Disney Cruise Line says its newest ship, the 4,000-passenger Disney Fantasy, sustained minor damage as a result of rough seas churned by Hurricane Sandy.

Videos have surfaced of the ship rocking and rolling off Port Canaveral late Friday, including an iReport on CNN.

The video was recorded by a Tennessee optometrist, identified as tneyedoc2020, who said the images, which include a pool overflowing and furniture moving, did not do justice to what passengers experienced that night, according to a CNN producer's note.

But Disney is downplaying the incident. Spokeswoman Rebecca Peddie tells USA TODAY the damage involved only some "cracked windows and broken furniture that have been addressed."

The Disney Fantasy embarked Saturday on a 7-day Western Caribbean cruise.

Meanwhile, a call at Castaway Cay by sister ship Disney Dream was postponed a day so that crews can clear away debris left by the storm, Peddie says. The private Bahamas island is Disney's most popular port of call.

By Gene Sloan, USA Today

The construction of Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Disney Fantasy, hit a major milestone over the weekend as the final building block of the vessel was lowered into place.

The photo shows a 265-ton portion of the Disney Fantasy’s bow just moments before it was attached to the 2,500-passenger ship at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.

Under construction for more than a year, the Disney Fantasy is a sister to the 2,500-passenger Disney Dream, which debuted in February. Like the earlier vessel, the Disney Fantasy will feature a “water coaster” called AquaDuck that wraps around the pool deck, multiple Disney-themed shows and elaborate children’s areas.

The ship also will have a new nighttime entertainment district for adults called Europa and an elaborate new dinner show (see illustrations of what Disney is planning for the new ship).

The Disney Fantasy’s maiden voyage is scheduled for March 31, 2012, out of Port Canaveral. The ship will sail seven-night Caribbean itineraries, alternating between an Eastern Caribbean route (with stops in St. Maarten and St. Thomas) and a Western Caribbean route (Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, Cozumel). Special Eastern Caribbean sailings in November and December 2012 will stop in St. Thomas and San Juan, Puerto Rico. All the itineraries will include a stop at Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay.

By Gene Sloan

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (June 12, 2012) – The 2,700-passenger Disney Magic set sail from New York this week taking cruisers on the first of nine 5-night Canadian / New England coast itineraries with stops in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Saint John, New Brunswick.

“Canada and the New England coast are alluring destinations for our guests,” said Disney Cruise Line Captain John Barwis. “This region’s history, quaint charm and scenic vistas will provide our guests with a unique and memorable vacation, and sailing from New York is convenient for many families who reside in the Northeast.”

To celebrate the inaugural calls on Halifax and Saint John, Captain Barwis and his shipboard officers hosted local port officials and community leaders aboard the vessel for a plaque exchange ceremony, in accordance with maritime tradition.

“It’s an honour for us and our tourism partners to host Disney – one of the world’s most iconic brands – for the 2012 cruise season,” said Cathy McGrail, manager of Cruise Development for the Halifax Port Authority. “We’ve been eagerly awaiting this day since it was announced over a year ago and we’re excited to showcase our city to a new demographic.”

Disney Magic crew members will be visiting more than 130 children in two hospitals in Halifax and Saint John with character visits this week. Over the years, these visits have grown into a tradition for crew members to demonstrate our commitment to the local community.

In September, the Disney Magic will reposition to sail 6-, 7- and 8-night Western Caribbean itineraries from Galveston, Texas for the first time. In May of 2013, the Disney Magic will cross the Atlantic to begin a summer season.

Source: Disney Cruise Line

A Disney cruise liner stopped to rescue four men signaling for help near Key West, Florida, a spokeswoman for the company said Tuesday.

The Disney Fantasy was sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida, to Grand Cayman Sunday afternoon when it spotted the four men aboard a small raft, Rebecca Peddie of Disney Cruise Line said.

The men were brought aboard the 130,000-ton ship, where they were given medical attention, along with food and water, she said.

“We are proud of our Disney Fantasy crew members, who skillfully demonstrated their training and commitment to maritime protocols around saving lives at sea,” she said.

“We have notified the U.S. Coast Guard of this rescue and are working with the proper authorities to coordinate the debarkation of the group.”

The rescue by the Disney Fantasy follows recent claims that a ship operated by Princess Cruise Lines failed to stop for three Panamanian fishermen adrift at sea, despite passengers alerting crew to their plight.

The sole survivor aboard the fishing boat, 18-year-old Adrian Vasquez, filed a lawsuit earlier this month against the company, arguing that its ship, the Star Princess, should have stopped and saved him.

The fishing boat, Fifty Cents, had been adrift for 15 days when it crossed paths with the Star Princess on March 10, according to the lawsuit. At the time, all three fishermen aboard were alive.

Vasquez was finally rescued by the Ecuadorian navy after 28 days adrift but his companions had died.

His lawsuit seeks compensation for physical, emotional and psychological injuries that it alleges he suffered as a result of the conduct of cruise line employees.

Princess Cruises said it deeply regrets the loss of life and was investigating the incident. It said it understands its responsibility under the law to aid a vessel in distress and noted its ships had carried out more than 30 rescues in the past.

By the CNN Wire Staff

CNN’s Devon Sayers contributed to this report

After her iPhone left her possession during a Disney cruise, a woman started noticing new photos being automatically uploaded to her iCloud account. The images include the apparent phone stealer, a woman who appears to be his girlfriend and a bevy of their friends and co-workers. So the woman did what any clever but irate person would do: Upload them to a Facebook gallery, accompanied by hilarious captions.

Katy McCaffrey went on a cruise aboard the Disney Wonder in April. At that time she lost possession of her iPhone. In a comment on the Facebook album she created, she alleges that the smartphone was stolen by a man named "Nelson," who appears in many of the photos and is identifiable thanks to a Disney Cruise employee badge.

McCaffrey is able to see photos taken with her iPhone because of Photostream, an Apple feature which automatically uploads photos to a user's iCloud account. (It seems that the man using her iPhone didn't bother to disconnect her account or erase the iPhone.)

