Family Affairs and other matters

STATEROOMS ON “THE DISNEY DREAM”

Having arrived on board the Disney Dream, we were shown to our Staterooms and left to wander about the ship. I felt very small and incredibly high up – thankfully there were enough “YOU ARE HERE” cross sections of the ship for us to feel reassured enough to navigate ourselves around and find our bearings.

My room – number 7666 looked like this:-

I haven’t slept so well for ages. A combination of the sound of soft waves lapping and the overall pulse of engine made me feel positively womb like and safe – together with the most comfortable beds imaginable. Everybody commented on them. Feather duvets and pillows and just squishy lovely sheets and mattress. The loo and bathroom were small but nicely done with good quality products provided for all your washing needs. I think I was in a midprice family double cabin as there is a bed above the sofa which folds down.

The view of the sunset from my balcony was just perfect:-

We then began to check out all the ship had to offer.

DISNEY DREAM INAUGURAL CHRISTENING CELEBRATION

I really don’t know where to begin regarding giving you all an update about my fabulous press trip to check out Disney’s latest cruise ship.

The Christening Celebration took place on January 19th 2011 and after two nights at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa hotel (which I loved) we were taken to Port Canaveral where the ship was waiting for us.

Here is virtually our first sighting from the red carpet with me and Jennifer Howze (@jhowze):-

They certainly know how to put on a party at Disney – the christening ceremony for the new Disney Dream cruise ship was a match for any of the parades in the Orlando theme parks.

There were familiar characters by the score, from Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy, through a collection of princesses, to the Incredibles, and a dazzling display of fireworks which lit up the bright Florida morning sky. There were marching bands and Pirates of the Carribean and dancers and some of my favourite Disney characters:-

Bob Iger President and CEO of The Walt Disney Company and Tom Staggs, the Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts introduced us to the ship and Jennifer Hudson christened the new ship in her role as Godmother.

I took a picture of Mickey Mouse:-

and then another one just as he turned round to face me, but missed it as he disappeared in a puff of smoke:-

Following the christening celebration we went into the terminal to have a champagne toast whilst we waited to embark:-

Eventually each and every one of us got welcomed on to the ship by personal announcement and clapped enthusiastically by members of the crew into the Atrium Lobby – Deck 3 that spans three decks. We were on the largest ship I have seen. Designed in the USA, made in Germany, captained by a Scandinavian, registered in the Bahamas, crewed by 1,458, 14 decks high with a capacity of 4,000 passengers and staying in one of the 1,250 staterooms with one of the 901 balconies.

Our latest Disney experience had begun.

Continue reading and leave comments...

BACK TO LIFE….

I really shouldn’t do that sort of thing again…. go away without my children to a desert island in the Bahamas, have an amazing time and then step off the plane and expect to effortlessly slip into the domestic demands of life on terra firma in the real world. I have come back with many tales to tell and photos of me with Disney characters and nobody seems to want to listen to my adventure stories. I can’t think why. AND WHERE ARE MY PRINCESS DRESSES? Where is my spotless house?

I had to rush from the airport to my son’s school to pick him up from his exam, laden with bribes – mostly from Hollister (primarily because by the time I’d finally got to the front of the queue to pay for the clothes, my very precious limited shopping mall time was nearly over). My mother has done an amazing job holding the fort and the kids all seem calm and happy. I am hoping that my decision that life is too short to miss “once in a lifetime” opportunities that come my way won’t come back to haunt me. I have to hold my breath now until mid February to find out if he’s passed his exam. Fingers and toes crossed then. How bad a mother will I feel if it goes wrong. But. I have come back with the Disney faith. It will not go wrong. His dreams (and my own) will come true.

ANYWAY. Home. Cold. Rainy. Grey.

How can everything already seem like a fabulous blurry dream?

I will write about the experience in due course. But in the meantime I wanted to say a big thank you to the lovely Sarah from Disney for including me on the trip and to Dave and Kate on her team and also to Phil from Virgin Holidays for co-hosting the event. I am still completely mystified as to why I was invited, but once I’ve read through the notes I took whilst meeting THE BIG CHEESE of Walt Disney (no, not Mickey Mouse) then I will perhaps have a better idea.

Here is a photo of some of the team sitting in a teacup for dinner (as you do) that made the trip so much fun. I will have to try and find a picture of all of us, but in the meantime:-

Continue reading and leave comments...

DISNEY DREAM CHRISTENING EVENT

There has been a terrible mistake that I have decided to keep very quiet about. Somebody has accidentally put my name on the wrong list (like Peter Seller’s in “The Party”) and I am feeling like an imposter who is going to get caught out at any moment….. But you never know, perhaps I might [...]

Continue reading and leave comments...