There are many great cruise lines and most of them have wonderful children’s programs, but for families with younger children, there is one at the top of the list – Disney Cruise Line. Since the maiden voyage of the Disney Magic in July, 1998, Disney Cruise Line has set the standard for family friendly cruising. With its inaugural cruise in March, the newest Dream class ship, the Disney Fantasy is sure to follow that tradition.
The Disney Fantasy was christened in New York Harbor on March 1st. Hosted by Neal Patrick Harris and christened by the ship’s Godmother, Mariah Carey, the celebration on the Hudson River was a gala event. Celebrities ranged from the Mayor, Michael Bloomberg and Jerry Seinfeld to Mickey Mouse in a spectacular affair befitting Disney.
The Disney Fantasy, based on the Disney Dream will be the fourth ship in the Disney line. While not the biggest ship on the seas, it can accommodate 4,000 guests and 1,450 crew members, making it a true mega-ship.
Like all Disney ships and parks, the Fantasy will be a theme based ship with art and decor ranging from original paintings and murals to the bronze statue of Minnie Mouse which graces her lobby. The atrium lobby, a mainstay on many modern cruise ships, contains a sweeping grand staircase which descends to the marble and stone lobby, which in turn is beneath a beautiful stained glass and crystal chandelier.
Dining onboard the Fantasy can be rotated through any of its five restaurants. One of the dining rooms, Animator’s Palate includes a Disney character themed dinner show sure to delight the children. For the adults who want a romantic dinner, there is Palo, an adult only restaurant serving Northern Italian cuisine. Brunch and high tea are also available, but reservations are required for this restaurant.
Of course, any Disney cruise offers a wide variety of programs for the kids. The Fantasy will include an arcade, a family oriented entertainment venue, and nursery and tween only areas. Two special attractions for the children are a Muppets mystery game and the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique where kids can get a makeover as princesses and pirates.
The Entertainment doesn’t stop with those programs. There are Disney character meet and greets throughout the cruise, a first-run movie theater, as well as several Disney based musical and Broadway-style productions. The entertainment staff didn’t forget about the adults. Besides the family friendly Bon Voyage lounge, there are several adult only cafes, lounges and bars scattered around the ship to give the adults some alone time.
All in all, the Disney Fantasy looks to be a great addition to the Disney fleet. The ship will sail round trip from Port Canaveral offering alternating 7 night Western and Eastern Caribbean cruises.
