You might think if you’ve seen one Disney cruise ship, you’ve seen them all. But anyone who’s sailed on more than one Disney ship knows that couldn’t be further from the truth. Case in point: the brand-new Disney Destiny, set to make its debut on November 20, kicking off an inaugural season of four- and five-night voyages to The Bahamas and Western Caribbean out of Port Everglades, Florida.
My family and I were among the first to experience the Destiny at sea on a preview sailing earlier this week. It was our fourth Disney cruise, and as with the others, we found plenty of experiences and venues entirely unique to the new ship. Here’s a breakdown of the dining, shows and experiences you’ll find on the Disney Destiny—and nowhere else.
1. Villain encounters and storytelling experiences
One of the most striking features of the Disney Destiny is its immersive storytelling, which leans heavily into the company’s cadre of famous villains. In fact, the entire theme of the Destiny is “heroes vs. villains,” a motif that’s on display from the moment you step onboard into a Grand Hall inspired by Wakanda and Marvel’s Black Panther.
In my exclusive sit-down interview with Yolanda Cade, Vice President of Communications & Public Affairs at Disney Signature Experiences, she told me, “What makes Destiny different really is just this theme of heroes and villains and the way that it’s brought to life. They’re stories we’ve never told before. On Destiny, our guests are going to be able to meet and play with some of their favorite villains, and that’s not something that you usually get to do.”
Indeed, the very first character encounter onboard is a full-production storytelling experience in which Loki arrives in the Grand Hall and immediately asserts that he is now king of the ship. That storyline is carried throughout the voyage over the course of several dedicated programming blocks, culminating on the final day when another hero arrives to free the Destiny from Loki’s grip.
The Destiny integrates villains beyond these theatrical moments in the Grand Hall as well. Characters such as Cruella de Vil and Maleficent appear in curated meet-and-greets, often supported by dynamic lighting and sound cues that elevate their entrances. These interactions are intentionally styled to balance flair and mischief without veering into the overly scary, making them accessible to families while still feeling distinctively dramatic.
Some villain encounters also tie directly into the ship’s specialty venues and evening entertainment. For example, Cruella makes appearances tied to the adults-only De Vil’s Piano Lounge (more on this new space below), while other villains show up during themed parties or limited-time events that play with the ship’s heroes vs. villains narrative. The costuming, staging, and performance choices are even more theatrical than standard character meet-and-greets. From what I observed, the villains don’t simply pose for photos—they fully command the spaces they inhabit.
Even areas like the ship’s two stair towers and elevator lobbies are treated like extended art galleries, with the forward stairs fully dedicated to villains ranging from classic animation to Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars. These details and character encounters create an atmosphere where villains play a central role in the guest experience, something not found elsewhere in the Disney Cruise Line fleet.
2. Pridelands: Feast of the Lion King
Disney Destiny’s flagship new dining experience is called Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King, a signature venue not available anywhere else in the Disney fleet. Designed to feel like you’ve stepped directly into the savanna-inspired world of The Lion King, Pridelands is a theatre-in-the-round space purpose-built for live storytelling to accompany your dining experience. On my preview cruise, the pre-dinner buzz for this experience was evident, and I’m happy to report the excitement was well-deserved.
The menu, crafted specifically for the new venue, showcases African-influenced flavors, cocktails, and mocktails. The food is suitably delicious, but it’s the powerful performance that elevates this space into a one-of-a-kind experience, taking many of its cues from the hit Broadway musical. Throughout the meal, musicians and performers appear in a central stage area to reinterpret key moments and songs from the film, with lighting, sound design, and visual effects supporting the immersive show. The rousing performance begins before the first course and continues with interludes that tell the story of The Lion King through familiar songs like “Circle of Life” and “Hakuna Matata.”
3. Disney’s Hercules
The Hercules stage show on the Disney Destiny is a brand-new musical created specifically for this ship. I always look forward to the Broadway-style performances on Disney’s cruise ships, and this one exceeded even my high expectations. Based on the minutes-long standing ovation when it was over, I feel safe in saying I was hardly alone.
The production combines impressive physical sets with state-of-the-art digital and practical effects to reimagine the story of Hercules’ journey from “zero to hero” in a way that stays true to the spirit of the animated film but takes full advantage of the live stage environment. New arrangements of songs like “Go the Distance” and “Zero to Hero” are paired with choreography and staging built exclusively for the Destiny’s Walt Disney Theater layout, giving the musical an exclusive feel that sets it apart from other onboard productions.
One of the show’s most jaw-dropping moments is its hydra battle, which uses practical creature effects to bring the three-headed monster to life in a thrilling action sequence you really have to see to believe. During a behind-the-scenes open house for media members after the show, I was able to get up close to the larger-than-life hydra puppets. They’re enormous and incredibly detailed, of course, but what struck me most was the way they raise the bar for what’s possible in live theater action sequences at sea.
While this version of Hercules has obvious multigenerational appeal, I think the combination of action and puppetry will especially appeal to younger audiences who might not yet realize just how exciting a live performance can be compared to something onscreen.
4. De Vil’s Piano Lounge
Speaking of those unique villain spaces, the Disney Destiny is the first ship in the DCL fleet with a dedicated lounge focused on a villain. De Vil’s Piano Lounge is one of the ship’s standout adult spaces, blending Cruella de Vil’s Dalmatian-inspired style with the atmosphere of an upscale cocktail lounge.
“This is the first time we’ve ever had a villain space onboard,” explained Beth Burkhardt, Manager of Interior Design at Walt Disney Imagineering, in a media-only Q&A panel onboard the preview cruise. “As we looked for different spaces on the ship, we saw how we could use heroes and villains to tie all of these spaces together.”
At its center is a piano (spotted, of course) where live musicians perform jazzy reinterpretations of Disney classics and villain-themed melodies. The drink menu leans into Cruella’s dramatic flair with theatrical cocktails.
5. The Sanctum
One of my favorite spots on Destiny is another new space called The Sanctum, an open lounge lightly themed to Marvel’s Doctor Strange. As a fan of the movies and the comics they’re based on, I enjoyed the space’s Bleecker Street ambiance and many hidden Easter Eggs. The decor and general vibe call to mind the Master of the Mystic Arts’ Sanctum Sanctorum without feeling so overly themed that non-fans will feel out of place.
The menu leans heavily into theatrical mixology, making the Sanctum one of the most experiential bars on the Destiny. You can order “enchanted” cocktails mixed tableside with smoke, levitating or glowing elements, and playful sleight-of-hand presentations. Some drinks even incorporate interactive components—ingredients added in sequence to “activate” the spell—while nonalcoholic options receive the same level of dramatic flair.
More from FamilyVacationist:
- Castaway Cay: A complete guide to Disney Cruise Line’s beloved private island
- Ultimate guide to Disney Cruise Line: What to know about each of DCL’s cruise ships before you book
- Meeting characters on Disney Cruise Line can literally ‘make’ your kid’s vacation—here are 5 ways to get the most out of your experience
