Deck 6 on Dream, and a few other questions

[Gojira ゴジラ]

I have a few questions guys:

1. Is deck #6 a good deck? I heard people complaining about noise etc.
2. Since we will arrive a day early and will be staying at a non-disney hotel, we will miss that awesome feeling when you're checking in for the magical express bus. When we leave the cruise, can we go to the airport instead of going straight to WDW?
3. I heard about sharing table for lunch/dinner with other people, but we're not really a talkative couple.. I'm afraid the awkwardness may occur which may make them or us dreading for dining.
4. We heard positive things about the spa, can anyone give us a ballpark of how much it cost? And do we need to book early?

Thank you so much

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Any deck can get noise depending on what's directly around the stateroom you're considering. Find where your stateroom is on a deck plan. Look around your stateroom. Are you up against an elevator? That could be noisy. Then, look at the same area where your stateroom is on the decks directly above and below. Is there a night club below you? That could be noisy until very late hours. Is there a eating are above you that serves breakfast? You might hear chairs moving around from early people getting breakfast. Approach your stateroom location in that way and I think you stand a better chance of not being surprised by really crazy noise issues.

If you take Disney's transportation from the port to WDW it'll be on a really nice bus like the ME or maybe even nicer. Maybe it could make the journey that much more exciting and fresh with a new take on the magical ride. I suppose you could take the bus to the airport then hit the regular ME bus but that's going to take extra time that you could have enjoying the arrival of your destination at WDW. Personally, I'd take the bus to my resort and enjoy the new perspective.

I've read about people having not-so-positive experiences with table-mates. Understandable. You can request (remember it's not a guarantee) to have a table to yourselves. I imagine your chances of getting this request are better if you do the 2nd dinner seating because it tends to not be as full as the 1st. Also, maybe go to your first dinner to see what it's like and who you end up seated with. I've read just as many times where people were seated with others who ended up becoming great friends and even planned future voyages together. If after the 1st night you were uncomfortable with your tablemates you could always have a private word with your head waiter, explain the situation, and request a move. If flaky-mates happen to see you after the first night and ask you can just say the waiter approached you asking you to move so they could disperse the diners more evenly or some other little fib to smooth it over. Just because you get parked with uncomfortable table mates at the start doesn't mean you don't have options if it's not clicking for you. K?

I don't want to be negative. I won't discuss our 2 spa experiences on the Dream in all their awful, sickeningly priced, nasty details. I'll just say that I've had far better manicures, pedicures, and massages at my local establishments at much more reasonable prices. And, if you don't like sales pitches at every turn I highly recommend that you tell this to the person who makes your reservation for you, tell the person who is about to perform your service, and tell everyone you can in between. It's not rude. You can say, "Please, no sales or soliciting today. I am not interested in purchasing any products that pertain to what you are doing. Thank you." Spa prices? Fire & Ice Mani/Pedi was $100 before tip. (I didn't tip.) The couples Swedish massage, 50 minutes, was $242 before tip. (I wasn't going to tip this one either but the hubby did.) If there's something in particular you want to do I'd book it as early as possible because the most desired times can book up.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Kelly got most of your answers for you. I'll add that you can also check when you board if your request for a table alone was entered. Just go to the place where they are taking dining changes and requests, it varies by ship and will be listed in your Navigator. Just ask if you're alone, and if not, ask if you can be.

 

[ChuckElias]

4. We heard positive things about the spa, can anyone give us a ballpark of how much it cost?

It costs about as much as a ballpark

My wife has done massage and manicure on the Magic and had good things to say about it. We haven't used the Dream's spa.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

It costs about as much as a ballpark

My wife has done massage and manicure on the Magic and had good things to say about it. We haven't used the Dream's spa.

Just specify anybody but Johnretta for mani/pedi services on the Dream and you'll be likely to keep all the flesh attached to your body. It's been a year and I still cringe when nail techs do that toe. And I get pedis every 3 or 4 weeks.

 

[Phonedave]

Sweatpee got most of your answers for you.

I did the shave and facial on in the Spa. Prices are resort spa prices - high. I will say it was the closest shave I have ever had - removing skin will do that. My skin is pretty easy, I don't have sensitive skin, I don't need special creams, I don't get razor burn, I don't break out - my skin likes to play nice. This woman had me hurting the next day. As was said, she also tried to sell me every single item she used. In addition, for a mens shave they do not use a straight razor. They use a regular old safety razor. However when I asked her about it, and she said "we are at sea, waves can rock the ship" I totally understood the reasoning behind it, but I was expecting a straight razor shave.

My kids did the kids mani/pedi which was again at resort spa prices, but they did say they liked it.

-dave

 

[Gojira ゴジラ]

The couples Swedish massage, 50 minutes, was $242 before tip. (I wasn't going to tip this one either but the hubby did.) If there's something in particular you want to do I'd book it as early as possible because the most desired times can book up.

Thanks so much for your thorough answer, it's really appreciated.. especially regarding the spa/massage quality. I knew it would be a bit pricey which I don't mind as long as it's good, but often times we found out the quality is so much lacking for the price we pay.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Thanks so much for your thorough answer, it's really appreciated.. especially regarding the spa/massage quality. I knew it would be a bit pricey which I don't mind as long as it's good, but often times we found out the quality is so much lacking for the price we pay.

Well, with the massage it was a mixed review. They massaged us both on tables next to each other. It was 2 different masseuses. Before, you know, they ask what your trouble spots might be or where you might want extra attention. That's standard. I told the girl that I had to focus on my shoulders, hands, & feet, not big on the legs or arms, don't touch my face or scalp because that aggravates me. I mentioned that the hands & feet were my biggest eye-rolling spots because of the reflexology involved. So she massaged my back & shoulders, did my arms & legs, barely touched my hands or feet even after I mentioned how that was my favorite part. Plus I was uncomfortable trying to lay on my stomach because of my open sore on my toe from the pedi. I've had other massages in other places and I'd say mine on the Dream was the least-enjoyable I've ever had. My hubby, on the other hand, had never had a massage before. He thought he had died and gone to heaven. I think I was still so wired from the craptastic pedi before the massage so it wasn't going to be very good from the start for me. I might have been a bit more forgiving of the massage part had we not had to endure the sales pitch at the end. It's they way they talk to you. Was the same with the sales pitch with the pedi. They talked to us in an almost condescending, lecturing way about how we should already be doing all these things for ourselves. The massage oil stuff they were trying to sell, they kept saying how we should be taking the time to massage each other every night, etc. I'm like, "Hello! Busy people here. Who has time for that? We get to the end of the day and we're happy just to collapse in bed and enjoy some peace & quiet." Besides, if we were doing our own massages and pampering our own feet then why would we be paying these salon/spa people the big bucks to do these services for us? Not so smart, really. I've since learned that you can be clear and state at the beginning that you don't want the sales pitch in any form. I wish I'd known. That was so incredibly irritating and counter-productive to the purpose of being in the spa to begin with.

 

[Gojira ゴジラ]

That's what I'm afraid of. Me and wife always go for a massage at least once a month so we have an expectation already and the least I want to hear is to get lectured on my vacation. I think we're gonna skip this one. Have you ever tried Mandara Spa at Swan & Dolphin? Wife wants to go there, she heard from her friend that it was really good.