Disney Treasure Cruise Ship Review: Worst to First?!
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!
My family and I sailed on our first cruise in 2023. At 25, this was the first vacation my wife and I went on together, and getting to spend it with our kids was great. We spent about 4 days at Disney World before disembarking on the Disney Wish. For us, the Wish was an incredible experience. Our kids had an amazing time at the kids’ club. The food was good. I enjoyed the shows. The movie theater was beautiful. All day long, we always had something to do, characters to meet, or food to try. I am hoping to go on the Disney Treasure next, especially after reading a little more about it. I do have to say from the photos, it does look like there is more detail than the Wish, but for me, I think the Wish will always be an incredible experience for us.
Hi,
I apologize if I missed the explanation somewhere, but I don’t understand what “no notes” means regarding some of the offerings. Can you clarify?
Replying 11 months later, just in case you checked the ‘notify me of follow-up comments’ box…
“No notes” means that you think something is perfect as-is, and so you can’t think of any real criticisms or suggestions for improvement (i.e., “notes”).
I absolutely love the Wish. Went on the Inaugural sailing and loved it from the minute we stepped on board. We’ve been on the Wish five times now, with the last in January 2025. We’ve sailed all the ships except the Treasure. We are booked for Destiny in January 2026. There doesn’t seem to be anything appealing to me on the Treasure. Not a huge Aladdin fan. Really don’t like Mexican food. I know we will probably sail the Treasure at some point, but I’m not in a hurry.
Great review! I love how you highlighted the differences between the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure. It’s fascinating to hear how the same class of ships can feel so different. Your insights really help clarify the strengths and weaknesses of the new ship. Can’t wait to try it myself!
Between friends, couple and family cruises I cruised 10 times.
8 of these cruises were with Disney for a reason. The other two included a river cruise in Egypt- which is not comparable, and a wonderful itinerary from Venice to Greek Isles on Celebrity – in a suite. And despite the very large accommodation and wonderful suite restaurant the rest of the ship did not make it for us. The layout was weird, entertainment poor as well as some common areas. The patrons were often drunk and loud (in a different way as kids on the pool deck of course), which is somewhat a deal breaker for me.
Shame, as I loved the itinerary offered.
Still the overall experience on Disney was better. I woukd be ready to try other family orientated cruises if the itinerary was nice.
My husband and I just sailed on the Treasure from 12/28/2024 – 01/04/2025 along with my mom, three daughters, one son-in-law, and four grandchildren. We have been on one other Disney cruise in 2019. It was on the Fantasy with the same Western Caribbean itinerary. For comparison, we’ve cruised twice before on Royal Caribbean ships.
Here are some of our favorites on the Treasure: (1) Deck 11 food options. The adults enjoyed the food options at Mickey’s Smokehouse Barbecue and there was rarely any wait time. The kids enjoyed Daisy’s Pizza Pies. The breakfast and lunch buffets at Marceline Market had great food options for kids and adults. The staff were very attentive and friendly and the captain and his wife randomly joined our table one morning. We preferred the buffet over the sit down breakfast offerings. We were disappointed that a character breakfast wasn’t offered on this cruise as the kids really enjoyed that on our 2019 cruise. At Jambeaux’s Sweets there was a large variety of gelato options that were tasty, nice sized portions, and fairly priced. (2) Our favorite pool and lounge area was the Chip & Dale pool on deck 14. (3) A favorite of our 9 and 12-year-old grandsons was definitely the Hero Zone. They enjoyed hanging out there playing basketball, air hockey, ping pong, and throwing around footballs with other kids in addition to some of the scheduled activities offered there like an obstacle course. Our 6 year old grandson loved the Oceaneer Club and had fun entering it via the slide. (4) While we really enjoyed and appreciated how well done the Moana show was, our favorite was the Beauty and the Beast theater production. We had hoped to see the newly released Moana 2 movie in the movie theater but every time we attempted to go the movie theater was already full.
If you need to visit Guest Services or Port Adventures, I found the best time to go was later in the evenings. I never waited in a line. I sure wish you could just add Disney Gift Cards to your account on your own vs. having to go to guest services.
