The Disney Fantasy

Sailing on the brand-new Disney Fantasy cruise ship inaugural sailing reminded managers and agents in Travel Leaders Leisure Group why they became travel agents in the first place. 

Here is their take on what makes the ship and experience a true fantasy vacation.   

Fun for Kids and Adults Too

“It really does fulfill people’s dreams and no one does that better than Disney,” divulged Jan VanderPloeg, operations manager for Travel Leader’s company-owned Holland, Michigan storefront agency.  “It is not only a great ship and experience for families with children, but there’s an entire floor dedicated to entertaining the adults.” 

“Wow, I can’t say enough about the ship.  Disney doesn’t just strive for excellence, they go above and beyond,” said Heather VanderPloeg, a travel specialist at the Holland Travel Leaders agency.  Our 10 year-old grandson couldn’t get enough of the thrilling AquaDuck waterslide, and our four year-old granddaughter’s favorite part of the cruise was playing in Nemo’s water area.”

CruiseDeals.com’s vice president Kevin Weisner agrees that there is something for everyone in your group.  “What struck me most about the Fantasy was the amount of “footprint” the ship has dedicated to the adult guest—a great plus for the honeymooner, empty nester and of course, moms and dads wanting some alone time.  I was not expecting an adult outdoor complex to go up three stories, nor the amount of lounge space and restaurants that truly cater to a discerning grown up.”

Special Experiences Onboard

“The shows were amazing with the Disney details in every production,” described Carrie Daines, a travel specialist at All Aboard Travel.  “The Fireworks at Sea production was over the top with the Pirates of the Caribbean storyline leading up to the final Aerial spectacle. The three main dining rooms, The Animators Palate, The Enchanted Garden and The Royal Court offered something for everyone in the way of food and ambiance and the fact that the wait staff switched venues along with the guests made the experience even more special.”

“We loved the Animators Palate dining room,” reiterates Jan VanderPloeg.  “Each guest is given a placemat with the outline of a person on it.  You channel your inner artist and complete the drawing inside the outline and they take it away.  Before the end of the meal, they’ve put together a short animated show with your drawings (dancing, bicycling, etc) on the wall – it is incredible.  And then they roll the credits and your names are listed.”

Every Bit a Premium Cruise

The Travel Leaders Leisure Group team members were all very impressed with the luxurious look and feel of the ship. 

 “The fit, finish, décor and attention to detail on the ship is extraordinary.  If there is a physical space on the ship in which a feeling can be conveyed, Disney doesn’t miss any of it,” expresses Weisner.  “The Fantasy is less a collection of public spaces, and more an entire experience that all feels cut from the same high quality cloth.  From the grandness of the entrance foyer, to the minute details found in the staterooms, the sense of completeness is evident.  Of particular note was our stateroom—comfortable enough for a family of five, thanks to great berth arrangements, generous space and the best shower I’ve had at sea.  High quality linens and soft goods contributed to the premium feel as well.”

Click on Disney Fantasy Photos below to enlarge:

Is Disney Fantasy Worth the Money?

Tom Baumann, president of Travel Leaders Leisure Group is the first to admit that a Disney cruise costs a bit more than your average cruise, but says that it’s worth every single penny.  “Not only was the ship as amazing as what you would expect from Disney, but everything about it including the staff, the service, and activities offered onboard was extremely well done in true Disney style.” 

“So often we hear, ‘Why is a Disney Cruise so expensive?’ but I think that comment demonstrates where we need to do a better job with customers,” explains Weisner.  “I think it comes from people comparing prices between contemporary cruise lines doing a similar itinerary, and not really understanding that on Disney, it’s first and foremost about the Disney experience and the cruise ship just happens to be the venue.”

Daines agrees, “For those traveling onboard with children, the activities, programs, experiences and memories that are afforded to them are worth every penny invested in such a magical vacation.  From the time you step onboard to the fairy-tale like ‘See You Real Soon’ farewell, the special activities, visits with Disney characters, and overall experience onboard is just outstanding.  For those of us traveling without children, well, we were able to channel our inner child and enjoy every moment right along with the real ones – maybe some of us even more so.”  

Thinking about taking a Disney cruise?  Contact one of our experienced travel experts at Travel Leaders, All Aboard Travel, CruiseDeals.com, Cruise Holidays or Cruise Specialists.

When it comes to hot new products, are you usually first in line? What about when it comes to travel? You can look at cruise trends to help plan your  next trip. There is a whole new list of new ships coming out in 2012, and according to Cruise Holidays cruise experts across North America, Celebrity Reflection is the most anticipated ship of the new year. That’s just one of the major trends highlighted in the Cruise Holidays 2012 Cruise Trends survey.