When McCaffrey, an L.A.-based "creative consultant in the entertainment industry," according to her social media profiles, first began posting photos, the "Stolen iPhone Adventures" album was private, but her friends quickly encouraged her to make it public so that it could be shared.

"I can't see any reason why people shouldn't share this. [F]eel free," she wrote after confirming that her other private photos wouldn't be visible to strangers. The album has been shared over 3,000 times since she made the album public late Monday evening.

In a Facebook comment, McCaffrey explained that she has alerted someone at Disney Cruise about the loss of her iPhone and forwarded the photos she'd recovered. "Hopefully I'll get my phone back and maybe some free passes to Disneyland," she added.

Rebecca Peddie — manager of public affairs at Disney Cruise — confirmed to TODAY.com that someone from the company has indeed been in touch with McCaffrey and that they "are working on making it right with her." Peddie explains that McCaffrey's iPhone has been recovered, but wouldn't confirm whether it was found in the possession of the man who plays a starring role in McCaffrey's Facebook album. Peddie did say that an employee has been placed on administrative leave while Disney Cruise investigates the situation.

We've reached out to McCaffrey to learn more about the incident, but she didn't wish to give an interview. So for the time being, all we've got are her parting words, in the form of a photo caption:

[C]heers to you Disney Wonder whom Nelson loves enough to photo-document his entire life with, using my stolen phone.

By Rosa Golijan, MSNBC

NEW YORK — Disney cruise ships are now sailing from a new point of departure: New York City.

Disney's flagship cruise vessel, the Disney Magic, is arriving in New York's harbor on Friday to mark the cruise line's first-ever sailings out of Manhattan. The ship will sail 20 cruises from the city to various destinations, including the Bahamas and Canada.

The company's presence in New York City includes The Disney Store in Times Square and three shows currently on Broadway: "The Lion King," ''Mary Poppins," and "Newsies."

Source: The Associated Press

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Disney has taken to the high seas, and Hawaii is its latest port-of-call.

The cruise ship, Disney Wonder, docked in Honolulu harbor Monday after making the rounds on neighbor islands. It's the first-ever Disney Cruise Line voyage to our state.

The company is testing the waters to see if a set itinerary to the islands is viable. Right now, plans call for Wonder to only dock in Hawaii once more this year. But, as is customary for Disney, they came to impress.

"We have Broadway quality, world class entertainment in our theatres. And of course, we get to cruise around with world famous Disney characters," says the Wonder's cruise director, Christaan Abbott.

In what has become a ceremonial maritime tradition, the ship's captain exchanged plaques and gifts with local leaders, including Governor Neil Abercrombie and Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle. Hawaii tourism officials told us they'd like to see Disney Wonder return regularly with its 2,700 passengers. They estimate just one day in port adds $250,000 into the local economy, and, truth be told, it's hard not to become a kid again when you're on-board.

I asked one of the most famous characters, "So, Goofy, are you having fun here in Hawaii?" Goofy nodded. I said, "You are? I see that you learned how to shaka". Goofy gives the camera two big shaka signs (which isn't easy when you've got gloves on). I tell him, "Nice, nice!"

The ship has something for everyone. Of course, it's geared towards children with five, age-appropriate play areas designated for kids - from babies to teenagers. Three pools, a jumbo movie screen, video games, scavenger hunts, sports - you name it. It's here. Parents can drop their kids off for one hour or the whole day – whether they stay on board during port-of-calls or not.

Youth activities manager, Arnaldo Kretzig, says, "We offer activities, arts and crafts all day, computers, lunch and dinner - so the children will be well taken care of while the parents are just going shopping or sightseeing."

20% of passengers don't come with children at all. "We have a pool and a restaurant - just for the adults. A spa for them, as well. Lounges, nightclubs, musicians, comedians, just for our adults," adds Abbott.

Disney also offers something called rotational dining - where passengers rotate among three restaurants and their servers accompany them. Cost for this cruise starts at around $3,200 for 14 nights. The next cruise through Hawaii sets sail in mid-October. It departs from Los Angeles. Currently, Disney Cruise Line has no plans to travel through the state in 2013.

By Teri Okita, Hawaii News Now

This is one time you'll want to encourage kids to color inside the lines. Grown-ups, too.

As soon as you sit down for dinner at Animator's Palate aboard the new Disney cruise ship Fantasy, your server hands you a green marker and a special placemat and instructs you and the kids to draw your own character within the blue lines. (One of the teens I was with drew a fetching Cyclops.)

Just before dinner, as Mickey Mouse appears on large monitors around the room, our placemats are whisked away. While we eat (have you ever tried buttered popcorn soup?) we're treated to a montage of famous food-themed moments from Disney cartoons (think Lady and the Tramp sharing that strand of spaghetti).

But the piece de resistance isn't dessert, though the warm chocolate lava cake certainly is yummy. It's the magic that has animated our rudimentary green stick drawings and brought them to life on the huge screens around the dining room. Your characters march and skip and dance with Mickey, Jiminy Cricket, Cinderella and Snow White.

Wow! Even the jaded 17 year olds I'm with are impressed. At the end of the show, each of our names -- as we signed them on our placemat -- is listed on the credits as "guest animator." We leave the dining room smiling, clutching our drawing that has been returned embossed with a gold seal proclaiming each of us an "Official Disney Animator."

You'll find that irrepressible Disney magic wherever you go on this 4,000-passenger ship. The Fantasy is the sister ship to the Disney Dream, with one big difference: The programming has been designed to entertain and wow you and your kids for seven days, instead of three or four. And from what I saw on a three-day preview cruise just before the ship's inaugural sail, it works. (For the latest prices and availability, check with Disney Cruise Lines.)

