Ultimate Vacation Blog by CruiseOne

Currently in construction in a German shipyard the 2,500-passenger ship is scheduled to debut in March 2012.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT TO SEE AND EXPERIENCE ABOARD THE NEW DISNEY FANTASY? Nothing less then Disney’s best.

A NEW DINING EXPERIENCE

What an amazing dining experience awaits you in the new Animator’s Palate restaurant! Draw your own characters and they will be brought to life, dancing on the walls of the restaurant with real Disney characters! Watch black and white drawings of Mickey transform into colorful, animated Mickeys! It’s a dining experience like none other.

KIDS DREAM SALON
The brand new Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique provides kids with princess and pirate makeovers complete with hair, makeup and customs! This is bound to be every kid’s favorite salon!

MAIN FEATURE
Like every Disney ship, a bronze statue will be featured as the focal point in the atrium. The Disney Dream will feature “Mademoiselle Minnie Mouse”.

NIGHTTIME ENTERTAINMENT
A new show is being introduced as part of the nighttime entertainment: Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular.

ADULT ONLY AREA
For this new ship the adult-only area is being revamped with all new bars and lounges that will have a Europe theme. A bar designed to resemble an elegant French boudoir, a lounge inspired by Italian cities, a skyline bar featuring views of the most exciting cities in the world, clubs inspired by the London Tube and much, much more!

The Disney Fantasy’s maiden voyage is scheduled for March 31, 2012, out of Port Canaveral and will sail seven-night Caribbean itineraries, alternating between an Eastern Caribbean route and a Western Caribbean route.  All the itineraries will include a stop at Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay.

There’s an app for that!  There is actually hundreds of apps for that, and they can help you determine wait times for rides, detailed maps, key phone numbers, times for key events like parades and much more! 

Take a look at USA Today’s review of three of the most popular apps:

Walt Disney World Pro ($4.99; available on iPhone) 

• Pros:  Well-organized information categorized by theme parks. Zoomable map with ride icons. Includes little-known tips, such as pointing out that the Peter Pan ride has long wait times for much of the day. Doesn’t require Internet for most functions.
• Cons:  Descriptions can be wordy and read like advertising. No scheduler or itinerary maker. No detailed menus.


Disney World Magic Guide ($4.99; available on iPhone)

• Pros:  Photos of rides and restaurants. “Food Finder” lets you search restaurants by food type. “Near Me” GPS search for finding rides nearby. No Internet required for most functions.
• Cons:  Inability to place restaurants and rides on map from description page. No itinerary maker.

Disney World Wait Times, Dining and Maps ($3.99; available on iPhone)

• Pros:  “Friend Finder” for finding family/friends at the resort. Parking-spot finder. Itinerary maker. Accepts wait-time submissions only from those who are at the park for greater accuracy. Includes best times for rides. No Internet required for most functions.

• Cons:  Inability to place restaurants and rides on map from description page.

Disney also has it’s own app available to Verizon Wireless customers and similar apps are available for other Disney parks. The world of apps… making you Disney World experience stress free!

Then you probably have some questions about getting your passport.  Check out Travel.State.Gov and get all the answers you need!

 

Here are some of the FAQ’s we get:

Where do I go to apply or renew a passport?
If you are traveling within 2 weeks, you will need to visit one of the 24hr regional passport agencies.  Otherwise you can find a facility near you by visiting the passport acceptance facility search page or you can even do it by mail.

How long will it take to receive my new or renewed passport in the mail?
There are 2 types of processing times, routine service and expedited service. Routine service takes 4-6 weeks, after your application is processed. Through expedited service you can choose overnight delivery and that will take 2-3 weeks. These are approximate times that may vary on individual cases. For current processing times visit the application processing times page.

How much does it cost to get a new passport or renew my current one?
The cost will depend on the type of passport you need and the time frame in which you need it. Click here to see the passport fee page.

Do I need a passport for my child under the age of 16?
Yes. All minors under the age of 16 need a passport to travel internationally by air. If you will be cruising with a minor, click here to see how you may be able to use a birth certificate instead. Minors must apply in person. Any child under the age of 16 requires the consent of both parents and legal guardians.  For more information about passports for minors under the age of 16 click here.

By now, I am sure you have heard about Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas… if you haven’t seen these amazing ships take a peek!  People love them so much that Royal Caribbean announced that Voyager and Radiance class vessels will be getting makeovers as early as next year.  In 2012 we can expect to see 3 ships to get overhauls:

Rhapsody of the Seas - March 2012

Grandeur of the Seas - May 2012

Serenade of the Seas - November 2012

What can you expect to see new?
You will see many of the features that make the Allure and Oasis so popular, starting with new day care programs and cabins designed for families.  Many other updates such as Wi-Fi service throughout the ships, flat panel TV’s, the famous touch screen interactive signs, oversized LED video screens on the pool deck will be added to keep up with new technology trends. And last but not least, new dining options to amuse everyone’s palate, Rita’s Cantina, Chops Grille, Boardwalk Doghouse and more!

What other ship’s will be getting makeovers?
In 2013 and 2014 overhauls will take place on Legend of the Seas, Vision of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas and Brilliance of the Seas.

Inspection scores are in and the perfect score of 100 goes to… the Carnival Glory! 

In just a 9 days, this ship has received a perfect score twice, in unannounced inspections by US and Canada officials. Read the full article here.

Learn more about the Carnival Glory! Deck plans, itineraries, 360 tours, photos and more!