Carnival Dream and Carnival Breeze are two popular Dream-class ships that offer a wide variety of fun for those onboard.
If you’re struggling to choose between the two, read on to get an in-depth comparison of the ships and help you decide which is the best one for your cruise. It’s Carnival Dream vs Breeze – which is number one?
Ship Details
Both Carnival Dream and Carnival Breeze are in Carnival’s Dream Class. This makes them sister ships, meaning that they’re almost identical, but there are still some key differences between them.
Being sister ships, both Carnival Dream and Breeze have space for a similar number of guests and crew and are the same size in terms of length and gross tonnage.
Carnival Dream launched the class as the flagship in 2008. Carnival Breeze is a newer ship, following in 2012. Both ships have been refurbished several times since then, the Breeze most recently in 2017 and the Dream in 2021 when she received the new blue hull design.
So, although Carnival Breeze is a newer ship, Carnival Dream will feel newer since the recent refurbishment.
Read more: Carnival Ships By Age
| Feature | Carnival Dream | Carnival Breeze |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Dream | Dream |
| Year | 2008 | 2012 |
| Last Refurbished | 2021 | 2017 |
| Size | 130,000 GT | 130,000 GT |
| Guest Capacity | 3,646 | 3,690 |
| Length | 1,004 feet | 1,004 feet |
| Onboard Crew | 1,367 | 1,386 |
Itineraries
One of the biggest differences when looking at Carnival Breeze vs Dream is in the itineraries.
And yet, both ships sail out of the Texas port of Galveston on a selection of Caribbean itineraries.
Carnival Breeze sails on a range of 2 to 5-night durations only to the Caribbean, visiting ports including Cozumel, Costa Maya and Yucatan.
Carnival Dream offers lengthier sailings of between 6 and 9 nights, as well as 10-nights or longer. These typically visit ports across the Caribbean and Panama Canal including Belize, Mahogany Bay, Cozumel, Nassau, Aruba and Freeport. The Dream also visits Carnival’s own island, Half Moon Cay, on select Eastern Caribbean itineraries.
Which is Best?
Carnival Dream offers more choice in terms of destination and duration of your itinerary, although both ships reside in the same region of the world. If you’re seeking a shorter trip, however, Carnival Breeze has a range of mini cruises which are reasonably priced.
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
See the latest Carnival cruise offers…
Dining Options
Both the ships have a great variety of dining options and venues onboard. For Carnival Breeze, you can find a few places to visit including Pizza Pirate and The Captain’s Pasta Bar. These are both included in your fare. For an extra charge, there’s also the Cucina del Capitano which is an Italian restaurant also available on-board.
Carnival Dream also has the Pizzeria del Capitano which is an included venue offering 24-hour pizza.
| Dining | Carnival Dream | Carnival Breeze |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Hour Room Service | Free until 10 pm | Free until 10 pm |
| BlueIguana Cantina | Included | Included |
| Bonsai Sushi | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Coffee Bar | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Cucina del Capitano | – | Extra Charge |
| Dining Room | Included | Included |
| Dining Room Breakfast | Included | Included |
| Guy’s Burger Joint | Included | Included |
| Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que | Included | Included |
| Lido Marketplace | Included | Included |
| Mongolian Wok | Included | Included |
| Pizza Delivery | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Pizza Pirate | – | Included |
| Pizzeria del Capitano | Included | – |
| Seaday Brunch | Included | Included |
| Seafood Shack | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Steakhouse | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Steakhouse Selections | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Swirls | Included | Included |
| The Captain’s Pasta Bar | – | Included |
| The Carnival Deli | Included | Included |
| The Chef’s Table | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
Which is Best?
While there are plenty of options across both ships to choose from, Carnival Breeze has more on-board when it comes to dining, whether they are included or require an extra charge.
If you’d like to sample some of the speciality restaurants, this is a great way to spend any onboard credit you may have. Check out my guide, 12 Ways to Use Your Carnival Onboard Credit Like a Pro, for more tips and ideas.
Bars
Both ships feature the popular BlueIguana Tequila Bar and RedFrog Rum Bar, signature Carnival bars.
