7 must-dos on Asia’s first Disney cruise, the Disney Adventure

SINGAPORE – Four nights on board the Disney Adventure is just enough time to grasp the scale of Asia’s first Disney cruise.

This ship, with seven themed areas, is Disney Cruise Line’s (DCL) newest and biggest. It has a passenger capacity of 6,700, 20 decks and 2,111 staterooms.

The size of the ship is most evident from its upper decks. From here, cruisers can look into the hollowed-out heart of the vessel, where two of its themed areas – Disney Imagination Garden and Disney Discovery Reef – are nestled. 

Designed for an Asian audience, the Disney Adventure incorporates characters and designs from its Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) franchise, as well as films such as Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs (1937), Toy Story (1995) and Luca (2021). 

In November 2022, Disney acquired the ship from the now-defunct cruise company Genting Hong Kong for a reported €40 million (S$59 million). It was originally named Global Dream and meant to carry up to 9,000 passengers, making it the largest cruise liner in the world by capacity.

It underwent a retrofitting in Germany and set sail from the port city of Bremerhaven in January, stopping at Port Canaveral in Florida, the US, and Tokyo, Japan, before reaching Singapore on March 3.

The ship will set sail on a three-night maiden voyage from Marina Bay Cruise Centre on March 10 and plans to homeport in Singapore for at least five years. 

Bookings for its sailings are open until August 2027 at str.sg/dGsQ, with prices starting from $1,447 for a three-night sailing and $2,205 for a four-night sailing in June. 

Having explored the ship during a four-night preview sailing from March 5 to 9, here are seven must-do things on the Disney Adventure, with tips on how to make the most of your cruise.

1. Ride the Ironcycle Test Run roller coaster

Inspired by the MCU’s Iron Man, the Ironcycle Test Run roller coaster runs on a 250m-long track built about 9m above the upper deck, and curves and loops over nearly half the length of the ship. It is the world’s longest roller coaster at sea.

Each carriage is modelled after a motorcycle and can seat two riders. The ride, situated in an MCU-themed area called Marvel Landing, goes around the track twice and is narrated by Iron Man’s digital assistant, known as Female Replacement Intelligent Digital Assistant Youth (Friday). 

In the first round, Friday “controls” the ride. But in the second round, the rider seated in front takes over and can twist the throttle to adjust the speed of the carriage. The surge in momentum is immediate, with the wind whipping across the faces of thrill-seekers.

From the deck, the ride looks tame. The carriage zips along the track and there are no unpredictable drops or twists. But whizzing along a track set above the ocean makes the ride more thrilling.

The ride is free and will likely be available only from the first full day at sea due to operational requirements. It can be booked through the DCL Navigator app that cruisers should download before setting sail. Riders must be between 120cm and 195cm in height. 

Tip: Wear covered shoes or those that have straps around the back of your ankle, or you will be denied entry. 

2. Eat at quick-service food kiosks

The Disney Adventure has six quick-service food kiosks for meals or snacks throughout the day, serving items like pizza, burgers, rice dishes and kebabs. 

Disney cruises practise rotational dining, with passengers given one of two seating times for dinner. On the Disney Adventure, it is 5.45pm or 8.15pm. At each seating, diners are grouped and assigned a different themed restaurant nightly, so that all passengers will get to dine at each one. 

Restaurants are designed to be immersive and interactive, with surprise character appearances, lively song and dance performances, and the use of animation technologies.

The quick-service food kiosks are included in your cruise price and the offerings are delicious. Non-alcoholic drinks like sodas, juices and water are also included, but speciality drinks such as bubble tea and flavoured coffees cost extra. 

My favourite dishes are the spicy butter chicken and Kerala fish curry with prata at Mowgli’s Eatery, which serves Indian cuisine, and the lamb doner and vegetable shish at Cosmic Kebabs, which does Middle Eastern dishes. 

For snacking, order the sweet potato fries at Stitch’s Ohana Grill, which were so well fried they stayed crispy even after 20 minutes on the table. The variety of sauces and dips at each food kiosk was also impressive, ranging from saffron spiced mayonnaise to tzatziki. 

If you feel like splashing out on a fancy meal, try the Japanese steakhouse within premium dining restaurant Mike & Sulley’s Flavors of Asia. It serves an exquisite A5 wagyu ribeye steak for US$98 (S$126) and sides like grilled corn in furikake butter for US$12. 

Tip: Ask the crew manning the kiosks for recommendations – I discovered some of my favourites through them.

3. Check out the merchandise stores for exclusive items

The Disney Adventure features exclusive merchandise in stores such as Treasures Untold and Duffy and Friends Shop. 

The latter is available only on this ship and sells plush toys, keychains, magnets and other collectibles.

A plush toy of Duffy, known as Mickey Mouse’s teddy bear, costs US$35, while a set of 10 magnets costs US$24.99. An 18 per cent auto-gratuity will be added to the final price. 

