Dream: Where do you lunch? and a few other questions

[Gojira ゴジラ]

1. I understand that they rotate you through each of the 3 restaurants for diner, but where do you lunch and breakfast if you prefer to stay on the ship?

2. I listened to a podcast yesterday as well as reading reviews saying the crew sent their stuff to the wrong stateroom and they had to search themselves. For safety reason should we lock our luggage? And how often does this happen?

3. Does Palo worth a reservation? We booked both Remy and Palo for a 3 night cruise but wonder if the 3 dining rotation would be worth a try?

4. Do they put a hold on your debit card, if so how much is the amount?

Thanks much

 

[Phonedave]

1. I understand that they rotate you through each of the 3 restaurants for diner, but where do you lunch and breakfast if you prefer to stay on the ship?

Wherever you want. One of the three will be open for a table service lunch and breakfast (they will tell you which one), plus the buffet will be open and for lunch the counters on the pool deck will also be open. There is no assigned seating, just come whenever you want during operating hours (again, they will tell you the hours for breakfast and lunch)

2. I listened to a podcast yesterday as well as reading reviews saying the crew sent their stuff to the wrong stateroom and they had to search themselves. For safety reason should we lock our luggage? And how often does this happen?

Does it happen? I am sure it does from time to time. Would I be worried about it? No. Three DCL cruises and nary a missing bag. Would I lock my luggage? I lock mine with TSA approved locks anyway whenever I travel. So I would lock it. You never know what someone may put in or take out. If you don't want to buy locks, get some zip ties. Just remember to have something OUTSIDE your suitcase to cut them off with.

3. Does Palo worth a reservation? We booked both Remy and Palo for a 3 night cruise but wonder if the 3 dining rotation would be worth a try?

That's a tough one. I have never eaten at either (because I was a single parent with kids) but I have heard rave reviews. However, I would also want to try all three rotations. I think the correct answer is a longer or second cruise.

4. Do they put a hold on your debit card, if so how much is the amount?

Thanks much

Do you mean for room charges? I am not sure what you are asking here.

-dave

 

[sweetpee_1993]

1. I understand that they rotate you through each of the 3 restaurants for diner, but where do you lunch and breakfast if you prefer to stay on the ship?

2. I listened to a podcast yesterday as well as reading reviews saying the crew sent their stuff to the wrong stateroom and they had to search themselves. For safety reason should we lock our luggage? And how often does this happen?

3. Does Palo worth a reservation? We booked both Remy and Palo for a 3 night cruise but wonder if the 3 dining rotation would be worth a try?

4. Do they put a hold on your debit card, if so how much is the amount?

Thanks much

1. There's always a main dining room open for breakfast and lunch along with the buffet (Cabana's on the Dream). The hours for everything available will be in your Navigator. We prefer the MDR options at breakfast and lunch vs. the buffet because it's a much more subdued atmosphere. It's relaxing. We'll be boarding our 3-night Dream cruise on Thursday. We plan to hit MDR breakfasts. Not sure about the last morning. On our 5 night Magic cruise in May the last morning breakfast was the *only* meal the husband & I had at the buffet restaurant (Topsiders). All other meals were in dining rooms. Our sons hit the buffets often, tho.

2. I've been on 2 cruises and so far haven't had a bag misplaced (knocking on wood). On our May cruise we even did an upgrade at the port. We let the concierge staff and our room steward know that we needed to be sure to get the package I shipped to us and the flowers the hubby had purchased for me brought from the other room. They both assured me the stateroom staff of the old room were also keeping their eyes peeled. Sometimes luggage doesn't get delivered until later. We received bags as late as 4:30-ish last cruise. It's a LOT of luggage to deliver on those ships! Both of our cruises we've been on we've not locked our luggage but that's mainly because we drove. The only people who handled our luggage were the porters at the curb and DCL crew. We carry all our valuables and cash with us. This week we will be flying in. TSA-approved locks will be in use. Not only will the airport/airline people be handling our bags, so will the hotel we're staying in the night before, plus DCL crew. It's a lot of hands. I'd feel better if we locked everything up. Still carrying valuables on us, tho.

