Come Sail Away- Disney Style

Zoomer | November 3rd, 2009

The Disney Dream

The Disney Dream continues the Disney Cruise Line tradition of blending the elegant grace of early 20th century transatlantic ocean liners with contemporary design to create one of the most stylish and spectacular cruise ships afloat. The Disney Dream offers modern features, new innovations and unmistakable Disney touches.

Come Sail Away

The “imagineers” at Disney have outdone themselves again. Launching January 26, 2011 is the Dream, the latest in the fleet of ships, adding to the Disney Wonder and the Disney Magic. We got a sneak peak this past week in New York City and we just had to share it with you.

Disney’s Oceaneer Club – Pixie Hollow
In Pixie Hollow on the Disney Dream, children are transported to the enchanted land of Tinker Bell and her fairy friends. A pixie tree stands in the room with hundreds of fairy lights twinkling among the leaves. In this magical forest setting, children can make crafts just like a true tinker fairy, while sitting on stools shaped like acorns and mushrooms. Other activities in Pixie Hollow include dressing up in fanciful costumes and participating in storytelling.

For the Kids

And magic, it certainly is, or should we say, it’s like a dream. For parents and grandparents looking for an all inclusive that goes beyond the run-of-the-mill “kids club,” this is the ultimate in keep-them-busy vacations. But, it’s just not all kid’s play on board the Dream. Sure, there are the tween-only Edge club and the teen-only Vibe lounge (no adults allowed!), an Oceaneer club, where they can be their favourite toy in Andy’s Room from Toy Story, or the Oceaneer lab for inquiring minds from ages 3 to 10 and a nursery — aptly named It’s a Small World — for the wee ones, but grown ups have their space too.

Pink Pink is an elegant and upscale cocktail bar at The District on the Disney Dream, serving top-shelf wines and liquor as well as the bubbly beverage of choice…champagne. Back-lit glass “bubbles” covering the walls create the effect of cascading, effervescent champagne. A feature wall behind the bar with dew-drop shaped glass in pi nk and gold gives the impression of champagne bottles bursting with bubbly.

Adults-Only

The District is an adults-only section of the ship that caters to more sophisticated tastes. With five different types of lounges, bars and nightspots for dancing, there’s plenty to do after-dark. Disney Cruise Line’s signature Palo is haute couture in dining, while Senses is on board with their luxury spa services and hydrotherapy, 17 private treatment rooms and spa villas with private outdoor verandahs.

AquaDuck
Disney Cruise Line introduces a cruise industry innovation on the Disney Dream with the debut of AquaDuck, the first-ever shipboard water coaster. Guests aboard the new Disney Dream can get swept away on the exhilarating high-speed flume ride which features twists, turns, drops, acceleration and river rapids – all while traversing the upper decks of the ship

One Size Fits All

There are plenty of things to do as a family, too, or just kids-stuff that suits all ages. From the live theatre to the animation/drawing classes to the “AquaDuck” water coaster — yes, we said water coaster, it’s a fun ride. AquaDuck is a high-speed flume ride that winds 765 feet over the ship’s deck. You’ll slide coaster like through a clear tube that swings out 13 feet over the ocean, for real bird’s-eye view, and splash down past a 335 foot stretch of river rapids.

Book it

Staterooms come in roomy standard and deluxe configurations, with the deluxe rooms featuring outside cabins and private balconies, while the standard staterooms, if on the inside berths, feature a “virtual” porthole, which is a live feed from the ship’s cameras, and shows you what it’s like outside, at all times of day and night, without actually being outside. 2011 may seem like a far away date, but Disney is taking bookings starting November 9, 2009. For info or reservations: www.disneycruise.com or 1-888-DCL-2500.

–Vivian Vassos

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