Read the Disney Dream special on Skimbaco blog network to get the scoop on the this beautiful new cruise ship with old world charm and feeling, with the newest technology and inventions.

Disney Cruise Line’s newest and the largest vessel Disney Dream was christened on Wednesday morning on January 19th, in the sunny Port Canaveral in Florida. I was one of the lucky members of media to witness the fun yet heart warming event. We were escorted through a red carpet from Disney’s own ship terminal to the dock where a large multimedia display and stage was waiting for us – and the majestic Disney Dream was docked in the front of us. This was my first real ship christening event, even though I remember fondly how we named our boats when growing up. There has always been something mystical about the sea and the sailing vessels to me, and I couldn’t believe my luck to be part of the Disney Dream Christening event. Like Christening a child – christening a boat or ship is a tradition to bless the vessel, and the ship also receives a blessing from a godmother.

The event started with special remarks with Robert A. Iger, the president and CEO of The Walt Disney Company. The stage was taken over by a large scale musical and dance performance where the making of the Disney Dream Blueprints was illustrated. The show was like directly from Disney musicals and told a story how Disney Dream was a true dream come true, and enforced Disney’s mission to make everyone believe dreams come true. In this case, Dream literally came true, and the audience couldn’t but believe.

Next the stage was taken over by Disney’s beloved pirates from Pirates of the Caribbean and Jack Sparrow and Mickey Mouse were the stars of the action packed musical performance with smoke lingering around the stage.

Gigantic inflatable champagne bottle was floating in the water in the front of the stage and Mickey Mouse was not quite ready to perform the christening and pop the bottle on the side of the ship quite yet. He told the anxious audience that the bottle had to be filled with dreams first! The Disney Dream represents not just a dream come true, but also dreams that will come true, and the show continued with more musical performances of dancers and all of the Disney princesses.

Mickey Mouse was busy introducing different “dreams” that were filling the large champagne bottle, and while the musical performances were Broadway style and Disney quality and truly amazing, I liked also the flag parade that included flags of all of the countries of the employees onboard Disney Dream, as well as the navy band playing.

One of the very touching moments was also when the crew onboard was highlighted – and they were all on the verandas of the ship waving to us on the shore. This really describes the attention to the detail Disney has; every single member of the crew is top notch, and as important piece of the puzzle making the Disney guests have an experience they will remember for ever.

When Mickey Mouse announced the bottle was ready and filled with dreams, it was time to bring on the official godmother for the ship to perform the christening together with Tom Staggs, the chairman of the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, and Mickey Mouse. Fairy Godmother showed up, and the audience got its biggest laugh when Tom Staggs said they were actually thinking of another godmother for the Disney Dream, and he also thanked Fairy Godmother for getting him his job. Finally it was time to introduce the real godmother for Disney Dream, Jennifer Hudson, whose dreams had come true, and whose singing career had originally started on Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wonder ship as a performing artist.

Jennifer Hudson performed and the entire cast of the Disney Dream Christening event joined her on the stage and then it was time to bless the ship and do the official christening. A helicopter flew in to lift the large champagne bottle for the final step of the christening. The tradition is to break a champagne bottle on the side of the ship and in Disney style it had to be bigger and better.

The helicopter flew the gigantic champagne bottle on the side of the ship, and it magically popped with confetti and sparks flying out and the ship was christened! Fireworks launched from Disney Dream’s deck in the grand finale of the christening. Disney Dream was ready to set to sail and everyone agreed with me – the event was something most of us had never experienced before.

After the official christening event we were escorted back to the terminal to wait that the beautiful Disney Dream was ready for us to get onboard. The terminal was filling up with giddy excitement and we were ready to be amazed by Disney Dream.

Make sure to subscribe Skimbaco Lifestyle, Skimbaco Travel and Skimbaco Home to get the full coverage of the Disney Dream.

Full disclosure: Disney invited me to the christening cruise and all my expenses except the spa treatments were paid. My opinions are my own.

Meet three new Hanes models: my kids!

I am part of the Hanes Comfort Crew and my family attended the Hanes Comfort Crew kick off trip to DisneyWorld earlier this year – and now my children were asked to be Hanes models for the summer ’10 catalog!

“It’s exciting and cool to try out being a model, maybe I’ll be in magazines and be famous one day”

The Hanes Comfort Crew is a network of social media influencers who interact with Hanes about clothing, comfort and online community. You too can interact with Hanes at their Social Mix Hub. There are amazing members in the group, and I don’t know how I got so lucky to be in the group. Maybe because I know how to chillax and be comfortable? Maybe because I have tried and tested (with three kids!) that their products last in use? Maybe because as a former clothing retailer I know a good brand and good quality when I see it?

The Hanes PR and brand people were able to meet my children this spring, and see in first person who they are, and now they offered all three an unique modeling opportunity!

“It’s gonna be awesome, I’m so excited, I want to be a model just like mama was when she was a teenager”.

