Introducing Disney Destiny

From the moment you step aboard Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Disney Destiny, you’re invited into a richly layered world where every corridor, lounge and dining venue reflects the theatre of stories - and the timeless tension between good versus evil.

I recently experienced the awesome spectacle of this cruise ship during its christening sailing. Once I boarded, it was clear that I entered a dimension of action and adventure - unlike anything that I have encountered before with this creative cruise line. Join me as I share with you a one-of-a-kind family cruising experience that will excite, delight and inspire!
Big-Picture Details & Theming
Built as part of the “Wish class”, the Disney Destiny follows its sister ships (Disney Wish and Disney Treasure), weighing in at 144,000 gross tons and designed to accommodate a maximum of 4,000 guests across 1,256 staterooms and suites. This ship calls Ft. Lauderdale, Florida home and it is powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), placing it in the next generation of environmentally-minded cruise vessels.

Its theme is bold, yet elegantly executed: The duality Heroes and Villains. The ship’s design team drew inspiration from classic Disney stories such as: “Hercules”, “The Lion King”, “One Hundred and One Dalmatians” - and flawlessly wove them throughout the ship’s architecture, entertainment and guest spaces.

On board with Goofy, Captain Mickey, Captain Minnie, Donald and Goofy!

Stories Abound
Step into the Disney Destiny’s Grand Hall and you’ll immediately encounter a homage to the Marvel universe: A striking statue of Black Panther’s T’Challa anchors the space, elevating the Atrium into something regal and emblematic, rather than purely decorative. But this is only the beginning! Meet-and-greets and impromptu Heroes & Villains character appearances throughout the ship are built into the entertainment program - all coexisting along with Captain Mickey and Captain Minnie, Pluto and a host of classic Disney characters.
Throughout Disney Destiny, you’ll find subtle art and décor touches. For example, stateroom headboards and wall-art highlight heroes like Hercules, Mulan and Merida each piece reflecting a light/dark duality theme.  

Even bars & lounges double as performance zones: In addition to the Grand Hall which is inspired by Black Panther imagery, the Saga Lounge transforms into a performance hub with sequences tied to the villain theme after hours. However, some venues are completely lifted from their storylines. For instance, De Vil’s is an adult-exclusive bar which features a black-and-white spotted baby-grand piano, red/black/white décor and glam cocktails (with full octane or zero-proof varieties). Also, inspired by Doctor Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum, this lounge features mystical décor, specialty cocktails like “Vapors of Valtorr” and “Circle of the Cosmos” - and transitions in the evening into an adults-only live-music venue. Additionally, Café Merida evokes the green-heathered Scottish Highlands of Brave, and Café Megara channels the “Greco Disco” aesthetics from Hercules.

And there’s a candy and ice cream parlor on Disney Destiny which is ideal for the entire family. Edna à la Mode on the Disney Destiny is a sleek, boutique-style sweets shop that’s inspired by the fashionable (yet iconic) hero costume designer from The Incredibles. The space blends bold aesthetics and playful design touches, giving guests a stylish stop to pick up limited-edition candies and ice cream treats worthy of Edna’s approval (My recommendation: Try a scoop of the Chocolate and Peanut Butter ice cream - it is very delicious!)

AquaMouse amps up the fun.

Onboard Adventures
Aboard the Disney Destiny, AquaMouse amps up the fun with a brand-new animated adventure, “Sing a Silly Song,” created in the playful spirit of classic Mickey Mouse shorts. In this exclusive show, Mickey and Minnie lead riders on an ominous - but always hilarious - journey to the top of Villain Mountain, where iconic foes like Chernabog, Queen of Hearts & Scar are disarmed not by battle, but by Mickey & Minnie’s irresistibly goofy song. And just before you enter the slide tunnel (just after the lift-hill), water jets turn on from the sides and the top, creating a “wall of water” - which means you will get totally drenched!
Beyond AquaMouse, Disney Destiny offers dedicated thematic play zones geared to all age groups. For toddlers and young children there’s a lively splash zone inspired by Toy Story with oversized bath-toy jets, a wading pool and a gentle family slide; families with older children can engage at the “Hero Zone,” a multi-activity sports arena inspired by The Incredibles that features obstacle courses and free-play competition. Children ages 3-10 can explore immersive lands such as “Marvel Super Hero Academy,” “Fairytale Hall,” or “Star Wars: Cargo Bay” inside the Disney Oceaneer Club - while tweens (ages 11-13) and teens (14-17) have dedicated age-appropriate hangout spaces named “Edge” and “Vibe,” respectively.