We sailed on the Wish when DCL was fairly new and were STUNNED by the absence of allergy-friendly food options, given Disney’s Best-In-Class status in accomodating this issue at WDW. Everyone on the Wish basically threw up their hands and said “we have nothing for you” when advised of my wife’s issues.It wound up being the worst cruise experience, out of more than a dozen, of our lives.Anyone with similar challenges out there who could provide a more recent assessment?
I have a tree nut allergy and I have a friend who is both a pescatarian and allergic to alliums (onions, garlic, leek, shallots, scallions, etc). We have both been very well accommodated on DCL as early as 2018 and as recently as 2023 on ships across the Disney fleet.
I always make sure my travel agent has noted my food allergy with our reservation and also make sure to speak to our main server as well as head server on Night 1 of the cruise. We were brought allergy friendly menus each night to order our dinner for the following night.
I’m sorry your experience was so negative!
Thanks for the insight, Hayley.
What kind of allergy does your wife have? Im curious because my son is celiac and we are trying to plan on the treasure.
Wheat and anything artificial… colors/flavors/preservatives.
I’ve cruised with Disney six times and have been on all ships except the Treasure, which we’re booked for in May. I have dairy/gluten/soy/shellfish allergies and I have always been VERY well cared-for on the cruises. I call ahead myself and talk to customer care, share my allergies, and by the very first time I sit at my dinner table, my waiter is ready and waiting to care for my allergies. I eat very well and have never been exposed to anything. I’m very surprised y’all had a “throw their hands up” experience, since that goes against everything Disney stands for and every experience I’ve had with Disney customer service. It’s always been top notch. I’d recommend you call ahead of the cruise and try again.
Any news on the Concierge level experiences? We have Treasure booked for August 2025 with a concierge room.
I am also interested in any comments on the concierge experience. My family would like to cruise on the Treasure, but are hesitant because of the large number of concierge staterooms. Wondering if the experience is less personal as well as more competition for cabana reservations.
We’ve only sailed on Dream and Fantasy. We’ve considered trying another cruise line to save some money but worry we’ll regret it. Do you have a recommendation for our first non DCL cruiseline?
We are far from cruising experts, but I think Royal Caribbean is the closest competitor to Disney–and even the two are pretty far apart.
If you’re a Disney fan who loves the DCL experience, I’d probably only book another cruise line if you really love the itinerary (and can’t get it from Disney) or the cost of DCL is too high.
My family did an Alaska cruise with Holland America Line (HAL) and we really enjoyed it. Their Pinnacle class ships are very nice and much smaller than the megaships. Yet, they have many amenities and first rate entertainment. HAL also has very good pier locations for port calls and access to Glacier Bay.
HAL is a good option for Alaska for sure. I didn’t feel like there was as much to do on HAL (sailed on the Eurodam in Aug 2023) that I like to do as on DCL. Glacier Bay was worth it on its own, though…incredible place!
If you’re sailing adults only, you may want to look at Virgin Voyages. I think Royal Caribbean will be closest in terms of entertainment/activities/appeal to kids, or possibly Norwegian. I sailed Celebrity with a couple of friends for a girls trip (adults only), and it was nice but not the same as DCL. I found myself really missing the quality of entertainment on DCL, particularly the stage shows. I’m just not as interested in comedians, magicians, hypnotists, and that type of variety act.
Just debarking the Treasure this morning. Been cruising with DCL since 2010. Never been on the Wish, but the Treasure is our least favorite and going back to the older ships. There are many great additions, but overall just too frustrating to enjoy due to layout and significantly reduced adult spaces. Yes, the detail and finishes are amazing, but the layout actually creates more potential for conflict with other passengers by forcing choke points (e.g. elevators and stairs down to two banks instead of three), which was on full display during the muster drill. The opening hours of some key highlights didn’t make sense, for example the Periscope Pub seemed to be only open for American football games, and not when we were looking to just enjoy the space. Queues need to be managed and can feel like you’re back in one of the parks. Fewer restroom attendants highlight more disgusting “guest” behavior. I hope this isn’t an overall DCL trend. On the more positive side, the quality of the deck food has been vastly improved.
Really sorry to hear all of that.
For whatever it’s worth, we didn’t experience all of those same issues during our December sailing on the Wish. Elevators definitely did get more backed up than on the legacy ships, but we still never waited long.
