Yes, we had fun. But this week on the Dream was below average due to housekeeping and dining. These just were not up to how things were even a year or two ago.

Houskeeping twice a day? That’s what we specifically requested face-to-face with our steward. We were lucky to receive service one time each day. Some days, nothing. To elaborate, our bed was made just four times (including when we arrived). We saw exactly two towel animals. If we wanted towels, we had to find our steward in the hallway and ask him. Three times (twice with the red Snoozing sign displayed on our door) he knocked repeatedly until we answered for unnecessary questions. On the plus side, maintenance was quick and efficient about repairing the vertical bar for the handheld shower head which came off, exposing a nasty, rusty nail.

Dining: we did not choose Early Dining as usual because of a possibly late-arriving excursion. What a mistake! We were served by a few teams (including a couple of repeats) during the nights we ate there. None of them worked together well or as a team. The American Table menus had fewer choices and many of the anticipated items are now absent. The lasagna was not good (it used to be). We did enjoy the pork chop and one beef dish. .Unless you adore Warm Chocolate Melting Cake, there are very few dessert options. The pies (and most buffet desserts) can only be described as “gelatinous.” That’s not good! Our waiter dribbled a bit of warm custard sauce on my Grand Marnier soufflé, then promptly took the little jug with him. The soufflé was dry. They used to leave the jug so the customer could add custard to their taste. No more! Service was painfully slow. It got to the point of being just not worth it; we ate in at the buffet our final evening. That’s the first time I have ever skipped MDR (unless due to rough seas). Some lemon fish on the buffet was a winner as was the rice pudding sitting among items on the Chocolate Buffet one afternoon. The room service chocolate cake is still a winner. Guys’ Burgers was “walk right up to be served” and still delicious; long line at Pig & Anchor yet everyone we talked to said it was worth the wait. Read more