 Additionally, cruise prices remain in consumers’ favor going into 2012, according to the Cruise Trends survey, with prices to the Caribbean and the Mediterranean still averaging lower than they were in 2008, 2009 and 2010. However, prices to these destinations have actually risen slightly since 2011, which is seen as a positive trend overall by the cruise industry because it demonstrates increased demand for travel.

Most Popular Ships: Celebrity’s “Solstice” Class & New European River Ships Capture Cruisers’ Hearts

The Alcoves, on Celebrity Reflection

Price is only one factor that contributes to cruisers’ vacation decisions. The ship itself along with the itinerary are just as important, which is why fans of Celebrity Cruises have another reason to celebrate. In this year’s survey, Cruise Holidays experts selected the Celebrity Silhouette as their favorite ship to debut in the past calendar year. They voted the fifth and final Solstice-class ship, Celebrity Reflection, as the ship they are most anticipating for 2012. Reflection will sport an additional deck compared to previous Solstice-class ships, with three new types of suites, and more than 50 international craft beers in its enhanced “Michael’s Club.”

A view of the Danube in Vienna

Another remarkable development is that the second most popular ship expected among the Cruise Holiday Franchisees surveyed in 2012 is an upscale river cruise ship: AmaWaterways’ Amacerto. The Amacerto is a 164-passenger ship that will sail itineraries on the Danube, Rhine, Main and Mosel Rivers. It features extra-spacious suites, deluxe hotel-style bedding, and a heated sun deck swimming pool. River cruising allows passengers to explore Europe’s greatest treasures from the middle of the action – the ships often dock right in the heart of historic cities and provide vacationers with instant, convenient access to explore Europe the way it was meant to be seen. Cruise Holidays is offering a “President’s Cruise” – a special escorted trip on this beautiful new vessel in October 2012.

Rounding out the top five in the survey of most popular ships for 2012 are the Disney Fantasy, Oceania Cruises’ Riviera and Viking River Cruises’ Freya, also a river-cruise ship.

Stay tuned for a second post on 2012 Cruise Trends, including popular cruise destinations and where the best cruise values are. Also, just how optimistic are Cruise Holidays experts going into 2012? You won’t need to wait long to find out. You can also see the full news release on 2012 Cruise Trends.

The 2012 Cruise Trends survey is based on actual bookings from Cruise Holidays’ proprietary booking system, as well as from a supplementary opinion survey taken by 118 Cruise Holidays owners and agents Dec. 21, 2011-Jan. 4, 2012. The bookings include any staterooms booked by Cruise Holidays from January 1, 2011, to December 21, 2011, for any cruises slated to begin in 2012. 

This is a CruiseSource review of Regent Seven Seas Mariner written by Tonya Hodgson’s from her recent transatlantic voyage.

I recently returned from a transatlantic cruise on Regent Seven Seas Mariner.  This was not my first luxury cruise but it was my first cruise on an all suite, all inclusive cruise line.  If you are wondering what all inclusive means it means that airfare, gratuities, adult beverages, and shore excursions are included.   If you are wondering what wasn’t included in our cruise fare (I know I was before we sailed) things such as premium brand liquors (Patron Tequila was one), spa services, “premium shore experiences”, internet, and laundry.  The beauty of an all inclusive cruise is that you can truly have a zero balance at the end of your cruise.  We met one couple whose only charge was a .42 cents for a postcard stamp.   Confession time:  I was very worried before we sailed about the quality of the experience.  I have done all inclusive resort vacations in the past and I found that experience somewhat lacking.  I am happy to report that my fears were unfounded.

The Ship:

The Seven Seas Mariner is considered a small ship for good reason, she only accommodates 700 guests.  Because of her size she doesn’t have some of the fluff that the larger cruise lines do such as rock climbing walls, bowling alleys, and a dedicated kids club.  I love the small ship experience!   Getting around is a breeze, and because of the size it was possible to meet and really get to know some of our fellow guests.  Our suite was a good size with a sitting area, walk in closet, and good sized bath.  Some of the suites on the Seven Seas Mariner have a walk in shower but I choose a suite with a full sized tub and shower combo since I like to take baths.  I will say the sides of the tub were quite high so if you had problem knees or hips it might be a challenge to get into the tub.  The ship went into a short dry dock after our cruise where all of the carpet was replaced and some of the larger suites were refurbished.  This is a very nice ship and it did a great job crossing the Atlantic.

