All about the Carnival Dream

Carnival Dream cruise ship
Carnival Dream

The Carnival Dream was built in 2009. It's considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 1,004 ft long and 122 ft wide, it's roughly the length of 2.8 football fields, as wide as 2.3 tractor trailers, and the same height as a 14-story building.

Carnival Dream Overview

Carnival Dream Size and Passengers

The Dream can hold 3,646 based on double occupancy (two people per room) and more when you take into account 3rd and 4th passengers. When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, the Dream has a space ratio of 35. Depending on the ship, this number can range from 30 to 52 (with a bigger number meaning more space per person) so this ship has less space per person than average.



Carnival
Dream
ClassDream
Gross Tonnage128,000
Length1,004
Beam/Width122
Passenger Decks14
Passengers (double occupancy)3,646
Crew1,367
Passenger to Crew Ratio2.7
Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger)35
Carnival Dream Space Ratio
30 35 52

The Dream is one of three Dream-class ships currently sailing with Carnival. Dream-class ships were the first Carnival ships to feature an extended, exterior promenade area. This large area has hot tubs and extra seating that's away from the hustle and bustle of the main Lido pool area. In addition, this class of ship saw the introduction of the first ropes course at sea and the Sports Square. The Dream is very similar to its sister-ships; Magic and Breeze, although each ship may have some differences.


Carnival Dream Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and there will plenty on the Carnival Dream. You have 28 different dining options to choose from. Of those options, 18 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 10 options have an additional fee. Some of those options are a set price and some have a la cart menu pricing. 64% of the dining options are included which means if you're watching your budget, you won't feel like you're missing out by not going to a lot of extra fee dining places.

RestaurantRestaurant TypeCostType of Food
Blue Iguana CantinaQuick serveIncludedMexican
Bonsai SushiSit downA la cartAsian
Carnival DeliQuick serveIncludedSandwiches
Coffee BarQuick serveA la cartCoffee
Guy's Burger JointQuick serveIncludedAmerican
Guys Pig and Anchor BarBQueQuick serveIncludedBBQ
Lido BuffetBuffetIncludedBuffet
Main Dining RoomSit downIncludedMain dining room
Mongolian WokQuick serveIncludedAsian
Pizzeria del CapitanoQuick serveIncludedPizza
Seafood ShackQuick serveA la cartSeafood
SteakhouseSit downFlat feeSteakhouse
SwirlsQuick serveIncludedDessert
The Chef's TableSit downFlat feeFoodie

Carnival Dream Bars and Drinks

Sam's Piano Bar on the Carnival Dream
Sam's Piano Bar on the Carnival Dream

Carnival Dream has 12 different bars and lounges where you can enjoy a beer or cocktail.

BarLocation
Alchemy BarDeck 5 MidSee Menu
Atrium BarDeck 3 MidSee Menu
BlueIguana Tequila BarDeck 10 MidSee Menu
Burgundy LoungeDeck 5 AftSee Menu
Caliente Night ClubDeck 5 MidSee Menu
Casino BarDeck 4 MidSee Menu
Plaza CafeDeck 5 Mid
RedFrog Rum BarDeck 10 MidSee Menu
RendezvousDeck 4 MidSee Menu
Sam's Piano BarDeck 5 AftSee Menu
Sunset BarDeck 10 MidSee Menu
The SongDeck 5 AftSee Menu

Alcohol is not included in the base price of this cruise ship. To see if you would save money with a drink package, try our Drink Package Calculator.

Carnival also serves the Pepsi family of products. That means Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Starry, Mug Root Beer, and Mountain Dew, although the selection can vary by ship.

Pools and Hot Tubs on Carnival Dream

Lido Pool on the Carnival Dream
Lido Pool on the Carnival Dream

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day in a pool, a cruise might not be the right choice. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.

The Carnival Dream has a total of 2 pools and 8 hot tubs.

Tired of loud kids and splashing? 2 of the hot tubs are adults only.

Carnival
Dream
Total Pools2
- Pools - General Access2
- Pools - Adults Only0
- Pools - Exclusive0
Total Hot Tubs8
- Hot Tubs - General Access6
- Hot Tubs - Adults Only2
- Hot Tubs - Exclusive0


cruise coloring book

Cruise Coloring and Activity Books for Kids
Get your kids ready for their cruise or keep them entertained while on board with our custom made coloring and activity books. These are the Carnival editions with featuring places Pizza Pirate and mini-golf.

Cruise Ship Coloring Book for Kids 3-5 - Carnival Edition

Let's Get Cruising Activity Book for Kids 6-8 - Carnival Edition

Carnival Dream Features and Activities

There are quite a few things to do on the Dream. These are the main amenities that are available. Some are included in the cost of the cruise, while others have an additional charge.

Carnival
Dream
Adult Only Relaxation AreaIncluded
ArcadeA la cart
BasketballIncluded
CasinoA la cart
Comedy ClubIncluded
Dr Seuss BreakfastA la cart
Fitness CenterIncluded
Jogging TrackIncluded
Mini golfIncluded
Pool-side MoviesIncluded
Shows - musical reviewIncluded
SpaFlat fee
Splash parkIncluded
Thermal SuitesFlat fee
Water slidesIncluded

Cruise Costs

Carnival is a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year.

The cost will also vary depending on the type of cabin you book. You can see the differences between the Carnival cabins and how to choose the best one here:

Carnival Dream Onboard Costs

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you understand what you might spend onboard a Carnival ship.

Carnival
Base Daily Gratuities*
(Per Person Per Day)
$16.00
Tip added to drinks & services18%
Soda Price$3.00
Domestic Beer Price$8.75
See drink menus
Drink Package Price$59.95 - $69.95
Learn more
Internet Plan$15.30 to $21.25 per device per day
*Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates.

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