A cruise is a wonderful idea for your next family vacation, so kids and adults can have fun together, with time to do their own things, and no one does family vacations like Disney.
Disney Cruise Line launched their latest ship, the Disney Treasure, in December and it’s my new favourite cruise ship. Families are going to love this beautiful ship, and there is so much to do on board. Disney weaves a little magic into everything on the Treasure, with so much style and heart, and it makes for some wonderful family memories.
On the Treasure you’ll enjoy amazing food, meet characters, visit unique ports, and did you know that the ship has a water coaster that soars you around the deck with an epic view out over the ocean? It’s one of a lot of other amazing things to see and do on board the Treasure.
Here are some of my favourite reasons you and your family will love this spectacular vacation, for seven nights in the Caribbean.
Bring your family together on the Treasure
Great family vacations are all about quality time, and there are a lot of activities for parents and kids to enjoy together, starting with the parties.
After boarding the ship, and settling into your stateroom, Disney brings everyone together to celebrate your vacation with “Let’s Set Sail,” a party to sing, and dance, as the Treasure leaves port. The party is a lot of fun as everyone dances along, and then the horns will sound the iconic songs for your first big moment of that Disney magic.
And there are lots of other parties and events throughout the cruise.
Every cruise features a pirate night with one party for the little kids, complete with Mickey and Minnie and Captain Hook, and then It’s a Pirate’s Life for You! has Jack Sparrow and a band of pirates with a fireworks show, followed by a dance party. Disney is the only cruise line that has fireworks, and it’s a lot of fun, especially since most people on the cruise also dress up as pirates for the night.
Sure, there’s also a formal night, but pirate night tops that, if you ask me, and families love it.
Throughout your cruise Disney also hosts events for the whole family, from meeting characters for photos, to parties in the Grand Hall, trivia, and even competitions. Your family can easily plan an entire day together just enjoying activities on the ship.
Another option is to head to Hero Zone where families can play against each other in a number of games, whether it’s foosball, air hockey, table tennis, or the Incredi-Course, where you’ll race through an inflatable course to see who can beat the clock. My daughter and I loved playing in Hero Zone and it’s fun for kids and adults of all ages.
The Disney Treasure also offers incredible stage musicals in the Walt Disney Theatre where you can see the new Disney The Tale of Moana Broadway-style show, Beauty and the Beast, and Disney Seas the Adventure, starring Goofy. We loved every minute of The Tale of Moana, from the performances and the music, to the incredible sets and props, to the way they tell the story authentically.
Disney also has two movie theatres on the Treasure showing recent new releases, and that even included Deadpool & Wolverine when I was onboard, as well as Moana 2, and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
And then, every night, you’ll come together as a family for dinner on the Treasure, and enjoy Worlds of Marvel, 1923, and the new Plaza de Coco restaurants. The menus are delicious, and the experiences are amazing.
At Worlds of Marvel families enjoy the new Marvel Celebration of Heroes: Groot Remix, with Rocket and Groot, and Marvel trivia for the whole family to challenge each other. So who really knows Marvel best?
1923 offers a sophisticated, charming space with old Hollywood glamour and art from the best of Disney animation. I love the whole vibe here, and how they channel the classic days of Hollywood and Disney.
Finally, Plaza de Coco is a tribute to Disney and Pixar’s Coco, featuring a colourful space, and a Mexican-inspired menu and performances. Miguel and his familia come out, sing and perform, alongside incredible Mariachi. I was amazed by the food, and the performers are some of the best on the ship, with heart and so much love for what they’re doing. My family adored every second of the experience and fans of Coco will leave with a lump in their throat.
Quality time for the adults
You probably expected Disney to have amazing experiences for families, but adults are also going to have the best time when the kids are off doing their own things.
Quality time for the adults is so important on any vacation, and sometimes it’s hard to get away for a date night, or a drink, or just to sit alone together for a while. Disney makes quality adult time easy though because of the kids clubs, and there are a lot of adults only things for parents and families.
After the kids head to their clubs, the adults can go relax by the pool in Quiet Cove, where you’ll find an infinity pool overlooking the back of the ship, a bar, a hot tub, and the Quiet Cove Cafe. This is one of my favourite areas on the ship, and it’s relaxing, with a lot of great cocktails available. Or just grab a coffee or a smoothie and take it easy.
