Johanna Jainchill
The four-deck high "water coaster" on Disney Cruise Line's upcoming ship, the Disney Dream, might grab the most headlines, but the vessel's "virtual porthole" concept is in many ways a more interesting story.
The Dream's windowless, inside cabins will have ocean views, thanks to porthole-shaped screens that will show live video feeds from cameras posted outside the ship.
The views correspond to the cabin's location, so passengers in inside cabins will see the same views and weather that people in an oceanview cabin on the same side of the ship would see.
The concept goes against the trend of beefing up amenities for the highest paying customers: concierge lounges, restaurants for spa-class passengers, sunbathing areas for suite guests and color-coded cabin keys to show that you paid a lot for your stateroom.
The virtual porthole is a bonus given to the Dream's 150 lowest-level accommodations, which start at $389 per person for a three-day cruise.
The tactic is probably a good one. By sweetening the entry-level cabin, Disney may make a loyal fan out of a first-time cruiser: A passenger who might be willing to try a Disney sailing in an inside cabin but could one day upgrade to a suite.
For that first cruise, that customer will remember paying for an inside cabin -- and getting an ocean view.