Evening dress code:

The Seven Seas Mariner supposedly has an “Elegant Casual” dress code.  I will say that I felt that it was a little dressier than elegant casual.  We didn’t have a formal night on our cruise but I do know that on some of the longer cruises they are still scheduled.  I saw lots more men in dress shirts and jackets than the term casual would imply.

Regent Food:

Seven Seas Mariner has one dining room (Compass Rose), two alternate dining restaurants that required reservations (but there is no charge), and they turn the buffet in the lido to an alfresco restaurant in the evening.  Of course there is also 24 hour room service.  We ate the majority of our dinners in Compass Rose.  The food was very good.  Every night they had different wines paired with the nightly menu.  For example on French night they had French specialties on the menu and served French wines.  I went to a cooking demonstration and the head chef said that everything was made fresh on board from the bread served to the variety of sauces and sautés.  I will say that while not all the food was to my liking the quality was excellent.  I also especially appreciated that the portion size.  I guess if you were a big guy you might say they were small but you could always order more and I appreciated the fact that I didn’t have as much left over that would just go to waste.

We were lucky enough to eat in both of the specialty restaurants twice (you only get one guaranteed reservation at each).  My favorite of the specialty restaurants was “Prime 7”.  Regent describes this restaurant as a “glamorous, contemporary interpretation of a classic American Grill”.  This is the place to get your surf and turf, or lamb chops. Sides are served family style, and I highly recommend the truffle fries….just thinking about them makes my mouth water.

“Signatures” is the other specialty restaurant.  This is a French themed restaurant operated in partnership with the “Le Cordon Bleu”.  The menu changed halfway in on our cruise so we were able to experience both menus.  I don’t know if this is a regular occurrence or if we were just lucky.  The first time we ate there it had a contemporary French menu, and the second time it had a traditional French menu.  Due to the restaurants affiliation with “Le Cordon Bleu” Regent says they can not accommodate alterations of the menu.  I will say that they did accommodate my shellfish allergy, and the chef made me a special potato dish to go with my entrée (I really like starch with my beef).

We often ordered breakfast from room service.  I will say when the waiter came in the suite and set up a table and placed a white table cloth on it with a little flower I knew I was hooked.  We never did get down to the dining room for lunch preferring to dine alfresco from the buffet (and their amazing pasta bar) or the grill.  We also went to tea each day which is held in conjunction with team trivia.  Even afternoon tea had a different theme each day.  The chocolate one was especially over the top.  We never did need a late night snack but I really looked forward to the chocolate that the put in the cabin each night.

Spa:

Canyon Ranch runs the spa onboard.  I went for a hot stone treatment and it was very good.  What I especially liked was after the massage was done the therapist didn’t try and waste 10 minutes trying to sell me product, like they do on all the other ships.  I went in a couple of times and used the steam rooms and sauna as well.  They also offered a variety of fitness classes every day.  The classes were full too; I am not sure if that was because they were free or because we had so many sea days in a row.  Jaco was the fitness director on board and he was really good.

Entertainment:

Regent had a number of different enrichment lecturers on board.  I would love to tell you they were great but it was sunny and the pool held more appeal to me than sitting inside being enriched.  During the first part of our cruise the headliner was Greg Bonham.  I have to say he was an excellent entertainer.   The second half of the cruise they brought on a concert pianist, a comedian, and a female headline singer.  The ship also has a staff of singers and dancers which were very good.  We especially enjoyed the “le cirque mariner” show.

Ports | Shore Excursions included:

Because this was a transatlantic cruise we only stopped at 7 ports in 15 days.  Regent includes shore excursions in their cruise fare so all of our shore excursions were booked with Regent, and most of them we booked 180 days in advance.

Booking with a Travel Agent who has been on the ship your booking makes a huge difference… call Tonya at (800) 566-7447 and let her help you plan your Regent Seven Seas Mariner Cruise.

“The Antoinette is absolutely without a doubt the most incredible ship ever built for river cruising,” described Baumann.  “If you are looking for an upscale river cruise and truly a ‘boutique’ experience, then you must try a Uniworld cruise.  Not only is the ship absolutely incredible, but the service and food was fantastic!  There is an infinity pool, a gym, spa treatment rooms, a movie theater, two lounges, two restaurants, a 24 hour specialty coffee and tea bar and more.”

Read more about the new Uniworld river cruise ship and why Baumann urges cruise enthusiasts to try out river cruising.

