#4: Watch fireworks on deck - Disney is the only cruise line in the world which presents a fireworks show launched right from the deck of the ship. Usually presented during the “Pirates in the Caribbean” party, the fireworks are spectacular because they are so close.

The fireworks on board are just fantastic, different from any other fireworks you have ever seen. They are close to the ship, and it is so dark outside, Disney turns off all exterior lights during the show, that you can see them explode right in front of your face.

Check out the other in the top 10, they have some great suggestions.

Beginning in 2009, St. Croix will be a featured stop on one new seven-night itinerary, and Tortola will be featured on another seven-night itinerary. Both islands are new to Disney Cruise Line, increasing the seven-night Caribbean choices on the Disney Magic to four itineraries. (Disney’s traditional eastern and western Caribbean itineraries will continue).

“Our guests continue to tell us that the Caribbean is a favorite destination for them,” said Tom McAlpin, President of Disney Cruise Line. “Expanding our offerings in the eastern Caribbean provides our first-time cruisers an array of popular destinations to choose from, while also providing seasoned Disney cruisers new destinations to visit and explore with Disney.”

Disney Cruise Line Guests have always enjoyed the beautiful turquoise waters and sugar sand beaches of the eastern Caribbean and, on select voyages throughout the 2009 season, Guests will be able to explore either St. Croix or Tortola.

The largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix offers a wonderful mix of colonial-style architecture, natural wonders, quaint shops and spectacular marine habitats. Tortola, part of the British Virgin Islands, features centuries-old ruins, botanical gardens, sugar mills, sensational bays and beaches. The new eastern Caribbean itineraries will stop at St. Croix or Tortola, St. Thomas and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

Disney Cruise Line will continue to offer its current version of the eastern Caribbean cruise with stops at St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Castaway Cay. The traditional eastern Caribbean voyages will sail in-between the special sailings to St. Croix or Tortola.

 This is great news, as St. Martin is constantly the one port that is constantly critiqued, and personally, will  not be missed.

Hosted by family travel expert Emily Kaufman, the podcast episodes showcase the unique experiences Disney offers on a cruise vacation, providing guests in-depth, portable information on specific areas of Disney Cruise Line. In each episode, Kaufman, also known as The Travel Mom, offers tips for parents looking to take a cruise vacation.

“The podcasts immerse guests in the Disney Cruise Line experience, bringing to life the way we cater to the specific needs of kids, adults, and the entire family,” said Joe Rand, Director of Marketing for Disney Cruise Line. “Each episode is three to five minutes long, making it easy for on-the-go parents to learn more about specific areas of the Disney cruise vacation experience.”

Emily Kaufman narrates the podcasts with expert advice for not only a Disney Cruise, but also for family vacations in general. Her expertise in family travel makes her a great fit for the official Disney Cruise Line podcast.

“I’m extremely pleased to partner with Disney Cruise Line on this podcast series and hope parents considering a cruise vacation find them to be a valuable resource,” explained Kaufman. “As the mother of two, I truly believe that Disney Cruise Line is a great getaway for families. I have taken both my teenagers and my toddler nieces on a Disney Cruise, and have seen first hand that they offer something for every age.”

Interested guests can find all of the videos on disneycruise.com. In addition to watching episodes on the website or downloading them directly to their computer or video iPod, guests also have the ability to share episodes with friends and family via email.

Disney Cruise Line strives to offer guests a hassle-free vacation experience by providing extra services, such as Disney’s Magical Express, that help eliminate some of the stresses of family travel. And beginning this fall, select guests sailing with Disney Cruise Line will find their vacation experience has been made even easier with the introduction of Onboard Airline Check-In. This new service will allow qualified guests to check-in for their post-cruise flights while on board the Disney Magic or Disney Wonder, eliminating the need to do so at Orlando International Airport.

