It’s the Magic that brings the Wonder, inspiring the Dream and Fantasy that calls for the Wish towards the Treasure, bringing the Destiny that leads to the Adventure.
Since 1998, the Disney Cruise Line has brought the Disney experience to fans around the world, with eight ships offering short and extended cruises in the United States, Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, and for the first time in Asia, from Singapore.
Featuring immersive Broadway performance-styled shows from Disney and its popular brands, including Pixar and Marvel, to cruise activities such as sports and recreational, key offerings that set a Disney Cruise apart from typical casino-driven cruises include themed family dining and performances, fireworks at sea, as well as supervised kids’ clubs, Disney style.
Unlike a visit to a Disney park where visitors pay for an entry ticket, and spend the day experiencing rides and opting for places to eat and things to do, a package cruise with Disney Cruise is slightly different, with two to 15-night packages that cover the room, all-day dining and room service, sports and recreation activities including the pool and slides, entertainment shows, kids’ clubs for the young, and nightlife experiences for the adults. The only additional charges would be for premium dining options, purchases from the ship’s retail shops, and alcohol and other premium beverages for adults.
And we at Geek Culture would know, as among the team are long-time Disney park fans, who have been visiting the park since they were 10 years old, have been to every Disney park in the world, and yes, have also signed up for Disney Cruises packages while travelling in the US. Before you board, here are five things you need to know about your first cruise on the Disney Adventure.
Which puts us in a unique perspective of being excited about the upcoming Disney Adventure in Singapore, which also marks the House of Mouse’s biggest ship to date, with 2,111 cabins offering a capacity of 6,700 visitors per trip. The first of the Global-class ship, it beats the 4,000 capacity of the Wish-class ships, the Disney Wish, Disney Treasure, and Disney Destiny, and the Dream-class Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy ships, while more than doubling the 2,700 capacity on the original two Magic-class ships, the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder.
And while you might have read or heard that the Disney Cruise offers a different experience from the parks, the on-board activities also differ, as not all the Broadway-style shows are identical, making each cruise across the Disney fleet unique.
Yet, some highlights are similar, and Geek Culture is here to uncover some of the secrets of the Disney Cruise and bring you a trip on the Disney Adventure — a special one.
1) Rotational Dining (Dinner) & New And Secret Menu Items
A meal and a show get new meaning as Disney Cruise practices Rotational Dining, where your family gets to dine in a different themed restaurant on different days for dinner, ensuring that no onboard dining experience is identical. There are six restaurants across three themes of Character Experience, Classic and Technology, and you get to experience one restaurant per night for each theme. Do use your Navigator app to track your dining window, and make any changes ahead of your window, as while the dining is complimentary, there might not be tables available.
There is also the casual dining buffet, and the quick-serve restaurants/windows by the pool, Imagination Garden or Discovery Reef, in case hunger strikes and you’re not able to properly enter a restaurant or cafe. Otherwise, your best bet to savour the best experience is the Around the Clock Dining, where you can enjoy round-the-clock in-room dining in your stateroom. Of course, this takes some planning, where you have to order breakfast the night before, for morning delivery. And if you order food during the busy lunch or dinner window, be prepared for a little wait. During our time on the Disney Adventure, calling room service can take anywhere from less than a minute outside of lunch and dinner, and up to 20 minutes during, with delivery times taking from 40 minutes to a little over an hour.
Our experience on other Disney Cruise ships is that there are secret menu items that you can order, such as the Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bars which are free on board the ship but sadly, we were told that this special ice cream was not available for room service on the Disney Adventure. Fret not though, as while not listed in the room service menu on the Navigator app, you can also order cookies, as well as warm or chilled milk, to your room!
Sometime in the last two years, Disney Cruise also streamlined its menus across the ships, so the menus are identical across ships, except for the one on the Disney Adventure, which is different, because of the many demographics from this region, so there will be special Asian-themed items, such as Dan-Dan noodles, and halal options.
