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.

Beaches Boscobel Jamaica

Traveling with a Family of Five?

Traveling with more than 2 children can become frustrating trying to find a resort that will accommodate your family of five. Most hotels only allow a maximum of four in a room. Although having two rooms can be more comfortable, it also becomes more costly.

Why not try a Beaches Boscobel Resort in Jamaica where they will accept up to three children with two adults in one room? Beaches is an ultimate all inclusive family vacation resort. This all-inclusive resort is specially designed for families.

The resort sits on 22 lush acres of land that includes golf for the whole family, including children. Kids can enjoy waterslides, a petting zoo, and get in the game at the XBOX fame Oasis and what child wouldn’t enjoy the Caribbean Adventure with Sesame Street. Beaches is the only resort where you will find the colorful characters including Elmo, Cookie Monster, Bert, Ernie, Grover, Zoe and Abby. You can even pre-pay for the children to enjoy a character breakfast. Adults can also have their fun playing tennis, scuba diving, paddle boats, aqua trampoline and Spa.

I would recommend booking your family vacation far in advance, as they tend to book up quickly.

Beaches also offers three other resorts for you to choose from, Beaches Negril and Beaches Sandy Bay in Jamaica and Beaches Turks and Caicos.

Breezes Curacao

Breezes Curacao Resort Spa & Casino is the first Super-Inclusive resort in the Southern Caribbean. The Dutch flavor of this island will add a new twist to the active Breezes vacation our guests have enjoyed for years. Only a 90-minute flight from Montego Bay, this divers paradise is located off the coast of Venezuela and with only 10 miles from the international airport, this beautiful resort, with 341 rooms and suites, is adjacent to both the pristine Undersea National Park and entertaining Sea Aquarium. This Breezes Resort comes to life on the beautiful island of Curacao with it’s own 1500 feet of private white sandy beach and crystal clear waters. Here you’ll enjoy wonderful accommodations, all imaginable water sports, premium brand drinks and a variety of dining options ranging from Japanese cuisine at Munasan to the never-ending Jimmy’s Buffet. Of course, like all Breezes resorts, everything is included in the price and tipping is not allowed.

Breezes Curacao welcomes singles, couples and families with children of all ages.

NCL Epic POSH Beach Club

Adult guests who purchase a POSH pass for the day or the week, will take a private glass elevator to enter this luxurious and exclusive outdoor entertainment complex styled with Mediterranean flare. During the day, guests can lounge on white-cushioned day beds and in private cabanas and cool off in the 35-foot long cascading waterfall while the POSH VIP Host and crew cater to every whim.

At night, things heat up as POSH Beach Club becomes an open air night club, complete with VIP bottle service, while the DJ sets the vibe for the non-stop party. Four POSH experiences a day are delivered:

• Early Morning (6 to 9 am)– POSH Vive
  Guests awake to yoga classes and body-and-soul treatments in private cabanas as the sun rises and the day starts anew.
• Morning (9 to Noon am) – POSH Rehab
  Guests can relax and recover from a night out with Salty Dogs, Bloody Mary’s, and mimosas combined with chill out tunes.
• Afternoon (Noon to 6 pm) – POSH Sol
  The best nightlife in the daytime with guests lounging on day beds, enjoying funky beach music and spiked POSH snow cones while chilling under a lit waterfall.
• Evening (8 pm to whenever) – Pure POSH
  A pure, sizzling, sexy, nightlife experience where guests enjoy sparkling drinks and bottle service served on silver trays. Look out Vegas, the vibe here is hot — guests can dance all night under the stars or lounge on a POSH bed.

 

Click here for more posts on the NCL Epic
Visit our Flickr Account for some great pictures of the NCL Epic

Italian Village Turks & Caicos

Now open, the new Italian Village features luxurious 2-bedroom family suites with a separate room for kids complete with bunk beds & an XBOX 360 ® game console, plus an elegant master-bedroom for parents, the largest water park in the Caribbean with thrills for every age, an enticing shopping center, & five new restaurants bringing the resort total to 16!

