By popular demand, here are more photos from the Disney Dream’s Christening Cruise. I have already talked about the christening cermony and showed you some photos of the food served at the restaurants on board the Disney Dream. This was my first time on a Disney Cruise Line ship and only my second time on a cruise both of which traveled to the Bahamas and back from Port Canaveral, Florida. The Disney Dream was designed to bring the luxury of past ocean liners to today’s cruising public using the latest in modern day technologies for Disney’s target audience…families.
Deck 11 is the center of activity on the Disney Dream.
Deck 11 is where you will find the Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck family swimming pools. Both heated to 87 degrees F. When Deck 11 is used for larger events, the pools are covered. There are locations for food, non-alcoholic beverages (soda, coffee, teas) and an ice cream bar on this deck where one can get pizzas, burgers, fries, chicken tenders, sandwiches and salads. For adults, there are adult-only areas with bars, pools, nightclubs and spas.
The clear tube of the AquaDuck water coaster winds it’s way around the ship being suspended above Deck 12. People riding it wave at other guests as they slide over the decks.
The Disney Dream’s AquaDuck water coaster was a popular attraction during the Christening cruise. People were waving away as they slide through the clear tube above decks 11 & 12. The AquaDuck goes out over the ship’s side about 150 feet above the ocean’s surface.
Parents will have time to enjoy time in the adult sections as their kids, tweens and teenagers will be busy playing video games on the floors, walls and labs of the Oceaneer’s Club and Lab. Tweens can hang together in the Edge, a trendy indoor lounge and a breezy outdoor deck and watch television, play videogames, listen to music, surf the Internet, enjoy fun activities and make new friends. Teens have their own place called the Vibe. There’s even a family club called the D-Lounge where parents and children are invited to sing, dance, play games and enjoy live entertainment together.
A young sailor plays a computer simulation game in the Oceaneer’s Club on Deck 5 of the Disney Dream.
The christening cruise was only a two night trip out to Disney’s Castaway Cay island in the Bahamas. I was up on deck as the Disney Dream approached and then backed into its berth at the island dock. For such a large vessel, the crew expertly brought her in.
The Disney Dream docked at Castaway Cay in the Bahamas.
As this was more a vacation than a working trip for my wife, we disembarked and went to the adult only beach called Serenity Bay. Serenity Bay is lovely area with beach umbrellas in every Caribbean island color. The weather was perfect in the mid-70’s with a slight breeze.
Relaxing on a hammock at Serenity Bay on Disney’s Castaway Cay.
It looks quiet, warm and peaceful laying there on the hammock, doesn’t it? Well, after finishing my Konk Kooler rum drink, I found myself spinning out of control. The remnants of my drink went flying through the air and I landed with a thud on the soft sand underneath. Once everyone around me knew I was not hurt, as I had ended up on my ass which is well padded, they all erupted in a fit of laughter. I joined in hoping to keep a little of my dignity.
After my adventure with the spinning hammocks of Serenity Bay, we checked out the family beaches. Disney has recently added some new improvements to Castaway Cay including the Pelican Plunge water slide.
Pelican Plunge water slide at Castaway Cay.
After a tropical day on Castaway Cay, we re-boarded the ship and got ready for the night festivities. It was Pirate Night with a show for kids in the early evening with fireworks later. Disney is the only cruise line to present fireworks from a moving cruise ship.
The state-of-the-art, 24-by-14 foot LED screen called Funnel Vision is used for shows, cartoons and movies on the Disney Dream.
This was one Disney vacation where I took time to live, laugh and relax. Right, Mickey?
Views Infinitum 
Sometime overnight this blog passed 100,000 views. Thank you all for your past and continued support of this blog and my photography!
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Wowee, 100,000 in 3 years! I wonder if being “Freshly Pressed” that time helped you reach that count.
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Freshly Pressed was a big help, Karma.
The time I won a Pioneer Woman gift certificate back in 2009 still ranks as the most views I got in a single day. I held on to the gift certificate until last year when purchased the battery grip and memory cards for the Nikon D700.
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Love the photos Scott. You were very lucky to experience the Dream so early.
Keep up the great work on the blog.
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Thanks, Colin!
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Congratulations on reaching 100,000–and counting!–Scott.
Was there a Castaway Cay in an old Mickey Mouse and Goofy comic? That poster rings a faint bell. The kind that tolls for my childhood!
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Thank you, Gerry!
Wow..had to go digging for it. Mickey Mouse starred in a cartoon short called “The Castaway” back in 1931. Mickey gets shipwrecked on a desert island with bananas, wild animals, and a piano. Sounds like a recipe for fun.
BTW, that is a photo of a t-shirt. I have too many now so I just take photos of ones I would have bought if I had room. 😀
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Sounds like an awesome trip! I love the colorful nighttime glow of the first photo.
Did you ride the AquaDuck?
I think that t-shirt is the first time I have ever seen Mickey with no shoes on!
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Sadly, I never got to ride the AquaDuck. I will just have to go again. 😉
That’s a great observation! I bet he only has 4 toes, too.
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Scott- Thanks for the retweet today! Happy to feature your stuff on Disney Dispatch – and, in fact, I’ve done it again in today’s edition of Good Night, Mouse:
http://www.disneydispatch.com/content/columns/good-night-mouse/2011/01-28/
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Thanks for the links, Bob!
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She is huge and beautiful. I love the picture with the red umbrella, I need a vacation like this. 🙂
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Oh, you should go cruising, Nye. It is much more relaxing than visiting WDW during a school vacation.
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I think Lee and Bo would like that, we need to save up. 🙂
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That looks like SOOOOO much fun!!
Two of the hosts on the radio station I listen to, went on that cruise just after you did, broadcasting from the ship, and they’ve been raving about it ever since!
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Hmmmm, there were a bunch of radio stations broadcasting from the ship on our cruise. Also, a few TV networks including ABC. Sam Champion of Good Morning America did the weather from the Dream on the 20th. I got pics.
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That is some boat! I had to laugh at your hammock experience! We witnessed very similar things the day we were there! What a place, eh? We wanted to stay for days…
Did you try out the Aquadeck water coaster? That could be the coolest thing I’ve seen in a long time. Looks like so much fun!
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I know, they should have two days at Castaway Cay. One on the way out to the Caribbean and one back from.
I did not get on the AquaDuck. The time we tried, they shut it down early. Two days was not long enough for the Disney Dream. A whole day at sea would have been nice but I can not complain too much. It was on Disney and the cruise did what it was supposed to do… promote the new ship. 2011 sailings are booking fast and my wife is having a hard time getting people on it until 2012. Of course, that’s when the Dream’s sister ship, Disney Fantasy, will be launched.
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