Disney Fantasy March 2012

I had the opportunity to be on the inaugural sailing of this ship, so it wasn't it's typical 7 day itinerary, it was a short 3 day to Castaway Cay and back.

Here are some of the highlights

SHOWS: I had previously been on the Wonder, and to my surprise, there were 3 new shows that I had not seen, so that was great. One was Wishes, One was Believe, and the other was Aladdin. They used screens in front of and behind the cast members on stage, and they also used pryotechnics too. I was seriously blown away by the shows. They were even better than I had remembered the Wonder to be.

STATEROOMS: I had the opportunity to tour quite a few staterooms, inside, outside, balcony, one bedroom even the Roy O. Disney Suite, which was amazing. I have posted the pictures to our facebook page. The virtual portholes were impressive, I watched the interaction of the characters in the portholes for about 15 minutes, and I can absolutely understand the draw of these types of rooms.

DINING: Rotational dining is what Disney is known for, and the restaurants to visit are once again impressive. Our first night was at **Enchanted Garden, and the ambiance of this restaurant was like you were walking into a garden outside. The lighting was perfect, and the look and feel was wonderful. Mind you, this restaurant is on the 2nd floor. So to feel like you're outside, and be that low on the ship, was awesome. **Royal Court was our next night for dinner, and this was elegant, and you felt like a princess walking into this room. The little princess touches were great. Even the bread bowl was shaped like a carriage that would hold the royals themselves. **Animators Palate reminded me a lot of the one on the Wonder, with a few more magical touches. You got to draw a character on your placemat, and see it come to life on the screen while you ate. That was really cool. The chairs were designed to look like Mickey's pants, it was cool.

When it comes to Disney, there is so much MAGIC that is put into every single trip, I don't want to spoil it all for you, but there was plenty of magic all around!!!!!!

This slideshow is of the stateroom tour that I was able to do.

There are some really impressive cabins onboard the Disney Fantasy.

Just wait until you see the Roy O. Disney suite!!! WOW!

This slideshow is of our dinners. 

The rotational dining is fun!

This slideshow is of the kids and teen areas. 

This is an exclusive look, especially in Vibe, as it's not open to adults during the sailing.  It's exclusive for teens.

The Oceaneer's Club and Lab are fun for me to see, as this is where my kids will want to hang out for the entire cruise.  They love it!!!

Disney Cruise Line Adult Exclusive restaurants are romantic onboard dinner destinations that cater exclusively to adults looking for the finest in onboard dining amid a refined and elegant atmosphere.
This next slideshow is all about Palo and Remy, these restaurats are hard to get into, are very exclusive, and are a luxury dining experience all the way around.  There is a surcharge for these 2 restaurants only.

Staying along the adult only lines...I had the chance to enjoy Europa!!!

This is the evening adult area to enjoy.  What fun!  The pictures don't really do this are justice, but you can get a glimpse of just how cool and fun Europa nightlife can be!!!

Here are the pictures from Disney's Castaway Cay.  We spent most of our time over in the adult only beach, but I have pictures of both beaches.

We had such a unique experience with the Fantasy and the Dream sailing around together.  They have these songs on their blow horns, and when we were sitting at the private island, we could hear them tooting them back and forth at each other.  It was SOOO cool, I literally stopped where I was and stood there and listened for about 15 minutes.  So cool!

Some of the songs they tooted:

When you Wish Upon a Star

Yo-Ho-Yo-Ho A Pirate's Life for Me

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes

It's A Small World After All

Hi Diddly Dee An Actor's Life for Me

Be Our Guest, Be Our Guest Put our Service to the Test

This is my last slideshow, and it contains pictures out and about around the ship.

Enjoy!

Cruising.....with fees...

