The Disney Difference

So, having evaluated the new Disney Dream from it's first-glance appeal, accommodation, dining and entertainment quotients, how should we sum up this glitzy new offering from Disney Cruise Line?

Well, it certainly remains a great proposition for families AND for couples without children, as the adults-only facilities remain some of the best at sea. And, should you so wish, you wouldn't need to even see a child aboard, let alone know you are at sea with several hundred of them at any one time!

There are, of course, the overtly Disney touches that could only come from the House of Mouse, notably the three themed restaurants, the superb (but distinctly Mickey-fied) big show productions, the many character meet-and-greet opportunities, and the outrageously outfitted kids activity centres, which only Royal Caribbean's biggest ships can touch for space, range and style.

The introduction of their 'magical portholes,' the virtual window onto the outside world which all inside cabins now boast, the Enchanted Art throughout the ship (special pieces of art which literally come alive when activated by a pssing guest) and the special fireworks-at-sea deck party also all point to the kind of imagination and invention which exists primarily with Disney's 'Imagineers.'

But the designers have continued to keep a handle on cruising's luxury and tradition-orientated heritage, with many touches which look and feel totally five-star. The Cove Cafe, glamorous Concierge Lounge and associated cabins, Palo restaurant (and new bar area), District nightlife complex and, especially, the gourmet dining of Remy all highlight a tendency which Disney began with the Magic and Wonder and have firmly continued with their latest vessel.

Their staff remains keen and eager to please and even the standard level cabins are wonderfully comfortable, practical and well-fitted, with the split bathroom arrangement putting them well ahead of most of the competition.

And, as befits a ship produced by the Meyer-Werft shipyard in Papenburg, it displays a superlative level of finish and build quality. While the yards of Finland and Italy are not short on style and quality, I have never failed to be impressed by the end product out of this German marine production centre, and feel they go the extra yard to making sure everything is completed to the nth degree.

Take time to stroll along the classic internal promenade on Deck 3 (above), take time out at the Bon Voyage bar, walk the 'red carpet' into the Walt Disney Theatre and take a ride on the unique AquaDuck 'water-coaster' and you will have sampled four highly contrasting but all representative facets of this extraordinary ship.

Unlike the vast Oasis and Allure of the Seas, it is not a destination in itself; and it is not an out-and-out resort at sea, with all mod cons and little connection with the maritime world. It does have plenty to keep guests occupied without ever setting foot ashore (and, to be honest, it's 3 and 4-day cruising to the Bahamas is not guaranteed to have people flocking off anyway, with the exception of Disney's private island of Castaway Cay), but the onboard style still has more in keeping with cruise tradition than the all-mod-cons approach of others.

Are there elements that don't work especially well? Almost certainly. The deck space in the adults-only Cove Pool area is less than capacious; there are sure to be quite long queues to try the AquaDuck; and the main atrium area seems like a huge, empty void at times, as it is geared up for the many Disney character photo opportunities and is otherwise a pretty pointless space.

Their rotational dining system may not suit those who prefer to dine in one main location, especially for a 7-day (or longer) voyage, but it is hard to fault the novelty and attraction that it represents over just 3 or 4 days.

We absolutely love Castaway Cay, where we were able to cycle at our leisure, enjoy the adults-only Serenity Beach area, grab a quick lunch with ease and stroll along the main beach back to the ship, which is docked by the purpose-built pier. Brilliant thinking all round, and the family facilities here are the equal of any beach resort in the world.

Does it all add up to the premium price that Disney charges for such a short cruise? It can cost $1350/person for a 4-night cruise in a balcony cabin, which could get you a 7-night cruise (or even longer) on a few other lines. But you will certainly feel like you are in high-quality territory here, and the X-factor that comes with all Disney ventures is most firmly to the fore here.

All in all, it is a superb experience, a real one-off in the cruise world today, and one that is well worth considering. The rest, as they say, is up to you...!

Sampling Some Dream Entertainment

OK, so we've checked out the ship, looked at the accommodations, been wowed by the Concierge level and sampled much of the cuisine and restaurant offerings. Now it's time to see what makes Disney Dream tick in terms of the onboard entertainment.

