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John and Donna Gross "The Full Mickey - At a Discount!" The Wall Street Journal
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2013 Disney Cruise Line Itineraries Announced! Disney Wonder, starting December 23, 2011 - Mostly 4 and 5 night itineraries FROM MIAMI. Disney Magic, summer 2013 - back to the Med for 7, 10, 11 night itineraries plus two new 12-night itineraries. Also adding two 4-night departures (intended to be paired with land tours). Beth writes: "We are able to offer a DCL 'sale' once per quarter. Our sale for this quarter will start January 27 and will run for two weeks." Members should log in and contact Beth for details.
Disney Fantasy (the Ship) Takes Disney Fantasy (the Fun) New Disney cruiser launches March 31, 2012, with entertainment, activities and dining all purpose-planned for longer itineraries PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. - The Disney Fantasy is about to be a cruise vacation reality. And when the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet launches March 31, 2012, it will be a high-water mark for Disney fantasy afloat in more ways than the name on the bow. This ship, Disney’s fourth, offers entertainment, activities and dining experiences purpose-planned for seven-night cruises from her maiden voyage forward. The creative team, aware this ship was bound for longer itineraries, had an opportunity to produce an extended portfolio of Disney fantasy offerings. Here are several highlights of experiences adding to the fantasy fun in store: The launch of a new Disney ship includes the premiere of a new Broadway-style stage spectacular in the lavish Walt Disney Theatre. Aboard Disney Fantasy, two new shows are a highlight of the live-entertainment series guests enjoy each evening. The signature show "Wishes" is a 45-minute musical journey about three best friends who discover the secret to being a grown-up is staying connected to their inner child. Also new to Disney Cruise Line, "Disney’s Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular" is a fast-paced musical comedy during which Aladdin is back as the "street rat" of Agrabah meeting a Genie who grants him three wishes, battling the evil Jafar, and falling in love with Princess Jasmine. The princess and pirate fantasies of young guests can be enlivened with the Disney Cruise Line debut of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and The Pirates League - popular landside retailers specializing in makeovers. Young princesses can "look the part" for dinner at Royal Court, an elegant restaurant inspired by the classic Disney films "Cinderella," "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Sleeping Beauty." When the hugely popular deck party "Mickey’s Pirates IN the Caribbean" is on the evening schedule, young sailors’ piratical side can really come through via a Pirates League treatment. Nightlife for adult vacationers takes a Fantasy spin with Europa - an entertainment district of high-energy, sophisticated and trendy clubs and lounges. Inspired by the night spots of Italy, France, Ireland and London, Europa is a continent of adult nighttime fun without borders. La Piazza is a lounge that draws inspiration from stylish Italian plazas. Skyline is a chic bar that provides ever-changing birds-eye views of stunning European cityscapes. O’Gill’s Pub is a rollicking Irish bar and Ooh La La is an elegant French champagne bar. The Tube transports guests to a vibrant metropolitan club reminiscent of swinging London. With special areas devoted to young children, tweens, teens, adults, families and recreation, an expanded schedule of activities is in development for Fantasy cruises. New Fantasy twists on "Dreamy" fun The Disney Fantasy also puts some new twists on fun familiar to guests who have cruised on the Disney Cruise Line sister ship, Disney Dream: The Muppets are coming to the Disney Fantasy in the context of an interactive adventure quest designed for guests nine and older. While playing "The Case of the Stolen Show," guests move around the ship, uncovering clues to figure out the culprit behind the disappearance of Kermit’s banjo, Fozzie’s squirting flower, Gonzo’s crash helmet, Animal’s drum sticks and the Swedish Chef’s cleaver!. It’s a new spin on a self-paced game concept introduced on Disney Dream that "hides" the clues in pieces of Enchanted Art - wall hangings that are activated like magic when guests approach. "The Case of the Stolen Show" is just one of a trio of adventure detective games that may be played on the ship’s Enchanted Art. While dinner may be served twice at popular Animator’s Palate, the show accompanying the meal is as different on the two evenings. All new aboard Disney Fantasy, guests’ cartoon creativity comes alive during dinner in a show called "Animation Magic." On another evening, the room is immersed in a vivid undersea environment and Crush makes a special appearance, swimming around the restaurant and engaging in live impromptu interactions with guests. A "sister ship," but ….. The Disney Fantasy is a "fraternal twin" to the Disney Dream which launched in early 2011. Both cruise ships are 1,115-feet in length, with 1,250 staterooms and suites and 4,000-passenger capacity. And both are warm and welcoming, elegant and richly detailed - harkening to the golden age of ocean-liner travel of the 1930s. But veteran Disney cruise vacationers will start recognizing differences the moment they enter the Disney Fantasy’s atrium lobby. Its three-deck expanse is graced with sophisticated Art Nouveau-inspired details and patterns in hues of vibrant blue, green, pink and gold. Glamorous and graceful design elements include a sweeping grand staircase, towering fluted columns, grand piano and an exquisite marble and stone inlay floor. From the ceiling hangs a cascading chandelier, grand-yet-delicate, that flows downward from a massive stained-glass flourish on the ceiling in peacock hues of greens and blues. The chandelier itself is more than 10 feet in diameter, a one-of-a-kind work of art evoking a peacock in stained glass and crystal beads. The whole effect is continued in the rich carpeting underfoot. As with each Disney Cruise Line ship that launched before it, the Disney Fantasy has an atrium lobby statue celebrating a classic Disney character. Mickey at the helm, Ariel sitting pretty and Admiral Donald striking a pose have been previously featured. The pièce de résistance of the Fantasy lobby is Mademoiselle Minnie Mouse. Inspired by travel of the 1920s and 1930s, Minnie is cast in bronze and dressed in vintage fashion with a parasol and steamer luggage at her side - posed for keepsake pictures with guests. Beyond the lobby ... There are places and experiences, services, dining and entertainment concepts that are hallmarks of the Disney Cruise Line experience. Here’s more of what’s in store during a Disney Fantasy cruise: H2Ohhh! - When the Disney Dream launched, it boasted the first water coaster at sea, called Aqua Duck. A 765-foot long, twisting-and-turning scream machine, the get-wet attraction has been a huge hit with guests. So Disney Fantasy has Aqua Duck, too! Plus something new: AquaLab, a water play area where families can frolic among pop jets, geysers and bubblers. There also are separate pools for children, families and adults - plus a special splash-and-play area for little ones. Outside the wet zone - Disney Fantasy continues the Disney Cruise Line tradition of special, fun-filled clubs, labs and cafes for guests of all ages - Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lab for young children (ages 3-10), Edge for tweens (ages 11-13), Vibe for teens (ages 14-17) and Cove Café for adults - plus the family club D Lounge and It’s a Small World Nursery. In all the youth and family areas, there are activities and games supervised by crew members. In addition, Edge and Vibe are rendezvous spots for age-group games, quests and tours that take youth on adventures throughout the ship. Exercise and fitness - Fitness has its places, too. Both inside at the Fitness Center and outside on Goofy’s Sports Deck, guests can "work out." Among the facilities on the sports deck are a basketball court that can be configured into mini-soccer or volleyball court… and a walking track encircling the deck, perfect for those looking for a light - and scenic - workout. The Fitness Center is well-appointed with state-of-the-art cardio equipment and weight machines, and offers personal training sessions and instructional classes (yoga, Pilates, aerobics). Fun and games - The nine-hole, Disney-themed miniature golf course isn’t "just plain Goofy." It also stars Goofy’s son, Max. The interactive holes emphasize various golfing lessons - but, of course, with goofy twists. There are simulators that provide a variety of state-of-the-art virtual sports-gaming experiences, ping pong and foosball tables, and an arcade offering a variety of the latest interactive video games plus gaming classics such as pinball and air hockey. Pampering and relaxation - Senses Spa & Salon offers therapeutic and beautifying personal care services for men and women in a retreat spanning two decks. It offers spa treatments, massages, body wraps, facials, aromatherapy, manicures, pedicures, hairstyling and blowouts, traditional men’s grooming services and more. There’s a "Relax Room" as well as a rainforest-themed aromatherapy steam room and sauna. While most of Senses Spa & Salon is for adult guests 18 and older, it includes Chill Spa - a separate spa for teens offering a wide variety of spa services and treatments, including facials, massages and manicures. Family dining - With "rotational dining" serving up a changing menu of thematically magical restaurants, cuisines and mealtime experiences throughout the cruise, dinnertime is an adventure until itself. Royal Court, an exquisite dining room fit for a princess, and Animator’s Palate with it two different shows are just two of the venues that guests experience. But along with the ever-changing fun comes a constant: Guests’ wait staff rotates with them, sharing familiar smiles and knowing likes and needs on a first-name basis. Adult dining - Adult couples and groups can reserve a dinnertime at two adult-exclusive restaurants - Palo, specializing in Northern Italian cuisine with a contemporary twist, and Remy, the most upscale and romantic dining experience about Disney Fantasy and serving French-inspired cuisine. Both restaurants come with stunning ocean views, an upscale dress code befitting the ambiance, the need for advance reservations and an upcharge. Shows and deck parties - Disney Fantasy-exclusive "Wishes" and "Disney’s Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular" are just part of the entertainment offerings in the lavish Walt Disney Theatre - and at other locations as well. A high point is the evening the ship is transformed for piratical family fun including the deck party "Mickey’s Pirates IN the Caribbean" and the fireworks spectacular "Buccaneer Blast," featuring pyrotechnics choreographed to a dramatic musical score based on songs from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies. There are other deck parties for sure … and movies galore, both on deck and in the Buena Vista Theatre, a chic cinema with plush stadium-style seats that screens first-run movies and digital 3-D films. Techno-wizardry -On Disney Fantasy, reality includes jaw-dropping experiences resulting from 21st-century technology - whether it’s the young kids at Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab participating in fun and games on a huge, dynamic interactive floor alive with sights and sounds … or the family sitting together at a live performance during which great acting of a great story is enhanced by over-the-top effects … or the family settling down in an inside stateroom with a real-time view of the sea passing by outside via a "magical porthole." Private island - It wouldn’t be an East Coast Disney cruise experience if each Disney Fantasy itinerary didn’t include a day at Castaway Cay - a port of call that guest comments suggest is the "best stop" of the cruise! It’s a day that can be filled with water fun, beach play or just plain relaxation plus cookout eating. The Disney Fantasy will sail out of Port Canaveral on seven-night Caribbean itineraries - alternating eastern (St. Maarten and St. Thomas) and western (Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, Cozumel). Special Eastern Caribbean sailings in November and December 2012 stop at St. Thomas and San Juan, Puerto Rico. All Disney Fantasy itineraries include a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. (Source: Press Release)
Carnival now sports a trio at Port Canaveral
Senior Travel: Just how much should I tip?