The days of all-inclusive cruises including the cost of all of your meals seems to be vanishing.
For a few years now, cruise ships have been offering "premium" dining at a higher price. ("Want a steak dinner? Splash out for a night at a higher price.") But in 2011, a mania for up-charging for meals may be kicking into gear.
Case in point: Royal Caribbean International has bumped up its fees for a couple of its so-called "premium" restaurants: Rita's Cantina and the Seafood Shack on Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas.
Passengers used to pay $8 for meals at Rita's Cantina, for instance. They'll now pay a fee of $3 to dine at the restaurant and then pay a price for each item ordered a la carte, too. The 15 percent gratuity isn't included either. (A tip of the hat to Cruise Critic for breaking this story.)
The first absurdity here, I think, is that cruise company RCI considers Rita's Cantina and Seafood Shack to be "premium restaurants."
Rita's Cantina and Seafood Shack serve the type of food that ought to be included in the "all-inclusive" price in the first place. The menu at Rita's Cantina includes such glamorous items as chicken tacos ($2) and taco salad ($3), while Seafood Shack goes all fancy with a basket of grilled jumbo shrimp ($7). Cruise Critic says that these changes amount to a price hike, noting that a meal with guacamole, a quesadilla and grilled chicken that cost $8 in the winter now costs $11.25.
But, of course, that's because there's now ultra-premium restaurants, like Chops Grille. I'll agree that Chops Grille, with its selection of prime rib and lobster dishes, counts as a premium restaurant. I also agree that it's nice to have the option of splashing out on a fancy meal during a cruise. I'm willing to pay an extra cost for the meal, which is now $30 per person (a fee hiked by $5 this year).
Yet the danger here is that all cruise lines will begin to serve sub-standard food in their main dining rooms. After all, by making the dining hall experience less attractive, a company can make more money by upselling customers on fee-based meals elsewhere on-board.
I don't mean to pick on RCL, which offers an outstanding cruise experience overall. That corporation just happens to have been the latest one to do this.
Another example from this summer:
Norwegian Cruise Lines has put into place a $4 fee for late night room service. Room service used to be free. Royal Caribbean instituted this fee about two years ago.
In another twist, if you order a pizza to your room on Norwegian, you'll pay $5 at any time of day.
Thank you to MSNBC for this article. Click here for full article.

Guide to Cruise Tipping

CLICK HERE for the full article

How You Should Tip

It is customary to tip cabin stewards and butlers, dining room waiters, assistant waiters and head waiters on the last night of the cruise. Alas, I have been present when tablemates have not shown up that night to avoid giving tips. I have answered waiters' anxious queries about the whereabouts of shipboard acquaintances and seen their chagrin..... (read full article)

When You Should Tip

The cabin steward and butler, the dining room waiters, and assistant and head waiter are tipped on the last night of the cruise. But there are exceptions to this rule. If you plan to do a lot of entertaining in your cabin, or if there is an infant or someone who is ill in your party, you will require extra service from your cabin steward. It is a good idea to give him/her a portion of his/her tip at the beginning of the cruise. You will be surprised how obliging that will make him/her... (read full article)

Whom to Tip and How Much

For the following guidelines, I am going to assume that there is a service charge added to the daily account, usually between $10 and $12 per person, per day—and that passengers will pay it and not opt out. These, then, are pourboires for exemplary service. Looking at it another way, I always try to tip roughly 10 percent of the cost of my cabin, which includes the service charge—and so I typically budget at least $15 to 20 per person, per day, on top of the service charge... (read full article)

What? No more dirty cruise ships? Congrats!

Found this article:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39800327/ns/travel-cruise_travel/

So happy to hear that the cruise lines are shaping up!!!!

It's cruising time!!!! Welcome to the Wave Season!

We at Travel Leaders Suntime Travel are happy to assist you with all of your travel needs. Now, it's time to talk cruising, and WHY you NEED us to assist you with all your travel plans!!

Please check out this article from The Today Show: CLICK HERE

7 Trips you should never book online
(According to Chris Elliott.....he's great!!)
Those seven trips Elliott says you should never book online include:
Cruising
Traveling around the world
When you don’t have the time
If you’re uncomfortable with the inter-Web
Traveling internationally
Doing something exotic
Special events

Please ask us for details on all of our cruise specials!!! NOW is the time!

Cruise stopping in Haiti?

