Epic Games co-founder Tim Sweeney today announced that Disney is working on Star Wars VR rides for its parks. He said as much during his keynote talk at the 2016 Steam Dev Days conference in Seattle. It was just a small tease, though it’s already got us thinking of how cool an updated version of classic simulator Star Tours would be.
Cruise Critic®, the world’s leading cruise reviews site and online cruise community, has named the winners of its 9th annual Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards, naming the best cruise lines of the year across dozens of categories, as chosen by the site’s international team of editors. This is the first year that Cruise Critic has named a full list of winners in a luxury category.
“Cruising has evolved an incredible amount over the past few years,” explains Colleen McDaniel, Senior Executive Editor of Cruise Critic. “With so many innovations in technology, onboard offerings and the overall vacation experience, there are some great options out there for those looking to plan a cruise. This list – hand-selected by our cruise experts based on their own first-hand experiences and extensive coverage of the industry — highlights those lines that stand out among an impressive line-up helping travelers narrow down their choices and feel confident when making a booking decision.”
Carnival Vista – Best New Ship – Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards 2016. Photo Credit – Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Vista – Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship, launched in May 2016 – was named the year’s Best New Ship, with editors stating it may be Carnival’s best ship ever. The ship was praised for its wide-ranging amenities, including an onboard water park, brewery and 14 restaurants. The line also won Best Value for Money for the third consecutive year for its affordable fares and complimentary activities and dining venues.
Disney Cruise Line was named Best Dining and Best for Families, with editors highlighting the standout service and food in the line’s dining venues, and the variety of onboard venues for family members of all ages – from kids clubs to adults-only venues.
In the river category, AmaWaterways was named the year’s Best River Cruise Line for its attractive amenities for a wide range of travelers – including families and active cruisers – helping to expand river cruising’s audience and offerings. The line was also named Best for Families for its new partnership with Adventures by Disney.
Viking River Cruises received Best Itineraries for the second year in a row, for providing river cruising’s widest range of river options. Emerald Waterways received Best Value for Money – also for the second consecutive year – for its competitive pricing and number of base price inclusions.
In the inaugural luxury category, Seabourn was named the Best Luxury Cruise Line for its impeccable service, creative itineraries and sophisticated touches. Viking Ocean Cruises was named Best Value for Money for its extensive list of inclusions.
Seattle was named the Best U.S. Homeport in this year’s Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards for its numerous attractions and new Central Link light rail system, making it easier than ever for cruisers to enjoy the port’s charms.
2016 Cruise Critic Editor’s Picks Awards
Best New Ship: Carnival Vista
Best Ship Refurbishment: Cunard’s Queen Mary 2
Best Dining: Disney Cruise Line
Best Entertainment: Norwegian Cruise Line
Best Standard Cabins: Holland America Line
Best Inside Cabins: Royal Caribbean International
Best Suites: Royal Caribbean International
Best Itineraries: Celebrity Cruises
Best Shore Excursions: Princess Cruises
Best for Adventure: Lindblad Expeditions
Best for Romance: Princess Cruises
Best for Families: Disney Cruise Line
Best Value for Money: Carnival Cruise Line
Best Nightlife: MSC Cruises
Best North American Homeport: Seattle, WA
River Category
Best River Cruise Line: AmaWaterways
Best New River Cruise Ship: Crystal Mozart
Best Luxury River Cruise Line: Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Best Dining: Tauck River Cruising
Best Cabins: Avalon Waterways
Best Itineraries: Viking River Cruises
Best Shore Excursions: Scenic
Best Enrichment: American Cruise Lines
Best for Active Cruisers: AmaWaterways
Best for Families: Adventures by Disney/AmaWaterways
Best Value for Money: Emerald Waterways
Luxury Category
Best Luxury Cruise Line: Seabourn Cruise Line
Best New Luxury Ship: Regent’s Seven Seas Explorer
Best Refurbishment: Azamara Journey/Azamara Quest
Best Dining: Oceania Cruises
Best Cabins: Regent Seven Seas
Best Itineraries: Silversea Cruises
Best Shore Excursions: Azamara Club Cruises
Best Enrichment: Crystal Cruises
Best for Romance: Windstar Cruises
Best Value for Money: Viking Ocean Cruises
Best Spa: Viking Ocean Cruises
Contact Travel Agents, Scott and Becky Donahue, of Wish Upon a Star With Us to plan and book your vacation.
We are excited to announce that the popular Royal Court Royal Tea experience, which until recently was only available aboard the Disney Fantasy, is expanding and will now be available on all four Disney Cruise Line ships.
On the Disney Dream, Guests can already enjoy this experience at Royal Palace on all 4-night sailings. The offering will be extended to all 3-night sailings of the Disney Dream beginning Nov. 4, 2016. Royal Court Royal Tea will be offered on theDisney Wonder at Triton’s on all itineraries beginning Nov. 10, 2016. And, the experience will be offered on the Disney Magicat Lumiere’s on all itineraries beginning Dec. 11, 2016.
Most theme park Halloween events go for the jugular with sneak-attack haunted mazes, nightmarish scare zones, and other scream-worthy shenanigans. Some even push PG-13 boundaries with graphic gore. The Disney parks, however, tone down the terror and keep the seasonal proceedings family-friendly.
Following on the Hamilton producers’ agreement to pay the original cast members a percentage of that show’s mega profits, The Wall Street Journal reports that Disney is planning offer original cast members of its upcoming stage adaptation of Frozen a similar cut of that show’s future profits.
Walt Disney Studios has been diving deep into the Disney Vault in recent years, offering updated, live-action versions on some of its most beloved animated classics. And the trend won’t stop anytime soon.
A new original animated television series, Marvel’s Spider-Man, will debut on Disney XD in 2017.
B-Roll including Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow and new “Villains Float”
When the already massive “World of Disney” store at Disney Springs expanded to become even larger in late 2015, this not only brought more floor space for merchandise but also room to include even more references to Disney’s animated characters.
Walt Disney World has had a crazy 2016, not only with the opening of new rides, restaurants and shops all around the resort, but also the closing of the Main Street Electrical Parade, lackluster summer attendance, and the surprise appearance of Hurricane Matthew.
