I see dead people. Ballroom-dancing phantasms – the waltzing dead – whirl within a large gold-framed mirror behind a moodily-lit bar area where servers open square boxes with a flourish to reveal spirits of the alcoholic variety.
Eyes of painted portraits move silently, surveying a spooky sanctum dominated by an extravagant aquarium filled with skeletal fish and seahorses swimming above tiny gravestones. “Here lies Ol’ Bobby – served with wasabi”, eulogises one algae-encrusted memorial.
Floating alabaster bones sporadically gleam in whipcracks of lightning as a raven statue caws in the shadows and impressive practical effects realise the doomed love story of a sea captain and his mermaid bride-to-be in 30 minutes of multi-sensory stimulation.
Welcome all ye who dare to enter The Haunted Mansion Parlor, a showstopping drinking den of the dead exclusive to the Disney Treasure… at least until the Disney Destiny launches in November.
Located on deck three of Disney Cruise Line’s latest and undeniably best ship, the capacity-limited bar is open until 9pm for all ages then becomes an adults-only space. The immersion is intoxicating. I feel like I have walked off a Haunted Mansion doom buggy and settled into one of the scenes from the phantasmagorical ride.
Artistic attention is jaw-dropping. Iridescent spectral cyclones magically appear inside swirled bottles of themed soft drink (Creepy Crawly Cola, Grim Grinning Grape, Screaming Soda and Sour Shivers Lemonade) exclusively formulated by the UK-based Potions Cauldron Group.
Suitcases in the parlour’s hallway, stacked beneath Tomb Sweet Tomb embroidery, are secretly monogrammed with the design team’s initials . Flash photography is not permitted here – ghosts are sensitive. The devil’s in the immaculate details (and, possibly, the flickering light fixtures).
Powered by liquefied natural gas, the 1,119 feet long Triton-class ship boasts the same deck layout and operational specs as sister vessel the Wish: 1,256 staterooms including 76 concierge staterooms and suites, a maximum occupancy of 4,000 passengers, rotational dining in three main restaurants, an AquaMouse water coaster propelling…
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