We’ve experienced the Magic, had our Wish granted, lived our Dream, explored our Fantasy, found Treasure, and now shall fulfill our Destiny!
Since it’s a day that ends in “Y,” we must be on another cruise. This week takes us aboard the Disney Destiny, sailing from Port Everglades through the Caribbean. Join us on Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship as we explore the Heroes and Villains theme with a heavy dose of Marvel.
All due respect to the Disney Adventure, but I consider it Disney-adjacent. Since it’s not an original Disney build and is based out of a non-U.S. port in Singapore, maybe once that contract runs out and it gets repositioned stateside, I’ll reconsider that designation.
Embarkation at Port Everglades / Fort Lauderdale
For this sailing, we are departing from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. In one of our newer traditions, we spent the previous night at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, as it sits right about the halfway point from our home to Ft. Lauderdale. Breaking up that four-and-a-half-hour drive makes embarkation day much smoother and gives us an added beach day before the cruise.
Traffic actually cooperated, which is saying something in southern Florida. We made good time and arrived at the terminal parking ramp at 10:10 AM, with plenty of time to spare for our actual PAT of 10:45. A quick stop by the porters to drop our luggage and grabbing a prime parking spot on the first level of the garage got us walking up to the check-in line by 10:25. By 10:30, they began moving the line into the terminal for final check-in and security screening before welcoming us into the concierge waiting area.
The entire process took less than 20 minutes from getting out of the car to being seated in the terminal. There, we had about a half hour before the concierge host came in to welcome us and give us a little information about the services they’ll be assisting us with during our cruise. With the formalities out of the way, we got the all-clear to board and were escorted into 1923, one of the three main dining rooms, for our welcome lunch.
Since Port Everglades is a designated, full-time Disney terminal, it has the flair you’d expect. Newly opened in the fall of 2024, the 104,000-square-foot facility features a Finding Nemo mural, a large waiting area, and a dedicated concierge area on the second floor. In this area, you’ll find a number of sofa-style seating options and a beverage cooler where you can grab a soft drink or water while you wait.
Disney Destiny
The third ship in Disney’s Wish class, the Destiny, follows in the wake of the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure. Even though she set sail in November 2025, this week’s embarkation is the inaugural 7-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary. To date, the focus has been primarily on the Bahamian port of Nassau, along with Disney’s private island locations of Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay, with shorter 4- or 5-day voyages. Last week marked the first 7-day Western Caribbean itinerary, taking her to Cozumel, Mexico, and Grand Cayman.
Here’s a look at where we’ll be heading over the next week:
Eastern Caribbean Cruise from Fort Lauderdale on Disney Destiny
Dates: June 27 – July 4, 2026
Homeport: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
A 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailing aboard Disney Destiny with visits to Lookout Cay, San Juan, and Philipsburg, St. Maarten before returning to Fort Lauderdale.
| Date | Port | Country | Times |
| June 27 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | USA | Departing at 3:00 pm |
| June 28 | Lookout Cay | Bahamas | 9:00 am to 5:15 pm |
| June 29 | At Sea | – | – |
| June 30 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | USA | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| July 1 | Philipsburg, St. Maarten | Sint Maarten | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| July 2 | At Sea | – | – |
| July 3 | At Sea | – | – |
| July 4 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | USA | Debarkation |
Before we dive into the visuals of the Destiny, here’s an overview of the ship specifications.
- Maiden Voyage: November 20, 2025
- Ship’s Registry: Bahamas
- Wish Class
- Gross Tonnage: 144,000
- Passenger Capacity: 4,100
- Crew: 1,600
- Decks: 15
- Staterooms: 1,254
- 121 Inside
- 185 Ocean View
- 948 Verandah
- Captain: Thord Haugen
- Cruise Director: Trent Hitchcock
As I mentioned at the top, the theme for the Destiny is Heroes and Villains. Throughout the ship, you’ll find deep theming from bow to stern, literally. The bow is adorned with Hero Minnie, ready to save the day, while you’ll find a friendly seafaring Spider-Man wrangling spider-bots on the aft of the ship.
