admepo
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- May 21, 2004
I always get such great info here that I wanted to share - we just got off the Dream this morning 3 night Very Merry Christmas Cruise. This was our first Christmas themed cruise, and our first short 3 night cruise. We are a family of six and had two VGT staterooms - we wound up in connecting cabins 10628 & 10630 - both rooms were able to sleep 5 with the pull down bunk and Murphy bed.
Friday’s PAT was 1:15pm, but weather was awful With rain and wind so things were backed up at port. We dropped luggage, waited to get into garage, did the swab and got through testing for the all clear in total in about 1hr 40 minutes. We were on ship, did the muster drill sign off, dropped things in our room and were in cabanas at 3:30. The ship left after 6pm while we were watching beauty and the beast both due to passengers boarding late because of the back up and a technical issue that caused the ship being unable to travel at full speed to castaway cay for Saturday. Because of that our all ashore was after 10:45 and they adjusted our all aboard by a bit to after 5pm.
We were told passenger count was expected around 1500. The ship never seemed crowded. The decor was up for Christmas but the gingerbread house was blocked off and not complete. There was no tree lighting and minimal activities - holiday animation, dickens carolers, story time with Mrs Claus, and Santa was in the atrium waving from the balcony that we saw available. The other things I have read on here that were done in the past I didn’t see like “snow” or cookie decorating.
I do not have pics of the navigators but am happy to report Mickey waffles and omelets were available in cabanas. This made our son very happy
Our 15 year old did not go to Vibe at all and our other kids did not attend 1820, but 1820 activities were listed. Youth club activities were not listed like they were in the past, only the open houses were showing on the schedule.
We attempted a couple of activities that the venue was at capacity when we arrived so we missed them even though we were early, after that we made sure to be very early when in the district for events.
Our serving team Van and Arunee were fantastic! As was our stateroom host Rueben.
It was very windy and we experienced the most rocking and motion I have ever felt and visibly noticed on board in our 5 cruises. I am happy we took this cruise but would opt for the 4 night or longer cruise before ever doing the 3 night again.
Christmas merchandise was available in the shops but I never saw room decor available on my app. Photos on board were available with various backdrops for the holidays and including in front of the tree.
Hope this helps someone with their planning!
Friday’s PAT was 1:15pm, but weather was awful With rain and wind so things were backed up at port. We dropped luggage, waited to get into garage, did the swab and got through testing for the all clear in total in about 1hr 40 minutes. We were on ship, did the muster drill sign off, dropped things in our room and were in cabanas at 3:30. The ship left after 6pm while we were watching beauty and the beast both due to passengers boarding late because of the back up and a technical issue that caused the ship being unable to travel at full speed to castaway cay for Saturday. Because of that our all ashore was after 10:45 and they adjusted our all aboard by a bit to after 5pm.
We were told passenger count was expected around 1500. The ship never seemed crowded. The decor was up for Christmas but the gingerbread house was blocked off and not complete. There was no tree lighting and minimal activities - holiday animation, dickens carolers, story time with Mrs Claus, and Santa was in the atrium waving from the balcony that we saw available. The other things I have read on here that were done in the past I didn’t see like “snow” or cookie decorating.
I do not have pics of the navigators but am happy to report Mickey waffles and omelets were available in cabanas. This made our son very happy
Our 15 year old did not go to Vibe at all and our other kids did not attend 1820, but 1820 activities were listed. Youth club activities were not listed like they were in the past, only the open houses were showing on the schedule.
We attempted a couple of activities that the venue was at capacity when we arrived so we missed them even though we were early, after that we made sure to be very early when in the district for events.
Our serving team Van and Arunee were fantastic! As was our stateroom host Rueben.
It was very windy and we experienced the most rocking and motion I have ever felt and visibly noticed on board in our 5 cruises. I am happy we took this cruise but would opt for the 4 night or longer cruise before ever doing the 3 night again.
Christmas merchandise was available in the shops but I never saw room decor available on my app. Photos on board were available with various backdrops for the holidays and including in front of the tree.
Hope this helps someone with their planning!
