A Cool Way to Start the Day
Galveston, TX
Saturday, June 29, 2019
DREAMS DO COME TRUE... Thank you Jesus!
Disclaimer
In June 2019 Chris and I took a 5 day Mexican cruise aboard the
Carnival Dream sailing out of Galveston, TX. This was our 2nd time sailing on the Carnival Dream.
This gorgeous floating hotel took us to the following destinations:
Cozumel, Mexico
Progreso, Mexico (OUR FIRST TIME TO VISIT)
The Carnival Dream... Our home away from home for the next 5 days!
I have been on 16 other cruises prior to this one and Chris has been on 15 (thanks to the Girls Cruise);
9 with Carnival, 4 with Royal Caribbean, 2 with Norwegian and 1 with Princess. This blog will include an updated
review of the Carnival Dream (and what we have noticed both good and bad since 2017), daily entries of our
5 days aboard, a "Foodies" blog highlighting all of the food options available on the Carnival Dream, a post
linking all of the FunTimes as well as an extensive photo review of the ship. Thank you SO MUCH to all my
followers... without you the blog would not be as popular as it is today!
Be sure to stay tuned as the posts come through over the next few days and weeks.
(We are headed to Vegas in a few days so there might be a slight delay... I will do my
best to keep them coming)
Back Story
This cruise was booked somewhat last minute (at least for us) about 5 months before
the sail date since my kids would be on their annual Baseball Trip with my parents,
Gigi and Poppy. We had already sailed on the Carnival Dream but had never been on a
5 day cruise OR been to Progreso, Mexico. This cruise was more about rest and relaxation
and less about the ship. However, this cruise was also a celebration of mine (and now Chris's) new jobs
and our new journey we are about to "embark" upon. The title of this blog... Dream Do Come True, says it all.
Thank you Jesus for these Blessings!
Morning
Our typical cruise excitement meant we were "up and at em" by 7:30AM and headed south. We
made our traditional stop at Kolache Factory (A Sailing out of Galveston tradition) before putting
the pedal to the medal to get to our ship. We arrived at the Galveston Cruise Terminal by 9:15AM.
Even if I am not going on a cruise... I love the feeling I get when I see this sign!
There she is... She is a BEAUTY!
We dropped our luggage with a porter (TIP- We tip about $2-3 per suitcase)and then I went
and parked the car at EZ CRUISE PARKING. TIP- This is a great parking lot, especially
for shorter cruises. It offers covered and non-covered parking as well as shuttle option.
We chose to save money and just walk to and from the terminal as it is less than
3 blocks away.
EZ Cruise Parking WEBPAGE- Can Book From HERE
Once I got back to the terminal I joined Chris in what was a called a "line". The priority guests
(Diamond, Platinum, Suites and FTTF guests) were allowed access into the actual terminal while
the rest of the guests waited outside in this unorganized line until about 10AM.
Insiders Info- Carnival has set up "Arrival Appointments" for guests in most of their embarkation
ports, including Galveston. This is an appointment time you make of your arrival time. In the past,
Galveston terminal workers have enforced this time with diligence and if you arrived early... too
bad! They made you wait. We were unsure how it would work since it had been 2 years since we
had sailed CARNIVAL out of Galveston so we arrived exceptionally early for our 11:30AM arrival
appointment.
It turns out that the terminal workers were allowing almost anyone into the terminal at 10AM
despite their arrival appointment times. One worker said "It is TOO HOT for you to stay out here".
I 100% agree with this statement and I am really glad Carnival and Galveston had
decided the guests and their comfort is a priority.
Once inside the terminal, we were greeted at the 1st stop with an agent who CHECKED US in
immediately. In the past this was about 3-4 stations later but they got us checked in right there.
They did not give us our Sail and Sign card as those would be in the Stateroom at 1:30PM
outside in the mailbox. This seemed odd to me but they said to just use your "Boarding Pass".
This is the pass you print off when you check-in online.
TIP- This boarding pass was used by ALL passengers until about 3PM or so. Be sure to
keep it with you after you get checked in.
The whole check-in process was very different than the last time we sailed on Carnival. All good
changes, in my opinion, and it created a smoother embarkation process. It felt more like a airport
terminal and less like a cruise terminal. Now I did notice a lot of people getting up and asking
about boarding and Sail and Sign cards so perhaps the Terminal officials could have made it
all a little bit clearer, but overall it was very easy.
