Disney Dream

Disney Dream is a cruise ship owned and operated by Disney Cruise Line, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company. She is the third ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet and the lead vessel of the Dream class. The ship was followed by her sister ship, Disney Fantasy (2012).

The Dream class was ordered on February 22, 2007, and built by Meyer Werft at its shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. Construction of the vessel began with the keel laying on August 26, 2009, and the ship was launched on October 30, 2010. She was completed on December 8, 2010, christened on January 19, 2011, and entered service with her maiden voyage on January 26, 2011. The ship reportedly cost approximately US$900 million (equivalent to $ billion in ).

The Dream class marked a significant increase in size over Disney Cruise Line's preceding Magic class. Dream-class ships have a gross tonnage of approximately 130,000, compared with about 84,000 for the Magic class, which had been introduced 12 years earlier.

History and construction

In February 2007, Disney Cruise Line announced plans to commission two new ships.[10] Steel cutting for the Disney Dream began in March 2009 at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. Later that month, the two ships were officially named, with Disney Dream scheduled to enter service before Disney Fantasy.[11] The ship's design was unveiled at a press conference in New York City on October 29, 2009.

The keel of Disney Dream was laid on August 19, 2009.[3] The final section, the bow, was installed on June 1, 2010, completing the exterior while interior work continued. Float-out occurred on October 30, 2010,[4] and the ship left the shipyard in November 2010. Disney Cruise Line took possession on December 8, 2010. She arrived at Port Canaveral on January 4, 2011, and was christened on January 19, 2011, by Jennifer Hudson, who had begun her entertainment career on Disney Wonder.[12] Disney Dream's maiden voyage commenced on January 26, 2011, with calls at Nassau and Disney's private island, Castaway Cay.

Since her launch, Disney Dream has primarily operated three- and four-night itineraries to The Bahamas, with European itineraries announced for summer 2023, including the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Norway, Denmark, Greece and Italy.[13] On June 7, 2022, the ship temporarily relocated to Miami.[14] On November 20, 2023, she moved to her current home port at Port Everglades Cruise Terminal 4.[15]

Design

Disney Dream is approximately 40% larger than the first two ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, with a gross tonnage of, a length of 339.8 m, and a beam of 37 m. She has 1,250 staterooms, a passenger capacity of 2,500 at double occupancy (maximum 4,000), and a crew of 1,458.

The ship has 14 decks, a black hull, white superstructure, twin red funnels, and yellow lifeboats. The interior combines Art Deco design with Disney-themed elements. Interior cabins feature "virtual portholes" that display exterior views with animated Disney characters.[16]

The atrium features an Art Deco-style chandelier crafted in Brixen, Northern Italy, measuring 22 ft in diameter and extending 13 ft from the ceiling, with 88,680 Swarovski crystal beads and 24kt gold plating.[17] A statue of Donald Duck as an admiral is located in the atrium lobby, continuing the Disney Cruise Line tradition of featuring classic Disney characters in this space.[18]

On-board facilities

External links