NCL Dream inside cabin?

[toriarafal]

We are booked in an inside cabin on the "Dream" - Deck 4 - Carribbean deck - do not know what to expect. I do know it is located aft. (I think it is the steerage compartment) Hoping it will be okay - don't plan to spend too much time in cabin, but do want to have a nice experience. This is our first cruise and celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. Hoping to hear from someone.... thanks.

 

[scrappy]

I was on the NCL Dream on Jan 23 05 and we were booked for an inside cabin and received an upgrade to an outside with 2 portholes. We were also on deck 4 so when we walked by rooms where the doors were left open when housekeeping was cleaning we peeked in. They were small ! Mind you not alot smaller than ours. I've been on 2 other cruises and I did not like the layouts of these rooms. The beds are closest to the doors with the seating area on the other side of the beds. If you are the unlucky one of having to sleep farthest awat from the bathroom good luck not stubbing a body part in the middle of the night. I have had inside cabins for my first 2 cruises and I didn't mind it at all,my suggestion would be bring a night light as it is pitch dark at all times of the day when the lights are out.

Have fun and congratulations on your 25th!!!
Leah from Canada

 

[Hikini]

I haven't been on the Dream, but have been in an inside cabin on another NCL ship - the Sky. I didn't mind the inside at all, but you never have any sense of what time of day it is. Otherwise it is perfectly dark for getting some good shut eye.

I don't know about the Dream but the other NCL ships I've been on have a TV channel that shows the front of the ship at all times. So if you're in your room and have the urge to know what it's like out there, turn on that channel.

I've been in both inside and outside rooms and if you're looking to save money, the inside rooms are a bargain. You get the same food, the same shows, the same service and the same mint on your pillow as the people who are staying in the fancier suites!

And really, you don't spend a lot of time in your stateroom anyway.

And congrats on your 25th - we just passed 21.

Hikini

 

[toriarafal]

Leah, Thank you so much for your reply - I have tried to tell myself that it will be okay since we won't be in the cabin much anyway - but when you are not sure what to expect, it is nice to get some tried and true advice from someone that has been there. I know I was told that we qualified for an upgrade when I purchased my tickets, but I don't know how that works. I don't know if you have to spend extra money or they just tell you if one is available. Anyway - I was expecting small - so I guess I should just be prepared for "extra" small. Thank you again for the valuable information and the Congrats.

 

[toriarafal]

Hikini,

Thanks also for the helpful feedback. I wrote to Leah who posted as well and I really do appreciate the feedback. I guess I am just a little worried since we have never cruised before. You are right that is it cheaper by far and you do get the same service as the other "fancier" cabins. I think that I am overly obsessed with "cruise on the brain" ! I just want it to be a great experience. Have read some bad reviews of the ship, but have also read some great reviews that restored my hope. Our luggage tickets show that we are located "aft" is that a good location as far as motion? Also being on deck four, is that good or bad??? Thanks again for your reply and the congrats. Congrats to you as well, 21 or 25 years is saying alot in this day and age. It certainly calls for a celebration. Thanks again.

Toriafafal

 

[Hikini]

I learned not to pay attention to negative reviews. Before both of our cruises I read reviews that were so bad. I'm convinced that those people wouldn't have a good time no matter what was done for them. Sometimes it's all about what you make it.

I totally "get it" when it comes to "cruise on the brain!" That's how I spend most of the time! Living right here in Seattle, and having a water view - we see the cruise ships go by every Saturday and Sunday during the AK cruise season. It sure gets the juices flowing!

I don't know about AFT - we've always stayed FWD - but I've heard from others that AFT or MID are the smoothest places to be. You couldn't prove it by me. I've also heard that being on a lower deck is better, which makes sense.

I don't have trouble with motion sickness, but my Mom gets a little queasy. She is elderly, but that's not going to stop her from going! We keep Ginger Ale on hand. Ginger is known to be a stomach settler. Also, I would recommend going to a health-type store and asking them for some kind of motion sickness supplement. You can at least have it with you just in case. I would be so upset to get sick on a cruise! Better safe than sorry, as we always hear, so I always go prepared.

If you don't want to take Ginger Ale along - it is available on the ship for about $1.50 a can.

We are cruising for the 3rd time with NCL this coming Sept. I don't have anything to compare it to since we've only cruised with NCL but I can tell you - we have been treated like royalty on board. I had a small issue on this last cruise (June, 2004) and wrote a note and left it at the reception desk. It wasn't one half hour later there was a message on our stateroom phone - the head of (whatever department it was) want to meet with me. She bent over backwards to make things right - and it wasn't even that big of a deal. We've always been treated with the utmost of respect and kindness.

My parents are elderly and my Dad has mobility concerns. The staff is always so gracious and helpful - going far beyond what I would consider as "expected" service.

I know you'll have a great time and I look forward to reading your review after your cruise!

