Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Disney Treasure, officially launched in 2024, to much fanfare. While the ship got a lot of hype in the beginning, I recently sailed on the Disney Treasure to see if it’s still worth your vacation time and dollars. Hint: It’s definitely still worth every single penny. The ship is a masterclass in immersive spaces, boundary-pushing entertainment, and world-class dining all wrapped up into one vacation experience.
From the moment I stepped onboard, I knew I was in for a unique vacation unlike anything else currently available from Disney Cruise Line. The Grand Hall is the glittering crown jewel of the ship, where entertaining games, shows, and character meet and greets occur daily, while theme park-inspired lounge spaces take you right into the middle of some of the most iconic attractions, and kids’ clubs keep children entertained throughout the sailing.
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If you’re sailing on the Disney Treasure anytime soon, these are the 9 must-do experiences while you’re on board a weeklong sailing. And even better, access to all of these is included in the cost of your cruise, so you don’t have to spend a dime if you don’t want to, though I think you’ll want to try a cocktail or two at one of the bars listed here.
1. Haunted Mansion Happy Hunt interactive game
When the Disney Treasure launched, it featured an interactive game called Disney Uncharted Adventure. While that game still exists, I love the new interactive game, Haunted Mansion Happy Hunt, even more. The game utilized DisneyBand+ wearables (also called MagicBand+ for you Disney theme park fans out there) to take you on a mission around the ship to collect lost ghosts from the Haunted Mansion Parlor. I played the entire game in one go, and it took about an hour and a half.
What makes this game so fun is that it’s all done through the screens on the ship, so all you really need are some good puzzle-solving skills and a DisneyBand+. The game features riddles and clues to find ghosts, plus some fun surprises that I really wasn’t expecting. Overall, this is a great way to spend a bit of time with your family on a sea day or if you’re staying onboard at any of the ports of call.
2. Hidden speakeasy inside Hook’s Barbery
Nearly every evening of my most recent cruise on the Disney Treasure, my family and I made our way to Hook’s Barbery, but not to get our hair cut. Once the afternoon winds down, the men’s salon turns into a hidden-in-plain-sight speakeasy. After taking a seat in one of the oversized leather chairs, the bartender came over to take our order.
The real joy of Hook’s Barbery is that each bourbon and whisky-based cocktail is completely customizable. So one evening, I requested something light and on the sweeter side, and a maple syrup Old Fashioned was delivered, while another evening, I opted for the bartender’s choice, and got a smoked Old Fashioned that was presented with a smoking dome that seemed to make the other guests in the small bar jealous.
And while you might think custom drinks are super expensive, I was surprised when I got the bill and saw that each of my cocktails was under $20.
3. Haunted Mansion Parlor on the Disney Treasure
If you’re like me, you’ve lost count of how many times you’ve ridden the Haunted Mansion at a Disney Park. It’s one of Disney’s most popular attractions with an earworm of a song that gets stuck in your head after riding. Now, you can experience the Haunted Mansion in an all-new way on the Disney Treasure with The Haunted Mansion Parlor.
The ghoulishly delightful bar features nods to Haunted Mansion attractions from Walt Disney World and Disneyland, plus Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris. While soaking in the lounge ambiance, poke around and get close to the props. You may even find yourself in the middle of a murder mystery, trying to solve how the captain of a ship died.
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While sipping on themed cocktails, of which I love the Happily Never After, the room will come alive every few minutes. These small shows are known as chapters, and there are eight of them. You may see Madame Leota floating in the mirrored glass behind the bar, hear one of the portraits on the wall start singing, and see lights start to flicker and clocks spin as the ghosts begin to materialize in front of you. Just know that the bar is family-friendly during the day, but after 9:00 p.m., it’s adults only.
4. Shows with Sage and Coriander on the Disney Treasure are a must-see
Two of the newest “characters” onboard the Disney Treasure are a traveling storytelling duo known as Sage and Coriander. You can often find the pair in the Grand Hall or Sarabi, sharing stories and entertaining guests. On my sailing, I popped into the Grand Hall to watch them reenact classic Disney stories like The Little Mermaid and Aladdin in a trunk-show style. There’s also a fun Jungle Cruise-themed game played a few times during the cruise in the Grand Hall.
