What to Expect on the New Disney Ship

When the Disney Wish set sail on its inaugural voyage in June 2022, it kicked off a new era for Disney Cruise Line. It kept what fans — including Travel + Leisure readers, who continue to rank Disney Cruise Line among the best cruise lines in our annual World’s Best Awards — love and made the experience even better. Across the company’s theme parks, hotels, and cruise ships, storytelling is a key part of the Disney ethos, and the Wish brought the enchantment of classic fairy tales to life on a ship that felt more like a floating castle.

I thought it was their best ship — until the Treasure came along. The second in Disney Cruise Line’s Wish class of ships, the brand-new Treasure inspires a sense of adventure, evoking exciting and heartwarming stories including “Aladdin,” “Moana,” and “Coco” with immersive experiences, themed décor, and tiny details all around the ship.

Excited to experience “A Whole New World” on this ship, I set off on one of the Treasure’s very first sailings. What I found was a beautiful, intricately themed ship that lets guests step into the worlds of their favorite theme park attractions (hello, Haunted Mansion Parlor), take in Broadway-caliber productions of Disney classics, dance with Mickey and pals, and dine with superheroes — all in one night.

From the moment I stepped into the soaring Grand Hall — and spotted Jasmine and Aladdin waving not far from their statues in the center of the atrium — this ship felt special. I traveled with my mother and adult sister, and on our first night on board, we happened upon a character dance party in the Grand Hall after dinner and joined the Fab Six on the dance floor. One of the wonderful things about a Disney Cruise is having all these magical encounters in a closer, more relaxed environment than in a theme park, and it’s something all ages can enjoy. 

After my three-night preview sailing, I was ready for another three nights. Fortunately, the new ship is kicking off its inaugural year with seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, so future sailors will have plenty of time to experience the ship. 

And the Disney Cruise Line fleet is growing rapidly, matching consumer demand for the often sold-out sailings and expanding to previously unserved destinations. By 2031, the cruise line is set to have 13 ships sailing from ports around the globe, more than doubling the size of the fleet in less than 10 years. “This is an unprecedented era of growth for Disney Experiences, and a dramatic period of expansion at Disney Cruise Line,” said Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, at a Disney Treasure christening event in November. The next ship in the Wish class, the Disney Destiny, will set off on its first voyage less than a year from now, in November 2025. 

As T+L’s resident Disney cruiser, here’s my review of the newest Disney Cruise ship, the Disney Treasure. 

Staterooms

The Disney Treasure’s 1,256 staterooms include cozy inside cabins, ocean-view rooms with windows, family-friendly veranda rooms, concierge-level suites, and over-the-top Royal Suites. The two-story Tomorrow Tower Suite, located inside the ship’s iconic red forward funnel, is the most exclusive accommodation on board, with design inspired by Epcot (keep an eye out for theme park icon, Figment, throughout the suite). Other rooms incorporate images and designs inspired by films like “Encanto,” “The Jungle Book,” and “The Lion King.” I stayed in a Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah, which had room to sleep up to five people with a queen bed, a convertible sofa that turns into a single bed, a single bed that pulls down from the ceiling, and a single pull-down bed that comes out from the wall. It’s an ideal setup for families with a few little ones, and larger families can book connecting rooms for more space. Separate rooms for the toilet and the shower make getting ready in the morning much easier and ample storage space means there’s a spot for everything.

Bars and Restaurants

There are three main dinner venues on the Disney Treasure: 1923 is an elegant restaurant inspired by Hollywood’s Golden Age with a collection of animation artwork displayed in every room; Worlds of Marvel is an interactive dining experience with eats inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe; and my personal favorite of the three main dinner experiences, Plaza de Coco, is an immersive experience that picks up where the movie left off for a festive musical dining experience. (Note: If you plan to skip dinner one night, I suggest missing one of your 1923 seatings, as the Worlds of Marvel and Plaza de Coco dinners have a different show each night that you won’t want to miss). 

There are two adults-only restaurants on board, both tastefully “Beauty and the Beast” themed and bookable for an additional fee. Enchanté is the ship’s fine-dining experience created by chef Arnaud Lallement, who helms L’Assiette Champenoise, a French restaurant that has earned and maintained three Michelin stars for a decade. The beautiful, more intimate space sets the tone for a luxe, kid-free experience; I recommend splurging on the tasting menu. Palo Steakhouse serves dinner and brunch (always a great choice during a day at sea) with Italian favorites, steak, and seafood. And The Rose, located at the shared entrance of both restaurants, is a lovely lounge where you can grab a cocktail before or after your meal. 

Of course, there are plenty of casual eateries on board, too. Marceline Market is the main buffet; and Mickey & Friends Festival of Foods is a collection of walk-up stands serving barbecue, Tex-Mex, pizza, fan-favorite chicken fingers, and more. Speciality coffees and more can be found at Jade Cricket Cafe, Heihei Cafe, and Cove Cafe; I especially loved the globally inspired coffee menus at Jade Cricket and Heihei (iced Vietnamese coffee for me, please!). And adorable treats — including more than 30 flavors of homemade gelato — are available at “Zootopia”-themed Jumbeaux’s Sweets.

