This Fantasy is No Illusion!

Relaxing in a giant porthole is just one of the many fantasies that become reality on Disney newest cruise ship. I just returned from a three-night preview cruise on the Disney Fantasy, and I’m still reeling from the pleasure of sailing on one gorgeous ship! Much like the Disney Dream, the Fantasy sails with many of the same exciting features: similar cabins, basically the same restaurants, the uber-popular AquaDuck, and more. But the Fantasy also brings an Art Nouveau-inspired look (think peacock feathers!) and many new features that make for one super sensational cruise.

AquaLab

There are new places in the sun onboard the Fantasy for both young and old alike. For kids, the new Donald Duck-themed AquaLab play area features pop jets, geysers, bubblers, falling water, squirting walls, and more. And for adults there’s an entirely new area on Deck 12 just for them, all centered by the soothing rain curtain of Satellite Falls and afternoon live entertainment. It certainly was one popular spot on our cruise. It does, however, take away the ocean view from the private sun deck set aside for concierge guests, but it’s a big bonus in my book for the standard cruiser.

Satellite Falls

The precious Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, a super hit at Walt Disney World, now can be found on the Fantasy in an even more darling rendition. Pretty princess perch in a row on golden salon chairs, all vying for their choice of designer costumes, and I’m not kidding when I say that these costumes are amazingly beautiful. There’s even a Captain Mickey Mouse or two to be seen. And on Pirates Night the place is packed with children aspiring to become swashbuckling buccaneers.

Europa puts an entertaining spin on the adult-only nightclub area. With an inviting circular bar at the entrance, La Piazza, and an Irish sport’s bar, O’Gills Pub, there’s also a British-style disco, The Tube, where the staff try, but don’t succeed in keeping revelers from dancing in the red phone booths! As far as I’m concerned, Ooh La La champagne bar doesn’t beat out the Dream’s version, Pink, but it is sophisticated and quite lovely just the same. And my favorite place for a nightcap, the chic Skyline lounge, has a new roster of feature cities, drinks, and music; the Fantasy’s incarnation seems even a bit larger than the one on the Dream.

The Tube

Two new musicals at the Walt Disney Theatre are quite the hit: “Disney Wishes”, the story of three teenage friends who, along with discovering their inner selves, meet up with an ensemble of Disney characters who guide them on their way; and “Disney’s Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular”, perfect for fans of the Disney movie by the same name (one of which is my grown daughter). Honestly, you can’t beat Disney’s live entertainment…it’s simply head and shoulders above the other cruise line offerings.

And the icing on the cake was on our final night at sea when the Disney Dream pulled up alongside us for dualing Buccaneer Blast fireworks shows. It’s the kind of surprise that makes Disney so very special!

Along with the Dream and Fantasy sailing from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas and the Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line offers several new and exciting itineraries on their classic ships, the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder. The Magic is sailing from Galveston, Texas beginning Fall 2012 into Winter/Spring 2013 then off to Europe for Summer 2013. And for the first time Disney Cruise Line will utilize a second homeport in Florida…the Disney Magic will depart from the Port of Miami to the Bahamas and Western Caribbean beginning December, 2012 then return to Alaska for Summer 2013. Pretty exciting!

Cara Goldsbury is the author of The Luxury Guide to Disney Vacations and President/Founder at Glass Slipper Concierge®, an Earmarked Platinum travel agency specializing in selling luxury Disney vacations. She has been cited numerous times in such notable publications as the New York Times, AFAR, New York Post, Travel Weekly, and Forbes Traveler, as an expert on Disney Destinations, and has appeared on two Travel Channel specials, Disney Splurge! and Disney Royalty. Cara also serves as a continuing member on the Disney EarMarked Travel Advisory Council, made of 25 travel agency owners at the Platinum and Diamond Level representing the voice of Authorized Disney Vacation Planners.