Tom Baumann, president of Travel Leaders Leisure Group, and Nicky Marso, vendor relations manager of Cruise Holidays recently had the opportunity to attend the christening and inaugural sailing of the new Disney Dream cruise ship.  The celebration and spectacular show took place in Port Canaveral, Florida at the Disney Cruise Line Terminal and featured classic Disney music, dancers, fireworks, and their beloved Disney characters.

Disney Dream Celebration

“I’ve been to a few ship christening events in my career, but nobody does or can do what Disney does,” described Baumann.  “The event was a full Disney-Style production and unlike any other I have seen with the characters, the entertainment, the ship’s fairy godmother Jennifer Hudson (who started her career on the Disney Wonder in 2003), the 16 foot tall champagne bottle flown by helicopter, and the magical finale of fireworks.”

Disney Dream – The Ship

The Disney Dream is the third ship in the Disney Cruise Line Fleet and can carry up to 4,000 passengers.  According to Tom Staggs, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, the Disney Dream and her sister ship, the Disney Fantasy coming in 2012, combine the best in innovation, technology, artistry and the legendary attention to detail that makes a Disney experience so unique.  The cruise ship was designed with families in mind, combining sleek style and convenient facilities with splashes of magic and cruise-industry firsts like the first water coaster at sea – the AquaDuck.

“The minute you walk on board the ship, you just know it’s Disney,” said Baumann.  “There is something about the attention to detail everywhere that amazes you.  A normal stairwell railing is transformed with tastefully engraved Mickey Mouse ears and is just subtle enough that you would really never even see it unless you looked for it.”

The Oceaneer Club

Disney Dream – Fun for Children

“Our four year old daughter couldn’t wait to check out the ship’s kids area – the Oceaneer Club,” said Cruise Holidays’ Nicky Marso.  “There was so much for the kids to do there, and so little time for them to do it all.  From dressing up as Tinker Bell and her pixie friends, to making cupcakes, to hunting for monsters in the Monsters Inc. Academy computer lab, to dancing on the magic dance floor, or taking time out to just play in ‘Andy’s Room’ straight out of the Toy Story movies, the place was simply mesmerizing for children and adults.  With all the ‘little ones’ time being consumed by fantastic activities, moms and dads have plenty of time to themselves to enjoy the ship and its amenities!”

Jennifer Hudson Performing at Ceremony

Marso adds, “But what could top off a Disney cruise any better than all that? The character meetings, of course!  Character meetings and photo opportunities are only at scheduled times throughout the day and are handled in a very orderly fashion. The characters are then whisked away as quickly as they first appeared once their time is up, so you don’t have to worry about Donald Duck harassing you if you want to catch some rays on the pool deck!”

Disney Dream – Fun for Adults

The adult-only area of the ship, “The District”, boasts five distinct lounges and nightclubs and is a great place to sit, relax, and socialize according to Marso.  Baumann adds that you could take your pick as to what type of experience you wanted to have such as visiting “Pink” the luxurious champagne bar, “687” a contemporary sports bar, or “Evolution” a dance club and karaoke bar.  Other entertainment options include musical live shows, first-run films, Digital 3-D movies and fun-filled family deck parties.

Baumann was so impressed with the ship and his experience onboard that he urges families to see it for themselves.  “If you want to take your family on a truly magical family vacation, take them on the Disney Dream.”

The Disney Dream is such a hit that many of the 2011 departures are already soldout.  Click here to check Disney Dream availability.

Entertainment:

Overall the entertainment on the ship was solid.  The Celebrity Solstice Cruise Director, John Grantham hails from the USA and the comedic Greek Captain was always good for a few laughs.   

Celebrity Solstice “The Show”

A Cirque style show was full of energy, talent, humor, and excitement.  My 8 year old son loved it and my wife felt it was the best show she has seen at sea.   If you are cruising on the Solstice, make sure you do not miss The Show.

Live Music

The pianist, Pawel Pakora, drew a large crowd nightly in the Grand Foyer.  On the Celebrity Solstice The music from the foyer can easily be heard from all of the public spaces that fill the 12 floors around the grand atrium elevator bank. 

The Hot Glass Show:

I was aware of the Hot Glass show before going on the Celebrity Solstice.  I was surprised by the number of shows they did during one sailing.  It seemed like every time I turned around I met someone who won one of pieces of glass from the show.  Corning only invites true glass blowing experts to be part of the show.  The lead glass blower is considered to be one of the top 10 glass blowers in the world. 

