We won’t bury the lede: the Disney Treasure is our new favorite ship in the DCL fleet, and we strongly suspect it’ll be a fan-favorite for Walt Disney World and Disneyland diehards. This review of the latest cruise ship covers the good and bad, and our big picture first impressions of its strengths and weaknesses.
For those who haven’t followed our Disney Cruise Line coverage, the Disney Wish is my least favorite ship. That’s the immediate predecessor to the Treasure, hence the ‘worst to first’ subtitle to this review. Our Disney Wish Cruise Ship Review covered the reasons for this. Suffice to say, that ship garners strong opinions from passionate cruisers and first-timers, and will likely be your favorite or least favorite ship, with little middle ground.
Despite my largely negative first (and second) impressions of the Disney Wish, I wanted to give it a fair shake and see how my it compared to the Disney Treasure with both fresh in my mind. So, we booked a Very Merrytime Cruise on the Disney Wish right before setting sail on the Disney Treasure. Literally. We disembarked from our family trip on the Wish right before embarking on a media preview sailing of the Disney Treasure. These back-to-back sailings underscored just what a night and day difference the two ships are for me.
Honestly, I’m not sure I would’ve believed my own recollection had we not done these consecutive sailings. This is because, on paper, the two ships are very similar. The Disney Treasure is a Wish-class ship, and that’s immediately obvious once you start walking around. The ships follow almost identical blueprints–meaning the size, scale, layout, and so forth are nearly identical. The structures themselves are the same, it’s how the same canvases are used for different designs that makes the two stand so far apart.
Accordingly, many of the negatives of the Disney Wish are baked into the Disney Treasure. If you look back on our lists covering the “Best of” and “Worst of” the Disney Wish to see what else we think the new ship gets right and wrong, you’ll find a tremendous amount of overlap with the Disney Treasure.
The “Worst of” list, in particular, still resonates. Specifically, my complaints about the layout, AquaMouse, adult areas, and focus all ring true with the Disney Treasure. If you disliked the layout of the Wish (as I do/did) and wondered whether it was designed by someone who had never set foot on a cruise ship (as I do/did), you’ll feel similarly about the Treasure. If you’re disappointed by the high end retail occupying prime real estate in the Grand Hall, that also will still apply. And so forth.
Those are really the biggest negatives and weaknesses of the Disney Treasure, and should not be glossed over. However, I’m not going to fixate on them here, as I’ve already done that with the Disney Wish, and there’s nothing new to add. While the Treasure’s layout was probably set in stone before feedback among Wish guests was received, it would’ve been nice if DCL at least improved wayfinding.
Subtle changes could’ve been made to the Disney Treasure to minimize issues with the counterintuitive layout, but I saw no evidence of that. The biggest change, I guess, is that cruises are generally longer aboard the Disney Treasure, so you have more time to get your bearings. But this is nevertheless concerning that nothing was really done to address these complaints–which are not unique to me–and worries me that the newly-announced roster of ships after the Wish-class might have these same faults if Disney is somehow satisfied with these layouts.
It’s nevertheless really impressive the degree to which the Disney Treasure overcomes its design deficiencies and isn’t simply the second-worst ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. Instead, it’s my favorite thanks to the following highlights…
Grand Hall
One of my biggest complaints about the Disney Wish is its Grand Hall. I previously likened this space to Shanghai Disneyland, which has a superficial veneer of opulence and grandiosity, but that falls apart upon closer inspection. It’s like the tacky, McMansion version of themed design rather than the real thing.
The Grand Hall on the Disney Wish does not have the same attention to detail, texture, or finishings as the legacy ships. It’s photogenic (debatably), but that’s not reinforced by the actual ornamentation and craftsmanship. I’d take that a step further and say there’s no real sense of style, and just rests on the “castle on the seas” idea of being regal…without actually being regal. There’s no there there.
You get the idea. The Grand Hall on the Disney Treasure shares some common bloodlines with the Wish because, again, it’s structurally the same. But instead of a bland and boring style that reads as grandiose, the Imagineers behind the Disney Treasure bet big and bold, and opted for a totally different style: Agrabah.
I’m not sure this look will work for everyone, but it absolutely does for me. One of the things that I really appreciate, in case it wasn’t clear from the forgoing, is that the Grand Hall in the Disney Treasure is distinct. It has a voice. A singular style. It’s as if the designers heard the complaints about the Wish and addressed them head-on.