Sweepstakes winner to sail on Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship before
maiden voyage
From the Galley: A Look at Remy’s Newest Gourmet Dish Aboard the
Disney Dream
How were stern characters chosen for Disney Cruise Line’s
Fantasy?
Cruise lines adding more options, but at a cost
Port Canaveral Bound Disney Fantasy Cruise Ship Adds Final Building
Block
Disney Fantasy cruise ship reaches construction milestone
Disney Cruise Line: We’re not changing alcohol policy
Disney Cruise Line Entertainment Brings Beloved Disney Characters to
Life
Couples Cruise to a Happily-Ever-After with Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings
& Honeymoons on Disney Cruise Line
Adults Escape with Indulgences on Disney Cruise Line
Adults Escape to a Fantasy World All Their Own At ‘The District’
Aboard the Disney Dream
Relaxation and Indulgences in Store Just for Adults On Disney Cruise
Line’s Disney Dream
Family Fun Abounds Aboard Disney Dream
Cruise lines putting out more 'no smoking' signs
Celebrity Silhouette to feature open-air, interactive grilling
restaurant
Select Disney Cruise Line merchandise for sale off ships
Princess Cruises Announces Special Speakers to Appear During World
Cruise - Beth writes: "A Disney Imagineer is to be one of the speakers
aboard a PRINCESS cruise!"
New Disney cruise ship sails with a full house
Florida Cruise Homeport Spotlight: Port Canaveral
Disney Fantasy construction continues, bow design detail revealed
Does your kid want to party past midnight? Carnival Cruise Lines can arrange
it.
Short cruises a breeze for first-timers
Disney Cruise Line Unveils New Disney Fantasy Guest Experiences
Décor on Disney Fantasy sets it apart from Disney Dream
Disney Cruise Line reveals new features on Disney Fantasy
Couples can get married on Disney Cruise Line ships, island
Little changes on Disney Dream make big impact
Disney Cruise Line Begins First Summer Cruise Season in Alaska
More new cruise ships and vessel upgrades are on the horizon
Cruise packages for a powerful thirst
Giant Ships… Are the Worth the Extra Cost? Beth, our travel agent, writes: "I recently had a very unique opportunity to compare two ships from the same company back to back. They were Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas and Allure of the Seas. Liberty is a member of the Freedom class of ships, previously the largest passenger ships afloat until the Oasis class (to which Allure belongs) debuted last December. I’ve looked at the deck plans of these classes dozens of times, and booked hundreds of passengers on them. Still, in my head, I was sort of thinking that sailing on them would be very similar. Granted, the Oasis class ships have more bells and whistles, and the interior promenade concept has been expanded to include an outdoor area as well, but I somehow thought more would just be, well, more of the same. I was wrong. I'll admit I boarded Allure all ready to come away saying she was great, but probably not worth the extra bucks unless the price truly wasn't going to affect your budget much. I don't feel that way anymore, and here’s why. The Freedom class ships are very similar to the Voyager class ships, and I like both classes very much. About the only thing you'll pick up on Freedom class that Voyager class doesn’t provide is a FlowRider (surfing) which is cool, to be sure, but I wouldn’t let that one thing dictate which ship to choose. I say, whichever one has the right itinerary on the dates you need and has an attractive price is the right one, regardless of whether it’s a Voyage or a Freedom class. If it turns out it’s a Freedom class, great; start working on your balance if you want to try out the surfing. Oasis-class ships are a whole different world. The standard cabins are about the same, but everywhere you turn there are a zillion upgrades and new ideas made into reality. For instance, there are interior balcony cabins. Some look over the Central Park area while others look over the Boardwalk area (and its carousel). If you're lucky, your Boardwalk balcony will also give you a great view of the Aqua Theatre. Aside from pretty fountain shows, the water shows they do there are totally amazing. We didn't get to see the Broadway musical (Chicago on Allure, Hairspray on Oasis), but we did get to see the new aerial show, Blue Planet. I really can't believe that they can pull that stuff off on a moving ship! Of course, I'm still in awe of the ice skating shows that all three ship classes offer. We were one of three couples lounging in comfy chairs under the stars one evening in Central Park listening to a violin and classical guitar duo who were fabulous. That giant ship and all those people on board and there were SIX of us all alone in that gorgeous setting! We never searched for a table in the buffet area even once (not true on Liberty), and my boyfriend is now a zip-line addict after twice making the short-but-high slide 9 decks above the Boardwalk area. The food wasn't the best we've had at sea, but it was B+ or better the whole time, and most of the service (in the dining room and elsewhere) was an A- or better. The children’s areas are amazing, and sure to thrill kids from tots to teens with no trouble at all. And for the adults, dancing, alternative dining, comedy clubs, casino, the spa..… no shortage of activities, from low energy to very high energy. And here’s the best news… In the last few weeks I’ve seen pricing on the two Oasis-class ships starting around $799 per person for a 7-night cruise. OK, so that’s an inside cabin rather than a posh, 2-story sky loft suite, but who cares? This is one of those cases where it’s all about the ship, not the itinerary or the cabin. In short, two thumbs up on Liberty of the Seas, three thumbs up on Allure of the Seas. (Am I allowed to do that?) If you've got kids, especially teenagers, if you love big ships or high-energy vacations, if you love being amazed at what architects and engineers can pull off then these ships are for you. Just want to hang at the pool and eat well? they'll work out for you, too. Who should avoid them? Those that prefer traditional cruising and/or smaller intimate ship settings, and perhaps those that are overwhelmed by vast areas of unfamiliar space."
