It’s day three aboard the Disney Destiny, and we’ll be spending it at sea. We’re making our way to our first port of call, San Juan, Puerto Rico, so it’ll be another day of exploring and kicking back in our newfound favorite spot: the concierge sundeck.
The morning was uneventful, as they are meant to be. With a mid-morning Palo reservation, we made use of the hot food service in the lounge to have a light breakfast, just enough to get us to the main event.
Let’s jump right in.
Palo Brunch on Disney Destiny
Sail on a Disney cruise. Eat at Palo. Rinse and repeat. Palo Brunch is typically offered only on sea days, with a few exceptions, so we took advantage of our first opportunity of the week to indulge. The brunch menu remains consistent across the fleet, and as we are veterans at this by now, we quickly came up with our plan of attack. After our first few experiences here, I realized that you do indeed need to have a plan going in.
With so many wonderful options, it’s easy to fill up too quickly and not have room left to complete the final courses. So, here are a few tips to make the most out of this dining experience.
Eat light a few hours beforehand.
Take your time. This is not a meal to be rushed. The average time spent at the table will be 1.5 to 2 hours.
Take into account that there are a few items brought that are not ordered, including pastry plates and bread bowls.
Order as much as you’d like to try and, if in a group, consider sharing family-style to get a sampling instead of trying to eat an entire dish.
Ask your server for recommendations. Some of our now-favorites are things we wouldn’t have ordered without our server promoting them.
Order a flatbread as half-and-half toppings.
Consider which items are available in other dining locales and focus on those that are exclusive to Palo.
If there’s something you order and don’t like, don’t worry about it. This is an all-you-care-to-enjoy experience. Food doesn’t go to waste, as part of the Disney Harvest Program.
Save room for dessert!
Find a nice place to relax for an hour or so afterward to allow your stomach to settle.
The entrance to Palo and Enchanté, the two adults-only specialty dining rooms on the Destiny, is located on Deck 12 aft. You’ll make your way down an elegant hallway adorned with rich colors and portraits of the residents of Beast’s Castle. Prior to entering the Rose Lounge and bar, you are greeted by a gold enchanted rose encased in glass.
Upon checking in, we were introduced to our server, Darko from Serbia, and escorted to our table. The dining room offers floor-to-ceiling views over the aft of the ship and out into the sea, decorated with ornate gold lattice above the windows. It’s a truly impressive sight.
When it was time to place our order, the plan was put into action. We found that the poached eggs we like have been offered each morning in the lounge, so we opted to pass on those for a change. In their place, we added a strawberry waffle to share. Don’t sleep on the pastry plate. What has become a staple is the almond croissant. It may seem simple, but the light, flaky crust with sweet almond filling is not to be underestimated.
The antipasto plates are a must-have with every meal. There’s a nice selection of charcuterie on one and a sampling of seafood on the other. These offer perfect little nibbles between courses.
As you transition from breakfast into the lunch selections, it’s time for the best flatbread pizza on the seven seas. We’ve honed in on the perfect combination of half sausage and half margherita. We did request that the red pepper flakes not be added this time, as they can have a bit of a bite.
When it came time for the entrees, it was the old faithfuls of Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Breast, Veal Saltimbocca, and Grilled Cut Sirloin Steak. Darko insisted we also try the Lasagna Bolognese, as it is one of the more popular selections. We acquiesced to his suggestion to round out the meal.
Dessert has gotten to the point that it’s not even a decision. Italian Zabaglione or go home.
This is, once again, thanks exclusively to one of our previous servers, Soria. We would have never tried it if she hadn’t insisted, and it has become our favorite outside of the chocolate soufflé offered during dinner in Palo.
The afternoon was spent in digestive heaven around the sundeck.
Frozen, A Musical Spectacular on Disney Destiny

