Disney Dream Build Begins in Earnest

Today the Disney Cruise Line is celebrating the first keel laying of the new cruise ship the Disney Dream.

After years of design dream the ship will now begin to take shape and the keel laying ceremony marks the start of the build process. This special maritime ceremony marks the momentous occasion when the first block of the ship is lowered into the building dock and a coin is placed under the keel for good fortune.

Captain Tom Forberg performed the honours today, placing the coin under the keel. Forberg was the first crew member hired and the captain who launched the Disney Magic and the Disney Wonder. He was recently named as the future Master of the Disney Dream.

Now that the build has really begun the ship will continue to take shape through a block construction process. Pre-fabricated complete hull sections are joined together in block units and are then brought together to form the ship. In all 80 blocks will be joined together to form the Disney Dream – with the first weighing almost 380 tons.

The Disney Dream will join the present fleet in 2011, followed by the Disney Fantasy in 2012. The ocean liners have been designed to deliver a unique family vacation and further design details will be released later this year.

The Home Ports

Both cruise liners will call Port Canaveral, Florida their home port. Port enhancements including an extension to the dock, enlargements to the one-of-a-kind Disney terminal building and a multi-level parking structure will provide guests with a seamless transition from land to sea.

From 2011 the Disney Wonder will move to the Port of Los Angeles.

Disney Cruise Line Future Itineraries

The Disney Cruise Line continues to expand its itineraries with plans for the Disney Magic to set sail in the Mediterranean region during the summer of 2010. In addition to the popular ports in Spain, Italy and France, the ship will visit Tunis, in Northern Africa, the island nation of Malta and Corsica. The Disney Magic will find itself docking at Northern European ports including German and Scandinavian ports.

Itineraries for 2011 will be announced during the D23 EXPO in California this September.