Already, the Disney team has revealed certain menu items exclusive to the Adventure — Laksa Lemak (a noodle dish in a spicy coconut-based broth) and Hainanese Chicken Rice, one of Singapore’s signature local dishes. We managed to try them both and we recommend the chicken rice, which is available at every Rotational Dining restaurant, and even at Gramma Tala’s Kitchen.
Otherwise, be sure to order the warm Chocolate Chip Cookies for the room, and speak to your dinner servers, who will be with you for the Rotational Dining. You can let them know if you have special food preferences or requests, and they might be able to pull some items for you from other kitchens, including from crew dining.
Let us know if you manage to order something that’s not listed on the menu!
2) Top 5 Special and Exclusive Food To Look Out For
The Disney Adventure is the first ship based in Asia, catering to a wider population of nationalities and cultures, so there’s definitely a need for a strong Asian menu to accommodate a large number of guests. Here are some exclusive dining options we can’t wait to try out.
Hainanese Chicken Rice (Animator’s Palate)
The secret to this classic Singapore national dish is in the chilli. No, really. The chicken is poached, so that it’s juicy and tender, and Singaporeans generally prefer the drumstick or thigh, as the meat is juicier. The rice itself is boiled in the same stock used to poach the chicken, which explains its rich flavour, but the true test of a good plate of chicken rice is the rich garlic chilli sauce.
The thing about chicken rice is that it needs to be paired with the chilli for that kick in the flavours, and the small dish that was servce is nowhere near anough. The good news is that chicken rice is also available across all Rotational Dining restaurants, and at Gramma Tala’s Kitchen, so if you like it, you can have it anywhere, anytime.
Lemak Laksa (Animator’s Palate)
The secret to this dish is the rich, spicy coconut broth. The traditional or Singaporean version of this classic dish typically has hard-boiled eggs, fish cake, prawns and cockles, though in most restaurants, the cockles are generally replaced with other seafood items.
We wanted so much to like this, but when we tried it, the four of us in the stateroom, as well as friends in other staterooms who ordered it across various dinners on our cruise felt that it was somewhat lacking in what makes laksa so special, so here’s hoping that Disney does something to improve the recipe.
Jackfruit Masala Kosha Taco (Enchanted Summertime)
This tropical fruit is synonymous with Asia and is widely used as a meat alternative. The sweet flesh of the jackfruit pairs well with a variety of Asian spices, and we can’t wait to try this out as well. Sadly, we did not get to dine at Enchanted Summertime during our cruise.
As part of the Disney Cruise, on-board dining is part of the experience that guests pay for, but there are also different tiers of guests, and there are Concierge guests, who are booked in Concierge Staterooms, where they have access to the Concierge Lounge, Concierge Spa, and Concierge Kitchen, which has a specially curated menu. Other premium restaurants, where additional payments are expected, include Palo Café and Palo Trattoria.
Disney Adventure will also offer halal-certified meats at table service, and there will be sections on the buffet and in-room dining where there’s no pork or lard. Alternatively, Cosmic Kebabs, which is inspired by Marvel Studios’ Ms Marvel and offers a menu of pitas and kebabs, operates a separate kitchen with no pork or lard as well. We tried their grilled chicken, lamb and beef and the food here is amazing, and a must-visit at least once.
The Disney Adventure is also the only ship on the fleet to offer Jain Meals — a strict form of vegetarianism designed to minimise harm to all living beings, including microorganisms. This diet excludes all meat, fish, eggs, and root vegetables, and is available on the ship’s Special Requests form, which also offers options for plant-based, vegetarian, kosher or meals with halal-certified meats.
3) Exclusive Disney Charms
This is a special one that makes a special Disney Cruise experience for the whole family. This secret activity allows each guest to visit the jewellery store to claim a free Disney charm each day. You can’t just show up, though, as the timing, usually in the morning, is shown on the Navigator app. For the next few days, you can head to the same store and request a charm at the designated time, and by the end of the cruise, you will have a collection of Disney charms to remember the cruise of a lifetime.
