Set sail on an unforgettable voyage where dreams really do come true!

Disney Dream is the second newest ship in the Disney flotilla with a maiden voyage date of January 26, 2011. Five years later, the award-winning Disney Dream’s elegant combination of timeless beauty and contemporary luxury is still taking adults, children and families on an unforgettable Disney adventure. My own adventure aboard the Disney Dream was a relaxing and whimsical three-day experience that I shared with my father and sister. With 14 decks, 1,250 staterooms and the ability to comfortable carry 4,000 passengers, the magnificent ship welcomed us with the grandest of splendor and a beautiful promise of the extraordinary journey to come. The powerful sound of the Disney Dream horn—which plays familiar Disney tunes, such as “When You Wish Upon a Star” and “It’s a Small World”—marked the beginning of our voyage as we set sail across the ocean blue. Knowing Disney Dream was designed with families in mind, we expected nothing short of a wonderful weekend overflowing with relaxation, fun and intense splashes of classic Disney magic at every corner.

Our Verandah stateroom, a lavish accommodation designed for families of three to five, was built with the finest construction and décor. The private, spacious quarters left us with ample room to relax and enjoy with floor to ceiling glass doors overlooking the expanse of the blue sea. Our private verandah allowed us to share laughter and conversation whilst breathing in the fresh, salty air and viewing the most magnificent sunsets. However, every passenger knows that the real fun happens outside of the staterooms! Unlike other cruises, which strongly cater to the desires of adults and can often treat children’s activities as an afterthought, Disney Dream is home to a variety of thrilling activities for every age and personality to partake in. Infants and toddlers can play with toys and games at It’s A Small World Nursery while older children will delight in Disney’s Oceaneer Lab and Oceaneer Club. There they can choose between six themed experiences that allow them to exercise, problem solve, connect with their peers, create, imagine and much more. At Edge, young tweens can enjoy everything from wacky science experiments to improv comedy training. Meanwhile, teenagers at Vibe can look forward to exciting cooking classes, a Disney “Dating” game and much more Disney Dream fun. But the entertainment doesn’t stop with the children and it’s not always “dry fun” either. All ages will have a splashing good time on Disney Dream’s “AquaDuck”, the first water coaster at sea. The 765-foot long waterslide with a four-deck drop winds 13-feet over the edge of the ship and through the ship’s forward funnel. While Disney Dream also features a variety of family-friendly pools and hot tubs, the calming Quiet Cove pool and bar proved to be a popular hangout spot for many adults who desired relaxation without the flurry of playing children.

In keeping up with Disney tradition and their family-centric atmosphere, every day on Disney Dream is a day packed with activities and offerings for those families looking forward to spending quality time together. At Buena Vista Theatre, an elegant cinema that shows first-run movies and digital 3D films, we kicked back and enjoyed a showing of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. From animated Disney films to intense adventure flicks, their impressive selection of movies proved suitable for every member of any family. Equally stunning aboard the ship was The Walt Disney Theatre, a exquisite live-performance venue where we witnessed spectacular Broadway-caliber Disney shows in the luxury of a charming theatre. Each night featured a different performance with two show times to choose from. The theatre kicked off the cruise with a showing of the timeless Disney tribute, “The Golden Mickeys.” The following evening was full of laughter during “Villains Tonight!”, a comedy show featuring the Disney Villains. On Sunday, hearts were warmed with the theatre’s final show, “Disney’s Believe” which saw beloved Disney characters take a father on a magical journey to show him that anything is possible.

In spite of all the fun, even adults need a little relaxation and Disney Dream had just the remedy with Senses Spa & Salon where passengers can experience elegant spa and high-end salon services with an expansive ocean view. At Senses, my sister and I indulged in the Spa Rainforest Room where we experienced ultimate relaxation in a thermal suite, which included a whirlpool, aroma steam room, sauna and water therapy. For extra sensory perfection, we even tried the Rainforest Scrub Experience, a custom-designed body polish to slough away dead skin in the Rainforest sensory showers. Senses’ private jacuzzi overlooking the turquoise sea was the perfect place to relax after a massage and warming lounge chairs made for an ideal spot to read a book or catch a snooze. Open daily, the facilities also offer Couples Spa Villas, a traditional barber shop, teeth whitening, acupuncture treatments, a separate Chill Spa for teens and much more.

