Andrea Zelinski
Tim Elrod, the vice president of Travelmation, said his then-10-year-old daughter and wife really enjoyed the Disney Wish when they sailed on it in August. His three sons (ages 14, 12 and 8) had a good time, too, but when Elrod stepped onto the "Aladdin"-themed Grand Hall on the Disney Treasure, his first thought was about them: "My boys are just going to love it."
While travel advisors said both boys and girls will enjoy Disney Cruise Line's newest Wish-class ship, they note the theme of adventure on the Treasure contrasts with the whimsical ambience of the Wish.
Elrod, who books Disney World, Disneyland and Disney cruises, said some clients specifically ask about "boy character" dining options, of which he makes a few recommendations. But the Treasure opens a whole new world of options for families, he said.
"There's just something different about having Peter Pan and Captain Hook on the ship and you're on the open water having pirate night. Just that adventure spirit, I think it brings a little bit more excitement to the feel of the cruise," Elrod said.
That's not to say that the Treasure won't appeal to girls, he said, noting his daughter is jazzed about the stage adaptation of "Moana."
I sailed on the same three-night preview cruise to Castaway Cay as Elrod, accompanied by my two nephews and niece to see the ship through their eyes. There was no lack of attractions for my niece to dig into, including the AquaMouse watercoaster, which all three of the kids rode repeatedly. The Worlds of Marvel restaurant, with Marvel trivia and video shorts starring Rocket and Groot from "Guardians of the Galaxy," were also a hit among my trio.
I chatted with several advisors on this sailing about what stood out to them about the Treasure in contrast to other Disney experiences.
"On a ship like this, there's more space. It's grander" than Disney's first four smaller ships, said Jonathan de Araujo, president and founder of The Vacationeer. "Everything is just bigger and better in a lot of ways, unless you really like that intimate feel."
The itinerary is also different. The Treasure sails seven-night cruises alternating between the Eastern and Western Caribbean. By contrast, the Wish sails short itineraries, but has just as many things to do onboard as the Treasure. That can leave guests feeling FOMO if they haven't gotten to it all by the time the cruise ends after three or four days, he said.
"You do a three-night on the Wish, and you will need a vacation at the end of it if you've seen everything," he said.
The short sailings on the Wish may appeal more to guests with a smaller budget or with less time on their hands, he said. But the Treasure offers a longer experience with more leisure time to experience the ship.
Speaking of which, several advisors said they look to pitch cruises to their theme park clients often as a way to relax after days in the parks.