TIP- When you check-in online, you will choose an arrival time and then be assigned a
BOARDING ZONE. I was told by an official onboard that these BOARDING ZONES are
assigned based off of past guest status first and then on first come first serve.
Meaning, if you check-in online early, you will get an earlier or lower Boarding Zone. Online
check-in begins about 90 prior to sail date and I literally set an alarm for my date and got up
and got us checked in online that day. We had the 2nd zone after the priority guests.
SO BE SURE TO CHECK IN EARLY... If you can!
As typical for most cruise lines and embarkation ports, the embarkation process begin right at
11AM. Once the priority guests and weddings were called, we were then called and were
making our way to the ship (Via deck 0 since the Terminal 1 Gangway is currently broken) and
we heard our 1st DING at 11:21AM.
When we got on the elevator at Deck 0 there was a crewmember manning the elevator and
told us to get off at Deck 5 (Lanai) and wait for Lido to open for lunch around Noon.
This seemed odd as we have boarded earlier than this in the past and everything was open.
We didn't let it bother us and just went with it. It turned out that Guys Pig and Anchor BBQ
was actually open and serving guests. In the past this venue was only open on SEA DAYS
so this was a surprise to us. In hindsight, I would HIGHLY recommend guests do this and eat
at Guys Pig and Anchor EARLY in the cruise (Such as Embarkation Day) as it is
somewhat of a hidden jewel. The food and service at Guy's BBQ was spot-on,
just as we remembered.
Guy's Pig and Anchor BBQ... GO and Check it out! Great BBQ and FAST service!
The FunSHIP! The cruise has now officially begun!
Afternoon
We then made our way up to the Pasta Bella pasta bar on Deck 11 above the buffet. This is
another HIDDEN GEM on the Carnival Dream class ships and offers Made-to-Order pasta dishes
FOR FREE during lunch on Sea Days (12-2:30PM) and on Embarkation Day. I like it because I
can ask for a TINY portion and still be able to taste test items on the 1st day. TIP- This area is
also open during breakfast everyday and is a very quiet and peaceful escape from the
craziness of the buffet.
Great service and exceptional food. Another Hidden Gem on the Dream Class ships!
Remember... It is FREE at lunch!
It was a gorgeous day on the island and the temperatures were in the lower 80s. This is completely
unheard of in the summer in TEXAS. There was a storm on the horizon and it was cooling things
off very nicely. We enjoyed some time in the shade on the port side of the ship Deck 11 for over an
hour. In fact, they announced cabins were ready promptly at 1:30 and we continued to lay out.
This was a first for us... We almost always got immediately to our cabin to unpack!
Here comes the rain again! But man.. .The cooler temps were NICE!
I am in my HAPPY place!
We DID finally get up when the rain came pouring in and lightning and thunder were rolling. This
was our cue to go and unpack! Our luggage was at our cabin at 2PM and we did not pay
for the Faster to the Fun, which ensures early luggage delivery.
TIP- Inside Stateroom 6376 is a SIDEWAYS Interior cabin on an inside corridor on Deck 6.
The layout of the cabin is much different than regular inside cabins and has a LOT MORE
ROOM. There are only about 10 of these cabins on the Dream Class ships and are a GREAT
bargain and our favorite inside cabins on any cruise line or ship!
STATEROOM 6376
Since the Carnival Dream was
setting sail earlier than usual at 3:30PM, the Muster Drill began at 3PM and bars and food service
were shut down at 2:30PM to prepare. This seemed very early to me but setting sail earlier meant
we got more time in our destination ports so it was a winning situation. TIP- Keep this in mind if
you are traveling in on sailing day, especially if you are flying in the same day.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND flying in the night before to ensure you do not miss the ship!
TIP- The Carnival Dream Class Ships (Dream, Magic and Breeze) have all of their Muster
Stations INDOORS which is SO NICE in the Texas Heat. However, they are usually in
smaller spaces so if you are claustrophobic, go slow getting to your Muster Station or
you will be in the back and packed in like cattle.