And among the many bars located throughout the ship, there are several lounges that Disney parks fans won’t want to miss. The Haunted Mansion Parlor feels like you’ve boarded your doombuggy to a bar filled with 999 happy haunts — and keep your eyes peeled, because the lounge is full of Easter eggs for fans of the classic Disney attraction. You never know what spirits might materialize as you sip on your themed cocktails. 

Skipper Society brings the quirkiness and tropical vibes of the Jungle Cruise to this much bigger ship, and Periscope Pub takes guests under the sea in a space inspired by the “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” attraction. Don’t forget to look up: The fish swimming overhead were actually recorded in Epcot’s The Seas with Nemo and Friends pavilion. Scat Cat Lounge — an upscale piano bar with touches from “The Aristocats” — was my favorite spot for imaginative cocktails; there’s even a cocktail that’s garnished with half a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich. 

Disney uses a rotational dining schedule, so your servers stick with you every night throughout the cruise in the main restaurants (shout out to Josette and Nelson, who never failed to make us smile every night at dinner!). 

Experiences and Amenities 

Disney cruises have packed daily schedules with events and activities for all ages (like the adults-only Match Your Match show and family-friendly Disney trivia). But even when you’re not hanging out with Goofy or belting out “Let It Go” at karaoke, there are so many spaces to explore on the ship. The upper decks have several pools of varying depths and sizes, a Toy Story splash area for little ones, and the AquaMouse water attraction. In the Hero Zone, families can battle it out over air hockey or in a massive inflatable obstacle course, while in the Wonderland and Never Land Cinemas, you can chill out and watch some of the newest Disney releases. The sleek fitness center is a great place to sweat it out, with classes like yoga, pilates, and various bootcamps.

If your little ones love to play dress up, be sure to book an appointment at the always-adorable Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. And all ages can get glam at Hook’s Barbery or Untangled Salon. 

And if you love Disney merch, you can grab ship-exclusive gear at the shops on board, or shop around the other stores for accessories, jewelry, and more. 

Entertainment

Disney really shines when it comes to entertainment. And though many cruise lines claim to have “Broadway-caliber” shows, in my opinion, none live up to that promise as well as Disney. On other cruise lines, I’d be tempted to skip the nightly shows, but these are truly can’t-miss experiences that make the cruise memorable. “Disney Seas the Adventure,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and the all-new “Disney The Tale of Moana” are the three entertainment headliners guests can look forward to during their cruise, and I enthusiastically recommend all three. “Disney The Tale of Moana” is only available on the Treasure, and it’s a stunning retelling of the musical movie that features the beloved soundtrack with songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Larger-the-life puppets, breathtaking projections, massive set pieces, and delightful surprises (that I won’t spoil here) enhance the heart-tugging story, making this show a cruise highlight for me. My mom, sister, and I even considered skipping dinner just so we could watch it again. 

There are several smaller-scale shows and interactive entertainment experiences every day; you’ll want to download the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app before you go, so you can stay up-to-date with everything happening on board. 

Don’t miss the show and fireworks on Pirate Night, a Disney Cruise Line tradition. (Bonus points if you remember to pack your pirate hat!) And be sure to go to the farewell show in the gorgeous Grand Hall on the final night — you’ll have the chance to hug your favorite characters one last time.

Kids’ Clubs

Disney is the most family-friendly cruise line out there, and your family can enjoy so much that the ship has to offer together. That said, your little ones might not want to hang out with you once they see all the cool things waiting for them in the supervised kids’ clubs on board. 

Starting with the oldest kids, The Hideaway is the place to be for older teens/young adults, and The Vibe is a space just for teens over 14. Edge is for tweens ages 11 to 14, and the “It’s a Small World” Nursery is ready to welcome the littlest cruisers ages six months to three years old. Disney’s Oceaneer Club — for kids ages three to 10 — is undoubtedly the coolest of the kids spaces. In fact, given the chance, I think most adults would want to hang out there, thanks to the immersive Marvel Super Hero Academy, Star Wars: Cargo Bay, Walt Disney Imagineering Lab, and Fairytale Hall areas. Plus, they can just slide down into the club from the Grand Hall, so they’ll be more than excited to leave you to your adults-only Palo Steakhouse brunch. Each of these kids’ clubs offer their own exclusive activities each day, so remember to check out the schedule on the app once you get on board and favorite the activities you don’t want to miss. 

Adults-only Experiences

Disney knows that adults want to find a little magic on vacation, too, so they’ve created adults-only spaces where you can unwind without your younger sailors. Beyond the adults-only restaurants and the bars mentioned above, over-18s can take a dip in the Quiet Cove Pool on the adults-only deck or get a treatment at Senses Spa & Salon. 

Accessibility 

All Disney Cruise Line ships offer a range of options and services for guests with accessibility needs. There are accessible rooms on the Treasure (including communication staterooms for guests with hearing disabilities) with additional special equipment available upon request. There are also ASL interpreters available upon request. The full list of accommodations can be found on the Disney Cruise Line website. Beach wheelchairs are also available at Castaway Cay.

Where the Ship Sails 

The Disney Treasure will be sailing seven-night Eastern Caribbean and seven-night Western Caribbean sailings from Florida’s Port Canaveral. All sailings include stops at Disney’s private island, Disney Castaway Cay, and festive Halloween or holiday cruises are available to book now, too.