Details about the soon-to-debut megaship Carnival Dream are now being released. The 130,000-ton, 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream will have its inaugural ceremony in New York City on Thursday, November 12. Following an overnight gala at the pier the ship will embark on a two-night cruise on November 13, returning the morning on Sunday the 15th.

An innovation on Carnival Dream will be the “Fun Hubs”, which are computer stations located at various locations around the ship. There is no dedicated internet cafe with a bunch of workstations stuck in some out of the way corner – something common on other ships. The Fun Hubs will serve as both a free shipboard intranet, as well as a pay-as-you-go internet access portal. The shipboard intranet is free to use. Passengers will be able to leave messages for others in your group or for the whole ship if you prefer. A social network at sea. Looking for others with a common interest? Post a note and see who replies. Pretty neat. The stations will also have access to general ship information and announcements. Some stations will be at desks while others will be walk-up standing stations for quick use.

Carnival Dream will have an indoor/outdoor café and entertainment venue called Ocean Plaza, a two-level Serenity adults-only retreat, a wrap-around promenade encircling the ship, the cruise industry’s largest water park, along with a 23,750-square-foot health spa. Several new accommodation categories, including five-berth, two-bathroom staterooms especially for families, will also be offered. This will be welcome news to families who have had to push their cruise budgets by booking two cabins, or larger suites, in order to accommodate everyone.

The Gathering is the name of the casual restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The food choices are sure to be the most varied one can find on any cruise ship. Culinary choices will include Italian, Tex-Mex, Tandoori, and other Asian specialties. There is a pasta bar where passengers can create their own dish from a varied number of pastas, sauces, and other ingredients. The Gathering will also have Carnival’s signature 24-hour pizzeria, offering what many feel is the best pizza at sea. The burrito bar will allow guests to build their own from a choice of chicken, beef, shrimp, various salsas, and other ingredients.

But wait, there’s more! Also available in The Gathering is a Mongolian wok offering custom-made stir fries made to order; Taste of the Nations, which features a different international cuisine each day; the New York-style deli (I love their corned beef); and the previously mentioned Tandoori oven offering Indian-style cuisine with traditional bread and condiments; and of course a grille serving hot dogs, hamburgers, and grilled chicken sandwiches. Finally, The Gathering will feature an extensive 35-item salad bar and a 24-hour frozen yogurt station.

Located along Promenade Deck will be Wasabi, a sushi bar serving complimentary sushi, as well as sake (but you have to pay for that).

The Ocean Plaza is designed for guests to relax and watch the world go by. A dance floor and a stage featuring live entertainment will be located here as well as full Wi-Fi access with 12 of the stand-alone FunHub stations. The centerpiece of Ocean Plaza will be Plaza Café, serving typical coffee bar beverages and pastries, plus milkshakes! Bar service will be offered as well, featuring mojitos, martinis, and other specialty cocktails along with the usual drinks and beers.

The Chef’s Art, Carnival Dream’s steakhouse, is a 139-seat dining room with a menu featuring dry-aged U.S.D.A. prime beef. Choices will include a nine-ounce filet, 14-ounce strip loin, 18-ounce grilled prime rib chop and 24-ounce porterhouse. Other choices include lobster tail, lamb chops, Chilean sea bass, ravioli filled with Maine lobster and more. Reservations are recommended and there is a charge of $30 per person.

Guests dining in the Scarlet and Crimson main dining rooms will have their choice of six different appetizers and soups, two salads and six entrees each night. In addition, there will be the Carnival Classics selections, including char-broiled steak made with the line’s signature rub, grilled chicken, pasta dishes, and a dessert menu offering six different selections, including the cruise industry’s most popular dessert – the famous Carnival Warm Chocolate Melting Cake.

For those looking for a more health-conscious meal, the Carnival Dream will offer the Spa Carnival Fare selections which have reduced sodium, cholesterol, and fat. Vegetarian choices and children’s menus are available.

Before the inaugural ceremonies in New York, Carnival Dream is to debut on September 21, 2009, with the first of three 12-night Grand Mediterranean cruises operating round-trip from Rome, followed by a 16-night trans-Atlantic crossing from Rome (Civitavecchia) to New York from October 27 through November 12.

From New York, Carnival Dream will operate two eight-night Bahamas/Florida cruises departing November 15 and again on November 23, then repositioning to Port Canaveral, Florida, for a special 9-night Caribbean cruise on December 3. On December 12 Carnival Dream will commence a year-round schedule of 7-night cruises from Port Canaveral, offering alternating voyages to the eastern and western Caribbean.

No related posts.