Photo courtesy of Disney Cruise Line
Already a juggernaut film, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" will be unveiled in theaters next week, and Disney Cruise Line will be raising the curtain on its own "Star Wars" Day at Sea programming aboard eight special Disney Fantasy sailings in 2016. But what if there was a dedicated "Star Wars" cruise ship plowing the waters at light speed? Let's be armchair Walt Disney Imagineers - Disney's imaginative design team - for a moment to create one of our own.
The iconic Millennium Falcon, now impressively featured in Disney's Oceaneer Club on the Disney Dream, implies flight, so perhaps for this hypothetical exercise, a sailing ship in such a universe would carry the name the Millennium Dolphin, especially appropriate for football fans if it were to homeport in Miami, Florida.
Aesthetically, it could feature a cool burnt orange and white livery like the new StarSpeeder 1000 from Star Tours (also the port adventures provider). Of course, an afterburner-like glow from the stern could be an homage to the starship that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs, perhaps visible from below the waterline like the cool submerged lights on the side of the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.
Private accommodations would be chock-full of high-tech Jedi wizardry like illumination (light saber lamps, of course) that could be mind-controlled, and the cabin stewards and butlers would be the protocol droids you're looking for, like C-3PO. Otherwise, the crew would be comprised of all kinds of alien creatures and characters from the franchise, just as the announced "Star Wars" land for Disney's domestic parks will be populated.
As for dining, the famed Mos Eisley Cantina would serve blue milk onboard, accompanied by live jazz music, and restaurants could include the Ewok Grill, hopefully without Han Solo on rotisserie. Menu items would be pun-filled like the Cheese-3PO Burger and Darth by Chocolate dessert, both available now at Disneyland's Galactic Grill as part of "Star Wars" Season of the Force.
Also, the pool deck could be made to resemble the swamps of Dagobah, complete with a ropes course through the forest for Jedi training, and evening entertainment there would feature an audio animatronic Yoda dramatically raising Luke Skywalker's X-wing starfighter from the pool. Other activities could include BB-8 bowling as rebel guests roll the spherical droid from the upcoming film down lanes to knock down imperial pins.
The possibilities are endless, and while such a ship doesn't actually exist, the next best thing is on the way. Commemorating the first official time the franchise will be featured on the Disney Cruise Line, "Star Wars" Day at Sea will be a Force-filled event aboard the Disney Fantasy on the Jan. 9 and 23, Feb. 6 and 20, March 5 and 19 and April 2 and 16 sailings in 2016.
Not only will every "Star Wars" film and episodes of the animated series "Star Wars Rebels" be screened throughout the day, but special guests from the franchise will also be featured and even meet with fans for autograph signings. Plus, meet-and-greets with Darth Vader, Chewbacca, Boba Fett, stormtroopers and other characters will be scheduled.
There will be a version of the parks' Jedi Training experience for young Padawans to learn lightsaber skills and practice against Darth Vader himself, as well as "Star Wars" arts and crafts and other games and activities in the kids facilities. For family fun, competitions will test your knowledge of galactic film and TV trivia. And adults will be able to enjoy the nightclub once themed to the franchise with specialty cocktails and cantina music.
But the pièce de (rebel) résistance will be an epic deck party complete with music, dance, games, characters and an interactive special effects and fireworks show set to the music of none other than John Williams. So, head out to join the Disney Fantasy, and be sure to dress up like your favorite "Star Wars" character to fully represent your fandom.
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