For the first time in its history, and after seven ships since 1998, the Disney Adventure will be the biggest Disney Cruise ship, and the first in Asia, setting sail from Singapore. With a capacity of 6,700, it will be the first cruise ship in the world to feature an explosive fireworks display out at sea, be home to the longest rollercoaster at sea and home to a unique selection of dining options to cater to the crowd in Asia.
Make sure you also download the Disney Cruise Navigator App, as it’s where guests can explore all the different experiences, shows and dining options before they set sail, and start making certain bookings or reservations. Once guests board, they can start planning their itinerary, and everything appears on the app.
It’s a huge ship, and listing all the new things to look out for in this ship will take a while, but we’ve compiled the top five things you need to know before you set sail.
1) Rotational Dining, Quick Service and Premium Dining
There are a total of six restaurants on board the Disney Adventure, and they come in thematic pairs. Think of them as sister restaurants, which means there are three themes that you get to experience, one for each night. Dinner items across sister restaurants would also be similar, and also different across different nights. While dining during dinner is complimentary, do use your Navigator app to track your scheduled dining time – don’t expect to simply show up and expect a table to be available.
The first theme is Character Experience, where you get to meet the icons of Disney, and for OG Disney fans, the Hollywood Spotlight Club is a showcase of Hollywood’s Golden Age, offering a variety of regional and international cuisines. It’s also where you get a chance to meet the most famous Disney VIPs – Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Daisy Duck – while you tuck into the Miso Glazed Chilean Seabass. This location has a long walk-in corridor, and the huge windows and high ceilings makes this a grand beauty to dine in.
For those looking at a more oceanic-themed locale, the sister restaurant for the Character Experience is Navigator’s Club, which offers a front-row seat to musical appearances and cast interactions with the famous four – Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Daisy Duck. After each character performs, they will also walk around the restaurant to say hi at every table, allowing you to grab some choice photos with these icons. And on the menu, the catch of the evening includes the Duck Confit and Tandoori Habanero Bhuna Paneer Tikka.
Next up is the Classic Entertainment theme, and this is where you go back to what made Disney magical – the classic films. Animator’s Palate is where you can indulge in the animated filmmaking legacy of Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, featuring animation boards and even mechanical props from Disney favourites, including The Little Mermaid, Encanto, and Toy Story. This is also the restaurant to offer the Disney Adventure exclusive: the Laksa Lemak, a variation of Southeast Asia’s most iconic local noodle dish, laksa.
From our cruise, we felt that this dish isn’t quite there yet, and needs some additional refinements.
The sister restaurant is the Animator’s Table, featuring classic ink and paint films from Disney and Pixar, including Aladdin, Frozen and Finding Nemo, and where guests can get the Mickey Chocolate Tarte. Part of the surprise is that guests are asked to draw something, and during dinner, these drawings will become animated, giving guests a chance to feel like they’re part of the creation and entertainment element of being an animator.
Finally, you get the Technology theme, which is the experience of being an animator, and is also ideal for those travelling with young ones. The Enchanted Summer Restaurant offers two distinct dining rooms inspired by the iconic Tangled and Frozen animated films. The Maximus room comes complete with a lantern festival theme, in honour of Rapunzel’s sun motif. Otherwise, there is the Olaf dining room, named after everyone’s favourite snowman from Arendelle and inspired by Elsa’s icy influence.
It’s also where you get to tuck into the vegetarian-friendly Spiced Vegetable Rolls and Lemon Thai Basil Tart for dinner, while during breakfast and lunch, it’s where the breakfast and lunch buffet is served.
The sister restaurant is the Pixar Market Restaurant that celebrates all things Pixar, with various dining areas capturing the spirit of some of the studio’s beloved films, from Inside Out, Monsters University, and Turning Red to The Incredibles. Like the Enchanted Summer Restaurant, it’s also where the breakfast and lunch buffet is served. Both these restaurants also serve as one of the larger spaces filled with well-known Disney icons across the brand.
If you prefer to indulge in activities and want to skip the buffet breakfast and lunch, you can also grab a bite across several quick-service restaurants on board.
Bewitching Boba and Brews, themed after Ursula, the sea witch from The Little Mermaid, offers popular bubble teas and other wickedly delicious concoctions, while Stitch’s Ohana Grill, inspired by Lilo and Stitch, is a casual diner serving up burgers, sandwiches and classic American fare. The burgers here are really good, and made to order.
Alternatively, Mowgli’s Eatery, based on the animated The Jungle Book, serves Indian cuisine, including vegetarian and regional dishes. While the Adventure needs to improve on some of its Asian food options, the Indian cuisine served on the ship is on point, and worth a visit.
