Disney Dream : First Water Coaster at Sea

Disney is synonymous with creativity, innovation and creating magical moments for family vacations.

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 Dream 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.

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 lovable 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.”
• Enchanted 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 into 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-pleasing 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.

Cruise Versus Land Vacation Package

Few vacations offer a greater value than a cruise+ vacation. You don’t have to worry about packing and unpacking, booking a hotel or wandering around an unfamiliar city in search of a restaurant or things to do. Cruises provide it all: meals, accommodations and entertainment. Sail into new ports of call while you sit back, relax and get pampered, all at an affordable price.

Compare the costs and benefits of a Cruise Vacation to those of a typical land vacation package.

	CRUISE VACATION	TYPICAL LAND VACATION
Room	Included	Additional Cost
Port to Port Transportation	Included	Additional Cost
Breakfast	Included	Additional Cost
Lunch	Included	Additional Cost
Dinner	Included	Additional Cost
24 Hour Dining	Included	Additional Cost
Parties	Included	Additional Cost
Entertainment	Included	Additional Cost
Dancing	Included	Additional Cost
Nightclub Shows	Included	Additional Cost

Make cruising your next vacation!

First Glimpse of the Oasis of the Seas!

Set your TIVO! Royal Caribbean will unveil their newest and most innovative cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas. ABC’s “Good Morning America” will be there to welcome Oasis of the Seas into her home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and give viewers an exclusive first glimpse of the highly anticipated ship during a special live broadcast.

GMA fans across the country can tune in on Friday, Nov. 20th, 2009 from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. (EST) on ABC to join “Good Morning America” for a never-before-seen sneak peek at the seven distinct neighborhoods and many spectacular elements and features on board the Oasis of the Seas. Some of these unique features include Central Park, the first park at sea with nearly 12,000 plants and trees; Boardwalk, a family oriented environment with a hand carved carousel; a thrilling zip wire ride that races diagonally over Boardwalk 90 feet above the deck; 28 multilevel loft suites boasting floor-to-ceiling windows; and the Aqua Theatre – an amphitheatre style space that serves as a pool by day and a dazzling oceanfront theatre at night.

But wait! We are driving down to Dania on Nov. 11th to take the first photos of the exterior of the ship as it arrives into Ft. Lauderdale. Then, I will be on the Oasis of the Seas on Nov. 19th for an overnight stay, and plan to upload photos and videos from the ship, as long as the Wifi connection is working, so I hope to have lots for the public to see before this Good Morning America broadcast.

Make sure and check our blog, Flickr and You Tube accounts for more images of the ship. As we mentioned in previous posts, November 19th, we will be able to upload images of the interior of the Oasis of the Seas. We can’t wait to share them with you!

 

The World’s Largest Cruise Ship Has Arrived ! Oasis of the Seas Video

The Oasis of the Seas arrived into Port Everglades this morning at 8 a.m.  Here are some photos of the ship pulling into the port area.

The highly anticipated cruise ship the Oasis of the Seas featuring incredible innovations at sea, includes 24 onboard dining options, the first onboard zip-line, park with more than 12,000 trees and plants, an elevating bar called the Rising Tide, and an aquatic amphitheater with the deepest pool at sea. Oasis of the Seas also features the only free-standing Coach luxury leather boutique, an original handcrafted carousel, two FlowRider surf simulators and two rock-climbing walls, all in seven themed neighborhoods throughout the ship that cater to each persons individual style and preference.

Atlas will be there live to get video footage and pictures of this amazing ship.  Make sure and check our blog, Flickr and You Tube accounts for details.

Biggest Cruise Sale of the Year

CLIA World’s Largest Cruise Night

Many of our preferred suppliers have put together some special offers and incentives so you can take advantage of these great deals, and book the cruise vacation you’ve always dreamed of. Below is a summary of offers. Note that the offers may not start before October 14th and restrictions apply. Call or stop by for additional details.   Regent Seven Seas Cruises is offering a $100 per person shipboard credit booking incentive. Booking window October 1-November 14, 2009. Windstar Cruises is offering a $50 SBC on select Wind Surf and Wind Spirit sailings. Booking window October 14–November 9, 2009. Crystal Cruises is offering a $100 per person discount on most 2009-2010 departures. Booking window October 14–November 7, 2009. Silversea Cruises is offering a $100 per person or $200 per suite discount on any 2009-2011 Silversea Voyage. The Yachts of Seabourn is offering a $100 per booking bonus commission for bookings made during the Virtual WLCN (October 1-31) on request basis when booking is made. Disney Cruise Line is offering up to $100 OBC for January-December 2010 cruises. Booking window October 14–28, 2009. Azamara Cruises is offering up to $500 OBC on select 2010 Europe cruises. Booking window October 14–16, 2009. Celebrity Cruises is offering up to $200 OBC on select January and August 2010 cruises. Booking window October 14–16, 2009. Holland America is offering special 3-Day Sale rates on select 2009-10 cruises. Booking window October 14–16, 2009. Norwegian Cruise Line is offering ship board credits up to $250 Booking window October 13-20 Princess Cruise Line is offering reduced deposit, onboard coupon booklet & ship board credits on select sailings. Booking window Oct 14-16, 2009.