I wonder if it’s a combination of early voyage hiccups coupled with the Treasure operating near-capacity, whereas the Wish is now a couple years old and wasn’t fully booked. (At least I’m assuming it wasn’t fully booked, given that we were able to score a discounted rate on it.)
We were also on the NYE sailing! It’s a shame that our treasure is your “wish” experience. Having sailed all 6 ships in the fleet, I was able to leave my “baggage” of the wish on the wish. And knew what i was walking into for the treasure. Personally, I actually like them moving to two elevator banks as there are still more total elevators and everything actually feels closer to an elevator whereas the aft elevators on the legacy ships were always a trek. And at least they removed those god forsaken proximity sensor buttons. Please note: the elevator bays on ALL the ships have always been severely congested for embarkation, muster, debarkation, and deck parties so I’m not sure that’s a fair critique of the Treasure. Again, lines for guest services and characters have always been long but actually i thought the character lines were shorter here. My only big upset with the queues were the shops and restaurants. I can’t really speak to the public restrooms other than I never noticed a problem but I mainly used the one in the stateroom. But yes, the adults area should be in one isolated district. There should not be 3.5 jewelry stores and 3 salons off the grand hall. One should be able to circumnavigate the entire deck 4 promenade. All legitimate problems to the Triton Class but after sailing on the Wish I got my bearings. I also thought the improvements to the entertainment offerings for this ship saved it from the layout issues.
I’m boarding the Treasure on January 18 and I cannot wait! I love everything I’ve heard about it. I’m especially excited for Coriander and Sage. I’m getting real Renaissance Festival vibes from what I’ve heard about them, and that is right up my alley.
Sorry to hear that you were less than impressed by the food at Plaza de Coco. I was really looking forward to it!
I don’t know what he’s talking about with the Coco issue. The croquets and the beef empanada were the best appetizers ive ever had on a dcl ship. If I could go back I might just order 3 of those for my dinner. But anyways, the main course both nights was also quite good in my opinion. And you’re getting Disney churros for the dessert— how can you complain.
From the 1st announcement of the Treasure I knew I had to go. As a huge fan of adventure land and the parks it just called to me. Sailing Jan 25. Nice to hear a good review.
So the Disney Wish is the DCA of cruise ships?
I have been waiting impatiently for this review – thank you! I’m so excited to sail on the Treasure! It definitely seems more my bag than the Wish. We have a cruise booked, but it’s not until May 2026. I hope that all the little details you mentioned are still around by then.
WOW!
After 16 Disney Cruises, we were completely turned off by our experience on our early sailing on the Wish.
Especially with customer service with the daily line stretching around the corner and down the other isle and then the lack of help when you did get a turn. I am sure that the customer service folks would have had a better experience if they had put up a sign indicating that ,,,’they were still earning their pixie dust’…
You displayed the Wish exactly as we experienced it except for the bars, as we do not drink much so we generally ignore them, except that there seemed to be more places on the ship to purchase booze than to get food.
After your review, I think that we will look forward to trying the Treasure. Enjoyable description of the new ship.
Long time (your) blog reader and occasional responder.
Between the Wish being brand-new, first fleet expansion in a while, AND coming as DCL was ramping back up after COVID, I think it had a lot of growing pains on the customer service front. For all of my ongoing complaints about the Wish, that’s not one of them FWIW.
With that said, I do think customer service has declined across the board. Not just at Disney, but everywhere. Part of this is a lingering effect from COVID–staffing shortages due to early retirements, border closures, etc. Another part is the fault of customers. They are often poorly behaved and even more entitled than before. That wears on employees, and everyone else is worse off for it.
Great post and photos. Reading all the details makes me realize how ignorant we were to how a ship can influence the Disney cruise experience. We sailed on the Dream because the dates and price were right (it was the least research I’ve ever done for anything Disney). I had no idea there were so many differences between the ships.
If you don’t care about the ship itself–and a lot of people don’t, which is a totally valid perspective–there are far cheaper cruise lines than Disney. And not necessarily budget options, either. Royal Caribbean, for example, is considerably less expensive and still delivers a great experience.
There are definitely some scenarios where I’d care much more about the ports and less about the on-ship experience. For those itineraries, I’d be inclined to pocket the money and book something other than DCL.