For many of the passengers dancing to the music on deck, their hands stretched skyward as if grasping for the Big Dipper, this blast-off party at sea marked the finale of a fun-filled cruise, but also the beginning of a star-studded experience at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
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Smart planning on the part of Carnival Cruise Lines to pick a spot that would intrigue all ages as the home port for the brand new Carnival Dream. By doing so, it created a terrific opportunity for turning a cruise into a sea-to-sky immersion, for mixing play and learning.
Cruisers eager for splashy Caribbean escapades could broaden their horizons with “tours to outer space,” gleaning new meanings for the celestial skies.
Organizing fun and awesome experiences is serious business for Carnival Cruise Lines. So it’s not surprising that, with over 4 million passengers projected for 2010 — 625,000 of them children — CCL buoyed up the Dream with a host of new attractions.
At $860-million US, the 3,646-passenger, 130,000-ton Carnival Dream is the biggest, grandest vessel in the CCL fleet, with an evolutionary design featuring vast spaces made for social mingling and entertainment.
The 11-deck-high atrium lobby — a sunlit space combining dance floor and lounge — features nightly music on a bandstand cantilevered over a semi-circular bar. Deck 5’s Ocean Plaza is “party central” that begs you to linger at the disco or the multi-video-screened sports bar. This leads (on each side of the ship) past glass walls to outdoor terraces that access the Lanai — a 1-km-long outdoor promenade with four scenic whirlpools (two on each side) that jut out over the ship’s beam.
Outdoor activities centre on the main pool, where a massive movie screen also features nighttime laser shows. There are thrills galore at the aft Aqua Park, with its 100-metre-long Twister slide — the longest at sea — the DrainPipe funnel slide, and dual 250-metre-long racing slides; and fun at the small pool, 18-hole mini golf course, basketball and volleyball courts.
Those seeking solace can escape to the Skydeck Serenity pool area. This “free” adult-only retreat has a country-club cachet with canopied chaises.
The Dream is, well, a dream for couples with kids in tow, as the 19,000-square-feet children’s facility caters to three age groups (2-11, 12-14, 15-17). The only glitch: The video arcade — which is up-to-speed with the latest games and virtual “car races” — can be addictive.
As for keeping track of family members — particularly older teens — the Dream is smartly scattered with 36 Fun Hubs, interactive computer stations that serve as the first social network afloat, and allow passengers to text message their whereabouts.
The Dream’s great advantage is new accommodation categories for families and couples craving luxurious space: 193 cabins have two bathrooms and five berths; and there are affordable Cove Balcony staterooms close to the water line.
For spa enthusiasts, 65 spa staterooms and suites include exclusive amenities and spa privileges at the 23,750-square foot, 3-deck-high Cloud Nine Spa. CCL’s most elaborate spa boasts a seawater therapy pool and hamman. Be prepared to book treatments early. I missed out on the “sensational” new bamboo massage by waiting too long.
With the Dream, CCL expanded dining options, offering Traditional Dining at designated times and tables in the dining room and On Your Time dining (open seating ).
Feasting on gourmet meats in The Chefs Art steakhouse is by reservation, with a $30 US surcharge. Meanwhile, guests can choose The Gathering buffets. Compliments are deserved for the abundant, fresh quality of fruits, salads and meat and seafood dishes that are prepared to order at the pasta bar, burrito bar, and Mongolian and Indian food stations.
To cap off the cruise, the Dream’s nightly entertainment features a peppy mix of Las Vegas-style shows — some with daring pyrotechnic accents — and Comedy Club reviews, ranging from family friendly routines to X-rated humour. For romantics at sea, nothing beats the profusion of stars sparkling in the midnight sky.
if you go
Cruising
The Carnival Dream sails from family friendly Port Canaveral, alternating seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. For full itineraries, pricing and specials, see carnival.com.