And the simple answer is - high quality shows. The not-so-simple answer is - an amazing array and variety of live productions, music and nightlife, WAY too much, in fact, for just a 3 or 4-day cruise (which will be the Dream's stick in trade).

The 1,340-seat Walt Disney Theatre is the main focal point for all the big production musical offerings, 3 Broadway-style (and quality) shows in a grand setting, with lashings of Disney style and some superb staging.

The 3 shows are The Golden Mickeys (an 'awards' type show that is basically a look at Disney's greatest hits, film and music-wise), Disney's Believe (another rollicking musical that incorporates more great well-known songs and set-pieces, including the Beauty and the Beast, and The Princess and The Frog, as well as The Genie from Aladdin and many other beloved Disney characters), and Villains Tonight (which we didn't get to see, unfortunately, but then there's only SO much you can squeeze into two days!).

The 3-level, art deco Theatre, with its orchestra and balcony seating, provides a beautiful setting for these big-production stagings, and there is usually an element of pre-show as well, utilising the big video screens either side of the huge stage.

More entertainment, this time of a cinematic and lecture-based kind, is on offer at the Buena Vista Theatre, which is basically identical to the versions on the Disney Magic and Wonder, while The D-Lounge adds a venue for family-style games and quizzes like Family Fusion and Anyone Can cook, and The District is the centre of the adults-only nightlife options.

This latter consists of five separate lounges and nighclubs offering a terrific variety of settings and moods for a grown-up evening out. The District Lounge is a piano bar casual pre or post-dinner drink; 687 is the ship's Sports Bar; Pink is a hugle stylised cocktail bar themed like being inside a bottle of pink champagne (if that isn't too bizarre); Skyline is one of the Dream's standout locations, a hugely imaginative bar/lounge that has six different famous cityscapes (that actively change every 15 minutes) as its backdrops through picture 'windows' behind the bar. It's the kind of thing that only Disney can do, and it's well worth seeing, if not staying for a cocktail or two (as even the menus are illuminated from within when you open them!); and Evolution is the high-energy dance club, a fairly large and dark disco that 'transforms' itself like a butterfly with plenty of light-induced imagery as guests are invoted to 'spread their wings' and party. This is also the venue for live comedy and cabaret acts.

The other big entertainment feature of note is the lively deck party vibe for both sailaway and final night on each cruise. Sailing Away is a fun, family-style party featuring Mickey and the gang to set the mood for the start of every cruise. For the grand final, there is a three-stage deck show that begins with the child-friendly Mickey's Pirates IN The Caribbean (with lots of character-induced fun and games; see pic above), the Buccaneer Blast (Disney's signature fireworks-at-sea show, a one-of-a-kind event that actually puts on a pyrotechnic extravaganza from the top decks of the ship) and Club Pirate, a show-cum-party finale, with Captain Jack Sparrow and a cast of villains making an entertaining appearance and giving way to on-deck dancing and general party amusements.

It all adds up to a truly mind-boggling array of rich and varied entertainment, certainly enough to keep the whole family (and especially mum and dad on their own, when it comes to The District area) amused for the full duration of any cruise. Once again, Disney Cruise Line has created something of a marvel.

The only drawback to my mind is - how are people going to fit it all in?!

Dream Dining

After the initial look at the new Disney Dream at Port Canaveral, it was time to spread out a bit further and see what else this grand 128,000-ton colossus had in store.

Our first item on the agenda was lunch, so we headed for the Cabanas restaurant up on Deck 11, an extensive indoor/outdoor buffet option that serves both breakfast and lunch. The style of this venue will come as no surprise to most regular cruise-goers, and, while it is not as cramped as the versions on original ships Disney Magic and Wonder, it is still a bit awkward to negotiate the cafeteria-style serveries. The seating areas are comfortable, though, and space never seemed to be a problem on our cruise (albeit with only around half the full passenger number).

The food choice was also quite wide, albeit a bit thin on the salad side of things. A wonderful blackened mahi-mahi was my top choice, along with an Asian stir-fry. There was also a fresh carvery station and plenty of typical fast-food options to keep the kiddies happy!

Between Cabanas and the main pools is a series of Quick Service Restaurants - Luigi's Pizza, Tow Mater's Grill, Fillmore's Favourites, Frozone Treats and Eye Scream. Nothing startling here, but all good, fresh food, and some very tempting sandwiches and paninis.

