By
Alex Smith |
“We call Imagineering the blending of creative imagination with technical know-how.” – Walt Disney
Following the words of its founder, Walt Disney Imagineering has been blending imagination and technical know-how onboard cruise ships since Disney Cruise Line launched in 1998 with its first vessel, Disney Magic. Each successive ship has brought to life a range of stories from the films of Disney through its interior design and experiences, from 1937’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to 2021’s Encanto and everything in between.
For the sixth cruise ship, Disney Treasure, the Disney Imagineers have created a design concept centred around the theme of adventure. It will also be the first ship in the fleet to feature venues inspired by one of Disney’s other major business divisions; its theme parks.
The first of these venues is the Skipper Society Lounge, which will bring the theming of Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise attraction to the sea for the first time. The venue will be decorated with natural colours, camp-style furnishings and a canopy of jungle foliage, paired with tributes to the skippers who pilot the boats in the original attraction. References to the attraction will be incorporated throughout the space, from a monkey-shaped chandelier to postcards and luggage tags.
Periscope Pub will pay tribute to Disney’s 1954 film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and the classic attraction it inspired, which was open at Walt Disney World from 1971 to 1994. The design of the submarine-style interiors has been influenced by 19th-century steampunk, with polished metals and industrial touches throughout the space. Screens on the ceiling will create a ‘window’ for guests to look up into the ocean, while a decorative rug in the centre of the pub will honour the giant squid, the nemesis of the film’s protagonist Captain Nemo.
Another new addition will be the Tomorrow Tower Suite, inspired by Disney’s Epcot theme park. Located in the ship’s forward funnel, the suite will feature nearly 2,000 square feet of living space and will be decorated with dynamic art pieces, as well as molten metal and colourful glass accents. The Tomorrow Tower Suite will accommodate up to eight guests and offer areas for eating, sleeping and recreation, as well as a full kitchen and private ensuite elevator.
Guests will be able to watch performances on the central stage while dining at Plaza de Coco
Two new venues onboard the ship will be inspired by recent films from Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar, the first of which is Plaza de Coco. The theatrical dining venue is themed around the Disney and Pixar film Coco and will feature a central stage surrounded by dining tables, with performances spread throughout the room. Guests will be able to see two shows at the venue, which will be performed on separate nights, as well as sample a dinner menu offering modern twists on traditional Mexican cuisine.
The ship’s sweet shop, Jumbeaux’s Sweets, will be reminiscent of the Jumbeaux Café ice cream parlour in Disney’s Zootopia. The shop will be designed in a Victorian-style, featuring pink interiors and a sculpture of Zootopia’s Officer Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. Guests will be able to choose from more than 20 flavours of handmade gelato, 16 flavours of ice cream and sorbets, speciality treats and sweets, and more.
Disney’s signature Grand Hall has been redesigned to reflect the new ship’s overall theme of adventure. On Disney Treasure, the central space will feature a design inspired by Disney’s Aladdin, with influences from Asian and African design elements.
Staterooms onboard the ship will also embody the theme, with a fresh, natural colour scheme and custom artwork and design elements that recall scenes and characters from Aladdin, Pocahontas, Up and Encanto. The concierge and royal suites, meanwhile, will portray character journeys from The Lion King, The Jungle Book and Aladdin through their design.
Disney Treasure is set to begin sailing in December 2024, departing from Port Canaveral in Florida, on a seven-day Eastern Caribbean roundtrip.
This article was first published in the 2024 issue of Cruise & Ferry Interiors. All information was correct at the time of printing, but may since have changed. Subscribe for FREE to get the next issue delivered directly to your inbox.