Carnival Dream 2/20 – 2/27/10 ~ Western Caribbean

Carnival Dream 2/20 – 2/27/10 ~ Western Caribbean We have been on Carnival seven times previously; this was our 36th cruise overall.  Embarkation – Port Canaveral does a fine job, no real delays, everyone keeps moving; on the ship in 20 minutes from the time we parked the car.  Got right on the ship and headed to Lido deck for the buffet lunch. Buffet – While there are definitely some traffic flow “pinch points” throughout the buffet, there were some very good food choices.  The Tandori and Deli stations on the back deck were excellent; the Burrito Bar (turned into omelet station in the morning) never had much of a line and was a nice option.  The Mongolian BBQ was a big hit, and the lines showed it.  We only did that once, but it was fun to pick your own veggies and sauce, etc.  The food quality was very good, with some items excellent.  Breakfast selections were limited, but that’s pretty normal on a ship buffet.  We never made it up to the Pasta Bar, but the reviews we heard were good.

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Carnival Dream 2/20 – 2/27/10 ~ Western Caribbean

Carnival Dream 2/20 – 2/27/10 ~ Western Caribbean

Carnival Dream 2/20 – 2/27/10 ~ Western Caribbean We have been on Carnival seven times previously; this was our 36th cruise overall.  Embarkation – Port Canaveral does a fine job, no real delays, everyone keeps moving; on the ship in 20 minutes from the time we parked the car.  Got right on the ship and headed to Lido deck for the buffet lunch. Buffet – While there are definitely some traffic flow “pinch points” throughout the buffet, there were some very good food choices.  The Tandori and Deli stations on the back deck were excellent; the Burrito Bar (turned into omelet station in the morning) never had much of a line and was a nice option.  The Mongolian BBQ was a big hit, and the lines showed it.  We only did that once, but it was fun to pick your own veggies and sauce, etc.  The food quality was very good, with some items excellent.  Breakfast selections were limited, but that’s pretty normal on a ship buffet.  We never made it up to the Pasta Bar, but the reviews we heard were good. Stateroom – We selected a COVE balcony – Category 7C.  Amazing!  We loved being so close to the water.  We could hear the waves, feel the spray, etc.  It was really cool.  The only negative was there was a fan blowing over our balcony that created some wind and smelled a little like chicken noodle soup.  We determined that this fan was over four staterooms in a row on our starboard side:  2305, 2309, 2315, and 2317.  Try to avoid those cabins if booking in category 7C

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Carnival Dream 2/20 – 2/27/10 ~ Western Caribbean

Late Bookings! Is It Worth Hanging On For A Deal?

I’m wondering if the mixed messages coming from the cruise industry at the moment are there to create a ‘smoke and mirrors’ effect?  Cruise lines are reporting bumper bookings for 2010, generated, no doubt from the early booking incentives and low deposits being offered.  It’s just as well given that they are having to provide value-added incentives, like onboard credits, in addition to reduced prices to generate bookings for this summer. The way that the cruise industry markets itself will need to change.  The Passenger Shipping Association (PSA) reported this week that more and more cruisers are booking late, within three months of departure.  That’s obviously a recession-driven pattern – people hold back from spending until the last minute, hoping they will get a bargain, and hoping they will be in a position to take a holiday.   The thing about trends like that is that they tend not to revert back once the economic situation changes.  So, the cruise lines could find themselves having to re-evaluate their pricing and discounting strategies to address the downward spiral.  Hopefully they will realise what the public has been reliant on … cruise holidays , just like food, have a sell-by date.  And the closer you get to that sell-by date, the lower the price goes

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Late Bookings! Is It Worth Hanging On For A Deal?

Late Bookings! Is It Worth Hanging On For A Deal?

I’m wondering if the mixed messages coming from the cruise industry at the moment are there to create a ‘smoke and mirrors’ effect?  Cruise lines are reporting bumper bookings for 2010, generated, no doubt from the early booking incentives and low deposits being offered.  It’s just as well given that they are having to provide value-added incentives, like onboard credits, in addition to reduced prices to generate bookings for this summer. The way that the cruise industry markets itself will need to change.  The Passenger Shipping Association (PSA) reported this week that more and more cruisers are booking late, within three months of departure.  That’s obviously a recession-driven pattern – people hold back from spending until the last minute, hoping they will get a bargain, and hoping they will be in a position to take a holiday

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Late Bookings! Is It Worth Hanging On For A Deal?

NCL’s Cruise Specials 11/17

TOP PICK!! Norwegian Sun 19 days repo 11/3/09 San Francisco- Mazatlan-Acapulco-Guatemala-Costa Rica-Ecuador-Lima, Peru- Arica, Chile-Coquimbo, Chile- Santiago(Valparaiso) Chile. $699in / $849out/ $1299bal…for 19 days!!!    Transatlantic: Norwegian Gem: 13 days ….

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NCL’s Cruise Specials 11/17

Holland America Eurodam Review

Today was the first day boarding the Eurodam.

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Holland America Eurodam Review