After the Muster Drill we went to Deck 10 to call our kids one more time. They were traveling with
Gigi and Poppy to Ohio and Pennsylvania for their Annual Baseball Trip. Shortly after we hung up,
it began to rain pretty steadily for a while. It was past 3:30PM and we were still not sailing so we
decided to try out the Lanai hot-tubs.
We're going to miss you sweet girl! See you in 5 days!
Goodbye Galveston... See you in 5 days!
The Lanai deck... This deck offers a FULL wrap around walking area, lounge chairs and
4 hot tubs, as well as Guy's Pig and Anchor BBQ and so much more!
By the time we changed and got back to the Deck 5 port side Lanai Hot Tubs, we were sailing
(Around 3:50PM). The hot tubs were ANYTHING but hot! Of course, it was still raining on and off
so keep in mind that it is hard to keep them hot in this weather. But hey... Thanks to the weather,
we got the hot tub all to ourselves. We stayed in the hot tub for over an hour before taking a
HOT shower (Geez it was cold) and going to dinner.
Evening
We had the Anytime Dining, which meant you could eat anytime from 5:45 to 9:30PM in the Crimson
DIning Room on Deck 3 Midship. We made our way to the Atrium at 6PM expecting to see a line
and we got right in. The service in the Main Dining Room was good overall, although not up
to the standard of Royal Caribbean, which we just sailed in March. Our waiter, Putu, was very
good but it became obvious over the course of the cruise that his 2 other partners were IN
TRAINING. This meant that they did not have our drinks ready at our table when we arrived, or
have our other NIGHTLY requests ready. This could have bothered some people but not us. In fact,
on a couple of nights, they forgot one of my appetizers or missed items we ordered. But again,
I did not let this bother me or "ruin my cruise".
TIP- I have said it before but a cruise is what you make of it. You are on vacation... let
loose and TRY NOT to let little things bother you.
American Table in the Crimson Dining Room.
We were still in and out of the MDR within 1 hour and 20 minutes. After dinner we made our way
to the aft of the ship to try and catch the sunset. TIP- The 1st night, when sailing from
Galveston, the sunset will be in the aft which is the ABSOLUTE best place for both
wake views and sunsetviews. If you like sunsets, do not miss this on the outbound
night #1.
There is NO PLACE I would rather be! This view is PRICELESS!
I think it is going to be a GREAT CRUISE!
Since we have sailed on Carnival many times before, we chose not to go to the Welcome
Aboard show as it is usually the same from ship to ship. However, if you are a 1st time cruiser, I
would recommend going. It is usually funny and informational to say the very least.
We made our way to the Serenity Deck on Deck 15 forward to enjoy the cooler weather
in a clamshell. These are my favorite and are only on Carnival Ships with a Serenity (Adults
Only) area. Check them out... you will not be disappointed.
We went to the Mini Golf to try and play our traditional round of golf but there weren't any golf
balls. It seems that one of the "props" in the course was eating the balls. We waited for
over 20 minutes before a teenage boy brought us his golf ball. We played the 18 hole course
and Chris won by 4 holes. He has defended his 3 cruise winning streak! Eventually, I will win
again! TIP- If you are REALLY into this mini-golf, bring your own golf ball!
The storms had passed and it was a beautiful evening!
A view of the mini golf equipment area at 10PM on embarkation night!
A traditional competitive game... I lost! Good Game Chris!
Afterwards we went to check out the New Carnival Deli in the AFT buffet area. Carnival re-did
their deli Menu in 2019 and were anxious to try some menu items out. Some of the menu
choices were upscale and tasty while others were lacking in our opinion. TIP- This Deli is open
from 11AM to 11PM and is "Made to Order" which means at peak times, there will be a line.
A LONG LINE! We went at 10:55PM and I don't know if it was because the workers were
ready to go or what but we got our order very quickly! Overall, it was a good venue but not at
allour favorite on the Carnival Dream.
The Chicken Buffalo Sandwich... This was good and had great flavor!
The Meatball Sub... Interesting is how I will label it!
One of my FAVORITE things Carnival Offers is Punchliner Comedy Club. This is a nightly
offering of comedy with both family and adults only show. In fact, this is one of the only things
I miss when sailing on other cruise lines. We love comedy. We went to the late night show
(11:30PM)for Brad Tassle's comedy show. He was funny and we enjoyed his show. It was adult
but he did NOT use the F-Bomb every other word like other comedians which we appreciated.
