By: Jim Leary, Sales Management Integration
I love cruising out of Galveston, TX. Because it’s so close to Houston, I don’t have to buy airfare so I save money on my vacation planning! I’ve sailed on Carnival several times, but this was my first time on the Carnival Dream and it was going to all of my favorite ports – Costa Maya (Mexico,) Roatan (Honduras,) and Cozumel (Mexico.)
The ship was well-appointed with something for everyone – from sports courts, swimming pools and a jogging track to the casino, show lounges and dining venues, and the central atrium of the ship which often had live music, a festive bar and activities all day long such as line dancing. The movie screen over the pool ensures that there’s always something to watch while you’re in the pool, or at night under the stars.
Carnival’s international staff is always smiling and making sure that everyone is having the vacation of a lifetime. My cabin steward did a fantastic job keeping my room tidy and making sure I had a towel animal every day waiting on my bed.
The ship was in Costa Maya for the afternoon-only. Many passengers chose to shop & swim at the main port & shopping area, while others opted to do shore excursions to Mayan ruins or water-sport-type snorkeling or kayaking. We had 80-degree sunny weather and the day was absolutely perfect. I made my way to the nearby city of Mahajual (two miles away) to enjoy beef quesadillas at a waterfront restaurant and shopping in the local stores.
In Roatan, most tours fall into two categories – “the beach” and “wildlife/ziplining.” I chose to go to the beach which is located next to the ship. The beach at Mahogany Bay is one of the nicest beaches I have ever visited. For a small fee, you can ride a ski chair-lift over the palm trees to the beach, and relax on a chaise lounge with protection from the sun with an umbrella or clam shell shade. It was a great way to get some sun, relax and swim in the ocean.
Cozumel offers a variety of excursion options but I wanted to eat lunch at my favorite restaurant. I’ve been eating there for about 30 years and their chile rellenos never disappoint. After a short cab ride into town, I strolled around the zocolo (town square) and picked up a few souvenirs for family and friends. Afterwards, I made my way to the restaurant to enjoy authentic Mexican food.
I had an unbelievable experience going back to the ship. I found a cab who drove me back to the pier, dropped me off and then quickly drove away. A few minutes later, I realized I left my cell phone in the cab. I contacted a taxi dispatcher at the pier who asked me for the cab number and the driver’s name. I didn’t have any of that information. I showed them where I was dropped off and gave an approximate time. Behind the scenes, someone reviewed the security footage and was able to get the cab number. The driver was called and within 10 minutes, I had my phone again.
Back onboard the ship, the last two nights had two comedians as well as an 80s theme night and a Silent Disco (where attendees are provided with headphones to enjoy the music, but otherwise the disco was silent with people dancing – it was a unique experience which was quite humorous.)
Carnival didn’t disappoint, and I’ve rebooked the same ship (different itinerary) to celebrate my birthday next year. Carnival is a great value and the food is so good that I’m sure I didn’t lose any weight while I was onboard. I look forward to being onboard the Carnival Dream in 2025.
