On board with “helmsman Mickey”

Disney Cruise Line, a company owned by Walt Disney Park and Resorts founded in 1996 to cover the maritime vacation business segment, operates large cruise ships according to criteria based on those of the group’s land-based theme parks. The first ship, the Disney Magic, was launched in 1998. Built in Italy by Fincantieri, it has a length of 300 metres, a width of 32 metres, a height of 53 metres, a gross tonnage of 84,000 tons and space for 2713 passengers and 950 crew members. But fifteen years is a long time to go with only routine maintenance. So in 2013 an extensive refit was planned for the Disney Magic, including both a functional and aesthetic upgrade. The first stage was carried out in dry dock in the Navantia shipyards in Cadiz, Spain to allow work to be performed on the submerged part of the ship. During this stage the hull was repainted and maintenance performed on the propulsion systems. The structure was also significantly altered with the installation of a ducktail (an extension of the hull to increase stability) on the stern. The restyling of the above-water portion of the ship and the interiors then continued during the return journey to Florida. Numerous innovations were introduced. On boarding the ship, guests are welcomed by a spectacular art deco style lobby redesigned on three levels and inspired by sea themes. Everywhere there are fabrics and carpets in a mixture of coral, blue and aquamarine colours and shell designs. The sumptuous furnishings, the grand piano and the giant portholes pay tribute to the first ocean liners of the twentieth century. The centrepiece is the bronze statue of “Helmsman Mickey”, in place ever since the Disney Magic was launched. The Disney Oceaner Club, a kingdom of superheroes, fairies and adventure games for children aged 3 to 12, has undergone a major transformation. Marvel characters have been introduced for the first time alongside Andy’s Room (Toy Story), Pixie Hollow (Tinkerbell) and the Mickey Mouse Club. The bathrooms in the public areas have been renovated and Unit Mega Black ceramic tiles from Edilgres Tecnolab installed on the walls. The upper decks have been redesigned with large spaces set aside for water-themed fun and games. One exciting new feature is the AquaDunk slide: the floor opens like a trapdoor to initiate a high-speed, almost vertical plunge from a height of three storeys through a translucent tube. Before splashdown, the tube curves six metres out over the side of the ship. For the less courageous, the Aqualab water park features fountains, pop jets and a 76-metre long looping water slide. Children up to the age of three can splash around with Donald Duck in the new Nephews’ Splash Zone. New walls and large TV screens feature in the Animator’s Palate, the most popular restaurant. Redesigned dining facilities include the new Carioca’s restaurant, offering guests the style and vibrancy of Rio de Janeiro, and the less formal Cabanas.