'Palace on the sea': Disney Cruise Line unveils Disney Treasure ship
Disney Cruise Line’s new ship will bring the magic of its theme parks to the high seas for the first time.
Disney Treasure will debut in December 2024 with eateries, attractions and accommodations inspired by popular rides and areas of Walt Disney World and Disneyland, the cruise line announced Tuesday. The ship also finds inspiration in Walt Disney’s love of travel, emphasizing the spirit of adventure in cruise vacations.
“We're taking our guests to beautiful real places, but also fantastical stories that we're bringing to life on the Disney Treasure,” Pam Rawlins, executive producer of Walt Disney Imagineering in Florida, said during a media preview last week.
Reservations will open to the public on Sept. 20. The cruise line will also roll out early access to its Castaway Club loyalty program members. Pearl members can book starting Sept. 12, followed by Platinum on Sept. 13, Gold on Sept. 14 and Silver on Sept. 19.
Here’s what guests can expect from Disney Treasure.
Where will Disney Treasure sail?
Disney Treasure, which can accommodate 4,000 passengers, will sail seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Florida’s Port Canaveral.
The ship’s maiden voyage will depart on Dec. 21, 2024.
How will Disney Treasure incorporate theme parks?
Fans of the classic Disney attraction and film “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” will be thrilled to return to the Nautilus submarine in the Disney Treasure’s new Periscope Pub. It’s Disney Cruise line’s first venue inspired by the beloved ride, which was retired years ago at Disney World and rethemed to Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage at Disneyland.
“It will immerse you into the Jules Verne vessel,” Rawlins said, noting that guests may spot a giant squid and other mysteries of the sea in the underwater setting.
Jungle Cruise fans will want to check out Skipper Society, a lounge inspired by the popular Disney World and Disneyland attraction, which also inspired a live-action film in 2021.
“This is an intimate gathering place where we take you into the world of the Jungle Cruise,” Rawlins said. “And it's where you would find our higher end skippers, maybe relaxing at the end of their day, listening to music, maybe bantering some comical jokes around and just having an adult beverage that they love.”
EPCOT lovers will have a place of their own, for a price. The Tomorrow Tower Suite will be a two-story, 2,000-square-foot suite.
“(It) sleeps eight comfortably in the space,” said Daniel Cowan, senior manager of Dining Standards and Service Excellence for Disney Cruise Line. “It's got spaces for the kids to play. It's got a dining area, full kitchen, expansive two story window that overlooks onto the deck. So we think that this space is absolutely amazing.”
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The line consciously incorporated both recent and older Disney elements.
“It's (about) making sure we also talk to people who really grew up with Disney and know about these iconic stories or attractions,” Thomas Mazloum, president of New Experiences Portfolio and Disney Signature Experiences, said in an interview.
What else is new on Disney Treasure?
The ship will introduce several other venues inspired by beloved Disney characters and stories.
The three-story Grand Hall will evoke the desert kingdom of Agrabah from “Aladdin” with gilded decor, a stately staircase and a statue of Aladdin and Jasmine taking a magic carpet ride. The nearby Jade Cricket Café, inspired by “Mulan,” and Heihei Café, named after Moana’s rooster sidekick, will serve coffee, tea, specialty beverages and snacks.
Plaza de Coco – the first theatrical dining experience to take its theme from Disney and Pixar’s “Coco” – will transport guests to the fictional town of Santa Cecilia with two nights of in-the-round entertainment and modern Mexican cuisine (passengers will visit each restaurant at least twice on the ship as part of the line’s rotational dining).
Passengers can also treat themselves to gelato, candy and more at Jumbeaux’s Sweets, a shop in the vein of Jumbeaux’s Café from “Zootopia” and visit the “Lion King”-themed Sarabi, which will host activities during the day and entertainment for adult guests at night.
Is Disney Treasure similar to Disney Wish?
Disney Treasure is the sister ship to Disney Wish, which launched in 2022.
“The Disney Wish was our castle on the sea, and the Disney Treasure is our palace on the sea,” Rawlins said. The new vessel will feature the same layout as the Wish, as well as a number of familiar attractions and eateries – with some original twists.
The AquaMouse water ride, for example, will have a new theme in addition to its existing programming. On AquaMouse: Curse of the Golden Egg, passengers can follow Mickey and Minnie Mouse as they search for treasure in an ancient temple, riding two-person vehicles through 760 feet of tubes.
The ship’s vintage-themed 1923 restaurant, named for the year the Walt Disney Company started, will also feature artwork inspired by movies with adventure. Other returning venues include the adults-only restaurant Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement, serving French-inspired cuisine and the Worlds of Marvel restaurant.
Is Disney Treasure accessible?
Disney Cruise Line has accessible staterooms and suites for passengers with disabilities on all of its ships, according to its website. The majority of guest areas on the vessels are wheelchair accessible, and the ships have accessible public bathrooms, as well as other services.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Disney Cruise Line reveals Disney Treasure ship details