The latest ship from Disney Cruise Line, which offers travellers Disney-themed cruise holidays took a step closer to life on the ocean waves yesterday.
The keel of Disney Dream, one of two brand new ships being built by the company, was laid at a shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.
The liner will officially launch in 2011, closely followed by another new vessel, Disney Fantasy, in 2012.
Disney is investing heavily in what is a growing market. Combined the two ships will double the company’s current capacity with each new liner boasting 1,250 cabins and a tonnage of 128,000. 80 blocks will form Disney Dream, with the first block weighing in at approximately 380 tons.
At the keel laying ceremony at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, the Disney Cruise Line president Karl Holz commented: “Our fleet expansion will allow us to satisfy demand on both the East and West coasts of the United States while also giving us the flexibility to explore additional global destinations for our guests.”
As is tradition in the maritime industry, a coin was placed under the keel for good luck. This being Disney, it was no ordinary coin but a ‘Pixie Dusted’ one.
What exactly is in store for guests has yet to be revealed but Disney promise a ‘truly distinctive’ experience when designs are unveiled in the autumn.
Both Disney Dream And Disney Fantasy will be based in Port Canaveral in Florida and itineraries for the first ship will be released next month.
Of the two existing Disney ships, Disney Wonder will set sail from LA in 2011 while Disney Magic returns to Europe next summer to sail in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