My kids are getting an amazing opportunity to be in a Summer 2010 Hanes catalog. I am so proud, and yes, excited too! When I had my clothing store my kids used to model for my store, and they actually liked it. My two youngest ones auditioned for a movie this spring, and I think they have the same gene as their parents – they like to try out new exciting things. Now they are getting this opportunity to see what it is to be a model, have a professional photographer to take photos and what it really is. Who knows, maybe they are interested in pursuing modeling more after the trip – or just scratch it off as one of the things “I’ve done”.

“I’m excited to go because I know it’s gonna be a lot of fun.”

We are leaving for a four day shooting trip on Saturday, and I’m already busy packing.

Can you guess where we are going…?

Yes! We are going for a Disney Cruise to Bahamas!

Ever since I did the Disney Cruise in January I have wanted to take kids for a cruise too. There is so much fun for kids and I sort of felt bad for going without kids. This time our whole family is going, so exciting!

$50 Hanes Gift Card Giveaway

I think this news requires a little giveaway, don’t you think? I decided to raffle one 50$ Hanes Gift Card for one Skimbaco Lifestyle reader.

Enter to win $50 Hanes Gift Card

1. Subscribe Skimbaco Lifestyle in your email box and leave a comment you are a subscriber.
OR
2. Post a picture of your little “Hanes model” (your kid) in your blog, and link back to this blog post and leave a comment with your link. I bet as one of the Comfort Crew members and all, I can ask Hanes to check out the posts… Just sayin’.

DEADLINE: September 27th midnight EST.

My recent cruise on Disney Wonder was amazing, and I already wrote how much fun the Disney Wonder cruise is for adults, now I wanted to share my thoughts why you should add Disney Cruise to your family’s vacation wish list. Especially now when kids can get 50% off their tickets.
The 50% off offer is good when traveling with two paying adults on the same stateroom and for 3-, 4- and 7-Night cruises on most sail dates from April 18, 2009 through May 31, 2009. See more great Disney Cruise travel offers.

Easiness of travel

Disney makes it so easy to travel with children. When you are checking in for your flight, you can actually check in your luggage to go to all the way to your stateroom in the boat – yes, right at your home airport. Your luggage is picked up by Disney at the Orlando airport and transported directly to the boat. And you can take the easy shuttle bus from the Orlando airport to Port Canaveral where you will set the sail. Just remember that it may take a few hours to get your luggage transported to your stateroom. And when you are leaving the cruise to go home – all you have to do is to put your luggage outside of your stateroom at the certain time, and it will be picked and taken outside the terminal right before the customs, so you can easily walk out of the boat without lugging your belongings. This is a huge plus for families – how many times I remember trying to carry all the bags, holding the kids, and even the dog (in Europe you have take dogs along for cruises) when waiting in the crowded lobby to get out of the boat. Disney cruises are different. Everything is made very easy for you.

And speaking of easy travel.. Did you know that you can actually order and have your diapers, baby food, infant formula, and other travel items sent directly to your stateroom at any Disney Cruise boats or any other Disney destination? This is a whole new way of traveling with the little ones! Read more details at Babies Travel Lite

Entertainment

Disney Wonder has a theater and a movie theater, and every night you can enjoy a different musical. On the 3-day Disney Wonder Cruise to Bahamas you will see The Toy Story Musical, The Golden Mickeys and Disney Dreams musicals. Amazing performances on a 1000 seat theater that spans over three decks high. The movie theater shows the newest Disney movies that are playing in movie theaters. There is even a huge movie screen at the poolside and kids can watch the Disney classics while playing in the pool.

Activities

There are several pools for kids of any age, and also one adults only – check out the picture of the fun water slide on board Disney Wonder. But swimming isn’t the only activity for kids by any means. There are different activities for each age group. The babies can take a nap at the Disney Wonder’s fully equipped nursery and kids 3-7 years old can enjoy variety of fun at the Oceaneer Club and Lab. When we visited the club, the kids were having fun with the chef from the movie Ratatouille and baking some chocolate chip cookies. At any given time of the day, there is a fun activity for kids at some part of the boat. There are also several excursions at the Bahamas destinations to go with the kids of all ages.

Photo: Amy of Selfish Mom

What I also really liked that it’s not just the obvious Disney age groups that are covered. There is not such thing as being too old for Disney, whether you are a teenager or an adult. There are so many activities for tweens and teens. And one of the coolest hang out places your family’s teen (13-17) is the Aloft – where there have the internet cafe, big plasma TVs, movies, video games and teens can jam with GuitarHero or relax and watch movies in the lounge chairs and take a break from all of the other activities. One of the things that really impressed me at the Disney Wonder was the basketball court on the top deck. I mean come one – playing ball with the ocean views?? Where was this fun when I was a teen? Oh, and the deck activities include playing ping pong and shuffleboard, and there is a separate gaming room for gamers.

Over all the Disney Cruise is a great experience for the whole family, and you can go all the way for a 7-day-cruise, or just test it with a 3-day-cruise. I hear that most people who try the 3 or 4-day-cruise return later for the whole week of fun. I really like the idea of first spending a few days at DisneyWorld and then going on a cruise to relax for 3 days after that.

