Heidi BucoloWe spent 96 hours on Disney Cruise Line‘s newest cruise ship, Disney Destiny. From the moment we stepped aboard our 3-day preview cruise, the ship felt different than the other vessels in the DCL fleet. With its heroes & villains theming and strong Marvel influence, Disney Destiny deviates from the typical fairy tale aesthetic and leans into more sophisticated storytelling that appeals to adults and older kids.
In this first impressions review, we’ll share what’s new and different about Disney Destiny—from dining venues and bars to entertainment and overall atmosphere—and give you our honest thoughts on this new DCL cruise ship.
What’s New on Disney Destiny
Even after 100+ cruises, there is something exhilarating about boarding a cruise ship on embarkation day. And Disney Cruise Line makes that moment extra special with a formal introduction into the Grand Hall.
From the moment we saw the Grand Hall on Disney Destiny, we knew this ship was going to be different than her sister ships, Disney Wish and Disney Treasure. While Disney Wish is for all the princesses at heart and Disney Treasure gives nods to Disney Parks enthusiasts, you’ll feel the power of the dark side on Disney Destiny.
As two Disney adults, we tried our best to see, taste, and experience everything that makes this ship unique during our three days onboard Disney Destiny.
Heroes and Villains Theme
Disney cruise ships take theming to the next level, and Disney Destiny is no different. Heroes and villains are the inspiration for everything around the ship from the Grand Hall to the character meet and greets, artwork, and entertainment. So, if you’re a Disney villains fan this ship is perfect for you.
If you’re a Marvel fan, you’ll love Disney Destiny too. From Spider-Man and his Spider-Bots adorning the ship’s stern to the elaborate Grand Hall (think atrium) starring a Black Panther statue, the Marvel Cinematic Universe takes centerstage. Admittedly, neither one of us are big Marvel fans, so we did like the Grand Hall on Disney Treasure better.
However, we did love all the new character meet & greets and experiences on Disney Destiny. I unleashed my inner villain amongst great company.
Treble-Making with Cruella is a new experience in De Vil’s bar starring the fashionista herself along with the ship’s two storytellers. You definitely won’t want to miss helping the storytellers write a new song for Cruella. You can also walk the Wretched Runaway in a Cruella De Vil fashion show in the Grand Hall. How Marvelous!
On Disney Destiny, you can even mingle with the Mistress of All Evil. Under Her Spell: A Maleficent Encounter is an interactive experience which is part show and part meet & greet. Another popular experience is Dr. Facilier’s Parlor where you can get up-close with the villain himself for a little voodoo magic.
Of course, it’s not all about the villains. Other characters like Superhero Minnie, Spider-Man, Chewbacca and Rey, Princess Tiana, Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, Belle, and the classic Disney pals all make appearances throughout the cruise, among others.
Not to mention, there’s plenty of other heroes and villains themed activities including Celebration of a King with Loki and Black Panther, Villains Game Night, trivia sessions dedicated to villains and Marvel, and With Great Power: A Marvel Comedy Show starring the storytellers, Zayah and Gamble.
Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King
Disney Cruise Line ships feature a unique dining concept called rotational dining. With this setup, guests rotate through three main dining rooms, along with their waitstaff. These different restaurants boast unique ambience, theming, and signature menus.
This rotational dining experience means everyone on the ship is assigned traditional dining. There are two dining times: an early one around 5:45 PM and a later one around 8:15 PM. Unlike other cruise lines, there is no flexible dining option.
The three main dining rooms on Disney Destiny are Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King, 1923, and Worlds of Marvel. While we have dined at 1923 and Worlds of Marvel before, Feast of the Lion King is brand new to this ship.
Replacing Plaza de Coco on Disney Treasure and Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure on Disney Wish, this restaurant features an African-inspired menu and musical performances with beloved songs from the Lion King films. A retelling of the story of Simba is brought to life by a talented group of singers, percussionists, and interpretive dancers.
With front row seats, we settled into the 90-minute dinner and a show. The menu features items like Spiced Tomato-braised Lamb Shank, Berbere Spiced Roasted Chicken, Peri-Peri Shrimp, Creamsicle Cheesecake, and drinks like ‘Can You Feel the Rum Tonight?’. For fans of Disney Parks, the food is reminiscent of Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, minus the delicious bread service.
We enjoyed the storytelling and the menu items, but the intertwining of dinner service and performances can be overwhelming for those who prefer relaxed dining experiences. It felt like we were either racing to eat to so we could enjoy the show or letting our food get cold at the table while watching the action on the stage.
