When my wife (sharktums on this forum) and I aren't traveling for roller coasters and theme parks, we love to go on cruises!
This was my first ever Disney Cruise (Elissa did one about 12 years ago), and this was the first time we did any of the "newer" Disney ships. The Disney Dream was released in 2011, and we considered doing that ship, but we knew that a sister ship was in production, and the Disney Fantasy launched earlier in 2012. While the two ships don't differ *that* much, just like between Oasis and Allure, whenever two similar ships are being built back-to-back, the second one always gets whatever issues are found on the first one, fixed before it set sails. That was the main reason for waiting to sail the Fantasy, and the fact that we like longer cruises, and the Dream only alternates between 3/4 night cruises.
Anyway, we had an excellent time...onto the photos and some video!
The first part of this report will be our arrival at the cruise terminal, and the first day hanging around the ship...
Lets see... There's a Disney ship and a Carnival ship... I wonder which one we're heading to?
Getting ready to board the Disney Fantasy!
Awww...thanks Mickey! Let's go check out some of the ship...
One of the many kids club areas on the Disney Fantasy!
Not even on the ship an hour and already have character photos!
Disney Fantasy is like a floating WDW deluxe resort!
The kids clubs on the Disney Fantasy are just insane.
AquaDuck is the "water coaster" on the ship, and here is the exact moment where it goes off the side of the ship and over the water!
Each of the interior staterooms has a magic porthole which shows you what's going on outside as if you had an actual window (along with some neat Disney magic.) We get in our stateroom and KidTums asks "Why is the Klassy Kruise on our porthole? How do we turn it off???" (She actually said this!) lol
Mini-Golf on the Disney Fantasy!
Entrance area of the Disney Fantasy. This is "Classy!"
KidTums playing with many of the interactive screens and "enchanted art" all over the ship!
"Enchanted Art" are these amazing high-def retina screens all over the ship that when you walk past them, they look just like paintings...but, if you walk up to them and stand in front of them...something magical happens... watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltPfSKtEhkE
Loving all the little Disney touches!
Frozone serves up the "adult" treats!
Sail away party! (note that this is the pool deck, and they can quickly convert the pool deck into a show area when they need to!)
Finding Nemo kids water play area! (This ended up being one of KidTums' favourite places on the ship!)
Mickey & Friends at the sail away party! Our cruise has "officially" begun!
The way dining works on the Disney ships is very different from other ships. You have three different restaurants, and depending on your itinerary and your "rotation" will depend on how many times you end up at different dining rooms. I'll explain more as the report continues. Our first dinner location is in the Animator's Palate.
The dining room is VERY different than anything you'll see on any other cruise line! No typical "round tables", no windows to see outside, the focus on this dining room is the "experience" you're about to have.
Everything starts off mostly in Black and White or muted colours when you first arrive in the dining room.
The theming inside the restaurant is absolutely amazing!
I'm told this is not as "Black and White" as on the older Disney ships, but this room will start to transform and change colour soon enough!
Let's take a look at the menu for Animator's Palate!
This was my first ever Disney Cruise (Elissa did one about 12 years ago), and this was the first time we did any of the "newer" Disney ships. The Disney Dream was released in 2011, and we considered doing that ship, but we knew that a sister ship was in production, and the Disney Fantasy launched earlier in 2012. While the two ships don't differ *that* much, just like between Oasis and Allure, whenever two similar ships are being built back-to-back, the second one always gets whatever issues are found on the first one, fixed before it set sails. That was the main reason for waiting to sail the Fantasy, and the fact that we like longer cruises, and the Dream only alternates between 3/4 night cruises.
Anyway, we had an excellent time...onto the photos and some video!
The first part of this report will be our arrival at the cruise terminal, and the first day hanging around the ship...
Lets see... There's a Disney ship and a Carnival ship... I wonder which one we're heading to?
Getting ready to board the Disney Fantasy!
Awww...thanks Mickey! Let's go check out some of the ship...
One of the many kids club areas on the Disney Fantasy!
Not even on the ship an hour and already have character photos!
Disney Fantasy is like a floating WDW deluxe resort!
The kids clubs on the Disney Fantasy are just insane.
AquaDuck is the "water coaster" on the ship, and here is the exact moment where it goes off the side of the ship and over the water!
Each of the interior staterooms has a magic porthole which shows you what's going on outside as if you had an actual window (along with some neat Disney magic.) We get in our stateroom and KidTums asks "Why is the Klassy Kruise on our porthole? How do we turn it off???" (She actually said this!) lol
Mini-Golf on the Disney Fantasy!
Entrance area of the Disney Fantasy. This is "Classy!"
KidTums playing with many of the interactive screens and "enchanted art" all over the ship!
"Enchanted Art" are these amazing high-def retina screens all over the ship that when you walk past them, they look just like paintings...but, if you walk up to them and stand in front of them...something magical happens... watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltPfSKtEhkE
Loving all the little Disney touches!
Frozone serves up the "adult" treats!
Sail away party! (note that this is the pool deck, and they can quickly convert the pool deck into a show area when they need to!)
Finding Nemo kids water play area! (This ended up being one of KidTums' favourite places on the ship!)
Mickey & Friends at the sail away party! Our cruise has "officially" begun!
The way dining works on the Disney ships is very different from other ships. You have three different restaurants, and depending on your itinerary and your "rotation" will depend on how many times you end up at different dining rooms. I'll explain more as the report continues. Our first dinner location is in the Animator's Palate.
The dining room is VERY different than anything you'll see on any other cruise line! No typical "round tables", no windows to see outside, the focus on this dining room is the "experience" you're about to have.
Everything starts off mostly in Black and White or muted colours when you first arrive in the dining room.
The theming inside the restaurant is absolutely amazing!
I'm told this is not as "Black and White" as on the older Disney ships, but this room will start to transform and change colour soon enough!
Let's take a look at the menu for Animator's Palate!