Archive for January, 2012

After a prolonged transition away from the class structure featured onboard traditional ocean liners, many cruise lines are once again embracing the segmenting of passengers into different categories, offering a number of special perks to a select group willing to pay the price.  “Clubs,” “Havens,” “Concierge;” whatever the nomenclature used, they represent an elite level of accommodations and service.  Disney Cruise Line has always provided a Concierge staff to assist guests staying in suites on Disney Dream and Disney Wonder, but with Disney Dream, and soon on Disney Fantasy, they have also upped the ante with a more definitive Concierge experience.

It begins with pre-cruise assistance from a delightful shoreside staff.  Your Whimsical World Travel concierge works hand in hand with these cast members to ensure that your preferences are noted, your arrangements are booked, and your questions are answered.

On embarkation day, regular passengers are assigned a specific group number and must wait until their number is called before they can board.  As a Concierge guest, you can arrive, check-in, and board at any time once the ship begins boarding, typically beginning at about 11:00 a.m.  There is a special check-in area reserved solely for Concierge guests and Platinum Castaway Cay members.  After your documents have been processed, you are personally escorted past the waiting crowds and handed off to a crew member who conducts you up to the Concierge Lounge on Deck 12.  There, you will be greeted by the onboard Concierge staff at a private welcome reception and invited to enjoy snacks and beverages until your stateroom is ready.  One of the Concierges will review your personal cruise itinerary with you and assist with any additional arrangements for the youth activity programs, specialty dining, shore excursions, spa treatments, etc.  Don’t confuse this  custom itinerary with the Personal Navigator which is distributed daily to all passengers.  Your itinerary is created specifically for your group and lists all your activities and reservations as well as events of note.

Access to the Concierge areas is facilitated by your special Key to the World card.  A gentle touch of the card opens doors for you!  Tucked behind the locked filigree gates on Decks 11 and 12 are the beautiful Concierge staterooms and suites.  Corridors have been upgraded to reflect a decidedly yacht-like environment with beautiful wood tones and metallic finishes, and the accommodations are marvels of design and technology.  The color scheme with its more vibrant colors is a pleasant change from the beige and greige of so many other shipboard suites.

Family staterooms have the trademark “split” bath which features a vanity, sink, and toilet in one room, and an additional vanity and sink along with the tub/shower in a separate room; a boon for families.

Suites have two full baths; one with a large shower and the other having both a shower and an indulgent oval Jacuzzi air tub.  Lovely fixtures and accessories sparkle and the wonderful behind-the-mirror television is perfectly positioned to enjoy while taking a luxurious bath.  You’ll find robes and slippers, upgraded bedding, and a fabulous “Pillow Talk” program offering a wide selection of pillow options for the perfect night’s sleep.

There are two additional televisions in the suites, one in the bedroom and another in the living area.  Additional closet space, dining tables, and large balconies ~ particularly in the Royal Suites which also feature a private hot tub outside ~ make these accommodations the perfect home-away-from-home for your next vacation.  You can spend quality time with your family right in the suite, enjoying complimentary DVD’s and popcorn, as well as in-suite dining from any of the rotational restaurants if you prefer to “stay in!”

The Concierge Lounge is open from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily and offers a variety of food and beverage items throughout the day including breakfast, snacks, hors d’oeuvres, and desserts.  There are two “Special Gatherings” each evening prior to both dining times during which guests can enjoy complimentary cocktails in addition to non-alcoholic beverages and snacks.  Board games and magazines are available and the Concierge team is always on hand to answer questions and assist you with every request.  Photo Gallery folders for Concierge guests are conveniently stored in the Lounge rather than down on Deck 4 in Shutters.

Accessible from both the Concierge Lounge and Deck 13 forward is the lovely Concierge sundeck.  With padded lounges and sunbeds, a misting station, cushy chairs and pillows, and baskets of bottled water and sunbathing amenities, it’s a peaceful and pleasant oasis, particularly on port days.

Concierge guests can also take advantage of complimentary iPad rentals as well as 100 minutes of free internet use per room.

If you are already considering a Deluxe Family Stateroom with Verandah, you may be pleasantly surprised by the difference in cost to move up to the Land of the Starfish (next to every stateroom door is a small sea creature – fish for port side, seahorse for starboard on each of the other decks, but starfish for all Concierge staterooms). We invite you to contact a specialist at Whimsical World Travel to start planning your own amazing Concierge cruise!

Small, golden Mickeys hidden in the bling of the beautiful lobby chandelier on Disney Dream

It’s gorgeous!  The Disney Dream may be the most beautiful cruise ship currently sailing.  Disney ships always stand out from the crowd when docked beside other vessels.  With their sleek and elegant lines, they look decidedly different from the floating shoebox shape that defines the more typical cruise ship style.  With Disney Dream, the classic interiors which are the hallmark of the brand are elevated to a new level.

Make no mistake; this is an enormous ship.  At 1115 feet in length, it’s less than 70 feet shorter than the world’s largest cruise ships.  With a maximum capacity of 4,000 passengers, it is significantly larger than Disney Magic and Disney Wonder.  Since Disney ships have the highest load factor in the industry due to the number of children sharing staterooms with adults, they often do sail at close to full capacity.

The public spaces are marvels of Art Deco design, with glossy woods and rich jewel colors. The entire ship boasts amazing technology ~ Virtual Portholes for inside staterooms; “Enchanted Art” that comes alive when guests move toward it; state-of-the-art RFID keycards; a fabulous new system for locating and viewing onboard photos; behind-the-mirror televisions in suite bathrooms; stateroom “wave” phones that can be carried around the ship and on Castaway Cay to keep in touch; “Living Character” interactive experiences in the kids’ clubs and Animator’s Palate restaurant; a Magic Playfloor for younger children and digital nooks and giant screens in the teens’ area.  The “windows” of the Skyline Lounge offer guests panoramic views of different cities.

On deck, passengers can experience the AquaDuck water coaster, watch movies on the “Funnel Vision” screen and enjoy the only fireworks at sea.  The repertoire of the ship’s whistle has been expanded to include musical motifs from five different famous Disney tunes.

Along with this unparalleled innovation, Disney Dream borrows many of the popular features enjoyed on Disney Magic and Disney Wonder ~ Buena Vista Theatre, Disney Cruise Line’s movie palace that shows first-run movies, many in 3-D, throughout the day and evening; the Quiet Cove adults-only area with pool, bar, and Cove Café as well as a spa and adult lounges, bars, and music and entertainment venues; and, a variety of family-friendly activities.

Disney is, first and foremost, an entertainment company, and this extraordinary breadth of experience and creativity informs the whole environment. There are original live stage productions every evening and character appearances throughout the day.  Dinners are another “show” opportunity and every shipboard detail picks up a thread of the story that weaves its way from stem to stern.

Most cruisers will spend at least one day on Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay; a tropical playground for all ages.  Disney Dream is sailing three- to five-night itineraries in the Bahamas for 2012.  In March, it will be joined by its sister ship, Disney Fantasy which will feature 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages.