Posts Tagged ‘Disney Fantasy’

One of the most enjoyable experiences onboard a Disney Cruise Line vessel is certainly a visit to Palo, the wonderful specialty restaurant.  Exclusively for adult guests, this lovely venue serves Northern Italian dishes seasoned with flair and friendliness.  It’s an opportunity to dress up and spend several hours lingering over a great meal.

 

Featuring spectacular ocean views from Deck 10, aft on both Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, this location was originally slated for the children’s areas until the designers realized that the magnificent vistas would be wasted on most kids!  Those traveling on Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy will find the same great dining on Deck 12, aft.

 

The serene atmosphere is enhanced by Italian arias singing softly in the background and the sparkle of Venetian glass and masks from the Carnevale.  But the Palo experience is about the food and the service.  The attentive and knowledgeable servers manage to be dignified and gracious, as befits the more formal surroundings, while maintaining the warmth and friendliness we have come to expect from Disney cast members.  It’s a charming combination that provides the perfect showcase for Palo’s elegant, yet approachable, menu.

Review: For me, Palo is always one of the highlights of a Disney Cruise and I had the opportunity to book the three different seatings during my most recent voyage: dinner, brunch, and tea.

In fact, because this was a long transatlantic voyage with a smaller number of passengers onboard, I was able to enjoy dinner on several evenings!  I have never had more personalized and exceptional service than I experienced during this trip, thanks to the outstanding Mirko, whose professionalism and kindness made every meal memorable.  I can only hope that our readers will be fortunate enough to be seated at one of Mirko’s tables when they cruise on Disney Magic.

Those who appreciate a fine dining experience and enjoy the upscale ingredients and magnificent presentation might agree that the portion sizes sometimes leave us wishing for a bit more.  Palo always seems to get it just right – beautiful food beautifully presented with enough on the plate to make everyone happy!

There has been discussion about a certain lack of seasoning in some of the dishes and I think it’s a valid point – my penne arrabbiata, for example, while delicious, did not have the expected spicy punch the name implies.  However, experienced Disney diners have come to understand that the company is acutely aware of its demographic and preparations tend to reflect the preferences of this target audience, often at the cost of authenticity.

Dinner is a consistent favorite but I was also pleasantly surprised by Brunch.  After being settled at their table, guests are invited to join the server for a visit to the buffet where dozens of menu items are explained in detail.  They are escorted past an extraordinary selection of food laid out on trays and platters; then, an additional array of “entrée” items are displayed which are prepared to order.  The Brunch reservation is a bit harder to come by since it’s not offered on all cruise days.

Tea was another matter entirely.  A little background:

Tea was introduced to western civilization hundreds of years ago and enjoying the beverage with a light repast, sometime between the midday meal and the evening meal, became the fashion.  This “afternoon tea” reflects the custom we know today – tea served in elegant china with charming accoutrements and small sandwiches and sweets.

“High tea” is a term used for many years in the U.K.  It is a workingman’s supper; a rustic and hearty evening meal which generally features bread and butter and leftover meats from the main meal of the day which is served at lunchtime to fortify the hardworking men facing a long afternoon of labor.  In some households, high tea constituted the main meal similar to our “dinner” but is most often synonymous with the meal taken after the heaviest meal of the day.  It is referred to as “high” tea because it is eaten at the high table or dining table rather than the low tea tables where afternoon tea is typically laid out.  High Tea is the antithesis of the dainty, fussy little tidbits and delicate tableware that define Afternoon Tea.  At some point, Americans decided that the term “high” must mean refined and they consistently misuse it in this context.

While the average person might be forgiven for getting the terms confused, it’s a bit harder to overlook the error when it’s made by those in the food-service industry who should be better educated about the terminology of their profession.

Interestingly, the “high tea” served at Palo wasn’t far off the mark; clunky, chipped teapots and cups, clumsy sandwiches tossed on a plate, and rushed, perfunctory service; a less-than-stellar effort from a venue which otherwise delivers.  In fact, I never actually got to sample the meal on offer because my teapot had a crack in it which caused tea to leak all over the table onto the floor and I was unable to get the attention of the woman serving the guests in my area.  After a half-dozen attempts, I left the restaurant; she never even noticed my departure. While the restaurant manager could not have been more gracious in his efforts to make it right, it was an unacceptable experience.

I was also interested to see the tea selections listed on the menu.  It’s always surprising that restaurants make such a point to be accurate in their descriptions of so many other items – wines, proteins, even olive oils; but pay so little attention to tea.  Palo’s tea offerings, which featured a mix of teas and tisanes, included an English Breakfast blend, a Darjeeling, and, amazingly, an “orange pekoe.”  Orange pekoe is not a specific tea flavor, region, or blend, it’s a grading category.  The term is used for designating a whole-leaf tea as opposed to a broken-leaf grade.  I looked at a couple of teas before choosing and I would guess that all of the teas available are actually orange pekoe.  I know I’m making a fuss about details that most patrons would find unimportant, but if a restaurant is going to position itself as a knowledgeable purveyor, then it needs to get things right.  Calling one tea jasmine and another orange pekoe is somewhat like listing coffees as “Kona,” “Arabica,” and “medium grind.”

Palo’s management team should seriously consider discontinuing their tea service until they can bring it up to the standard of dinner and brunch.  As it currently stands, it’s an embarrassment.

I would strongly recommend that cruisers make reservations at the earliest opportunity for both dinner and brunch, if available, and pass on “high tea!”

Depending upon the guest’s stateroom category and Castaway Club status, reservations can be made from 75 to 120 days in advance.  There are also some additional openings that can be booked onboard although those wishing to secure one of these reservations should go immediately to the designated area as soon as they embark.

 

Patrons must be 18 or older and the dress code requires dress pants and shirt or jacket for men and a dress or pantsuit for women.

 

Currently, there is an additional charge of $20.00 for both dinner and brunch on all ships.  Tea seems to have an upcharge of $10.00 on Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, and $15.00 on Disney Dream, but these prices do change often and the actual cost appears to be dependent upon which Disney website you’re looking at.

Questions about gratuities at Palo arise often since only a small percentage of the upcharge goes into a pool that is split amongst the servers.  The majority of the extra fee is applied to food costs. While gratuities are added to any beverage charges, the total of a few dollars seems disproportionate to services rendered.  There is an enormous range of opinion on the subject of tipping so I can only offer my personal take on the topic:  if I were having this caliber of meal at any other restaurant, it would be well over $100 per person, and I tip accordingly, generally $20 to $30 per person for dinner, leaving cash with the receipt so that I know it will go directly to the individual who has provided such wonderful service.

With an announcement today, Disney Cruise Line seems to have joined the mass-market ranks by deciding to offer last-minute deals to the general public.  Facing a huge increase in inventory with the arrival of the new Disney Dream and the upcoming Disney Fantasy in 2012, it would appear that they are planning early for the possibility of unoccupied space with these new “categories.”

This is a major departure from the policy of offering the best prices to those who booked early and is something of a slap in the face to those loyal cruisers who happily made their plans long in advance, secure in the knowledge that their willingness to commit was being rewarded.  Previously, we saw discounted staterooms sometimes offered to military personnel and Florida residents.  Beginning later this month, three types of discounted, guaranteed cabins may be available on selected sailings; cabins which can be booked by anyone.

There are severe restrictions that come along with these reduced fares for inside, oceanview, and verandah staterooms, including full, non-refundable payment at the time of booking.  The reservation cannot be transferred or modified in any way, and no stateroom selection or special requests are permitted.  Room assignments will be made at the discretion of the Disney Cruise Line one week before departure.  Only the stateroom category is guaranteed.

Guests wanting to secure these accommodations need to be ready with complete information including legal names and birthdates for all occupants.

Unlike previous special offers which could be applied to existing reservations, these special fares are only available for new bookings.  It will be interesting to see how this is greeted by the cruising public.  One of the many things that set the Disney Cruise Line apart was its unwillingness to undercut its most loyal customer base.  Walt Disney World attempted to introduce a room-booking policy a few years back that alienated hundreds of thousands of Annual Passholders before it was quietly laid to rest.  Disney Vacation Club has terminated a number of perks that were previously available to its members, a group that may well be the greatest Disney fan base of all.  Perhaps these “fares with special restrictions” will not be so low as to upset those already holding reservations.  Perhaps the restrictions will seem so egregious to most that the new policy will just sail by, unremarked.

During a recent luncheon hosted by Disney executives, one of them made a fascinating comment.  The discussion at the time was about the differences between the Disney Cruise Line and other cruise ship companies.  As we chatted about the current efforts of some to ramp up their shows and add character interactions to their onboard experience, he pointed out one factor that sets Disney apart from all the others:  they are cruise companies trying to move into the business of entertainment; Disney is an entertainment company which has moved into the cruise business.

This was underlined in a statement made by Bernard Meyer, CEO of Meyer Werft, the shipbuilder for the new Disney Dream.  He said that Disney approached nearly every space onboard as a venue for entertainment; an opportunity to tell a story.

We have come to expect all manner of storytelling from a Disney cruise – spectacular shows; wonderful character appearances; first-run movies shown both in elegant cinemas and on deck via the magic of Ariel Vision; dining rooms and public areas that weave a tale.  The décor; the color choices; the hardware; the furnishings and accessories; each element is chosen to draw us into a subtle narrative.

On Disney Dream, and its sister ship Disney Fantasy which will set sail in 2012, the storyline is broadened to include such things as Enchanted Art, interactive framed animation; Virtual Portholes that allow those choosing interior accommodations to reconnect with the ocean; video-screen walls that transport guests to other places; even special food and beverage items.

In the Disney Cruise Line Brochures for 2011 and 2012, there are dozens of voyages to choose from, including 3-, 4-, and 5-night Bahamian itineraries; 7-night Caribbean sailings; and magical trips to Mexico, Panama, Alaska, and the Mediterranean.

Entertainment – it’s one the great strengths of a Disney Cruise experience; one that draws guests back again and again and sends them home with their own stories to tell!

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!

The keel has been laid for the new Disney Cruise Line ship, the Disney Dream. Florida’s Port Canaveral will welcome the Disney Dream in 2011, followed by the Disney Fantasy in 2012.  The port itself is being upgraded with a new multi-level parking structure and enlargement of the Disney terminal.  With 1250 staterooms, both new ships will be significantly large than their fleet-mates.

The Disney Magic will add new ports of call during 2010 with a return to the Mediterranean and a new Northern European itinerary which will include Germany, Russia, and Scandinavia.  Announcements indicate plans to expand to other parts of the globe as the new ships are launched.

The Disney Wonder, ranked #1 large cruise ship for 2009 by Condé Nast Traveler, will transition to its new home, the Port of Los Angeles, beginning in 2011.  With its unique family-oriented niche and the outstanding service guests have come to expect from the Disney company, Disney Cruise Line really does offer something for everyone!