The grown-ups can also relax with a speciality coffee or tea, plus a pastry, at the Cove Cafe, which is definitely my idea of a soothing sea-going retreat (their Americano was also absolutely delicious!).

The real dining highlight of the Dream, though, is their unique rotational dining system, whereby families and couples have dinner at one of the three main restaurants each evening, with their serving team accompanying them at each one. Even though we had only two evenings aboard, we managed to sample all three by having breakfast in the Royal Palace, the fairytale-style dining room, with its plushly-upholstered 'throne' chairs and French-themed menu. To my view, this was the least eye-catching of the three, but that is only a relative term for Disney, where everything is so thoroughly themed.

Animator's Palate is the grand 'show' restaurant, a vibrant animation centre where the walls come alive with interactive features such as Turtle Talk with Crush (from the Finding Nemo film), a hilarious chance for kids (and some adults) to 'talk turtle' with the surfer dude from the East Australia Current.

The food style is supposed to be Pacific Rim, but we had a Wild Mushroom risotto, endive salad and Black Cod (me) and Sirloin Salad (Susan), none of which seemed especially 'Pacific' to us. Susan's tomato appetiser was surprisingly poor, with much of the tomato unripe and almost inedible. We may not have made great choices here, though, as most people felt the food in Animator's was among the best on the ship.

Our second night was in the superbly evocative Enchanted Garden, a grand setting 'inspired by the Gardens of Versailles,' and, to my mind, much more romantic and 'fairytale' in its style and theming. A lovely central fountain, gentle mood lighting and superb exterior decor make this a wonderfully different and relaxing dining area, and we also had an excellent dinner here.

My sea bass was beautifully succulent, and I also sampled a side order of the caramelized sea scallops which were positively melt-in-the-mouth good. Susan's marjoram-scented organic chicken was another taste extravaganza, while the lobster ravioli and beet carpaccio appetizers were equally satisfying. Portions were also relatively modest, which we like, and we didn't leave either restaurant feeling we were over-fed.

Desserts were good without being overwhelming (we had cruised most recently on the Crystal Symphony of Crystal Cruises, where desserts are an absolute stand-out feature, hence Disney was up against an impossible comparison standard here), but the little after-dinner petit fours at Enchanted Garden were another minor taste sensation (little cubes of exotic fruit and chocolate fudge).

In keeping with most cruise lines these days, Disney also offers an alternative dining experience at real speciality restaurants (for adults only). Palo is a larger version of the same Italian-themed restaurant on Magic and Wonder, with the addition of an outdoor terrace and bar area. It serves both dinner and an imaginative brunch, both at an additional $20/person surcharge, but it is usually well worth it.

Finally, the 'ultimate' dining option is that offered by Remy (above), Disney's first true gourmet experience. And, if Palo is the five-star option, Remy is six-star-plus, a creation of Michelin-starred French chef Arnaud Lallement and Disney's own uber-chef, Scott Hunnel. Sadly, we didn't get to dine here but we did get the chance to sample a couple of the restaurant's French-inspired dishes, a langoustine in Caesar sauce, and smoked bison, both of which were the kind of deep, palate-pleasing sensations that could easily be dangerously addictive.

The one drawback here is that the Remy cover charge is a whopping $75 per person, easily the most expensive of any alternative dining restaurant at sea, and their five-course wine-tasting menu would add another $99/head to your bill. However, if you look at it as the chance to dine at a 2 Michelin-star restaurant, where you would be unlikely to get change from $200 for a three-course meal, then you are certainly getting value for money here.

It seats just 70 a night (dinner can last up to 3 hours here) and there is a separate pre-bookable dining room for eight, and it also serves the best champagne cocktail in the world as your welcome-to-Remy aperitif - Tattinger champagne with a nip of pear vodka, a touch of dried apricot, half a blueberry and mint. Just sensational. However, if this appeals to you for your first Disney Dream cruise, you will need to book as early as possible, as this is likely to be a sell-out for every night of every cruise for the foreseeable future.

