the dining rooms felt like tables were pushed extremely close together, and it was so loud that I often had to raise my voice or lean across the table to converse with my tablemates. Walking through crowded areas was also tricky since kids would veer unpredictably while ambling slowly, so it was hard to get by; both parents and kids would block stairwells or corridors.

The crowding did make the adult areas feel like a respite. Still, the Quiet Cove sun deck and pool area fill up.

Nightlife district

The majority of Disney Dream's indoor bars and adult lounge areas are grouped together in a warren of interconnected rooms at the back of Deck 4. The District is meant to be a happening nightlife area, but I found it to be more of a dark, confusing afterthought.

I liked the vibe in the pub, with comfy seating and windows to the outside, and the whimsical Champagne bar Pink with its bubbles and corset theming. But the other bars were dark and not necessarily inviting. There was one bar, Skyline, that I could not find until I got turned around in a stairwell and happened upon it.

Related: 5 reasons why Disney cruises aren't just for kids

A member of the ship's entertainment team told me that evening adult events were hit or miss as far as attendance goes. It makes sense — I found that by the time I ate dinner and attended the show, it was time to put my friend's kid to bed. I could have ditched them to hang out in a bar on my own, but that wasn't an attractive option.

Disney Dream cabins and suites

The cabins and suites on Disney Dream were designed with families in mind, more so than on nearly every other cruise ship afloat. Cabins come in various categories, with many that can sleep families of three or four. Most have a split bathroom design, with two half baths; one contains a toilet and sink, the other a sink and shower (or shower-tub combo).

My cabin was a balcony room that could accommodate three, with a queen-size bed and a sofa that flips into a twin bed. I was dismayed to discover that, unlike every other ocean-going cruise ship I've sailed, the queen bed did not split into two twins. This forced my friend and I to share a bed. (Cabins that can sleep four will have a pull-down bunk above the sofa bed.)

The room is split in two by a floor-to-ceiling height, full-width blackout curtain, so we could put my friend's daughter to bed on the couch, turn off the lights on her side of the room and then read in bed with the lights on. One downside of this arrangement is that the small flat-screen TV is in the living area, not the bedroom, so we couldn't watch a late-night movie. Another downside: The blackout curtains effectively turned the adult sleeping area into an inside cabin with no natural light.

In addition to the sofa bed, the cabin's living area features a desk with two 110V and one 220V outlets, three deep drawers (perfect for storing kid clothing), a minifridge, the aforementioned TV, an open cabinet with two narrow shelves, a closed cabinet with two tall shelves and a mirror. One of the many light switches by the desk turns on a dim overhead light that can be used as a nightlight. A low-backed chair can be positioned at the desk or turned around to face the coffee table when dining in your cabin.

The master bed is flanked by two small nightstands, each with one drawer, and reading lamps. Only one side of the bed has a 110V and 220V outlet; the other has the cabin's phone. The closet is divided into two sections, both with hanging space and some open shelves. Adjacent is a shelving unit with three deep drawers and a tall two-shelf open cabinet above. The bed is high enough for suitcases, or your small child, to fit underneath.

I found the storage perfectly adequate for two adults and a child on a five-night cruise, and the room could likely handle belongings for a seven-night or longer cruise, as well.

The narrow balcony features two metal and mesh upright chairs and a round metal drinks table. It has a childproof lock you can choose to use to prevent little cruisers from venturing out on the balcony unattended.

The bathroom with the toilet and sink offers three small glass shelves for storing toiletries; the shower room has two. Our bathroom had a tub/shower combo, and at 6 feet tall, I came close to hitting my head on the ceiling; I could not wash my hair without removing the wand showerhead from its holder and reaching it up as far its cord would go.

Each bathroom comes with a refillable hand soap dispenser; the shower room also offers bar soap and refillable containers of Disney brand shampoo, conditioner and shower gel in the tub. You'll find tissue dispensers in each. The shower room has a full-length mirror on the back of the door, which is useful, but this means there are no hooks on the door to hang extra items. There are, however, two retractable clotheslines in the shower and two large hooks on the wall between the bathroom and the sleeping area.

Less expensive cabins are either windowless insides with "magical portholes" (round video screens set in a window frame that display images from outside the ship with some cameos from animated characters) or ocean-view rooms with a round porthole window that does not open.

Higher-tier cabins include Concierge-level cabins and suites that grant you access to the exclusive Concierge lounge and sun deck on decks 12 and 13, respectively. These rooms come in three styles: a balcony cabin, a one-bedroom suite and a Royal Suite, all with private verandas. They come with upgraded amenities and privileges, such as included Wi-Fi, a pillow menu, feather duvets and priority for check-in and debarkation, tendering and reservations.

Wheelchair-accessible cabins come in nearly every cabin category except the Royal Suite.

Related: The 3 types of Disney Cruise Line ships, explained

Disney Dream restaurants and bars

The Disney dining experience is a bit different than what you might have experienced on other cruise ships . The line employs a "rotational dining" system in which you choose early or late seating (5:45 and 8:15 p.m. on my sailing). Then, each night, you are assigned to one of three restaurants each evening. You "rotate" through all the options during the course of your cruise, and your waiters move with you. This way, you can build a rapport, and they can get to know your dining preferences.

Disney Dream does not offer a buffet alternative at dinner, though you can order room service or pick up burgers and chicken tenders at Tow Mater's Grill on the pool deck. If you choose these options or if the adults in your party make a reservation at the adults-only specialty restaurants, Palo and Remy, you might miss out on one of the themed main dining room experiences.

Restaurants

Overall, the food on Disney is fine, but the emphasis is less on impressive food and more on creating an experience that children will enjoy. The waiters work hard, not only taking orders and serving food, but cutting up food for kids or entertaining them with riddles and origami.

Each of the three main restaurants serves its own menu, but on some nights, each menu will serve the same menu, such as the "welcome aboard" menu on night one and a Caribbean-themed menu on pirate night. Every menu is divided into appetizers, soups and salads, main courses, vegetarian options, lighter options and dessert (which always includes an ice cream sundae and a sugar-free option).

The kids menu varies nightly, but is the same at each restaurant on any given day. It's divided into appetizers (a different soup each night and a garden salad), mains (macaroni and cheese, mini burgers, pizza and a changing option such as kid-sized surf and turf) and Disney Check Meals (combo dinners served with a main such as baked cod or penne pasta, a vegetable and fruit).

Mickey ice cream bars are the favorite dessert here; ice cream is also available, as well as a changing dessert such as a chocolate brownie with ice cream or white chocolate cheesecake.

Related: Disney cruise tips, tricks, secrets and extra magic to unlock when setting sail with Mickey

Unlike the venues on Disney's newer ships, the three main restaurants on Disney Dream have less of a theatrical aspect to them, though all are themed.

The design of the Enchanted Garden restaurant on Deck 2 was inspired by the Gardens of Versailles, and its menu claims to be market-style and international. Try the ahi tuna and avocado tower as a starter and the scallops or the prime rib for your main. The signature pecan tart was a nod to Thanksgiving on a Christmas-themed cruise.

Right above the Enchanted Garden on Deck 3 is the Royal Palace, inspired by four princesses — Cinderella, Snow White, Belle and Aurora (Sleeping Beauty). See if you can find iconic images from their stories around the dining room. Dinner here is the perfect time to wear your princess dress to dinner or dress up a little.

The menu is French, with starters like escargot and baked brie. Mains include duck breast, rack of lamb and Chateaubriand-roasted steak. For dessert, consider the grand marnier souffle or the apple tart tartin.

Royal Palace was also the sit-down option for breakfast and lunch on our cruise. Breakfast offers a nice selection of fruit and yogurt, breakfast pastries and egg and griddle options. A kids menu features fun-sized versions of eggs, pancakes, Mickey waffles and yogurt with fruit. Signature adult breakfasts include a savory power crepe, a plant-based hot breakfast for the vegans among us, southern hash and brioche French toast.