The entertainment schedule for the evening kicked off with Frozen showing in the Walt Disney Theater. We’ve seen this show a handful of times on other ships and, to be honest, it has always been hit or miss. In what has become one of the biggest animated movies Disney has released this century, it has a high bar to reach. The performances of Josh Gad as Olaf, Kristen Bell as Anna, and most notably Idina Menzel as Elsa are as difficult to replicate as Robin Williams’ iconic Genie. Sometimes, the harder you try, the worse it is. That has been our experience in particular when it comes to the role of Elsa. Idina has a voice that is simply unmatched.
Often, when other actresses try to match her, it comes across more as scream-singing than “letting it flow.” See what I did there?
What we have seen in the past usually turns out to be that two of the main leads are good while the third doesn’t hold up. We’ve seen some good Annas, but Elsa couldn’t match. Other times, it was the part of Olaf that didn’t resonate. This may have been the best combination of that trio we have seen to date. I recognized the actor playing Olaf as one of my favorite Genie performers on the Fantasy, so I knew he’d be good.
Anna had the perky adolescent naivete, Olaf had the timing and delivery, and Elsa offered the cool sophistication to go along with a voice that could carry the stage, with no screaming into the mic here. If you’d rate them using Idina as a 10, let’s face it, she’s nothing short of a 15/10, then I’d give this an 8.5/10. They had a wonderful rapport and seemed seasoned with each other.
The area that fell short this particular evening was the male leads. Both Hans and Kristoff seemed flat. I was even thinking that Hans may have been an understudy stepping in, as the timing with his choreography was a half-step slow and he seemed to miss his mark a few times while performing “Love Is an Open Door” with Anna. That can be excused. There is a reason stage shows have understudies, as illness and injuries can occur.
It’s not like they were bad, just not as smooth as you would like. If there is any story that can afford to have the male leads be less than perfect, this is it. Frozen has always carried the underlying message of girl power anyway, proving an act of true love can just as easily be between sisters as lovers.

Worlds of Marvel Dinner on Disney Destiny
Get your superhero appetite ready for a step into Worlds of Marvel, our third MDR venue. This “techy” restaurant offers a bit of entertainment, in the form of television screens, while you dine. For the most part, it scrolls through different Marvel characters with brief bios, mixed with short highlight reels.

We haven’t seen this exact menu before but noticed a collection of offerings from various menus on other ships, along with a few new items. Without any appetizers that appealed to me, I started with the White Cheddar and Broccoli Soup. It’s solid but would have benefited from having small pieces of broccoli instead of them being completely blended in. A touch of pepper, and it went down smoothly. The Burrata Caprese is always a popular selection, and I was able to commandeer a few bites from Becca.
For entrees, both of the girls went with Peri-Peri Roasted Chicken, while I had a combination of the Beef Wellington and Linguine Nero. I mainly wanted the shrimp, but since we’ve never tried the linguine, I figured it was worth checking out. It was better than I expected, and I’m sure I’ll order it again. The Beef Wellington was maybe a touch overcooked for my preference, more medium to medium-well than medium-rare, but it was still good.
The desserts were the same as in Animator’s Palate on the Magic, so we knew just what to go for: Chocolate Decadence, Cappuccino Mousse, and, in honor of Cristiano, Celebration Cake. You can’t go wrong with any of these.
The service team has shown steady improvement from night one through tonight. Nothing spectacular, but at least a better and more timely flow. The exception would be our head server. We’re on our third night, and he has yet to formally introduce himself. He has passed by and at least acknowledged us and inquired how our meals were, but that’s the extent. In three nights, I think we’ve seen him for less than one minute of time total.
Coming off a cruise with Kendall and his teams, this is a drastic difference. It compares more to the service you get at Chili’s. They are there taking your orders, delivering your food, and checking periodically, which is their basic duty, to be sure. What’s missing are the conversations, the entertainment of kids with puzzles and brain teasers, and the flair that is customary with Disney. I’m not saying it’s bad, just not the “experience” that most service teams offer.
Broadway Stars Series on Disney Cruise Line