That means more special dinners and menus (think princess and prince dinner, a captain's gala and pirates evening) and more than 120 different youth activities. According to Jen McDonald, who manages the 77-member youth staff that oversees programming for some 1,500 children, programs start with a nursery for infants (parents say the $6 an hour charge is well worth it for a facility that rivals the best day care centers) and include a 9,000-square-foot teen club with its giant 103-inch LCD screen, the opportunity to create videos, spin music tracks and sun on a private deck area. If your kids are crazy for Disney characters, they'll have two dozen unique character experiences on board that they won't get in the theme parks. (Story time with Belle, perhaps? A Tinkerbell talent show? Fun and games with Captain Hook?)

There's the first onboard Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique where little girls were patiently waiting in their princess gowns to be transformed into princesses with special updos, including one with multicolored hair, sparkly nail polish, eyes shadow and face gems. One mom from Michigan noted her daughter never sits so patiently when getting a hair cut at home. If you'd rather be a pirate -- there is a special pirate night complete with fireworks -- the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique can also accommodate pirate makeovers for boys, as well as girls.

There are two new Broadway-caliber musical shows, including "Disney Wishes" about three best friends about to graduate from high school and a Muppets Adventure Game around the ship where you uncover clues by use of a dozen pieces of "Enchanted Art" that come to life as you stand in front of them. (In case you are wondering, the Enchanted Art looks like a painting but is really a framed LCD screen that "recognizes" a guest is present and activates the animation. What's even cooler is you will see something different another time you visit.

Kids gave thumbs up to the new AquaLab -- an 1,800-square-foot water play area on Deck 12 with pop jets geysers and bubblers.

There are scores of activities scheduled for the entire family to share (everything from family dance parties to first-run Disney movies and game shows (how well do you really know your mom and dad?) but a surprising array for adults, too.

In addition to the adults spa, there is a special adult pool and sun deck, adult beach on Castaway Cay, the cruise line's private island, two first-rate adult-only restaurants and a brand-new adult entertainment district, Europa, designed to make you feel as if you are club-hopping across Europe -- from an Irish Pub to a London dance club to an Italian bar complete with parked Vespa and intimate French boudoir, each with signature cocktails. (Think private label Taittinger Champagne at Ooh La La where you relax on Louis XIV lounges.)

If I sound impressed, I am. I like the little touches -- the fact that counselors will pick the kids up from a late-dinner early so parents can relax, that there is no charge for late-night children's programming, as is the case on other cruise lines, that some rooms have a small, round tub in the shower stall that is ideal for bathing young kids and that the beds are high enough to put suitcases underneath. The youth staff is prepared to welcome most youngsters with special challenges and they speak at least a half-dozen languages.

The menus are designed to encourage kids to try new foods -- at no extra charge, of course, and most important, every effort has been made to make sure that everyone -- kids, parents, grandparents -- gets time and space to do what they want. (The Disney ships attract a lot of multigenerational groups.)

No wonder Tom Staggs, the chairman of Disney Parks and Resorts, who was about to sail with his wife and three sons, says bookings on Disney Cruise Line are ahead of last year, despite consumer concerns in the wake of the Concordia tragedy and the fact that half of those who sail with Disney are first-time cruisers -- those most skittish about cruising now. Disney has made it easier for would-be cruisers to try their ships, too, with sailings this year from New York, Galveston, Los Angeles and Seattle.

Bronlyn Holland, 10, from Georgia was preening in front of the mirror at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, the sparkles glinting in her hair. She'd saved her money to pay for her $54.95 makeover herself. "I've always loved princesses," she explained. "You never are too old to be a princess!"

Certainly not aboard the Fantasy!

New and exclusive to the Disney Fantasy cruise ship is the stage show "Disney's Aladdin," an over-the-top retelling of the familiar story, animated movie and production from Disney's California Adventure theme park.

It's an ambitious undertaking with several production numbers, grand entrances, pyrotechnics, many costume changes and creative special effects, punctuated by a flying carpet scene that soars.

The 45-minute show is basically thieving boy meets princess, thieving boy loses princess, thieving boy gets princess back with lessons about freedom and keeping your promises thrown in. But there are current references (a Betty White joke, a Lady Gaga aside) added to make it contemporary.

Aside from the title character, who makes one of his entrances upon a puppet-like steed, and his beloved (and official Disney Princess) Jasmine, the show includes the boisterous blue Genie, the smart-mouthed bird Iago, handled by an on-stage puppeteer a la "Avenue Q," the evil Jafar and a carpet, played enthusiastically, yet silently, by an acrobatic actor.

That carpet actor isn't the secret to the flight scene, set to the film's "Whole New World" song. It's all floating platforms and smoke effects with video backdrops over the city and other tricks. The gentle swaying of the Fantasy makes this even more realistic.

The climactic scene, in which Jafar becomes all-powerful and yet thwarted within a matter of seconds, may be a little difficult to follow. But no matter, it's a happy, well-known ending.

Dwain Wall recently returned from Disney Fantasy’s inaugural sailing. Below are his thoughts:

This ship is fit for travelers of all ages

Multigenerational groups should look no further than Disney Fantasy, given the diversity of onboard activities and dining options. Disney has really worked hard to incorporate elements of each family member’s dream vacation onboard Fantasy.

The show Wishes is a production appropriate for all ages. The private, adults-only areas of the ship are an especially nice retreat. Castaway Cay is an amazing private island oasis that only Disney could create, with bicycling, swimming with stingrays, character

encounters, age-specific play areas and more. I was especially impressed by the beach wheelchairs Disney offers, which make shore excursions accessible and ensure every family member can participate in the fun.

A meal is no longer just a meal

When guests sit down to dine at the Animator’s Palate restaurant, they immediately become engaged in creative, unique ways. Disney has taken the traditional family dinner and turned it into a 360-degree experience. Children – as well as adults – have the chance to interact with animators through dinner, who draw images that instantly come alive on the walls of the restaurant.

This interactive experience is something incredible to watch as it comes to life and will take any cruiser’s vacation to the next level.

Evening entertainment is absolutely unprecedented

Evenings aboard Fantasy are enchanting. The fireworks display that lights up the Caribbean – which is choreographed to everyone’s favorite Disney tunes – is an exciting magical Disney moment at sea.

