The
Dream and the Fantasy are Disney's two
largest ships. We cruised on the Fantasy's 25th sailing,
August, 2012, for seven nights in the Caribbean. The Fantasy
– on the right - is 130,000 gross tons, 1,115 feet
long, 121 feet wide, and has 1,250 staterooms with a capacity
of 4,000 guests. It is the fourth ship in the Disney Cruise
Line, and the largest.
Dumbo
and his pal Timothy Mouse paint the logo on the ship's prow.
The Fantasy is registered in Nassau, Bahamas.
Mickey,
Minnie, Donald and Pluto, watched the Inaugural Voyage depart,
but were on board for our cruise. They made frequent appearances,
always in the appropriate attire for casual, formal or theatrical
occasions (lol). Other Disney characters, and all the Disney
princesses, make appearances and are, of course, available
for photo-ops.
Our
elegant and roomy stateroom had one of the largest balconies
on the ship. It extended out further than others, and had
room for four chairs and a table.
Our
accommodations, of course, were not to be compared with
the
Roy O. Disney Royal Suite. Next time?
The
Roy Suite has a commanding ship-wide verandah.
Throughout
the ship are interesting carpets, such as this one in our
cabin corridor. The semaphore flags spell out DISNEY
FANTASY in International Code.
Soon
after the ship is underway, the SAIL-AWAY welcome
show is performed on the deck, which later slid back to
reveal the pool.
Swimming and TV. No escape.
The
AquaDuck is a long, fast tubular water-slide which
surrounds the upper deck. Much fun, day and night. A long
vertical drop has been added to the slide since this photo
was taken.
It's
like a river raft on steroids, and fun for all ages. Check
out the animated video.
AQUADUCK
VIDEO
The
Atrium is the nexus of activity, with a formal staircase,
a grand piano for entertainment each evening, and a grand
marble entrance entrance at center to one of the dining
rooms. In addition to cove lighting, the atrium has a stained-glass-and-crystal
chandelier designed by modern glass-artist Dale Chihuli
which lights the grand space day and night.
We
ate in three dining rooms, rotating each evening. The first
is the Royal Court, entered from the marble Atrium. A brightly-lit
ceiling creates an airy atmosphere. Clever sectioning with
low walls increases privacy and makes each of the dining
rooms onboard, which need to accommodate about 650 people
at a seating, seem actually rather cozy.
Starchy
white table linens and imaginative napkin-folding enhance
every place setting.
Bread
is served from a Cinderella Coach basket.
The second dining room is The Enchanted Garden,
where tables surround a fountain in a greenery setting.
The Disney "D" is (too?) prominent on the banquets.
During dinner the atmosphere changes from afternoon to evening,
as "moonlight" comes on, and lanterns open up
like flowers.
Porthole
dining on the open sea. Menus in all the restaurants have
a variety of wonderful choices.
The
third dining room aboard is the Animator's Palette.
Here, walls are decorated with artists' round animation
drawing boards, art supplies and video screens of various
sizes showing cartoon sequences.
The
film-strip soffit lighting changes from white to colors
as the dining room evolves from "black-and-white"
to color during the meal - early animation to Technicolor.
The
menu has a finely-ribbed renticular plastic window over
sketches of Mickey the Sorcerer which seem to move.
Diners
are given crayons and sheets of paper with outlines in which
to sketch their head, hands, body and feet.
The
sketches are gathered up without explanation. At the end
of the evening a number of the sketches (including mine),
were transferred into an animated musicale in which various
groups of diners' self-sletches danced across the many screens
in the room, marching, twirling and cavorting, against varied
fantasy backgrounds: a technological and artistic tour-de-force,
flattering to the guest "artists". Regardless
of the technology, this must have required considerable
hands-on skill to produce. I hope they are still doing in
neverthless.
VIDEO
- ANIMATOR'S PALETTE
The
two island ports which the ship visited, Saint Maarten and
Saint Thomas, provide crystal clear waters, quiet beach
relaxation, and popular optional tours.
We visited on this trip, the butterfly exhibit, a small
screened-in enclosure with a great variety of colorful specimens.
We learned that none of the species flying about are native
to the island, and since they live only a few days, new
larvae are flown in daily.
Docking
at Castaway Cay, Disney's Private Island, affords
a relaxing day of swimming and sunning, topped off with
an all-day delicious barbecue on the beach.
An
island crew sets up the beach and keeps all in pristine
condition.
The Pelican Plunge Waterslide is a delightful
contraption.
Castaway
Cay VIDEO
As
the sun sets, the ship takes on a jazzy nighttime look.
Colored
lighting enhances the top deck.
Pirates
of the Caribbean is a musical performed outdoors on
deck, where a floor rolls out to cover the swimming pool.
Jack
Sparrow is, of course, a major Disney character now.
VIDEO
- PIRATE'S OF THE CARRIBEAN SHOW
Disney
is the only cruise line to date shooting fireworks at sea.
"Weather permitting" has prevailed on every Fantasy
cruise to date, including ours.
The
large and luxurious Walt Disney Theatre seats some 2,500
people and presents several elaborately staged shows during
the cruise.
Mickey,
Minnie and other characters host the entertainment in the
theatre.
Pinocchio
is a segment of a musical revue called Wishes.
VIDEO
- WISHES STAGE SHOW
Aladdin
is a sumptuous 90-minute book musical.
The
magic carpet ride swooping in the clouds high over the stage
is impressive!
VIDEO
- ALADDIN STAGE SHOW
The
handsome Art-Deco Buena Vista Theatre, seating 400, is used
for movies, bingo, and other smaller events.
For
bingo, automated hand-held devices allow you to play dozens
of "cards" at once. We each had "84 cards".
An image of the card with the most spaces covered appears
on a little video screen. I won $140, but we spent more
than that for our two multi-card devices. Both theatres
are equipped with Dolby 3D, and capable of playing back
7.1 soundtracks - no more 35mm film.
"After
hours," special elevators speed to Europa.
Here
are found several intimate night-club bars to give drinkers
aboard a sense of going "clubbing" at sea.
VIDEO
- EUROPA
We
saw a wonderful magician in The Tube (above
and below), which is themed on the London Underground.
Perhaps
the most elegant and imaginative lounge is the Skyline
Bar, where animations of cityscapes appear on large
video screens, with people seen walking and cars driving
in the streets of Florence. Every 20 minutes, the screens
change to show a different famous world city.
Now
we are in Paris!
Ooh,
La La is a plush Victorian champagne bar with it's
own exclusive Tattinger champagne.
Cozy
couches for a quiet evening at sea.
O'Gill's
Pub is an old-time neighborhood Irish bar with live
sporting events on high-definition TVs.
La
Piazza is modeled after a colorful vintage carousel
and draws inspiration from decorative outdoor plazas in
cities throughout Italy.
As
revelers are still asleep, a deck hand is lining up the
chairs, and cleaning the deck for another day at sea.
All
in all, a great cruise on a marvel of a ship! Viva Fantasy!
Long may she sail!
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