We finally called it a night around 12:30AM. TIP- Carnival Punchliner Comedy Club offers a
pitcher of select cocktails at a discounted rate. It is a great way to share drinks with your
friends or save money! With the gratuity it was $32 for the pitcher. Cheers Friends!
The options of drinks for PITCHERS!
Gary, the Cruise Director at the Punchliner Comedy Club!
Our Gold Loyalty Level GIFTS! Thanks Carnival!
It was a long and exciting day and we enjoyed it
very much, especially the cooler weather. Next up is one
of only 2 sea days and we were ready for some rest and
relaxation.
Next up...
Sea Day #1 on the Carnival Dream!
God is good… ALL the time!
Click on a link to see our past cruising adventures:
Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas- March 2019
The Norwegian Breakaway- November 2018
Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas- 2018
Norwegian Pearl- 2018
Carnival Valor (Girls Cruise)- 2017
Carnival Breeze- 2017
Carnival Dream 2017
Carnival Valor- 2016
Carnival Legend- ALASKA- 2016
Land Vacation- Seattle, WA and Vancouver
"North by Northwest"
Caribbean Princess- 2016
Carnival Triumph- 2015
Carnival Magic- 2015
Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas- 2015
Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas- 2014
Carnival Conquest- 2013
Carnival Conquest- 2006
Galveston, TX
Saturday, June 29, 2019
DREAMS DO COME TRUE... Thank you Jesus!
In June 2019 Chris and I took a 5 day Mexican cruise aboard the
Carnival Dream sailing out of Galveston, TX. This was our 2nd time sailing on the Carnival Dream.
This gorgeous floating hotel took us to the following destinations:
Progreso, Mexico (OUR FIRST TIME TO VISIT)
The Carnival Dream... Our home away from home for the next 5 days!
9 with Carnival, 4 with Royal Caribbean, 2 with Norwegian and 1 with Princess. This blog will include an updated
review of the Carnival Dream (and what we have noticed both good and bad since 2017), daily entries of our
5 days aboard, a "Foodies" blog highlighting all of the food options available on the Carnival Dream, a post
linking all of the FunTimes as well as an extensive photo review of the ship. Thank you SO MUCH to all my
followers... without you the blog would not be as popular as it is today!
Be sure to stay tuned as the posts come through over the next few days and weeks.
(We are headed to Vegas in a few days so there might be a slight delay... I will do my
best to keep them coming)
This cruise was booked somewhat last minute (at least for us) about 5 months before
the sail date since my kids would be on their annual Baseball Trip with my parents,
Gigi and Poppy. We had already sailed on the Carnival Dream but had never been on a
5 day cruise OR been to Progreso, Mexico. This cruise was more about rest and relaxation
and less about the ship. However, this cruise was also a celebration of mine (and now Chris's) new jobs
and our new journey we are about to "embark" upon. The title of this blog... Dream Do Come True, says it all.
Thank you Jesus for these Blessings!
Our typical cruise excitement meant we were "up and at em" by 7:30AM and headed south. We
made our traditional stop at Kolache Factory (A Sailing out of Galveston tradition) before putting
the pedal to the medal to get to our ship. We arrived at the Galveston Cruise Terminal by 9:15AM.
Even if I am not going on a cruise... I love the feeling I get when I see this sign!
There she is... She is a BEAUTY!
and parked the car at EZ CRUISE PARKING. TIP- This is a great parking lot, especially
for shorter cruises. It offers covered and non-covered parking as well as shuttle option.
We chose to save money and just walk to and from the terminal as it is less than
3 blocks away.
(Diamond, Platinum, Suites and FTTF guests) were allowed access into the actual terminal while
the rest of the guests waited outside in this unorganized line until about 10AM.
ports, including Galveston. This is an appointment time you make of your arrival time. In the past,
Galveston terminal workers have enforced this time with diligence and if you arrived early... too
bad! They made you wait. We were unsure how it would work since it had been 2 years since we
had sailed CARNIVAL out of Galveston so we arrived exceptionally early for our 11:30AM arrival
appointment.
despite their arrival appointment times. One worker said "It is TOO HOT for you to stay out here".