My cruise on Disney Wonder to the Bahamas was with girlfriends (well, we were bunch of mommy bloggers who didn’t know each others prior the trip, now we are girlfriends), and I am impressed by the selection of adult activities it had to offer.

When I was leaving for the cruise, I was a little worried about the “Disney Overload” and being on a Disney Cruise and terribly missing my children. I quickly found out, there is no Disney “overload” and I am just fine without my kids. In fact now I know again what the word “relaxation” means, there is plenty of entertainment and things to do for adults without children.

There is something for everyone in the family at the Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wonder. Here are some of my picks for adults:

The Vista Spa & Salon is a full service, luxurious spa with variety of facial and body treatments, hair & nail salon, and several different types of steam rooms and a sauna. The adults only pool is on a deck right outside of the spa, and the adults only gym is right next to it too, so you can easily first work out and then get relaxing treatments or enjoy the spa.

What was absolutely amazing is the Vista Spa Villas. They offer a private room for massage and other treatments and beautiful verandahs with a hot tub and open-air shower (tip: book your Villa for the time when the boat is on the sea, or you will be the one tourists will take photos of). There is champagne was waiting next to the jacuzzi… just overall the romantic and relaxing spot for couples. They also have a single Villa – perfect for a moms’ pampering day.

The excursions list is so long that you will find something fun and exciting, or memorable and relaxing, from the list. The Disney Wonder stops at Nassau and at Disney’s own private island Castaway Cay.

Nassau
We chose to attend the Nassau Segway Tour. I don’t know what I was thinking but I just skimmed through and read Segway and thought it was some type of a boat and signed up. Well, I found out pretty quickly that it was not a boat, in fact we were mall-copping around the back bushes of Nassau. It was actually a lot of fun, but in a geeky way – and because I was with a very cool group of women (and one man, Travis from Canada).

Nassau Segway fun: Me, (Travis from Canada on the back), Amy, Arianne, Denene, Melanie, who has an awesome recap of our Nassau day (with videos you don’t want to miss), Maria and Kim.

I think next time I will skip the Segway tour and do something that involves boats, there are plenty to choose from, from catamaran to glass bottom. (Note to myself: if you don’t know what a word means – google it.)

You might also want to google conch, because that’s your exotic Bahamian food specialty. Thanks to Maria Bailey we found an excellent authentic-for-tourists conch restaurant, Conch Fritters, in the little downtown of Nassau, and had some fried conch and conch salad for lunch. It was very good, especially the fried type. Conch is the large pink sea shell with a (delicious) snail living inside. I had to buy one of the empty conches for five bucks from a street vendor when we were walking back to Disney Wonder – now it’s staring at me on my bookshelf and reminding me of the warm breezes of the Bahamas and making me suddenly so hungry.

Castaway Cay

Castaway Cay is Disney’s own private island, and the Disney Wonder docks right on the beach and you can walk to sandy beaches and several different activities like snorkeling, riding a bike around the island, sail around the island with your rental boat or pretty much anything you can imagine you can do on your beach vacation. We chose the stingray feeding, which was an amazing experience and I would recommend it to anyone who likes animals. The stingrays don’t have teeth, so they just kind of suck the food of your hand. It was really cool how they had taught the stingrays to get their food from a Mickey shaped plate and we just put our hands firmly down on the plate and held the food between the fingers and the stingrays just came and sucked the food away.

The nice thing about the Castaway Cay for adults was that they had a totally separate beach section only for adults (there was also a teenager only beach, very nice touch for older kids), so it was nice and relaxing for those who travel without kids.

Food

Food… I think there is so much to say about the Disney food on board Disney Wonder, that I will try to do a whole new blog post just about the food. One of the excellent examples of the superior Disney customer service was that guests eat in a different restaurant every night to get a different dining experience – but the servers are the same every night. So your waitress will learn to know you and your individual likes and dislikes and it gives a very nice touch for the whole Disney cruise experience.

I will also follow up soon with a blog post about everything the Disney Cruises have to offer for kids.

PS. I will be changing the photos of the top right corner and you’ll see new photos from my Disney Cruise experience every time you refresh the page.

You might have noticed the Disney Mom Blogger Cruise button on my side bar…

Yes, it is a special cruise for special mommy bloggers. Well, I think it’s for very special mommy bloggers, since I’m going these amazing blogging superstars are going: Arianne from To Think Is To Create, Maria from My Teen Alien, Melanie from Don’t Try This At Home, Kim from Traveling Mom, Denene from My Brown Baby, and Amy from Selfish Mom.

I am so excited to go to the cruise, for fun and to meet all the fellow mommy bloggers. It is a 3-day Disney Cruise to Bahamas, and while I have been in several cruises before, I have never been to Bahamas before, so it will be all new to me. I’m thankful for the opportunity and can’t wait to share my trip with you guys.

If you are planning a Disney Cruise, check out my previous post and find out how kids sail free on Disney Wonder.

UPDATE: I have already left for my cruise and will be back on Sunday evening. I will have a limited internet access while on the cruise, but I will be tweeting when ever I get the change.