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Ship Details
Began service: 1992
Guest capacity: 1,754
Total staff: 483
Length: 758 feet
Passenger decks: 10
CDC
inspection score: 93
Norwegian Dream Overview
The Norwegian Dream cruise ship departs from Seattle
WA, and Houston, TX. Throughout
the year, she offers ocean cruises to Alaska/British Columbia,
Mexican Riviera, and Panama Canal.
Check Dates &
Prices for cruises to Alaska/British Columbia,
Mexican Riviera, and Panama Canal.
Norwegian Dream offers a wide array of activities,
dining, and entertainment that appeals to guests of all
ages. Active passengers find plenty to do, including a
24-hour fitness center and an ambitious shore excursion
program that features snorkeling and diving (even in Alaska!),
hiking, kayaking and biking. Norwegian
Cruise Lines entertainment offerings include three
production shows. The Dream was stretched in
1998 with the insertion of a 130-foot midsection. Cabins
aren't the largest in the mid-price category but layout
is excellent as most come with a small sitting area and
picture windows. Don't expect elegance, but take this
ship if the price and itinerary are right and the roster
of activities seem to fit the bill. If you like an upbeat
atmosphere with plenty of onboard activities, along with
a wide range of shore excursions and quality entertainment,
this ship is a good bet.
Cabins
There are 15 categories with staterooms featuring
two lower beds that convert to queen, small bathroom with
shower, hairdryer, cabin-controlled thermostat, duvet,
TV, and radio. Inside cabins measure
140 sq. ft.; standard outside cabins
are 152 sq. ft; superior deluxe suites
are 176 sq. ft. Owner's Suites include
a living room, separate bedroom, picture windows, refrigerator,
stereo with CD library, tub and shower - those on Sun
Deck have balconies. Penthouse suites
have a sitting area, refrigerator and balconies. All suite
guests enjoy concierge service. Important notes: all cabins
on the port side of the ship are non-smoking. Staterooms
on Promenade Deck open to the jogging
track. |
Some
people may wish to steer clear of forward cabins on Star Deck
and International Deck as guests need to go through
a dining room or the show lounge to get to other public areas. Some
cabins have fully obstructed views and some with partially obstructed
views so choose carefully.
Dining
The food is fine, service is good, but the views are the best
-- the three main restaurants all offer panoramic vistas. Tables for
two, four, six and eight are featured. Freestyle Cruising
is in full swing onboard and dining rooms are open from 5:30pm until
midnight but you must be seated by 10pm. The Sun Terraces
(234 diners) is the nicest, most intimate restaurant, followed by
The Terraces (308 seats). Both have terraced seating
and floor-to-ceiling windows opening up to the ship's tiered aft decks.
The Four Seasons (452 seats) has great tables next
to glass walls on each side. Le Bistro, a reservations-only,
78-seat alternative restaurant, serves Italian fare for an additional
fee. There is no official Lido restaurant: the Four
Seasons offers buffet breakfast at sea; and the Sports
Bar features buffet breakfast, lunch, teatime snacks and
fresh popcorn, but it is a very small space for this number of passengers.
There is a poolside snack bar/pizzeria, ice cream bar and a small
coffee lounge. The lavish Chocoholic buffet is the
most popular of the midnight snacks. Room service is available 24
hours.
Entertainment
NCL excels in nighttime entertainment. Smokey Joe's Cafe
is a production featuring 50s and 60s hits such as "Hound Dog"
and "On Broadway", Dazzles Disco is a popular
dancing spot, Sports Bar & Grill broadcasts major
sports events, and the Monte Carlo Casino has six
blackjack tables, one roulette, one dice, one Caribbean Stud Poker,
one Let it Ride table and 158 slots.
Fitness & Recreation
The Norwegian Dream has
a mediocre fitness center divided into two small square rooms - one
room contains aerobics exercise machines and the other has an assortment
of weight machines and stationery weights. Both the size of the fitness
center and the number of exercise machines are far less compared to
fitness centers on similar-sized ships. There are only four treadmills,
four stairmasters and five stationery bikes. As a result, the room
is often filled to capacity and passengers who want to work out have
to wait in line to use the machines. Another disadvantage is the fitness
center is located directly beneath the basketball court. When you're
working out and a basketball game is in progress, there is the constant
banging of crashing feet right above your head. Other onboard recreational
facilities include a golf driving net, shuffleboard courts, and ping
pong tables. There are also two Jacuzzis, sauna, massages, and a daily
schedule of aerobics classes.
Located midship on deck 11 is the main swimming
pool with a terraced deck. There is a smaller pool on deck
9 for those seeking more seclusion.
Public Areas
Interiors have a contemporary ambiance
with lots of glass walls that afford views of the sea and ports. As
a result of the stretching, the Four Seasons Restaurant
was expanded to encompass the entire width of the ship, so guests
in 86 cabins situated forward of the Four Seasons
have to walk through the dining room to get to the Rendezvous
Bar and other public spaces on their deck. Similarly, on
Star Deck, passengers on forward cabins need to go
through the Stardust Lounge (which may be closed
for shows or rehearsals) or use another deck to get across. The two-level
Stardust Lounge features a stage for revues including
the Sea Legs Circus at Sea, starring Olympians from
around the world. Views are good from most seats. Lucky's,
a horseshoe-shaped piano bar with a dance floor is one of the most
popular lounges on board for a drink after the show. The Observatory
Lounge with its floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides is
a great perch for watching the Alaska wilderness or Caribbean sunsets.;
For people watching, the Rendezvous Lounge
is best. The 24-hour Internet Cafe is equipped with
four computer terminals (cost is 75 cents per minute). This facility,
however, took away the space that had been devoted to a library, which
now consists of several bookshelves on the walls leading to the Internet
Cafe. There is no self-service launderette; laundry and dry
cleaning are available for a fee.
Kids
The "Kid's Crew"
children's program is featured year-round for Junior
Sailors (3-5), First Mates (6-8),
Navigators (9-12) and Teens (13-17).
Baby-sitting is available for $12 an hour in the play areas from 10
pm - 1 am and $25 per hour in staterooms (minimum two hours). Reservations
must be made 24 hours in advance. Expectant Mothers are not allowed
to sail past 24 weeks without a doctor's certificate.
Expert Norwegian Dream reviews are edited by Michelle, and provided by Ian and Cruise Critic.com,
an award-winning cruise community. This objective information can
help you choose just the right ship for your next cruise vacation.
Check Dates & Prices
for cruises to Alaska/British Columbia,
Mexican Riviera, and Panama Canal.
Norwegian Dream cruise reviews
Cruise
Ship Inspection Report
All passenger cruise ships arriving at US ports are subject to unannounced
CDC inspection. Norwegian Dream
Score: 93
Cruise
Critic: Norwegian Dream
The Cruise Critic gives NCL's Norwegian Dream a 3-ribbon rating.
Web links
NCL
Cruises
Request a brochure, or find a travel agent who represents Norwegian
Cruise Line at the company's official Web site.
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