Disney Fantasy is a unique opportunity for corporate and incentive travel

CruiseOne will be celebrating our 20th anniversary and our first-ever joint land and sea National Conference aboard Disney Dream is this fall. After experiencing all that Disney brings to group travel onboard the Fantasy inaugural, I am excited to see what we are able to do for our network of travel professionals, vendors and partners.

The addition of a second Hawaiian voyage complements a array of Disney Cruise Line itineraries departing from the West Coast, including cruises to the Mexican Riviera, Pacific Coast and Alaska.

With a majority of its West Coast sailings originating from the Port of Los Angeles or the Port of Seattle, a Disney family cruise vacation is more accessible to guests from the western United States.

"We listen to our guests, and shortly after we announced our first Hawaiian voyage it was clear our guests wanted more options to visit Hawaii," said Disney Cruise Line President Karl Holz. "This second sailing to Hawaii is part of a wide variety of Disney Cruise Line vacation options for families in 2012 including new itineraries, regional homeports and the debut of our newest ship, the Disney Fantasy."

For the first time, Disney Cruise Line will offer two special voyages to Hawaii from Los Angeles, calling on Kahului, Maui; Nawiliwili, Kauai; Honolulu, Oahu; and Hilo plus Ensenada, Mexico.

The 15-night Hawaiian itinerary, which includes nine days at sea, departs April 29, 2012. The newly-added 14-night Hawaiian itinerary, with eight days at sea, departs Oct. 14, 2012.

Rates for the Hawaiian cruises start at $1,800 per person for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

Ticket to Travel has announced the Wine Makers Cruise III on a Holland America (www.hollandamerica.com) cruise that departs Fort Lauderdale on Nov. 13. The themed Caribbean cruise will feature seminars, private events and special amenities for the group, which will consist of 100 guests. The sailing will feature a selection of wine from three different wineries -- Black Mesa Winery (www.blackmesawinery.com) of New Mexico, James Arthur Vineyards (www.jamesarthurvineyards.com) of Nebraska and Cap*Rock Winery (www.caprockwinery.com) of Texas.

For pre-cruise hotel guests, there will also be a “Port Fort Lauderdale” tasting. Hosted by guest Chef Jacques Campbell, the pre-cruise tasting will pair wine with cheese and chocolate. Additional cruise highlights include wine pairing ideas and culinary suggestions from the islands by Campbell, sessions that will allow guests to get to know the winemakers and each other, wine tastings in the onboard Culinary Arts Center, and a lunch with wine pairings in the Pinnacle Grill.

The Disney Fantasy, the new Disney Cruise Line ship set to debut next spring, will bring to life many of the innovative features guests love on the recently launched Disney Dream including AquaDuck -- the world’s first shipboard water coaster. But new design elements and guest experiences will give the Fantasy an identity all its own.

The Disney Fantasy is the second of two newly designed Disney Cruise Line ships that take the family cruise experience to new heights. Sister ship to the Disney Dream, which entered service in January 2011, the 4,000-passenger Disney Fantasy will sail week-long Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, Fla., with its maiden voyage scheduled for March 31, 2012.

"Animation Magic" at Animator’s Palate

Animator’s Palate on the Disney Fantasy brings the magic of Disney animation into the dining room with a new show called “Animation Magic.” The dinner show celebrates the magic of Disney animation and allows families to create and participate in a whole new way.

Like Animator’s Palate on the Disney Dream, the venue is wall-to-wall whimsy inspired by a classic animation studio. Throughout the restaurant, pillars are fashioned like huge pencils and brushes. Character sketches, maquettes (three-dimensional character models), film strips and other tools of the animation trade adorn the room. As a special nod to Mickey Mouse, the dining room chairs feature red and yellow colors and a trademark design – Mickey Mouse pants with two bright yellow buttons.

Upon entering Animator’s Palate, guests are surrounded by artwork featuring their favorite Disney characters. Guests get a sneak peek into the origins of these beloved characters through concept art, storyboards and character studies.

As guests are seated at their tables, they are invited to draw a character of their own using a simple template on their placemat. Then, just before dinner, house lights dim and a sprinkling of pixie dust illuminates the room.

Imagery is revealed on several large monitors showing animated, black and white drawings of Mickey Mouse. Mickey then places the Sorcerer’s hat upon his head which transforms him, as well as all of the other pencil drawings shown throughout the room, from black and white to color.

Mickey then invites guests to sit back, relax and enjoy a taste of animation as a montage of memorable food-themed moments from Disney and Pixar films set to “Be Our Guest” begins to delight guests. After the “Be Our Guest” number is complete, animated curtains are drawn on the monitors for a brief intermission. During this time, guests are encouraged to complete their own drawings, if they have not already done so, so they may be whisked off to Mickey Mouse who is conjuring a magical final act.

While guests enjoy dinner, the restaurant’s walls fill with classic Disney and Pixar characters gathering food, eating and drinking together, and celebrating over meals.

After dinner, the animated curtains are opened on the screens and Sorcerer Mickey returns for the exciting finale. With a flourish and musical crescendo, Mickey works magic as only Disney can do. Mickey conjures the guests’ drawings – now fully animated and brought to life – into the onscreen action.

A parade starts as Mickey leads the guests’ drawings in a march across the screens around the dining room. The animation of the drawings becomes increasingly more elaborate, and then the drawings step into scenes from beloved Disney movies and skip, skate and dance side-by-side with characters such as Mickey Mouse, Jiminy Cricket, Cinderella and Snow White.

At the conclusion of the show, Mickey returns to say "so long" to the guests and, as he does, credits roll on screen showing each guest’s name listed as a guest animator. To commemorate the experience, each guest will have their character drawing returned to them, with an added touch… a golden seal proclaiming them an Official Disney Animator.

Europa Nighttime Entertainment District

On the Disney Fantasy, adult guests step into a world that’s all their own at Europa – a nighttime entertainment district exclusively for guests 18 and older that features sophisticated bars and trendy lounges inspired by the very best in European travel.