What about a special dinner? Take your loved one out for dinner at Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement, an adults-only restaurant with an incredible menu. Dinner at Enchanté is an additional cost, but it’s magical, romantic, and offers cuisine that you can’t find elsewhere on the ship.
After dinner, it’s time to have a cocktail, and the Treasure has a number of very special bars and lounges, and they’re some of the most amazing spaces that Disney has ever made.
The details all come together for the Haunted Mansion Parlor, a moody and atmospheric lounge that looks and feels like a room in the Haunted Mansion. Order a spooky drink, like The Chilling Challenge or Regions Beyond, and take it all in as the paintings come to life and sing, ghosts perform through the mirror, and the clock tolls the 13th hour. Fans of the Haunted Mansion are going to need a few minutes here, but it’s also a fun space that comes alive, if you’ll pardon the pun.
Or take it easy with a pint and watch the game at Periscope Pub, themed after 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. The pub offers a small food menu, with a ceiling that makes it look like you’re under the ocean watching sharks swim by.
Scat Cat Lounge offers a jazzy atmosphere for the hip crowd, too, but my favourite place to grab a drink is Skipper Society. Themed after the Jungle Cruise, Skipper Society is cool and casual, and they often have performers a night, and some of the best theming on the ship. Haunted Mansion has the best mood and atmosphere, but Skipper Society has the style and the best drink menu on the ship, if you ask me.
Last but not least, before you set sail, take a look at special tastings that you can book on board the ship. Disney offers drink sessions, tastings, and classes that you can take together, and they’re usually perfect for couples or adults who want to do something different together. I’ve enjoyed whisky and other tastings on Disney Cruise Line, and they’re always tasty, and fun.
What your kids will love onboard
The whole family is going to love the kids programming and activities on the Disney Treasure. Disney Cruise Line has the best kids programming of any cruise line, and that starts for 3 years old, and goes right to teens. For babies between 6 months and 3 years old, Disney offers nurseries, for an additional fee, but all the kids programming is otherwise included in your trip.
When kids arrive in the Treasure’s Grand Hall they can head down a slide that takes them right to Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab. The special clubs are open only to kids, and it’s a huge space where they can meet with characters, play, make crafts, play games, and so much more. Inside they’ll get to explore Marvel Super Hero Academy, Star Wars: Cargo Bay, Fairytale Hall, with spaces for the little kids, as well as the bigger kids.
Tweens and teens also have their own clubs, with games and activities, in a space that’s made for them, and they can sign themselves in and out.
My daughter spent hours at Edge and I had a tour of the Oceaneer Club too. Kids love the spaces, and the only thing to keep in mind is that your kids will sometimes want to stay in the clubs because they’re having so much fun.
The Disney Treasure also has seven pools across the main decks where kids can play, plus AquaMouse, the water-slide-meets-roller-coaster that takes riders up and around the deck, with a fun Mickey and Minnie Mouse story, and lots of water.
There’s also the Slide-a-saurus Rex family slide, and the Toy Story Splash Zone, so kids can play in the water all day long. Families will of course want to splash and play in the water together, but these are definitely the fun things kids are going to want to do while they’re on the Treasure.
For the families who want to give their little ones the best glow up, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique will turn them into a princess or a knight, complete with a costume and hair styling. The kids will be smiling from ear to ear after this.
And on top of all of that, the Disney Cruise Line app has activities from morning until midnight.
Plan your Disney Treasure adventure
During your Disney Treasure cruise, your family will have ports of call to visit, where you’ll find even more to do with your family. On each seven day cruise, the Treasure will stop at Disney Castaway Cay, where there are lots of things to do for the whole family, from snorkelling and swimming with stingrays, to banana boats, and kids clubs.
Since all of the Treasure’s sailings are for a full 7 nights, there is a lot of time to explore everything on the ship, enjoy the cuisine and the lounges, and so much more.
When you start planning your family vacation, it’s also worth noting that the cost of a week on the Disney Treasure is approximately the same for a family to visit Walt Disney World for a week. For any families who love the theme parks, and want a new adventure, it’s an incredible vacation.
For an overview of the Disney Treasure and my favourite highlights, watch my video below, and head to the Disney Cruise Line website to plan your trip and view all the available itineraries.