NEW DISNEY CRUISE LINE ITINERARIES AND PORTS FOR 2012 Beth, our travel agent, writes: "For the first time ever, Disney Cruise Line® will set sail from three new ports in 2012 - New York, Seattle and Galveston - making the Disney family cruise vacation more accessible to your Clients around the country. There are also more itinerary choices than ever before, including one special voyage to Hawai‘i. New York Sailings Beginning May 25, 2012, the Disney Magic® will sail a total of 20 cruises from New York. 8-night Bahamian cruises include a day at Disney’s Castaway Cay and a stop at Port Canaveral, gateway to the Walt Disney World® Resort. As part of this itinerary, your Client will receive a one-day Park Hopper® Ticket and roundtrip transportation between the ship and resort. 5-night Canadian/New England cruises will visit Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Saint John, New Brunswick. 2-night cruises are perfect for Clients looking for a quick getaway at sea over a weekend. Seattle Sailings Beginning May 28, 2012, the Disney Wonder® will sail a total of 14 cruises to Alaska from the Port of Seattle, Wash. 7-night Alaskan cruises will call on Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan plus Victoria, British Columbia. Galveston Sailings Beginning Sept. 22, 2012, the Disney Magic will sail 12 cruises from the Port of Galveston, Texas. 7-night Western Caribbean cruises will visit Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico, as well as Grand Cayman. Los Angeles Sailings In addition to 7-night Mexican Riviera cruises, the Disney Wonder will set sail on Disney’s first-ever voyage to Hawai‘i on April 29, 2012. 15-night Hawaiian cruise departs from the Port of Los Angeles and includes stops at Hilo; Kahului, Maui; Honolulu, Oahu; Nawiliwili, Kauai and Ensenada, Mexico. 7-night Pacific Coast cruises will call on San Francisco, San Diego and Ensenada, Mexico. The Disney Dream™ will continue to sail 3-, 4- and 5-night Bahamian cruises. The new Disney Fantasy will offer Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, beginning with the maiden voyage on March 31, 2012. Sail dates for both ships are now available through December 2012."
Disney Dream: Schedule changes, answers to readers’ questions
Disney to test regional cruise ports in U.S.
Travel insurance tales: Is a 'Natural Cause' a pre-existing
condition?
Disney to Set Sail from New York, Galveston and Seattle in 2012
Disney Cruise Line Sets Sail for Alaska in 2011
Family-Friendly Port Adventures to Immerse Disney Cruise Line Guests in
Splendor and Culture of Alaska
Disney Wonder cruise crew member missing at sea
Senior Travel: Cruise line drink package -- deal or scam?
Couples Cruise to a Happily-Ever-After with Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings
& Honeymoons on Disney Cruise
The Disney Dream Ship Horn Delights Guests with Six Familiar Melodies
- video
Report: Port Canaveral to get third Carnival cruise ship
Guests Can Explore Europe this Summer with Incredible Itineraries Aboard
the Disney Magic
Princess Cruises to Return to Port of Galveston for 2012-13 Caribbean
Season
Sneak Peek of a Stage Spectacular Aboard the Disney Dream - "Disney’s
Believe"
Disney Cruise Line lowers height requirement for Disney Dream’s
AquaDuck
New Online Process Makes Checking In Fun, Easy and ‘Goofy’ for
Disney Cruise Line Guests
Disney Cruise Line has Fantasy in mind
Magical Works of Art Come Alive with Animation to Amaze Disney Dream Guests
- video Disney cancellations and changes: Disney Cruise Line: 10- and 11-night European cruises on the Disney Magic will skip Tunis port-of-call and stop in Palermo, Italy, instead. (Source: Disney email blast, 02/04/11)
Family-Friendly Port Adventures Await Disney Cruise Line Guests Sailing
to Alaska
Photos, menus, tips for feeding kids on Disney Dream
Disney moms panelist Andi Sims offers advice tailored to Disney Cruise
Line
Disney Dream Visits Castaway Cay for Fun in the Sun During Ship’s
Maiden Voyage - video
Pool day on Disney Dream: Swimming, splash pad, slide and AquaDuck
Maiden Voyage Guests Enjoy Innovation and Pixie Dust Aboard the Disney
Dream
What are Disney Dream’s Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab really
like?
Disney aims to wring more revenue from new ship
Video: Disney Dream comes within feet of another ship in Port
Canaveral
Bon Voyage! Disney Dream Departs Today on Ship’s Maiden
Voyage
Cheers, Santé, Prost, Kampai Aboard the Disney Dream
2011 cruise trends: River trips, new Jamaica port, concerns over port
calls in Mazatlan
How Do We Give Every Disney Dream Guest an Ocean View? It’s
Magic!
Five things on the new Disney Dream that could drive you nutty
Unique views, technology set Disney Dream’s tween lounge
apart
Disney Cruise Line Welcomes Newest Ship During Christening Celebration
Filled with ‘Dreams’
Disney Dream boasts 'over-the-top' Remy, an upscale restaurant
Disney Dream’s revamped pirate night more family-friendly
Toddlers have their own space, schedule on Disney Dream
Disney aims to keep it fresh for cruisers
Rapunzel, ‘Tangled’ characters update ‘Golden Mickeys’
on Disney Dream
Disney Dream offers teens exclusive, high-tech club
Godmother Jennifer Hudson Christens New Cruise Ship with Disney
‘Dreams’ in Spectacular Ceremony
An Amazing Disney Dream Christening Ceremony
Remy: Exquisite Dining Atop Disney Dream
Disney Dream Christening Ceremony January 19
Complimentary use of portable phones debuts on Disney Cruise Line
ships
Disney Dream Getting Ready for Guests
Jetty Park is place to see Disney Dream, other DCL ships up close as they
sail out to sea
Disney Dream makes its grand entrance
Welcome Home, Disney Dream!
Disney Dream Arrives in Port Canaveral
With new cruise ships, Disney looks to sea to boost growth
Oceaneer Lab on Disney Dream houses animation studio for kids
Pink Bubbles Over with Romance Aboard the Disney Dream
Behind-The-Scenes Video: Imagineers Adding Finishing Touches to Disney
Dream
Finishing Touches: Disney Dream
Finishing the Disney Dream Piece by Piece
What to expect from cruises in 2011
Out at Sea with the Disney Dream - video
The District is Zoned for Nighttime Fun Aboard the Disney Dream
Disney takes delivery of its newest cruise ship - the Disney Dream
Disney Dream slideshow
Disney Dream Restaurants Promise Magic on the Plate and on the
Walls
Remy Realized Aboard the Disney Dream
Creativity & Whimsy Await Disney Cruise Line Guests Aboard the Disney
Dream
Take a 360 tour of the new Allure of the Seas cruise ship
Take a Ride on the Disney Dream's AquaDuck!