• La Piazza is a lounge that draws inspiration from Italian cities and their decorative outdoor plazas. The bar is modeled after a colorful vintage carousel. Venetian masks, romantic couples’ booths and a classic Vespa with a sidecar add Italian flair.
• Skyline is a chic bar that provides ever-changing birds-eye views of stunning European city skylines that transform from day to night. Skyline’s “windows to the world” give guests a glimpse of spectacular locales in panorama such as Paris, London, Barcelona, Athens and St. Petersburg.
• O’Gill’s Pub is a rollicking Irish bar with modern-day twists. Dark woods, brass accents and a selection of Irish beers create the perfect pub atmosphere where guests can sip a pint while watching live sporting events on one of several high-definition televisions.
• Ooh La La is inspired by an elegant French boudoir adorned with velvet tufted walls, Victorian furniture and Louis XIV-style chaise lounges. A sensuous color palette is accented with ornate framed mirrors, gold details and a “jewel box” feature bar backed with sparkling diamond-like facets.
• The Tube transports guests to a vibrant metropolitan club via the London Underground. Guests “mind the gap” as they walk across a Tube route map, lounge among mod furniture, pose by a red English phone booth, dance atop an illuminated Union Jack dance floor and enjoy cocktails at a bar inspired by Big Ben and London’s many train stations.

"Disney’s Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular"

A new ship means new main stage entertainment at the 1,340-seat Walt Disney Theatre. New to Disney Cruise Line, “Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular” takes the stage on the Disney Fantasy. During this Broadway-style production, guests laugh along with the wise-cracking Genie and the cast from the classic animated Disney film, “Aladdin.”

In this fast-paced musical comedy, Aladdin is back as the “street rat” of Agrabah meeting up with a Genie who grants him three wishes, battling the evil Jafar, and falling in love with Princess Jasmine.

Many of the classic scenes and songs from the movie are re-created on stage and some of the action even spills out into the aisles, like Prince Ali's jubilant arrival in Agrabah on the back of a stallion. Magic lamps, wise-cracking genies, princesses and evil wizards are all part of this musical production. And of course, an Aladdin production would not be complete without a magic flying carpet scene, which combines mechanical wizardry with state-of-the-art projections, allowing Jasmine and Aladdin to soar as they perform a heartfelt duet of “Whole New World.”

Many of the songs from the movie are featured in the 45-minute musical production, including “Friend Like Me,” which is performed as a lively, Las Vegas-style production number featuring special effects, illusions and more than a dozen dancing genies. Composer Alan Menken, who created the original soundtrack with songwriters Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, composed an original song for the stage production entitled "To Be Free."

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

At Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique on the Disney Fantasy, aspiring young princesses and pirates receive the full fairy tale treatment with pixie-dusted and piratical makeovers at this very special salon.

When young princesses-to-be make their royal entrance at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, they are greeted by their very own Fairy Godmother-in-training who transform them with magical makeovers such as the Disney Diva, the Pop Princess or the Fairy Tale Princess. A variety of royal treatment packages include combinations of hairstyle, shimmering makeup and nails. Princess costumes, complete with crown, wand and shoes also are available.

Exclusive to Disney Cruise Line, Captain Mickey Mouse, Princess Minnie Mouse and First Mate Minnie Mouse makeovers plus special Under the Sea packages will be offered.

On pirate party nights aboard the Disney Fantasy, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique transforms into the Pirate’s League, where swashbuckling boys, girls and grownups can get ready for the pirate life.

Each guest checking in at the plunder-filled pirate’s lair gets an official pirate name. Then it’s off to Muster Station for applications of beards and bandanas, swords and scars, earrings and eye patches – all done with the savvy skill of a pirate master who shares his own tales of sea-sailing adventures.

After the new buccaneers recite a sacred pirate oath, they are officially part of Captain Jack’s motley crew, leaving their old identities behind. The shipmates and scoundrels are then turned loose on their pirate vessel.

Guests can choose from two pirate packages - First Mate (includes bandana, facial scars tattoos, fake teeth, earring, eye patch, sword and sheath) or Empress (includes bandana, shimmering makeup, face gem, tattoos, nail polish, earring, eye patch, sword and sheath).

Atrium Lobby - Mademoiselle Minnie Mouse

The magnificent three-deck atrium lobby on the Disney Fantasy is reminiscent of grand ocean liners of the Golden Age. Art Nouveau-inspired details and patterns in hues of vibrant blue, green, pink and gold lend to the sophistication. Glamorous and graceful design elements include a sweeping grand staircase, towering fluted columns, grand piano and an exquisite marble and stone inlay floor. A focal point is a cascading chandelier of stained glass and crystal beads.

The pièce de résistance of the magnificent space is the atrium lobby statue – Mademoiselle Minnie Mouse. Inspired by travel of the 1920s and 1930s, Minnie, cast in bronze and dressed in vintage fashion with a parasol and steamer luggage at her side, serves to welcome all guests who board the ship.

Royal Court Restaurant

At Royal Court restaurant, guests are immersed in the lavish surroundings of an elegant dining room fit for a grand palace. Royal Court takes design inspiration from the classic Disney films “Cinderella,” “Snow White,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Sleeping Beauty.” Décor features ornate details and custom furnishings and fixtures that incorporate iconic symbols from the films – glass slippers, apples, roses and tiaras.

An Austrian glass chandelier is a focal point, while eight custom brass and glass lighting fixtures modeled after Cinderella’s coach adorn the room. Hand-crafted mosaic tile murals of the princesses – Cinderella, Snow White, Belle, Jasmine, Ariel and Sleeping Beauty (Aurora) – and their princes grace the walls. Inspired by the mosaic tile murals in Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom, the Disney Fantasy mosaics are being meticulously created by skilled Italian craftspeople using more than 200,000 individual tiles, with 23 mosaic panels depicting six different vignettes.

With careful attention to detail, many of the restaurant’s features are modeled precisely from the inspirational films. The Royal Court’s chandeliers, chair backs and columns with marble bases and fluted tops are fashioned after those seen in “Beauty and the Beast.” Wall sconces, decorative patterns, throne-style chairs and the circular floor plan are recreated from “Cinderella.”