The Spider-Man statue is thirteen feet long and weighs in at 950 pounds! We got a bird’s-eye view of him during an Imagineering the Disney Ships tour that took us into the Pride Lands restaurant. From there, the curtains were raised, revealing Spidey slinging webs directly below!
For a behind-the-scenes look at the design that went into the Destiny, I recommend checking out the Disney+ series Behind the Attraction. The recently released Season 2, Episode 1 talks about the history of Disney Cruise Line overall, and Episode 2 is specific to the Destiny. I’ll cover various areas of the ship as the week goes on, as well as share tidbits of information we were presented by Yoyo, our tour guide, who was excellent!
1923 Welcome Lunch
Disney Magic Concierge Lunch Menu
Available on: Disney Magic
How else do you start a cruise but with food? The customary Concierge Welcome Lunch menu is the same across the fleet, so it didn’t take long to nail down our selections. We got things started with Beef Empanadas for Angie, Smoked Salmon for Jason, and Potato Leek Soup for Becca. Next up were Chicken Caesar Salad, Beef Tenderloin, and Penne Pasta. We wrapped things up with Molten Pot, Cookies ‘n’ Cream Cheesecake, and Carrot Cake. Nothing spectacular, but all delicious.
There were a few things we noticed during the course of our lunch. First, the service was very slow between courses. For a while, it seemed like our server had disappeared, as we didn’t see her anywhere in the dining room. The assistant server tried to pitch in but was unable to keep up until she returned.
Second, the concierge hosts were not making the rounds and talking to guests as we’ve experienced on both the Magic and Dream Class ships. As we noticed this, we figured that since they all came into the terminal and did a spiel there, that must be in place of going table to table. It wasn’t as personable or informative in comparison.
I’m not sure if this is a Destiny procedure, a Wish Class procedure, or a change that will be happening throughout the fleet. I’m hoping it’s not the new normal, as it just didn’t offer that level of service we’ve come to expect on previous concierge sailings.
Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah on Disney Destiny
For this week, we’ll be staying in Stateroom 12024: Category 3A, Concierge Family Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah.
Features of this stateroom include a king bed, sofa sleeper, Murphy bed, and bunk bed, allowing it to sleep up to 5 passengers. While the beds may allow that, I’m not sure how you’d unpack suitcases for everyone, as even with 3 of us, we struggled to find enough drawer space. We packed the same amount of clothes as usual and can say we had more storage options in our standard family verandah stateroom on the Treasure.
At first glance, this room also lacks some of the “pop.” When comparing photos from the Treasure, the decor is very similar. There’s none of the rich wood paneling found in the Dream Class concierge staterooms or the marble countertops in the bathrooms. While there is a beautiful tile mosaic in the shower, that’s about the extent of the bling. Really, the biggest difference is that it has a king bed instead of a queen and nicer linens. It just lacks that “WOW” visual factor.
Stateroom Tour Video
Disney Destiny Muster Drill Procedure
The traditional in-person muster drill took place, and for our stateroom location, we had the benefit of being seated in Saga, one of the theaters, to watch the demonstration. I know I’ve expressed my feelings about this ritual in the past, and it’s always a hot topic in social media groups. The more I’ve read through comments, the more it’s clear there are definitely two sides to this debate: hate it, or dislike it but understand the importance. This has caused me to reevaluate the true nature of it.
Yes, it’s a bit of an inconvenience to break up the afternoon of exploring the ship. However, in the highly unlikely event it’s needed, with the amount of kids onboard, it could make a huge difference, mainly in knowing where to meet up.
When we sailed on MSC World America last summer, we were immediately escorted to our assembly station by a host the second we stepped onboard, then merely watched a video within the app to complete the required drill. To be honest, I had the video playing on my phone and just set it down on the table. Nobody actually watched it. I’m sure that is the norm in those instances. As we were on a completely new ship, there is no way I could have found the assembly station again if I needed to, as we were walked there instead of having to find our way.
