Carnival Dream’s Port Canaveral Itineraries Expanded

Here’s some good news for Floridians or anyone who prefers to drive to Florida for a cruise—the road trip part of our journey just got a bit shorter. Carnival Cruise Lines has expanded Carnival Dream’s year-round schedule from Port Canaveral, Florida, which is more convenient for those of us in the drive-to market. New itineraries include never-before-offered eight-day Caribbean departures along with two new five-day options, and a one-of-a-kind four-port, seven-day eastern Caribbean itinerary. With these new options, Carnival Dream will offer six distinctly different five- to eight-day cruise programs from Port Canaveral—the widest variety of itinerary choices from this highly popular Central Florida homeport. Additionally, the expansion further bolsters the line’s position as the Caribbean cruise leader, operating approximately 1,250 voyages and carrying more than 3.6 million passengers within the region each year.

Carnival Dream’s two new eight-day schedules include a three-port Southern Caribbean itinerary with extended stops at the islands of Aruba, Curacao and Grand Turk, and an eastern Caribbean itinerary featuring visits to four tropical destinations: St. Maarten, Tortola, St. Thomas and Grand Turk. Seven southern Caribbean voyages will be offered, departing May 2 and 30, Aug. 23, Oct. 4, and Dec. 6, 2014, and Feb. 7 and March 7, 2015, while six eastern Caribbean cruises depart May 17, Sept. 5, Oct. 17, and Dec. 19, 2014, and Feb. 20 and March 20, 2015.

The two new five-day departures mark the first time that Carnival has offered short-cruise itineraries on a Dream-class ship. One five-day program features the popular ports of Key West, Nassau and Freeport departing May 25 and Oct. 12, 2014, and March 15, 2015, while the other offers day-long visits to Nassau and Grand Turk departing Aug. 31 and Dec. 14, 2014, and Feb. 15, 2015.

The line has also created a new four-port, seven-day eastern Caribbean itinerary—unique to Port Canaveral—that includes stops at Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Thomas and Nassau. These attractive week-long cruises are being offered roughly once a month and complement Carnival Dream’s existing seven-day western Caribbean cruises calling at Cozumel, Belize, Mahogany Bay, and Costa Maya that sail throughout the year.

The 3,646-passenger, 130,000-ton Carnival Dream launched year-round Caribbean service from Port Canaveral in 2009, ushering in a number of innovations for the line. These include a half-mile wraparound outdoor promenade called The Lanai, along with Ocean Plaza, a stunning indoor/outdoor café and entertainment venue, and Carnival WaterWorks featuring a 303-foot-long Twister water slide and other splash-tastic features. The ship also features a wide variety of accommodation choices, including more than 1,000 balcony and ocean view staterooms – perfect for viewing the spectacular Caribbean scenery, as well as two-bath, five-berth staterooms that hold particular appeal with families. Expansive children’s facilities, along with a Serenity adults-only retreat and a 23,750-square-foot Cloud 9 Spa, are also offered.

Even if you aren’t driving to port, these are some pretty terrific itineraries to choose from!

Image Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Lines