With the debut of Disney Cruise Line’s fifth ship in the fleet, the Disney Wish—sailing her maiden voyage on July 14—everyone’s talking about the AquaMouse, the first Disney attraction at sea; the onboard Broadway-caliber shows at the 1,274-seat Walt Disney Theatre; the theatrical dining extravaganzas such as Arrendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure; and the very imaginative Oceaneer Club for kids, not to mention the immersive, high-end bar, Hyperspace Lounge. But … there are so many other gems on board the Disney Wish that you’ll want your clients to be on the lookout for.
The art pieces—everywhere. From tapestries to tile work, the art pieces are whimsical, imaginative and provide such glorious eye candy around every corner. Don’t miss the colorful, playful piece on Deck 3, right around the corner from the 1923 restaurant and the Grand Hall on the way to the elevators. And of course, while in the Grand Hall, make sure to peek under Cinderella’s dress to see what Lucifer is chasing.
Where to find another famous cat on board the Disney Wish? The Cheshire Cat…. That’s easy, stroll over to Deck 4, home to the Wonderland Theatre, an ode to “Alice in Wonderland,” where you’ll find him with glowing eyes hanging out. This is a beautiful, intimate space—seating about 80 persons. Right across the way, passengers will find the Never Land Cinema, inspired by Peter Pan’s flight from London to Never Land. Here, the venue’s night-sky color palette lights up with the flutter of Tinker Bell’s wings.
As we strolled from venue to venue, we came upon the Hero Zone on Deck 12, a sports venue that hosts one of the coolest onboard activities—the Incredi-Games, a game show featuring an elaborate obstacle course of over-the-top physical challenges, each inspired by the characters of Pixar’s “The Incredibles.” This is ideal for competitive families and friends—challenging, but out-of-this-world fun.
Skip on down to Deck 11 and you’ll find one of our favorite hangouts—Inside Out: Joyful Sweets. Yes, the imaginative desserts might’ve lured us in, but the ingenious design is what had us coming back for seconds…and thirds. Here, aside from 40 flavors of gelato and ice cream, candy and novelty treats, your clients will find sculpted figures of the film’s five main characters and glowing Memory Orb light fixtures. When it comes to its tasty treats, there are signature treats inspired by the film including colorful cupcakes representing the five emotions—Joy (lemon), Sadness (blueberry), Disgust (pistachio), Anger (red velvet) and Fear (bubble gum)—and chocolate Memory Orbs.
Coffee lovers won’t want to miss out on Cafe Cove, in the adults-only Quiet Cove Pool District. Here, they’ll get to choose how their coffee is brewed—from siphon to press to moka, and choose their bean as well. Our cruise companion (die-hard coffee aficionado) told us that it was the best vanilla latte they had ever tasted. And while they’re exploring the Quiet Cove, make sure to tell clients to take a dip in the infinity pool as the ship leaves port—sailing away looking out at the mesmerizing views in unbeatable.
The two onboard salons are standouts as well—our fave, of course, is the enchanting Untangled Salon, inspired by “Rapunzel.” The touches of flowers, shades of purple and gold, and the floating lantern light fixtures create a dreamlike setting where we wanted to stay forever, but alas…we did have to have a peek at Hook’s Barbery, the men’s salon decked out in dark woods, handsome leather chairs and ornate golden mirrors, as well as narrative details inspired by its namesake, Captain Hook, including an inlaid wooden map of Never Land, a hidden pocket watch and a hook. A trio of seemingly nondescript lanterns occasionally come to life with lighting and audio effects to signify Tinker Bell jumping from one fixture to another, and the space boasts a hidden bar, with pre-Prohibition bourbons, vintage whisky and port, aged rum and premium spirits.
And although we were unable to dine at Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement, we did take a tour and it’s an exquisitely designed restaurant. Enchanté is part of a suite—along with Palo Steakhouse and The Rose—of adults-only venues inspired by “Beauty and the Beast.” We toured during the day, but the views are out of this world and we could easily imagine how this could turn into a romantic setting come evening with its soft blues and metallic embellishments as well as shimmering light fixtures and intimate vibe. There’s also a private 10-seat dining room.
For our other fave onboard gems, click here.
Disney Wish will sail on 3- and 4-night cruises to Nassau, Bahamas, and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, from Port Canaveral, Florida.
For more information, visit disneycruise.disney.go.com/travel-agent-login.