As the first of Disney’s Five Keys is safety, this is something I just don’t see them cutting corners on. For the twenty to thirty minutes it cuts out of your vacation, it’s easy enough to get it out of the way before diving into the fun. I think this was also the fastest we’ve ever been in and out of one of these drills, under 15 minutes, as it seemed like everyone showed up on time for once and they got it underway. No searching for that last family that wanted to be the last out of the pool!
Disney Destiny Sail Away Deck Party
To soften the blow of the muster drill, the Sail Away Party is scheduled to immediately follow it. The downside is all 4,000 people scampering from their assembly stations to the elevators and stairwells to get that prime viewing spot up on the pool deck. Going from the drill to the deck party is akin to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster taking off. It’s 0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds to kick off your vacation!
The show began as normal but was suddenly interrupted by Electro. Good thing Peter Parker was a fellow guest, as, spoiler, Spider-Man swung down from above the Funnel Vision to pour some cold water on Electro’s attempt to hijack our fun.
I posted a Facebook Live video of the festivities if you’d like to check that out!
Seas the Adventure on Disney Destiny
In this stage show, Captain Minnie encourages deckhand Goofy to never give up on his dream of becoming a captain. With an assist from Tinker Bell, Minnie asks Goofy to man the wheel while she tends to a special task. In true fashion, he veers a little off course and encounters the likes of Crush, Queen Elsa, Merida, Moana, and a host of your Disney favorites as they serenade him with the inspiration to dream big.
It’s a wonderful collage of ballads that we all know and love. This is a crowd-pleaser for young and old, for sure. Every time a new character appears, on stage or within the theater, the energy level is palpable.
Dinner at Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King
Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King Dinner Menu A
Step into the Pride Lands for a first-of-its-kind musical dining experience where themed cuisine, live singers, musicians, and iconic songs from The Lion King bring Simba’s journey to life. Updated for 2026!
Available on: Disney Destiny
For our first night of rotational dining, we entered the Pride Lands. This is the venue we’ve been looking forward to the most since first hearing about its inclusion on the Destiny. Each of the Wish Class ships has 3 rotational main dining rooms, as with the Dream and Magic Class ships. For the Wish Class, the focus was on having 1 fine dining venue, 1923, 1 techy venue, Worlds of Marvel, and 1 themed dinner theater. While 1923 and Worlds of Marvel are consistent, each Wish Class ship has an exclusive IP. On the Wish, it’s Arendelle. The Treasure has Coco. But the crème de la crème is the Destiny’s Pride Lands.
For the first of two seatings, we enjoyed the Sounds of the Serengeti, a chorus of drums and tribal chants, while we dined in the stunning African savannah. As the meal progressed, the lighting changed, simulating the setting sun. The decor is spectacular, right down to the place settings and flatware. For those who have dined at Boma or Sanaa in the Animal Kingdom Lodge at Walt Disney World, this had a similar feel.
Our servers came over and made the customary introductions and menu recommendations while getting our beverage orders set. The menu offered a nice selection, and as this is exclusive to the Destiny, we had to take a few extra minutes to study it.
Tonight’s selections consisted of Zazu’s Shrimp Pilaf, Kabocha and Butternut Squash Soup, Split Romaine Wedge, Swahili Coconut-Tamarind Red Snapper Fillet, Red Chermoula Roasted Chicken, Grilled Grain-fed Sirloin Steak, and Port Wine-braised Center Cut Beef Short Rib. Of course, I needed a few scallops on the side as well.
The shrimp pilaf was excellent, with great use of spices that complemented each other perfectly. One of my favorite soups from Boma is the butternut squash soup. Often imitated, never replicated. That holds true here as well. It was good, but I’ve never found one that matches the smooth texture and sweet and savory balance.
The entrees started with the snapper. This was another well-flavored combination. The sweet coconut rice combined with a pineapple salsa had a slight kick but balanced out wonderfully. The snapper itself was slightly overcooked, or spent too long under a warmer, giving it a tougher texture, but it was still very good. The roasted chicken shared that quality.
I was impressed with the short rib entree. Cooked tender to perfection and with just a hint of barbecue sauce, it melted in your mouth. I would absolutely order this again. Of course, the scallops were a great accompaniment to the entire meal.
