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A confirmed Disney devotee, I discovered moments to myself to make the most of the maiden cruise on the latest Disney Adventure. Here are ways for you to enjoy this slice of casual luxury while making memories:

Unending views

The latest cruiseliner, Disney Adventure, is the eighth Disney vessel, and the largest, ensuring ample buffer space for everyone. Even a four-night cruise isn’t enough to explore everything the ship has to offer.

Concierge Elsa Royal Suite

Appreciate the romance of sailing, by booking a balcony-tipped stateroom – facing the sea, enjoying stunning moments in the golden skies during sunrise and sunset. You and yours can relax, sipping Bacha coffee, the cool sea breeze nipping your ankles. An unforgettable vibe.

The luxury-tipped Elsa suite (including a room for your personal butler!) comes complete with gold-laced mirrors, a private jacuzzi on the sprawling private deck with plush recliners and wispy curtains. The Jasmine Suite with hushed chandeliers and intrigue-lined accessories offers a royal stay.

Atlas of flavours

A high staff-to-guest ratio ensures intuitive care. With rotational dining bringing in allocated servers who move with you through restaurants: every tiny preference is taken care of, subtly, efficiently.

Deluxe Garden View Stateroom with Verandah

Disney spoils you for other cruises I realised, with their 24x7 room service, on the house. There are plenty of casual and fine dine spaces to choose from: I enjoyed stellar teppanyaki at Mike & Sulley’s Flavors of Asia, and superb Italian fare at the quiet Palo Trattoria (adults-only).

Animator’s Palate is a revelation, bringing in a darling dive into the Disney Universe with animated screens darting across the walls. Sketch with colour sticks and watch your renditions move in a dizzying spin on the screen, while having dessert. A delightful spin.

Hollywood Spotlight Club brings in a splash of Hollywood’s Golden Age, fabulous regional and international cuisines, tagged with table visits by Mickey and gang. I found this the coolest – no lines and slots to meet your favourite Disney characters. Simply dine at Navigator’s Club or Spotlight Club!

There is also a yummy line-up of fine dine options (Animator’s Club, Animator’s Table), buffet style picks at Enchanted Summer, and QSR formats in Gramma Tala’s Kitchen (Fragrant chicken rice with beef pepper!) and Stitch’s Ohana’s Grill (amazing pulled pork burgers) to choose from. Munchies? Binge on unending soft serves (Wheezy’s Freezies) and pizzas (Pizza Planet) on the 18th deck.

Sip on

Choose from a line-up of cool lounges including Spellbound, Taverna Portorosso, Tiana’s Bayou Lounge and Buccaneer Bar to hang at. A beautiful relaxed vibe, with a crooner as the moon climbs up in the velvety sky.

Chill by the infinity pool on the topmost deck with your favourite cocktail at midnight. I loved lolling on the recliners on the 19th deck, lazily counting stars by moonshine. Seriously stunning, unending silvery views.

Pamper Zone

Nothing succeeds like a superb spa and Disney pulls out all stops. The wellness zone feels like a cocoon, away from the energy and excitement of the shows.

Concierge Elsa Royal Suite Concierge Spa Suite

Get the Mickey band (day- pass) to make the best use of Opulence Spa, and Rainforest Spa. The jacuzzi beds in the whirlpool spa woo, complete with rainforest showers.

I loved the fluidity: walking into the snowy-white hamam, stretching my limbs by the unending sea, then into the relaxation area, lined with walk-through experiential rain showers, with the aromatherapy steam room opening my pores effectively.

Try the heated loungers – reclining here filled my bones with a sense of magical languor as I recalibrated, soaking up ocean-tipped views before dipping into the dry sauna.

Rainforest Room

Ahoy! Adventure

As a mature, luxury-loving traveller, I love special touches. With four nights at sea, where the ship is the destination, I found my fix of adventure too.

The spectacular pyrotechnics show is a jaw-dropper, with wild fireworks crackling in the black skies against narration by Shah Rukh Khan – Bollywood King meets The Lion King - in his Mufasa voice over in the background score.

The zippy and zany rollercoaster is the absolute showstopper. I loved the Ironcycle Test Run at sea – it’s the first roller coaster on a Disney Cruise Line ship, and the longest such spin at sea (with a wild run of over 250 meters!). Sit in front, and rev up in the second round! It was a dream, self-accelerating, full-throttle, no limits, on the waters in sharp loops. I’m a die-hard Marvel fan, and flying on Tony Stark’s latest Ironcycle prototype was the ultimate cool.

Show time

The kicky Marvel show brings in serious adrenaline encounters with Iron Man, Black Widow, Captain America, Spider-Man, Thor, Loki… engaging in duels. Think Spiderman dashing across a cool zipline above your head in the Enchanted Garden. A must for Marvel devotees.

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The Walt Disney Theatre brings in the unbeatable energy of the Broadway-style musicals. “Remember” is a stunning play-out by a starry cast – The Little Mermaid, Rapunzel, Aladdin, and other specials from Disney and Pixar movies, with amazing choreography, music, classic dialogues and dreamy settings.