I Boarded the Disney Treasure a Month Before it Sets Sail
Get ready to set sail! Disney’s newest cruise ship, the Disney Treasure, has made its way to the U.S. and will begin sailing with passengers in December. And while you can expect to find some of the favorite immersive elements that make Disney cruises so unique, the Treasure offers plenty of new experiences that you can’t find anywhere else.
Ahead if its maiden voyage, I spent a day touring the Disney Treasure for an exclusive media preview in New York City. I recently sailed on the Disney Wish — which the Treasure is modeled after — and couldn’t wait to see how the newest ship compares. Here's what makes the Disney Treasure stand out from other cruises and what you need to know before booking.
Overview
The Disney Treasure is the sixth ship in the Disney Cruise Line and the second ship in the Wish class, meaning it's the sister ship to the Disney Wish. Overall, the ship layout and offerings are similar, but the Treasure is bringing some "firsts" at sea, including the first at-sea immersive experiences inspired by Disney park attractions and the first-ever Moana show on stage.
The Disney Treasure will take its maidan voyage on December 21, 2024 from Port Canaveral (the closest port to Walt Disney World). It'll embark on week-long itineraries around the Caribbean, unlike its sister ship, the Wish, which has shorter itineraries of 3-4 nights. Like the Wish, the Treasure has fun experiences for all ages and preferences, including options inspired by Disney's fan-favorite franchises like Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel.
This ship stands out in particular for bringing new experiences to life. For starters, you can find lounges — which are family-friendly by day and adult-only at night — inspired by Disney park attractions The Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. It also delivers new offerings inspired by movies, like an immersive dining experience for Coco and an entertainment venue for The Lion King. Beyond that, it's bringing Moana to the stage for the first time with its exclusive Broadway-style show, Disney The Tale of Moana. I got to preview the first act of this show and honestly, the performance alone is reason enough to book this cruise — it was that good!
The Treasure also has elements from other Disney cruise ships that make your vacation memorable, like rotational dining (you switch restaurants but the waitstaff follow you), a variety of Broadway-style shows, unique attractions (like the AquaMouse ride), movie theaters onboard, character meet-and-greets and more.
Theme & Décor
The Treasure's overall theming is centered around adventure. While its sister ship, the Wish, focuses on an enchantment vibe with a Cinderella-themed Grand Hall (i.e., the main hub where you first enter the ship), the Treasure's Grand Hall is themed to Aladdin — and you can spot the motifs throughout.
Dining
One of the main highlights of a Disney cruise (or any cruises for that matter) is the dining experience, and the Treasure is no exception. There are three immersive restaurants that you rotate through for dinner, but your waitstaff follows you to each venue and they quickly learn your preferences. There's also a buffet, a quick-service food court, room service, cafes, lounges, a dessert shop and adult-only restaurants.
When it comes to the main restaurants, there's 1923 (named after the year The Walt Disney Company was founded and themed to the "golden age of animation"), Worlds of Marvel (super hero-themed) and Plaza de Coco (a brand new restaurant inspired by the movie Coco). Because it's a 7-night cruise, you'll dine at each of these at least twice, but you'll get a different immersive experience each time.
Entertainment
Live Shows
Evenings on Disney cruises are themed around 'dinner and a show,' and one of the main highlights of the Treasure is its new show, Disney The Tale of Moana. It's a Broadway-style production based on the Moana movie that brings Moana to the stage for the first time. I watched the first act during our tour day and it was better than I even expected: the cast, scenery and effects all felt so much more elevated than what you'd expect on a cruise ship.
The other live shows on this cruise are Beauty and the Beast and Disney Seas the Adventure, which is also on the Disney Wish and perfect for Disney fans: It includes lots of songs and characters from Disney movies. And like other cruises, you can expect to find comedy shows, live music, interactive games and more on board — there's a live event space called Sarabi that's inspired by The Lion King.
Pools & Water Play
The Treasure's pool deck is similar to the Wish. It has six small pools, each one named after Mickey and his friends, along with a Toy Story-themed splash pad area and water slide. At the center of the pool deck is a giant screen called Funnel Vision, which shows Disney movies throughout the day.
The Wish is home to Disney's first-ever attraction at sea, AquaMouse, and you can find this fan-favorite ride on the Treasure as well. You sit on a two-seater tube and ride through a tunnel with short videos from The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse (the Treasure shows a brand new short called Curse of the Golden Egg). Then it turns out to water ride and you travel through a clear tube that goes over the side of the ship. This ride is popular and has a long line at times on the Wish, so you can expect that to be true on the Treasure. However, when I sailed on the Wish I found there to be little to no waits in the mornings of port days when other passengers left the ship and around dinnertime.
Indoor Recreation
While most cruises have outdoor sports complexes, the Treasure has an indoor space called the Hero Zone, meaning it's usable in all types of weather. There are also two movie theaters on board: The Wonderland Cinema (inspired by Alice in Wonderland) and the Neverland Cinema (inspired by Peter Pan).