The meal was finished with Warm Puff-Puff Donuts, Pineapple Upside Down Cake, and a Banana Pudding Trifle. The doughnuts were pretty basic, sugar doughnut holes with a chocolate dipping sauce. Five seconds in a microwave prior to serving would have been optimal, as opposed to being served at room temperature. The banana pudding was fairly heavy and nothing special. I’m assuming the upside down cake was good, as neither of the girls offered me a bite and both plates were polished off.
The losers of the night were both the slow service and the specialty kids’ cocktail.
We’ll start with the service. I always mention that night 1 can be a bit rushed and chaotic, and this held true. Our servers didn’t seem to have a good rhythm with each other, as they would both be present and absent at the same times. Most seasoned teams have a knack for working in tandem, with one clearing table A while the other is serving table B, for example. They also seemed like they would focus on clearing and serving one table at the same time instead of splitting up to separate tables. It made the service slow, with long gaps between courses and no steady flow. Maybe these two are newly assigned to each other and are still working out that dance. It happens, and I always like to give the benefit of the doubt on the first night. That’s one of the great things about rotational dining and having them float with you between restaurants, as they have time for redemption and can learn your preferences over the course of the sailing. Another factor not working in their favor was that this particular dining room is likely the noisiest from an acoustical standpoint.
Now about that specialty kids’ cocktail, the “Slimy Yet Satisfying.” Billed as Sprite Chill Cherry-Lime, Lime Jell-O, Dragon Fruit, Bursting Crawlers, and Centipedes, this really wasn’t a drink at all. It was a cup of Jell-O thinned slightly with Sprite. It had to be consumed with a spoon. Inside were a few gummy worms and centipedes. I’m not sure if it was intended to be served with this consistency or should have been more liquid, but it surely wasn’t a beverage. It should have instead been listed as a dessert, as it would have made Mary Poppins proud. It was more than a spoonful of sugar in every bite, of which I think Becca had two or three and I had one. I noticed the table next to us ordered one as well, and both went mostly untouched. Don’t bother with this “drink.”
Evening Entertainment
For embarkation night, there was a lot going on throughout the ship before and after dinner, including kids’ shows, adult-oriented games, character meet-ups, and theater showings.
I kicked things off by checking out Villains Game Night in Saga. It was family-friendly and perfect for the youngsters. The premise is reminiscent of the old Hollywood Squares game show: a tic-tac-toe board comprised of Disney villains.
Two young contestants were chosen and proceeded to select which villain the host would ask a question. It was then up to the contestant to decide if the answer was true or false. Asking the audience was allowed, and it came in handy. Get it correct and you win that square. Connect tic-tac-toe to win the game.
It was cute and playful, and the kids all seemed to enjoy themselves.
Next up was Heard That for the adults. We came in toward the end of the show due to our dinner running long but were able to secure seats for the final round of questions. The score ended up too close to call, so they went to a tiebreaker.
To do this, they allowed the final contestants to enlist help from two audience members to show off their best “boy band” impersonations. One team looked like they had been waiting their entire lives for this moment, while the other, well, tried.
It was a good warm-up to the main event that came next: Match Your Mate.
This has become one of my favorites to watch, and it seems like the popularity has spread throughout the ships. You never know what some will say about their partners or how one may have a completely different perception of just what the other really thinks.
We’ve covered the premise on past visits, so let’s jump right in. Tonight’s three lucky couples were married 8 months, married 20 years, and married 51 years. I jokingly said to Angie that I bet we could be picked if we told them it was our anniversary, which she quickly declined. No sooner had I said it than a couple announced they had 50 years. Expecting that to be a clincher, the host asked if anyone could beat 50 years. That’s when a couple declared they had 51 years, today. Only three more decades and we’ll catch them.
