Disney Destiny cruise ship guide: Heroes and villains setting sail in 2025
The Disney Destiny cruise ship — themed to heroes and villains — will set sail in November 2025. Here’s everything Disney has revealed about the ship.
Skip to most recent update from Oct. 2, 2025.
Disney Destiny location, launch date
The new Disney Destiny cruise ship will sail an “inaugural season” of four- and five-night cruises beginning Nov. 20, 2025 from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and embarking to The Bahamas and the Western Caribbean. Bookings launched Sept. 12, 2024.
In a first for Disney Cruise Line, the Disney Destiny cruise ship will focus on a central story throughout its furnishings, entertainment, and restaurants: heroes and villains.
To match the ship’s theme, Minnie Mouse will debut her “Hero Minnie” look onboard the Disney Destiny. We met her during a media event:
For each of its cruise ships, Disney selects specific characters to be represented as statues in places of honor on the vessel: on the exterior stern, and in the main lobby. On the Disney Destiny, Peter Parker aka Spider-Man (and some spider bots) will adorn the outside, while T’Challa aka Black Panther will await guests in the lobby.
The atrium will also play host to “Sounds of Wakanda,” a percussion-based music performance.
To announce the statue, Disney released a comic-book-style animatic featuring Marvel heroes:
Adjacent to the Grand Hall lobby of the Disney Destiny cruise ship, a flex space called Saga will be used for family events during the day and adults-exclusive entertainment at night. Its architecture will evoke the kingdom of Wakanda from “Black Panther.”
Zayah and Gamble, new characters for the Destiny
Two original characters, traveling storytellers named Zayah and Gamble, were created just for the Disney Destiny. They’ll host various live events throughout the ship. These characters follow in the footsteps the Disney Treasure’s fan-favorite original duo, Coriander and Sage.
Disney says, “Zayah, a fortune teller, will make predictions and weave tales with the help of a mysterious book, while Gamble will conjure adventures with his collection of mystifying potions and elixirs.”
Additionally, Zayah and Gamble will host “With Great Power: A Marvel Comedy Show,” a sketch comedy show with limited props.
Villain Mountain on the AquaMouse ride
Disney Cruise Line’s water attraction, AquaMouse, will be featured on the Disney Destiny with a completely new storyline than previous iterations. This one is called “Sing a Silly Song.”
You will join Mickey and Minnie Mouse on a seemingly ominous trek to the peak of Villain Mountain. But what do you do when faced with some of the most fearsome Disney Animation villains? You sing a silly song of course!
Disney Cruise Line
The attraction will feature appearances by Chernabog, the Queen of Hearts, Scar, and more.
As with other AquaMouse attractions, this one will feature new animation in the style of Paul Rudish’s Mickey Mouse cartoons and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
‘Hercules’ Broadway-style show
An all-new production of “Hercules” based on Disney’s 1997 animated film will debut as a Broadway-style musical onboard the Disney Destiny. The show will feature a deleted song originally written for the movie called “Shooting Star.”
During a media event on April 14, 2025, we got a sneak peek of “Go the Distance” from “Hercules” performed by Herc himself, Corey Bradford, who will portray the lead role in the production:
Dining locations
Pride Lands: Feast of The Lion King
A dinner show experience inspired by “The Lion King” will be part of every traveler’s voyage onboard the Disney Destiny cruise ship. Pride Lands: Feast of The Lion King will celebrate the classic 1994 film both in its design and its entertainment.
“Windows” along the walls will transition from sunrise to sunset as the meal progresses.
In the center of the restaurant, the music from “The Lion King” will be performed in new ways, such as a heroes-vs.-villains mash-up of “I Just Can’t Wait to be King” with “Be Prepared,” as well as an interpretive dance set to “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” and a finale featuring “He Lives In You,” a song that debuted on the 1995 album “Rhythm of the Pride Lands” and was later part of the Broadway production and “The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride.”
We heard a medley of “Lion King” songs to celebrate the Pride Lands dining experience during a media event on April 14, 2025. Take a listen:
DeVil’s, a piano lounge
The adults-only piano lounge named DeVil’s will feature a piano covered in spots and interior design evoking the distinctive flair of Cruella de Vil from “One Hundred and One Dalmatians.”
The Sanctum, a Doctor Strange lounge
The New York City Sanctum Sanctorum, as seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Strange’s headquarters, will be the setting of The Sanctum, a lounge onboard the Disney Destiny themed to the mystical hero’s exploits.
Cask and Cannon, a ‘Pirates’ pub
Captain Jack Sparrow once lamented, “Why is the rum gone?” You won’t be asking that at Cask and Cannon, a pub themed to the Pirates of the Caribbean attractions at Disney theme parks.
Disney shared concept art for Cask and Cannon:
Edna Á La Mode Sweets
Edna Mode from “The Incredibles” will be the star (as she should) of her own confectionery on the Disney Destiny. Edna Á La Mode Sweets will serve cookies, ice cream, and gelato.
The space’s interior will be inspired by the 2018 short film “Auntie Edna,” which sees Edna babysitting Jack-Jack during the events of “Incredibles 2” to research the baby’s newly developed powers.
Café Megara and Café Merida
Megara from “Hercules” and Merida from “Brave” will each be featured as the namesake of their own walk-up eateries on the Disney Destiny. Café Megara will sport a “Greco disco” design, while Café Merida will be Celtic-inspired. Both will serve coffee, tea, and snacks.