Most families stick to casual options for lunch, but if you want a sit-down, multicourse meal, the Royal Palace is there for you. The lunch menu is split into a choice of soups and salads, small plates (such as beef satay skewers or tomato and mozzarella bruschetta), chef's recommendations (churrasco steak, spiced cod fillet), burgers (including a turkey burger and Impossible burger), pasta, a handful of kid-friendly options and dessert (typically one is a sundae). Sit-down lunch is a great option on embarkation day when you don't want to drag your bags around a crowded buffet.

Animator's Palate, on Deck 3 aft (essentially behind the Royal Palace), is the night to experience dinner with a show. Video screens around the animation-themed restaurant come to life with characters from "Finding Nemo" and "Finding Dory," with a surprising interactive element. I enjoyed the butternut squash soup, ginger-teriyaki beef tenderloin and the cookies and cream sundae for dessert.

I generally found the three main restaurants loud, with tables spaced extremely close together. (At Animator's Palate, our table was separated from the next by the width of the ice bucket for our bottle of Prosecco.) Dinners are not relaxing events, even though the waiters are outstanding, keeping the kids entertained with riddles, magic tricks and origami.

Perhaps that is why Disney Dream's two specialty restaurants are exclusive to adults over 18. They offer a nice break for the grown-ups in the group to have a quieter, more upscale meal in a less crowded setting. Both the French Remy and Italian Palo are on Deck 12, separated by the Meridian Bar.

Palo is open for brunch on sea days and dinner daily, both for $50 per person. Brunch is a highlight and a great value for all the food they give you. The meal starts with a complimentary Prosecco or mimosa and a bread basket that includes not-to-be-missed warm almond croissants.

Then you can choose as many breakfast or lunch entrees as you'd like; the poached eggs with spinach, asparagus and mornay sauce and the goat cheese flatbread (pizza) were standouts from our brunch. You can also select from frittatas, waffles and pancakes, and mains like lasagna Bolognese, sirloin steak, veal and parmesan-crusted chicken breast.

After you've completely stuffed yourself, the waiters have the audacity to offer dessert. We sampled the warm amaretto chocolate fondant and the limoncello torte; while tasty, they were definitely not necessary to complete your meal.

For dinner in Palo, choose from the $50 fixed-price menu (a four-course meal with limited options for each), upgrade to the wine-paired menu or order a la carte from the full menu. The chocolate souffle dessert is the signature sweet and should be ordered at the beginning of the meal.

Remy is one of the most expensive specialty restaurants at sea, with menus by acclaimed chefs Scott Hunnel (from Victoria & Albert's at Walt Disney World Resort) and Arnaud Lallement (of Michelin star fame). Disney Dream offers two set menus, one by each chef, for $135 per person, with wine and Champagne pairings for an additional $120 and $160, respectively. You can also order a la carte.

For casual dining, Disney Dream does offer a buffet option on the Deck 11 pool deck. Cabanas serves breakfast and lunch only. In the morning, you'll find all the staples: eggs, breakfast meat, pastries, cereal, yogurt, fruit, pancakes and the famous Mickey waffles. An omelet station is tucked away at the back.

At lunch, you can find pizza and burgers, an array of hot entrees, soup, premade salads, a huge stash of shrimp and crab legs, pasta, deli meat and desserts (including ice cream). Look for themed sections that change daily.

I found Cabanas to have a nice variety of dishes (and the creamiest steam tray scrambled eggs I've had on a cruise to date). However, the layout is awful. The buffet is all one line, rather than station-based, and there is not a lot of room to walk around the venue. The result is that lines are long, and it's tricky to navigate through (say, if you're walking from the beverage station back to your table). This is especially true if you get stuck behind slow-moving, unpredictable small children who are somehow impossible to get around.

Related: Cruise ship buffet taboos: 10 things you should never do at mealtime

Unlike other mass-market cruise ships, Disney Dream offers free soda with meals and from beverage stations along the pool deck sides and in Cabanas (where you'll also find water, juice, coffee, tea and hot chocolate). Bring your own refillable drink containers to avoid waste because the poolside stations only offer paper cups, not reusable glasses and mugs.

For a snack or simpler meal, a trio of food counters, collectively known as Flo's Cafe, on the opposite end of the pool deck from Cabanas offers all the kid favorites. Luigi's Pizza serves up five types of pie daily; Tow-Mater's Grill cooks up burgers, chicken, hot dogs and sausages, plus chicken tenders and French fries; and Fillmore's Favorites serves a range of paninis, wraps, salads and fruit bowls. Be aware that while these venues are open all afternoon, only Tow-Mater's is open for dinner; Luigi's Pizza opens again at 9 p.m. for late-night snacks.

Poolside treats include the Eye Scream station with three soft-serve machines pumping out multiple flavors, including chocolate, vanilla, banana and strawberry. Frozone Treats next door offers extra-fee smoothies and refreshing drinks with and without alcohol (such as Dole Whip with a shot of rum).

Room service is complimentary on Disney Dream. You can order continental breakfast items by marking off your selections on a tag and hanging it outside your door before bed. All-day room service is available for order via phone; the menu is on the Navigator app. Selections include soups, salads, American fare (buffalo wings, burgers, chicken tenders), pizza and pasta and dessert. Mickey bars are not on the official room service menu, but can be ordered to your cabin.

If the free treats on this ship aren't enough (which is a concept that's difficult to grasp), you can splurge at Vanellope's Sweet Treats. Indulge with extra-fee ice cream and gelato, crazy sundaes, cupcakes and other baked goods and candy.

Outside the Walt Disney Theatre on Deck 3 is Preludes, where you can buy snacks (popcorn, candy) and drinks to bring into the theater. A secondary outpost of Preludes is outside the Buena Vista Theater on Deck 4.

Parents, be prepared: The pervasive smell of popcorn will have your littles desperate for a snack, and the only way to access popcorn is by purchasing a souvenir popcorn bucket on the first night. The buckets range from $8 to more than $20, but refills are only $1.50.

On a ship where sodas and ice cream bars are complimentary, I was surprised the line charged for popcorn.

On a ship full of kids, it's understandable that adults might need a grown-up beverage or two. Disney Dream accommodates, but the bars are less front and center than perhaps you'd find on other cruise ships.

On Deck 3, the Bon Voyage bar is tucked to one side of the midship elevator banks, between the Grand Lobby and the shopping area. It's in a crowded thoroughfare, so it lacks ambience.

Tucked into a corner on Deck 4 is the Vista Cafe for all your coffee drinks, regular or spiked. It also has a small case of snacks to go with your latte or mocha.

Related: Best cruise ship bars

The District, on Deck 4 aft, is the adult nightlife area, though it's used during the day to host events such as trivia. Grouped together are Pink, a wine and Champagne bar; Evolution, the nightclub and event space; Pub 687, the sports and game bar; Skyline, for bougie martinis with a changing cityscape behind the bar; and the District Lounge for hanging out, sometimes with live music. The District is a dark warren of interconnected rooms, so I only found the Skyline bar halfway through my cruise.

You won't find crowds here, as many adults will be at the family activities in the evening or stuck in their cabins after their kids go to sleep. Fun competitive games, trivia contests, and karaoke in Evolution did get a good-sized audience, but you'll rarely need to search for a seat at any of the venues.

If you're interested in Disney Dream nightlife and are traveling with younger kids, I recommend cruising with extended family or friends; this way, each adult can take turns staying with sleeping children while the others go out. Alternatively, put your kids in Oceaneer Club after dinner and the show, but not every child wants to stay up that late or leave their family for the club.

A buffet of finger foods is put out for an hour each evening to help soak up all that alcohol.