The other feature of Disney dining is the service, which is among the most personable and family-friendly at sea. Our four servers over the 2 evenings were from the Philippines, Jamaica, Scotland and Costa Rica, and all had a great touch that made the occasion memorable. There were a few grumbles from other media that the wait staff hadn't quite got their act together yet, but we never encountered anything less than the typical Disney enthusiastic-but-efficient style.

And, given that this was their first real test, it bodes well for the months and years to come.

OK, that's the low-down on Dream meal-times, stay tuned for more about this amazing ship in the next few days...

Aboard A Dream

After the eye-popping event that was the Disney Dream's naming ceremony, the vast throng of media and guests retired back to the Terminal for a glass of champagne and canapes, to discuss and digest the great 'show' that had just unfolded before us.

It had been truly spectacular, aided and abetted by a blissful Florida winter's day - bright blue skies and ideal temperatures (just enough to redden a few arms and faces!), which was in stark contrast to how the week started and finished, with heavy rain. We did wonder what Disney had planned in the case of bad weather (because you know Disney are always prepared for every eventuality and there certainly would have been a Plan B, just in case) but, as it turned out, everything went off perfectly.

After about an hour of post-inauguration chit-chat, we were invited to board the new vessel, as she had now tied up alongside the Terminal and was ready to accept guests for the first time.

As some will know, all 3 Disney ships feature a large, three-storey central Atrium, where guests arrive via the gangway, and everyone is 'announced' in proper celebration fashion ("Now welcoming, the Veness family!"), and this sense of style and presence sets things up for every voyage.

Happily, all the cabins were open and ready, and we were able to head there first to check out our Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom With Verandah (a standard outside cabin with balcony) on Deck 6.

The first thing you notice is the fact the bed is raised up on proper legs and is not cobbled together from two single beds; it is a proper king bed with plenty of room underneath for cases and bags. Very tidy. The cabin is not terribly wide but the sitting area is quite spacious and there is a curtain to screen off the lounge space if you are using the sofa-bed as a third berth (which might well make it a bit of a squeeze for three).

It isn't exactly opulent but it's not spartan either, and all the fixtures and fittings are extremely well made and high quality. The split bathroom offers a separate bathtub/shower with sink and mirror, all with Spa H2O bath products, and then there is a separate W/C with sink. Thoughtful, convenient and a boon to most families.

The Family Staterooms are a touch wider and deeper, and bunk beds for the kids are a great idea (no more sharing a double bed!). We also had a look at the famous inside cabins with their Disney-unique 'virtual' window (a clever porthole-shaped video screen that relays live views from outside the side of the ship, along with a few clever 'extras' such as various Disney characters appearing periodically, like the Starfish from Finding Nemo and dancing hippos from Fantasia!).

Our quick ship tour also took in the Concierge level, a separate, gated accommodation area that evokes memories of the traditional former First Class style of maritime travel. Inside, it conjures up more than memories, as it is a truly gorgeous and classic piece of design, highlighted by rich dark-wood panelling that is straight out of the Golden Era of cruising in the 1930s.

All the cabins have a much higher level of finish, using that dark-wood style to complete the image of the glamorous yesteryear in sea-going chic, and there is also a separate Concierge Lounge and exclusive deck area, plus private entry to the Spa.

It is very much an area that many cruise lines have been moving into in recent years - this ship-within-a-ship style and extra exclusivity - but this is the first time I have seen it carried through to such a warm and traditional style, almost straight from the pages of the Queen Mary or Normandie in the 30s.

As if to complement this feeling of 'grown-up' largesse, the adults-only Cove Pool and Cove Cafe are also much richer and more classical spaces, and will surely appeal to cruisers well beyond the usual Disney reach.

It all made for a very satisfactory and inviting first look at the ship. But there was more in store. Much more....

Disney's 'Wow!' Event

Almost 13 years ago, Disney startled the cruise world with their debut vessel the Disney Magic. They followed up a year later with Disney Wonder, and everyone sat back awaiting the next Big Thing from the fledgling Disney Cruise Line.

And waited. And waited.

It seems DCL was in no hurry to 'push the envelope' until they were absolutely sure the market was ready for some more Disney sea-going Imagineering. And this year, the market was right.

I have already detailed the preamble to the launch festivities of the new Disney Dream, and, on Wednesday, it was time to see the finished work for real. Along with a whole heaped helping of that Disney style and entertainment to go with it.