At the heart of the Grand Hall is a life-size bronze statue of Aladdin, Princess Jasmine and Magic Carpet, right at the base of the grand staircase (along with the magic lamp nearby). Surrounding this statue are more details that are inspired by Aladdin and represent the film’s spirit of adventure…and search for treasure.
The Grand Hall’s intricate carpet evokes the fountain in Jasmine’s courtyard and also features animals you’ll see in the film including Aladdin’s mischievous monkey sidekick Abu, Jasmine’s birds, the golden scarab beetle, and more. Throughout pillars in the Grand Hall, you’ll spot mosaic tiles. These are carried over into other murals that weave together this space with the rest of the ship. It looks great, and is a sharp contrast to the Wish.
The creative decision to draw from Agrabah for the Grand Hall was a bold bet, reflecting even more of a departure from the legacy ships. Because of that, some longtime DCL fans are bound to dislike it. Others might not find it to their tastes. From my perspective, it’s a big swing that looks great and also sets the tone for the rest of the ship and the voyage to come. This ship is not the Wish, and it’s clear from the moment you step foot into that glorious Grand Hall.
Plaza de Coco
I love Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure, which is one of the Highlights of the Disney Wish Cruise Ship. I was reminded of this during our recent sailing, and the “royal engagement party” totally holds up. It has heart, comedy, and even culture authenticity. That Frozen dinner show is arguably the best regular rotational restaurant aboard any Disney cruise ship.
It is “only” arguably the best because Plaza de Coco gives it fierce competition. In talking to everyone else who sailed with us, they all preferred Plaza de Coco. Perhaps there’s some recency bias at play or Coco is still simply underrepresented at the parks, whereas there’s ‘Frozen Fatigue’ among many fans. Or maybe I favor Frozen more than most. (That last part is probably true–the ongoing Frozen hate baffles me.)
No matter, Plaza de Coco is undeniably awesome. It really is like stepping into the world of Coco, complete with a recreation of the Rivera’s Ofrenda and the Plaza de Santa Cecilia. The setting is textured, moody, and atmospheric–especially at night when the lighting really shines, adding an extra dimension and warmth to the scenery.
It’s seriously a night and day–or perhaps day and night–difference to the point that I’d recommend seeking out the second seating if you’re cruising at a time of year when the sun sets early.
Plaza de Coco is set three years after the events of the film and this is evident in seeing how Santa Cecilia and the Rivera family have evolved. There’s a long hallway that leads to the main dining room–just like its Frozen counterpart–and a lot of storytelling and world-building is done in this lengthy corridor. To the point that I’d recommend paying a visit to Plaza de Coco outside of your rotational dining when this area is packed with people.
On 7-night and longer cruises, Plaza de Coco offers 2 distinct nights of live entertainment, featuring beloved characters, favorite songs, and live performers. Both Plaza de Coco shows features Miguel being joined by Héctor and Mama Imelda and singing the most popular Coco and Mexican songs. In fact, the whole experience is one part Coco and one part culturally authentic entertainment.
Our media cruise was 3-nights, during which the second dinner was presented instead of the first. That featured Miguel reuniting with his great-great-grandparents Hector and Mama Imelda. With the help of his magic guitar, he was transported to celebrate Dia de los Muertos—the Day of the Dead. It’s a celebration that can be powerfully emotional, but isn’t depressing or a somber occasion. At its core, Dia de los Muertos is a celebration of life. It’s about the past, but also the future, and of those we love–and keeping them alive in our hearts. It’s really, really well done.
My only disappointment about Plaza de Coco was the food. After hearing people rave about the authentic cuisine, we found our culinary experience to be underwhelming–it was the weakest rotational restaurant for food. Perhaps we just got unlucky or ordered poorly, but our meals were fairly bland and mild and less full of life than the show.
Periscope Pub
I’m inclined to call Periscope Pub the hidden gem of the Disney Treasure, but pretty much everyone I talked to felt that way about it. Can something that’s so beloved truly be a sleeper hit? I guess we call that the Sanaa Paradox: something unequivocally popular with those who have been…but not many people go in the first place.
Periscope Pub is inspired by 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Both the 1954 Walt Disney film and the celebrated Disney Parks attraction that was open at Walt Disney World from 1971 to 1994, and is still open to this day at Tokyo DisneySea, arguably the most underrated attraction there!