On our cruise, the charms were given out at 10am and this activity was broadcast on the app and it drew a huge crowd that extended all the way to D Lounge. What was interesting is that if you pay attention to the staff, they will start mentioning a second, secret drop that won’t be listed on the app
On the first full day, the secret drop was a bracelet to link all the charms to, and on the second and third day, there were exclusive charms not given out in the morning!
4) Special and Exclusive Beverages and Cocktails to Look Out For
From the Buccaneer Bar, Tiana’s Bayou Lounge to Spellbound, there are a variety of speciality concoctions to tickle your senses and here are some drinks to indulge in, though expect to pay extra for this indulgence. And unlike other cruises that might offer a drinks package, sodas and coffees are part of the complete Disney Cruise experience, but the other beverages are pay-as-you-drink. This includes lattes, cocktails, and speciality drinks, as there isn’t a drinks package that covers all the additional drinks.
#ProTip: The Disney Adventure offers TWG and Bacha Coffee as premium beverages, but their basic flavours are available at the complimentary drinks locations as well.
Poison Apple and Mirror Mirror (Spellbound)
This Poison Appletini (left) is served in a detailed collectable mug, inspired by the Evil Queen from Snow White. The drink is US$20, but if you have the space, you can pick up the drink, green cup and even the Evil Queen statue for US$70. Considering that this was priced at US$125 when it was first launched (with a red cup), the one on the Adventure looks like a steal!
Alternatively, keep the evening spirit-free with non-alcoholic gin, Oolong tea, coconut water and pandan syrup.
An Amaretto is a sweet, Italian liqueur with a distinct almond-like, nutty, and caramel flavour, and on the Adventure, it’s alcohol-free.
5) Disney-Themed Party
Everyone loves a Disney-themed party, and the Disney Cruise is famous for its Pirate Night, a high-energy event held on most Caribbean and Bahamas sailings. Alas, the Disney Adventure doesn’t quite have one.
Make no mistake – guests can still dress up as their favourite Disney, Marvel, Star Wars or Pixar character, just not with a mask covering their face, or pretend to be a Disney cast member and sign autographs.
One potential opportunity to dress up as a pirate would be at the upcoming Captain Jack Sparrow & the Siren Queen live show, slated for the stage at the Disney Imagination Garden. Located at the heart of the ship, the state-of-the-art Garden Stage comes with a three-deck-high LED screens, and is home to several shows starring your favourite Disney and Marvel characters.
Sadly, Geek Culture understands that the show, which was performed during the Shakedown Cruise from Tokyo, isn’t ready to be presented to the public just yet. The show hasn’t been cancelled – it’s just not ready but when it is, guests can dress up in their pirate outfits to get into the spirit of the swashbuckling adventure alongside the charming Captain Jack Sparrow.
6) Duffy and Friends Discovery Quest Activity
Duffy and The Friend Ship is an all-new live show on the Garden Stage at Disney Imagination Garden featuring key favourites Duffy the Disney Bear and his companions: ShellieMay, Gelatoni, StellaLou, CookieAnn, ‘Olu Mel, and LinaBell, all who originated from Tokyo DisneySea.
For a truly immersive experience, you can extend the fun with the Duffy and Friends Discovery Quest, where you can follow clues that bring you around the ship to find lost items, and ultimately, win a special prize. If this sounds familiar, it’s a fresh new take on the Midship Detective Agency interactive activity on the Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream.
You can pick up the US$12.99 Quest kit at the Disney and Friends Shop in San Fransokyo, or at the World of Disney Too store.
#ProTip If you want the kit as a collectable, you can simply pay for it, and ask for the prize. A few of our friends only chanced upon this on the day before the return, and since shops would not be open the next day, the staff handed over the prize, in case you completed the quest after store hours.
7) Disney Pins Exchange & Fish Extender
This one is for the kids, but it’s a great way to interact with other guests and the cast. Disney offers a variety of pins that can be purchased at parks and stores around the world, and there are also unique ones available. At the parks, there are also areas where anyone can walk up to a cast member and swap pins — something they have for something they want, and it’s part of the Disney experience, and it’s also on the Disney Adventure.