New Bars and Lounges on Disney Destiny
When it comes to bars and lounges, Disney Destiny has a few unique spaces— some we loved and some we didn’t.
Continuing the villains theme, Cruella has her own lounge on Disney Destiny. Adorned with black, white, and red decor and even a dalmatian-spotted piano, this intimate bar is quite popular for the live music and the drinks. The cocktails here are just as over-the-top as the diva herself, with drinks like the Fashionista poured from a spotted shaker and served with a side of popcorn, to the Perfectly Wretched topped with champagne perfume and a side of lipstick, to the zero-proof Fearless Sir Galahad with aromatic smoke.
The Sanctum is a new Dr. Strange-themed lounge serving up some mystical cocktails like Vapors of Valtor and the electrifying Mirror Dimension. While the cocktails were good, the theming of this space fell short for us. Maybe it’s our lack of Marvel knowledge, but we liked The Bayou on Disney Wish and Skipper Society on Disney Treasure much better.
The third fully re-themed bar on Disney Destiny is Cask & Cannon. This Pirates of the Caribbean-inspired bar is a hit with lots of nods to the classic Disney Parks attraction. Like the pubs on other Disney cruise ships, you’ll find televisions playing sporting events, signature brews, some cocktails like the Dead Man’s Chest, and pub bites.
One of our favorite bars at sea, Haunted Mansion Parlor, returns on Disney Destiny. This lounge welcomes foolish mortals to enjoy some hauntingly tasty new drinks and intricate theming. But be forewarned, ghosts are likely to materialize during your visit.
Additionally, the two coffee shops on Disney Destiny have a new look. Cafe Merida (Deck 5) is themed to Brave and Cafe Megara (Deck 4) is themed to Hercules. And the dessert shop up on Deck 11 features Edna and Jack-Jack along with other decor and sweet treats inspired by The Incredibles.
Of note, Disney Cruise Line does not offer drink packages, and the drinks are a bit pricey. So, if you want to try all the new cocktails, be sure to budget accordingly.
Disney Hercules
When it comes to cruise ship entertainment, Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean reign supreme. Both cruise lines offer the most innovative main theater productions at sea. With immersive story-telling, elaborate stage props, cutting-edge technology, and a talented cast of singers and dancers, Disney Cruise Line delivers once again.
Disney Destiny features three productions shows in the Walt Disney Theater, one brand-new for the ship. We’ve seen Disney Seas the Adventure and Frozen a Musical Spectacular on other DCL ships, but Disney Hercules is exclusive on Destiny.
Corey Bradford goes the distance as Hercules in this musical adaptation of the Disney film. The Muses tell the story of Hercules’ quest to become a true hero from being kidnapped at birth by Hades to regaining his god-like strength, battling the hydra, and falling in love with Meg.
While the production quality is top-notch, we just don’t resonate with this Walt Disney IP as much as other classics, given the movie debuted while we were in high school.
Beyond the main theater productions and live music, there are plenty of other included activities around the ship. From family-friendly challenges in the Hero Zone to adult-exclusive evening entertainment in Saga, there’s something for everyone on Disney Destiny. We personally love the storytelling and activities with the comedic duo of Zayah and Gamble. You won’t want to miss the “Kiss Goodnight” in the Grand Hall featuring a Black Panther theme or the Destiny Discovered finale either.
Same Great Staterooms with New Looks
Disney Cruise Line offers some of the largest staterooms at sea, many with the popular split-bathroom concept which is ideal for families. These staterooms feature more space than typical cruise ship cabins and signature Disney touches with artwork inspired by Disney films.
On Disney Destiny, you can expect over-the-bed murals depicting Hercules and Mulan (Decks 2, 6, 7), Brave and Raya (Decks 8 and 9), Big Hero 6 and Incredibles (Decks 10 and 11), and Fantasia (Decks 12 and 13). There’s also an Incredibles and a Hercules-themed Royal Suite. Not to mention, the nearly 2000 sqft. Destiny Tower Suite themed to Iron Man.
During our preview cruise, we stayed in cabin 11016, a Deluxe Family Oceanview with Verandah on Deck 11 portside. This 284 square foot space sleeps up to 4 guests (some have an additional wall pull-down bed) and features a Big Hero 6 theme.
The room has an abundance of storage space. The closet nearest the door has two sections. One section has a full length clothes bar with hangers. The other section has a clothes bar along with shelves. Additionally, there is another closet near the balcony. This closet features ten cube-sized shelves which are perfect for storing packing cubes, shoes, and other items.