On the upper decks, the Cove Cafe is half coffee shop, half bar by the Quiet Cove adult pool. Grownups don't have to get out of the water to order drinks at the swim-up Cove Bar adjacent to the pool. Forward of the adults area, a juice bar in the Senses Spa will kick start your day or refresh you after a workout with fresh juice blends.

Additional pool bars include the Waves Bar on Deck 12 and the Currents Bar on Deck 13.

Also on Deck 12, the Meridian bar is the perfect place for a pre-dinner cocktail before a meal in the adjacent Remy or Palo. It has both indoor and outdoor seating and is a lovely getaway from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the ship. Passengers booked into Concierge-level cabins can also get drinks at their exclusive Concierge Lounge also on Deck 12.

Disney Dream activities

Disney cruise ships offer a mix of typical and unique-to-Disney activities. Perhaps the most Disney thing you can do on Disney Dream is meet your favorite Disney characters and princesses.

Families have three options: You can sign up for free Royal Gatherings, where you can meet multiple princesses at one time, or extra-fee events, such as the Royal Court Royal Tea. You can look up on the Navigator app when characters will be making appearances and line up for a photo opp and to get an autograph. You'll often find the characters posing in the Grand Lobby or on the balcony just above. Or, you can serendipitously run into a character wandering about the ship.

Even your kids who think they're too cool for Mickey or princess photos will likely become starstruck when they see the characters around the ship and ultimately want a photo or two.

Most kid-friendly activities occur in the multiple Disney cruise kids clubs on board. Most are clustered on Deck 4, where you'll find the It's a Small World Nursery for baby and toddler (up to age 3) daycare for an hourly rate. The Oceaneer Club and Lab offer complimentary drop-off activities for kids ages 3-10. Kids will love flying the Millennium Falcon, playing in Andy's Room, competing in Magic PlayFloor challenges and making crafts in Tinkerbell's Fairy Hollow.

Also on Deck 4 is the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, where families can pay for a range of princess, prince and pirate makeovers for young cruisers. If you decide to splurge, choose your salon times wisely. You might not want to get makeup and an updo at 9 a.m. and then be unable to go into the pool for the rest of the day.

Tweens (ages 11-14) have their own hangout called Edge with video games, movies, crafts and group activities in the fake forward funnel on Deck 13. Teens (14-17) can enjoy an indoor lounge with snack bar, video game and movie space, plus a teen-only outdoor sun deck with a plunge pool and hot tub. Vibe, as it's called, is all the way forward on Deck 5, with a secret entrance from the Deck 4 outdoor promenade.

A range of family activities, from crafts to karaoke and dance parties, take place in the D Lounge on Deck 4. (Don't confuse it with the District Lounge next door, which is a bar in the adults-only area.) Some activities are held in the atrium lobby, including the hilarious Jack Jack's Diaper Dash (ie, crawling baby races). Evolution is the destination for evening adult activities, such as trivia, interactive competitions and karaoke.

The other major family-focused destination is, of course, the pool deck. Disney Dream has options for all ages and interests. Deck 11 midship is the main pool area with Mickey's pool and slide (the latter meant for ages 3-14) and the Goofy pool. Life jackets are available for kids who aren't strong swimmers.

A giant poolside screen shows Disney movies during both daytime and evening. Pools are open late so you can watch the evening film from the water. The pool area stage is where the welcome/sailaway show and Pirate's Night shows take place.

The Nemo's Reef splash area is intended for supervised splashing for junior cruisers in swim diapers, though youngsters of all ages are welcome. There is a hot tub by the kids pool, but it's generally full of kids.

Don't worry, Mom and Dad: Adults have their own pool deck, forward on Deck 11. The Quiet Cove pool and hot tub are exclusive to adults over 18 and are surrounded by a swim-up bar, adults-only coffee shop and lounge spaces.

Two decks up, the Satellite Falls pool and sun deck provides additional sunbathing space and a wading pool with a circular rain curtain under the ship's satellite transmitter. A sun deck exclusive to Concierge-level guests is also found on Deck 13.

Between the two on Deck 12 forward is a small family area with the Funnel Puddle plunge pool.

The pool area's other main attraction is the AquaDuck two-person raft slide that circles the entire pool deck. You must be 42 inches to ride and 54 inches to ride alone or with a smaller person. The ride has some thrills but is fairly tame. Sea-day afternoon wait times can be long (upward of 40 minutes). Ride after dark, and you'll hardly wait at all.

The entrance and exit from the AquaDuck are adjacent to each other on Deck 12, right above Nemo's Reef. I say this so you won't loop the decks multiple times looking for it.

On the opposite side of the ship on Deck 13 is Goofy's Sports Deck for all your athletic or competitive pursuits. A central sports court with basketball hoops is surrounded by a wacky minigolf course, ping pong tables and foosball.

Your running and walking track, however, will be the Deck 4 promenade. You'll find padded wooden lounge chairs here, as well as shuffleboard courts.

If you need some serious pamper time, head to the Senses Spa and Salon on Deck 11 forward. A salon offers mani-pedis and hair styling, or you can book a massage or facial in one of the spa treatment rooms. Couples treatments include various massages as well as time in one of two couples' villas, and teen services are also available.

A fitness center is stocked with resistance machines, free weights, yoga mats and cardio machines with ocean views, plus group class space for spin and core classes. You can also book a pass to the Rainforest Room thermal suite for access to relaxing saunas and steam rooms.

If retail therapy is more your style, you'll find an array of shops on decks 3 and 4, selling all kinds of character-based souvenirs and toys, Disney Cruise Line logo items, fine jewelry and sundries. The Whozits and Whatzits shop on Deck 11 sells swim and beach items in case you forgot something at home. If you plan on splurging, consider packing a foldable duffle that you can fill with all your souvenirs for the trip home.

Related: Tricks to save money on a Disney cruise

Disney Dream shows

Disney Cruise Line is known for its original Broadway-style musical shows. Disney Dream's trio of original productions include "The Golden Mickeys," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Disney's Believe." These are performed in the Walt Disney Theatre on decks 3 and 4. Your showtime is opposite your mealtime; if you have an early dinner, you'll see the late show and vice versa.

"The Golden Mickeys" is a Disney's version of an awards show, honoring the bravest heroes and the most dastardly villains. The show combines video clips with live performances of favorite songs from Disney movies.

"Disney Believe" is another original musical featuring a single dad who goes on a journey to regain his belief in magic. Along the way, he encounters characters from a wide selection of Disney movies, who guide him on his journey with song and dance.

The ship's marquee show, which runs 1 and 1/2 hours rather than an hour, is a stage adaptation of "Beauty and the Beast," based on the live-action movie. The show employs creative use of puppetry and high-tech scenery, and the performers are stellar. (Some even have Broadway backgrounds.) On our sailing, this show also has a matinee performance to accommodate more guests.

The Walt Disney Theatre has both orchestra and balcony seating. Be careful of poles and railings that can block views from the balcony. Sit in the front section of the orchestra if you want confetti to rain down on you during certain performances.

Disney Dream does not have just one theater. The Buena Vista Theatre on decks 4 and 5 is the ship's movie cinema, showing first-run movies from Disney-owned production studios. That means if the film is currently showing in the movie theaters on land, you can watch it for free while you're at sea.

Disney Cruise Line is also famous for its Pirate Night, a shipwide pirate-themed party, complete with pirate-themed games, trivia and kids activities; a special pirate-themed, island-inspired dinner menu in every restaurant; and two pirate shows on the pool deck stage. The early show stars Pirate Mickey and friends and is geared for younger cruisers; the later, all-ages show features Jack Sparrow and culminates in a fireworks display.

Nearly everyone on board, from babies to grandparents, gets into the pirate spirit, dressing up in looks ranging from simple DIY outfits with a few accessories to head-to-toe professional costumes, complete with wigs. Even if your kids think they're too cool, pack some pirate attire because you will feel left out of the fun if you're not in costume.