The Disney Fantasy will depart on her maiden voyage March 31, 2012, and will sail out of Port Canaveral on seven-night Caribbean itineraries – alternating eastern (St. Maarten and St. Thomas) and western (Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, Cozumel). Special Eastern Caribbean sailings in November and December 2012 stop at St. Thomas and San Juan, Puerto Rico. All Disney Fantasy itineraries include a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

Rates for the seven-night Caribbean cruise itineraries on the Disney Fantasy start at $959 per person for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy. All pricing reflects a category 11C standard inside stateroom, Government Taxes and Fees not included.

Disney Cruise Line recently honored students from Cayman Prep & High School in the Cayman Islands for winning this year’s Disney’s Planet Challenge, a program aimed at inspiring students to be good stewards of the environment and empowering them to make a difference. The education program is just one of the ways that Disney Cruise Line is inspiring positive action and minimizing its environmental impact.

“Disney’s Planet Challenge is a fun, engaging way to encourage children and adults to take action for the environment,” said Disney Cruise Line President Karl Holz. “Inspiring positive environmental stewardship in our cast and crew members is part of our company culture and is clearly evident in our activities both on and off our ships.”

Teacher Andy Jones’ Year 6 class were the winners of the 2011 Disney’s Planet Challenge, and they had the opportunity to spend a day aboard the Disney Magic cruise ship while it docked in Grand Cayman last week. The class was recognized for their work protecting the threatened swallowtail butterfly, an endemic species found only in the Cayman Islands. In addition to raising funds and awareness about the native butterfly and its habitat, the class focused their efforts on planting lime trees, which provide food and shelter for the butterfly. They also distributed and planted lime seeds across their community in an effort to grow even more trees, which will provide the butterflies with a safe habitat for years to come.

Disney Captain John Barwis, along with other officers and crew members from the Disney Magic, hosted the students onboard at a special Disney’s Planet Challenge awards ceremony. Captain Mickey Mouse presented each student with a medal for their efforts, and the children enjoyed a chance to tour the ship, including spending time in the youth activity areas onboard.

Community outreach and educational programs such as Disney’s Planet Challenge are just one part of the ongoing commitment Disney Cruise Line has to the environment. In addition to these efforts, Disney Cruise Line is dedicated to minimizing its impact on the environment through utilizing new technologies, increasing fuel efficiency, minimizing waste and supporting marine conservation worldwide. Some of these initiatives include:

Environmental leadership – Disney’s commitment to the planet begins with Environmental Officers aboard all Disney ships. These officers are ranked amongst the most senior leaders aboard the fleet, having previous maritime experience and specialized training in environmental regulations and systems. They are focused on fuel efficiency, minimizing waste and promoting conservation of water, ecosystems and energy, as well as monitoring water quality.

Innovative Hull Coating – All Disney ships have a 100 percent non-toxic hull coating, which reduces surface resistance in open water.

Minimizing Waste & Recycling – More than 1,200 tons of metal, plastic and paper are eliminated from traditional waste streams and recycled each year.

Utilizing New Technologies – Onboard new ship Disney Dream, technology is used to determine accurate energy management to maximize the heating, ventilation and cooling systems based on real-time requirements. As part of this system, private staterooms self-adjust when unoccupied and return to the desired temperature upon a guests’ return.

Shoreside Plug-in Capabilities – Both the Disney Wonder and Disney Dream have the ability to plug-in to shore power at ports of call that can accommodate this new technology. The Disney Wonder was among the first to plug-in to the Port of Los Angeles, utilizing this new technology to reduce air emissions while in port.

Conservation & Wildlife – Researchers at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, are engaged in a multi-year project focused on restoring the health of coral reefs in The Bahamas through the study of transplanted long-spined sea urchins native to the area.

Community Outreach – Cast and crew members have donated more than 4,500 hours in the port communities Disney calls home, including giving back to local nonprofits, hosting annual walks to raise funds and awareness for conservation programs and leading shore cleanups, that to date have removed 31,000 pounds of trash and debris from beaches and fragile waterways.

The Saint John Port Authority confirmed that Disney Cruise Line will call the Port of Saint John with their vessel Disney Magic on 9 occasions in 2012.

The announcement, made by Disney Cruise Line in New York, comes on the heels of successful cruise industry sales calls conducted in March by the Port Authority, the New Brunswick Department of Tourism and Parks and the destination marketing organization in Saint John.

"Our provincial cruise business is growing year after year and we are proud that such a well-known line has added the Port of Saint John to their visitor list," said Tourism and Parks Minister Trevor Holder. "While in Miami a few weeks ago, we met with some of the largest cruise lines in the world to solicit new business and to seek additional business from existing customers."

“We are thrilled that Disney, one of the world’s best loved brands, is adding Saint John as one of only two ports of call on 5-day cruises out of New York beginning in June of 2012,” stated Stephen Campbell, Chairman of Saint John Port Authority.

The strength in the Bay of Fundy brand; the hospitality extended by the tourism industry; and the berth extension projects made possible by recent federal-provincial investment commitments, are all factors that help attract cruise ships.

"We recognize the potential the cruise industry has for the province and we are marketing return visits to those who experience just a taste of New Brunswick when they stop at our provincial ports," said Holder.

“Cruise continues to be an area of strength in the business mix at the Port Authority,” remarked Jim Quinn, President & CEO of Saint John Port Authority. “The continued strength of this sector is critical to the overall diversity of Port business. This diversity will support strategic investment in all of our port assets in the long-term”.

Full details on the entire 2012 season will be available at the end of 2011. The 2011 schedule includes more than 200,000 cruise guests during 71 calls.

Disney Wonder Bound for Alaska in 2011

Disney Wonder Also to Sail Mexican Riviera; Disney Magic to Spend Summer in Europe

For the first time ever, Disney Cruise Line will offer Alaskan cruises during a four-month season of seven-night sailings aboard the Disney Wonder in summer 2011. Combining the natural wonder and adventurous spirit of Alaska with the unparalleled, family-friendly experience provided by Disney Cruise Line, the Disney Wonder will depart out of Vancouver, B.C., calling on popular ports such as Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway.