The sitting area is spacious by cruise ship standards as is the desk. There are three long shelves and two shorter shelves above the desk for storage as well as five total drawers. Here, you will also find the hair dryer and the mini-fridge.
The bathroom in this Disney Destiny stateroom is a nice upgrade from comparable cabins on other cruise lines too. The split bathrooms feature one with a vanity, sink, and shower/tub combo and the other with a vanity, sink, and toilet.
In addition to the space, we also appreciated the number of outlets in the room. There are five total outlets near the desk as well as two USB-C and two U.S. outlets on one side of the bed and one USB, one USB-C, and one European outlet on the other side of the bed.
Other Returning Favorites
Along with all the new additions to Disney Destiny, there are many returning favorites that DCL guests will know and love.
As Disney adults, we particularly enjoy the Quiet Cove. This adult-exclusive space at the aft of Deck 13 features an infinity pool, whirlpools, a bar, the Cove Cafe, and plenty of upgraded seating options. There’s also the adult-only dining options, Palo Steakhouse and Enchante. An upscale meal at one of these restaurants never disappoints. We had dinner at Palo during our recent cruise and enjoyed the Agnolotti, Wagyu tenderloin, and Amaretto souffle.
For adults seeking some relaxation and rejuvenation, the Senses Spa features a great thermal suite. This Rainforest Room offers a sauna, steam bath, frigidarium, heated tile loungers, aromatic waterfall showers, and a large outdoor relaxation space. There’s also the Untangled Salon and Hook’s Barbery complete with a bourbon bar.
Families or kids at heart like ourselves will enjoy the AquaMouse, Disney Cruise Line’s signature water attraction with a brand-new storyline on Disney Destiny, “Sing a Silly Song”. There’s also first-run Disney movies playing in the Never Land and Wonderland cinemas, seven pools, movies on Funnel Vision, a fitness center, and so much more.
Disney Cruise Line also features the most immersive kids’ clubs at sea. Disney’s Oceaneer Club consists of Marvel Super Hero Academy, Star Wars: Cargo Bay, Fairytale Hall, Walt Disney Imagineering Lab, and Mickey and Minnie Captain’s Deck, each with plenty of themed activities and experiences. There’s also the “it’s a small world” nursery for the littlest cruisers along with Edge and Vibe for tweens and teens.
When it comes to casual dining options, we love Mickey & Friends Festival of Foods. With 5 unique food stalls serving burgers, chicken tenders, pizza, tacos, BBQ, and soft-serve ice cream, there’s something to please even the pickiest eaters. And Marceline Market is the ship’s buffet which is open for breakfast and lunch serving all the standard fare, along with upgraded seafood selections like peel-and-eat shrimp, crab claws, and crab legs.
Is Disney Destiny Right For You?
After three days exploring Disney Destiny, we can definitively say this is Disney Cruise Line’s most adult-themed ship. The heroes and villains concept, combined with the heavy Marvel influence, creates an atmosphere that is quite different from the fairy tale magic of Disney Wish or the adventure theming of Disney Treasure.
For Disney adults and families with older kids who appreciate villains and Marvel, Disney Destiny delivers an exciting new experience. The new character encounters are exceptional, the entertainment is top-notch, and spaces like De Vil’s, Haunted Mansion Parlor, and The Sanctum showcase Disney Cruise Line’s commitment to immersive theming.
However, the shift away from classic Disney may not resonate with everyone. If you’re sailing with young children who love princesses and traditional Disney characters, you might prefer another Disney cruise ship. And if you’re not a die-hard Marvel fan like us, some of the theming—particularly in spaces like The Sanctum and the Grand Hall—may be lost.
Overall, we loved the incorporation of villains on a Disney cruise ship but didn’t love the Marvel influence. The Grand Hall felt plainer and more masculine when compared to Disney Wish and Disney Treasure. Our personal favorite ship in the fleet? Still Disney Treasure. But we appreciate that Disney Cruise Line is continuing to broaden its reach. With a quickly expanding fleet, there’s now bound to be a DCL ship to fit everyone’s preferences.
With the upcoming launch of Disney Adventure in 2026 and the addition of four more ships between 2027 and 2031, we can’t wait to see what Disney Cruise Line has in store.
Comments
Do you have plans to sail on the new Disney Destiny cruise ship? What new additions are your favorite? Drop us an anchor below to share your thoughts on the heroes and villains theme.