Guests participating in Onboard Airline Check-In will enjoy the ease and convenience of not having to collect their luggage upon debarkation–checked luggage will be transported directly from the ship to the guest’s flight. While on their cruise, guests’ boarding passes will be delivered to their staterooms the day prior to disembarkation. Upon the ship’s return to Port Canaveral, participating guests can proceed directly to Customs and then to Orlando International Airport where they bypass check-in and continue straight to airport security and on to their assigned departure gate.

In order to take advantage of this service, guests will need to meet certain requirements and be booked on a domestic flight on one of the seven participating air carriers: AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Northwest Airlines, or United Airlines/Ted. Eligible guests will be able to enroll for Onboard Airline Check-in by completing pre-registration information received at Orlando International Airport or one of the Disney Cruise Line Hospitality Desks at the Walt Disney World Resort and turning it in during check-in at Port Canaveral.

Disney Cruise Line has received nearly 50 distinguished awards and recognitions from the travel industry since first setting sail in 1998. These awards have included allaspects of the operation from dining and entertainment, to youth activities and spa facilities. Just this year, Disney Cruise Line earned several additional top honors including:

• Conde Nast Traveler – Rated the Disney Magic® and the Disney Wonder® in the top 10 of the “Top 80 Cruise Ships in the World” and named Disney Cruise Line on their “Gold List”, which recognizes the top 10 in overall best experience.
• Conde Nast Traveler – Ranked the Vista Spa and Salon as the #3 cruise line spa.
• Porthole Cruise – Awarded Disney Cruise Line with a Readers’ Choice Award.
• TravelAge West – Recognized Disney Cruise Line with two Editor’s Pick WAVE awards for best overall spa facility and best onboard entertainment.
•AAA – Awarded Disney Cruise Line with the “Preferred Partner of the Year” designation for surpassing excellence in providing products and services to AAA and its membership.
•Travel + Leisure - Ranked Disney Cruise Line No. 4 in the “Large-Ship” cruise line category.

Guests who choose to use the network will be billed by their cell phone provider and rates will vary according to the carrier’s plan. The ship’s network will be enabled, while the ship is at sea, allowing guests to make and receive phone calls as well as utilize text messaging, email and other cellular services. While in port, the network will be disabled, allowing guests the ability to access local cell phone providers.

Guests have always been able to use their stateroom phones to call to shore, though the price has been quite expensive, around $10 per minute. I checked a few carriers, their prices seem to differ quite a bit:

T-mobile: $4.99 per minute
ATT: $2.49 per minute
Verizon: $2.49 per minute
AllTel: $2.49 per minute

The prices seem to be reasonable, compared to the cost of the previous options. Please note many of the carriers will also charge you a toll free on top of the per minute charge, so please check with your carrier before you leave home. Text messages and internet services are also available, though not included in the per minute cost.

The last few Disney Cruises I have done, I have taken my Skype phone with me on board, and used it in the Internet lounge or on my laptop. The per minute cost is low (about $.02 per minute), and the quality is good. It works well for having to call into work or to call family at home. It is difficult for someone to get a hold of me in case of emergency using Skype, so having the cell option is great.

Please make sure you are aware of all charges and fees that your carrier may charge you for the use of this service. Nothing ruins a fantastic Disney Cruise like a huge cellular bill after you return home.

Pricing and amenities are the same as if you were to add it to a Magic Your Way package (one Counter service meal, one Table service meal and one snack per person per night of your stay). The cost is $37.99 for adults ten and older, and $9.99 per child three through ten.

More information about the Disney Dining plan can be found here:

Disney Dining plan

Make sure you look at the 2008 information, as the inclusions and pricing have changes since 2007. If you have never done the Disney Dining plan, it is a great money saver and very convenient for your stay at WDW, and a great way to warm up for the non-stop eating aboard the Disney Cruise.