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Sarabi is where you can see “Choose Wisely! An Indiana Jones Comedy Adventure” starring the duo. It’s a rowdy good time for adults only. The two perfectly reenact all five Indiana Jones movies in about an hour with some help from the audience.
Throughout the week, the duo could pop up just about anywhere on board to share stories, play games, or chat with fellow travelers. I promise you won’t be disappointed if you see these two.
5. The Disney Treasure features Skipper Society, a bar based on the Jungle Cruise
If you love the Jungle Cruise, make your way to Skipper Society on the Disney Treasure. The cute open-air bar doles out tiki-style drinks in a fun setting reminiscent of the Disney Parks attraction. I loved the Piranha Punch, a fun take on a tropical margarita. During the day, the space is family-friendly, with activities like trivia and games, while the evenings bring a more adult atmosphere with live music and dancing.
Try to get one of the two alcove seating areas, where you’ll see some fun nods to the Jungle Cruise attraction. One of my favorites is the photos of Jungle Cruise skippers, some of whom are Walt Disney Imagineers who worked on Skipper Society but started their Disney careers as skippers at the theme parks.
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The lounge is right across the hallway from Haunted Mansion Parlor, so you can make a little bar crawl out of visiting, too. Round out the night at Scat Cat Lounge, which is just off the Grand Hall, for a full circle tour of some of the new bars.
6. Plaza de Coco is a highlight dining experience
My favorite dining experience on the Disney Treasure was easily Plaza de Coco, which draws direct inspiration from the Pixar animated movie, Coco. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful and looks like the square in the Mexican community where Miguel and his family live in the movie. Dim lights bring an ever-present sunset feeling, while lanterns flicker overhead, adding to the overall ambiance. You will dine here at least two nights during a typical seven-night cruise, though you’ll only have two meals that are themed to the movie.
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The first night picks up where the movie left off as Miguel and his family dance and sing in the square. The second night is the real star, though. On night two, you’ll celebrate Día de los Muertos with Miguel and his ancestors. The musical numbers are riveting, thanks in part to a live Mariachi playing with Miguel. And the accompanying food is some of the best on board the Disney Treasure.
7. AquaMouse: Curse of the Golden Egg is a fun water ride
Kids of all ages, including adults who are really kids at heart, will love riding around the top deck of the ship on the AquaMouse. The water coaster has an all-new Mickey Mouse cartoon that plays before your raft blasts off around the ship, called “Curse of the Golden Egg.” The Egyptian-themed short is super cute, but the water sprays and drips that line up with what’s happening in the cartoon are what make this so fun.
I would suggest doing the AquaMouse on a port day since the lines can be very long on sea days. You’ll also want to check which cartoon is playing. There are yeti and mermaid-themed shows that rotate with “Curse of the Golden Egg.” The marquee for the water ride will display what short is playing at any given time.
8. Disney The Tale of Moana is the best show on the Disney Treasure
Inside the Walt Disney Theatre, you will see some fantastic live shows, and the newest one to debut with the Disney Treasure is “Disney The Tale of Moana”. The Broadway-caliber show is a retelling of the Disney Animation Studios movie Moana, with live singers and dancers, puppets, projection mapping, and more special effects.
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The show is narrated by Grandma Tala, Moana’s grandmother from the movie. I also loved that the show featured the song “Warrior Face,” which is inspired by traditional Haka and originally got cut from the movie.
If you only see one show inside the Walt Disney Theatre during your cruise, make it this one. Try to get as close as you can to the stage so you can see all of the details of the sets and the costumes the cast is wearing. This show is presented as a matinee in addition to the evening shows. So you could technically see it twice: once in the afternoon and once at your normal showtime, opposite your dinner assignment.
9. Treasure Found wraps up the week
If you’re looking for a sentimental way to wrap up the week, do not miss Treasure Found. The goodbye show in the Grand Hall features a handful of Disney characters, Sage and Corriander, plus a heartwarming message about family. You can stand anywhere in the Grand Hall on Deck 3, or along the railings of Deck 4 and 5 for a good view. Before the big sentimental part of the show, you can meet some of your favorite Disney pals and princesses, too.
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