Guests dive into the mythical depths of uncharted oceans amidst the submarine-styled interiors and take a look at the watery world below through an intriguing glass ceiling. There are effects, props, and Easter eggs galore, to the point that this really straddles the line between being a normal themed bar and a more immersive experience like the superlative Haunted Mansion Parlor.
As part of a media preview, I had the chance to experience Periscope Pub before the crowds arrived in its “pure” form, which was exceptional. It was moody, serene and calming–I could’ve grabbed my laptop and worked in here for hours. It’s more subtle and less show-heavy than Haunted Mansion Parlor, which definitely makes it more conducive to conversation.
Curious about how the vibe would change during a game (since this is essentially the ship’s main sports bar), I returned for a second “research” visit to watch football. I was shocked at just how well the atmosphere worked for that. It was like a decompressing agent for the high-energy and potentially stressful experience of watching tight football games. If I ever win the lottery, this is what I want my combination office and man cave to be like!
While Periscope Pub is a “no notes” highlight and Haunted Mansion Parlor is the highlight of the Disney Treasure, we found all of the ship’s lounges to be upgrades over their Wish counterparts. Scat Cat Lounge is sophisticated and will appeal to non-Disney fans and enthusiasts alike, even if it could use more cats. Skipper Society is an upgrade over the Bayou, even if it could be more joke and detail-dense. Sarabi is superior to Luna. HeiHei Cafe is charming and quiet. Jade Cricket Café is another sleeper pick for us, and is one of the most calming spots on the ship.
Tale of Moana
Paradoxically, the Tale of Moana is not a “no notes” offering aboard the Disney Treasure, but despite that, it is the best Broadway-style stage show on any Disney Cruise Line ship and arguably the #1 or #2 best thing about the Disney Treasure.
I’m reticent to spoil anything about Tale of Moana, because it’s best that you go into this show “cold” so that the surprise moments will capture your imagination and sense of awe. Given that Moana has been watched for about 7 trillion hours on Disney+ (slight exaggeration), you’ve probably seen the film a time or ten. And so you know the story. That’s fine–this retelling will still leave you speechless and tug at your heartstrings on more than a few occasions.
As you would expect, the songs from the film are all here and presented in spectacular fashion. “How Far I’ll Go” always impresses, but the scene-stealer here is the DCL’s twist on Tamatoa belting out “Shiny.” The way the story is retold is largely faithful to the original, with the exception of a heartfelt framing device and some scenes and characters omitted. (There’s no poultry or pigs.)
Casting for this show is superlative, and it’s quite clear Disney Cruise Line put a lot of effort and expense into getting this right. With one major exception. I really hate singling out any performer, but Disney went in a “different direction” with Maui…and it’s initially jarring. To each their own, but it was too jarring for me. It seems like they were going with a Genie from Aladdin (the musical) but then didn’t fully commit to the bit. Thankfully, because what little they attempted falls flat. It’s also tonally at-odds with the scenes immediately prior to Maui’s introduction.
You get used to Maui after a scene, and the performer who plays him, like the rest of the cast, is fantastic. (I get that they couldn’t cast Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to fill this role nightly, but the rest of the casting is pitch-perfect.) It’s a testament to everything else about the Tale of Moana that it manages to easily overcome this and still be a 10/10 production.
For me, Tale of Moana surpasses the Beauty and the Beast, Tangled, and Frozen stage shows, all of which are excellent. It’s also far better than the only-okay Little Mermaid production on the Wish. In my view, the Disney Treasure has the best lineup of Broadway-style stage shows of any ship in the fleet. I loved Tale of Moana so much that I would’ve definitely watched it multiple times if this were a 7-night sailing and an encore were presented. Hey Disney, there’s a big empty theater at DCA–this would be a fantastic fit!
Coriander and Sage
Coriander and Sage are two new original characters created exclusively for the Disney Treasure. They are nomadic adventurers who bring wonder and curiosity to the ship’s Grand hall, offering comedic relief, heart, and emotion. They strike me as being storytellers in the spirit of One Thousand and One Nights.