Before and after the 2011 summer season in Alaska, the Disney Wonder will sail seven-night Mexican Riviera cruises from the Port of Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta.

In response to guest demand, the Disney Magic will once again return to Europe in 2011 with seven-, 10- and 11-night cruises sailing out of Barcelona. In addition to popular ports in Italy, France, Spain and the island nation of Malta.

“We’re excited to offer this incredible choice of itineraries for 2011, with cruise vacation options for every family – whether that’s outdoor adventure in Alaska, the beauty and culture of Europe, folklore and pageantry of Mexico or tropical fun in the Caribbean,” said Disney Cruise Line President Karl Holz. “The unique advantage of Disney Cruise Line is that we offer a customized ship experience that brings families together, while still catering to the personalized vacation needs of every guest who sails with us.”

Disney Cruise Line also will offer a number of repositioning cruises and special sailings in 2011, including a 15-night Panama Canal crossing, two 14-night transatlantic voyages, a five- and six-night cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver, and Vancouver to Los Angeles, with first-ever stops in San Francisco and Victoria, B.C., and 10- and 11-night holiday sailings to the Mexican Riviera and the eastern Caribbean.

Disney Wonder 2011 Schedule

Departing out of Vancouver, the Disney Wonder will sail a total of 18 seven-night cruises to Alaska for the 2011 summer season, calling on Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan.

As part of the new Alaska itinerary, Disney Cruise Line guests will be able to experience breathtaking natural vistas, an abundance of wildlife and the rich history and customs of Alaska’s native culture. On their Alaskan adventure, guests may catch a glimpse of a brown bear, bald eagle or humpback whale, and explore magnificent glaciers and fjords in Juneau. In Ketchikan, guests can fish for some of the largest wild salmon in the world and learn about local culture through hand-carved totem poles. In Skagway, Disney Cruise Line guests can traverse panoramic landscapes by railway, or pan for gold like miners from the famous Klondike gold rush.

The first-ever Disney cruise to Alaska will depart on May 3 with the last cruise of the season scheduled for Aug. 30. Rates for the seven-night Alaskan itinerary start at $939 per person for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

To prepare for the Alaska sailings, a brand-new venue called Outlook Café was added to the Disney Wonder during dry dock in October. Located high atop deck 10, the 2,500-square-foot Outlook Café is a stylish retreat for guests to relax and enjoy a beverage or cocktail as they peer out through floor-to-ceiling, curved glass windows at breathtaking vistas. The design of Outlook Café is sophisticated with contemporary Art Deco inspiration. An elegant spiral staircase connects Outlook Café with the existing Cove Café one deck below. The 65-seat lounge has a granite-topped cocktail bar with comfortable seating throughout the space, all providing picture-perfect views of the surrounding landscapes.

Book-ending the 2011 summer season in Alaska, the Disney Wonder will sail seven-night itineraries to the Mexican Riviera. Rates for the seven-night Mexican Riviera itinerary start at $639 per person for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

Prior to repositioning to Alaska, the Disney Wonder will sail a special 10-night Mexican Riviera voyage, including a stop at Manzanillo.

Disney Magic 2011 Schedule

Departing out of Barcelona, the Disney Magic will sail seven-, 10- and 11-night European itineraries for the 2011 summer season starting on May 28. Once again, guests will be able to explore the culture and beauty of Italy, France and Spain, with a family-friendly experience only Disney can deliver. The longer itineraries also include visits to the island nation of Malta, and Ajaccio, Corsica, an island oasis off the southern coast of France.

Rates for the seven-night European cruises start at $1,069 per person for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy. Rates for the 10- and 11-night European cruises start at $1,739 per person for a standard inside stateroom, based on double occupancy.

For the majority of 2011, the Disney Magic will sail out of Port Canaveral on seven-night Caribbean itineraries – alternating eastern (St. Maarten and St. Thomas) and western (Key West, Grand Cayman and Cozumel). Both itineraries include a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

All pricing reflects a category 11C standard inside stateroom, Government Taxes and Fees not included.

Disney Cruise Line celebrated the keel laying of the Disney Fantasy at the Meyer Werft shipyard. This is the second of two newly-designed ships that take the family cruise experience to all new heights. Sister ship to the Disney Fantasy, Disney Dream, entered service on Jan. 26, 2011.

The keel laying ceremony is a significant milestone in the ship building process when the first block, or section of the ship, is lowered into the building dock and a coin is placed under the keel for good fortune. Placing the coin was Karl Holz, President of Disney Cruise Line, assisted by Minnie Mouse.

The Disney Fantasy will offer many of the innovations that the Disney Dream features and brought to the cruise industry for the very first time, including AquaDuck -- the world's first shipboard water coaster. However, the Disney Fantasy will feature a few new design elements and guest experiences that will give the ship a unique identity all her own.

The 4,000-passenger Disney Fantasy will sail week-long Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, Fla. with its maiden voyage scheduled for March 31, 2012.

Disney Cruise Line has announced a kids-sail-free offer on seven-night cruises to Alaska starting in May. Guests 17 and under can sail free on aboard the Disney Wonder when traveling with two full-fare paying guests in the same Verandah or ocean-view stateroom (government taxes and fees not included). This offer is valid for most sailings departing May 3 to June 7 and covers categories 4A to 9D.

The cruises -- the first time Disney Cruise Line will sail to Alaska -- call on Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan. Rates start at $1,249 per person for an ocean-view stateroom, based on double occupancy. Agents should mention or input booking code KFO when making the reservation. This offer is only available to U.S. and Canada residents and cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts. The number of staterooms allocated for this offer is limited.

With a dash of Disney magic and a surprising twist, a helicopter hoisted a 16-foot “champagne bottle” across the bow of the Disney Dream during a christening ceremony officially welcoming the newest ship to the Disney Cruise Line family.