180 lavish family suites in 14 categories, including 18 Imperial

Grand Piazza

16 Restaurants

Expanded 45,000 sq. ft. Pirates Island Waterpark with surf simulator, lazy river and 9 monster slides

1/2 acre pool with swim-up bar

XBOX 360® Game Garage

Scratch DJ Academy

Liquid Club for teens only

7,000 sq. ft. shopping village

4 new gourmet dining options

Beaches is a great choice for families, with gourmet dining, great land and water sports and amazing children’s activities, everyone will enjoy a luxury included family vacation. 

LUXURY INCLUDED® PACKAGES FEATURE:

Resort accommodations Roundtrip airport/resort transfers Resort tax and service charges All meals, unlimited drinks and snacks, including Beringer® house wines All land and watersports including scuba diving† Red Lane® Spa options†† Sesame Street® character activities Entertainment and much more!

Miley Cyrus Atlantis LIVE – Weekend in Paradise May 15-17, 2009

The Atlantis LIVE concert series continues and this time its Miley Cyrus as the headliner. Atlantis welcomes the two-time platinum singing-songwriting phenomenon, Miley Cyrus. Riding on the wave of success from her most recent album, ‘Breakout’, along with an upcoming movie, recently released book, and the third season of her extremely popular television series, Miley splashes onto the scene at Atlantis. Don’t miss this amazing concert scheduled for May 16, 2009 !

Book The Miley Cyrus Weekend in Paradise ! 5 Towers to choose from – 3 Day, 2 night packages Prices starting from $564* per person and from $209* for kids 11 years and younger. Package includes accommodations for 2 nights, Roundtrip ground transfers on the island, and tickets Miley Cyrus at Atlantis concert on May 16, 2009. Please note that Atlantis Live Concerts are held in intimate concert venues exclusively for Atlantis guests. Must be 18 years or older to book. Call 1-800-942-3301 for booking details and to speak to an agent – packages must be booked by April 30, 2009 so act soon!

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
*Rate is pp, dbl occ., based on Thur or Fri. arrival, eff. for travel 5/14/09-5/17/09 in Beach Tower Terr promo and includes transfers and concert tickets. Child’s rate is valid for children 11 years and under, must be sharing a room with parents and includes transfers and concert tickets. Valid for new bookings only and must be booked by 4/30/09. Add up to $64pp for mandatory taxes, mandatory housekeeping grats., & utility svc. fees. Other Towers, categories and dates available upon request. Weekend, holiday & peak period surcharges may apply.Seats are NOT assigned on a first-come-first-serve basis. Concert seats are assigned in the order the booking was made, based on date and time of ticket purchase. All rates, availability and offers are subj. to chg w/o notice. Not app. to groups & restrictions apply.

Disney Dining Plan FREE with a 6 night stay August – October 2009

Buy this Walt Disney World Resort vacation package with hotel and Theme Park tickets and get the Disney Dining Plan FREE!

Are you hungry for some fun? At this affordable price, you can celebrate any magical milestone – with meals and a snack included for every night of your visit! What a delicious way to enjoy their Walt Disney World® Resort vacation!

Offer Details:
When you purchase this 5-night, 6-day Walt Disney Travel Company package for the Walt Disney World Resort, with accommodations for five nights at a select Disney Value Resort and a 6-day Magic Your Way Base Ticket, they’ll get the Disney Dining Plan FREE!

Booking and Travel Window:

• Booking Window: Now – June 21, 2009
• Travel Window: Offer available for stays most nights
  Aug. 16 – Oct. 3, 2009

Pricing:
$1,390* for a family of four, staying in a standard room at a select Disney Value Resort. That’s like paying $58 per person, per day!

Ask about packages for other lengths of stay and accommodations at other select Walt Disney World Resort Hotels.

*Price based on 2 adults, 1 junior and 1 child. The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Tickets are for one Theme Park per day and must be used within 14 days of first use. No group rates or other discounts apply. Please call 1-800-942-3301 for more details.

