We have partnered with Royal Caribbean International to expand our ‘CP Cares’ charitable program with the launch of Voyages for Veterans.
The program benefits Fisher House Foundation, a charity that provides no-cost housing near Veterans Administration medical centers for families of veterans undergoing extended medical treatment.
Through Voyages for Veterans, Royal Caribbean will donate $50 to the Fisher House Foundation for every cabin booked through us on one of 12 sailings throughout 2010. To launch the program, travelers who book any Voyages for Veterans sailing during the week of Veterans Day, Nov. 9-15, will receive free travel-related items like a clock, currency converter or tote bag.
The sailings, which include Mediterranean, Alaska and Caribbean itineraries, are open to the public.
Holland America Line’s 87,000gt Nieuw Amsterdam was floated out today at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard. Delivery Niew Amsterdam, the sister to last year’s Eurodam, is scheduled for June.
A silver dollar was used for the traditional coin ceremony. Alice Tinorua, the wife of Pieter Rijkaart, director of newbuildings for Holland America was the godmother for the launch.
Today’s launch represents the fourteenth ship built by Fincantieri for Holland America.
Marghera’s orderbook, besides the Nieuw Amsterdam, includes Costa Deliziosa, due in January, and a further two 114,500gt vessels for Costa Crociere due in spring 2011 and 2012.
As Microsoft Corp. rolls out Windows 7 worldwide, Holland America Line joins in the fun with a month-long series of festive High Seas Launch Parties of its own across its entire fleet. Holland America Line’s parties – the only cruise industry events scheduled – celebrate Microsoft’s new operating system, Windows 7, which powers the line’s series of complimentary onboard Digital Workshops.
Classes and launch parties are led by the workshop “techsperts,” or instructors, who are Microsoft-trained and are officially approved Windows 7 launch hosts. All ships have Party Packs from Microsoft and will be giving away Windows 7 theme posters, luggage tags and special discounts and offers in addition to Holland America Line prizes.
Workshops are complimentary and limited to 15 participants per session so that instructors can provide personalized assistance. In addition, instructors maintain “techspert time,” where guests can get their individual questions answered and work on personal program-related projects. Each ship has a dedicated space for the classes, complete with computers, printers and other necessary equipment.
As promised yesterday we’ve got drawings of many of Disney Dream’s interior spaces. All of these pictures are courtesy of Disney Cruise Line and they are all Walt Disney Imagineering conceptual drawings.
A first-of-its kind water coaster that sends guests racing above the upper decks of the ship. An animated turtle that engages children in conversation about life in the ocean. A sophisticated lounge where the sun sets over the skyline of a different world-famous city each night. When the Disney Dreams debuts in early 2011, the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet will bring to life these innovations and more.
The Disney Dream will take family cruising to all-new heights, embracing the spirit of innovation, magical family entertainment and immersive experiences that have made Disney Cruise Line the preeminent cruise of choice for families since 1998.
Disney Cruise Line revolutionized the cruise industry with purpose-built ships designed just for families. With the Disney Dream setting sail on Jan. 26, 2011, preparations are underway to expand the one-of-a-kind family experience, utilizing technology to enhance the world-class entertainment and legendary guest services onboard. From stem to stern, the Disney Dream will offer a cruise experience that caters to the preferences of the whole family.
The Disney Dream features a remarkable interior design which provides guests with a warm and welcoming feel throughout. The ship’s design offers guests a perfect blend of elegant Art Deco style and fun-filled Disney whimsy to create one of the most spectacular ships afloat. Distinctly Disney guest features aboard the Disney Dream include:
AquaDuck Water Coaster. . .
Disney Cruise Line debuts a cruise-industry first: a shipboard water coaster … AquaDuck! Guests aboard the Disney Dream will get swept away on an exhilarating high-speed flume ride featuring twists, turns, drops, uphill acceleration and river rapids – all while traversing the upper decks of the ship.
- AquaDuck stretches 765 feet in length – more than two and a half times the length of a football field – and spans four decks in height.
- Guests slide 13 feet over the side of the ship in a translucent “swing out” loop allowing them to look down on the ocean 150 feet below.
- Guests experience coaster-like thrills as high-powered water jets push them upwards and forwards at 20 feet per second.
- AquaDuck continues through the forward funnel, encounters a 335 foot stretch of river rapids and splashes down to an end on Deck 12.
A Virtual Porthole for Inside Staterooms. . .