Celebrity Cruise Galapagos

Celebrity’s Galapagos – Bringing a Living Classroom to Cruising

A cruise to the Galapagos Islands with Celebrity is like nothing you’ve ever experienced, no matter how many times you’ve sailed with us.  These all-inclusive adventures allow you to observe the world at its most unspoiled, giving you a firsthand look at the species that inspired the theory explaining the very foundations of life on this planet.  As you gaze through the window into what all the world once looked like, you’ll be doing it in a way that ensures future generations will be equally inspired by these surroundings, all while reveling in the attention to detail and world-class service that distinguish a Celebrity cruise.

CELEBRITY XPEDITION – A SHIP LIKE NO OTHER IN OUR FLEET

Your travels through this magical archipelago take place on Celebrity Xpedition, a ship perfectly suited for this kind of adventure.  Smaller and more intimate – accommodating just 96 guests – she sails with 60 staff members, a much higher ratio than most ships, ensuring each guest gets the kind of attention that Celebrity is known for.  Each sailing is also accompanied by naturalist guides certified by the Galapagos National Park.  These knowledgeable experts will help put what you’ve seen each day into context, help you prepare for the coming day’s adventures, and make personalized recommendations for shore excursions.

ALL-INCLUSIVE ALLOWS YOU TO BE 100% FOCUSED

To make your adventure as enjoyable and as personally fulfilling as possible, each 10-night+ Galapagos experience is all-inclusive, with everything from gratuities and the flight from Quito to Baltra to daily guided shore excursions and park entrance fees included in the price of your cruise.  This give you  the freedom to focus on your surroundings – the vibrant hues of the blue-footed booby, the nearly imperceptible movements of a 100-year-old Galapagos tortoise, and some of the hundreds of other species found nowhere else.

TRAVELING LIGHTER IS THE MORE ENLIGHTENED APPROACH

 When you look out upon these islands, you’ll be seeing them pretty much as Charles Darwin saw them in 1830’s.  Thanks in part to our rigorous stewardship, future generations will experience the same sense of wonder.  This includes a state-of-the-art waste processing plant onboard Celebrity Xpedition, fully biodegradable bathroom amenities, limited use of paper and plastic, and a reliance on local meat, fish, and organically grown produce.  In addition, Celebrity is proud to match any donation* guests make to island preservation, with a cruise credit valid toward any Celebrity cruise of 7-nights or longer.

To learn about more Galapagos Cruises please click here: http://www.escortedsouthamericatours.com/Categories/Galapagos_Tours/

Norwegian Cruise Hawaii

Norwegian Cruise Line has the most comprehensive golf program for travelers on their Hawaii cruises. Take a look at all the features offered:

ON-BOARD PRO SHOP

You can buy everything but a new swing at our on-board Pro Shop.  NCL logo golf apparel (of course) plus tees, balls, hats, bags, shirts and so on.  And this is where you’ll find everything else you need for your round of golf.  Tee times, club rentals, a playing partner, rental shoes, club storage and more can all be arranged at the Pro Shop by the staff who might love golf just as much as you do.

GOLF CLUBS

Hey, it’s your call.  You can rent top line clubs from us and not have to drag yours through the airport.  Or, if you want the added edge of your sand wedge and the rest of your clubs, bring them along.

RENTAL CLUBS

You won’t need any excuses for a bad round when you golf with these top line Callaway clubs from our Pro Shop.  Included in each one of the six different sets we offer is a Big Bertha Driver, Big Bertha Woods, Irons and an Odyssey White Hot Putter.  Reserve any one of these sets prior to your cruise.

YOUR CLUBS

NCL’s Club Valet Service makes it a lot easier to play with your own sticks.  When you check in for your cruise, we’ll take your clubs and store them in a secure spot tagged with your name and stateroom number.  Every time you play, your clubs will be delivered to you on the pier.  For your convenience, all guests who bring their own clubs will automatically be enrolled in NCL’s Club Valet program.  There is a nominal fee for club storage and valet service.  For safety reasons, clubs cannot be stored in your stateroom. 