One item that is rarely included, and even less understood is gratuities. On board the ship, there are several people you will become very familiar with, your stateroom steward and your waiter and assistant waiter. Your stateroom steward will take care of your room night and day, he makes sure you have everything you need and that your stateroom is put back together each day. Your waiter and assistant waiter follow you around to each new restaurant each night, and you will get to know them quickly. For these people, as well as the head waiter, much of their salary is based on gratuities from you.

The night before you debark the ship, your steward will place a sheet and a few envelopes in your room with suggested tip amounts for the four people who have served you while on the cruise. The easiest way to pay the gratuities is to go to the guest services desk in the lobby of the ship, and have the gratuities amounts added to your room bill. They will then give you vouchers to put in the envelopes to give to the cast members. You can alternatively put cash in the envelopes. If your service has been great, feel free to add a bit in there. One thing I have done in the past, if the service has been great, is that I have included pre-paid calling cards in the envelopes. Most of the employees on board are from outside the US, and many have families (wife and kids) at home that they support. A pre-paid phone card allows them to call home when at port, and those seem to be more appreciated than equivalent cash for some reason.

Rather than explaining who gets what for each type of cruise, the easiest way to figure out what your gratuities will be is to figure that you will need to pay $11 per person per night of your cruise. So, if you are on a 4 night Disney Cruise, with 2 people, you will be looking at about $88 total for gratuities.

So, while planning your Disney Cruise, make sure you take into account your gratuities on board. If you wish, you can ask your travel agent or the Disney Cruise Line, and you can pay your gratuities in advance as part of your final payment if you wish.

On board, there are a few other tips you will have to pay. For any room service, while the food and drinks are included in the cost of the cruise, you should tip the waiter that brings the food to your stateroom. Also, any spa treatments that you have done, please remember to tip the employee. If you choose to dine at the adult only restaurant, Palo, there will be a $10 fee per person to eat there, and that is basically the tip for your waiter. Feel free to tip him/her extra if you get great service, but an extra tip is not required.

In grand Spanish style, the 2,700-passenger ship was greeted by a fireworks spectacular totaling nearly 2,200-shells upon arrival to the Port of Barcelona. The Port of Barcelona will serve as homeport for the Disney Magic this summer as it embarks on brand new 10- and 11-night itineraries in the Mediterranean. These cruises provide families with a unique and hassle-free way to explore world-famous cities such as Rome, Florence, Naples, Cannes and Barcelona.

“This is a special way to launch our unique Mediterranean cruises,” said Disney Cruise Line President Tom McAlpin. “Our guests have told us they want to explore different parts of the world with Disney Cruise Line, and we’re delighted to provide them with an authentic European experience combined with a fun, family-friendly cruise only Disney can deliver.”

Continuing to offer a diverse array of itineraries, for the summer of 2008, Disney Cruise Line will reposition the Disney Magic to the West Coast for seven-night cruise vacations to the Mexican Riviera. Beginning May 25, 2008, the Disney Magic will sail 12-consecutive cruises from the Port of Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta.

The celebratory fireworks show in Barcelona was choreographed to music that played upon Disney’s rich musical history and celebrated the European destinations the Disney Magic will visit this summer. Thousands of local residents gathered along the Barcelona shoreline to catch a glimpse of the Disney Magic and join the festivities. A chorus of cheers filled the ship’s decks when the show paid tribute to the newly released film, “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.” The film made its debut on the Disney Magic later that evening.

Disney Cruise Line guests sailing in the Mediterranean will find several new surprises including a brand new stage spectacular at the Walt Disney Theatre, a Mediterranean-themed deck party, European-themed activities for children and family-friendly shore excursions at ports of call. To prepare for the journey, for the first time ever, iPod users can find Mediterranean themed content–port information, travel tips and language guides–plus movies and TV shows in a special travel entertainment store created exclusively by iTunes for Disney Cruise Line.

“It was important to add new surprises for our guests during our first-ever European adventure,” says Jim Urry, Vice President of Entertainment and Shore Excursions. “We looked for creative ways to showcase the international flavor of our destinations through onboard and excursion activities allowing the entire family to become immersed in the Mediterranean experience.”