Gramma Tala’s Kitchen, based on the animated Moana, showcases the diverse flavours found throughout the Pacific and Asia, and you can get chicken or beef rice bowls, along with chicken rice typically served during dinner at the Rotationa Dining restaurants. Meanwhile, Palo Café, from the Pixar film, Luca, is the on-board coffee bar offering a selection of light bites throughout the day.
Up on the deck, Toy Story is the inspiration behind Pizza Planet, an outdoor walk-up window serving out-of-this-world food and snacks and if things get too hot, Wheezy’s Freezies is the go-to for refreshing cool-down treats, including soft-serve ice cream in a variety of flavours.
At the rear of Deck 18 is also the Infinity Bar, where you can order your favourite alcoholic beverages, as well as a free beef or chicken hot dog, served with several toppings, from shallot jam to kimchi, fresh tomatoes and lettuce, and a selection of sauces.
Over at San Fransokyo Street, based on Big Hero 6, Alley Cat Café is a walk-up concessions stall where cinema snacks will be available for purchase. Gamers and movie-goers will find everything they need, from fizzy sodas and espresso drinks to popcorn, candies and other light bites.
Due to the larger number of Muslims in Asia, 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, inspired by Marvel Studios’ Ms Marvel and offers a menu of pitas and kebabs, operates a separate kitchen with no pork or lard.
The Disney Adventre 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 with the ship’s Special Requests form, which also offers options for plant-based, vegetarian, kosher or meals with halal-certified meats.
And if you want something more exclusive, there’s Premium Dining, where a reservation and additional charges are needed. Palo Trattoria is an upscale restaurant offering Italian fare and wines, and is for adults only. Then there is Mike & Sulley’s – Flavors of Asia, based on the Monsters series, which offers four distinct dining options: a full-service Japanese steakhouse, a lively teppanyaki room, a chic bar with Omakase-style dining, and an outdoor sushi and sashimi offering.
2) Entertainment, Rides & Activities
Let’s take it from the top – the upper deck, that is, where there will be several types of activities out in the open sea and sky.
Marvel Landing is where guests can experience three all-new Avengers-level adventures inspired by the iconic Marvel Super Heroes. The Ironcycle Test Run is the longest rollercoaster on a ship, where a pair of drivers can test drive Tony Stark’s latest Ironcycle prototype on a 250-meter-long thrilling high-speed circuit suspended up to 9 meters above deck. With Pym Quantum Racers, guests will steer Pym Tech-modified mini vehicles on an oversized toy track, while Groot Galaxy Spin will bring guests on an out-of-this-world ride onboard a Nova Corp Bass Jumper.
Toy Story Place, designed for families with young children, boasts a large family pool, multiple whirlpools, towering water slides, and interactive splash pads, inviting guests to explore, play and have fun in a whimsical water play area.
At Flying Saucer Splash Zone, guests will wade into the oversized Pizza Planet toy set and meet the famous Little Green Men who have made a splash landing among the H2-Ooohhh. Toddlers and young children can enjoy the Toy Story Splash Pad! water playground, with Woody, Buzz and friends appearing as giant rubber bath toys.
For a little touch of excitement, guests can ride the waves on Woody and Jessie’s Wild Slides, the bright red and yellow slides that will send guests spiralling and twisting down to a massive splashdown.
Within San Fransokyo Street, guests can relax in Big Hero Arcade, a family gaming lounge that is home to Hiro Training Zone, an immersive training simulator that allows groups of four to run and dodge across a high-tech gaming floor.
For those hoping to catch the Broadway-style performances, the Disney Imagination Garden, located at the heart of the ship, will house the state-of-the-art Garden Stage, with open-air, amphitheatre-style seating and three-deck-high LED screens.
This will be home to several shows starring the best of Disney and Marvel characters, including Let’s Set Sail, a high-energy dance party that jumpstarts the fun on embarkation day; Avengers Assemble!, an epic showdown between the heroes and villains from the Marvel Universe.
There’s also Mickey’s Color Spin Dance Party, a vibrant dance celebration perfect for fans of Disney music, and Baymax Super Exercise Expo, a musical exercise show inspired by the members of Big Hero 6.
Meanwhile, the Walt Disney Theatre will be home to two spectacular musical productions. Remember is a new show developed exclusively for the Disney Adventure that chronicles a heartwarming tale between Wall-E and Eve from Wall-E, and other beloved Disney stars, from Coco, The Little Mermaid, to Aladdin and more. Then there is the classic Disney Seas the Adventure, which will bring guests on a journey across iconic Disney songs and characters.
And finally, at the stern is Wayfinder Bay, an open-air oasis with a relaxing pool area surrounded by plush seating, offering some of the most stunning views of land, sea, and sky aboard the ship. Naturally, this Oceania-inspired area is home to a jumbo LED screen and will serve as a one-of-a-kind performance venue for live shows, including Moana: Call of the Sea, a musical adventure that retells Moana’s epic quest and friendship with the legendary demigod, Maui.