You really had the gamut of couples here, not only in years together but in personalities. The young couple started a little on the shy side but quickly warmed up and held little back. The older couple was what everyone wants their grandparents to be: quiet, reserved, and humble. The wife reminded me of Adrian from Rocky 1. She was so tranquil and timid. You wanted to just wrap them up and take them home. The middle couple was a boisterous good old boy from Texas, a few drinks in, and his wife, who, by the end of the night, had a face as red as her hair. Unbridled Texas spunk! Overshare was not in his vocabulary.
There were a number of revealing answers given that would have made Carnival blush, some bordering on criminal admissions! The hosts of these shows always seem to know how to milk the contestants, and this week is sure to be no different. As she introduced herself, “Dominique, spelled Beyoncé,” you could tell she knew how to work the room.
In the end, couple number 1 pulled out a surprising victory in what will no doubt go down as one of the more raucous episodes I’ve seen of this show.
Not able to top that, it was time to call it a night. Tomorrow takes us to one of Disney’s private island locales, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. Throughout the week, I’ll be taking a closer look around the ship and covering the key areas of interest a little each day.
Disney Destiny Day 1 Daily Program
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 11:15am | Lilo & Stitch (2025) (PG) | Wonderland Cinema |
| 12:00pm | Dining Reservation Changes | Triton Lounge |
| 12:00pm | Toy Story (G) - Outdoor Cinema | Funnel Vision |
| 12:00pm | Walt Disney Imagineering Lab Open House | Walt Disney Imagineering Lab |
| 12:00pm | Star Wars Cargo Bay Open House | Star Wars Cargo Bay |
| 12:00pm | Fairytale Hall Open House | Fairytale Hall |
| 12:00pm | Marvel Super Hero Academy Open House | Marvel Super Hero Academy |
| 12:00pm | Disney's Oceaneer Club Open House | Disney's Oceaneer Club |
| 12:00pm | it's a small world nursery Open House | it's a small world nursery |
| 12:00pm | Mickey & Minnie Captain's Deck Open House | Mickey & Minnie Captain's Deck |
| 12:00pm | Vibe Open House | Vibe |
| 12:00pm | Edge Open House | Edge |
| 12:45pm | Disney Cruise Line Trivia | The Sanctum |
| 01:15pm | Dr. Facilier's Parlor | Disney Studio |
| 01:30pm | Crafts: Door Hangers | The Sanctum |
| 01:35pm | Aladdin (Classic) (G) - Outdoor Cinema | Funnel Vision |
| 02:00pm | Disney Jr. Dance Party Open House | Disney's Oceaneer Club |
| 02:30pm | Star Wars Trivia | The Sanctum |
| 03:00pm | Zootopia 2 (PG) | Wonderland Cinema |
| 03:15pm | Let's Set Sail | Deck 11 Stage |
| 03:30pm | Mandatory Guest Assembly Drill | Disney Destiny |
| 04:00pm | Walt Disney Imagineering Lab Open House & Registration | Walt Disney Imagineering Lab |
| 04:00pm | Star Wars Cargo Bay Open House & Registration | Star Wars Cargo Bay |
| 04:00pm | Fairytale Hall Open House & Registration | Fairytale Hall |
| 04:00pm | Marvel Super Hero Academy Open House & Registration | Marvel Super Hero Academy |
| 04:00pm | Disney's Oceaneer Club Open House & Registration | Disney's Oceaneer Club |
| 04:00pm | it's a small world nursery Open House & Registration | it's a small world nursery |
| 04:00pm | Mickey & Minnie Captain's Deck Open House & Registration | Mickey & Minnie Captain's Deck |
| 04:00pm | Vibe Open House & Registration | Vibe |
