Disney introduces its newest cruise ship, Treasure, as part of a strategy to double its fleet by 2031.

• The Disney Treasure will embark on its first voyage from Port Canaveral, Florida, to the Caribbean in December, joining the other five ships in Disney's cruise line.
• By 2031, Disney's fleet will be doubled, with two ships arriving in 2025, and four more Disney-branded vessels, along with a partnership with Oriental Land Company to offer Disney's cruise vacations in Japan.
• Disney Cruise Line is experiencing a strong demand, with high occupancy and a thriving business, according to Thomas Mazloum, president of Disney's new experiences portfolio and Disney signature experiences.

The fleet is expanding.

In the upcoming month, the Disney Treasure cruise ship will embark on its first voyage from Port Canaveral, Florida, to the Caribbean, joining the six other ships in the Disney cruise line.

The Treasure, measuring 221 feet in height and 1,119 feet in length, can accommodate 4,000 passengers and 1,555 crew members. Similar to Disney's other cruise ships, the Treasure offers themed dining, curated lounges, and premium on-board live entertainment.

Disney is also setting sail with the Treasure as it embarks on a journey of rapid expansion, with the launch of the Disney Wish in mid-2022 marking the company's first new ship in a decade.

By 2031, Disney's fleet will double, with two ships arriving in 2025, including the Disney Destiny and Disney Adventure, and four additional Disney-branded vessels, as well as a partnership with Oriental Land Company to bring Disney's cruise vacations to Japan.

"Disney Cruise Line is experiencing significant growth, with high demand and occupancy, said Thomas Mazloum, president of Disney's new experiences portfolio and Disney signature experiences."

Disney's experiences division, which includes cruises, parks, resorts, and consumer products, generated record revenue and profit for fiscal 2024, with revenue increasing by 5% to $34.15 billion and operating income increasing by 4% to $9.27 billion, according to the company's earnings report on Thursday.

Despite generating the second-highest revenue for Disney last year, the experiences segment's operating profits were smaller than the entertainment segment's, which recorded $3.92 billion in fiscal 2024.

In fiscal 2025, Disney expects to see 6% to 8% profit growth in the experiences division, which had the strongest full-year revenue growth of any Disney division.

Although Disney has a smaller fleet compared to the top three cruise lines, it has emerged as a leader in family cruising. Specifically, Disney has more than 100 vessels, while the three largest cruise lines have more than 40, and around 30.

Although Disney is priced slightly higher than Carnival and Royal Caribbean for basic fares, guests who upgrade to larger cabins or purchase additional food packages or experiences can see prices become comparable.

The cost of Disney's Treasure seven-night cruises is $4,277 for two guests and $6,994 for a family of four. Prices may rise if travelers choose cruises linked to Halloween or Christmas.

Gavin Doyle, founder of MickeyVisit.com, stated that what distinguishes Disney is its advancements in cruising and its emphasis on storytelling.

Disney revolutionized the cruising industry by focusing on guest satisfaction and incorporating popular characters and intellectual properties into their ship designs.

Disney's cruise ships use "rotational dining" to accommodate passengers. Instead of eating in a large mess hall, passengers are prescheduled to dine at different themed restaurants. Disney rotates its restaurant staff to follow each group of passengers to their scheduled restaurant. This way, guests have the same servers, busboys, and restaurant managers throughout their trip, and the waitstaff gets to know the guests and their preferences.

Doyle stated that they were able to provide a customer service level that felt like magic.

Immersive dining

Disney has enhanced the amenities onboard the Treasure by incorporating storytelling into them, including upscale restaurants, pools, spas, and gaming rooms for kids.

Mariachi Plaza at Plaza de Coco offers an immersive dining experience with live entertainment, themed after the 2017 film "Coco."

At Worlds of Marvel, visitors will enjoy two unique shows: "Avengers: Quantum Encounter" and "Marvel Celebration of Heroes: Groot Remix."

Diners can enjoy heroic adventures on the screens at the high-tech venue while they dine.

This restaurant, named after the founding year of Walt Disney Animation Studios, has a subdued and upscale atmosphere. It showcases a collection of exploration-themed artwork from both modern and classic animated films.

The Treasure offers a variety of casual dining options and quick bites, including Jumbeaux's Sweets, an ice cream parlor inspired by Disney's "Zootopia."

Some dining locations within The Treasure are exclusive to adults, making it an ideal destination for those traveling without children or seeking a night out.

The two upscale restaurants, Palo Steakhouse and Enchante, are inspired by "Beauty and the Beast" and offer gourmet Italian and French menus. The Rose, a chic lounge located at the entrance to the two restaurants, serves pre-dinner aperitifs and after-dinner cocktails.

Bringing the parks to the open seas

For the first time, Disney has brought intellectual properties from its parks to one of its ships with the Disney Treasure.

The bar, known as The Haunted Mansion Parlor, boasts a haunting atmosphere with ghostly decor from the famous attraction, along with a selection of spirit-filled cocktails, mocktails, and zero-proof beverages.

"Disneyland has been around for even longer than Walt Disney World, which has been in existence for 50 years. Many of our guests have grown up coming to our parks and over time, we have created iconic attractions and experiences. Our Imagineers deserve a lot of credit for coming up with these ideas."

He was thrilled with the idea and even more thrilled with the reception he received.

Jungle Cruise, another popular theme park attraction, is set to open at the Treasure. The Skipper Society offers themed cocktails, light snacks, and camp-style furnishings.

Other adult-only establishments include Scat Cat Lounge, inspired by "The Aristocats," and Periscope Pub, based on "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea."

Multigenerational fun

Of course, for many, Disney cruises are a family affair.

"Mazloum stated, "People often say that they have been designed with families in mind, which is absolutely correct. However, I would go a step further and say they've really been designed for multiple generations so that everyone is allowed to enjoy their experiences.""

Cruises are a popular choice for multigenerational travel, with one-third of families sailing with at least two generations, and 28% of cruise travelers boarding with three to five generations, according to the Cruise Lines International Association's annual state of the cruise industry report published in April.

Disney has designated areas for all age groups. The Small World nursery provides babysitting services for infants to three-year-olds, while older kids can visit the Oceaneer Club, which includes multiple interactive spaces.

The Walt Disney Theatre onboard the Treasure is hosting a Broadway-style production of "Disney the Tale of Moana," which includes a massive Te Ka puppet and an all-new song called "Warrior Face." Additionally, the stage will feature "Disney Seas the Adventure" and "Beauty and the Beast."

The Disney Wish will feature the Hero Zone and Wonderland and Never Land Cinemas, two popular spaces. Hero Zone is a sports and recreation venue with game show-style competitions and physical challenges, while the cinemas are luxurious screening rooms featuring first-run films from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm.

The Treasure, like the Wish, has a Toy Story-themed area with a splash pool, wading pool, and family waterslide. Additionally, it features an adapted version of the Wish's AquaMouse water coaster called "Curse of the Golden Egg."