3) Gratuity
Here’s a huge tip for you, pun intended.
Tipping, or gratuity, is a cultural oddity in the United States, where it’s the norm to tip for service, whether it’s dining or in hospitality, though it’s rare in retail. Over the years, the tipping percentage has also fluctuated, where it can range from 15% to 25% in dining, or a simple $5 to $10 for your Uber driver, barista or room service attendant.
And it’s coming to Disney Cruise in the form of Gratuity. Basically, guests will be charged a fixed gratuity of US$16 per night per Stateroom guest, and US$27.25 per night per Concierge Stateroom and Suite guest.
This amount is per guest in the room, including infants and children and covers the gratuity for the team serving you, including the dining room server, dining room assistant server, dining room head server and the stateroom host. For Concierge gratuity, it covers the assistant stateroom host and the Concierge Lounge team as well.
But there’s more than the above services provided, such as additional beverages during Rotational Dining, food or drink in shops and outdoor or poolside eateries, and ordering from the 24-hour room service, and for additional activities such as Port Adventure, Senses Spa & Salon. If you use any of these services, an additional 18% gratuity will be automatically added to your bill.
Room service is where it gets a bit confusing, since the complimentary food is part of your Disney Cruise package, so there isn’t a total bill to calculate gratuity from. This is where it’s prudent to do things simply, and feel free to provide your feedback on this.
Plan to tip US$2 per item ordered, or US$5 to US$8 per tray of food delivered. Converted to Singapore dollars, the amount will be higher, but since you can tip in Singapore currency, a minimum would be to go with SG$2 per item, and SG$5 to SG$8 per tray of food to begin with.
There is an option to include the tip in the order form that comes with the food, which will eventually be billed to your room, but as a personal preference, I prefer to hand cash to the server delivering my order. After all, I want to make sure I show my appreciation to the person handling my food at 4pm, or at 11pm, when my child has a craving for a light snack or a cheeseburger.
4) Disney’s Oceaneer Club, Edge and Vibe For The Young Ones
A Disney Cruise promises fun for the whole family, but unlike a trip to Disneyland, where you have to join your kids at the junior rides, the Disney Cruise has clubs for the young ones, from the age of 3 to 17, all managed by the Disney team who will guide your young ones on age appropriate activities, from the Oceaneer Club (ages 3 to 10), Edge (ages 11 to 14) and Vibe (ages 14 to 17).
At the Oceaneer Club, kids can be their favourite characters in themed spaces, and play with other younger kids in an open area for arts and crafts, and, naturally, watch Disney movies. Parents, head down to register your young one, as they will be provided a band that will grant them access to the area for the duration of the cruise.
At the centre is the Hub, which serves as a portal to the other areas and features a stage where kids can enjoy interactive storytelling, special in-person and virtual visits from Disney characters, dance parties and more.
Fairytale Hall is inspired by Disney Princesses, while at Andy’s Toy Box, an oversized playground featuring a Slinky Dog slide, kids will be able to experience the world from the view of the toys from Toy Story.
At Marvel WEB Workshop, potential Young Avengers can suit up and put their skills to the test as they try out new suit prototypes for Spider-Man and other heroes using top-secret Avengers technology. The Walt Disney Imagineering Lab unlocks the secrets of world-renowned Disney
Imagineers, the creative masterminds behind Disney theme parks, resorts and cruise ships, while Mickey and Minnie Captain’s Deck will offer a nautical themed playground filled with an array of maritime activities.
Edge is a secret tween hangout spot that looks like a Victorian-style café on San Fransokyo Street, but within, they can participate in creative activities, fun games, and dance parties.
For the older ones, Vibe is a clubhouse that adds curated activities, including ship-wide adventures, trivia contests, and video game competitions, and this club can only be accessed via a secret entrance along San Fransokyo Street.
5) Avoid Singapore GST
Hit any dining establishment in Singapore, and your total will come with a 10% Service Charge, and 9% GST (Goods and Services Tax), and the good news is that because of the 18% Gratuity on the cruise, there is no 10% Service Charge.
But the 9% GST applies, though there’s a way to avoid it – make sure that you place the order when the ship is in international waters.
The retail shops won’t be open when you board but will open at around 10:30 pm, when the ship is in international waters, on the first night, and you have to make a reservation via the app to secure a spot for buying some hard-to-find items. If you initiate service (such as ordering speciality F&B) while in Singapore waters, the GST amount applies.
Sherwin once held the Matrix of Leadership, but wisely passed it on to the rightful leader of the household.
Kevin Low
Yonk