3. For our first cruise we did not book any of the premium dining options. We were on a 3-night Dream cruise and wanted to know what the rotational dining rooms were like. We had absolutely no regrets, either. We also were traveling with our teenage sons so the specialty restaurants wouldn't have been available to them. We didn't want to ditch them on our first cruise. The 2nd cruise we did a Palo brunch (they don't do these on the 3-night cruises) which was incredible. We had Palo booked for dinner but cancelled due to me not feeling so well. Our cruise this week will just be the husband and me. We are doing the following for our 3 dinners in this order: Palo, Cabana's, and Remy. All 3 are dinner experiences we haven't yet had whereas we've done the MDR dinners last year. I think if it's your first cruise the MDRs are definitely worth experiencing. It's good to know what your cruise dollar has already paid for. Ya know? There's always more cruises to be booked to try out the other options.... I say this as I'm eyeballing the 4-night FL resident rates just so I can try Remy's brunch.... LOL!

4. If you place your debit card on your shipboard account I'm sure there's going to be a hold amount. I have no idea how much it is because we either load up the shipboard account using gift cards or link a credit card. When we didn't link a credit card I know they were careful to inform us that our limit for room charges was something kinda low, like $500 or something. I know that seems like a lot but if a family of 4 goes on 1 excursion that can easily surpass $500. We didn't have excursions planned for that cruise so we were fine with it. Hubby just went to Guest Services asap and loaded us up with gift cards. Word of advice: if you use gift cards to load your shipboard account do NOT throw away the gift cards. If at the end of your voyage you haven't spent all the money on your account they will refund to those cards. If you've thrown them away you may be in for a whole new adventure reacquiring your $$.

 

[ChuckElias]

RE: specialty dining, If this is your first cruise, and it's a 3-night cruise, I personally would skip Palo and Remy. Don't get me wrong. . . I love Palo. LOVE Palo. But if it were my first time onboard, I would want to experience all 3 of the rotational dining restaurants. On a 4 night cruise, I would try to get a Palo reservation for my last night (since that would mean I'd be skipping the restaurant that I already had on the first night).

But for a first cruise of only 3 nights, my own choice would be to stay with the rotational dining experience. JMHO.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I agree with Chuck about the 3 night cruise. It's hard to give up a night in any of the restaurants if it's your first time. Although if you really want to I don't blame you, I love love love Palo too, and never miss it. So in that case I'd recommend making sure you do not miss Animators. It's awesome on the Dream and Fantasy.

Also, the only times I've heard of luggage going to the wrong room, is when the rooms were upgraded or changed for some reason in the terminal. That happened to us once, but it was easy to retrieve.

 

[Gojira ゴジラ]

The 2nd cruise we did a Palo brunch (they don't do these on the 3-night cruises) which was incredible.

You always give me a very thorough respond, that is much appreciated!!

For Palo brunch, what's the attire? is it more casual?

If you've thrown them away you may be in for a whole new adventure reacquiring your $$.

That's good to know, because we are planning to use our gift card for the cruise instead

I am still contemplating but I'm gonna follow the crowd -sort of. I may cancel Palo but stick with Remy. Wife love ratatouille so much.. I want to take her there

Thanks again all

 

[sweetpee_1993]

For Palo brunch, what's the attire? is it more casual?

Still no shorts, tanks, or jeans. Hubby wore khakis & a short sleeve button-up that looks like the nose art from the Flying Tigers. I wore a sundress. It's prob'ly still cruise casual but maybe slightly nicer.

 

[janoimagine]

3. Does Palo worth a reservation? We booked both Remy and Palo for a 3 night cruise but wonder if the 3 dining rotation would be worth a try?

Yes to both. Remy is unbelieveable, Palo is fantastic. If I were you I would start your first night with your usual Cruise dining, whether that be Animators Pallete, The Royal Table or the Enchanted Garden, then do Palo, then finish it off with Remy.

What you would be doing is building up the quality. We did Remy on our second night and then returning to eat at the roation was ok, but was not even on the same planet to what we had just experienced at Remy.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Yes to both. Remy is unbelieveable, Palo is fantastic. If I were you I would start your first night with your usual Cruise dining, whether that be Animators Pallete, The Royal Table or the Enchanted Garden, then do Palo, then finish it off with Remy.

What you would be doing is building up the quality. We did Remy on our second night and then returning to eat at the roation was ok, but was not even on the same planet to what we had just experienced at Remy.

That's a good line up, Jason!

