Some contracts change you.
And then there are contracts that become part of who you are.
My tenth contract working at sea was the once-in-a-lifetime experience of being chosen as part of the opening team for the Disney Treasure – a brand-new Disney Cruise Line ship, built from the ground up and brought to life by an incredible group of people I’ll be proud to call friends forever.
It was demanding. Emotional. Exhausting. Magical.
And without question, one of the most meaningful chapters of my career at sea.
Contract Log
Contract: 10
Year: 2024
Ship: Disney Treasure (Opening Team!!)
Countries Visited: Netherlands, Portugal, United States, Bahamas, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Virgin Islands
From Amsterdam to the Shipyard
Before the hard hats and shipyard days began, the adventure started in the Netherlands.
The day before embarkation, I spent an afternoon in Amsterdam catching up with one of my best friends. We wandered the city, soaked up the atmosphere, and I tried stroopwafels for the very first time (life-changing, honestly). It felt calm and joyful – the perfect pause before stepping into something completely new and the chaos that would be launching a ship.
Embark Day: Shipyard Edition
Embark day looked very different this time.
We traveled from Amsterdam to the shipyard in Eemshaven, and nothing could have prepared me for that first glimpse of the Disney Treasure. Seeing her there – massive, unfinished, and full of potential – was a core memory moment I’ll never forget.
Meeting up with friends at the shipyard, pulling on our PPE and hard hats, and stepping onboard mid-construction was surreal. Exploring a Disney ship before it was even finished – hallways still raw, spaces only just taking shape – was unlike any backstage magic I’d experienced in my career at Disney!
Building the Treasure (One Chaotic Day at a Time)
Opening a ship is not for the faint of heart.
The days were long, the energy was intense, and the learning curve was steep. It was stressful. It was chaotic. And yet – watching the ship transform day by day was nothing short of incredible.
Every morning brought visible progress. Every challenge solved meant we were one step closer to welcoming Guests onboard. Being part of that process – seeing the Treasure built piece by piece – was both humbling and empowering.
Groningen Adventures & Finding Balance
On our rare time off, we explored Groningen, the nearby city – and those little moments of normalcy were everything. Bike rides, coffee stops, laughter, and deep exhale moments with friends made the intensity of opening a ship feel a little less crazy.
She’s Built: Crossing the Atlantic
And then… she was ours.
Once the ship officially became Disney’s, we set off across the Atlantic on her first major voyage – heading toward the United States. Crossing the ocean on a ship you helped bring to life is an experience I’ll never be able to put fully into words.
We stopped in Funchal, Portugal along the way – a beautiful pause (and stop for pastel de natas of course!) before the excitement waiting on the other side of the ocean.
We made it Home to Port Canaveral
Arriving in Port Canaveral at 6am was one of the most emotional moments of the entire contract.
As we pulled into port, shoreside Cast Members, Disney Cruise Line staff, and devoted Disney fans were there to welcome us home. Cheers, signs, and pure joy lined the port – and in that moment, every long day and sleepless night felt worth it.
New York City: Previews & Christening
From there, the magic only continued.
Preview cruises and the official christening of the Disney Treasure took place in New York City – an iconic backdrop for such a monumental moment. Sailing past the Statue of Liberty as we docked right in the heart of Manhattan was one of the most incredible moment in my life at sea.
Maiden Voyage: A Christmas to Remember
And finally… the Maiden Voyage.
Setting sail on the Disney Treasure’s very first official voyage – during Christmas, no less – felt like the perfect ending to an extraordinary journey. The ship was alive, the magic was real, and we had done it. Seeing Guests step onboard for the first time, watching their reactions, and knowing how much work went into every detail was incredibly emotional.
We had opened a ship.
From Launch to Legacy
Once we transitioned into regular operations, it truly sank in. The systems were running, Guests were sailing, and the Disney Treasure was officially part of the fleet.
To celebrate during my final week onboard, I joined a port adventure in Jamaica to Dunn’s River Falls – a joyful, splash-filled reminder to slow down and savor what we had accomplished.
Favorite Moments from Disney Treasure Contract #10:
🦺 Exploring the ship mid-construction at the shipyard
🇳🇱 Amsterdam afternoons & first stroopwafels
⚓️ Watching the ship come together day by day
🚲 Time off adventures in Groningen
🌊 Crossing the Atlantic on a ship we helped launch
🇵🇹 Stopping in Funchal, Portugal
🇺🇸 Emotional arrival in Port Canaveral
🗽 Preview cruises & christening in New York City
🎄 Maiden Voyage at Christmas
🏝️ Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica
A Career-Defining Chapter
Contract #10 was hard work – the kind that stretches you, challenges you, and leaves you forever changed. But it was also filled with friendship, pride, and moments I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.
Helping launch the Disney Treasure wasn’t just another contract.
It was a legacy.
And I’ll always be grateful I got to be part of it. 💙⚓️
Read about my first contract working on a cruise ship here!
Disclaimer: Disney Cruise Line is the only cruise line I’ve worked for, so I can’t speak of the experience with other cruise lines. All opinions in this post are my own and not affiliated with Disney in any way.
🚢 More Ship Life Posts
Check out more of my contracts from life at sea:
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Jess at Sea 
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