If you’re a fan of pins or want to start collecting and swapping, bring a few of your own Disney pins, and get ready to swap and trade with the other guests on the cruise. Disney Adventure is also home to the first National Geographic store on a Disney ship, as well as the first Duffy & Friends store, where there will be pins for sale, and thus, exchange.
Pin exchanges can be done at the sales counter of most retail stores – just look for a Mickey shaped pin board at the counter, and ask to take a look. The staff will happily do a one-for-one exchange for any pin they have, for one that you have,
But if you’re focused on unique Disney Cruise experiences, get your Fish Extenders ready. Say what now?
Outside every door on the other ships is a metal fish with a slot, and this is where the crew can leave paper information behind, such as your schedule or even an invite to dinner. What some guests have done is hang a fabric organiser on the decorative fish — hence the name Fish Extender, or FE, for other guests to leave items for you. And then you do the same for other guests. On the Disney Adventure, the fish has been replaced by Mickey ears, but that doesn’t change the nature of the game.
This is not a Disney-sanctioned activity, but think of it like a Secret Santa. You meet with other guests on your cruise through forums or Facebook groups, and a few cabins will join in for this activity. You then plan and pack small gift items for other guests in the cabins, and drop them in their FE hanging outside their door, while they do the same for you.
Seeking out these groups and participation is voluntary, but it’s a good way to connect with other guests. You don’t have to meet them, open the door, or knock on the doors of others — the fun part is the mystery and in preparing gifts for other guests on the cruise.
#ProTip Don’t start taking things off people’s stateroom doors if you happen to see someone else do it – if you’re not the intended audience, that’s basically stealing. There will be guests who will leave signs and candy, asking those who pass by to grab one. This you can take, but just one please.
8) World’s First and Only Fireworks Display At Sea, Narrated By Bollywood Icon Shah Rukh Khan
Disney Adventure will be home to a few firsts — the first Disney ship of its size in the fleet, with the Ironcycle Test Run, aka the longest rollercoaster at sea, and it will also be the first and only cruise line in the world to have dazzling fireworks displays out at sea.
The Lion King: Celebration in the Sky is an all-new and original fireworks spectacular based on one of Disney’s most beloved films, and the fireworks out at sea will illuminate the night sky, and guests on deck can enjoy the extraordinary symphony of pyrotechnics, music and lighting, all wonderfully narrated by Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan, who voiced Mufasa in the Hindi-language version of Disney’s The Lion King (2019) and Mufasa (2024).
9) Amazing Adventures — Special Edition First Issue
Hop on board and get your hands on Amazing Adventures #1, a special-edition 32-page comic book courtesy of Disney Cruise Line and Marvel Comics. Written by award-winning writer Alyssa Wong, legendary artist Leinil Francis Yu, Marvel Comics’ editor-in-chief C.B. Cebulski, and fan favourite penciler Ron Lim, this Disney Adventure exclusive will have Marvel Comics superheroes alongside regional Marvel superheroes, Jitter, from Singapore, and Wave, from the Philippines, on a mission across the Disney Adventure.
It’s available for sale on board the cruise, and for the entire month of March 2025, all guests will find a special copy of this comic in their staterooms. Make Mine Marvel!
10) Exclusive Bubble Tea
What’s with Asians and bubble tea? Well, the House of Mouse clearly understands its audience, as Bewitching Boba and Brews, a casual café themed after the Disney classic The Little Mermaid, is the place to be to indulge in your favourite cup of flavoured tea with pearls, as well as other delicious concoctions shaken for your pleasure.
We know that there are plenty of bubble tea fans out there who crave that cup of Boba, but at US$7 for a basic cup without pearls, we would rather spend that on a beer. But to each their own.
Sherwin once held the Matrix of Leadership, but wisely passed it on to the rightful leader of the household.
Yonk
Si Jia
