Filed under: Cruise, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Dream, top-feature
Disney Dream: A Cruise All Ages
My husband and I recently took a cruise aboard the Disney Dream, the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line. As friends and family heard of our departure, we were surprised at the mixed reactions we received. Most families with younger children were thrilled with our choice, while the slightly older crowd merely smiled and wished us Bon Voyage. It seems that traditionally, the younger families are the first to line up, anticipating the entertainment and activities worthy of the Disney reputation, while families with older children and adults feel they are perhaps too old or sophisticated and are often afraid there might be limited activities of interest to them. Rest assured dear friends, our recent trip proved to have plenty of activities for all ages.
From the minute we walked aboard into the grand Art Deco lobby of the Dream there was an air of comfortable sophistication, yet enough whimsy to put travelers at ease. Designed to resemble a grand ocean liner of bygone days, there are enough subtle Disney references to delight travelers of all ages. From the famous gloved hand that points to the floor location of the elevators, to the scroll-work designs of famous Disney characters in the staircase railings, you will be spotting Hidden Mickeys before you know it.
I’m not a seasoned cruiser and as we found our way to our stateroom, I kept repeating to myself, “the room will be small”. Not so on the Disney Dream! I was thrilled to discover a comfortable queen size bed, couch that pulled down to reveal a ready made twin bed, and there was an upper berth that pulled down from the ceiling. A bold striped curtain could be pulled to separate the main bedroom from the single beds in the sitting area, making it convenient for those who like to stay up a little later or for those early-risers who want to enjoy some morning sunshine. One of my favorite shipboard experiences, and one that I recommend, is to order room service and have a relaxing cup of coffee on your veranda.
While our stateroom was perfect for the two of us, and I think that a family of four with younger children would be quite comfortable as well, there are connecting staterooms available for those families needing a little more space.
Many industry-firsts have guests clambering to board the Dream, and that includes the inside staterooms, usually the most economically priced on the ship. With basically the same configuration as the ocean view staterooms, the ocean side veranda has been replaced with a “window” to the world. It’s a magical porthole displaying real-time views. While in port, guests will have a view of the scenery from the deck, and while at sea, the view of the waves is enhanced by visits from as many as 20 images of Disney characters, alternating approximately every five minutes. During the night hours when the view of the ocean turns dark, the characters become a little more active and might wink, wave, or wish you good night. If you are like me and the thought of Nemo peering down at you during your slumber is a little unnerving, the images can be deactivated. Another feature that makes these inside staterooms unique is the “view” of the night sky above the upper berth. The ceiling above the bed is painted with glow-in-the-dark stars that outline a constellation of one of the Peter Pan characters.
Settled into your stateroom, you’ll want to head out to see the ship — and this is where the Disney difference really comes to light. Painstaking care has been taken to create special spaces for guests of all ages. There’s plenty for the kids, of course:
- With nearly an entire deck devoted to youth, children age 3-10 can unlock their imagination and play at Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab.
- Tweens, age 11-13, have a special lounge, Edge, located inside the forward funnel, that’s loaded with hi-tech entertainment from a 12-foot screen on which to play Wii, to a spot to create and star in their own postcards or sing video karaoke, green-screen style.
- There is a private indoor/outdoor club strictly for teens aged 14-17. Known as Vibe, this area offers a place to create videos, mix a dance track, sunbathe or cool off in a wading pool with water jets. Located Forward, this area has one of the best views on the ship.
As a parent, I was happy that all youth areas are supervised.
With the kids all squared away, adults can head to several of the 18 and over areas of the ship where you’ll find private sundecks and pools available. This is a spot for another of my favorite experiences — enjoy the infinity hot tub at sundown.
Nightclubs and lounges are located in an area known as The District, and provide five different themes or moods from a sports bar to views inside a pink champagne bottle. My favorite was the intimate Skyline lounge where you’ll find a different skyline view of a world famous city each night. I highly recommend trying the “Eco-tini,” made with organic Vodka and juices; it not only tastes great, but a portion of the sales go to support conservation efforts. You’ll also get a wooden bead bracelet as a souvenir.
The Senses Spa and Salon offer a variety of services beautify, pamper and promote relaxation for men and women. All adults, 18 and over, have access to the workout area and complimentary fitness classes and lectures. A private area for teens, known as the Chill Spa provides cool, stimulating facials and scrubs for youth age 13 – 17, so your teens won’t feel left out of all the pampering.
In addition, The Rainforest is a thermal suite that offers various forms of steam and saunas, with each designed promote good health by relaxing muscles or lower blood pressure. Also in this area are Aromatherapy showers and a “Do-it-Yourself” body scrub bar featuring delicious aromas like my favorite, chocolate. The Rainforest is available to guests by purchasing a day pass.
You can schedule full treatments at the spa, including 24 karat Gold facials or a cooling seaweed massage with its delightful fresh scent. A couples package treats two guests to three hours of treatments including a foot ritual, private hot tub facing the ocean, side by side massages, fruit tray and water all from the comfort of a romantic couples villa. Pure romantic heaven!
For shared family activities, you can’t beat the Disney Dream. You’ll find mini-golf on the top sports deck, a simulator featuring a variety of sports that had me shooting soccer goals passed Goofy, a scavenger hunt using a special badge and clues found in artwork around the ship, a movie theater and live musical entertainment.
Perhaps the ultimate experience that you can share with your family is a ride on AquaDuck. Billed as the only water coaster at sea, this thrilling flume ride pushes riders through tubes out 12 feet over the side of the deck looking 150 feet below to the ocean. The ride is great during the day for the spectacular views, and to wave at your friends on deck, but the view at night is pretty amazing, too. While there are a few moments during the ride in total darkness, it is very quick, yet gentle, and I wanted to try it again and again. So will you!
There were a few minor glitches along the way. There seemed to be some problem maintaining electricity in all outlets, although there was never an area totally without power. The telephone in our stateroom was not yet operational, but we were told full service was only a few days away. These are the type of issues that get worked out during a soft launch, and should be corrected by the time guests arrive.
Coming up: Dining aboard the Disney Dream
Photo Credit: J. Ingersoll
While the author was a guest of the Disney Cruise Line for the launch of the Disney Dream, the opinions expressed are strictly those of the author.
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