Coriander and Sage offer several family-friendly shows in the Grand Hall, but their highlight happens in Sarabi, where the “Choose Wisely” interactive Indiana Jones-themed stage show recounts the adventures of the legendary archaeologist in wacky fashion. Performed with just two actors, makeshift props, and audience input, this show is an absolute hoot.
This is going to sound like hyperbole, especially since you probably haven’t even heard of these storytellers even if you’ve been reading other reviews of the Disney Treasure, but Coriander and Sage are the heart of the Disney Treasure. They are the connective tissue that ties together the thematic throughlines on the Disney Treasure, and they put a nice little bow on top of it all at the end of the voyage.
Regular readers know how I feel about atmospheric performers and streetmosphere, and Coriander and Sage are that style of entertainment–but the dynamic duo does much more heavy lifting. With their trunks packed full of props and curiosities collected during their travels, they tell tales that captivate guests. Throughout the voyage, they pop up with interactive experiences, offering a type of intimate entertainment that is participatory in nature and a ton of fun.
The offerings hosted by Coriander and Sage are decidedly low budget as contrasted with something like Tale of Moana, but for the guests who take the time to stop and get in on the act, it’s a ton of fun. I wouldn’t be surprised if some families leave the Disney Treasure talking about their experiences with Coriander and Sage more than anything else. Disney is so great at these “little things” that leave a lasting impression, and this is an exemplar of that. (So much so that I fear they’ll be the eventual victims of budget cuts, which would be an absolute shame.)
The Little Things
Finally, a quick nod to the Disney Treasure getting the little things right, or at least, more to my liking. The Disney Wish already was my least-favorite ship before our Very Merrytime cruise, but one thing that stuck out to me even more during that sailing was a lack of effort in getting the little details right, or going the extra mile to provide a layer of design appropriate to Disney. The Treasure rectifies this, and feels, quite frankly, like it had a bigger budget. Or at the very least, like its budget was spent smarter.
Then there are the little annoyances on the Wish. This is old man yells at cloud material, but I just feel like the Wish is a tad tedious at times. There’s art throughout the ship, for example, that seems less about magic and whimsy and more about making a statement. The art aboard the Treasure, by contrast, might be gorgeous concept pieces for Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room or a lavishly-done brand-new piece of Te Fiti. It’s all gorgeous fun, and on-theme.
Then there’s the Little Mermaid show on the Wish. In talking to other fans, the consensus is that this show is mediocre, to put it charitably, and the reasons for that are laid bare when comparing–or rather, contrasting–it with Tale of Moana. The set design is uninspired and rehashed, the costuming is sloppy, and the storytelling leaves something to be desired.
I don’t dislike the Little Mermaid by any stretch, but it’s underwhelming when you see what Disney is really capable of in Tale of Moana. I know the creators wanted to do something “different” with that retelling of the story, but different isn’t always good–and the creative choices, more than anything else, come across as lazy rather than inventive.
Ultimately, that kind of underscores the differences between the Disney Treasure and Wish for me. Even though the bones are essentially identical, and many of the features and themed areas are also clones (Worlds of Marvel, 1923, etc.), all of the changes that were made were for the better. Every single one.
Giving Imagineers a second chance at designing for another new ship resulted in learning from mistakes and putting forward much better ideas. There’s more detail, better stylistic choices were made, and everything that could be corrected or improved upon from a design perspective, was. The ship itself is largely iterative, as it’s still part of the Wish class, but that massively undersells the differences.
The level of thoughtfulness that went into every aspect of the Disney Treasure’s design and programming shines through, making for a cohesive product and experience from start to finish. By contrast, the Disney Wish is a thematic hodgepodge, like the Disney+ home page that highlights the (supposed) best and most popular programming. Perhaps that resonates more with the general public, offering broader and more surface level exposure to the brand, but it strikes me as rudderless and unfocused. For diehard Disney fans–especially of the theme parks–the Disney Treasure is so far superior to its predecessor that it’s honestly hard to believe they’re sister ships.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think of the Disney Treasure? If you’ve already set sail on this ship, how does it compare for you to the legacy ships or the Disney Wish? Pleased with the thematic focus or design details, or do you still prefer the style of the older ships? Thoughts on the lounges, restaurants, entertainment, etc? Does this have you more excited for the Disney Treasure? Do you plan on booking a cruise aboard this ship, or are you awaiting more fan feedback–or deals? Do you agree or disagree with our advice and assessment? Any questions? Hearing feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