Disneyland® special: Everyone Plays for the Kids’ Price

From January 6 through April 30, 2009, when you purchase a 3-Day or longer Disneyland® Resort Park Hopper® souvenir ticket, you’ll pay the kid’s price—even if you’re only a kid at heart! So bring your whole family and celebrate in both Theme Parks—Disneyland® Park and Disney’s California Adventure® Park.

And to make your celebration even more magical, make your ticket part of a Walt Disney Travel Company vacation package, starting at only $68* per person, per day.

Package includes:

• 2-Night Hotel accommodations and a 3-Day Disneyland® Resort Park Hopper® souvenir ticket‡ (Adults pay the kids’ price)

• Mickey’s Toontown Morning Madness‡‡—Enjoy some fun and games with Mickey and his friends one hour before Toontown opens to the rest of their Guests

• Preferred seating at select attractions in Disney’s California Adventure® Park, and more
  - Good Neighbor Hotel Vacations Start At: $68 per person, per day at Quality Inn & Suites during Value Season
  - Resort Hotel Vacations Start At: $95 per person, per day at Disney’s Paradise Pier® Hotel

Please call 1-800-942-3301 for more information or to book !

*Price is per person per day, quad occupancy, 2 adults (18 and over), 1 junior (ages 10-17) and 1 child (ages 3-9), standard room at Quality Inn & Suites. **Price is per person per day, quad occupancy, 2 adults (18 and over), 1 junior (ages 10-17) and 1 child (ages 3-9), standard room at the Disney’s Paradise Pier® Hotel. Valid for arrivals from 1/6/09 through 4/28/09. Travel must be booked by 4/26/09 and completed by 4/30/09. ‡Qualifying packages include a 3-Day Disneyland® Resort Park Hopper® souvenir ticket. Adults pay the same rate as children for a Disneyland® Resort Park Hopper® souvenir ticket of 3 days or longer. First day of use must occur on or before 4/30/09. Tickets expire thirteen (13) days after first use or 5/13/09, whichever occurs first, and each day of use of a ticket constitutes one full day of use. Tickets may not be sold or transferred for commercial use. All offers, events, tickets, age ranges, services, attractions and entertainment may be seasonal and are subject to change without notice. Offer, including package elements and prices, is subject to availability, advance reservations required. ‡‡Entitlement available for one morning throughout the length of your ticket on Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday, and days and times are subject to change without notice. Blockout Dates and other restrictions apply. Not valid with any other discounts or promotions. ©Disney

The Memories will Last Forever (These Savings Won’t) – Adventures By Disney

Don’t miss the opportunity to save in a big way on the vacation of a lifetime. Early Bookings Rates are still available on select new 2009 itineraries when booked 90 days prior to departure. A family of four can save at least $1600 with our Early Booking Rate!*

You can make vacation memories that will last a lifetime. With an offer that’s here for a limited time.

*Savings based on a comparison of Regular Rates and Early Booking Rates for a family of 4 composed of 2 adults and 2 children under 12 on each listed trip. The number of land packages available at the Early Booking Rate is limited. The Early Booking Rate may not be combined with any discounts, offers, or promotions. Not transferable or redeemable for cash in whole or in part. Cannot be sold or transferred for commercial use. Void where prohibited. Offer subject to change without notice. Terms, conditions and restrictions apply.

Buy Four, Get Three Free with Non-Disney Accommodations till March 29

You can travel in 2009 with a Walt Disney World® Resort vacation at a rate so incredible, you won’t want to pass it up. With this offer, you can book a “Buy Four, Get Three Free” package with accommodations at the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin, participating Downtown Disney® Resort Hotels, and participating Walt Disney World Good Neighbor® Hotels.

Offer Details: When you purchase a 4-night, 4-day non-discounted package that includes accommodations at the Walt Disney World Swan, Walt Disney World Dolphin, participating Downtown Disney Resort hotels, or Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotels, they’ll get three additional nights and days (with tickets) free.

Booking Window: Now – March 29, 2009

Travel Dates: Now – August 15, 2009 (subject to availability and block-out dates). Please call 1-800-942-3301 for more details.