I 100% agree with this statement and I am really glad Carnival and Galveston had
decided the guests and their comfort is a priority.
immediately. In the past this was about 3-4 stations later but they got us checked in right there.
They did not give us our Sail and Sign card as those would be in the Stateroom at 1:30PM
outside in the mailbox. This seemed odd to me but they said to just use your "Boarding Pass".
This is the pass you print off when you check-in online.
TIP- This boarding pass was used by ALL passengers until about 3PM or so. Be sure to
keep it with you after you get checked in.
changes, in my opinion, and it created a smoother embarkation process. It felt more like a airport
terminal and less like a cruise terminal. Now I did notice a lot of people getting up and asking
about boarding and Sail and Sign cards so perhaps the Terminal officials could have made it
all a little bit clearer, but overall it was very easy.
BOARDING ZONE. I was told by an official onboard that these BOARDING ZONES are
assigned based off of past guest status first and then on first come first serve.
Meaning, if you check-in online early, you will get an earlier or lower Boarding Zone. Online
check-in begins about 90 prior to sail date and I literally set an alarm for my date and got up
and got us checked in online that day. We had the 2nd zone after the priority guests.
SO BE SURE TO CHECK IN EARLY... If you can!
11AM. Once the priority guests and weddings were called, we were then called and were
making our way to the ship (Via deck 0 since the Terminal 1 Gangway is currently broken) and
we heard our 1st DING at 11:21AM.
told us to get off at Deck 5 (Lanai) and wait for Lido to open for lunch around Noon.
This seemed odd as we have boarded earlier than this in the past and everything was open.
We didn't let it bother us and just went with it. It turned out that Guys Pig and Anchor BBQ
was actually open and serving guests. In the past this venue was only open on SEA DAYS
so this was a surprise to us. In hindsight, I would HIGHLY recommend guests do this and eat
at Guys Pig and Anchor EARLY in the cruise (Such as Embarkation Day) as it is
somewhat of a hidden jewel. The food and service at Guy's BBQ was spot-on,
just as we remembered.
Guy's Pig and Anchor BBQ... GO and Check it out! Great BBQ and FAST service!
The FunSHIP! The cruise has now officially begun!
We then made our way up to the Pasta Bella pasta bar on Deck 11 above the buffet. This is
another HIDDEN GEM on the Carnival Dream class ships and offers Made-to-Order pasta dishes
FOR FREE during lunch on Sea Days (12-2:30PM) and on Embarkation Day. I like it because I
can ask for a TINY portion and still be able to taste test items on the 1st day. TIP- This area is
also open during breakfast everyday and is a very quiet and peaceful escape from the
craziness of the buffet.
Great service and exceptional food. Another Hidden Gem on the Dream Class ships!
Remember... It is FREE at lunch!
unheard of in the summer in TEXAS. There was a storm on the horizon and it was cooling things
off very nicely. We enjoyed some time in the shade on the port side of the ship Deck 11 for over an
hour. In fact, they announced cabins were ready promptly at 1:30 and we continued to lay out.
This was a first for us... We almost always got immediately to our cabin to unpack!
Here comes the rain again! But man.. .The cooler temps were NICE!
I am in my HAPPY place!
was our cue to go and unpack! Our luggage was at our cabin at 2PM and we did not pay
for the Faster to the Fun, which ensures early luggage delivery.
The layout of the cabin is much different than regular inside cabins and has a LOT MORE
ROOM. There are only about 10 of these cabins on the Dream Class ships and are a GREAT
bargain and our favorite inside cabins on any cruise line or ship!
setting sail earlier than usual at 3:30PM, the Muster Drill began at 3PM and bars and food service
were shut down at 2:30PM to prepare. This seemed very early to me but setting sail earlier meant
we got more time in our destination ports so it was a winning situation. TIP- Keep this in mind if
you are traveling in on sailing day, especially if you are flying in the same day.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND flying in the night before to ensure you do not miss the ship!
TIP- The Carnival Dream Class Ships (Dream, Magic and Breeze) have all of their Muster
Stations INDOORS which is SO NICE in the Texas Heat. However, they are usually in
smaller spaces so if you are claustrophobic, go slow getting to your Muster Station or
you will be in the back and packed in like cattle.