Serving the traditional role of godmother for the Disney Dream christening was Jennifer Hudson, the Academy Award and Grammy Award winner whose own dreams of stardom began when she was a performer on the Disney Wonder ship in 2003.

Hudson was joined onstage by Disney CEO Bob Iger and Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs, as the enormous “champagne bottle” filled with dreams of adventure, romance and fun was lifted into the air and broken across the bow of the 130,000-ton ship.

Some 3,000 people were gathered at the Disney Dream for the christening ceremony including celebrities, media and members of the public.

The spectacle befit a ship brimming with innovative “wows” – including gallery art that comes alive, the first water coaster aboard a cruise ship, Magical Portholes that provide inside staterooms with a real-time ocean view, a full-blown shipboard fireworks show, personal interaction with animated characters, play floors like gigantic video games, and original Broadway-style stage spectaculars.

“For over a decade, Disney Cruise Line has been making vacation dreams come true for millions of families and we continue that tradition today with the launch of the Disney Dream,” Iger said. “The mix of imagination and innovation found on the Disney Dream is unparalleled and elevates the family cruise experience to new heights.”

The 4,000-passenger Disney Dream sails its maiden voyage out of Port Canaveral, Fla., on Jan. 26. It joins the 2,700-passenger Disney Magic and Disney Wonder, with the Disney Fantasy scheduled to join the fleet in 2012.

“The addition of the Disney Dream provides an opportunity to extend our horizons and open up Disney cruising to more families,” Staggs said. “From the majestic beauty of Alaska, to the culture and history of Europe, to the fun and sun of the Caribbean, families looking to take a Disney cruise have more options than ever before.”

In 2011, the Disney Dream will sail three-, four- and five-night itineraries to the Bahamas and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. The Disney Magic will sail seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries and seven-, 10- and 11-night European cruises out of Barcelona during the summer months. The Disney Wonder will sail seven-night Mexican Riviera cruises from the Port of Los Angeles beginning Jan. 23 and seven-night Alaska itineraries from Vancouver, B.C., during the summer months.

Disney's brand new cruise ship will sail into Central Florida for the first time this week.

The Disney Dream is set to arrive along the Space Coast early Tuesday morning after making a trip across the Atlantic Ocean following construction.

The ship is one of two new ships being built by Disney, but these are much larger than the original ships.

The dream can hold about 4,000 passengers.

It also features a few firsts at sea including a water coaster and 'virtual portholes' inside cabins that show live video from outside.

The arrival also means one Disney ship that's called Port Canaveral home for more than a decade, will be leaving.

The Disney Wonder will head to California at the end of the week and will run cruises from Los Angeles later this month through at least 2012.

The Disney Dream™ is the majestic third ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. Boasting 14 towering decks, a ship length of 1,115 feet and a maximum width of 125 feet, the 130,000-ton vessel includes 1,250 staterooms and has the capacity to comfortably accommodate 4,000 passengers—along with the over 1,458 Crew Members who tend to the needs of every cruise Guest each and every day.

Building on the classic style of the previous 2 ships, the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder, the Disney Dream is a valiant vessel distinguished for its classic early 20th-century design—which harkens back to the golden age of cruising—and state-of-the-art technology. As can be expected from Disney, the cruise liner was specially designed with families in mind, combining sleek style and convenient facilities with splashes of magic and cruise-industry firsts—like the splashtacular AquaDuck, the very first water coaster at sea.

Aboard the Disney Dream

Discover what awaits you and your family onboard the ship:

Staterooms

Staterooms on board the Disney Dream feature contemporary amenities, ample space and elegant yacht-style decor. Most boast split bathrooms—a feature perfect for families and a cruise line industry first.

Youth Clubs

Youth Clubs fulfill the recreational needs of younger Guests. Kids clubs, activity centers for tweens and teens, and a plethora of unique interactive programs and wondrously themed immersive spaces can be found throughout the ship.

Dining

Dining options aboard the Disney Dream include elegant adults-only dining, gourmet Main Dining delights and mouthwatering made-to-order casual fare—in magically themed restaurants.

Entertainment

Entertainment aboard the Disney Dream, including musical live shows, first-run films, Digital 3-D movies and fun-filled family deck parties, is available at lavish onboard venues each cruise day—and is unlike anything else offered on the high seas.

Pools

Pools aboard the Disney Dream are terrific places to cool down and relax on sun-kissed afternoons. On Deck 11, you'll find 3 sparkling pools—one for kids, one for families, and one just for adults.

Nightclubs & Lounges

Nightclubs & Lounges on the Disney Dream fill the nights at sea with live music, dancing and socializing. Explore The District—the ship's adults-only entertainment area, home to 5 distinct lounges and nightclubs.

Construction of the Disney Dream

Disney Cruise Line began construction on the Disney Dream in March 2009 with a steel-cutting ceremony at the world-renowned Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. Constructed as a thematic extension of the Disney Cruise Line fleet, the Disney Dream was designed to reflect the glamour of the golden age of cruising during the 1930's. Scheduled for completion in early 2011, the new ocean liner will feature the same attention to detail Disney is known for, while introducing new and immersive, one-of-a-kind venues and experiences for everyone in the family—be they young or simply young-at-heart.

Interior Design of the Disney Dream

To step aboard the Disney Dream is to be instantly transported to an age of adventure and wonder, where elegance and sophistication mingle with Disney storytelling and whimsy. Inside is an attention to detail one would only expect from Disney. Lavish decorative murals mingle with sparkling fixtures and furnishings. Original paintings, statues and woodwork envelop Guests in a radiant Art Deco ambiance that is both rich and distinctive. And wondrously themed venues—including charming youth activity clubs, resplendent restaurants, intimate lounges and stunning theatre spaces—transport Guests of all ages to faraway places where memory and magic come together.

Stroll through the radiant lobby atrium and behold a bronze statue of Admiral Donald—an installment designed by Walt Disney Imagineers to evoke the feeling of fun, adventure and sophistication that can be found throughout the ship.