Adult Spaces
While the Treasure is certainly family-friendly, it also offers some spaces specifically for the grown-ups. Even if you're traveling with kids, it's worth dropping them off at the kids club so you can check out these spots.
Lounges
There are three new lounges on board the Treasure, all of which are inspired by Disney park attractions — a first for Disney cruises. The Haunted Mansion Parlor has a spooky yet quirky vibe with lots of interactive elements, including a seance with Madame Leota — a can't miss for fans of the Haunted Mansion attraction. Skipper Society is an open lounge inspired by the Jungle Cruise with decoration that makes you feel like you're in the wild. And Periscope Pub is a sports bar inspired by 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea; it makes you feel like you're on a submarine. All of these venues are open to families during the day, but become adults-only at night.
Pool Deck
The top back section of the ship is exclusive for guests 18 and over. You can find the Quiet Cove Pool (perfect for relaxing without kids) and the Cove Café (which has specialty coffee and other beverages). This area also offers great views during the sailings.
Restaurants
Similar to the Disney Wish, the Treasure has Palo Steakhouse (focused on Italian cuisine) and Enchanté (a French restaurant). We didn't visit these venues on my tour of the Treasure, but I dined at Palo Steakhouse during my sailing on the Wish and it was phenomenal.
Spa & Fitness Center
Just like you'll find on other cruises, you can a variety of relaxing and rejuvenating services at Senses Spa. A big highlight during my tour was the spa's Rainforest Room, a tranquil space with loungers, a steam room and more. Access to this space costs extra, but you can opt for a pass for one day or the entire cruise. There's also a fitness center for those who like to exercise on vacation.
Kids' Club
The kids' club on the Treasure is exactly the same as the one on the Wish, and it was by far the best I had ever seen. My kids had the time of their lives and couldn't get enough of it. We got to visit the It's a Small Word nursery (for under 3) and the Oceaneer Club (for ages 3-10) during our tour of the Treasure, but there's also Edge (for 11-14 year olds) and Vibe (for 14-17 year olds).
The Oceaneer Club is a massive space made up of several different rooms, and the best part is that you can enter via a slide. Inside you'll find Minnie & Mickey's Captain Deck (a play space that's especially good for the younger ages), Fairytale Hall (perfect for princess fans), Walt Disney Imagineering Lab (where kids can create their own projects and even design and ride their own virtual roller coaster), Marvel's Super Hero Academy (where they design their own super hero) and Star Wars: Cargo Bay (where kids participate in an animal-finding assignment with augmented reality).
Slide Entrance to Oceaneer Club
Mickey & Minnie's Captain Deck
Virtual Rides at Walt Disney Imagineering Lab
Fairytale Hall
Star Wars: Cargo Bay
One of the cool things about the kids' club is that they each get a band (or they can use their own MagicBand+) so the staff know exactly which room the kids are in at any given time. They also have characters involved with activities, giving kids a much more immersive experience than a typical meet-and-greet. And there are open house hours where parents can join the kids for fun in the club.
Statetrooms
The staterooms on the Treasure have the same layouts as the rooms on the Wish. There are four main categories: Inside (the most affordable, but the smallest with no windows), Oceanview (which have a window), Verandah (which have a balcony) and Concierge (which consists of staterooms and suites, but give you access to concierge services and exclusive spaces). We toured two of the most sensational suites — a Royal Suite and the Tomorrow Tower Suite, inspired by EPCOT — but I personally stayed in a Deluxe Oceanview with Verandah on the Wish and it was a great layout for my family of four. I especially loved the pull-down bunk beds for the kids, the thick curtain that gave them their own space and the well-thought-out storage throughout the room.
Itineraries
The Treasure will set sail from Port Canaveral in Florida and offer 7-night itineraries in the Eastern and Western Caribbean. This is a big differentiator from the Wish, which offers 3- to 4-night cruises for a shorter trip. On the Treasure, your options are:
7-night Western Caribbean Cruise with stops in Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; Falmouth, Jamaica and Disney Castaway Cay
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise with stops in Tortola, British Virgin Islands; San Juan, Puerto Rico and Disney Castaway Cay
7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruise with stops in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands and Disney Castaway Cay
Though my tour took place in New York City, I visited Disney Castaway Cay while sailing on the Wish. I loved the convenience of having the beach and the activities close to the ship (no extra transportation needed), and most of the offerings on the island are included in the cost of the cruise.
Cost
The cost of the cruise will vary greatly based on size of your party, sailing dates and room type. However for a point of reference, we found that for a family of four (with two adults and two kids), cruises are starting at $6,870 for the 7-day sailing. This price includes the room and most dining options, entertainment and activities, though there are some optional extras.
Bottom line
Absolutely. The Disney Wish was one of the best trips my family has taken, and the Disney Treasure is looking to be just as fun and has the added bonus of several "first-ever" experiences. This cruise is especially good for families who want week-long vacations (as opposed to the Wish, which offers shorter sailings) and travelers who want to visit Walt Disney World either before or after the cruise because of the port's proximity to Orlando.
You Might Also Like