Another hot tip: The pool deck cannot handle the number of people who turn out for these shows. Arrive a good half hour early to stake out a spot with decent sightlines, and be prepared to potentially hold your child up the entire time if you're standing in the back. Also, plan for an afternoon nap, if your young kid wants to see fireworks. The show starts after 10 p.m.

On our five-night cruise, Pirate Night took place on a night when a performance one of the three musicals was not occurring. On that night, the main stage screened the newest Disney movie, so more people could watch. On the remaining night, a guest magician performed.

If you like shows, keep an eye out for short performances listed in the daily schedule on the app. Early in the sailing, Mickey and friends did a Christmas tree lighting event, complete with a Santa visit. One evening, the Broadway actor who plays Gaston in the ship's theater did a half-hour one-man show, performing numbers from the Disney songbook.

Disney Dream itineraries and pricing

Disney Dream will offer a series of three-, four- and five-night Bahamas and Caribbean cruises out of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, through early May 2024. Ports of call in the Bahamas include Nassau and Castaway Cay, Disney's longtime private island. Caribbean cruises include Grand Cayman or Cozumel, Mexico.

The ship then crosses the Atlantic for a summer season in Europe. From May through mid-July, it will offer five- to 11-night Mediterranean cruises out of Barcelona and Civitavecchia (the port for Rome), Italy.

It will then reposition to Southampton, England (near London), where it will sail two Scandinavian fjords cruises; several three- to seven-night Europe Coastal and southern Europe cruises to ports in Spain, France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands; and one British Isles cruise before crossing the Atlantic back to Florida.

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Disney Cruise Line ship

The ship returns to Fort Lauderdale from October 2024 through May 2025, again offering three- to five-night Caribbean and Bahamas sailings. This time, certain itineraries include Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, Disney's new private destination on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas.

Fares vary by season, cruise destination and theme, as well as cabin category. Expect the least expensive windowless inside cabins to start at more than $200 per person, per night, based on double occupancy.

On Disney's website, three-night Bahamas cruises start from $1,733 for a couple. Five-night Western Caribbean cruises start at $2,437 per couple, and a seven-night Western Europe cruise starts at $4,427 per couple. Fares increase from there for cabins with balconies or suites, as well as for adding additional guests sharing the cabin.

A family of four would pay upward of $5,859 for a Concierge-level cabin on a three-night Bahamas cruise, for example.

Related: I saved every receipt — here's how much it actually costs to go on a Disney cruise

What to know before you go

Required documents.

U.S. citizens sailing Disney Dream from Port Canaveral will need either a passport or a government-issued photo ID and an original birth certificate. Children can sail with either a passport or a birth certificate. However, for Disney Dream's summer European sailings, including the transatlantic crossings, everyone traveling (including babies) will need a passport.

If you're sailing with a child who is not your own, you will need to fill out a form certifying that you have permission from their parents to travel with them. Passports, when required, must be valid for at least six months. Note that it is important that the name on your reservation be exactly as it is stated on your passport or other official proof of nationality.

Related: Tips for getting a child's passport

Disney Cruise Line charges a crew gratuity of $14.50 per person (including babies and children) per day for most cruisers and $15.50 per person for Concierge-level cabins and suites.

You can prepay this amount, or it will be added to your onboard bill. If you have not prepaid, you can adjust the amount up or down at guest services or give additional tips in cash. The hardworking crew relies on these gratuities; even if you have service snafus, we strongly encourage you to pay the full amount and express your dissatisfaction in another fashion.

To give an idea of the cost, a four-person family on a five-night cruise in a standard cabin would pay $290 in recommended tips. The amount is split among your team of dining room servers who kept your kids entertained at dinner and your cabin host who cleaned up your mess each day.

An 18% gratuity is added to onboard spa, bar, beverage, wine and deck service tabs. You can always add an additional gratuity for any of your services or servers.

While room service is free, it's customary to add a few dollars of tip when you sign the "bill."

A gratuity is added to bills at Palo and Remy because those servers are not included in the automatic gratuity. Leave an additional tip if you enjoyed the service. If you stay in a Concierge-level room or suite, it is customary to tip the Concierge Lounge hosts $8 per person, per day, at the end of your cruise.

Related: Everything you need to know about tipping on cruise ships

Disney Dream offers various Wi-Fi packages for a fee.

On my sailing, you could choose from three Wi-Fi packages and pay per 24 hours or per voyage. The Stay Connected package gives access to just Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. It costs $18 for 24 hours for one device or $16/day for the full voyage (so $80 for a five-night sailing like mine).

The Classic Surf package gives access to the entire web, email and audio calling. The 24-hour price for one device is $28; the full-cruise cost is $24/day ($120 for a five-night sailing).

The Premium Surf package gives the same access as the Classic but with the addition of streaming services like YouTube, Snapchat and video calling. It costs $42 for 24 hours on one device or $34/day for the voyage ($170 for a five-night cruise).

For any of the plans, you can purchase full-cruise packages for up to four devices, with a 20% discount for each additional device. There is no discount for a multiple-device package for 24 hours. You can purchase a full-cruise package in the middle of your vacation, and the price will be prorated for the number of days left.

If you're deciding how many devices to add to your package, know that you can switch your plan from device to device throughout the cruise. For example, if you purchase a one-device plan, you can switch the service from your phone to your tablet then back to your phone. However, if you need a connection on your tablet and phone at the same time, you will need a two-device plan.

On my Caribbean cruise, I had no problems using the Navigator app or texting, and my travel companions made several Wi-Fi calls using our Premium Surf package. However, loading webpages and uploading photos on my laptop was often slow.

Carry-on drinks policy

Each passenger 21 years and older can bring a maximum of two bottles of unopened wine or Champagne (no larger than 750 milliliters) or six beers (no larger than 12 ounces) on board both at the beginning of the cruise and at each port of call. Not every cruise line allows you to bring drinks back from port without confiscating them, so take advantage of this generous alcohol policy .

On embarkation day, beverages must be packed in your carry-on (not checked) bags. You can keep drinks chilled in the small fridge in your cabin or ask your stateroom host for ice.

If you wish to consume wine or Champagne that you've brought on board in one of the dining rooms, you must pay a $26 corkage fee per bottle.

Smoking policy

Smoking is permitted in the following onboard locations only:

• The portside outdoor area of the Meridian Lounge on Deck 12
• The portside deck area on Deck 13 aft by the Currents Bar
• The aft port side of the Deck 4 outdoor promenade, but only from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Passengers caught smoking in their cabins or on their cabin balconies will be charged a $250 cleaning fee.

Disney Dream offers 24-hour, self-service guest laundry facilities on Decks 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. They are not marked on the deck plans on the app, but they are shown on each floor's deck plan by the stairwell and signs in the cabin hallways point the way. On most decks, they are located all the way forward or aft.

Use your Key to the World cruise card to pay to operate the washers and dryers, as well as buy any detergent or dryer sheets you need. Laundry rooms are also stocked with irons and ironing boards for complimentary use; they are the only place on board where you're allowed to use an iron.

If you really don't want to do chores on your vacation, you can send out your dirty laundry for washing, pressing or dry cleaning for an additional fee. Use the laundry bag and form in your cabin and your cabin attendant will pick up and return your clothes.

Electrical outlets

All cabins are equipped with 110-volt outlets, which are standard in the U.S. and Canada, and 220-volt (European) outlets by the desk and on one side of the bed. A shaver-only outlet is located on the ceiling of the bathroom.

The currency on Disney Cruise Line ships is the U.S. dollar.

When you are on the ship, you will not need cash or a credit card — all incidentals, purchases and services will be charged to your cabin folio. Your Key to the World card serves as your onboard payment method. The only exception is if you want to tip a crew member in cash.

