Do you remember the first time you licked an ice-cold orange pop off a stick on a sweltering summer day? Or the first time you scraped your knee during a game of catch?
Four days aboard the Disney Adventure, the conglomerate’s largest ship in their fleet and their first in Asia, sent me on philosophical trip about growing up. All while throwing my hands up in the air and snaking down a water slide somewhere in the Indian Ocean.
At the Disney Discovery Reef with aquatic characters and nautical stories from Disney, including ‘The Little Mermaid’ and ‘Lilo & Stitch’, as well as Pixar films ‘Finding Nemo’ and ‘Luca’.
| Photo Credit:
Disney
At every high point — when actor Robert Downey Jr. unexpectedly arrived to christen the ship on March 4; when I made myself a vanilla and strawberry swirl; or when Elsa sang the deeply emotive crescendos of cult-hit ‘Let It Go’ — I experienced an utter loss for words, followed by a brief purge, and then a snap back to reality.
This amusement park on the high-seas with 18 decks is a wormhole. A time machine where you dive in and out of the greatest part of your childhood years, clutching at it with dear life. Here, one watches a Simba-themed fireworks show with a recorded narration of The Lion King’s world by Shah Rukh Khan while eating unlimited slices of pepperoni pizza, approximately eight desserts in one go, and giving Spider-Man a hug.
There are one too many experiences on board. Here are some.
The Infinity Bar on Deck 18
| Photo Credit:
Disney
All aboard
Before we get on at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre in Singapore from where the ship sails off on March 5, I expect grandeur. We are, of course, headed to a portion of the happiest place on earth. But nothing quite prepares you for the moment you step onboard.
Crew members welcome you — not just politely, but exuberantly — announcing your name and clapping as though you have just arrived at your own celebration. In a way, you have.
Concierge family staterooms with a verandah.
| Photo Credit:
Disney
This is the new Disney cruise experience in Asia, and over the next four days, it becomes less like a vacation and more like a carefully orchestrated immersion into a floating world where storytelling never really switches off. The ship can accommodate over 6,000 people on board, excluding an extensive crew. A township if you may.
My stateroom is the first surprise. Spacious in a way cruise cabins rarely are, it blends clean design with subtle Disney touches. It is perhaps the only place on board where one can experience true silence – if you are travelling alone. The staterooms can accommodate up to four and could quickly fill-up with noise and chatter, whilst travelling with company, particularly children. The concierge suites at a premium price however, quickly resolve the issue, also allowing for a private deck and jacuzzi.
By sunset, as the Singapore skyline melts into the horizon, I quickly realise that I would rather begin and end each day on the final deck onboard — deck 18 by the infinity pool at the aft of the ship — where the sun both rises and sets in an indescribable, dramatic manner.
Inspired by Disney’s “Frozen,” the Elsa Royal Suite.
| Photo Credit:
Disney
Truth be told, the ship feels like a destination. Right off the bat, there are seven themed areas offering performances, Disney films, arcade games, and attempts to grab a seat on the first-ever roller coaster on a Disney Cruise Line ship and the longest at sea, stretching over 250 metres. For those who’d like to do it all, four-days do not seem sufficient. The arcade for instance, and the Baymax cinema, operate round-the-clock each day.
The kids’ spaces offer immersive environments where children play ping pong, foosball, arcade games, and learn. Parents I speak to mention, almost with disbelief, how eager their children are to return there each day. This is besides the pools and splash zones on board where so many run around in tutu swim suits.
Entertainment in the evenings is where Disney leans into its legacy. Theatre productions on board are polished to a degree that rivals professional stage shows on land — original musicals with characters from many different parts of the Disney world including all your favourite princesses, Wall-E, Coco, Encanto, Tangled, and Frozen — just enough spectacle to leave you awestruck. There is no irony here, no attempt to modernise for the sake of it. The storytelling is earnest. That is why it works.
The Toy Story Place on board.
| Photo Credit:
Disney
At other points, there is space to engage in frivolity. Whilst on a media tour, some journalists take over the mics at a private karaoke room and begin crooning Taylor Swift songs. Experiences like this can be booked onboard. Children who’d love to feel like princesses and princes for the day could also book a slot at the Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo.
Other premium paid experiences include a luxurious spa, a saloon, a Bacha coffee and croissant date, high-tea at TWG, and shopping for souvenirs in their several retail stores — a capitalist’s paradise.
Swumming at Wayfinder Bay
| Photo Credit:
Disney
Tucking in
Dining hence becomes the great leveller.
On board are seven quick service restaurants serving burgers, kebabs, Polynesian food, Indian meals, soft serves, boba tea, and pizzas endlessly. Of them, only the bubble tea restaurant is not included in the ticket price. Do not forget to try the steaming hot burgers at Ohana’s Grill (modelled on the Lilo and Stitch world), and the doner kebabs (with flavoured rice) at Cosmic Kebab, fashioned after Miss Marvel’s reality. For those who skip dinner and want to munch on a meal as late as 3am, a 24-hour room service option can be exercised. Free will?
A meal where Mickey pops by.
| Photo Credit:
Disney
Dining is not just about food though, it is theatre. Each evening, I rotate through different themed restaurants, a signature Disney concept. One night, dinner unfolds alongside an interactive show at Navigator’s Club, where Mickey, Minnie and the gang appear as part of a story that evolves between courses. Another evening is more refined, almost understated, where the focus shifts to beautifully plated dishes inspired by global cuisines and animated line drawings you make before you tuck in at Animator’s Palate. An elaborate breakfast spread with food from all over the world, including pesaruttu and chole from India, can be found at the Enchanted Summer Restaurant and Pixar Market Restaurant. Do not forget to look at the ceiling at the Hollywood Spotlight Club where lights shine. One can also look to book a paid dinner experience at Mike & Sulley’s Flavors of Asia for a Japanese meal; and an elaborate Italian meal at Palo Trattoria.
Miso-glazed sea bass
| Photo Credit:
Disney
Through the duration of the cruise, servers follow you from restaurant to restaurant, remembering your preferences by the second night. It’s a small detail, but one that transforms service into something more personal — almost intuitive.
Pam Rawlins, executive director, and Salah Chetbi, beverage director, both speak about how this relationship between the servers and the audience tends to add to the experience. Salah says that much of the beverages on board have been inspired by several Asian flavours, adding that he is thrilled to be in ‘this part of the world’ where ingredients are abundant. Singapore always finds a way to be part of the cruise’s mix in not just its food but also its interiors.
At Tiana’s Bayou Lounge, a casual, New Orleans–inspired lounge
| Photo Credit:
Disney
Sundowner
After a while, time begins feeling elastic. I measure my day not by hours, but by experiences — breakfast overlooking the sea, an impromptu character encounter, an afternoon show, a walk on the treadmill at the fitness centre while watching other ships pass, a late-night dessert you did not plan to have.
Wayfinder Bay
| Photo Credit:
Disney
Perhaps this is what adds to the Disney experience. It is clearly not just for children. There is wonder, colour, and unmistakable magic. But there is also a surprising amount of space to simply exist without an agenda.
After four days of being terribly overstimulated, my phone buzzes back to life as we reach the Singapore port.
The spell begins to lift. But not entirely.
I doubt it will.
The starting price of a three-night cruise on the Disney Adventure priced at $935 USD; and $1,26 2USD for four nights.
The author was aboard on invitation from Disney Cruise Line.
