With my iridescent Minnie ears firmly in place and shimmering in the early summer sunshine, I board Disney’s new cruise ship, the Disney Wish. I can’t wait to discover several new “firsts” as well as what makes this vessel the most hi-tech, immersive experience beyond any other Disney ship.

Sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida, an hour from Walt Disney World, the signature red and black smokestacks and iconic mouse logo welcome me to an adventurous three-day Bahamas cruise with stops in Nassau and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

Sail in Luxury

Perfectly happy in my veranda stateroom, I must admit I feel some envy as I get an insider peak at the first-of-its-kind, two-story Tower Suite located in one of the ship’s iconic towers. This 183-square-metre suite sleeps eight guests, offers amazing views from its massive floor-to-ceiling windows, and with luxurious gold and marble decor it’s no wonder the suite is booked way in advance.

Dining Entertainment

On the Disney Wish, dining is not just about food, but about new immersive, hi-tech storytelling entertainment for the entire family. All cruise guests rotate through three different dining experiences. Tonight, I’m headed for the “Marvel Cinematic Dining Experience.” Although I love Mickey, Minnie and other classic Disney characters, I’m looking forward to seeing some of Disney’s newer heroes like Ant-Man, the Wasp, Captain America and Captain Marvel. As I enter the huge dining venue, surrounded by hi-tech screens showing movie clips from various Avenger movies, I immediately become part of an action-packed Avenger mission. The table centrepiece meanwhile is the magic shrinking device known as the Pym-powered Quantum Core, which gives me superpowers to help Ant-Man save the day.

Oh, to Be a Kid Again!

I watch as tiny tots slide down one floor to Disney’s Oceaneer Club, a place full of adventure for kids ages 3–12. Although the slippery sloped slide looks fun, I’m sure my body would ache afterwards so I opt for the stairs. I check out the brand new Marvel Super Hero Academy where young recruits are training to become the next generation of Super Heroes. Then I peek in the tech-rich Walt Disney Imagineering Lab, where kids are designing their own rollercoaster and then taking it for a virtual spin. I think I’d like to be a kid again, at least for a day.

Family Adventures

Adults can join in the fun on AquaMouse, the first-ever Disney water attraction at sea that combines a waterslide with storytelling. Family members sit side-by-side, experiencing animated show scenes and water effects set to music as they zigzag through 230 metres of winding tubes before a fun splashdown. Other family favourites are the new Broadway-style shows: Disney The Little Mermaid and Disney Seas the Adventure, both immersive experiences full of singing and cheering for your favourite characters. Feeling giddy—like a kid again—I leave the theatre, hugging my sparkly magic wand everyone received during the show.

That night, I carefully tuck my wand inside my suitcase as a keepsake of this cruise. Perhaps, if I wave it, some magic pixie dust will bring me back again.

A ROYAL GOOD TIME

Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure is a cruiser’s fairy-tale dinner where you’re the guest at the royal engagement party for Queen Anna and Kristoff, characters from the children’s movie franchise Frozen. The evening’s festivities have a princess-like quality where adults, as well as kids, leave singing the movie’s hit song, “Let It Go.”

ADULTS ONLY PLEASE!

The Disney Wish has adults-only spaces for couples, singles and grandparents who wish to spend some alone time to relax, unwind or bar hop all night.

Tonight, I have a reservation at the Star Wars: Hyperspace Lounge, the cruise ship’s movie-set-inspired bar. The door opens to a wide window into space. I order a Mustafar/Berken’s Flow with coconut Rumchata, Godiva chocolate and coconut water and relax to moving images of Star Wars spaceships swooshing across the window every 10 minutes.

Tip You can splurge and order the most expensive drink in the galaxy—the “Kaiburr Crystal” cocktail, a top shelf cognac-infused libation served in a silver-plated glass.

Travel Planner

For Disney Wish info see disneycruise.disney.go.com/why-cruise-disney/wish