The only venue which is only onboard Carnival Breeze is the RedFrog Pub which is a lively Key West-inspired pub where you can enjoy Caribbean food, live music and enjoy Carnival’s private-label brew, ThirstyFrog® Red
| Bars | Carnival Dream | Carnival Breeze |
|---|---|---|
| Alchemy Bar | YES | YES |
| BlueIguana Tequila Bar | YES | YES |
| Casino Bar | YES | YES |
| Cheers! | YES | YES |
| Cruise the Vineyards | YES | YES |
| Exclusive Carnival Brews | YES | YES |
| RedFrog Pub | – | YES |
| RedFrog Rum Bar | YES | YES |
Which is Best?
Each ship has a similar selection of places to drink and relax, with the exception of the RedFrog Rum Bar which only Carnival Breeze has. If this is a key place you would love to visit, then Carnival Breeze is definitely for you. Otherwise, you have the same choice on each ship.
Whichever ship you choose, make sure you check out my guide to Carnival drink packages to work out whether you should buy the package in advance or not.
Activities
Carnival Cruise Line offers a hub of activities throughout the day on-board all of its ships. When directly comparing between Carnival Breeze and Carnival Dream, the Breeze has a couple more featured including the unique SkyCourse and SportSquare, both of which are ideal if you have children or love a challenge.
Both ships do feature the Serenity Adult-Only Retreat, so no matter which you choose, there will be a place to relax and unwind that is only open to those aged 21 and over.
| Activities | Carnival Dream | Carnival Breeze |
|---|---|---|
| Alchemy Martini Tasting | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Art Auctions | Included | Included |
| Art Exhibitions | Included | Included |
| Art Games | Included | Included |
| Art Seminars | Included | Included |
| Atrium | Included | Included |
| Basketball | Included | Included |
| Bingo | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Cooking Demonstration | Included | Included |
| Games | Included | Included |
| Library | Included | Included |
| Make It With Michaels | Included | Included |
| Master the Martini | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Military Appreciation | Included | Included |
| Mini Golf | Included | Included |
| Mixologist Competitions | Included | Included |
| Ocean Plaza | Included | Included |
| Pools | Included | Included |
| Serenity Adult Only Retreat | Included | Included |
| SkyCourse | – | Included |
| SportSquare | – | Included |
| Twister Waterslide | Included | Included |
| Volleyball | Included | Included |
| WaterWorks | Included | Included |
Which is Best?
Carnival Breeze offers more options for activities, two of which are popular features onboard Carnival ships – SkyCourse and SportSquare.
However, if you’re travelling without children or people who will unlikely be interested in these activities, both ships offer the same selection.
Entertainment & Events
Both ships offer plenty of entertainment and events to enjoy while you sail, including the Piano Bar where singing along is encouraged and the Punchliner Comedy Club for a little laughter.
Carnival Breeze is the only ship of the two to feature the on-stage adaptation of Paramount Network’s, Lip Sync Battle. If you’re a fan of the show and have this on your list of must-visits, it will surely tip the scale for you to choose Carnival Breeze.
The Breeze also features the Thrill Theater where you can enjoy 3D movies with moving seats and special effects.
| Entertainment Venues | Carnival Dream | Carnival Breeze |
|---|---|---|
| Dive-In Movies | Included | Included |
| Karaoke | Included | Included |
| Lip Sync Battle: Carnival | – | Included |
| Live Music | Included | Included |
| Nightclub | Included | Included |
| Piano Bar | Included | Included |
| Playlist Productions | Included | Included |
| The Punchliner Comedy Club | Included | Included |
| Thrill Theater | – | Extra Charge |
As for events, there are many planned throughout your Carnival cruise. Dress up in costume for the White Hot Night onboard Carnival Breeze or for the 80s night for Carnival Freedom. Celebrate the start of your holiday with a sail away party or, for a small donation to charity, enjoy a Groove for St. Jude which supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®.
| Events | Carnival Dream | Carnival Breeze |
|---|---|---|
| 80s Night | Included | – |
| Groove for St. Jude | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Holidays Aboard | Included | Included |
| Mega Deck Party | Included | Included |
| Sail away Party | Included | Included |
| White Hot Night Party | – | Included |
Which is Best?