The stars were shining bright once again, this time in Saga. The duo from Aladdin stepped onstage for an adults-only showcase, and as good as they were last night, they brought the house down tonight. Here, they steered away from the Disney tunes, for the most part, and shared medleys from various roles they’ve performed throughout their careers.
Once again alternating on the mic, we were treated to a range of show tunes. The clincher for me was when Michael crooned what may be the best live performance I’ve ever heard of “Music of the Night” from Phantom of the Opera. This happens to be one of my all-time favorite pieces since I sang it in a middle school choir concert. Given the proper baritone, it just can’t be beat.
The only downside was that this show lasted only a half hour. I could have sat there all night listening to these two.
The friendship and mutual respect between these two was evident. Anytime one was performing, the other was just as entranced as the audience, nodding his head or swaying gently in his seat. Even after countless times sharing the stage, they still have admiration for each other’s talents. You don’t always see that type of camaraderie or willingness to share the spotlight.
Lounges and Pubs of the Disney Destiny
We hit on the cafes yesterday. Today, let’s take a quick look at where the action is for the nightlife. Starting in the evening hours, the places where you’ll find music, comedy, and libations are between Decks 3, 4, and 5 forward.
In this area, you’ll find:
- De Vil’s Piano Bar, Deck 3
- The Haunted Mansion Parlor for ghostly beverage creations, Deck 3
- The Sanctum Lounge for trivia, learn-to-draw demonstrations, and live music, Deck 3
- Cask and Cannon Pub for sports and spirits, Deck 5
- Triton’s Lounge, home to game shows and trivia, Deck 5
- Saga, for adult performances, trivia, bingo, and stage acts, Decks 4 and 5
- Wonderland and Never Land Theaters to watch current hit Disney movies, Deck 3
- Walt Disney Theater for the daily featured entertainment and musical performances, Deck 3
I did a full write up on the Haunted Mansion Parlor aboard the Disney Treasure. As this is an exact replica I’ll skip over that this time.
De Vil’s on Disney Destiny

De Vil’s has a steady flow of piano players each night. Checking the Navigator, you can see which artist is playing and the theme for the set. As you already guessed, it is themed for the villainous Cruella De Vil. The use of bright reds among black and white dalmatian print is on point. There are a few dozen hidden Mickeys in the paw prints, not only on the piano but in the ceiling tiles!
One of the most popular skit shows takes place here a few times a night. If you try to go to the 5:30 show, you may have to plan ahead. With capacity limited to around 50 guests, it fills up quickly, and a line usually starts forming a half hour before opening. The later show, around 9:30, seemed easier to get into, as you can hang out inside the bar and wait for a seat to open up.

The show itself is cute and will be different every time. The goal is to rewrite the Cruella theme into something a little more flattering. The host asks a few questions of the audience to get some ideas rolling, and then, as a group, you create a new chorus. The conclusion is to sing her newfound theme song to garner her approval.
This is worth catching, but I wouldn’t stand in line for too long. As it occurs twice on most evenings, give yourself a few chances to see it. That way, if you can’t get in, you have another chance later in the cruise.
Cask and Cannon on Disney Destiny

This sports pub is all about pirates. A few key pieces of lore:
- There is an intentional mismatch of decor, as it represents relics confiscated from captured vessels.
- The lights over the bar are from each of the other ships in the Disney fleet.
- The ceiling depicts a map of the old world, but if you look closely, you can see a few Easter eggs of fictitious islands, including Skull Island and even Gilligan’s Island!
With more than a dozen large-screen TVs spread around, this is where you’ll find all the hot sporting events. This week has been a steady dose of World Cup matches.
The Sanctum on Disney Destiny

