Disney Dream

Disney Dream at port in the Bahamas in May 2014
Career
Name:	Disney Dream
Owner:	Disney Cruise Line
Port of registry:	Bahamas
Route:	3 and 4 night Bahamas cruises out of Port Canaveral, Florida
Ordered:	22 February 2007
Builder:	Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany
Cost:	US$900 million
Yard number:	S. 687
Laid down:	19 August 2009
Launched:	30 October 2010[1]
Christened:	19 January 2011, Port Canaveral
Maiden voyage:	26 January 2011
In service:	26 January 2011-present
Identification:	IMO number: 9434254
Status:	In service
General characteristics
Class and type:	Dream-class cruise ship (Disney)
Tonnage:	129,690 GT [2]
Displacement:	65,298 t (64,267 long tons; 71,979 short tons)[2]
Length:	1,114.7 ft (339.8 m)[2]
Beam:	137 ft (42 m)[2]
Height:	217 ft (66 m)[2]
Draft:	28.6 ft (8.7 m)[2]
Decks:	16 (14 Passenger)
Installed power:	3 × 12-cylinder MAN diesels turning 3 x 14.4 MW generators 2 × 14-cylinder MAN diesels turning 2 × 16.8 MW generators[2]
Propulsion:	2 x 23 MW Converteam Propulsion Motors 2 x 5 blade inward-turning fixed-pitch propellers[2]
Speed:	22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph) (service) 24.7 knots (45.7 km/h; 28.4 mph) (maximum)
Capacity:	2,500 passengers (double occupancy) 4,000 passengers (maximum)[3]
Crew:	1,458

Disney Dream is a cruise ship operated by Disney Cruise Line, part of The Walt Disney Company, which entered service in 2011. The Disney Dream currently sails three and four-day cruises to the Bahamas. Her sister ship, Disney Fantasy, was deployed in 2012.

The captain of Disney Dream is currently Henry Andersson.

History and construction

In February 2007, Disney Cruise Line announced that it had commissioned two new ships.^[4] The first steel-cut, for scrollwork on the ship's hull, took place in March 2009 at the Meyer Werft shipyards in Papenburg, Germany.^[5] 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 ^[6] 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.^[7] On June 1, 2010 the final section 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.^[8]

Disney Dream at Castaway Cay

Disney Cruise Line took possession of Disney Dream on December 8, 2010. She arrived in Port Canaveral, Florida on January 4, 2011. Disney Dream was christened on January 19, 2011 by Jennifer Hudson, who began her career as an entertainer on Disney Wonder. Disney Dream's maiden voyage began on January 26, 2011, calling on Nassau, The Bahamas and Disney's private island, Castaway Cay.

Design

Disney Dream is 40% larger than the two older ships in the Disney Cruise Line family, Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, with a gross tonnage of 129,690 GT,^[9] a length of 1,114.7 ft (339.8 m) and a width of 137 ft (42 m). The Disney Dream has 1,250 staterooms, carries 2,500 passengers (double occupancy) or a maximum of 4,000 passengers, and a crew of 1,458.^[10]

Disney Dream arriving at Port Canaveral, Florida on January 4, 2011

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".^[11]

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, a volleyball court, a table tennis area. There are also two smaller sport courts and two lounges for younger children.

The ship features the first "water roller coaster" at sea, called the "AquaDuck". The AquaDuck is 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.^[12] 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 a bar at the end. There are also glass-walled hot tubs for adults & families. The ship also features two theatres: the Walt Disney Theatre, which shows live Broadway-style performances and variety acts, and the Buena Vista Theatre, which shows first run Disney movies.

The Disney Dream AquaDuck

There is a 24 × 14 ft LED screen attached to the forward funnel facing rearward called "Funnel Vision".^[13]

Rotational dining

Disney Dream has multiple dining venues, including three themed main dining restaurants, two 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". Passengers rotate along with their servers, intentionally building a relationship between diners and the wait staff.

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.

The adult-only restaurants on the Disney Dream, Palo and Remy, are available for guests ages 18+ at an additional cost. 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 or after their dinner. The name Meridian plays off its location between Remy and Palo.

Areas for children and teenagers

Disney Dream includes dedicated activity areas designed for younger passengers:

• The Oceaneer Club is a play area for children aged 3 to 10 years old. This club has four themed play areas:
  • "Andy's Room" (Toy Story)
  • "Monsters Academy" (Monsters, Inc.)
  • "Pixie Hollow" (Tinker Bell (film series))
  • "Explorer Pod" (Finding Nemo)
• Edge, is a play area for those aged 11 to 13. In this area, passengers can participate in chroma key presentations, where, among other activities, they can pretend to be part of films and television shows from Disney and ABC, such as Good Morning America.
• Vibe, a special club designed for 14-17 year olds. Activities include video games, disc jockeying, and relaxation on a sundeck reserved just for them. Vibe's sundeck includes two pools, table tennis and more. Vibe also has a smoothie bar.

Nightclubs and Lounges

Disney Dream has 11 nightclubs and lounges. Each with a different theme.

• "687," a sports bar located on Deck 4 and is named after the ship's "hull number.";
• "Bon Voyage," a bar located in the main lobby;
• "The Cove Café," an adult lounge serving snacks and drinks on deck 11
• "Currents," an adults-only bar located on deck 13;
• "District Lounge," an all-ages bar during the day that converts to adults-only at night
• "Evolution," a dance and comedy club located on deck 4;
• "Meridian," an adults-only bar located on deck 12 next to Palo;
• "Pink," an adults-only champagne bar on Deck 4, themed to look like the inside of a champagne bottle;
• "Skyline," an adults-only cocktail lounge that changes theme and drinks each night, becoming a different city
• "Vista Café," an all-ages cafe on deck 4
• "Waves" a bar located behind the aft funnel on deck 12

See also

• Incidents on Disney Dream

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Disney Dream.

• Disney Cruise Line
• Disney Cruise Line News
• Disney Cruise Line Ships & Activities Information
• "Disney cruise: Cast away with Mickey and friends" – review in The Independent of the inaugural cruise of the Disney Dream.
• "No Time For Sleep On The DISNEY DREAM, Part One" and "Part Two" – review by Peter Knego in Maritime Matters of the inaugural cruise of the Disney Dream.
• "Disney Dream" – review by Douglas Ward in The Daily Telegraph, London.
• "DISNEY DREAM Versus DISNEY FANTASY Decked!, Part One" and "Part Two" – comparison of the two ships by Peter Knego in Maritime Matters.