Meet & greets with villains
Photo by Blake Taylor
Villains and villain-adjacent Disney characters will greet guests onboard, including:
- Captain Hook and Mr. Smee from “Peter Pan”
- Maleficent from “Sleeping Beauty”
- Cruella de Vil from “One Hundred and One Dalmatians”
- Oogie Boogie from “The Nightmare Before Christmas”
- Captain Jack Sparrow from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films
- Dr. Facilier from “The Princess and the Frog”
- Loki from the Marvel Cinematic Universe
- Bruno from “Encanto”
Disney also mentioned a “dance party in Oogie Boogie’s shipboard lair” but didn’t elaborate on the space further.
Staterooms with heroic flourishes
Most of the staterooms onboard the Disney Destiny cruise ship will have a split bath. Adjoining staterooms with a connecting door will be available, as well.
In the concept art below, headboard artwork celebrates the 1997 Disney film “Hercules.”
Disney Destiny cruise ship verandah stateroom:
Disney Destiny cruise ship inside stateroom:
Destiny Tower Suite, a Tony Stark-inspired penthouse
The concierge-level Destiny Tower Suite will be the Disney Destiny’s 2,000-square-foot penthouse accommodation in the cruise ship’s forward funnel. With flourishes paying tribute to Marvel and Iron Man, the Destiny Tower Suite will be indicative of Tony Stark’s luxurious personality.
Concierge rooms on Disney Destiny cruise ship
Concierge-level accommodations on the Disney Destiny will include:
- Concierge staterooms themed to “Fantasia”
- Concierge suites themed to “Fantasia”
- 7 oceanview Solarium Suites themed to “The Incredibles”
- 4 royal suites
- Hero Suites, themed to “Hercules”
- IncrediSuites, themed to “The Incredibles”
Concierge guests will have access to an exclusive lounge and sun deck.
Returning spaces from other Disney ships on the Disney Destiny
The Disney Destiny cruise ship will include themed areas and experiences from other Disney ships that may be familiar to passengers who have sailed with Disney before.
Kids’ areas
- Disney’s Oceaneer Club for kids ages 3-10, inspired by Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Disney Princesses, Walt Disney Imagineering, “Star Wars,” and Marvel
- Edge for tweens ages 11-13, themed to New York City
- Vibe for teenagers ages 14-17
- It’s a Small World Nursery for ages 6 months – 3 years
Broadway-style shows
- In addition to the aforementioned new “Hercules” show, the following productions will be performed on the Disney Destiny recycled and remounted from other Disney ships:
- “Frozen, A Musical Spectacular”
- “Seas the Adventure” starring Captain Minnie and Goofy
Pools
- Mickey-themed pool district with seven pools
- “Toy Story”-themed kiddie pool area and splash zone
- Adults-only Quiet Cove pool area
Dining
- Rotational dining restaurant: Worlds of Marvel (with the Groot-themed show experience from the Treasure, not the Avengers-themed show from the Wish)
- Rotational dining restaurant: 1923, celebrating the history of Disney animation with elegance
- Adults-only restaurants: Palo Steakhouse and Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement
- Adults-only lounge: The Rose
- The Haunted Mansion Parlor, a lounge inspired by the classic Disney theme park attraction
These familiar dining locations from other Disney ships come in addition to the aforementioned Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King, exclusive to the Disney Destiny.
Activities
- Hero Zone, an “Incredibles”-themed obstacle course
- Pirate’s Rockin’ Parlay Party, a deck party with fireworks
- Disney Uncharted Adventure, a ship-wide game activated with your phone
Specialty services
- Health areas: Senses Spa and Senses Fitness
- Hairstyling services: Untangled Salon and Hook’s Barbery
Movie theaters
- Wonderland Cinema
- Never Land Cinema
Similarities of Disney Destiny cruise ship to ‘Star Wars hotel’ and other attractions
The “heroes vs. villains” theme has been test-trialed in different forms throughout various parks, and not just by Disney. Most recently, Six Flags Magic Mountain hosted DC Heroes & Villains Fest, with Wonder Woman and Batman facing off against the Joker, Harley Quinn, and more. Disney hosted a heroes-and-villains-themed 24-hour event back in 2014 at Magic Kingdom, which saw the likes of Hercules and Buzz Lightyear alternating with foes such as Cruella and Dr. Facilier in special versions of that day’s parades.
The “choosing a side” narrative also echoes “Star Wars” experiences, particularly the Galactic Starcruiser (aka the “Star Wars hotel”), which prompted its guests to select their path of joining the Resistance or going over to the Dark Side. Will guests on the Disney Destiny be asked to join the ranks of either heroes or villains? Will, like onboard the Starcruiser, their actions influence (to some degree, at least) what happens within the ship’s programming?
Disney Destiny is one of many upcoming cruise ships
Disney Cruise Line is busy more than doubling its current fleet. In addition to the Disney Destiny cruise ship setting sail in 2025, the company will also soon introduce:
- Disney Adventure, sailing December 2025 from Singapore
- an unnamed ship sailing by 2029 from Tokyo
- four additional ships by 2031
Disney Cruise Line also just opened Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, a new island destination in The Bahamas for its ships.
These are in addition to the Disney Treasure, which launched in December 2024, and the Disney Wish, which did the same in February 2022, both in Florida.
(For good measure, Disney’s fleet is rounded out by its four older ships: the Magic, Wonder, Dream, and Fantasy.)
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