Enjoy a fairy-tale cruise on the Disney Fantasy
Earlier this month, Disney Cruise Line executives revealed some stunning details about their upcoming ship, the Disney Fantasy. Ships designers and Disney Cruise Line Imagineers were keen to create an identity all its own for the Disney Fantasy. One standard that will remain the same aboard the Disney Fantasy is an unyielding commitment to innovative customer experiences for family members of all ages. The ship needs to stand out from its ground breaking sister ships, the Disney Magic and Disney Dream, but after taking a close look at all it has to offer CruiseLineFans are predicting it will be Disney Cruise Line’s finest ship to date.
Disney Dream: Can It Get Any Better?
The Disney Dream took her maiden voyage in January 2011 to startling demand for booking space and generated thousands of gleeful yelps from all those who sailed on her inaugural and subsequent voyages. Several aspects of the ship and passenger experiences were so successful they’re being placed on the Disney Fantasy. Guests who have cruised on the Disney Dream can expect to be thrilled by the AquaDuck water coaster – now the second water coaster of its kind at sea. Virtual Portholes and interactive “Enchanted Art” will also make re-appearances on the Disney Fantasy.
Disney Fantasy: Sister Ship in Name Only
These guest experiences, as well as several others, and basic ship design are where the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy begin to part ways. The Disney Fantasy is the fourth ship in the Disney Cruise Lines fleet – but will stand alone amongst her sister ships as a pinnacle of ship and cruise experience design. The Disney Fantasy will have 14 towering decks and 1,250 staterooms with a capacity of 4,000 passengers and 1,450 cast and crew.
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Decor: First Impressions Make All the Difference
The first step in creating a distinct “look and feel” for the Disney Dream was to re-examine the decor. The logical step was to create a unique appearance for the main entrance to the ship – The Grand Atrium – as it’s typically guests’ first impression. The overall aesthetic is Art Nouveau in a tightly controlled Disney style. The results are an astounding arrangement of vibrant gold, pink, blue and green colors lending an extra air of sophistication.
The Atrium Lobby will be home to an enormous, detailed bronze sculpture of Miss Minnie Mouse herself – called “Mademoiselle Minnie Mouse” complete in vintage grab and parasol.
Family Entertainment: Interactive Experiences for All Ages
For anyone familiar with a Disney Cruise, they know the atmosphere is enveloping. No detail has been forgotten and no expense spared when creating public and private spaces to amaze the whole family. Previous Disney Dream guests will also recognize some familiar aspects of the “Animation Magic” dining experience/dinner show. The restaurant resembles an animator’s studio and is graced with Disney artwork featuring some of the most memorable characters from Disney’s long history.
Disney Cruise Line will also launch a Broadway-style theater production inspired by their hit movie, “Aladdin”. “Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular” contains an original song composed by the original soundtrack composer, Alan Menken, entitled, “To Be Free” and will delight audiences seated in the 1,340 person Walt Disney Theatre.
Entertainment for Kids and Big Kids
Disney Cruise Lines delights toddlers, children, teens and young adults very easily. The challenge has been to provide an equally fantastic experience for adults of all ages. The Disney Dream realizes this goal and exceeds many industry expectations with the addition and upgrade of several new nightclub, lounge and adults-only recreation spaces.
The Europa Entertainment District will allow guests (18 years and older) to step into a world inspired by the very best in European travel. Several of these areas will be reminiscent of experiences on the Disney Dream, but have been modified or increased in size to satisfy passenger’s demands. The collection of trendy bars, nightclubs and pubs will include Ooh La La (a champagne bar), The Tube (a hip dance club inspired by London’s subway), Skyline (a bar with panoramic views of Paris, Barcelona, London, Athens and St. Petersburg), O’Gills (Irish themed sport pub) and La Piazza (lounge with Italian outdoor plaza atmosphere).
Itineraries: Where Will Fantasy Take You?
The Disney Fantasy will take its spot in cruise industry history on March 31, 2012 for its maiden voyage out of Port Canaveral, Florida. Her regular itinerary will alternate between seven night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises with several destinations. The seven night Eastern Caribbean legs will include St. Maarten, St. Thomas/St. John, US Virgin Islands and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. Special Eastern Caribbean sailings in November and December 2012 will stop at St. Thomas and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The seven night Western Caribbean cruises on the Disney Fantasy will bring guests to Key West, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Mexico and an essential port of call at Castaway Cay.