TOURNAMENTS

The Pro Shop staff can help you set up and/or run your golf tournament at any one of our partner courses.  Reservations, deposits and other details vary by course, and we can take care of everything to make the planning easy on you.

JUNIOR GOLF PROGRAM

Our exclusive Junior Golf Program is part of our latest generation of innovations.  For one low price, younger players can enjoy greatly reduced rates on many of Hawaii’s top courses along with the use of our US Kids Golf equipment – the #1 brand in Junior Golf worldwide.

RESERVE NOW

All of our golf excursions can be reserved ahead of time once you have booked your cruise.  To make your arrangement or for more info, go to www.ncl.com/golf

To start researching your NCL Hawaii cruise, click here http://www.atlastravelweb.com/norwegiancruiseline.shtml

Oasis of the Seas Video : Update on Final Touches

With the delivery date approachingjust 38 days away, see the amazing effort that is going on to complete Oasis of the Seas. Chairman and CEO Richard Fain and Executive Vice President Harri Kulovaara give an update as she reaches 95% completion.

Click here for more posts on the Oasis of the Seas
Click here for pictures of the Oasis of the Seas

Royal Caribbean 2 Day Sale

If you’ve been waiting for the best time to book your Royal Caribbean cruise, this October 6th and 7th is the perfect time to reserve your dream vacation during the 2-Day WOW Sale! Take advantage of our spectacular savings, exclusive bonuses, and reduced deposits from Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.

3 to 5-Night Cruises receive $50.00 onboard credit plus reduced deposit of $50.00 per person.

6 to 9-Night Cruises receive $100.00 onboard credit plus reduced deposit of $125.00 per person.

10-Night Cruises or longer receive $200.00 onboard credit plus reduced deposit of $225.00 per person.

This above offer applies to new bookings only and excludes the Oasis of the Seas Jan 1-March 31st, 2010 sailings. Other restrictions may apply. Please call for details.

Remember this SALE is for 2-days only!

Nieuw Amsterdam Pictures

Delivering in 2010, the 86,000-ton Nieuw Amsterdam will be built at Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard and its interior design and art collection will reflect the glamour and history of New York City, formerly called Nieuw Amsterdam. Nieuw Amsterdam, joins the recently launched Eurodam to further define and expand the Holland America Line premium brand with new concepts such as the innovative pan-Asian Tamarind restaurant and Silk Den lounge surrounded by panoramic views overlooking the ocean expanse and the Lido pool. Other additions are an Explorer’s Lounge Bar, a premium wine-tasting lounge, an elegant luxury jewelry boutique, new atrium bar area, enhanced and reconfigured show lounge, and a new photographic and imaging center.

The ship will continue several much-admired Holland America Line features, including outside-view, glass elevators at midship; the Explorations Cafe — a cyber-coffee house powered by The New York Times; the Pinnacle Grill and Pinnacle Bar; the innovative Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine Magazine, where culinary experts provide cooking demonstrations and intimate classes in a state-of-the-art onboard show kitchens; an expanded Greenhouse Spa and Salon with thermal suites and hydro-pool, the largest gymnasium ever built for Holland America Line; and a youth facility that includes the teens-only Loft.

In addition the ship will feature the family-style Canaletto’s Italian restaurant. Nieuw Amsterdam will feature 11 guest decks and staterooms will spotlight all the Signature of Excellence premium amenities. Also featured are innovative spa staterooms with additional spa amenities. The first Nieuw Amsterdam was launched in 1906 and used both a full set of sails and steam engines. She was 17,149 tons and carried 2,886 passengers, 2,200 of them in third class. She sailed in regular service through World War I and then through to 1932. The famed Nieuw Amsterdam II joined the fleet in 1938 as the company’s flagship. The silhouette of this ship can still be seen today behind Henry Hudson’s Half Moon in the company’s logo. At 36,287 tons, “the Darling of the Dutch,” as she was known, was decorated in great style and was launched by Her Majesty Queen Wilhemina of the Netherlands. Nieuw Amsterdam II served proudly in World War II completing 44 war time voyages carrying nearly 400,000 passengers (mostly troops). Following the war, she was rebuilt and, as the queen of Holland America Line’s “spotless fleet,” hosted countless well-known figures among her guests, including Katherine Hepburn, Rita Hayworth, Spencer Tracey and Albert Schweitzer. Nieuw Amsterdam III was launched in 1983 as one of the most elegant ships of her time. At 33,900 tons, Nieuw Amsterdam III sailed in Alaska in the summers and in the Caribbean in the winters. With innovative design and guest offerings, Nieuw Amsterdam IV will continue the proud tradition of her name and continue to evolve of Holland America Line’s sophisticated mid-sized ships.

Click here for cabin photo.