Disney Cruise Line introduces another stateroom innovation with all inside staterooms on the Disney Dream featuring a Virtual Porthole that provides guests with a real-time view outside the ship. High-definition cameras placed on the exterior of the ship feed live video to each Virtual Porthole. As guests observe the impressive outside views, they may glimpse a magical surprise: animated characters such as Peach the starfish from the Disney•Pixar hit film “Finding Nemo,” or Mickey Mouse may pop by the Virtual Porthole. A Magical Oasis for Children. . . Only on a Disney Cruise Line ship can children become immersed in their favorite Disney stories with the help of caring counselors, beloved Disney characters and a sprinkling of pixie dust. The celebration of children’s creativity rises to a new level on the Disney Dream with nearly an entire deck of youth spaces designed to inspire, entertain and unlock the imagination of children. There are two main spaces for children ages three to 10:At Disney’s Oceaneer Club, children can:
- Play among larger-than-life characters from Disney•Pixar’s “Toy Story” in Andy’s Room
- Explore the Laugh Floor with loveable monsters Mike and Sully from “Monsters, Inc.”
- Dive under the sea with Nemo and friends or visit Tinker Bell’s fairy forest
At Disney’s Oceaneer Lab, children feel as though they are embarking on a great seafaring adventure in a room filled with maps, maritime instruments and swashbuckling artifacts. Here, children can try their hand at animation, become a pop star or navigate ships through digital seas.
Both venues offer magical interactions with the animated characters such as Crush, the sea turtle from the Disney•Pixar motion picture “Finding Nemo” and Stitch, the mischievous alien from “Lilo and Stitch.” The characters chat, play and joke with children in live, unrehearsed conversations from their digital undersea and intergalactic environments via 103-inch plasma screens.
Chill-Out Zones for Tweens and Teens. . .Located inside the forward funnel is Edge – the lounge just for tweens (ages 11 to 13). This tween pad is filled with a multitude of hi-tech entertainment including the ability to create and star in photo postcards and video karaoke using green-screen technology.
Teens have their own exclusive club aboard the Disney Dream with Vibe – a trendy and inviting indoor/outdoor space created especially for guests ages 14 to 17. A “teen-only” swipe card provides access to the nearly 9,000-square-foot club.
Teens can create and edit videos, play computer games, access the onboard social media application or try their hand at spinning and mixing dance tracks. Teens have their own private outdoor deck area with chaise lounges for sunbathing, two wading pools, misters and pop jets for cooling off, and deck games such as ping-pong and foosball.
Personal Touches with Rotational Dining. . . Disney Cruise Line continues its innovative rotational dining concept onboard the Disney Dream with elaborately themed restaurants, distinctly Disney touches, and world-class cuisine to create a magical dining experience. Throughout the cruise, guests “rotate” through three different restaurants for dinner – with their servers accompanying them, providing guests with friendly, familiar, personalized service each night. The rotational dining restaurants include:- Animator’s Palate, a signature Disney Cruise Line restaurant that brings the magic of Disney animation into the dining room for a unique experience that will captivate the entire family.
- Royal Palace, an elegant restaurant inspired by the classic Disney films “Cinderella,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” ” Beauty and the Beast” and “Sleeping Beauty.”
- Enchanged Garden, a whimsical casual restaurant inspired by the gardens of Versailles and featuring a dining environment that magically transforms from day to night.
Just for Adults. . .
On the Disney Dream, while children are having the time of their lives in the elaborately themed youth areas, adults can look forward to incomparable indulgences and relaxation with exclusive areas and offerings designed exclusively for them.
- Adults can escape in to The District, a nighttime entertainment area on the Disney Dream with five unique venues. This playground for grownups features sophisticated lounges, each with its own unique design, look, feel and palate-pleaseing delights.
- Senses Spa & Salon offers adult tranquility with 17 private treatment rooms, lavish spa villas with indoor treatment rooms and private outdoor verandahs, and Rainforest, a special section of the spa offering the benefits of steam, heat and hydrotherapy to relax the mind and body.
- At Palo, adult guests find epicurean excellence and an unforgettable dinner experience at sea. Every seat offers beautiful ocean vistas while a pianist softly serenades guests in an intimate restaurant setting.
The Disney Dream is scheduled to depart on its maiden voyage Jan. 26, 2011, and will sail alternating three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. During summer months, the ship will alternate four- and five-night itineraries with two stops at Castaway Cay. Guests can book their Disney Dream cruise beginning Nov. 9, 2009.
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