The Disney Treasure Sets a High Water Mark for Disney Cruise Lines

For the second time in my life I let somebody else shave my face. And for the first time it happened on a boat.

I stepped into Hook’s Barbery, a brown-colored salon for men aboard the Disney Treasure cruise ship, for a drink. This small space, decked out in rich wood tones, doesn’t just cut hair, but also serves classy cocktails, rare whiskies, and fine cigars (which can’t be smoked anywhere on board, of course). I had the smoked Old Fashioned at the Hook’s Barbery on the Disney Wish two years ago, and it was probably the best single drink I had that entire trip. I was hoping to experience it again, but unfortunately the Treasure’s bartender wasn’t on duty yet when I paid my visit. No harm: I wasn’t aware of the hours, and obviously they can’t just post up there all day in the off-chance of a customer. The two barber chairs were empty, though, with the next reservation an hour away, so I decided to do something other than drink here: I’d get my beard, bushy enough to make any pirate proud, trimmed and tamed. My wife was at the spa that day, so why not treat myself to something other than alcohol, for once?

It’s weird to let another human shave you, at least if you’re not used to it. And it’s especially weird when you can feel the constant back and forth of a ship at sea; you have to put a lot of faith in the steadiness of that stranger’s hands. Fortunately that faith was greatly rewarded, as I left Hook’s Barbery looking the sharpest I had in years—at least according to my wife, the only person whose opinion on that point really matters. 

Like any cruise ship, the Disney Treasure will take you places, including several Caribbean ports and Disney’s exclusive Castaway Cay island. Some of the best places it’ll take you are right there on board beside you, though, like Hook’s Barbery. The Treasure continues Disney Cruise Line’s tradition of luxury for all ages, marrying upscale class with family-minded dining and entertainment options, all with the level of design and hospitality you expect from Disney. 

Disney Cruise Line claims a fascinating spot in the market. It’s family friendly (obviously), but also luxurious, with better restaurants than you might expect, top-notch shopping, and the best bar experiences you’ll find at sea. You’ll pay the expected Disney premium to get on board, but with quality and service that matches the price. And even though they’re Disney through and through, with every restaurant, cafe, bar, pool, and show referencing Disney characters or movies, everything is done so well, and with such an eye for elevating the guest experience, that you don’t have to be a Disney fan to be blown away. (Case in point: my wife, traditionally a Disney skeptic, enjoyed the Treasure so much she’s now cautiously interested in visiting the theme parks more often than her current “once every few years” schedule.) 

It’s the same ship class as the Wish, which I wrote about for Paste in 2022, so if you’ve been on that ship you’ll instantly feel at home on the Treasure. The layouts match, and some of the restaurants and lounges (like Hook’s Barbery) are effectively identical. There’s also a ton of new experiences here, though, including the amazing Haunted Mansion Parlor themed bar, that make the Treasure unique. In fact, I’d say the Treasure is ultimately a more exciting, entertaining, impressive ship; it has a better roster of themed bars than the Wish, a Coco-themed dinner show that’s significantly more appealing than the Frozen one on the Wish, and pulls more inspiration from the theme parks—whose attractions, alongside the animation studio’s original features, are Disney’s greatest contributions to the culture.  

Any conversation about the Disney Treasure, and especially the influence the parks have had on it, has to begin with the Haunted Mansion Parlor. This amazing bar turns the classic Disney ride into a lounge, recreating its decor and aesthetic in a livable space, expanding its signature song into a half-hour epic that runs through a variety of musical genres, and basically recasting the same story beats in a new environment. It also serves fantastic cocktails and a couple of really cool mugs. Just a few steps away from the parlor sits Skipper Society, a bigger, more open lounge area with drinks, small bites, and (purposefully bad) jokes inspired by the Jungle Cruise ride. Whereas the parlor is small, exclusive, and commands your complete attention, Skipper Society is looser, more convivial and communal, with a small stage that’s home to regular musical performances and activities like trivia. A third bar, Periscope Pub, reaches back to a beloved attraction that no longer exists in the American parks, based on a Disney live action classic that loomed large in the company’s history for decades: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Periscope Pub isn’t as intricately detailed or transportative as the Haunted Mansion Parlor, but it evokes the 19th century sci-fi wonder of the Jules Verne novel that inspired the movie and ride. You know, rivets: they’re everywhere, along with video screens above and on either side of the lounge making it feel like you’re underwater. Skipper Society is where you’ll grab drinks while waiting for a show or your dinner reservation; Periscope Pub is a good place to grab lunch or have a few beers while watching some sports from back on the mainland; the Haunted Mansion Parlor is a destination in and of itself, and enough of a reason to book a trip on the Treasure if you’re a diehard parks lover.

When it comes to food, the Treasure offers a range of options, from a buffet at Marceline Market, to the deckside fast food at Mickey & Friends Festival of Foods. If you’ve been on the Wish, you know what to expect from them. Marceline Market is your traditional cruise ship walk-up buffet, with several stations offering grab-and-go dishes from various cuisines. The Festival of Foods is where you can find hamburgers, tacos, pizza, BBQ, and the Disney Cruise Line’s vaunted chicken fingers (eh, they’re fine). Both of these are included as part of the cost of your cruise, along with a rotation of three dinner restaurants.