Disney Dream Arrives in Hamburg
Disney Dream Begins Journey to Completion During 'Conveyance' on River
Ems
Disney Dream Has Kids-Only Magic PlayFloor
Allure and Oasis could make Fort Lauderdale world cruise capital
Disney Cruise Line's latest innovation: Built-in hand sanitizer
stations
It’s Showtime Aboard the Disney Dream
Disney Dream Nears Completion with 'Float Out' at Meyer Werft Shipyard First of two new ships for Disney achieves milestone, moves closer to maiden voyage PAPENBURG, GERMANY, (Oct. 30, 2010) - After 20 months of construction, the Disney Dream cruise ship floated out of the enclosed building dock at the Meyer Werft shipyard today, completing a major construction milestone. The ship was greeted by thousands of visitors lining the shore to see the newest Disney Cruise Line ship, which features the first water coaster at sea and other cruise industry firsts designed to build upon Disney’s commitment to delivering unparalleled family cruises. The "Float Out" is a special maritime event that celebrates the ship’s final stages of construction, where exteriors become complete and final touches are assigned to interiors. In true Disney-style, the celebration was punctuated with a fireworks display and the appearance of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. The Disney Dream is scheduled to sail its maiden voyage on January 26, 2011, from Port Canaveral, Fla. "Today marks a monumental milestone and begins the first of the finishing touches for the Disney Dream as we prepare to welcome guests aboard our newest ship," said Karl Holz, president of Disney Cruise Line. "Our guests are counting down to the maiden voyage, and in just 88 days, they will get to experience all that the Disney Dream has to offer." The Disney Dream is the first of two new ships being built by the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The Disney Fantasy is also currently in production and is scheduled to set sail on its maiden voyage on April 7, 2012. "Today is a day of great pride for all of us at the Meyer Werft shipyard," said Bernard Meyer, managing partner of Meyer Werft. "To finally see the largest ship this yard has ever built floated out and nearly complete is an inspiration within itself, and that coupled with the pixie dust Disney is known for, made this a truly magical moment for all involved." The Disney Dream will remain alongside Meyer Werft’s outfitting pier in the shipyard harbor for about two weeks, while testing is completed on the ship’s stabilizers, rudders and other functional features, and work on the ship’s interior areas continues. The ship is scheduled to leave the Meyer Werft shipyard and be conveyed down the River Ems, the second weekend in November, where its destination is the North Sea at the port of Eemshaven, The Netherlands. Disney Dream Innovations Known for establishing the family cruise market when the Disney Magic debuted in 1998, Disney Cruise Line continues to build upon this success with a focus on the legacy and heritage of The Walt Disney Company’s most known assets – master storytelling, world-class entertainment and legendary guest service. In addition to all of the features Disney Cruise Line is known for, the Disney Dream will have several new notable innovations for guests to enjoy. * AquaDuck, a first-of-its-kind water coaster, is an exhilarating, high-speed thrill ride that combines all the ups and downs of a roller coaster with all the twists and turns of a water slide. * Magical Portholes offer a “virtual window” to the world for inside staterooms, with a real-time view outside the ship where high-definition cameras feed live video to each stateroom. * Enchanted Art immerses guests in Disney storytelling and looks like other hanging art pieces around the ship, but is actually a framed LCD screen with technology that recognizes a guest is present. * Remy, an exquisite top-deck restaurant, only for adults, with incredible ocean views and French-inspired, gourmet cuisine by two award-winning chefs. New Itineraries With the addition of two new ships, Disney Cruise Line is able to more formally expand its itineraries to new destinations, including Alaska, while continuing to offer cruises to some of the line’s most popular itineraries. The Disney Dream will sail three-, four- and five-night cruises to the Bahamas from Port Canaveral, Fla., while sister ship Disney Fantasy, is set to sail seven-night alternating eastern and western Caribbean itineraries, also from Port Canaveral, beginning in 2012. The Disney Magic will continue sailing seven-night eastern and western Caribbean cruises, before returning to the Mediterranean for another summer of cruising in this region in 2011. The Disney Wonder will begin 2011 by repositioning to the West Coast of the U.S., sailing seven-night Mexican Riviera cruises from the Port of Los Angeles, while spending the summer sailing first-ever Alaskan itineraries from Vancouver. Based in Celebration, Fla., the Disney Cruise Line experience is focused on providing a setting where families can reconnect, adults can recharge and kids can immerse themselves in worlds of fantasy only Disney can create. Most recently, the company was recognized as the top cruise experience by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine. Disney Cruise Line was voted the No. 1 cruise experience in the magazine’s 2010 Readers’ Choice Awards in the mega-ship category. (Source: Press Release, 10/30/10)
Sorcerer Mickey Takes His Place on the Disney Dream
Disney Dream cruise ship gets first taste of water
New Disney Dream cruise ship to float out from construction dock
Porthole Views Go Virtual on Disney Dream
Disney Fantasy 2012 Schedule (April - Aug.)
Disney Dream 2012 Schedule (Jan. - Aug.)
Disney Wonder 2012 Schedule (Jan. - April)
Disney Magic 2012 Schedule (Jan. - April) All pricing reflects a category 11C standard inside stateroom, government taxes and fees not included. (Source: Press Release: 10/18/10)
Disney Chefs Cook Up Gourmet Treats for New Ship
Learn about Disney's newest cruise ship, the Disney Fantasy
What should I pack for a Disney cruise?
Dive! Dive! Dive! Photos showing the progress of the Disney Dream and
Explorer Pod submarine
Disney Magic cruise a treat for kids, grown-ups alike
Private cabanas at Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Cay open
Disney Cruise Line Alaska Shore Excursion Preview & Trivia
Contest
Disney exec says demand is strong for new cruise ship
Ship of fine print: 7 clauses to beware of in your cruise contract
Kids guide to cruises: Where you can find your favorite characters at
sea
Spring-a-Leak water playground opens at Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway
Cay
A stunning photo of the Flying Dutchman at Disney's Castaway Cay
Disney Dream Construction Update - It’s (Almost) Showtime
Disney cruise: Great ports of call on Disney Mediterranean cruise
Starting the Disney Dream Engines
A long way to go to ensure passengers' safety on cruise ships
Florida Cruise Guide: Norwegian Epic pictures
Take a look at the new Disney Cruise Line virtual portal
Crazy cruise: 7 absurdities of the sea
Check out images of the new Norwegian Epic at sea
Disney might cruise to Asia and Hawaii
DreamWorks Animation coming soon to Royal Caribbean
Will you one day ride high-speed rail to your East Coast cruise-ship
port?
Disney Cruise Line Adds Final Building Block to New Cruise Ship Disney
Dream
New Construction Photos of the Disney Dream Bow
Cruise lines fined $75,000 for ‘free airfare’ ads
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A FREE DISNEY CRUISE? REALLY? Beth, our travel agent, writes: "Yep, really! Some people are getting emailed PIN code deals offering them a free 3-night Disney cruise when they do an Adventures by Disney vacation, so it’s like two vacations for the price of one. If you were thinking of doing a 3-night Disney cruise anyway then it’s an especially nice deal. What’s Adventures by Disney, you ask? It’s Disney’s tour company. They offer adult-only and family-friendly vacations all over the world, and they are pure quality all the way. No characters to be had, but plenty of that famous Disney attention to detail. I love, love, love this program!" So how do YOU get one of these PIN codes? That’s a closely guarded secret. So Affordable Disney members should log in and follow Beth's directions right away. MAYBE you'll be one of the lucky ones to get this PIN code!"
IN THE MOOD FOR A CRUISE???? Beth, our travel agent, writes: "Don’t assume that online booking is your best bet. Not only do we offer ALL the pricing you’ll find on Vacation.com, but also special group pricing on even more departures. And, when you book with a agency that sells lots of cruises (like we do) you’re more likely to get free upgrades and more likely to get bigger upgrades than if you booked direct with the cruise line. Here are just a few of the great deals we have on the list right now…
Celebrity Solstice, October 17 from Ft Lauderdale
Carnival Ecstasy, September 18 from Galveston
Disney Magic, April 10 from Port Canaveral
Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas, April 3 and 10 from Ft. Lauderdale
7 night Western Caribbean cruises from $899 p/p (May 1, 15, 29)
Mediterranean cruise onboard the Disney Magic - Editor in Chief Carolyn
Spencer Brown is sharing her adventures ashore and onboard via a daily live
video blog
A Disney Cruise Line vacation through time-lapse video
Reposition Cruise Guide: Travelers can save when cruise ships
migrate
Port Canaveral prepares for new Disney ship
Disney Cruise Line and Michelin-starred Chef Create Perfect Pairing with
French-inspired Remy On the Disney Dream
Here's a webcam to watch the Disney Dream cruise ship being built!
D23 goes behind the scenes of the magic - and technology - of the new
Disney Dream ship
Disney Dream cruise ship pictures
Florida's new and soon-to-arrive cruise ships
Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas pictures
Carnival Cruise Lines to increase price of all summer 2010 sailings on
March 22: Right now is Wave Season - the time of year when you can get
the best prices on cruises. If you're thinking about taking a cruise in 2010,
members should log in and contact Beth for some of her great deals on Carnival
and other luxury cruise lines while they're still available!
