Today is going to be exciting. After watching Disney Dream being floated out from the shipyard on Saturday evening, and spending Sunday morning with Bruce Vaughn, the man who led the team which designed most of it, I will finally get the chance to go on board and have a look around.
The cruise ship is the biggest ever built in Germany, and at 128,000 tons and with a capacity of 4,000 passengers, dwarfs Magic and Wonder, the two ships which make up the current Disney fleet.
It will be the first ship at sea with a water-coaster, the 765-ft long Aqua Duck, and from what I have seen so far of the restaurant and entertainment facilities on board it’s going to be everything you would expect of Disney.
I do know, for example, that the Mickey Mouse from Fantasia is draped across the stern of the vessel, and that Admiral Donald Duck is waiting to greet guests arriving in the central atrium.
Inside cabins – sorry, staterooms, will have their own magic portholes projecting live images of the sea outside, and French champagne house Taittinger have produced a special blend which will be available nowhere in the world except in Disney Dream’s exclusive Pink bar. Guess what colour it is.
The ship – which actually looks like a proper ocean liner – is in the final stages of preparation for its 40 km journey from Papenburg to the sea, and after being fitted out in Bremen, will be crossing the Atlantic for a January debut in Florida.
There’s only one problem – I’m not going to be allowed to take pictures of the its interiors and I’ll have to wait a couple of days until Disney release the pictures.
As soon as I get them, they’ll be up here. I’ll keep you posted.
About the Author: John Honeywell
John Honeywell is a travel writer specialising in cruise ships and cruise travel. Winner of CLIA UK's Contribution to Cruise award 2017.
Amazing! I can’t wait to travel onboard this vessel. I heard that Disney sent it’s own people from the States to work on this ship…is that true?
My son was hired by Disney to work on the ship. First time away from home to travel from Canada to Germany to be a part of THIS! He is having an incredible adventure and says the ship is AMAZING. We are hoping to be on it in January.
After my tour of the ship today, I can say your son is a lucky man to be working on this beautiful vessel. The craftsmanship and attention to detail is astonishing. Enjoy your time on board in January.