Being no cruise aficionado, I approached the Disney Dream with tremendous skepticism. This was only my second cruise, and the sail to the Bahamas was only for three nights. Adding fuel to the fire, we were cruising without children.
No matter. On board, my husband and I were immediately swept away by the high-flying, high-speed water coaster, AquaDuck. Step inside and sit down in the oversized, inflatable raft and off you go at lightning speed, twisting and turning, down short descents as you increase acceleration, even at one point swinging out 13 feet over the ocean — woo-hoo! This cruise-industry first is enough to quicken the pulse of even the most jaded adult (who will only want to ride again come the splashdown on Deck 12). Confidential Tip: Queue up for AquaDuck immediately following cabin check-in (or else when the passenger load is on a shore excursion), as the line is long throughout the cruise.
Care to satisfy your taste for nostalgia? Step up to Eye Scream on Deck 11 for soft-serve ice cream, just like when you were a kid. Here's the cherry on top: it's serve yourself, and you can go back for a serving of banana, chocolate, strawberry and vanilla as often as you want. A jumbo LED screen on Deck 9 also allows you to enjoy those flavors while swimming, sunning or even watching some Disney classics like “Cinderella.”
The Quiet Cove Pool, within dashing distance to Eye Scream, is the adults-only pool. It is also mere steps away from the Cove Café, a peaceful retreat for sipping gourmet coffee, reading or hooking up to WiFi. Both the pool and Cove Café are rarely crowded, making this the perfect spot for peace and quiet. Also inside this restricted enclave: two large, adult-only hot tubs whose glass bottoms provide spectacular ocean views.
Our first dinner aboard the Dream, in the Animator’s Palette, proved great fun. If you enjoyed the movie “Finding Nemo,” you’ll love having the turtle Crush interact with you and the other guests. “Duuude, the big guy is from The Conn-ECT-icut,” Crush, with his stoner-surfer inflection, said to my husband — who also got a high-five from Crush with his front flipper (the turtle’s flipper; not my husband’s). The restaurant, which resembles a giant animation studio, also changes its wall backdrops throughout the meal, offering scenes and characters from Disney and Pixar hits.
After dinner, my husband and I opted for a little boot scootin’ at Evolution in The District on Deck 4, where the dance floor glows and pulsates to rock classics and pop artists. DJ Pete Down takes requests and mixes some fresh tunes of his own. Evolution also hosts some great games and karaoke.
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