So, after a 7.45am start from the Grand Floridian Resort at Walt Disney World, off we all set in the Art Deco DCL buses for Port Canaveral and the naming ceremony.

Disney has its own (Art Deco) terminal at the port, and the quayside was all set up with a huge stadium-style seating area, complete with a stage more than 50 yards wide and backed by a huge video screen. The ship herself sat at anchor in the harbour, away from the terminal and with a small attendant barge, with a huge (think about 20ft tall) 'champagne' bottle sitting on top.

Now, we fully expected a Big Show. Disney are renowned for putting on a visual extravaganza for all their significant events.

What we got was an absolute eye-popping spectacle of the first degree, a 30-minute theatrical production of non-stop colour, movement, song, dance and special effects. A complete entertainment pageant with every bell and whistle Disney could muster.

While the senior Disney executives introduced the event, it was left to Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto and the rest of the gang - along with a cast of hundreds of performers, dancers, singers, band members (including the US Navy's SouthEast Band) and giant, stilt-like characters - to make it a cavalcade of pure fun in the best traditions of Walt himself.

We watched, entranced, as this huge cast took us through a series of set-piece features designed to fill the big 'champagne bottle' with enough 'dreams' for the official launch. We had Captain Jack Sparrow and a pirate 'invasion,' a host of Disney Princesses, the 'Wildcats' of High School Musical and a marching band, culminating in the ship's godmother, actress and singer Jennifer Hudson (and a former Disney Cruise Line entertainer!) appearing on a riser behind the stage to join with Mickey and the Fairy Godmother (naturally) in performing the time-honoured ceremony.

With the vast stage filling up once more with everyone who had already taken part in the earlier scenes, a helicopter appeared to lift up the big 'champagne bottle' and carry it over to touch it to the ship's hull - at which point the fireworks show took over and we were truly bowled over by a daytime pyrotechnic finale.

With all that, it was time to return to the Terminal and sip a glass of celebratory champagne ourselves, prior to embarkation on the Disney Dream and the next part of the inaugural festivities - a two-day cruise on the ship itself.

More soon...!

Disney Magic Before The Dream

We suspected Disney would throw a pretty amazing party as the start of all their inaugural events for the new Disney Dream, and we were right.

Not only did we enjoy a wonderful evening at their Magic Kingdom theme park here in Orlando, but they also provided an excellent presentation into their marketing and creative thinking, and then put it all into practice for us with a superb show on and around Cinderella's Castle.

A group of roughly 2,000 media and media guests were treated to special access to the theme park, starting with a special forum with Disney's top executives and 'Imagineers' detailing a lot of what was in store.

For Disney fans in particular (of which Susan and I are certainly two!), they unveiled a lot of the design process and forthcoming attractions of the major new Fantasyland redevelopment, which is currently under way and will begin to open in late 2012.

There has been a lot of secrecy and rumour over the content of the new 'land' in the park, but we can now say that it will be a truly extensive makeover, more than doubling the size of the existing Fantasyland area and bringing in two major new rides, including a Snow White-themed indoor roller-coaster that will have all-new ride technology for a more dynamic ride experience.

Other highlights include the Voyage of the Little Mermaid ride, a new Dumbo attraction, a Princess meet-and-greet area (replacing the current Snow White ride), a Beast's Castle area (including a major new restaurant) and Belle's Cottage, which will be a fully interactive area with the character from Beauty and The Beast.

More importantly, there were a good few hints about what's in store for us later today with the Disney Dream naming ceremony, and we will shortly be heading off for Port Canaveral for the inauguration itself at 10.40am local time (3.40 in the UK).

With typical Disney efficiency, our luggage will be transported separately from our hotel room here in the Grand Floridian resort so we don't need to carry or tote anything and it should all turn up in our cabin after our arrival.

The naming ceremony (10.40-11/05am) will be followed by a gala lunch onboard - and the chance for our first proper look at the ship.

More importantly, everyone who can't be here can follow the whole thing online, on a special Disney webcast, on this link:

www.disneycruise.com/dream

You can also follow on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/DisneyCruiseLine - and Twitter - http://twitter.com/DisneyCruise.

