Disney Cruise Line did it. Disney Treasure, a new ship designed for seven-day adventures, has reset the bar for premier Disney cruise adventures. It is definitely my new favorite ship in the shipping company’s fleet.

The cruise line took inspiration from the settings of some of Disney’s most beloved stories like “Aladdin” and classic theme park attractions like Haunted Mansion and Jungle Cruise and brought them to the sea with the new Disney Treasure, which officially sets sail on its maiden voyage later this month.

But that’s just the beginning of what puts Treasure in a class of its own.

I’ve sailed on (almost) every Disney Cruise Line ship, including the two newest ships – Disney Wish and now Disney Treasure – so I’ve seen what this cruise line can do. Here are four brand new offerings you’ll only find on Treasure that combined to propel the ship to the top spot in my Disney Cruise Line fleet lineup.

Disney Treasure’s modern decor meets rich, detailed design

Surprise! I’m not going to start off by telling you how much I love the new Haunted Mansion themed bar on Disney Treasure, even though I do enjoy it.

What has catapulted Disney Treasure into the most popular Disney ship is not a single bar, restaurant, location or attraction. Instead, it is the experience you get from bow to stern through the bold yet warm and inviting colors, patterns and textures found throughout the ship.

While Disney Treasure’s footprint is identical to Disney Wish’s, the look and feel is completely different. It’s almost like comparing the Magic Kingdom and Epcot – both are Disney World theme parks, but offer completely different atmospheres.

Disney Wish is undoubtedly beautiful and lovely, but it is reminiscent of the story of Cinderella, princesses, storybook castles and fairy tales. While Wish has a lot of intricate details, my photos also show areas with more monochromatic walls and carpets than I saw at Treasure.

In “Disney Treasure” you are confronted with complex intricacies against a background of vivid details. In fact, it feels like you’ve boarded a ship that isn’t looking for treasure; enough has already been found.

The jewel tones, rich color palette and thoughtful designs will remind you of some of the most adventurous Disney stories. The Great Hall is reminiscent of the fictional city of Agrabah from “Aladdin,” with its carpet design depicting the flowing fountain from Jasmine’s Garden. But if you’re not that interested in that history, you might as well view the space as a nod to destinations like Morocco, Africa and Asia and the spirit of adventurous travel they convey.

You don’t have to associate the design with Disney stories to get the full effect – but if you’re a Disney fan, the thoughtful details will take your experience to the next level.

The cabins on Treasure have a similar style to Disney Wish.

Fun art and design are balanced with a modern, neutral aesthetic. As much as I love the quartet of older Disney ships (Magic, Wonder, Dream, and my only missing ship, Fantasy), the design of these rooms has remained largely unchanged since the late ’90s and early 2000s. They retain a bold nautical design. I really like the cabins on the two newest ships.

Related: Guide to Disney Cruise Line ships and itineraries

For free assistance planning and booking your next Disney vacation, check out TPG’s Disney booking partner: MOUSE COUNSELORS.

Plaza de Coco: A new favorite Disney Cruise Line restaurant

I expect that Plaza de Coco will soon become one of the most popular restaurants on the Disney Cruise Line.

The physical setting is hands down my favorite of all the Disney Cruise Line family restaurants, with its warm party lights, painted chairs, greenery and bright colors that transport you to a square in a Mexican village. Like its equivalent on Disney Wish, Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure, the space is large and will be crowded on a normal cruise, but a few key differences set Plaza de Coco apart.

First, the menu has a Mexican influence and includes churros, enchiladas and other Mexican specialties.

Not only is the menu here more popular with families than the Scandinavian menu you’ll find at Arendelle on Disney Wish, but the music and festive live entertainment at Plaza de Coco will likely have a broader appeal – and even a more emotional one Impact – than that of the “Frozen” characters who take center stage in Arendelle.

Exceptional Disney Treasure Bars

One of the most hyped and unusual new areas you’ll only find on Disney Treasure right now is the Haunted Mansion-themed bar, although it’s far from the only notable bar on this ship (and yes, kids are allowed until 9 p.m Access). .