Carnival Glory back in Miami after renovation
Disney Cruise Ship Behind Schedule After Late Return
Cruise trends in 2010: Higher prices, single studios
Norwegian Epic's studio cabins seriously go after single cruisers
Disney Cruise Line Brings Fun in the Sun, Water Play For Little Ones and
Goofy’s Golf on the Disney Dream
More Magic Coming to Castaway Cay
Children Customize Their Cruise Experience with More Choices than Ever
on Disney Cruise Line
Taking the Kids -- Aboard the biggest cruise ship afloat
Family Cruise Guide: Which lines are best for children
Winter Wonder-land aboard the Disney Wonder
Disney Cruise Line Introduces Family-Friendly Port Adventures For 2010
Mediterranean and Northern Europe Sailings
Disney Villains Cast a Comical Spell on New Stage Spectacular Aboard Disney
Cruise Line Ships
Carnival Cruise Lines orders $738 million ship for 2012 delivery
Disney and three other cruise lines pull Nassau tour
Creativity and Innovation Take the Helm Aboard Disney
Dream
Carnival Cruise Lines' newest ship, Carnival Dream, arrives at Port
Canaveral
World cruise segments from Florida offer convenient sea 'legs'
Sailor Mickey Says, "Ahoy!" Disney Cruise Line to Be Featured for the
First Time in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Top Disney executive: Strong demand driving cruise line expansion
Explore the Disney Dream
Disney Dream: Details revealed about Disney Cruise Line’s new
ship
World's largest cruise ship sets sail for Fort Lauderdale
Floating 'Oasis of the Seas' lines up ports of call - World's largest
cruise ship will arrive at Port Everglades next month
Disney Cruise Line Sets Sail for America’s Last Frontier: Disney
Wonder Bound for Alaska in 2011
Disney Cruise Line Sets Sail for Alaska in 2011
Disney cruise line: Disney to spread cruise ships around the world
Island happy Disney unveils Castaway Cay additions
Disney Cruise Line Creating More Magic at Castaway Cay - with
video
Guests Enjoy More Flexibility When Booking Resort Stay and Park Tickets
Along with A Disney Cruise Line Vacation
Disney now helping people discover Europe
Bell and Bowen Working on New Project for Disney Magic
Disney cruise terminal evacuated after brief bomb scare
Parenting at the theme parks: Put the kids' needs ahead of your
own
New ships to sail from Florida ports this fall
Disney Cruise Line Begins New Ship Construction
Cruising: Disneyland on water, minus the rides
Disney Cruise Line gets new president amid reshuffling
Cruise lines to refund $3 million to consumers for fuel surcharges
Disney Cruise Line pulls Alaskan national park application
USA TODAY exclusive: Disney Cruise Line plans 3-D theaters
Important Information Regarding Fraud Alert from Crystal Cruises "It has come to the attention of Crystal Cruises that fraudulent checks are being issued to various individuals throughout the United States either randomly via mail or through other means including popular Internet websites featuring job postings, Mystery Shopper programs, Sweepstakes/Draw Winner and payment for items being sold. We do NOT believe that any of our customer personal information was used to generate these checks..." For the rest of the letter, see: http://www.crystalcruises.com/img/email/agent/ann20090803.html
Beth, our travel agent, writes about the great deals to be had now in cruising: "OK, I know I’ve been harping on the value of cruising lately and I apologize… except that I wouldn’t be a very good travel agent if I didn’t go out of my way to make sure clients know that this is a great year for discovering this all-inclusive vacation option. Of course, if you’re already a cruise fan you know what I mean, but statistics show that the majority of you have yet to set foot on a cruise ship. NOW is the time to fix that problem because pricing has never been more amazing. Case in point… One great line is based in Italy. They don’t do much advertising here because they generally have no more than one ship cruising from a US port, but this is a line worth paying attention to. They christened a new ship just last year, and it's making her debut in the Caribbean this Fall with two 5-night cruises from Ft. Lauderdale that start at just $399 p/p – and kids 17 and under SAIL FREE! And get this… the 7-night Christmas cruise which departs Ft. Lauderdale December 20 starts at just $699 and, again, KIDS SAIL FREE! Seriously - for Christmas! That’s just unheard of on a holiday cruise. If you’re still hesitating because you’re worried about being bored, getting seasick, feeling too regimented, etc. then email me. What you’re imagining is the way cruising used to be; it’s changed. There’s something for every age group, and you can do as much or as little as you care to. Cruising really is the perfect vacation when you need a break from Disney. Please don’t let the opportunity of discovering cruising at such great prices slip away. I’d be happy to get you no obligation quotes, talk to you about doing groups or family reunions, or put space on a courtesy hold for you. Deposits are fully refundable until the final payment date (usually 60 days prior to sailing). So dig out your sense of adventure and try something new… TAKE A CRUISE!" Affordable Disney members should log in for the cruise line's website URL and Beth's contact info.
Beth, our travel agent, writes: CELEBRITY'S SOLSTICE "The weekend of March 21 I had the opportunity to tour Celebrity's newest ship, Solstice. Now, understand that I'm a real fan of Princess Cruises, so I look at the competition with a very critical eye. We boarded in Ft. Lauderdale, right next to where the port is constructing new areas for Royal Caribbean's mammoth Oasis of the Seas (due out in December). It's dusty and noisy outside - and pure warehouse inside. I can't be too hard on them about the unappealing check-in area, though, because it looks just like what Princess has there. I will say that the lines to check in were pretty much non-existent. The boarding ramp was at such a steep incline that someone in a wheelchair or using a walker - or with any mobility challenges at all - would have a hard time. Once onboard, though, the atmosphere was much different. The ship, which arrived here in November of last year, has some very interesting public spaces. My ship decor taste leans toward dark woods, crystal, brass, and rich jewel tones. There are a few areas that use that theme, but then they also have funky sculptures and/or very contemporary lighting. Most public areas lean towards what I call South Beach chic: cool tones of icy aqua and mint green, LOTS of white, heavy on the chrome and glass, and yards and yards of sheer and/or gauzy window treatment. It's not that it's not attractive; it's just not my cup of tea. Think 'elegant spa resort at sea' - which is fitting. Read on. Speaking of tea, the pastries on display at a few of the alternative dining locations looked heavenly. (Celebrity has a reputation for having the best pastries at sea.) There are a number of alternative dining locations (additional fees from $5 up apply for most) if you're not in the mood for the formal dining room each night, and the buffet area we all know and love is there as well. The lunch we were served was quite good, and the service was great. I suspect the main dining room is probably very noisy during meal times, but the decor is unique and - again - tres chic. I'd love to try the alternative restaurant Silk Harvest that offers Chinese/Japanese/Thai fusion cuisine, as well as Bistro on Five which serves, among other things, crepes that smell amazing. The ship is best known for being the first to have real grass. I know what you're thinking... and I think the same thing. Why???? No one can give me a good answer. I can tell you, though, that there's a good bit of deck space dedicated to this green area, and they're now on their third type of grass. (The first two couldn't handle the intense sun and the saltiness of the sea.) If you want, you can kick off your shoes and enjoy another first at sea: glass blowers. Yes, really. Again, I'm not sure why, but there's a small theatre of sorts set up so that folks from the Corning Museum of Glass can entertain you with their glass blowing talents. The cabins of this class of ship were designed based largely on the input of a panel of five women: a frequent cruiser, a travel writer, a travel agent, someone who'd never cruised, and a hotelier. Their ideas resulted in a larger bathroom, fog-free mirrors, space under the beds for storage, and more. The cabins are supposed to be larger than most at sea, but those I toured with all agreed that they actually feel smaller. That is, perhaps, due to the layout that some cabins have: the sitting area and then the bed (closest to the outer wall/balcony) as opposed to the other way around which somehow appears larger. The deck plans aren't that specific, so unless you know someone that knows the ship and its cabins really well, it's luck of the draw. Another first (for Celebrity, at least) is a special class known as Aqua Class. These passengers have rooms that look like all the others, but with some extra perks (upgraded shower heads, daily bottled water, a special room service menu, and so forth). They also have access to an area of the spa known as the Relaxation Room which is really just very comfy lounges in a nice, quiet room with a lovely view. Aqua Class guests also have a spa concierge (although spa treatments cost extra) and are assigned to the super-exclusive restaurant called Blu instead of the main dining room. Aqua Class guests may choose to dine elsewhere from time to time, space permitting, and if they do then their unoccupied seats at Blu are offered to those in suites. If you're not Aqua Class or in a suite you have zero chance of getting into Blu. It's an attractive, intimate dining room and I'm sure the food and service are excellent, but my fellow agents and I decided that you'd have to be a real spa fan to think it's worth the extra bucks for Aqua Class. For Celebrity's sake, I hope the idea goes over well because two more identical ships are on the way! Other notes: The children's areas are not nearly as nice as what's available on the newer Princess ships (or even Carnival and Royal Caribbean, for that matter). They do have them, though, and children who don't have anything to compare to would probably be happy. The teen area seems well done and should please most. This is really more of a 'grown up' ship, though. The main theatre is nicely done. The seats are comfy and there are very few 'bad spots' in the room. One of the shows includes some aerial work, and the facility seems well suited to that sort of thing. We all loved the big hammocks in the main pool area. There just aren't nearly enough of them! There are some cushy-looking double lounges (already very spotted and in need of cleaning or replacement) that look great, but I suspect that people are up there at the crack of dawn staking out those lounge chairs for the day. I hate that! All in all, this is a very nice ship and I'd be willing to give it a go - for the right price, of course. This ship heads to Europe on April 19, but will be back next Fall." Members should log in and contact Beth for booking cruises on Celebrity's Solstice.