Gigi and Poppy to Ohio and Pennsylvania for their Annual Baseball Trip. Shortly after we hung up,
it began to rain pretty steadily for a while. It was past 3:30PM and we were still not sailing so we
decided to try out the Lanai hot-tubs.
We're going to miss you sweet girl! See you in 5 days!
Goodbye Galveston... See you in 5 days!
The Lanai deck... This deck offers a FULL wrap around walking area, lounge chairs and
4 hot tubs, as well as Guy's Pig and Anchor BBQ and so much more!
(Around 3:50PM). The hot tubs were ANYTHING but hot! Of course, it was still raining on and off
so keep in mind that it is hard to keep them hot in this weather. But hey... Thanks to the weather,
we got the hot tub all to ourselves. We stayed in the hot tub for over an hour before taking a
HOT shower (Geez it was cold) and going to dinner.
We had the Anytime Dining, which meant you could eat anytime from 5:45 to 9:30PM in the Crimson
DIning Room on Deck 3 Midship. We made our way to the Atrium at 6PM expecting to see a line
and we got right in. The service in the Main Dining Room was good overall, although not up
to the standard of Royal Caribbean, which we just sailed in March. Our waiter, Putu, was very
good but it became obvious over the course of the cruise that his 2 other partners were IN
TRAINING. This meant that they did not have our drinks ready at our table when we arrived, or
have our other NIGHTLY requests ready. This could have bothered some people but not us. In fact,
on a couple of nights, they forgot one of my appetizers or missed items we ordered. But again,
I did not let this bother me or "ruin my cruise".
loose and TRY NOT to let little things bother you.
American Table in the Crimson Dining Room.
to the aft of the ship to try and catch the sunset. TIP- The 1st night, when sailing from
Galveston, the sunset will be in the aft which is the ABSOLUTE best place for both
wake views and sunsetviews. If you like sunsets, do not miss this on the outbound
night #1.
There is NO PLACE I would rather be! This view is PRICELESS!
I think it is going to be a GREAT CRUISE!
Aboard show as it is usually the same from ship to ship. However, if you are a 1st time cruiser, I
would recommend going. It is usually funny and informational to say the very least.
in a clamshell. These are my favorite and are only on Carnival Ships with a Serenity (Adults
Only) area. Check them out... you will not be disappointed.
balls. It seems that one of the "props" in the course was eating the balls. We waited for
over 20 minutes before a teenage boy brought us his golf ball. We played the 18 hole course
and Chris won by 4 holes. He has defended his 3 cruise winning streak! Eventually, I will win
again! TIP- If you are REALLY into this mini-golf, bring your own golf ball!
The storms had passed and it was a beautiful evening!
A view of the mini golf equipment area at 10PM on embarkation night!
A traditional competitive game... I lost! Good Game Chris!
their deli Menu in 2019 and were anxious to try some menu items out. Some of the menu
choices were upscale and tasty while others were lacking in our opinion. TIP- This Deli is open
from 11AM to 11PM and is "Made to Order" which means at peak times, there will be a line.
A LONG LINE! We went at 10:55PM and I don't know if it was because the workers were
ready to go or what but we got our order very quickly! Overall, it was a good venue but not at
allour favorite on the Carnival Dream.
The Chicken Buffalo Sandwich... This was good and had great flavor!
The Meatball Sub... Interesting is how I will label it!
offering of comedy with both family and adults only show. In fact, this is one of the only things
I miss when sailing on other cruise lines. We love comedy. We went to the late night show
(11:30PM)for Brad Tassle's comedy show. He was funny and we enjoyed his show. It was adult
but he did NOT use the F-Bomb every other word like other comedians which we appreciated.
We finally called it a night around 12:30AM. TIP- Carnival Punchliner Comedy Club offers a
pitcher of select cocktails at a discounted rate. It is a great way to share drinks with your
friends or save money! With the gratuity it was $32 for the pitcher. Cheers Friends!
The options of drinks for PITCHERS!
Gary, the Cruise Director at the Punchliner Comedy Club!
Our Gold Loyalty Level GIFTS! Thanks Carnival!
very much, especially the cooler weather. Next up is one
of only 2 sea days and we were ready for some rest and
relaxation.
Sea Day #1 on the Carnival Dream!
Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas- March 2019
"North by Northwest"
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