I have never experienced a bar like the Haunted Mansion Parlor.

This is not the “Star Wars”-themed hyperspace lounge you’ll find in the same location on Disney Wish. I don’t want to think about the Hyperspace Lounge, but the decor has never been its strong point. Having now experienced the Haunted Mansion Parlor, I would say it takes the concept of the Hyperspace Lounge (see below) and takes a leap forward with a truly immersive experience.

The Haunted Mansion Parlor is full of atmosphere, detail and immersion with no “white space”. The portraits become (un?)alive and there are so many spooky special effects that you won’t even notice them on your first visit.

For example, where you sit matters as some chairs offer different listening experiences. Easily missed details (e.g. written notes) in the dimly lit room reveal new information about the story behind the salon only at certain “magical moments.”

What I love about this room is that you can choose whether you want to enjoy the unique ambience with a smoky cocktail, or you want to delve into the details and spend multiple visits throughout your seven-day cruise, investigating all the clues scattered around the room.

While I really appreciate the Disney Imagineering and storytelling at the Haunted Mansion Parlor, I prefer the Scat Cat Lounge for a real drink and a more traditional bar moment. It won me over with its program of live piano music, rich and playful design and innovative cocktails like the Strawberry Jam, which is made with gin, lime and bitters and comes with a jar of strawberry jam that you can add to sweeten your drink.

The Scat Cat Lounge is also a good example of a venue whose physical footprint is not absolutely identical to that of Disney Wish, as the location of the actual bar within the venue differs from that of its predecessor, Nightingale’s. This allowed for some bar stools to be easily placed just outside the main lounge area at the open-air bar in the Grand Hall, something Disney Wish lacked.

Skipper Society Lounge and Periscope Pub are two additional lounge areas on Disney Treasure inspired by Disney Parks attractions – Jungle Cruise and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Submarine Voyage, respectively.

Both rooms were also on my favorites list as they were full of interesting details and imaginative cocktails. At Periscope Pub you’ll feel like you’re on board a submarine. From the ceiling above you look out over the sea with its waves, changing light and creatures swimming by.

You can order a daiquiri topped with a bubble of smoke and served in a glass with tentacles as a stem, making it look like a jellyfish. This is another great example of the level of detail that takes Disney Treasure from good to great.

For the best theater show on a Disney ship, check out Disney Treasure

I can’t call Disney: The Tale of Moana the best theater show at sea because I haven’t seen enough other cruise ship-produced shows to be sure. However, Erica Silverstein, cruise editor and theater lover at TPG, assures me that while it’s not the absolute best, it’s definitely in the top five.

However, I can enthusiastically give Tale of Moana the honor of being the most entertaining, innovative, heartwarming and authentic show I have ever experienced on the Disney Cruise Line… and I have experienced some great shows.

While I don’t want to spoil any of the series’ best moments by giving too many details, be prepared to cry, laugh, and gasp in the same hour.

Much of this magic comes from Disney’s care to include authentic Hawaiian and Asian Pacific cultural consultants, actors and dancers in this first major stage adaptation of “Moana.” The use of low-tech but elaborate effects, including puppets designed by the same team that worked on The Lion King on Broadway, seals the deal.

If for some reason “Tale of Moana” doesn’t become your favorite show on Disney Cruise Line, you might find your happy place in Disney Treasure’s other great stage show, the legendary musical “Beauty and the Beast.” It used to be at the top of my list of best Disney cruise shows – before I saw The Story of Moana.

Conclusion

Disney tells stories not only with its words and films, but also with settings, music and immersive activities. From the moment I entered the Great Hall of Disney Treasure to be welcomed aboard the ship, to the moment I sadly took one more look back before fully disembarking, the entire ship felt unique, warm and an invitation to adventure.

Some key details are impossible to miss, while others only reveal themselves when you stop and take it all in (like a nod to each of the six Disney Cruise Line ships on the lanterns surrounding the center chandelier ).

During my time at Treasure, I didn’t feel like I was visiting someone else’s castle; I lived my own adventure. And I really hope that one day I can experience it on a seven-day cruise.

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