Cruising with Little Ones is Child’s Play Onboard Disney Cruise Line Traveling with infants and toddlers on Disney Cruise Line will soon be easier than ever thanks to a cruise industry-first service that delivers baby supplies directly to guest staterooms and a host of child-friendly offerings onboard the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder. Beginning March 15, families preparing to sail on Disney Cruise Line with little ones will have access to an online service that allows them to order baby supplies in advance of their cruise and have them delivered to their stateroom. The new service is exclusive for Disney Cruise Line guests and provided by Babies Travel Lite, an online retailer offering more than 1,000 brand-name baby products including diapers, baby food, infant formula and specialty travel items. By visiting disneycruise.com, guests will be able to access a special section of the Babies Travel Lite Web site where they can create orders for familiar brands in quantities customized to the duration of their cruise. “Disney Cruise Line prides itself on delivering a vacation experience that caters to every member of the family including our youngest cruisers,” said Tom Wolber, senior vice president of operations for Disney Cruise Line. “The new delivery service eliminates the challenges of packing for infant travel, while onboard conveniences simplify family travel for parents looking to relax during their cruise vacation.” The new delivery service is just one of the many products and services available to families traveling with children under 3. Guests also have access to a host of onboard services to facilitate traveling with toddlers in tow:
* Diaper Genie units, cribs and playpens are available complimentary upon
request from the stateroom host/hostess for use during the cruise. These amenities are the perfect complement to Disney’s infant-care center at sea, Flounder’s Reef Nursery. The nursery features an “under the sea” soft play area themed to Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” where children 12 weeks to 36 months can enjoy themselves under the watchful eyes of trained Disney caregivers. Even Mickey Mouse or another Disney pal might swing by for a surprise visit involving fun and games. Also for infants and toddlers is Mickey’s Splash Zone, a water playground inspired by The Sorcerer’s Apprentice from Disney’s “Fantasia.” This extension to the Mickey Pool features star- and moon-shaped interactive fountains, a soft play surface and whimsical splash zones, creating an inviting environment for children not yet toilet trained and in swim diapers. Guests sailing on seven-night cruises can enjoy some ‘together’ time with their little ones during Family Time Sessions at Flounder’s Reef Nursery. Families have the opportunity to explore the nursery and meet the team of counselors who supervise the children. Also on seven-night cruises, guests can enjoy Toddler Time at the Oceaneer Club and at Mickey’s Splash Zone. Families can join their little ones and explore the world together as they participate in musical games and fine motor skills exercises led by Disney’s youth activities counselors. A leader in the family cruise segment, Disney Cruise Line delivers a cruise experience that every member of the family feels was created for their own individual vacation wants and needs. Departing from Port Canaveral, Fla., Disney Cruise Line offers three-, four- and seven-night itineraries to the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Land/sea vacation packages that include a stay at Walt Disney World Resort are also available. (Source: Press Release, 01/29/09)
Beth, our travel agent, writes about her recent cruise aboard the Ruby Princess: "If you've been reading this newsletter for a while then you know I'm a big-time cruise addict. I would be perfectly content living on a ship permanently. (Actually, I did live and work on one for five years after college.) It's also no secret that sometimes travel agents are offered great deals in order to get them to come take a look and, hopefully, follow the trip by telling all their clients how great it was. Well, when Princess Cruise Line sent me an invitation about six weeks ago to spend two nights onboard the brand new Ruby Princess for FREE I jumped at the chance. Just as Princess knows how to take care of their passengers, they know how to take care of their travel agents. My guest and I were given a gorgeous balcony cabin, treated to an open bar for both days, and even had the cost of our gratuities and parking taken care of. You can visit Princess.com to see a video of the christening ceremony that took place that evening. It was hosted by a variety of celebrities and dignitaries including Gavin MacLeod (Capt. Stubing of Love Boat fame) and the ship's godparents, Trista and Ryan Sutter (from The Bachelorette) who had the honor of pushing the button that sent the traditional bottle of champagne crashing onto the ship's hull. In this case, it actually crashed into a wall, but it was still impressive. The entire area was doused in red lighting and filled with red roses. We'd all been asked to wear red formal attire so the overall effect was stunning. Following the ceremony we spent the evening dining, exploring the ship, watching movies on deck (Movies Under the Stars originated with the Princess line), and attending shows. Nearly everyone was dressed to the nines so it was very reminiscent of the cruising days of old. (These days, most people don't go all out even on the designated formal night, but I think they felt obligated in this instance.) The ship departed Ft. Lauderdale's Port Everglades very late, but we spent all of day number two at sea, giving us a chance to check out the casino and shops and, of course, eat more. The evening's entertainment started with an ABBA tribute band (really good if you like ABBA) and then a late night rock concert starring the ship's musicians which was outstanding. The entertainment on this short cruise exceeded any I've seen on board before. The food was, as always with Princess, excellent. We did both lunch and breakfast at the buffet and enjoyed both. We had our other lunch and the first dinner in the dining room... again, excellent food and really great service (especially considering we were their first passengers). Princess continues to have the best pizza at sea. Dinner two was late night at the bistro (back area of the buffet) and they did a nice job with offering variety. The specialty restaurants were closed for our short trip, but they're always worth the extra charge. We didn't try any of the poolside burgers this time or the ice cream, but I admit to being a little disappointed in the gelato from the piazza. We also tried afternoon tea in the dining room and found that, while it was fine, we missed the phenomenal scones we've had on Princess ships before. By the way, I'm in search of a great scone recipe so please write me if you have one. :) The most notable thing was the ship herself. It was the first time we'd been on one that new... not a dent or a scratch anywhere! Every piece of flatware was like a mirror, every sheet and towel pristine, and the teak decks and furniture have yet to be faded by the sun. It's sort of like riding in a brand new car - but a LOT bigger. Princess ships built in the last ten years have all followed the same basic layout and the public areas all have the same names, so if you like one of their ships you'll not only like the others, but also quickly find your way around. The newer ones do have differences, though - most notably, the adults-only solarium which is sort of like an extension of the spa, and the piazza at the base of the atrium which features specialty coffees and combination deli/bistro/bakery fare throughout the day. (Older ships are being retrofitted with these elements.) The children and teen areas are also great on Princess ships... Plenty for kids of all ages to do both with and without their parents. Princess is currently offering a great deal on cruise upgrades for next year, and (as you might guess) there are some wonderful prices to be found right now. Deposits are usually minimal and are fully refundable until your final payment date so it's worth taking advantage of the bargains. You can always cancel later if you change your mind. Please drop me a note if you have any cruising questions." (Affordable Disney members should log in for Beth's contact info.)
Beth, our travel agent, writes about 2010 Disney cruises: 1. 2010 itineraries will become available for booking on Tuesday, October 14. This is for cruise-only reservations; land/sea and group space will be out later. 2. New for 2010: northern Europe These are 12-night cruises out of Dover, England on the Disney Magic in June and July. Ports include Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Warnemunde (for Berlin, Germany), and St. Petersburg (with optional excursion to Moscow). Pricing for an inside category 11 cabin start at $3649 p/p (based on double occupancy). Rates for a category 11 inside cabin are from $2529 (based on double occupancy). 3. Also for summer 2010: Mediterranean The Magic will also be doing 10- and 11-night Med cruises from Barcelona similar to the ones a few years ago, but with three new ports: Tunis, Malta and Corsica (in addition to ports in Italy, France and Spain). These will be in April, May, August, and September. 4. There are 4 repositioning cruises as well. These include two 14-night trans-Atlantic trips and two 8-night cruises between Dover and Barcelona. I haven't seen pricing on those yet. 5. The Disney Wonder will also be making some changes for summer 2010. She will be doing 5- night cruises that include Nassau, Key West and Castaway Cay (or 2 stops in Castaway Cay instead of Key West). Pricing on the 5-nighters starts at $899 p/p. There will also be 4-nighters that start at $849 p/p... again, both based on category 11 inside cabins and double occupancy. *** Anytime new itineraries are released the first day of booking is insane. The pricing goes up by the minute. Those interested should provide booking info (legal names, dates of birth, address, phone #, Castaway numbers) if interested along with the itinerary and approximate date/cabin category desired. We'll do our best to book right when the trips are released for the very best pricing. We MAY also be able to offer an additional incentive of onboard credits. No idea what happened to the rumor of New York itineraries for summer '10... Perhaps they just tossed those out to mislead us! The new itineraries are loaded onto the agent website now and should be up soon for the consumer site. Please let me know if you have any questions."