Lavish entertainment is a Disney Cruise Line hallmark, and two notable additions were developed specifically for the Mediterranean sailings. Mickey Mouse’s dreams come to life in When Mickey Dreams, a musical spectacle guided by a cast of “dream seekers” at the Walt Disney Theatre. The show’s unique, artistic nature will thrill guests, while a nightmare visit by the notorious villain Maleficent serves up a few chills.

One night during the cruise, guests will celebrate the summer in the Mediterranean at a carnival-inspired deck party called Party Paradiso. With the help of special effects designed to light up the night, Disney characters and performers ignite the spirit of fun and adventure as guests prepare to explore new horizons.

Youth counselors, who are expertly skilled at keeping children of any age engaged and entertained, will weave the cultures of the ship’s destinations into many of the children’s activities. Up to 70 new activities for kids 3-17 have been planned for the Mediterranean, including Crêpe-making, puppet-crafting, pizza-baking and mosaic tile-making.

The company signed a letter of intent with Meyer Werft shipyard, based in Papenburg, Germany, to negotiate a contract to build the 122,000-ton new cruise liners, which will be two decks taller than the existing 83,000-ton ships, the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder. Each ship will have 1,250 staterooms. Specific design plans and itineraries for the yet-unnamed ships are still in development and will be unveiled at a later date.

“Since our maiden voyage in 1998, Disney Cruise Line has been a huge success for our guests and for our shareholders alike,” Iger said. “It has brought our unparalleled family vacation experience to the high seas, and has also generated high margins and double digit returns on invested capital. We’re excited to announce the expansion of our fleet, which is a logical next step in what is a real growth business for us.”

Disney Cruise Line established the family market within the cruise industry when the business launched in 1998. The first two ships were purpose built for families to reconnect and recharge while creating vacation memories that will last a lifetime. From a theater featuring live musical spectaculars to a luxurious spa for adults and nearly an entire deck dedicated to children’s activities, the ships offer something for every member of the family. Disney Cruise Line continues to grow by attracting passengers who say they would not have cruised if it hadn’t been for the Disney brand.

“Focusing on families has been smart business for us,” said Jay Rasulo, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “More than 95 percent of Disney Cruise Line guests rate their cruise experience as excellent or very good. Families know they can trust us to provide a quality, immersive Disney experience. As a result, Disney Cruise Line continually sets sail with the highest load factors in the industry of nearly 150 percent.”

Similar to the original Disney Cruise Line ships, the new ships will be a modern interpretation of classic ocean liners of the 1930s. Disney Imagineers drew their inspiration from the original trans-Atlantic ships that featured a dramatic black hull with two funnels and porthole windows. The profile of the ships, with its gentle curves at the stern combined with sleek angles at the bow, are reminiscent of the art deco designs of the era. To add whimsy to the classic design, the Disney ships have the same exterior color palette as Mickey Mouse with black, white, red and yellow. The new ships will feature elegant, detailed Disney scrollwork at the bow and will evoke images of the glamour of the golden age of cruising.

Tom McAlpin, the President of Disney Cruise Line, said, “This is an exciting time for Disney Cruise Line, and we are looking forward to working with Meyer Werft to blend our innovation and creativity with their fine craftsmanship. Meyer Werft has a long tradition of building magnificent ships. We are confident that the result will be ships that take the immersive Disney family-focused cruise experience to an entirely new level.”

New itineraries

Disney Cruise Line, which traditionally offers 3-, 4- and 7-night Caribbean cruises, has also enjoyed strong demand for new itineraries. Trips to the Mediterranean and to the West Coast have recently set booking records within the company and booked 30-50 percent faster than the existing itineraries at higher prices.

“With a larger fleet, we’ll have greater flexibility to offer a variety of itineraries,” Rasulo said. “This is a business that our guests love, and we’re pleased to give them more options to explore the world with Disney with two new ships.”