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About
Disney
Cruise
Line...
When Disney execs decided to enter the cruise business they
looked back to the 1920's for inspiration. The result: Both the Magic and Wonder
resemble luxurious ocean liners of a bygone era that just happen to have all the
modern bells and whistles to boot. The twin ships' elongated dark blue hulls,
matching red funnels and elaborate yellow insignias make these sleek ships a
beautiful sight to behold in port. Inside, the ambience is casually elegant with
plenty of subtle nods to the Mouse that started it all, from the
etched-in-pewter characters bordering the atrium to the hidden mini Mickeys in
the adults-only restaurant's china pattern. What Disney Cruise Line does best
though is prove that "elegant" and "family friendly" don't have to be mutually
exclusive.
Disney genuinely offers one of the most unique cruise
experiences afloat. With these ships, Disney has introduced a number of
innovations. Chief among them are its cabins with a bath-and-a-half and a
rotating dining room schedule in which passengers eat at three different
restaurants, albeit with the same tablemates and wait staff. It was the first
cruise line to launch the "soda card" concept, an idea which has been picked up
by competitors, and now they've even gone one-better offering soda gratis in the
three restaurants and at the self-service beverage station on the pool
deck.
Equally distinctive is what Disney ships don't have: casinos or
libraries.
As of 2004 there are three new public spaces aboard each ship:
Diversions, Cove Cafe and a new college-dorm-meets-coffee-bar place for teens.
Cove Cafe is the adults-only coffee bar, located next to the Quiet Cove pool.
It's a great place to relax on comfortable couches, watch TV, check e-mail or
read one of the many magazines on the shelves. Sports enthusiasts now have
Diversions, located in the entertainment district and styled after an English
sports pub. The former ESPN Skybox (in the forward funnel of the ship) was
transformed into a new space for teens (called Aloft on Wonder and The Stack on
Magic). In addition to the public space changes, cabins received better quality
mattresses, thicker towels (including bath sheets) and sateen bed
linens.
Disney has said it plans to expand its line beyond the original
two ships; while rumors are constantly abuzz about when the company will make
that commitment, as of now Disney has refused to comment on the topic.
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CRUISECLEVER - DISNEY
CRUISE LINE