Beth's services are only available to those with paid Affordable Disney
Memberships. Members should log in at our private password-protected site
for Beth's contact info.
Beth, our travel agent, writes: Don't' forget that October is NATIONAL CRUISE VACATION MONTH, the highlight of which is The World's Largest Cruise Night on October 16. Last year, nearly 35,000 cruise bookings nationwide were made as part of the event! The event is sponsored by Cruise Lines International Organization (CLIA) and nearly every major cruise line is a member. They'll all be offering specials like reduced rates, lower deposit requirements, onboard credits, free air, and so on. This is a great time to be planning your 2009 cruise vacation. Next year there are a LOT of new ships hitting the market, so if you've never cruised before it's the perfect time to start. Cruising remains one of the very best vacation values available. As soon as we get the details on what the lines will be offering I'll pass it on, but in the meantime feel free to let me know if you have questions about cruising. I'll be running the 'virtual' version of this event, so make a note on your calendar and plan to spend some time online that evening when you get home from work. (Actually, the event runs all day long, so I can get your information in advance if it's more convenient for you.)
Beth, our travel agent, filed this cruise report: "Those of you that have booked cruises with me know that I'm a cruise-aholic. Give me a good deal and I'm there. That's exactly what Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) did so I took them up on the offer and spent this past weekend on the Norwegian Sky. Given that combining your Florida land vacation with a cruise vacation is becoming a very "in" thing to do, I thought readers maybe interested in a quick overview. First, a bit of history. This ship was originally being built for Costa. For reasons I no longer recall, NCL agreed to purchase the ship if a few changes were made - one of them being to add a lot more balcony cabins. As a result, the balconies are small and the doors to them are a little odd. If you happen to be in a cabin that sleeps three and are using the sofa bed as your third berth, you can't even get to the balcony unless you crawl across the bed. In other words, the cabins are small. Otherwise, though, the ship (newly refurbished) is in great shape and most of the public areas are lovely. The crew is friendly, but not terribly well trained and they lack that "whatever it takes to make you happy" attitude that pours forth from crew members on other lines. Casual is the name of the game here, but we were amazed how many crew members' official uniforms were t-shirts! We were also amazed at how many people wore t-shirts and flip-flops and baseball caps to dinner, even in the nicest of restaurants. You can leave your sequins and tuxedos at home 'cause you sure won't need 'em here! Dining was a bit of a disappointment. Most cruisers live for the buffets, and we also enjoy them occasionally. We had a balcony cabin so we were permitted to dine at a buffet in one of the dining rooms for breakfast. Good thing because the main breakfast buffets were boring with a capital B. So was the dining room version, but at least there was more variety from the menu. This is the first ship I've been on where pizza was somewhat hard to come by, being offered only for a few hours a day. The lines for burgers and dogs blocked a big section of the main buffet area, so the already small, cramped spaces were made even more so by that logistical blunder. The salad bar section was nearly nonexistent, and although there were two sides to both the inside and outside buffets, most items were repeated on both sides (and both buffets) so there were few unique items to choose from. My daughter, who will eat nearly anything, actually had a hard time finding things she was willing to try. Finally, no ice carvings, no fruit carvings, no spectacular displays of food... Just small line-ups of average buffet food. No where near what you see with any other major line. For dinner there are three specialty restaurants you have to pay extra for ($10-$25 per person) and they are worth every dime, although the regular dining rooms are OK, too. We just found the service in the regular dining rooms to be slow, and at peak times both main dining rooms have long waits. (NCL uses "freestyle dining" so you can eat whenever you want to, but if that's when everyone else wants to eat you'll wait a long time. Princess executes this concept MUCH better.) So for reliably better food and better service, pay the extra for the specialty places. The entertainment was decent. Not stellar, but a good way to spend 45-60 minutes of your evening. The brand new casino is very small and smoking is permitted so it gets hard to breath pretty fast. The pools and hot tubs are adequate and there are plenty of deck chairs. We didn't try the spa and the fitness center, but both look nice. The kids' center leaves a bit to be desired (mostly blocks, movies, and Wii - no computers, limited craft projects), but my daughter (age 10) liked it - and it was worth $5/hour to use the service while in port and after 10:30 PM. (Otherwise it's free.) When in port they offer the typical shore excursions at the typical high prices. NCL's private island (Great Stirrup Cay) is truly not up to snuff compared to others. It's fine if you have nothing to compare to, but we had to wait a VERY long time to tender ashore (even though it was late morning already) so we were a bit grumpy to start with. If I ever go there again I'll be staying on the ship. There is just one large gift and duty free shop, but two (small) jewelry stores. It was a short cruise and we weren't there to shop so that didn't bother us. The late night deck parties, billed as major events, were little more than dancing to live salsa music - which is fine, but again, not what you get from other cruise lines. The bottom line is that this ship runs 3- and 4-night cruises from Miami so it competes with both Carnival and Royal Caribbean. I'd say Royal Caribbean wins this market hands-down, even though they ships they have doing the short cruises are older. I'm not a Carnival fan, but I'd even suggest Carnival over NCL *unless* you could get a great deal... and there are plenty of those to be had. Florida residents were booking this cruise from about $200 per person total for an inside cabin, slightly more for an oceanview or balcony. Non-resident rates were just a little higher - and kids can sometimes sail for as little as $99 each plus taxes and fees. So if you understand what you're getting and you have an amazing rate, go for it! If you can do Royal Caribbean, or even Carnival, for just a little more, though, that's the way I'd go. *** Don't forget that The World's Largest Cruise Night is October 16. We'll have great "one day only" deals, reduced deposit requirements and more for that night, so if you're thinking about a 2008 or 2009 cruise let's start talking NOW so you're ready!"
Beth, our travel agent, writes about taking a cruise during hurricane season: "I just finished reading a story about passengers aboard a Carnival ship that are furious over the fact that their Eastern Caribbean cruise is now taking them to - of all places - Newport, RI, instead, thanks to the approach of tropical storm Hanna. As such, I feel I need to reiterate once again that when you choose to travel during hurricane season you have to accept the fact that a certain amount of "adventuresome spirit" may be required. Rarely does anyone read all that tiny print known as the "cruise contract" or "tour contract," but somewhere buried in all that legal stuff is a section that says that the cruise or tour operator has the right to change your itinerary and/or available activities if, in their opinion, they need to do so in order to protect you and/or their property - and they can do so for any reason, not just weather. That means that a ship's captain can choose to change the order of ports, skip ports, or even take you to somewhere else entirely. Less commonly, your cruise may be cut short or suddenly increase in length if the ship can't get safely back into port on schedule. In the case of Walt Disney World, they retain the right to close their parks and order you to your room. Whatever it takes to keep you safe. Chances are good that you got a really great price on your hurricane season vacation. There's a reason for that, and you knew it when you booked. Of course, you probably assumed at the time that you wouldn't have to deal with bad weather - and the majority of travelers luck out. You, however, may not be among the lucky. And no, you are not entitled to a refund if that happens. If you have a problem with that concept, look into "cancel for any reason" insurance coverage. Admittedly, such unexpected changes can have a dramatic effect on your vacation. Cruise and tour companies are aware of that and don't take the decision to change things lightly. You need to trust your captain - or Mickey, as the case may be. They aren't making the changes to intentionally ruin your trip. Do exactly what they tell you to do - and then make the best of it. Attitude is everything when it comes to salvaging your trip."
Disney announces new European cruise tours
"Hanna-caused detour prompts 'mutiny' on Carnival Miracle."
"Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve in Alaska revealed last
week that Disney is one of half a dozen cruise companies that have submitted
proposals seeking contracts to sail in the park sometime between Jan. 1,
2010, and Sept. 30, 2019."
Disney is expecting fuel costs to exceed $20 million this year.
Consequently, they are looking for ways to cut costs, like changing the order
of stops, making its ships more fuel efficient, and traveling at slower
speeds.