Hikini

 

[scrappy]

Our room # was 4242 AFT and we had REALLY rough seas on the Friday night when we left Cancun and Sat at sea ALL day. It was horrible. The captain was supposedly looking for a "calmer" route. It was so rough at times that the waves were hitting out portholes in the room. I took gravol and slept the whole day away. I will tell you that it was alot calmer in our room than it was on the higher decks. Another word of advice. When you get your luggage tags Friday night they are going to be yellow which means you are the LAST to get off the ship and believe me you have staff trying to get into your room to make it up for the new people to arrive so you really feel like you're intruding in your own cabin. Depending on when your flights leave on Sunday ask for a luggage tag that allows you to get off the ship earlier. The first to get off was at 0850 hrs we did not get off until 1045. If your plane is leaving later in the day ask if there is someplace in the terminal to store your luggage and walk over to the French Market 10 min walk. I really hope you are staying in New Orleans for a few days before. This was the absolute highlight of my trip and I plan to go there for a week next time. Also on Wed or Thurs morn. I can't remember but they'll have a shore excursion talk and you have a chance to win a 1000.00 bracelet in a free draw. In the maps that they give out for the ports for Belize and Cancun that morn. it will be highlighted pink or some other color inside, that is how they determine who wins the bracelet. She {Candace} really pumps Diamonds International,all the free stuff that you can go and collect at these places for telling them that you are sailing on the Dream are a waste of time it's just really cheap junk. In Cozumel you can get a free bag at this store where the clothing changes color when it's introduced to light. You spend 10 dollars and get a free bag that's worth 18.That's the only thing that's worth it. DO NOT take the Air Boat/Belize city tour in Belize. A total rip off of 70 or 80 US dollars. You cannot see Manatees feeding only the guides saw them {yeah right} Alligators hibernate also but no one tells you that when the take your 80 bucks. If you want to go on a airboat and see the same birds over and over again that's the tour. Horrible. The people in Belize are very assertive and try to get you to go in their cabs for a "city tour" DON'T. They are so poor there you have no clue where they would take you and the ship would have no way of knowing where you went.. Do NOT go off the beaten path in Belize. We were so tired of these people {men} getting in your face and following you down the street trying to get you to take a tour that we went back to the ship 3 hours early. Note both my friend and I are female Correctional Officers in a federal mens prison and do not get intimidated but are certainly aware of our surroundings and we were both uncomfortable. Just beware that you are in a very poor country and desperate people may do stupid things. If you are staying in New Orleans the swamp tour is also is very quick to take your 85US to go see alligators on an air boat and don't tell you that they are hibernating and you will not see one. I like it anyways at least its a couple of hours and the guides families have owned that swamp for generations so they make it very interestin and informative. He had a 3 year old alligator in the front of the boat where the life jackets were stored that he brought out at the end of the day. He supposedly caught him "sunning" himself that morning but I bet they keep him in a pool or something just for that purpose. It was neat though. If you want anymore tips or info let me know.
Leah

 

[toriarafal]

Leah, Wow, thanks for the extensive email. You know its like the more information you can get, the better you feel. When you have never cruised before, you do not know what to expect! I am one that likes to know what to expect and plan, plan, plan. Well I don't feel too uncomfortable about the cabin as much anymore thanks to all the info I have received. I realize it is not the premium accomadations, but I wanted to save alittle money and put it into the various ports with shopping, shopping and more shopping. As for leaving on Sunday morning, we live about an hour from New Orleans into Mississippi (the Gulf Coast) so - no plane to catch. I really enjoy the French Quarter and French Market, we get over there several times a year. As far as excursions, the only one we decided to book was, Belize - Lamanai Ruins/River tour, Roatan - Fantasy Island Resort. I didn't want to do my own thing in these two ports simply because of some of the reviews - safety issues. Cozumel - Paradise Beach and shopping - Cancun - haven't made plans since it appears that the ship doesn't always make it ther. Well that's it in a nut shell. I also purchased the anniversay package - it seemed like a pretty good deal for the price. Do you know if they have irons aboard or do you need to take a travel iron? Thanks again - Victoria

 

[scrappy]

No I don't know about ironing boards or irons. They deliver a bag on Tues that you can fill up with dirty laundry and they do it all for one price. I didn't pay attention to it as I have never used the service. I always take a small container of liquid soap and wash undergarments in the sink and in the showers there is a retractable clothes line for drying! I have always taken way too many clothes and end up not wearing half of what I take---some people never learn. Well if you are driving believe me you'll want to get off the ship and start heading home as soon as you can. If you're like many people it's great to get away but it is so nice knowing you're going home. Tell them at the pursers desk on Friday night that your plane is leaving around 1100am and you need to get off the ship with the first to disembark I'm telling you it really does feel like your intruding in your own room on that Sun because they are in such a hurry to get things cleaned up. Trust me, you'll be ready to get off. Have a great time!!

 

[Hikini]

We check the box that we don't need to get off the ship right away, and have been the last group to leave. But we don't wait in our room. We go to one of the lounges, (Spinnaker on the Star) or to the game room and play cards until it's our turn to leave the ship. It's relaxing this way and we aren't in anyone's way as they are trying to get the rooms ready for the next group.