You will want to have some cash or a credit card for purchases in port. The exception is Castaway Cay, where cruisers can pay for all purchases at the shops and bars with their cruise cards; cash and credit cards are not accepted on Disney's private island.

Drinking age

The drinking age on board Disney Dream is 21. However, if you're sailing on one of Dream's round-trip cruises within Europe, where the drinking age is lower, parents and guardians can sign a form to allow 18- to 20-year-olds to drink on board when in the presence of an adult in their traveling party.

Daytime dress is casual; shorts, T-shirts and casual sundresses are the norm on Bahamas and Caribbean sailings. Many of your shipmates will be dressed in Mickey ears, Disney-themed attire, princess dresses or group T-shirts at all times.

During the evenings, dining attire in the three main dining restaurants is "cruise casual," meaning no swimwear or tank tops, but you don't have to dress up in anything fancy. That said, many guests do dress up in the evening, but it's not required unless you are dining in Palo or Remy. (Palo also asks that diners dress up a bit for brunch, so come prepared.)

Our five-night cruise had one optional dress-up night, and we were also told that it's fun to change into something a bit fancier (or perhaps a princess costume) when dining at the Royal Palace restaurant.

The dress code on Pirate Night is, of course, pirate casual. Bring your bandanas and eye patches, but leave your swords and pistols at home.

On Halloween and Very Merrytime Christmas cruises, costumes and holiday attire are encouraged — and make for great photos.

Related: The ultimate Disney cruise packing list

Bottom line

Disney Dream offers an amazing experience for families with children and Disney lovers of all ages. The ship stands out for its family-friendly cabins, attentive crew and stellar musical shows. You will be able to meet many of your favorite Disney characters and immerse yourself in the world of Disney.

However, you need to be prepared for crowds and queues, loud dinners, other people's children and myriad extra-fee events, treats and souvenirs that will tempt everyone in your travel party. Come with the right mindset, and you'll have a magical trip your family will remember fondly.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Newsletters
• Trip Planning
• Cruise Lines

Disney Dream Cruise Ship: The Complete Guide

Disney Cruise Line

In a cruise industry that loves "newest and biggest" headlines, Disney Cruise Line has been a quieter player with just five ships: the  Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wish. The Disney Dream debuted in 2011 and features terrific kids programs, teen lounges, Flounder's Reef nursery, top quality live shows, a private Caribbean island, Castaway Cay , a combo of Disney World/ cruise vacations, and, of course, Disney quality and imaginative touches.

If you're planning a trip on the Disney Dream, here are 14 features to discover.

AquaDuck Water Coaster

The most prominent new feature on the Disney Dream is the AquaDuck Water Coaster: an impressive sight on the ship's upper decks. The AquaDuck water coaster has turns, drops, an uphill section, and river rapids: riders zoom along in two-person rubber rafts. The ride extends for 765 feet, starting on Deck 16 with a drop and then a swing-out loop that extends 13 feet beyond the side of the ship, 150 feet above the ocean below. Read details of all the drops, twists, and turns of the AquaDuck water coaster, ending with a splashdown on Deck 12.

Kids must be 48 inches tall to ride the AquaDuck!

Virtual Porthole in Cabins

Neat idea! And an industry "first", on the Disney Dream . The inner cabin pictured above is transformed by a high-tech "Virtual Porthole" that displays a real-time view of the sea outside the ship. High-definition cameras feed live video to each Virtual Porthole. Fancy technology ensures that, for each cabin, that Porthole's view is consistent with the motion felt in that part of the ship. Guests might also see an animated character visit at the window: such as Peach the starfish, above, a character from the "Finding Nemo" movie.

It's a Small World Nursery

Like the Disney Wonder and Disney Magic (which each have a nursery called Flounder's Reef), the Disney Dream cruise ship has a nursery for infants and tots age 3 months to 3 years. Parents can check on their kids through one-way window into the nursery's main play area. The nursery has a naptime area too. As with Flounder's Reef nursery, parents will need to book in advance for the nursery and pay an extra charge. (Other kids programs are all-included in the cruise.) On the plus side, kids under three sail free on Disney cruises.

Oceaneer Club

Kids age 3 to 10 can have fun at the Oceaneer Club, on the Disney Dream . Above is a central hub area with a Peter Pan "Never Land" theme: a place for storytelling, Disney character meet'n'greets, and for performances starring -- the kids themselves. Also in this area is a giant screen, for watching movies and for interacting with Crush the Turtle.

Turtle Talk with Crush

Guests who've been to Disney World may already have met Crush the Turtle... (Hey, remember, dudes? He's the turtle that actually talks, like really talks, to kids, and they talk back - awesome, totally.) Using similar technology, Crush will also make appearances on the giant screen in the Never Land area of the Oceaneer Club, on the Disney Dream ship.

Andy's Room, in the Oceaneer Club

Andy's Room, familiar to kids from the Toy Story movies, offers places to climb; computers integrated into the walls, for games; costumes and props for make-believe.

Pixie Hollow, in the Oceaneer Club

In this themed play area -- depicting the forest home of Tinkerbell and fairy friends-- kids can make crafts or play dress-up. Other play areas in the Oceaneer Club are Explorer Pod , with a submarine surfacing in the center of the room, and computer game stations; and Monster's Academy , with play structure for climbing, computers integrated into the walls for games, and monster costumes and props.

Oceaneer Lab

The Oceaneer Lab is another area on the Disney Dream for kids age three to ten, and it's connected to the Oceaneer Club by two Workshops. The main hall, above, has a celestial map overhead; a stage for kids' performances and storytelling; a screen for watching movies, and for visits by famous animated character Stitch (using the same technology as Turtle Talk with Crush.) The Oceaneer Club also has an Animator's Studio, and a Sound Studio with song-making and recording software. The two Workshops, meanwhile, are used for hands-on fun, such as science labs, art projects, or trying out some culinary skills.

Animator's Studio

In this part of the Oceaneer Lab on the Disney Dream , kids will find everything a creative animator needs: maquettes (3D character models), light box table, drawing tools, computer stations... Kids can create their own art or sketch favorite Disney characters

Vibe Teen Club

On Deck 5 of the Disney Dream , teens age 14 to 17 have 9000 sq. feet of their own indoor and outdoor space. A "teen-only" swipe card gets them into an area with fountain bar, cushy chairs, media room... Kids can try out video editing technology, social media apps, WiFi laptops, and lots more.

Tween Club, Edge

The Vibe teen club -- for ages 14 to 17-- extends to an outdoor area, with lounge chairs, wading pools, water fountains and jets, and games such as foosball and ping-pong. Tween Club - Edge Meanwhile, kids age 11 to 13 can hang out at the Edge lounge, a loft-type space with notebook computers for games and social media; massive video wall for gaming or movies (used as one giant screen, or smaller screens); a lighted dance floor; and view of the AquaDuck water coaster as it passes through the forward funnel of the ship where the Edge is located.

Atrium Lobby

Click the photo above to see a larger image: a 5-foot tall bronze statue of Admiral Donald Duck will survey this three-deck lobby, from the base of the grand staircase.

Enchanted Garden and Other Restaurants

The Enchanted Garden Restaurant , shown above, is styled as an airy conservatory, with a "sky" that transforms from day to sunset to night-time, while guests dine. For other family dining choices: those who've sailed on the Disney Magic or Wonder will be happy to find a recurrence of the Animator's Palate , a signature restaurant decorated with black-and-white sketches that turn into color during the course of the meal. The Royal Palace restaurant, meanwhile, is inspired by classic Disney movies like Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty. Read more about the restaurants on the Disney Dream.