Beth, our travel agent, shares her thoughts on cruising: "All of a sudden I'm being bombarded by requests for 'great deals on a summer cruise.' I've written many, many times about what a great vacation value cruising is. It seems that more people are finally willing to give it a chance. Bravo! The thing is, they're waiting too long to book. Gone are the days when you can call up the cruise line a week before sailing and snag a cabin for your family at bargain basement prices. OK, maybe not completely gone, but certainly very rare. The fact is, the cruise lines can't build ships fast enough to keep up with demand. That's especially true of the super liners. They're huge, but the demand far exceeds capacity. Think about it... There are currently only three of those ships that feature surfing onboard. Of their 1,817 cabins, about 20 of them sleep 6 or more. Those tend to book more than a year in advance, right when the sailings are first released. Well over half of the cabins hold only two passengers. Given that these are the coolest ships at sea, how long do you suppose those triple and quad cabins for June and July itineraries last? Not long! My point is that while the ships are really big and have lots of cabins, there aren't as many as you'd think that can accommodate a family. Those that can sell early, especially over times when schools tend to be on break. The tropical itineraries sell earlier than the Alaskan, European or other options as well. So while there are some amazing short-notice cruise deals to be had this summer, they tend to be on non-Caribbean itineraries, for cruises of 7 nights or longer, and on cabins that only sleep two people. NOW is the time to be booking your family cruise for next summer as well as for Thanksgiving and Christmas '09. For Disney cruises, which book up even earlier, I have a waiting list for 2010 sailings. Yes, seriously! You'll get the best pricing, the best choice of cabins, the best shot at free upgrades, and more if you book early. Your deposit will be refundable, so you really have nothing to risk. If you can't do it now, then watch for the World's Largest Cruise Night in October. It only lasts one day, though, so you have to know exactly what you want and have that deposit ready because we'll have to put it in at the time of booking to secure the promotional offers for that day. If you've got flexibility and there are just two of you, then by all means check with me about 90 days before you want to travel and I'll set you up with a bargain. If there are three or more of you, though, and you want just one cabin don't wait or you may miss out entirely."
For a description of the family activities available on the Disney
cruise ships, see:
Disney helps parents have a stress-free vacation with Disney characters,
experienced counselors, pagers, and an adult-only pool, deck and
restaurant.
Disney Cruise Line adds fuel surcharge: "Beginning with bookings made
as of May 28, Disney will charge the first and second passengers in a stateroom
$8 a day, up to $112 a person per voyage. Any remaining travelers in a cabin
will be charged $3 a day, up to $42 a person." A 7-day cruise will cost a
family of four an additional $154. Disney Cruise Line will open a London office this summer. It is thought that Disney will dock one of its new ships in Europe so it is seeking to expand its presence there. (Source: Orlando Sentinel, 04/14/08)
"Disney has retooled and repurposed another of its modern animated classics
and set it out to sea. Toy Story -- The Musical premiered Thursday,
but there's only one way for fans to see it -- aboard the Disney Wonder,
one of two cruise ships based here."
A Review of Toy Story the Musical: "Disney Cruise Line, not a company
to ignore its showman roots, has just become the first to write, design and
mount an honest-to-goodness Broadway-style show for its Wonder ship."
"Even if Disney Cruise Line ultimately decides to join its fellow cruise
companies and tack on a new ticket surcharge to cover skyrocketing
fuel costs, it will not follow the others in charging even those guests who
have already booked."
"After more than a year of negotiations, Disney Cruise Line and Port Canaveral
struck a deal Wednesday that will keep Disney ships sailing out of Brevard
County for the next 15 years..." Royal Caribbean will dock its Freedom of
the Seas ship in 2009 at Port Canaveral."
For photos of the Toy Story characters as they prepare for the debut of "Toy
Story - The Musical" on the Disney Wonder, see:
"[Nickelodeon] has chartered the largest ship in the cruise industry,
Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas, to launch the first Nickelodeon Family
Cruise."
"Toy Story -- The Musical will debut in April aboard the Disney Wonder
cruise ship. It's the latest entry in Disney's expansive live-theater network
that launched in 1993 with the purchase of a Broadway theater and has grown
to include full-blown, movie-based Broadway musicals such as The Lion King,
Mary Poppins and Beauty and the Beast."
"Disney Cruise Line plans to make Port Canaveral home base for both
its ships in 2009, ending a four-year adventure that sent one of them to
distant waters in the Pacific and Mediterranean." In 2009, Disney will add
two new 7-night itineraries to its Caribbean cruises: St. Croix and
Tortola. |
"Travel agents are bombarded with offers to check out hotels, cruise ships, tour companies, etc. for great rates - sometimes even for free - but, alas, most of us are rarely able to take advantage of the opportunities because it's so hard to get away. On October 26, though, I made an exception and accepted an offer from Princes Cruise Lines to spend the night aboard the new Emerald Princess while she was in wetdock in Ft. Lauderdale. I'm a huge fan of Princess and their newer ships are all lovely, but the Emerald is really exceptional. Those who've cruised on a newer Princess ship (Grand Princess onward) would recognize many areas and instantly feel right at home. That's something that Princess prides themselves on: the details may differ, but the general layouts are all very similar. The ever-popular Sabatini's is back, but this time moved up and to the back to take advantage of the view. I attended a tasting - a sort of pre-dinner with wine - and every morsel of food I had was outstanding. I wouldn't hesitate to shell out the extra Bucks ($25 per person the last I checked) to eat there. There's a new bistro area to the buffet section in the evenings which was really very nice when looking for a late-night snack. And the International Cafe area of the atrium is just incredible. While there are nominal charges for most items, the bites that we had were well worth a dollar or two. Fans of Princess pizza (the best at sea if you ask me) will be pleased to know that it's still readily available and as good as ever. A seemingly well-kept secret is the adults-only Sanctuary area. You access it through the spa, but there is no charge to take advantage. There's a pool where you can swim against the current, a totally peaceful (and shaded) area to relax, nap, or read, and a few massage treatment areas (suitable for couples) that look out across the bow to a breath-taking view. The spa itself is as high-tech as any other these days, and the fitness center is huge. We caught a show in the main theater (very good) as well as some comedians in a lounge. The comedians were average; we might have liked them better if we could see them, but it was packed so we were stuck sitting off to the side just listening. Princess entertainment is, in general, pretty good. The children's areas on this ship are outstanding. Each age group has an age-appropriate zone that would keep the vast majority of children (and even teens) happy. The only area likely to disappoint is the tiny little arcade - but remind your kids you don't go cruising to sit in an arcade! It's true what they say about the Movies Under the Stars screen - you really CAN see it well during the day! It's much more fun at night, though, and Princess even offers wool blankets and popcorn to make the experience more cozy and fun. There is also a bright and lively casino aboard and many shops. Nooks and crannies are everywhere if you like sneaking off to somewhere quiet to read, and Skywalker's Nightclub is alive and well on Emerald Princess (although I do miss the escalator ride up). Our cabin was a minisuite and it was nearly identical to the one we had on the Star Princess last spring. They're big and comfy and bright and cheery. The balconies are plenty roomy enough to enjoy a champagne breakfast or afternoon tea (both of which I can highly recommend). Standard cabins are also very comfortable and plenty roomy enough for most people. They're not huge, but are much larger than the standard cabins of ships built 15 years ago. I also checked out a penthouse suite and found it to be a disappointment. The bathroom is enormous as is the balcony, but the living area didn't seem much bigger than our minisuite... just a different layout. We were all impressed with the owner's suite, though. If you've got the money it's the way to go. If you can only afford the penthouse suites, though, save your cash and get a minisuite instead. You won't miss the big bathroom. This ship is nearly identical to the Crown Princess which came out a year earlier in May '06 and the Ruby Princess (due out next Fall). There's something here for everyone, and if you like good food and good service you probably won't be disappointed. The ship is huge, though, so be ready to do some hiking to get around, and there are a few places that are a little hard to find even after you've spent many days on very similar ships. Still, learning a ship's layout is always part of the fun for me. While you rarely find rock-bottom pricing for Princess cruises, there are many great deals to be had which keep Princess very affordable - especially if you plan ahead. The agency I work with generally has group space on several Princess ships a month which gives clients an opportunity to get some great pricing plus some perks (onboard credits, etc.) without literally being a part of a large group. If you already love cruising, give Princess - and the Emerald Princess in particular - a try. If you haven't tried cruising yet, this would be a great place to start!"
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