Finally, last night concluded with a truly memorable and eye-catching debut of the new 'The Magic, The Memories and You!' show on the Castle, with the Wishes fireworks show (above) immediately afterwards.

This really has to be seen to be believed as it involves state-of-the-art cinema projection on the whole of the Castle and creates an absolutely stunning effect of illusion and creativity.

Now, on to Port Canaveral...!

Countdown to Disney Dream - T-Minus 1 Day!

OK, we are fully checked in at our Disney resort (the superb Grand Floridian) and registered for the media preview cruise of the new Disney Dream tomorrow.

The check-in procedure at the resort’s convention centre (above) was extremely smooth and we were soon photographed and presented with our room keys and information packet. It bodes well for an exciting and well-organised few days.

We know Disney very well from almost 20 years of working in the Orlando area and writing about the amazing Walt Disney World resort for our various guidebooks (like the Brit Guide to Orlando and my wife’s The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World), so we have pretty high expectations of any event run by the House of Mouse.

Amazingly, among the welcome material for all the media was an individual iPod Touch, fully loaded with a special Disney Dream app to provide a self-guided tour of the ship along with a special ‘scavenger hunt’ for 15 distinctive signs throughout the vessel with a unique Mickey Mouse-shaped code ready to be scanned and unlocked!

The “Wow!” factor is already high, and we have yet to even glimpse the new ship!

But, before we can get to Port Canaveral tomorrow morning for the inuauguration and naming ceremony – to be performed by former Disney Cruise singer and now Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Hudson – there is a party to attend.

And there's no such thing as an ordinary party with Disney. This evening's shindig will be a special-guests-only extravaganza at the Magic Kingdom, with the very first look at the new 'The Magic, The Memories And You' projection show on Cinderella's Castle, along with dinner and fireworks.

It all promises to be a superb overture to the Main Event tomorrow, and the excitement around the resort is palpable. This is no ordinary ship inauguration, folks!

Stay tuned for more soon......

Let The Disney Dream Begin!

This week marks the christening and inauguration of Disney Cruise Line's latest and grandest ship, the Disney Dream.

And World of Cruising will be on hand for all the fun and festivities, ready to provide a detailed, first-hand look at one of the most exciting new vessels of 2011.

The whole will last four days, starting with a special presentation with Disney's 'Imagineers' (that special blend of creative designer that is both an imaginative innovator and engineer) from the Magic Kingdom theme park tomorrow (Jan 18).

The event will then continue with the naming ceremony at Port Canaveral on Wednesday, followed by a 2-day media preview cruise for Disney Dream, calling at Disney's superb private island of Castaway Cay.

Wi-fi permitting, we will be able to provide daily reports and feedback from the ship and make sure Time Spent At Sea readers get a real insider's look at all that's in store from this 128,000 stunner, complete with its unique AquaDuck 'water-coaster' ride (above).

Stay tuned, now...!

Vote for your 'Most Anticipated' ship in 2011!

There are eight all-new ships due to join the world's cruise fleet this year, from the latest ship for Disney Cruise Line to the boutique little Sea Cloud Hussar of Sea Cloud Cruises.

And we are having our own little Poll here at Time Spent At Sea to see which ship people are most looking forward to. Just scroll to the foot of our Home Page and you will see the voting options.

The eight ships are as follows:

Disney Dream, Disney Cruise Line; due Jan 2011 - 128,000 tons, 2,500 passengers

Marina, Oceania Cruises (above); due Jan 2011 - 65,000 tons, 1,260 passengers

Costa Favolosa, Costa Cruises; due Apr 2011 - 114,000 tons, 3,012 passengers

Carnival Magic, Carnival Cruises; due Apr 2011; 130,000 tons, 3,652 passengers

L'Austral, Ponant Cruises; due May 2011; 10,600 tons, 264 passengers

Seabourn Quest, Seabourn; due June 2011; 32,000 tons, 450 passengers

Celebrity Silhouette, Celebrity Cruises; due Aug 2011; 122,000 tons, 2084 passengers

Sea Cloud Hussar, Sea Cloud Cruise; due Sep 2011; 136 passengers

PS: Disney Dream is the early leader after just 1 day with 100% of the vote!

PPS: Just go to the bottom of our home page http://timespentatsea.blogspot.com to see the poll in full.