Alcohol Packages

The Beer Package:  Celebrity offers an all you can drink Liquor Package, Beer Package, or Frozen Drink Package.   I bought the beer package which was about $32 per day and it included gratuities.  So as long as I drank 5+ beers each day the package was cheaper than buying them separately.   It was nice not stressing about my bar bill.  I knew as long as all I ordered was beer that my Bar Bill would be $230 for the whole week.   This was my first cruise with an all inclusive alcohol package and I will get it again on my next Celebrity Cruise.

The Bars and Lounges

Celebrity has always had a reputation for serving up some of the best cocktails at sea.  They take the indulgence to the next level on the Solstice class ships with Crush adjacent to the Martini Ice Bar pairs caviar and vodka on a ice-filled table.  The Sky Observation Lounge is a trendy hot spot with unbeatable views of the constellations. My favorite was enjoying a beer in the country club setting at The Patio on the Lawn as the sun sets over San Juan. 

The Sky Observation Lounge

The Fun Factory, kids program. 

My 8 year old son, Dylan enjoyed the Fun Factory.   The Fun Factory allowed us to move him up to the 9 – 11 year old room because he was the oldest in the 6 – 8 room.  My only complaint with the Celebrity Solstice design is the location of the Sports Court.  It is at the very front of the ship on the 12^th deck.   With the wind it was next to impossible for them to hold the events planned for the sports court like dodgeball and basketball.  Ideally the sports court would be blocked by the wind by being in the middle or the back of the ship.  But the Solstice has the Solarium in the middle and the Lawn/Hot Glass Show toward the aft.  I agree with their priorities and love the grass lawn…. Just don’t plan your day around the scheduled dodgeball tournament, it may not happen because of all the wind. 

The Gym

Similar to other brand new cruise ships, the Celebrity Solstice offers a state of the art workout facility was large and comfortable.  The Gym has amazing views from almost all exercise stations and offered plenty of space to relax post workout. 

Aqua Class Balcony Cabins:

We had a Sky Suite Cabin and did not get to experience the Blu specialty restaurant reserved for the Aqua Class Cabins.  Everyone who we met staying in an Aqua Class Suite loved Blu and thought the amount of money to upgrade to the Aqua Class was well worth it. 

Sky Suite 

We loved the Aft rear facing balcony and the extra living space of the Sky Suite.   It was by far the best cabin that we have sailed in to this point in our cruising career.  Our 8 year old son has ADHD.  The extra space gave him more room to roam while we hung the cabin which helped make the time spend in the cabin a pleasant experience.  It was our first cruise with a butler and it took us a couple of days to get a good feel for how to use the butler.    You pay about $4 more per person per day in gratuities for the suite.  We had breakfast special ordered each morning delivered at 8:30am by our butler.  We also had 60 laundry items cleaned and folded prior to our final departure.  Returning home with clean clothes was priceless!  After experiencing the Celebrity Solstice Sky Suite for 7 days it will be tough cruising in a non-suite cabin.  Here is a video taken while we were relaxing in the Sky Suite:

The Celebrity Solstice is leaving the Caribbean in May of 2011.  With prices starting as low as $659 for 7-night vacations, it is my number 1 pick for the best value at sea.  Check availability on 2011 Caribbean departures.

On the NCL Epic, the Ultra-Exclusive Private Courtyard Complex only accessible by passengers booked in the courtyard level suites sets the Epic apart from the rest of the industry. As Liz Finn, from NCL explains in the video below the courtyard suite accomodations are a one-of-kind option for multi-generational families. For the young kids to be able to get all of the entertainment options that the NCL Epic offers while the grandparents get an exclusive high-end experience in the courtyard complex is not found on any other ship. Some of the cabins in the courtyard complex like the Owners Suite’s offered plenty of square footage. The Penthouse suite in the courtyard complex that we toured lacked a little in size but was still very luxurious. You will see in the videos below that the NCL Epic suites have some of the most beautiful and innovative bathrooms that we have seen at sea. The reality of the courtyard complex is that with a private Sun Deck, Courtyard Pool, Dinner Club, Lounge, & Workout Facility the courtyard suite passengers have 2 private decks to roam that becomes their luxurious home away from home. For those looking for a private experience with tons of amenities, there is very little need to leave the courtyard complex if you did not want too.

NCL Epic Owners Suite Video from the Exclusive Courtyard Complex:

NCL Epic Penthouse Suite Video from the Courtyard Complex:

NCL Epic Courtyard Villa Private Pool Video:

Click to enlarge Photos from the Courtyard Villas, Suites, and Pool

Luxury + Privacy + Exclusivity = NCL Epic Owners Suite

Epic Private Courtyard Villa Pool

NCL Epic Penthouse Photo

Videoing the NCL Epic Courtyard Photo