The District Adults-Only Area

Where will the family sleep, during the cruise? Guests on the Disney Dream have a range of choices, from 898 sq. ft. of space in a "Royal Suite with Verandah", to Standard Inside Staterooms with 169 sq. feet. Remember that these inside staterooms have virtual portholes, which transform the experience of an inside cabin; they can sleep three to four people, with a queen-size bed, a converible sofa, a privacy divider and (in some units) a pull down bed. Several types of cabins on the Disney Dream cruise ship can sleep a family of five. Read about the many cabin options, at this Disney Dream Staterooms Fact Sheet. The District - Adults-Only Area The District, on Deck 4 of the Disney Dream , is a zone for ages 18 and up, with a piano lounge, several bars including the Skyline bar with changing views of famous city skylines; a pub with giant tv; a club for comedy acts, dancing, live performances. Also in The District: Senses Spa & Salon spans two decks, with 17 treatment rooms, steam bath, sauna, rain showers; and -- for that extra pampering-- two spa villas with treatment suite, and private verandah with whirlpool hot tub. The Disney Dream also has a gym with ocean views; the Quiet Cove adult pool, and Cove Cafe (with wiFi); and grownups-only dining at Palo restaurant (the high-end Italian restaurant, familiar from the other two Disney ships.)

Related Articles

More related articles.

Disney Dream Cruise Ship Review & Overview

This post takes a look at the Disney Dream to offer and overview, photos, some tips for those setting sail on this Disney Cruise Line ship. As we’ve already covered a lot of the basics of cruising with Disney in our Top 10 First-Timer Disney Cruise Line Tips and Guide to the Disney Cruise Line posts (both of those links open in new tabs and we’d advise reading them for planning purposes), we aren’t going to spend as much time fixating on high-level aspects of the Disney Dream that are already covered in those posts. Instead, we will highlight what’s unique to the Disney Dream, and contrast the boat to the other ship on which we’ve cruised: the Disney Magic.

In some ways, this post is a Disney Dream v. Disney Magic cruise ship comparison, but the problem with that is the matchup is more lopsided than Tatum v. Simpson; the Disney Dream would win pretty much across the board. Even after being re-imagined, the Disney Magic feels like a first generation product on which Disney learned a lot of lessons. Don’t get me wrong, I really loved our first cruise on the Magic, but it’s clear that the initial foray into cruising taught Disney a lot, and it iterated on subsequent ships to make the experience much better.

To be sure, the Disney Magic is no slouch. All of Disney’s ships bring a lot to the table in terms of style and detail, and have an incontrovertible sense of “Disney” about them, but the Magic feels much better suited for short cruises. If the Disney Dream is any indication, the Magic’s younger siblings are the more compelling option for any itinerary that includes a day at sea or more time on the ship, in general.

The biggest thing you need is, well, that. It’s bigger. The Disney Dream is significantly larger than the Disney Magic, with 151 more feet in length. While you’ll definitely notice the added length as it gives the newer ship a bit more breathing room, both ships have a similar feeling of intimacy. This difference isn’t like going from Disneyland to Walt Disney World (and not just because both cruise ships are well-maintained), but the size difference is noticeable.

The Disney Magic is approximately 964 feet long, as compared to the Disney Dream’s 1,115 feet. To give those numbers a little perspective, the Magic is approximately double the height of modern day Godzilla , whereas the difference between the two ships is slightly more than 1954 Godzilla. (I’m sure that perspective was incredibly helpful.) The only question that remains is whether the ships produce more than Godzilla’s 1 billion-plus daily liters of urine ? (With all of that unlimited soda, my money is on the cruise ship guests!)

Another difference comes in terms of dining. Across the board, we think both ships are very good in this department. The main table service and buffet options are Cabanas (buffet), Royal Palace, Enchanted Garden, and Animator’s Palate. If you haven’t cruised on the Disney Dream in a few years, some of these names might be new to you.

Animator’s Palate is the quintessential Disney restaurant on all of the Disney Cruise Line ships, the one you see touted on television specials and in advertisements, and the classic example of Disney “magic.” I gushed over the Disney Magic version of Animator’s Palate in our review , and all of that praise applies here, as well. The Disney Dream ups the ante on the experience with actual interaction from Crush a la Turtle Talk. It’s a can’t miss experience, regardless of whether you have kids or not.

Out of the other two “main” table service restaurants, we liked Enchanted Garden the best. This is supposedly inspired by the Palace of Versailles’ famed gardens, which is…a stretch. It feels more like Crystal Palace with Art Nouveau flourishes in place of the Victorian ones, plus more overt references to gardening.

Nonetheless, the atmosphere of dining in a fancy sorta greenhouse thing with moody lighting makes for excellent ambiance, and the food is very good. In fact, we think the food is good regardless of where you go. While the food at each of these restaurants is relatively safe and Americanized, safe and high-quality are not mutually-exclusive. Not only that, but the service (again, across the board) on the Disney Dream is exceptional.

On the higher end, Disney Dream definitely gets the edge. While we loved our experiences at Palo for dinner and brunch of the Disney Magic, Remy takes fine dining to the next level with an even swankier restaurant, with a $85 per person upcharge for dinner here.

We were fine with the $25 (now $30) upcharge for Palo, justifying it on our first cruise by virtue of the great offseason deal we got on the cruise coupled with a relatively low surcharge. However, $85 (then $75) is a bit more of a pill to swallow. Once you account for the amount you’re already paying for a dinner at one of the regular restaurants, which is built into the cost of the cruise (no, it’s not “free”) and then add that to the cost of Remy, the price is fairly staggering.

We certainly don’t begrudge those who want to try it ( here’s a great Remy review if you want to know more ), but just keep in mind that you’re in Victoria & Albert’s territory once you account for the built-in dining cost. Maybe we’ll give it a try someday…after we revisit V&A’s.

On the nightlife front, we think the Disney Dream similarly has the advantage. This is largely thanks to Skyline Bar, which is to adults what Animator’s Palate is to kids. Get a few drinks in you, and you’ll probably believe you’re in all of those different cities as the bar’s backdrop changes.

Joking aside, this adults’ district is more effective because it features environments where people actually want to spend time (like Skyline), and because these spaces are significantly smaller. Normally, small plus cool is a recipe for disaster with Disney offerings, as it means long waits and big crowds. That’s not really the case on Disney Cruise Line, as (in our experience) the boats become pretty quiet in the evening hours. That means the cavernous entertainment areas in After Hours on the Disney Magic feel empty, creating a poor atmosphere, which encourages people to leave quickly.

By contrast, there’s a palpable energy to Skyline, Pink, and District Lounge thanks to the spaces being more inviting, which encourages people to stick around. Both have self-fulfilling prophecies of sorts, albeit in opposite directions. We’re actually a bit surprised After Hours on the Magic hasn’t been re-imagined to something more like these bars, as it seems like there’s more than enough space for it. Perhaps the bigger issue is demand, or lack thereof?

Then there’s the AquaDuck, the 765 feet long water slide that you ride on rafts for 1-2 people. Do I really have to state the obvious here? This is awesome. While the re-imagining of the Disney Magic added the AquaDunk to those ships, that’s a pale imitator that is too short. This is both exhilarating and oddly relaxing. It’s like a tamer version of Crush ‘N’ Gusher at Typhoon Lagoon, but you can enjoy the view and the ride isn’t as rough. Highly recommended first thing in the morning.

Aside from that, the pool scene is pretty comparable on both ships. The Disney Dream has Donald’s Pool, Mickey’s Pool, Nemo’s Reef, and the adults’ area, Quiet Cove. There are some differences in terms of the layout of the pools, and we think it’s noteworthy that the hot tubs in Quiet Cove offer ocean (or port) views that make them particularly appealing.

We felt the staterooms on the Disney Magic made a great use of space, and the same holds true for the staterooms on the Disney Dream. Previously, we had a verandah room and this time the room was an inside room (the virtual portholes are a nice touch for those who don’t want to splurge for an outside room), so it’s not really possible for a fair head-to-head comparison. (Also, the Disney Dream room was an ADA room.)