| 04:00pm | Edge Open House & Registration | Edge |
| 04:15pm | Let's Set Sail | Deck 11 Stage |
| 04:45pm | Dr. Facilier's Parlor | Disney Studio |
| 04:50pm | Collect Your Complimentary Charm Bracelet | Saga |
| 05:00pm | General Disney Trivia Level 2 | The Sanctum |
| 05:00pm | Piano Getaway with Dave | De Vil's |
| 05:00pm | $500 Onboard & Shopping Giveaway | Saga |
| 05:15pm | Disney Seas The Adventure | Walt Disney Theatre |
| 05:15pm | Walt Disney Feature Animation Trivia | The Sanctum |
| 05:30pm | Lilo & Stitch (2025) (PG) | Never Land Cinema |
| 05:30pm | Zootopia 2 (PG) | Wonderland Cinema |
| 05:30pm | Piano Getaway with Dave | De Vil's |
| 06:00pm | Disney Cruise Line Crown of Light Co-Branded Jewelry Grand Unveiling | Grand Hall Collection |
| 06:15pm | Disney Villains Trivia | Saga |
| 06:15pm | Wish (PG) - Outdoor Cinema | Funnel Vision |
| 06:15pm | Walt Disney Feature Animation Trivia | The Sanctum |
| 06:30pm | Decades Music Trivia (18+) | Triton Lounge |
| 06:30pm | Learn to Draw: Pluto | The Sanctum |
| 06:30pm | Pre-Owned Rolex Luxury Redefined | Royal Regalia |
| 07:00pm | 2026 FIFA World Cup Group Games | Cask & Cannon |
| 07:00pm | Collect Your Complimentary Charm Bracelet | Royal Regalia |
| 07:15pm | Minnie Mouse | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 07:30pm | Disney Seas The Adventure | Walt Disney Theatre |
| 07:30pm | Disney Villains Game Night | Saga |
| 07:30pm | Disney Micraphonics | Grand Hall Stage |
| 07:30pm | Piano Highlights with Dave | De Vil's |
| 07:30pm | 70s Music Trivia (18+) | Triton Lounge |
| 07:45pm | Mickey Mouse | Deck 4 Mid (Starboard Side) |
| 07:45pm | Welcome Onboard Giveaway | Royal Regalia |
| 08:00pm | Disney Micraphonics | Grand Hall Stage |
| 08:00pm | 2026 FIFA World Cup Group Games | Cask & Cannon |
| 08:00pm | Luxury of Time Discover Breitling | Once Upon a Time |
| 08:15pm | Lilo & Stitch (2025) (PG) | Never Land Cinema |
| 08:15pm | Zootopia 2 (PG) | Wonderland Cinema |
| 08:30pm | Disney Villains Trivia | Saga |
| 08:30pm | Decades Music Trivia (18+) | Triton Lounge |
| 08:30pm | Learn to Draw: Pluto | The Sanctum |
| 09:00pm | Luxury of Time Discover Omega | Grand Hall Collection |
| 09:15pm | Mickey Mouse | Disney Studio |
| 09:15pm | Black Panther T'Challa | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 09:30pm | Learn to Draw: Captain Minnie Mouse | Triton Lounge |
| 09:30pm | Treble-Making with Cruella (18+) | De Vil's |
| 09:45pm | Donald Duck | Disney Studio |
| 10:00pm | Go Fetch! | Triton Lounge |
| 10:00pm | Pure Disney Magic with Soul Sailors | The Sanctum |
| 10:00pm | Heard That? (18+) | Saga |
| 10:00pm | 1820 Society Welcome Event | The Hideaway |
| 10:00pm | 2026 FIFA World Cup Group Games (18+) | Cask & Cannon |
| 10:05pm | The Legend of Loki | Grand Hall Stage |
| 10:15pm | Daisy Duck | Disney Studio |
| 10:15pm | Stylings of the Pianist, Dave | De Vil's |
| 10:30pm | Family Superstar Karaoke | Triton Lounge |
| 10:30pm | Match Your Mate (18+) | Saga |
| 10:30pm | Avengers: Age of Ultron (PG-13) - Outdoor Cinema | Funnel Vision |
| 11:00pm | New Century Pop with Soul Sailors | The Sanctum |
| 11:00pm | Zootopia 2 (PG) | Never Land Cinema |
| 11:15pm | Walt Would Approve! with Lorie | De Vil's |
| 11:15pm | Silent Disco Party (18+) | Saga |
| 11:45pm | The Parent Trap (25th Anniversary) (G) | Wonderland Cinema |
| 12:00am | Decades Dance Party (18+) | Saga |