Saga on Disney Destiny

Saga is themed to represent Black Panther’s throne room. While fairly nondescript in the theater itself, there are gorgeous tapestries hanging on the walls leading to the entrances.
Saga was home to all the adult game shows and variety acts in the evening. Spanning Decks 4 and 5, there is plenty of seating. There are even a few booths on Deck 5 behind the balcony seats. While you don’t have a direct view of the stage from these, they do have television screens showing the action.
The seats are not the most comfortable, and sitting in the wings past row three offered challenging angles. I much prefer Fathoms on the Magic or The Tube on the Dream as the comparable venue.
Theaters on Disney Destiny
There was a steady flow of movies playing between the smaller theaters. The popular rotation included Zootopia, The Mandalorian and Grogu, and Toy Story 5.
With that, we’ll close the curtain on today’s review. We’re making our first port of call tomorrow in my favorite locale: San Juan, Puerto Rico!
Disney Destiny Day 3 Daily Program
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 am | Goofy | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 8:00 am | Frozen Piants and Magic Meet | Grand Hall |
| 8:00 am | Toddler Time for Families | Mickey & Minnie Captain's Deck |
| 8:00 am | Friends of Raul M. | Triton Lounge |
| 8:15 am | The Little Mermaid (G) - DC | Studio Theater |
| 8:15 am | Donald Duck | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 8:30 am | Wicked It Fraps | Studio Theater |
| 8:30 am | Goofy | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 8:30 am | Disney Destiny at Dusk Portraits | Grand Hall |
| 8:30 am | Photo Highlights with Dave | The Sanctum |
| 8:45 am | The Princess Diaries (25th Anniversary) - (G) | Never Land Cinema |
| 8:45 am | Cinderella | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 8:45 am | Prince Charming | Marvel Super Hero Academy |
| 8:45 am | Collection Sale: Enchanted Domed Event | Grand Hall Collection |
| 9:00 am | Frozen, A Musical Spectacular | Walt Disney Theatre |
| 9:00 am | Goofy | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 9:00 am | An Encante Celebration | Saga |
| 9:00 am | Friends of Raul M. | Triton Lounge |
| 9:15 am | The Princess Diaries (25th Anniversary) - (G) | Never Land Cinema |
| 9:15 am | Donald Duck | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 9:30 am | Craft: Mickey Masks | The Sanctum |
| 9:30 am | Photo at the Grand Staircase | Grand Hall |
| 9:30 am | Pluto | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 9:45 am | Black Panther: T'Challa | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 9:45 am | Dr. Facilier's Parlor | Disney Studio |
| 9:45 am | The Princess Diaries (25th Anniversary) - (G) | Never Land Cinema |
| 10:00 am | Cinderella | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 10:00 am | The Incredibles Incredible Course | Hero Zone |
| 10:00 am | General Disney Trivia Level 2 (18+) | Triton Lounge |
| 10:00 am | Collection Sale: Enchanted Domed Event | Grand Hall Collection |
| 10:15 am | The Little Mermaid (G) - DC | Studio Theater |
| 10:15 am | Donald Duck | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 10:15 am | Frozen Plants and Magic Meet | Grand Hall |
| 10:30 am | Photo at the Grand Hall Statue | Grand Hall |
| 10:30 am | Daisy Duck | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 10:30 am | Mickey Mouse | Deck 4 Mid (Starboard Side) |
| 10:30 am | Bingo! Pirates Trivia Level 1 | The Sanctum |
| 10:30 am | Frozen Trivia | The Sanctum |
| 10:45 am | Cinderella | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 10:45 am | Learn to Draw - Hibi | The Sanctum |
| 10:45 am | Majesty Minds (14+) | Cove Cafe |
| 11:00 am | Zoolander 2 - (PG) | Never Land Cinema |
| 11:00 am | Donald Duck | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 11:00 am | Craft: Comic Books | The Sanctum |
| 11:00 am | Bingo! Pirates Trivia Level 1 | The Sanctum |
| 11:00 am | Broadway Music Trivia | Saga |
| 11:00 am | 2026 FIFA World Cup: Round of 32 | Cast & Cannon |
| 11:15 am | Wicked It Fraps | Studio Theater |
| 11:15 am | General Crafts (14+) | Triton Lounge |
| 11:30 am | Zoolander 2 - (PG) | Never Land Cinema |
| 11:30 am | Goofy | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 11:45 am | The Princess Diaries (25th Anniversary) - (G) | Never Land Cinema |
| 11:45 am | Cinderella | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 12:00 pm | Wicked It Fraps | Studio Theater |
| 12:15 pm | Pluto | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 12:30 pm | Zoolander 2 - (PG) | Never Land Cinema |
| 12:30 pm | Donald Duck | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 1:00 pm | Craft: Mickey Masks | The Sanctum |