The rooms certainly don’t feel like you’re trapped in a sardine can, but your mileage may vary on that depending upon how much time you spend in your stateroom. With so much to do and see on the ship, it’s hard to justify spending much time in the room. Even “relaxing” activities like reading, working, or having a cup of coffee are all better enjoyed in common areas on the ship. In our experience, there are plenty of quiet corners and places to relax away from the crowds.

Without question, my favorite element of the Disney Cruise Line ships is the grandiose atrium lobbies, complete with their resplendent chandeliers. The first time we stepped foot on the Disney Magic, it was like some sort of time warp took us to a Disneyfied version of the Titanic.

The centerpiece of this is the Art Deco chandelier that was custom designed for the Disney Dream in Northern Italy and measures 22 feet diameter at the ceiling plate and comes down 13 feet from the ceiling. It is 24kt gold plated with a total of 88,680 Swarovski crystal beads. Make sure to take plenty of photos of this thing, as the pro-rated cost of this fancy chandelier is approximately $26.89 for the life of the ship. (And you wondered why Disney cruises cost so much as compared to the competition! 😉 ).

In terms of entertainment, you have the Walt Disney Theatre, which presents 3 different shows, each of which come in at just under an hour in duration. There’s the character-montage, with a heartwarming moral lesson in Disney’s Believe , the ever-popular Golden Mickeys awards show, and Villains Tonight. You’ll want to make time for each of these shows–although we think the writing isn’t the greatest in any of them, they are still well-worth seeing, especially if you’re a big Disney fan wanting a theme park-esque “fix” from the cruise.

As far as the highlights of the Disney Dream that are different from our past experience on the Disney Magic, that about covers it. Obviously, there’s a lot more entertainment than what we’ve covered–and much of that varies from cruise to cruise (consult your Personal Navigator for that).

If you want to see a first-run Disney movie during your cruise, the Buena Vista Theatre plays them throughout the day. Just remember that your waking per-hour cost of a cruise is probably higher than a movie ticket, which makes seeing movies on a cruise about as effective at “saving money” as paying $80 for a Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party ticket in order to trick or treat.

Beyond that, there are tons of other activities, from shopping to spas, to sports. From basketball to shuffleboard to ping pong to volleyball and more. There’s also a robust Fitness Center with a variety of machines, plus aerobic and yoga classes.

Shortly after we sailed, the Oceaneer’s Club for kids was totally redone ; the highlight of this re-do is a Star Wars play area that looks like the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon.

Overall, there’s a lot to like about the Disney Dream, and it really feels like a second-generation cruise ship, with Disney having learned from the Disney Magic and Wonder, and incorporating that into the design of the Dream. Although many of these differences are subtle, everything about it just feels like a “2.0” experience. Again, we want to reiterate that this isn’t a knock on the Disney Magic by any means. We were blown away by our first experience setting sail with Disney (and I was not expecting it to suit my personality at all), and it’s not as if the Magic is rough around the edges or some sort of slouch. The Disney Dream just slightly better. Because of that, we would definitely recommend it over the Disney Magic–but not by such a significant margin that you should weigh the ships more heavily than the itineraries. With that said, all things being equal, we’d give the nod to the Disney Dream. If you’re able to justify the price (or can find an off-season deal), Disney Cruise Line delivers on the Disney quality, and offers the “Disney Difference.”

If you enjoyed this post or found it helpful, we’d really appreciate it if you’d share it via social media to help spread the word. We put a lot of work into making this site a helpful planning resource, and hope it’s useful to you! 🙂

YOUR THOUGHTS

Have you ever set sail on the Disney Dream? What do you think of it? If you’ve sailed other ships, how do you think it stacks up to those? Any other tips to add or recommendations? If you have questions or thoughts, please share them below and we’ll try to respond!

Written by Tom Bricker

We just took our first cruise on the Disney Dream a couple months ago and there was so much to see and do! I am interested in the new ships coming out for our next cruise.

First and last time with Disney had to be last group to book excursions and on the first day we could book 2 out the 3 excursions were sold out so thank you Disney for screwing first time cruisers with your line should be on first come first serve basis anyone ask me I will tell go to a different cruise line thank you again Disney for me being a first and last time passenger

I just did cruise check-in, and Remy is now $125 per person. Just wanted to give you a heads-up!

We have only sailed on the Wonder. Having been on a ship of each size, how is it at Castaway Cay? Does it feel crowded with 4000 people vs 2000 people? Thanks!

We sailed on the Fantasy almost exactly a year ago (May 2015), and it’s a very similar ship to the Dream. I hadn’t sailed on a Disney ship in almost 10 years so I really didn’t remember the older ships, though I know we have sailed on the Magic. I have to say, we loved the Fantasy. You are spot on with the adult spaces — they work better because they are smaller, and fewer people tend to use them.

Whenever people hear we have sailed with Disney I always get the “but so many kids!” question. To that end, I think Disney is actually one of the best cruise lines for adult cruising. Since they know there are so many kids, they are extra vigilant about keeping adult-spaces truly for just adults. We were in one of the bars one night watching a hockey game and a mom came in with her two kids (maybe 8 and 10?). They were being perfectly well-behaved, but a bartender still came over and asked them to leave since it’s an adults-only space. I was really impressed. Even though they were being fine, what if they weren’t? I was happy that they kept the precedent across the board, with no exceptions, and I could trust my spaces to have no kids if I chose not to be around them (and please, the kids have SO MANY fun spaces to occupy that are just for them!). Adult pools and bars were diligently kept kid-free, and I really appreciated that as a childless adult.

As for Remy, omg. Definitely on par with V&A. We did it on our cruise and while the bill was, ah, quite expensive, it was amazing and so worth it. Service, food, views…it was incredible. Definitely go at sunset or at least for a bit while the sun is up for amazing, amazing views. We did brunch at Palo and dinner at Remy. If we could only do one, I would chose Remy.

When did you and Sarah go? Recently, or is this based on an older trip?

Thank you for all of your terrific posts. I’ve really enjoyed reading them over the past couple of months. Did you by any chance use your computer on your cruise? We have a family business that requires us to work on our vacations and I was curious about whether you had trouble with internet access.

Hey Tom, the Fantasy is the latest ship, not the Dream, so the Dream is benefiting from the ideas that went into Magic and Wonder.

Great Post! At the end you said that the Dream learned the mistakes made on the Magic and the Fantasy. Did you mean the Wonder? The Fantasy came after the Dream, it’s sister ship. Best Wishes!

”the Magic feels much better suited for short cruises.”

It’s an interesting perception of the Magic. I have felt the opposite. We spent three weeks on the Magic sailing Norway and Iceland last year and felt that the Magic was perfect for longer cruising. I say this because you get your Disney fix in the evenings and can spend that time relaxing after a destination heavy itinerary. This is especially beneficial after having previously caught flights all over Europe. Cast members also then became close friends in this longer and intimate environment.

When sailing the Caribbean or Bahamas I can see why the ship needs to be the destination as the ports are, in my opinion, less exciting. The Magic’s itineraries in Europe are port focused and therefore you don’t quite need the bells and whistles that the Dream and Fantasy have (don’t get me wrong, I love bells and whistles). If you’re sailing the Magic to the Caribbean then I’d I agree that the Dream class may offer something more.

I think I can reduce my point to this: With port intensive itineraries a longer cruise on the Magic/Wonder is fantastic as the ports are the destination.

For the Bahamas and the Caribbean the ship is the destination and perhaps a week is about the right time.

I think you’ve nailed it. When the ship is the destination (such as it is in the Caribbean and the Bahamas, where the ports of call are rather ho-hum and a large portion of the manifest has literally “been there, done that”), the ship needs to have extended bells and whistles. But when the destination is Europe, Alaska, or the Panama Canal (though Panama transverse cruises tend to have a lot of sea days), the smaller, more intimate ships are, I think, the perfect size: accommodating without being overwhelming.