There has been some backlash for Royal Caribbean....including their stop in Labadee, Haiti so soon....
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20100119/ts_ynews/ynews_ts1063

They've been assisting in supplies and personnel, but there are still quite a few questions as to if it's right or not. What do you think?

Cougar Cruise?!?!?!

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/cruises/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=14737.blog

May 16-23, 2010
The world's second Cougar Cruise onboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.

The first one was with Carnival in December 2009
It was a smashing success, with sell out crowds and a waiting list!!!

They say that Royal Caribbean is only hosting the event, not marketing it or organizing it.

I guess 2009 was the year of the Cougar, so we will see what 2010 will bring!!!!

Passports Now Required

Thank you to Travel Leaders for posting this informative article:
http://www.travelleaders.com/suntime/265835

Helpful links:
Here is the link to the U.S. Department of State website, with further info on the WHTI:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

Here is the link to more information about the U.S. Passport Card:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html

Applying for a NEW passport? Here is the link for these forms: (you do need to apply in person, but can fill out the forms in advance)
http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html

Cruise with your favorite Disney Channel stars!! Disney Cruise Line

How much fun would that be to rub elbows with some of the Disney Channel's stars and rising stars?!?!? Contact us to book your Disney Cruise today!!!!!!
Or how about adding a Disney World package on to one of these great cruises!!!!

Disney Channel Summer at Sea Cruises!!

Here's your chance to see and meet sensational stars from big shows and original movies on Disney Channel! More stars are scheduled to appear, so check back soon to find out who!

3-Night Disney Channel Summer At Sea Cruise
Sail Dates and Appearance Schedule*
July 9 to 12, 2009—Tiffany Thornton (Sonny with a Chance) and Nicole Anderson (JONAS)
July 16 to 19, 2009—Jason Earles (Hannah Montana)
July 23 to 26, 2009—Jason Dolley (Hatching Pete)
July 30 to August 2, 2009—Debby Ryan (The Suite Life on Deck)

4-Night Disney Channel Summer At Sea Cruise
Sail Dates and Appearance Schedule*
July 12 to 16, 2009—Tiffany Thornton (Sonny with a Chance) and Nicole Anderson (JONAS)
July 19 to 23, 2009—Musical Act Mitchel Musso and Jason Earles (Hannah Montana)
July 26 to 30, 2009—Jason Dolley (Hatching Pete)
August 2 to 6, 2009—Alyson Stoner (Camp Rock)

*Schedule and talent subject to change without notice. Not all stars available for each sailing.

Call us to help you book one of these great cruises!!!

Cruise Terms Test Your Skills!!!

Match Game
How knowledgeable are you on cruise terms?

Match the defination to the word:

1. Basis two

2. Cross-selling
3. Alumni rate
4. GRT
5. Berth
6. Lido deck
7. Port
8. Draft
9. Space ratio
10. Magrodome
11. Quarter deck
12. POE
13. Tender

14. Starboard
15. Bow

.

A. Small boat that ferries passengers

B. Figure determined by dividing GRT by passenger capacity

C. Pool deck area with informal, buffet-like dining

D. Glass skylight that slides to cover pool area

E. Facing forward, the left side of the ship

F. Discounted rate given to those who have sailed a line before

G. The front of the ship

H. Offering client something in addition to the cruise, but related

I. Bed in a ship, also can refer to the docking space of a ship

J. Pricing per person, based in two passengers sharing

K. Depth of water a ship draws

L. Facing forward, the right side of the ship

M. Stern or rear part of upper deck reserved for ship's officers

N. Point of embarkation

O. Gross registered tonnage;determines volume of public spaces

Princess Cruise Lines Twitter

Do you Twitter?????

This term is unheard of for some, and old hat for others....but if you don't "Twitter", maybe this would be a fun way to start twittering.....

Here is the webpage to follow: http://www.princess.com/goldendrydock/

Here is the TWITTER page to follow: http://twitter.com/PrincessCruises

There will be a daily photo progress report and other fun tweets. Check it out!!!!!!