Multi-headed hydra appears on stage following Hercules’ journey, “Zero to Hero”.

Broadway-Style Shows & Entertainment Venues
Follow Hercules’ journey from “Zero to Hero” - this production is described as a brand-new, Broadway-style retelling of the classic 1997 Hercules film, created exclusively for the Disney Destiny. Perfectly aligning with the ship’s overarching theme of Heroes & Villains, one standout technical feature is a large‐scale puppet that is used to depict mythological monsters such as the multi-headed Hydra, which appears on stage via elaborate articulated puppetry, adding to the dramatic spectacle. You cannot miss this show.

There is one place aboard Disney Destiny which has considerable mystique - and no pictures are allowed: Dr. Facilier’s Parlor. Offering a cunningly charming - and slightly sinister - lounge experience rooted in The Princess and the Frog, Dr. Facilier will perform sleight-of-hand card tricks, deal in shadowy illusions, or invite guests deeper into his mystical deals. Nestled on the upper levels near the Grand Hall, this “meet-and-play” space isn’t just for photo ops: The decor evokes this villain’s Voodoo-inspired parlor, subtly drawing on motifs of voodoo card play and shadowy swindling. It’s part villain-lair, part social parlor - perfect for guests looking for an interactive character encounter that’s equal parts theater and trickery.

All onboard entertainment offerings unfold like a movie of its own: You’ll find live shows and experiences that really lean into the Hero & Villain theming, complete with costumed characters, storytelling arcs and settings that make you feel like a participant rather than a bystander. 

Enjoy the Lion-King-Inspired dining experience.

Dine with a King
And when it comes to the dinner & show concept, the Disney Destiny introduces its unique, first-of-its-kind musical dining experience, Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King. Nestled within a 700-seat dinner theatre venue designed as an African savanna-inspired Boma (which is Swahili for “communal gathering place”) where immersive dining meets live performance. Guests enter through a richly textured hallway of savanna-themed imagery before entering into the main room, where musicians and storytellers perform a theatrical retelling of The Lion King. Highlighting Simba’s early days, to his rise as king, musical favorites such as “Circle of Life,” “Hakuna Matata,” a clever “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King/Be Prepared” mash-up, an instrumental dance-driven “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” and “He Lives in You” are a part of this unique experience.

The menu draws from African-inspired flavors using regional spice blends, grains and sauces, tied with signature Disney Cruise Line interpretations. As part of Destiny’s rotational dining, your service team joins you here for one of your evenings, elevating the atmosphere with live storytelling woven seamlessly into the meal. For travelers, it’s a standout experience - an artistic, story-centered dinner show that blends culture, performance and cuisine into something far beyond a typical themed restaurant.
For travelers who seek more than just “sun & sea,” the Disney Destiny offers a layered vacation: one part cruise + one part story-world immersion. As with all Disney cruises, service, logistics and atmosphere are highly curated - however, Disney Destiny raises the bar by embedding unique twists to story telling stories into virtually every element of the voyage. Clearly, I am a huge fan of this ship and I trust that you will be as well!
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As to Disney artwork/properties: ©Disney | Ship’s Registry: The Bahamas
About the Author: The above piece was written by Jason Gordon, a guest travel blogger, and Costco enthusiast. Jason Gordon is compensated by Costco Travel to share his travel experiences.