The Duffy and Friends franchise – which has seven characters – is particularly popular in Disney’s Asian theme parks like Shanghai Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea and Hong Kong Disneyland. 

On the first night of the sailing, stores will open only after the ship has sailed a certain distance into international waters, as retail sales at sea are bound by Customs laws. Check the app for updates on opening hours if you are keen to have a preview of the exclusives. 

From the second day onwards, stores open from 10am to 10pm. 

Tip: Find local exclusives like a Mickey-ears headband (US$39.99) and a teacloth (US$24.99) by Singaporean visual artist Danielle Tay at Treasures Untold.

4. Catch Broadway-style live shows 

Disney’s 100 years of entertainment experience shine in its live shows. Two of them – Disney Seas The Adventure and Remember – are staged at the 1,250-seater Walt Disney Theatre.

Be prepared for classic and modern hits – such as A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes from Cinderella (1950) and Let It Go from Frozen (2013) – combined with immaculate production values, including detailed costuming, imaginative props, pyrotechnics, and digital and stage effects.

Unlike Disney’s other ships, which have a balance of single-story shows – like Aladdin (1992) and Tangled (2010) – and multi-intellectual property (IP) shows, both shows staged at the Disney Adventure’s main theatre are multi-IP productions that bring together characters from various Disney films to tell stories around themes like discovery and love. 

Ms Jenny Fitton Weinbloom, vice-president of live entertainment for Disney Signature Experiences, says: “We have two driving principles that contribute to our programming strategy. One, these are short sailings. We have only three or four nights with guests, so we wanted to give a wide array of story experiences in a limited amount of time.

“We were also mindful that this is a new venture in the region and we know guests are going to come on board loving an array of Disney stories, with lots of different characters and songs that they’re really hoping to see brought to life.” 

Testament to Disney’s successful strategy, the audience gave a standing ovation as the Remember show came to a close. It stars the characters Wall-E and Eve, a first for a Disney cruise.

On the Garden Stage at the Disney Imagination Garden is the high-octane Avengers Assemble and lively Duffy And The Friend Ship shows, both created for the Disney Adventure. 

At Wayfinder Bay, the 15-minute retelling of Moana (2016), scaled back for a smaller stage, is just as impressive as the longer shows. 

Tip: Outdoor shows can be affected by bad weather. Pack an umbrella or poncho so you can stay in your spot if the show goes on. 

5. Book meet-and-greet sessions with your favourite characters 

Disney characters will roam the ship, with timings for meet-and-greet sessions reflected in the Navigator app. 

Session bookings will be available on the day of embarkation, once passengers are on board. Slots are limited for certain characters like Mickey and Minnie Mouse, but many others will not need reservations to meet. 

Some experiences like the Royal Society for Friendship and Tea (US$250 for 90 minutes) – a more personal interaction with Disney princesses, for children aged three to 12 – cost extra. Kids will enjoy teatime treats like scones and cakes during live song and dance performances, and take home a themed goodie bag featuring an autograph book and novelty headwear.

Tip: Think of fun poses before getting to the front of the line. Spider-Man might strike his signature web-shooting pose, while Baymax from Big Hero 6 (2014) might offer a fist bump.

6. Catch the Lion King fireworks show 

Narrated by Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, the fireworks show is themed to The Lion King (1994). Khan voices the lion Mufasa in the Hindi version of Mufasa: The Lion King (2024). 

DCL is the only cruise line in the world to have fireworks at sea. The new original show, called The Lion King: Celebration In The Sky, blends a fireworks display with the movie’s soundtrack and runs almost 12 minutes long. 

Songs like Hakuna Matata and Circle Of Life are accompanied by bursts of colour that evoke the emotions of the tunes. For instance, bright red streaks appear for intense numbers, while yellow and green fireworks flash across the sky during lighter, more cheerful ones. The show is both visually and emotionally moving. 

Tip: The lounge chairs outside the bar Bounce and Hops on Deck 17 are some of the best seats to enjoy the fireworks show. Arrive around 30 minutes earlier to snag a spot with unblocked views.  

7. Have a themed drink at the bar

There are more than 10 bars and lounges on board the ship, and each is themed to the nines – from menu designs to creative drinks. 

At Buccaneer Bar, a sports lounge inspired by Captain Hook from Peter Pan (1953), try Dead Man’s Chest – a cocktail experience for two guests priced at US$25. Two cocktails – made with rum, pineapple, lime, agave and coconut froth – are presented in a treasure chest. 

When opened, smoke unfurls into the air and the drinks are illuminated by LED-lit coasters. The presentation is extremely Instagrammable (and the drinks are yummy). 

Other lounges like Spellbound, inspired by the Evil Queen from Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, and Tiana’s Bayou Lounge, inspired by the heroine of The Princess And The Frog (2009), also have speciality coffees, cocktails, mocktails and zero-proof drinks. 

Tip: Ask for a Cafe Fanatic loyalty stamp card at any bar or lounge and collect a stamp for every speciality coffee you order. After collecting five stamps, your sixth drink is free.