Two of those dinner spots will also be familiar to anybody who’s been on the Wish. 1923 serves classic American fare influenced by California, where The Walt Disney Company was founded in… 1923. Expect steaks, seafood, chicken, and other classic entrees, inside an elegant dining room decorated with reproductions of sketches, maquettes, and design documents from classic Disney animated films. World of Marvel is a superhero-themed space featuring the Avengers: Quantum Event supper show, with Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Anthony Mackie, Brie Larson, and other Marvel stars appearing via an interactive film. The food is fine, nothing spectacular, but the show’s fun for kids. (A second show, Marvel Celebration of Heroes: Groot Remix, is unique to the Treasure, but nothing to write home about; it’s basically a Marvel trivia game set to a soundtrack of ‘70s and ‘80s pop hits.) 

The third leg of this rotation is a new concept exclusive to the Treasure. Plaza de Coco recreates Santa Cecelia from Pixar’s beloved movie, and hosts two different nights of live dinner shows during a cruise. Actors and musicians perform songs from the movie on a stage in the middle of the room, with Miguel being joined by his family, including some decked out like the calaveras of his ancestors that Miguel meets in the Land of the Dead. Both nights serve up a Mexican feast with wonderful entertainment. It’s similar in concept to the Frozen show from the Wish, but better executed all around, with a brighter, more vibrant space, a more exciting menu, and better music. You can also expect an appearance from Miguel’s alibrije Dante, the Xolo dog turned mystical spirit guide, and although it’s not as technologically impressive as Olaf’s appearance in the Frozen show, it’s definitely a lot cuter.

There’s a lot more to eat onboard, too. You can grab snacks, light bites, and drinks at the Jade Cricket Cafe and Heihei Cafe. Jumbeaux Sweets, themed after the sweet shop from Zootopia, is home to ice cream, gelato, and a range of gorgeous pastries; it’s an extra charge to buy anything there, but it’s worth it if you have a sweet tooth. And if you want to leave the kids behind and spoil yourself (and can get a reservation), the Treasure is also home to Enchanté, the tony French restaurant found on several Disney ships, as well as the Disney Cruise Line staple Palo, a top-of-the-line steakhouse. 

The Coco and Marvel dinner shows aren’t the only live theater on board. The spacious Walt Disney Theatre hosts three different live stage shows. One of them, Disney Seas the Adventure, a child-pleasing jukebox musical featuring Disney songs and characters, can also be found on the Wish. The highlight is Disney The Tale of Moana, a live retelling of the first Moana film with Broadway-level costumes and special effects, including an elaborate, show-stopping climax with Te Kā, the monstrous lava demon. I won’t lie: cruise ship musicals can be a very mixed bag, but The Tale of Moana is one of the most impressive productions I’ve seen at sea. Disney’s ever-popular stage version of The Beauty & the Beast rounds out the rotation, with all three scheduled for every Treasure cruise. 

Again, if you’ve been on the Disney Wish, you’ll notice a lot of similarities on the Treasure. That extends to most of the on-board activities. The Treasure boasts the same AquaMouse water slide attraction found on the Wish, and shares a daycare activity station for kids based on Marvel, another that’s immersively themed to Star Wars, a nursery styled after It’s a Small World, a similar complex of pools, the kids-only Toy Story Splash Zone, and activity areas for tweens, teens and families that all closely resemble what you’ll find on the Wish. This is common in the cruise industry, where ships within the same class will typically have the same layout and amenities.  

If you’ve been on the Wish already, and are looking for another Disney cruise to book in the future, the Treasure has enough variety to make it a viable option—especially if you love the Haunted Mansion and Disney’s theme parks. And although you might hesitate to consider a Disney cruise if you aren’t traveling with children, the Treasure is truly fit for all ages, just like the Wish and Disney Cruise Lines in general. The general sense of luxury found not just in its accommodations but across its restaurants, bars, shopping, and entertainment will pamper adults, and that’s not even factoring in optional add-ons like a spa trip or a shave (or drink) at Hook’s Barbery. There’s also an adults-only section with its own pool, hot tubs, cafe, and deckside bar, for whenever you need to get away from the kids for an afternoon or two. 

It’s no secret that Disney cruises are expensive. It’s Disney: high prices are part of their whole thing. (Just count how many “most expensive day ever” shirts you see on grumpy dads the next time you’re at Disneyland or Disney World.) If you’re looking for a party ship, or a cheap family vacation, or a quick weekend getaway, this isn’t the cruise line for you. If you want to spoil yourself and your family with a cruise where the ship is the main draw, though, consider the Disney Treasure—especially if you have a soft spot for Disney’s animated classics or theme parks. If you’re able and willing to afford it, you’ll make a lot of wonderful memories on the Disney Treasure—and maybe even leave with a beautifully groomed beard.

Senior editor Garrett Martin writes about videogames, TV, travel, theme parks, wrestling, music, and more. You can also find him on Blue Sky.