That’s an interesting perspective, and having never done one of those longer itineraries, you are probably much more qualified to offer an opinion than I am. My assumption was that more time on the ship (in terms of days) meant a bigger ship would be preferable. I never considered that there are certain longer itineraries that ‘wear you out’ with much more interesting port destinations.

Thanks for sharing that!

Can you make me one of those fork sculptures?

The Dream was the first ship my wife and I ever said on (our first cruise ever), and we were immediately hooked. The ship is just beautiful – I think one of the best designed spaces I’ve seen anywhere, forget the fact that this thing is floating at sea. Since then we’ve been on all 4 other Disney ships, and I think the design of the Dream is still my favorite. That said – I think the title of best Disney ship probably goes to the Fantasy, the Dream’s younger sibling. They took everything great about the Dream and upped the anti with an additional show in Animators Palate for the longer 7 night sailings, as well as a few tweaked spaces to make it better for the long hauls (the Fantasy sails 7 nights sailings only, while the Dream alternates 3/4/5 night sailings, but never gets to 7 nights so they never have the additional show).

Side note – At the end you say the lessons learned from the “Magic and Fantasy”… I think you mean Magic & Wonder as those are the two older ships. The Fantasy is the newest ship in the fleet.

Yes, I was wondering if he meant the Magic and Wonder, too, instead of the Fantasy…Glad I’m not the only one. 😉

We sailed on the magic a few years ago, loved everything except the kids pools..they were tiny, therefore VERY crowded. Is the Dream better in this area?

Whoops! meant the Magic!

in its favor, the Wonder does have Clara Oman,..

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of new posts by email.

Carnival, Royal Caribbean and more change cruise itineraries amid Hurricane Ernesto

Cruise lines are changing itineraries in an effort to avoid Hurricane Ernesto . The storm brought heavy rain and wind to Puerto Rico Wednesday, leaving close to half the island without power and prompting flash flood warnings. The Virgin Islands also felt the impacts.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Pride ship, which left from Baltimore for a Bermuda cruise on Sunday, moved its visit to the island up by one day, arriving on Tuesday and leaving on Thursday, the cruise line said.

Carnival Magic skipped a planned stop in San Juan on Wednesday and will make an additional stop in Nassau in the Bahamas on Friday. The ship left Miami on Sunday for an Eastern Caribbean cruise.

“As the safety of our guests and crew is our priority, we will continue to watch the storm and factor in guidance from the National Hurricane Center, U.S. Coast Guard and the local port authorities to provide timely updates as more information becomes available,” the cruise line said in a news release .

Norwegian Cruise Line rerouted Eastern Caribbean cruises on its Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Breakaway ships to the Western Caribbean, according to a spokesperson. The ships departed from Miami on Monday and Sunday, respectively.

Their new itineraries include Roatan in Honduras, Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico and Harvest Caye in Belize (Sky will also stop in Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios in Jamaica).

Was your cruise itinerary changed?: Here's what to do next

Norwegian Joy , which left for a Bermuda cruise from New York on Sunday, arrived at the island on Tuesday, one day ahead of schedule. While the ship will spend two nights at the Royal Naval Dockyard as planned, it will depart Thursday, a day earlier than planned.

“The safety and security of our guests, crew and the communities we visit is a top priority,” a spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

Royal Caribbean International’s Rhapsody of the Seas will make planned stops on its Southern Caribbean cruise in a different order, but no ports were canceled, according to a spokesperson for the line’s parent company, Royal Caribbean Group . The ship departed from San Juan on Sunday.

Icon of the Seas , which departed from Miami on Saturday, is sailing a Western Caribbean itinerary rather than an Eastern Caribbean cruise as planned. Stops include Cozumel, Costa Maya and Roatan. 

Symphony of the Seas, which left from Bayonne, New Jersey , for an Eastern Caribbean cruise on Friday, will also visit Nassau rather than Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

Disney Announces Major Cruise Line Expansion with 4 New Ships

Disney Cruise Line will add the new ships to its fleet by 2031.

Disney Cruise Line plans to add four new ships in the coming years, bringing its total fleet size to 13.

The new ships, which Disney announced as part of its D23 event this weekend, will arrive between 2027 and 2031. Disney said the names of the new ships, their design, and where they would sail were still in development.

“At Disney Experiences, Imagineers dream, create, design and build these stories into real places… everything we’re going to share with you is in active development,” Josh D’Amaro, the chairman of Disney Experiences, said in a statement. “Plans are drawn. Dirt is moving.”

In addition to the newly announced ships, Disney currently operates five ships and is planning on adding four more in the near future, including the Disney Destiny , which the company plans to launch in 2025. That ship will feature a heroes and villains theme along with recently-announced new restaurants like a “The Lion King”-themed spot complete with windows that transition from sunrise to sunset as you eat, tiered risers made to look like African drums, live musicians and storytellers, and favorite songs like the “Circle of Life” and “Hakuna Matata.”

The company is also preparing for the launch of the Disney Treasure , which is set to hit the high seas late this year. Over the weekend, D’Amaro detailed a new onboard stage production all about “Moana” on the ship, which will feature a larger-than-life 15-foot-tall puppet version of the fiery Te Kā.

“I’ve had a chance to see this in person, and it is stunning,” D’Amaro said, adding the puppet was “the largest we’ve ever produced for a Disney Cruise Line show.” 

Currently, Disney sails to the Caribbean, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Alaska, Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, Australia, and beyond.

In addition to large ocean cruises , Disney operates a series of expedition and river cruises through its Adventures by Disney brand.

For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure .

• Live In The D
• Newsletters

Your guide to the 2024 Woodward Dream Cruise: What you need to know

Dream cruise takes place each year on the third saturday in august.

Ken Haddad , Digital Managing Editor

DETROIT – The 2024 Woodward Dream Cruise is Saturday, August 17. Here’s everything you need to know.

The Woodward Dream Cruise is the world’s largest one-day celebration of classic car culture that attracts over 1 million visitors, and more than 40,000 muscle cars, street rods, custom, collector and special interest vehicles.

Recommended Videos

The Woodward Dream Cruise takes place each year on the third Saturday in August, and runs between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

What is the Dream Cruise?

In August 1995, Nelson House and a group of volunteers looked to relive and recreate the nostalgic heydays of the 50s and 60s, when youth, music and Motor City steel roamed Woodward Avenue, America’s first highway.

That year, 250,000 people participated—nearly ten times the number expected. The rest, as they say, is history.

Where is the Dream Cruise route?

The Woodward Dream Cruise spans much of the avenue: classic vehicle drivers cruise through nine participating communities (Pontiac, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham, Royal Oak, Berkley, Huntington Woods, Pleasant Ridge and Ferndale) in Oakland County, Michigan. Spectators and cruisers travel to Metro Detroit, the birthplace of the American automobile, to participate in an event that celebrates all things automotive.

How much does it cost?

There are no fees to cruise in the event or to watch. Anyone can participate although, those not driving a classic car are asked to stay out of the two right lanes nearest to the curb.

Where do folks park?

The Woodward Dream Cruise is a spectacular experience to drive, or, merely watch and marvel from the sidelines. Public parking is available along or near the cruise route.

Public safety info

The Woodward Dream Cruise is an alcohol-free, family-oriented event. As public safety is paramount, cruisers are asked to obey all rules of the road.

Police departments from each community patrol on foot, horseback and vehicles during the Cruise to ensure a safe and family-friendly environment for everyone. A team of amateur radio operators also serve as additional “eyes and ears” of law enforcement officials along the Cruise route.

More info at the official website.

Copyright 2024 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.

About the Author

Ken Haddad has proudly been with WDIV/ClickOnDetroit since 2013. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters, and helps lead the WDIV Insider team. He's a big sports fan and is constantly sipping Lions Kool-Aid.

Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines.