Disney Dream

The Disney Dream arriving at Port Canaveral, FL on January 4, 2011
Career
Name:	Disney Dream
Owner:	Disney Cruise Line
Operator:	Disney Cruise Line
Port of registry:	Bahamas
Ordered:	February 22, 2007
Builder:	Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Yard number:	S. 687
Launched:	30 October 2010[1]
Christened:	January 19,2011 (Port Canaveral, Florida)
Maiden voyage:	January 26, 2011
In service:	January 26, 2011
Identification:	IMO 9434254
Status:	In Service
General characteristics
Type:	Cruise ship
Tonnage:	128,000 GT (gross tonnage)
Length:	1,115 ft (340 m)
Beam:	125 ft (38 m)
Draft:	26 ft (7.9 m)
Decks:	16 (14 Passenger)
Installed power:	3 x 12-cylinder & 2 x 14-cylinder MAN V48/60CR diesel engines 2 x 19 MW Converteam Motors
Speed:	22 knots (maximum 24.7 knots)
Capacity:	4,000 passengers[2]
Crew:	1,458

Disney Dream is the third cruise ship operated by Disney Cruise Line, part of The Walt Disney Company, which entered service in 2011. The Disney Dream currently sails 3-, 4-, and 5-day itineraries to The Bahamas. The Captain of Disney Dream is Tom Forberg. On January 19, 2011, at the christening of the ship in Port Canaveral, Florida, Walt Disney Company president and CEO, Bob Iger, introduced singer Jennifer Hudson as the "godmother" of the Dream. In 2003, before her American Idol fame, Hudson was a performer on the Disney Wonder. Disney Dream's sister vessel, Disney Fantasy, is currently under construction.

History and construction

In February 2007, Disney Cruise Line announced that it had commissioned two new ships for its fleet.^[3] The first steel-cut, for scrollwork on the ship's hull, took place in March 2009 at the Meyer Werft shipyards in Papenburg, Germany.^[4] Later that month, the two ships were named, with the Disney Dream set to enter service first, followed by its sister vessel, the Disney Fantasy.^[5] The design of the Disney Dream was unveiled at a press conference in New York City, on October 29, 2009

The keel of Disney Dream was laid on 19 August 2009.^[6] On June 1, 2010 the final piece of the ship, the bow, was put into its place, completing the exterior, with work continuing on the interior of the ship. Float-out took place on October 30, 2010 and Disney Dream had her maiden voyage on January 26, 2011. ^[7]

Disney Cruise Line took possession of the Disney Dream on December 8, 2010. She arrived in Port Canaveral, Florida on January 4, 2011. Disney Dream was christened on January 14, 2011 by Jennifer Hudson, who began her career as an entertainer on the Disney Wonder. Disney Dream's maiden voyage began on January 26, 2011, calling on Nassau, The Bahamas and Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. As of August 2011^[update], Disney Dream is the 17th largest cruise ship in the world, and the 3rd longest cruise ship in the world.

Design

The Disney Dream is 40% larger than its two older fleet-mates, the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder, with a design gross tonnage (GT) of 128,000 tons,^[8] a length of 330 meters and a width of 37 meters. The Disney Dream carries 4,000 passengers and 1,458 crew. ^[9]

Like other Disney vessels, Disney Dream's horn plays songs from Disney movies and parks, specifically: "When You Wish Upon a Star" (Pinocchio), "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" (Cinderella), "Be Our Guest" (Beauty and the Beast), "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)" (Pirates of the Caribbean), "Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee (An Actor's Life for Me)" (Pinocchio), and "It's a Small World".^[10]

Recreation

Activities aboard Disney Dream include: a 9 hole mini-golf course, a walking track, digital sports simulators, a full-sized basketball court that can be converted for use as a soccer pitch, volleyball court, or football/table tennis area. There are also two smaller sport courts and two hangouts for younger children.

The ship features the first water coaster at sea, called "The AquaDuck", a 765-foot long winding waterslide with a four-deck drop and a course that winds 13 feet over the edge of the ship and through the ship's forward funnel. The AquaDuck runs the width of the ship and the length between the funnels, almost the size of a U.S. football field.^[11] Other water activities include a Mickey's Slide and 3 pools. All pools contain fresh water. The adult-only, Quiet Cove Pool, includes a series of connecting pools with depths ranging from 4 ft to 6 inch sun-bathing pools with a bar at the end of the 6 inch "pool". There are also hot tubs for adults & families, some of which have glass in the floor.

There is a 24 x 14 ft LED screen facing Donald's Pool, attached to the forward funnel.^[12]

Dining

The Disney Dream has multiple dining venues, including 3 themed, main dining restaurants, 2 adult-only specialty restaurants, a buffet, and multiple bars, lounges, and quick service stations.

Every night of a Disney Dream cruise, guests use a different restaurant. This is called "rotational dining".

Animator's Palate, a main dining restaurant, is inspired by Disney animation. Enchanted Garden is the second main dining restaurant, inspired by the gardens of Versailles. Royal Palace is inspired by classic films like Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Beauty and the Beast, and Cinderella.

There are two adult-only specialty restaurants on the Disney Dream, Palo and Remy. Palo, like on other Disney ships, serves a Northern Italian cuisine. Remy, inspired by Disney's Ratatouille, serves French-inspired cuisine. A lounge, Meridian, is a place for adults to go before of after their dinner. The name Meridian plays off its location between Remy and Palo.

Kids', tweens', and teens' areas

Disney Dream includes dedicated kids' areas. The youngest kids from the ages of 3 to 10 years old can enjoy the Oceaneer Club. Here they can play games and engage in supervised activities. This club has 4 themed play areas: "Andy's Room (Toy Story)", "Monster's Academy (Monster's Inc.)", "Pixie Hollow", and "Explorer Pod (Finding Nemo)".

Edge is for the ages of 11 to 13. Here they can play video games and enjoy activities; there are also 3 green-screen enabled rooms, where they can be apart of Good Morning America etc.

Older teens have a club called Vibe, a teen-only retreat. There they can meet new friends, play video games, be D.J., and enjoy their very own Sundeck. The Sundeck includes 2 pools, pingpong tables and much more.^[13]

Nightclubs and lounges

The Disney Dream has 11 nightclubs and lounges. Each with a different theme. "687" which is a sports bar located on Deck 4: "Bon Voyage", which is a relaxing bar where families can have a beverage or a snack throughout their cruise, located in the lobby of the Disney Dream; "The Cove Café", where adults can enjoy a drink or a snack while surfing the internet or watching television, located on Deck 11; "Currents", which is a bar with a great view, located above the Quiet Cove Pool on Deck 13; "District Lounge", where during the day guest of all ages can have a beverage but at night it is reserved for adults-only, located on Deck 4; "Evolution", which is a dance club located on Deck 4; "Meridian", an adults-only bar located on Deck 12 next to Palo. Pink, an adults-only bar on Deck 4, themed to look like the inside of a champagne bottle. "Skyline", and adults-only cocktail lounge where each night of the cruise the view becomes a different city and the drinks follow that city; "Vista Café", where guest can have a beverage during their cruise, located on Deck 4, and "Waves", and outdoor bar located on Deck 12.

References

1. ^ http://www.meyerwerft.de/page.asp?lang=e&main=3&subs=0&did=1804
2. ^ http://www.passporter.com/articles/disney-cruise-line-new-ships.asp
3. ^ Disney Cruise Line Press Release
4. ^ Jason Garcia (2009-03-02). "Construction begins on new Disney cruise ships". Orlando Sentinel. http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/business_tourism_aviation/2009/03/construction-begins-on-new-disney-cruise-ships.html. Retrieved 2009-03-10. 
5. ^ Jason Garcia (2009-03-10). "Disney names new cruise ships: Dream and Fantasy". Orlando Sentinel. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/destinations/cruises/orl-bk-disney-cruise-names-031009,0,762379.story. Retrieved 2009-03-10. 
6. ^ "Disney Dream begins to take shape". Meyerwerft website. 26 August 2009. http://www.meyerwerft.de/page.asp?lang=e&main=3&subs=0&did=1684. Retrieved 23 February 2010. 
7. ^ "Disney Dream nearing completion". Meyerwerft Website. 2010-10-01. http://www.meyerwerft.com/page.asp?lang=e&main=3&subs=0&did=1804. Retrieved 2010-10-26. 
8. ^ Niemelä, Teijo (2009-03-10). "Disney names its new ships". Cruise Business Online. Cruise Media Oy Ltd. http://cruisebusiness.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=278:disney-names-its-new-ships&catid=43:latest-news-catecory&Itemid=115. Retrieved 2009-03-10. 
9. ^ http://disneycruiseline.com
10. ^ Disney Dream Horn Playlist - 6 Songs in Total
11. ^ http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/ships-activities/ships/dream/pools/aquaduck/.
12. ^ http://disney cruiselinenews.com/
13. ^ disneycruiseline.com

External links

• Disney Cruise Line
• Disney Cruise Line News
• Disney Cruise Line Ships & Activities Information