Posts Tagged ‘Castaway Cay’

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.

PLEASE NOTE:  THIS OFFER HAS EXPIRED

One of Disney Cruise Line’s most popular special offers is back for early 2011.  Sail away to the Caribbean in a Verandah Stateroom and two full-fare adults can bring the kids along for free.  Choose from most seven-night voyages between January 8 and March 5, 2011.

The Disney Magic is sailing both Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, all of which include a call at Castaway Cay, Disney’s beautiful private island.  Visit our Special Offers Page for full details and take a peek at the Disney Cruise Line brochure for more information on the complete cruise schedule for 2011.  Start off your new year with an unforgettable winter cruise in the tropics – request a proposal and begin planning today!

Dining; it’s one the great pleasures of the cruise experience.  Disney Cruise Line ships have several unique dining venues and their rotational dining system allows passengers to experience them all.  On embarkation day, you’ll find dining tickets with your assigned restaurant schedule, seating time, and table number.  You’ll see a string of letters which represent the different locations; for example APLAPL would be Animator’s Palate, Parrot Cay, and Lumiere’s on the first, second, and third nights, then repeated for the fourth, fifth, and sixth.  You will rotate through three of the main restaurants on your ship which may also include Triton’s, Royal Palace, or Enchanted Garden.

 

Each evening, you, your tablemates, and your wait staff will move to a different restaurant.  You’ll be able to enjoy the menus and themes of each dining room while retaining a familiar team of servers who will quickly learn your preferences.

 

Every effort is made to pair you with appropriate dinner companions.  Adults traveling alone will typically be seated with other adults, while families will find children in a similar age group joining their tables.  If you wish, you can arrange to share a table with other specified passengers onboard.

There are two dinner seatings:  the Main Seating and the Second Seating.  The earlier of the two begins at about 5:30 p.m., depending upon your ship, and is generally the first choice for families with younger children.  The Second Seating starts at approximately 8:00 p.m. and may be a bit more serene as it often includes a larger percentage of older children and adults.  However, the Second Seating often works out very well for those traveling from an earlier time zone since it may be more in line with their accustomed dinner hour.

 

A meal at Palo is an adults-only option for dinner or brunch, and guests can choose where they would like to have breakfast and lunch each day.  Continental breakfast is available from room service for stateroom categories 4 through 12, while Concierge categories 1 through 3 can arrange for in-room delivery of a full breakfast.  Other alternatives for breakfast and lunch include two of the main restaurants, a buffet, and poolside meals.

 

Three- and four-night cruises include one “dress-up” night when a jacket for men and dress or pantsuit for women is suggested.  The dress code for other evenings is “cruise casual” – no shorts, tank tops, or swimwear.

On cruises of seven nights and longer, there is generally a special themed dining event, such as Pirate’s Night.  You can also expect at least one “formal” evening for which formal or semi-formal attire is appropriate.  You can arrange for a formalwear rental to be delivered to your stateroom.  Often, you will find a greater number of guests in formal (rather than semi-formal) dress on the longer ten- to fourteen-night voyages  Those preferring to forego formal night entirely can choose an alternative venue such as a buffet or quick-service location.

 

Of course, room service is a popular option and Disney Cruise Line offers a nice menu of sandwiches, pizzas, salads, appetizers, and desserts to keep the munchies at bay.  Guests staying in Categories 1 through 3 may also arrange for meals delivered from any of the rotational dining venues.  Keep in mind that while most of the menu items are complimentary, a gratuity is expected.

 

Consider one of the wine packages if you enjoy wine with dinner.  The overall cost is less than purchasing the bottles separately and unfinished bottles can be recorked and brought to you on subsequent nights, or carried back to your stateroom.  You are also allowed to carry up to two bottles off the ship, and can order more than one of your bottles on a given night.

 

Unlike many cruise lines, Disney offers complimentary sodas not just at dinner but also from 24-hour beverage stations on the ship, and other selected locations onboard and on Castaway Cay.  You will still be charged for sodas ordered from bars and room service.  For alcoholic beverages, the onboard drinking age is 21 and a photo I.D. is required.

 

Don’t forget that guests with special dietary requirements can generally be accommodated.  Advise your Whimsical World Travel concierge of any allergies and special requests so that they can be noted on your reservation.

Torn between a vacation to an exotic locale and a relaxing cruise?  Disney has the solution!  Book one of the selected Adventures by Disney departures and receive a FREE three-night Disney cruise.

Choose China, pick Peru, or travel closer to home with destinations in North America.  Explore the cities of Europe or safari in South Africa.  From Australia to Alaska, Adventures by Disney offers itineraries all over the world, and every one promises the quality and attention to detail that you’ve come to expect from a Disney vacation.

