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Norwegian Cruise Line

MS Dreamward (Norwegian Dream)

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Reviewed by: B Thompson
# previous cruises: 2
Date of Trip: August 9, 1997
Itinerary: Western Caribbean

Our choice was the 7-day Western caribbean cruise on the Norwegian Cruise Line's ship "Dreamward". We flew to Miami where we stayed overnight at the Sheraton Biscayne Bay hotel, then were taken by bus the next day to Fort Lauderdale to board ship. Our stops were Grand Cayman Island , Cozumel, Cancun and the private island of Great Stirrup Cay. We also had two days "at sea" where we could just relax or choose to participate in many shipboard activities.

We flew from Winnipeg straight to Miami, and were met at the airport by the ship's representatives. This was such a relief. We were then bussed to the hotel where we found our rooms were all designated to us already. One courtesy I appreciated was that our passports were taken at the hotel while we were there, and all of the boarding business was done then, instead of at the dock. Some may find the bus trip to Fort Lauderdale to be tiresome, but for me it was just something new to see.

Our stateroom was on the Norway Deck, and I couldn't have been more pleased. Our travel agent had mentioned that because it had an obstructed view, we could get it at a good price. And we did. It was spacious, and even with the life boat in front of the large window we could see a lot of the scenery and get a lot of light. We prefer a stateroom close to the center of the ship so that we don't get a lot of motion.

From the time you wake to the midnight buffet, you can just eat, eat, eat! The dining rooms on the Dreamward have floor-to-ceiling windows, so you don't miss any of the beautiful view no matter where you sit. The food in all of the eating spots is just great, whether you want to be fancy in the dining room, cozy in "Le Bistro" (a smaller, more intimate room), or if you just want to grab a snack by the pool in the Sports Bar and Grill. This one is especially handy if you get back from a tour and the dining room is closed. There are "healthy choices" on the menu, and there are kid's choices also.

There are so many excursions to choose from, but because we love to snorkel we chose to take a day trip out to "Stingray City". We went by boat 30 minutes from Grand Cayman Island, where we all got into the water. In just a few minutes we were surrounded by stingray-all sizes of them. What a thrill! This is a trip not to be missed, and be sure to bring your camera. Also, the last day was spent at Pleasure Island. You can be lazy, or swim, or snorkel, but for pure relaxation this day can't be beat!

On board there is a fitness and aerobics centre, with fitness and weight machines. Also a full service sauna and massage centre. There is a jogging track, 2 swimming pools, 2 hot tubs, volleyball and basketball court and a golf driving net. I can't honestly tell you what the fitness centre was like because I never found it, but the hot tubs and the pools are just great. If you stay on board one day while everyone else has gone shopping or touring, you will find you have the pools almost all to yourself. We found this out by accident and enjoyed ourselves immensely.

Norwegian Cruise Line has a KIDS CREW program on their ships. The kids are entertained for hours with sports, parties and games every day. There is also a kids playroom, a video arcade and a babysitting program.