Entertainment all depends on how you like to spend your time during your cruise. If you’re a keen singer or love being on stage, the Lip Sync Battle onboard Carnival Breeze is perfect.
The choice of events is slightly different between the ships, but you’ll be able to dress up in white clothes or in 80s fashions, depending on which you choose.
Kids’ Facilities
No matter which ships you choose from the Carnival fleet, kids and families alike will love the non-stop fun and activities available throughout the day and night.
Both Carnival Breeze and Carnival Dream offer the same options of kids’ facilities with highlights including the Build-A-Bear Workshop, kids’ clubs and the Dr Seuss® events and activities such as character parades, interactive storytime and a character breakfast featuring their favourite Dr Seuss friends.
| Activities | Carnival Dream | Carnival Breeze |
|---|---|---|
| Arts and Crafts | Included | Included |
| Build-A-Bear Workshop at Sea | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Camp Ocean | Included | Included |
| Circle “C” | Included | Included |
| Club O2 | Included | Included |
| Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Night Owls | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Seuss at Sea | Included | Included |
| Seuss-A-Palooza Parade | Included | Included |
| Seuss-a-palooza Story Time | Included | Included |
| Towel Animal Theater | Included | Included |
| Video Arcade | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Zumbini | Included | Included |
Which is Best?
Both ships offer the same choice of kids’ facilities and activities, so they are both great options for children.
Spa & Fitness
For those seeking a chance to work out, keep fit or enjoy a glass or two, Carnival has a range of facilities great for keeping up your routine or just trying something new.
Both Carnival Breeze and Dream feature the upgraded Cloud9 spa, which is an updated version of the typical spa you would find on older ships. The spa offers a range of treatments perfect for unwinding and relaxing while onboard.
There’s also the ZSpa which is a space within the spa dedicated to those aged 13 to 17 years. Alongside the spa, both ships feature a fitness centre and classes, at an additional charge, and a jogging track.
Carnival Breeze also has the SkyFitness which is a gym situated at the top of the ship, out in the open. Complete with punch bags, exercise bikes and machines it’s a great place to sweat it out while enjoying ocean views.
| Spa & Fitness | Carnival Dream | Carnival Breeze |
|---|---|---|
| Acupuncture | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Cloud 9 Spa | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Cloud 9 Spa: Hydrotherapy Pool | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Cloud 9 Spa: Thermal Suite | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Facial Treatments | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Fitness Center | Included | Included |
| Fitness Classes | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Hair & Beauty Salon | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Jogging Track | Included | Included |
| Massage | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Medi-Spa | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| Men’s Spa Services | Extra Charge | Extra Charge |
| SkyFitness | – | Included |
| ZSpa | Included | Included |
Which is Best?
There isn’t much difference between the two ships when it comes to wellness. The only difference is that Carnival Breeze offers the outdoor SkyFitness classes, so if this is something key for you then Breeze is the better ship!
The Overall Verdict
After reviewing the details of Carnival Dream Vs Carnival Breeze closely, I would say that Carnival Breeze is the better ship of the two. It is not only newer but also offers extra features for entertainment, fitness, dining and onboard activities.
However, the differences between the two ships are quite small with much of the same offerings for kids, as well as being from the same class of ship so their size and guest capacity are the same, or very similar.
The main difference is the itineraries that the ships offer. Ensure you take a close look at these when it comes to choosing, as Breeze only offers short duration sailings while Dream is more long duration with a wider variety of ports and destinations.
Or you could always compare the Carnival Breeze reviews against the Carnival Dream reviews from past guests, to see if those help you make your decision too. Either way, you’ll have a fantastic cruise.
NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!
See the latest Carnival cruise offers…
Related Posts:
- Carnival Breeze Vs Carnival Freedom
- Carnival Cruise Ships by Size
- Carnival Cruise Suite Perks
- Carnival Ships Ranked From Best To Worst
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
