Disney Cruise Line: The Disney MAGIC

First in the Disney Cruise Line fleet was the Disney Magic. Christened July 28, 1998, the ship set sail with a celebrity-filled manifest listing director George Lucas, NBA star David Robinson, country singer Travis Tritt, actor Sidney Poitier, actress/voice over artist Jodi Benson, and then Disney CEO Michael Eisner. Also in attendance were Walt Disney’s nephew Roy and his wife Patty, who were named the ship’s godparents. It was Patty who christened the ship with a 3-foot bottle of champagne sent smashing into the ship’s hull by remote control.

Setting sail with the Magic was a new venture for the Walt Disney Company, but the ship itself brought a new magic of its own to the entire cruise industry. When Disney conceived their fleet, they looked not at contemporary counterparts but at the splendor and elegance of early 20th century ocean travel, to the golden age of ocean liners, and added to it Disney’s unique touch. What resulted was a concise combination of haute culture and simple fun. With the Magic Disney launched a travel experience unmatched by competitors and plussed the cruise experience.

Specially commissioned paintings, sculptures and woodwork, as well as rare animation cels from the expansive Disney archive, provide rich detail for  the ship’s Art Deco interior, and gleaming fixtures and furnishings fill the ship with grand design. Come aboard and experience the fine artistry, top technology, and innovative Imagineering that mark Disney Cruise Line’s Magic. (Contact our friends at 3D Travel Company for your FREE quote today!)

Today’s Takeaway:

No one likes to consider sunken ships when sailing aboard an ocean liner, but Guests on Disney Cruise Line can’t help but notice design inspirations reminiscent of such opulent early 20th century predecessors as the RMS Titanic. Possibly the most famous ship in recorded history, its tragic fate sent engineers back to the drawing board and established a plethora of sailing safety regulations. However, its magnificent grandeur, like its six-deck grand staircase, coupled with its comfortable staterooms and its family-friendly entertainment areas, are some of the aspects Disney chose to emulate in its fleet design.

For the 1997 film depiction of Titanic’s sinking, artists and researchers meticulously designed ornate sets, recreating furniture pieces, artwork, even jewelry and clothing fashions from photographs and written accounts of the time. Many artifacts from the wreckage itself have been brought to the surface, restored, and displayed over the years since Titanic’s discovery in September of 1985. The ship itself, though, must remain in its final resting place, because it has decomposed too significantly to survive such disruption. Even at the bottom of the ocean, and after nearly 100 years have passed, the ship’s splendor is evident, as seen in underwater photographs from Expedition Titanic.

It is estimated that 20% of the Titanic has already succumbed to decay, and researches believe the entire ship will completely collapse as living organisms called rusticles—“icicle-like formations caused by metal-eating microorganisms”—continue to “recycle” the ship’s steel. Under 12,000 feet of water, the earth’s natural cycles continue!

Consider rate of decomposition of the Titanic. The ship, consisting largely of steel, rests at an approximate depth of 12,500 feet. It has been entombed in a saltwater shrine at a near constant 39 degrees Fahrenheit for 99 years under 6,000 pounds per square inch of pressure (that’s 400 times greater than on the Earth’s surface!). Given this information, how many more years do you estimate will pass before Titanic completely disintegrates?

Note: The above photos are via the Promenade at Expedition Titanic, ©RMS Titanic, Inc. Take a deeper look, learn details about Titanic‘s demise, discover its location, see live views and underwater photos and videos of Titanic, and learn more about Expedition Titanic’s discoveries and preservation efforts by visiting their website.

SCHOOL SUBJECT: Chemistry, History
SKILL LEVEL: High School