All-inclusive and hassle-free, these immersive experiences bring history to life as only Disney can.  Expect exceptional accommodations, unique dining, carefully-chosen activities and cultural programs for all age groups, VIP admissions and access, and special surprises.  Planning, transportation, luggage handling, gratuities; all the minutiae of travel are taken care of, leaving you to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  Imagine the memories of snorkeling in the Galapagos or shearing sheep and snacking on scones in Ireland; shared by grandparents and grandchildren.

Best of all, choose from selected departures in 2010; book between October 26, 2009 and January 15, 2010, and enjoy a three-night Bahamian cruise in 2010 or 2011.  There are lots of sailings to choose from:

2010 Cruises
Scheduled departures between:
•  January 07, 2010 to May 20, 2010
•  August 26, 2010 to November 21, 2010
•  December 02, 2010 to December 16, 2010

2011 Cruises
Scheduled departures between:
•  March 03, 2011 to April 14, 2011
•  April 28, 2011 to May 26, 2011
•  August 25, 2011 to November 20, 2011
•  December 01, 2011 to December 15, 2011

Learn more about the Adventures by Disney program and start planning for some amazing travel in 2010!

Disney Cruise Line is going to Alaska!  Beginning May 3, 2011, Disney will offer 7-day Alaskan cruises on the Disney Wonder.  Departing from Vancouver, the ship will visit Tracy Arm Fjord, Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan, on its round-trip voyage.   With a number of cruise lines pulling out of Alaska in the next few years, this is exciting news for those who have always wanted to experience the wonders of Alaska from the best possible vantage point.

There is also an exciting 15-night Panama Canal itinerary scheduled to depart Ft. Lauderdale on January 6, 2011 with calls at Castaway Cay, Aruba, Costa Rica, Manzanillo, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo San Lucas before arriving in Los Angeles.

During the summers of 2010 and 2011, guests can board the Disney Magic to cruise the Mediterranean for 10 or 11 nights.  Northern and Southern European voyages are also being offered during 2010.  With many cruises to the Bahamas, and both Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, there’s never been a better time to plan an amazing Disney Cruise Line vacation.

In the wake of recent announcements about the status of the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy, Disney Cruise Line is sharing plans for upcoming enhancements to Castaway Cay.

The new, larger ships will carry more passengers to the private retreat and improvements will help ensure that all guests continue to have a magical experience on the beautiful island.

Expansion plans include relocating the stingray experience and teen areas to allow for an enlargement of the family beach, as well as the addition of private cabanas offering several tiers of service.  Guests will be able to swim out to Pelican Plunge, two corkscrew slides floating in the lagoon, and enjoy a new wet deck with geysers and a spring-a-leak play area.

 

An added tram stop is planned further down the beach and will include a nearby restaurant – Cookies Too, a bar, restrooms, and shopping venues.  Completion is expected by the summer of 2010; make plans now for your Disney Cruise vacation!

I read something today written by a person who has taken 120 cruises.  He stated that the most memorable, by far, was the one he took with extended family.  This type of trip is so much more than the sum of the shipboard activities, it is about memories shared, and a ship encourages and fosters the family reunion experience.  It offers opportunities for people to spend time together, and the space for separate pursuits.

Disney cruises, in particular, are a great choice for a multi-generational vacation.  One of the concerns when planning an extended-family trip is making sure that there is something for everyone.  On a Disney cruise, there are activities, dining options, recreation, and public spaces for all ages and interests.

Features like the split bathroom design and large staterooms make family travel more comfortable.  Rotational dining allows the group to stay together with their wait staff while enjoying different dining venues during the cruise.  There are food choices to suit every taste, from kid-friendly buffets to the elegant Palo for adults.  Of course, everyone loves the chocolate chip cookies and milk delivered to the stateroom for late-night snacking.

Disney’s beautiful private island, Castaway Cay, has separate beaches for families, teens, and adults.  Onboard, there are the renowned children’s programs with specially-designed areas and appropriate activities for different age groups from three to seventeen, plus a nursery for little ones.  Adults can enjoy their own special areas – a separate adults-only pool, a sybaritic spa, a café, and special nighttime entertainment venues.

Those who love the parks will appreciate those special Disney perks – top quality family entertainment and, best of all, Disney characters!  A Land and Sea Vacation Package will seamlessly blend a fun-filled stay at Walt Disney World with a relaxing cruise experience.  Whether you’re considering a trip with grandparents or a once-in-a-lifetime get-together with all the aunts, uncles, and cousins, Disney Cruise Line can help make it unforgettable.

Photo by Candis Davis