 

[Gojira ゴジラ]

Yes to both. Remy is unbelieveable, Palo is fantastic. If I were you I would start your first night with your usual Cruise dining, whether that be Animators Pallete, The Royal Table or the Enchanted Garden, then do Palo, then finish it off with Remy.

What you would be doing is building up the quality. We did Remy on our second night and then returning to eat at the roation was ok, but was not even on the same planet to what we had just experienced at Remy.

Good tips!!! thanks much

 

[ChuckElias]

One more suggestion regarding Remy. Check out the menu before you make your final decision. The cuisine is very. . . je ne sais quoi. I'm pretty sure it would be outside of what I could appreciate.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Yes to both. Remy is unbelieveable, Palo is fantastic. If I were you I would start your first night with your usual Cruise dining, whether that be Animators Pallete, The Royal Table or the Enchanted Garden, then do Palo, then finish it off with Remy.

What you would be doing is building up the quality. We did Remy on our second night and then returning to eat at the roation was ok, but was not even on the same planet to what we had just experienced at Remy.

Oh good. We planned it right, too, then. We're doing Palo-->Cabanas-->Remy in that order.

One more suggestion regarding Remy. Check out the menu before you make your final decision. The cuisine is very. . . je ne sais quoi. I'm pretty sure it would be outside of what I could appreciate.

I'm mildly concerned Remy will be beyond anything I'm familiar with but I don't think I'll dislike it. I think if anything about it bothers me it will be the length of time the meal takes. I'm interested to try something extremely different. I'll be sure to take pics and note what my initial thoughts are. Could end up pretty amusing...

 

[janoimagine]

I think if anything about it bothers me it will be the length of time the meal takes.

It is a long dinner but ... I think its about 7 or 8 courses if I remember correctly (and the opening champagne/raspberry cocktail doesn't count) ... one of the highlights was the fresh honeycomb in between the first or second dessert course, while it's french inspired, the menu, is still somewhat American. If your a steak lover I would go for the Australian Wagyu, next to Kobe Beef it will be the most tender and delicious steak you have ever eaten.

Hell ... it was all good.

 

[Gojira ゴジラ]

It is a long dinner but ... I think its about 7 or 8 courses if I remember correctly (and the opening champagne/raspberry cocktail doesn't count) ...

Whoaa I didn't know that. I'm so looking forward to it I assume they are smaller portions?

If your a steak lover I would go for the Australian Wagyu, next to Kobe Beef it will be the most tender and delicious steak you have ever eaten.

I've never tried Wagyu but I heard about it alot, isn't it originated from Japan?

 

[Gojira ゴジラ]

One more suggestion regarding Remy. Check out the menu before you make your final decision. The cuisine is very. . . je ne sais quoi. I'm pretty sure it would be outside of what I could appreciate.

I'm okay with French cuisine. I like them but don't love them that much. However wife is so into it and this trip is all about her

 

[janoimagine]

Whoaa I didn't know that. I'm so looking forward to it I assume they are smaller portions?



I've never tried Wagyu but I heard about it alot, isn't it originated from Japan?

Yes, they are not 'American' portions. Wagyu is originated in Japan, we have a few (and I mean a few) small independent farmers around Oregon and Washington that raise Wagyu Cattle but the only other place to get it is from either Japan or Australia ... google Austrailan Wagyu ... and look at a couple of the farms ... the locations alone want me to take change careers.

 

[Gojira ゴジラ]

lol

 

[jme]

Everyone seems to have forgotten that lunch isn't only at Cabanas (Buffet) and 1 MDR - it's also at Flo's V8 Cafe (Dream/Fantasy) and Goofy's Galley (Magic/Wonder)

They are basically quick service - walk up to the counter and ask for something from their menu.
I actually prefer Flo's over Cabanas for lunch, as it's located in a much less crowded area.

They serve Pizza, Burgers, Wraps, Salads, etc.

 

[ChuckElias]

I actually prefer Flo's over Cabanas for lunch, as it's located in a much less crowded area.

Funny how people's perceptions differ. In my trip report for my only cruise on the Dream, I commented that the area around Flo's was the only place on the whole ship where I felt crowded. It was always a mob scene.

And while Cabana's felt disorganized and confused (b/c people weren't sure where the line was supposed to start at the counters), it never felt crowded to me.

 

[jme]

Maybe its because I grab my food and walk back over to the adult pool area to sit and eat in quiet?