A Dream Come True

Mickey and Minnie set sail // © 2011 DISNEY CRUISE LINE

To some of us, 1999 might not sound like that long ago. But when we stop and think about how life has changed in those years -- from a time before iPods, smartphones and Facebook -- it's clear that the world is different. When it comes to changes in the cruise industry, these past 10 years have seen even more innovations. So, it's no exaggeration to say that the introduction of the Disney Dream -- Disney Cruise Lineís first new ship since the Magic in 1998 and the Wonder in 1999 -- marks a major upgrade for a brand that is one of the most beloved by consumers all over the world.

After an all-star christening ceremony held last month at the ship's home in Port Canaveral, Fla., the 4,000-passenger Dream (with nearly 50 percent more capacity than previous Disney ships) was introduced to journalists and travel agents on a two-night inaugural cruise. By the end of those two short days, there was little doubt that the Dream is going to make a big splash in the family travel market for years to come.

New Technology
One of my favorite examples of the enhanced technology in place on the Dream was in the Animator's Palette restaurant. The signature restaurant -- which celebrates the magic of Disney's animators with decor and themes that replicate an artist's studio -- features a special twist. During dinner, the restaurant monitors are transformed into "windows" that look out on an animated underwater world, and Crush, the laidback sea turtle from the film "Finding Nemo," appears swimming from window to window, engaging guests in real-time interactive conversations.

Other technological marvels onboard the Dream are the Magical Portholes found within inside cabins. Using high-definition cameras placed on the exterior of the ship, live video of the passing view is streamed into each Magical Porthole and, what's more, guests may be treated to an occasional surprise as well (such as seeing the flying balloon house from the film "Up" float by).

Not surprisingly, the kids' clubs on the Dream are easily some of the most innovative at sea. In Disney's Oceaneer Club (for kids ages 3 to 10), for example, there are several play areas, including Andy's Room, a recreation of the room in the film "Toy Story"; Monster's Academy, with an elaborate play structure themed to the film "Monster's Inc."; Pixie Hollow, where children participate in arts and crafts projects in Tinker Bellís enchanted forest; and the Explorer Pod, a yellow submarine themed to "Finding Nemo" and equipped with 16 computer stations. But the most popular feature of the Oceaneer Club was the Magic PlayFloor. A first in the cruise industry, this huge interactive floor allows children to engage in group activities where their movements determine what takes place on the floor around them. For instance, on one visit, the kids in the club were ìkickingî a virtual ball back and forth across the screen in the floor.

The Dream also features the Itís a Small World Nursery, for infants and toddlers (three months to 3 years old); Edge, a tweens club (ages 11-13); and Vibe, a space for teenagers (ages 14-17). There is even the Chill Spa, a special area within the shipís spa just for teens.

New Amenities and Cuisine
In addition to new technology, the Dream offers a major upgrade in shipwide amenities and cuisine.

The Dream's cabins are comfortable and well thought out, with an understated ambience that had me looking hard to discover the "hidden Mickeys" in the decor. I loved the super-plush queen-size bed and convertible sofa in my Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom With Verandah, which comes with an upper berth pull-down bed if needed. (At 306 square feet, this category cabin can sleep up to five guests.) One of my favorite features, however, was the separate commode and bath/shower. I also liked the wireless phone service that allowed me to use my stateroomís phone throughout the ship -- making it easy to call and check in on little ones at the kids' clubs, for instance.

The ship features three main restaurants: Animator's Palette; the Royal Palace, featuring lavish decor inspired by classic Disney films; and the Enchanted Garden, a more casual garden-themed restaurant. There is also the Cabanas buffet and Floís cafe, for casual dining and snacks, as well as the popular Eye Scream/Frozone Treats, serving ice cream and fruit smoothies. Grown-ups can visit the Cove Cafe, a coffeehouse for adults only.

Disney took fine dining a step further on the Dream by creating several adults-only options. Remy is the line's first-ever premier dining option where guests can sample French-inspired cuisine from two award-winning chefs, one from a Michelin two-star restaurant in France and the other from Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. Then there is Palo, a redesigned version of one of Disney's signature restaurants featuring the cuisine of northern Italy. Nestled between Palo and Remy is Meridian, a cozy lounge for pre- or post-dinner cocktails. Just be sure to remind clients to check the dress codes for all three restaurants before sailing. Finally, the Disney Dream features an adults-only entertainment area called The District. Here, guests can find five separate lounges to suit all tastes.

New Attractions and Entertainment
In the decade since the last Disney ships were launched, one of the biggest changes throughout the cruise industry has been in the area of onboard attractions and entertainment, and the Dream brings Disney Cruise Line up to speed with the level of offerings on the other major lines.

To begin with, there is the highly anticipated AquaDuck Water Coaster. This combination thrill ride/water slide/lazy river takes guests seated on an inflatable raft in a water-filled tube around the outside of the top deck -- and even over the edge of the ship -- for a truly unique experience at sea. I found the ride to be more of a lazy river than thrill ride but still a lot of fun. Just warn clients that kids need to be 48 inches or taller to ride. For those who don't meet the height requirement, there's a smaller water slide next to one of the shipís three pools (one pool is for adults only). For the youngest guests, there is also Nemo's Reef Splash Zone, which features a water-play area with water jets, fountains, slides and more. All of these areas are in full view of a jumbo LED screen that shows classic Disney movies and more throughout the day.

Other shipboard activities include Goofy's Sports Deck, where cruisers can play miniature golf on a very amusing course, shoot baskets or play volleyball, try two virtual sports simulators (one for golf and the other for Formula One racing) and more.

If itís indoor entertainment passengers are looking for, the Dream delivers that in a big way as well. In addition to an arcade, the Dream's Buena Vista Theatre features big-screen, first-run movies -- including movies in 3D, a first at sea. Furthermore, Disney's live shows are legendary in the cruise industry, and the Dream features an expanded 1,340-seat Walt Disney Theatre that spans three decks. The lineup of musicals now includes "Disney's Believe," an original stage revue created just for the Dream.

The Disney Dream will sail alternating three- and four-night cruises from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas and Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. During the summer, the ship will sail four- and five-night itineraries with two stops at Castaway Cay. As I discovered, the only drawback to sailing on the Dream is finding enough time to explore all its offerings. The good news is that the Disney Fantasy ó the Dream's sister ship -- will be joining the fleet in 2012, giving families yet another chance to make their dream vacations come true.

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