As with any cruise, shopping is a must while on board and Disney Dream makes it incredibly easy with a wonderful selection of delightful shops selling everything from Disney-inspired diamond jewelry by Sophia Fiori to beautiful Disney art and giclée prints on canvas. At Vanellope’s Sweets and Treats, there’s even shopping to satisfy the sweet tooth in all of us! There passengers can have their fill of assorted candy, delectable treats and handmade gelato and ice cream. With so much to do aboard the Disney Dream, it’s easy to forget about the adventures that await at the docking locations, but we were quickly reminded as we made our first stop. Saturday morning we were welcomed to Nassau, the capital city of the Bahamas. After docking, we were greeted at the vibrant port with seemingly endless opportunities for adventure and fun. Bay Street is the main shopping street in downtown Nassau, and it runs parallel to the shoreline. Dozens of stores were open for us to browse through various goodies from touristy T-shirts to the famous Bahamian rum cakes and everything else you can think of. Before docking, passengers even had the opportunity to safely book amazing port adventures through Disney Dream such as day trips to Atlantis, Blue Lagoon Island and snorkeling along the soft, golden-sandy beaches of the Bahamas. In stark contrast to the big city buzz of Nassau, our second stop was Castaway Cay, Disney’s private port-of-call paradise. Bright and early Sunday morning we docked on this pristine island for a beautiful day of tropical leisure activities. My family and I opted for the Castaway Cay Getaway Package that included a day’s use of both snorkeling equipment and inflatable floats as well as an hour long bike rental, which was perfect for a riding tour through the picturesque island. A delicious lunch and barbecue were included for all passengers, but we were careful to leave room for the wonderful onboard meals we’d begun to highly anticipate every evening.

Disney Dream has multiple dining venues, including three main dining restaurants, two adult-only specialty restaurants, a buffet (including unlimited amounts of fresh stone crab claws and shrimp steamed to perfection!), multiple bars, lounges and quick service stations. Every night, passengers rotate through the main dining restaurants along with their servers, intentionally building a unique bond between diners and wait staff. Available at an additional cost to passengers are the 2 adult-only restaurants, Palo and Remy. At Palo, we experienced Northern Italian cuisine in a stylish atmosphere at just $30 per person. We dined from the impressive menu while surrounded by sweeping ocean views and ornate decorations such as adorable gondola wine cradles and paintings with hidden Mickeys in the subtle, whispering clouds. Everything from the hearty Caramelle di Vitello and Wild Mushroom Risotto to Fritto di Calamari e Gamberi and Osso Buco left our mouths watering, and our appetites fully satisfied. Meanwhile, the exquisite French-inspired cuisine and extravagant décor found at Remy is proof that Disney Dream means business when it comes to fine dining. Remy, inspired by Disney/Pixar’s 2007 Academy Award-winning film, Ratatouille, offers the most upscale and romantic dining experience on board at a modest cost of $85 per person. As you enter the lavish restaurant, a $50,000 Swarovski Crystal covered Remy (Ratatouille’s hero) hangs from the ceiling as an elegant welcoming to all the guests who’ve arrived for the high-class evening. Gold plated French plates made just for Disney Dream are a testament to the quality of the food that is served upon them. A French-inspired menu of superior seasonal ingredients ensures dining at Remy is always a first-rate affair. Advising Chef Arnaud Lallement, was awarded a prestigious three Michelin stars in 2014 for his family-run restaurant L’Assiette Champenoise, just outside Reims, France—and Chef Scott Hunnel from award-winning Victoria & Albert’s at Walt Disney World Resort both collaborated to create a menu that melds classic and contemporary styles to perfection.  From the excellence of the meal to the first-class service, it was an amazing dinner that rivals the best of fine dining anywhere in the world.

Our experience aboard Disney Dream was simply magical in the purest sense of the word and the three-day duration proved to be the perfect amount of quality time with my family. Any stress and worries remained docked at the port where they belonged as we unwound and immersed ourselves in this wonderful adventure designed to satisfy both mental and physical well-being for all ages. How can children not fall asleep with a smile on their face when beloved Disney characters are wondering the ship, pirates are blasting off fireworks and “Fairy Godmothers-in-Training” are ready with magic and pixie dust to give them the transformation of a lifetime at The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique? How can adults ever adjust back to the real world after being relentlessly spoiled by pure bliss at the Senses Spa & Salon, the Pink Champagne Bar, abundance of open-air lounges and much more? But most importantly, how can families not return home closer and more bonded than ever before after sharing three days together in the laughter, love and joy that has become synonymous with the Disney name? Consider planning your Disney cruise vacation today and allow the Disney Dream to make all your dreams come true.

Disney Dream | Disney Cruise Line
Reservations: 800-951-3532
www.disneycruise.disney.go.com