| 1:00 pm | The Diamond & Gemstone Seminar | Triton Lounge |
| 1:00 pm | Family Game Show | Triton Lounge |
| 1:00 pm | The Shopping Show | Saga |
| 1:15 pm | The Little Mermaid (G) - DC | Studio Theater |
| 1:15 pm | Cinderella | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 1:30 pm | Goofy | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 1:30 pm | Donald (Duck) | Grand Hall Stage (Starboard Side) |
| 1:30 pm | Moose Quote: Trivia (14+) | Triton Lounge |
| 1:45 pm | Disney Trivia | The Sanctum |
| 2:00 pm | Wicked It Fraps | Studio Theater |
| 2:00 pm | Mickey Mouse | Deck 4 Mid (Starboard Side) |
| 2:00 pm | Crafts: Friendship Bracelet (18+) | Triton Lounge |
| 2:15 pm | The Snow Queen Presto 2 - (PG-13) | Never Land Cinema |
| 2:15 pm | Cinderella | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 2:30 pm | Hoppers - (PG) | Wonderland Cinema |
| 2:30 pm | Pluto | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 2:35 pm | Minnie Mouse | Deck 4 Mid (Starboard Side) |
| 2:45 pm | Piano Favorites with Liese | Saga |
| 3:00 pm | The Snow Queen Presto 2 - (PG-13) | Never Land Cinema |
| 3:00 pm | Hoppers (PG) | Wonderland Cinema |
| 3:00 pm | Donald Duck | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 3:00 pm | 3-D Google Game Show | Cove Cafe |
| 3:15 pm | Goofy | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 3:15 pm | Minnie Mouse | Deck 4 Mid (Starboard Side) |
| 3:30 pm | Mickey Mouse | Deck 4 Mid (Starboard Side) |
| 3:30 pm | Under the Spell: A Maleficent Encounter | Saga |
| 3:40 pm | Frozen Trivia | The Sanctum |
| 3:45 pm | Teddy-Making with Cruella (18+) | De Vi's |
| 3:45 pm | Prince Charming | Marvel Super Hero Academy |
| 4:00 pm | The Snow Queen Presto 2 - (PG-13) | Never Land Cinema |
| 4:00 pm | Sing! Pre-Sales | Saga |
| 4:15 pm | Learn to Draw - Hibi | The Sanctum |
| 4:15 pm | Hoppers - (PG) | Wonderland Cinema |
| 4:30 pm | 2026 FIFA World Cup: Round of 32 | Cast & Cannon |
| 4:30 pm | 3-D Google Game Show | Cove Cafe |
| 4:45 pm | Cinderella | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 4:45 pm | Majesty Minds (14+) | Cove Cafe |
| 5:05 pm | Family Fiesta Game Lounge | The Sanctum |
| 5:15 pm | Pluto | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 5:15 pm | Hoppers - (PG) | Wonderland Cinema |
| 5:15 pm | 3320 Society: Carter & Co (18+) | Hero Zone |
| 5:30 pm | Daisy Duck | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 5:30 pm | The Snow Queen Presto 2 - (PG-13) | Wonderland Cinema |
| 5:30 pm | De Vi's | De Vi's |
| 6:05 pm | Family Time Game Show | Triton Lounge |
| 6:15 pm | Big Hero E - (PG) - DC | Studio Theater |
| 6:30 pm | Donald (Duck) | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 6:30 pm | Piano Highlights with Dave | The Sanctum |
| 6:57 pm | Turning Red - (PG) | Studio Theater |
| 7:00 pm | Captain's Reception | Grand Hall |
| 7:00 pm | General Disney Trivia Level 1 | Triton Lounge |
| 7:15 pm | Minnie Mouse | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 7:15 pm | Disney Sketching Portraits | Grand Hall Collection |
| 7:15 pm | Crazy Karaoke (18+) | Saga |
| 7:30 pm | Formal Night Party | Grand Hall |
| 7:30 pm | Dr. Facilier's Parlor | Disney Studio |
| 7:30 pm | Piano Legacy with Liese | De Vi's |
| 7:45 pm | Snow White | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 7:45 pm | Disney Sketchbook Portraits | Grand Hall Collection |
| 7:45 pm | Piano Legacy with Liese | Saga |
| 8:00 pm | Daisy Duck | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 8:15 pm | Donald Duck | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 8:15 pm | 90'S Dance Party (18+) | Saga |
| 8:30 pm | Goofy | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 8:30 pm | Family Fiesta Game Lounge | The Sanctum |
| 8:45 pm | Donald Duck | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 9:00 am | Goofy | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 9:30 am | Broadway Start Level 1 (18+) | Saga |
| 9:45 pm | Collection Sale: Elegant Diamond Event | Grand Hall Collection |
| 10:00 am | Star Wars: Legends Strike Back - (PG) - DC | Studio Theater |
| 10:15 pm | Princess Tiana | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 10:30 pm | Collect Your Complimentary Charm Bracelet | De Vi's |
| 10:45 pm | Cinderella | Deck 5 Balcony |
| 10:45 pm | 2026 FIFA World Cup: Round of 32 | Cast & Cannon |
| 10:45 pm | Family Fiesta Game Lounge | Triton Lounge |
| 11:00 pm | The Diamond & Gemstone Seminar | Triton Lounge |
| 11:00 pm | Luxury of Time: Discovery Planeste | Once Upon a Time |
| 11:30 pm | Crew Fit Trading | Royal Regatta |
| 11:45 pm | Family Fiesta Game Lounge | Triton Lounge |











