Disney Destiny Cruise Ship Review | Complete Guide for Families

Disney Cruise Ship Advancements

The newer Disney Cruise Line ships were also built with efficiency and eco-friendliness in mind, which we appreciate. They run on a cleaner liquified natural gas, and feature a hydrodynamic design to make the ship as efficient as possible.

The ship also produces up to 99% of its own water using a freshwater generation system that uses reverse osmosis and and purification systems. (If you want to learn more about these topics, make sure to catch the Disney Cruise specials on Disney+ that share great details like these!)

We recently sailed on the Disney Treasure, so I was looking forward to being able to directly compare these two ships! The Treasure’s theme is adventure, which we liked. However I did feel the Destiny’s theme as stronger and easier to feel across the ship. The Destiny was also my overall favorite between the two! And since I missed some of the entertainment options on the ship, I’m planning on a return sailing on the Disney Destiny soon!

In fact, now having sailed on the Disney Wish, the Disney Treasure, and the Disney Destiny, the Disney Destiny is my top pick for sailings for families with elementary aged kids and teens! (The Disney Wish continues to be a solid choice if you have younger children! We also will be sailing this ship again soon for a European itinerary!)

What Makes the Disney Destiny Unique?

Being one of the newest ships in the fleet, this ship was in sparkling condition when we sailed in September 2026. Everything felt bright and new, and we didn’t notice any items in disrepair as we were on the ship. We loved the decor and artwork throughout the ship.

When you sail on one of the classic ships, it feels relatively the same from ship to ship. Even going from the smaller Magic Class ships to the larger Dream Class ships.

However with the new Wish class ships, I think that Disney Cruise Line has definitely succeeded in creating a different kind of experience at sea. It’s a departure once you get inside from the legacy ships. The newer ships very much lean into using the decor in the interior of the ship to create a different feel and overall experience.

When we were on the Disney Destiny, I didn’t just feel like I was on a Disney Cruise. I felt like I was on a Disney Destiny cruise! Our experience was unique to that ship, and because of that, I think it has helped make it stand out from some of our other sailings on the legacy ships. The heroes and villains theme is strong on this ship, and it it features some of your favorite characters I highly recommend planning a sailing on this ship!

Space Just for Kids on Disney Cruises

One of the standout reasons that keeps us coming back to Disney Cruise Line, are the outstanding spaces just for kids! And the Disney Destiny is exceptional in this area!

The kids’ clubs on the newer Wish Class ships (including the Disney Destiny) are also stellar! And I really enjoyed the spaces they had for the kids. We have a full breakdown of the different kids’ clubs onboard in this article.

In general, Oceaneer Club is for ages 3-10, Edge is for ages 11-14, and Vibe is for ages 14-17 across all of the ships.

We love that everyone in the family has their own programming to attend. And our kids have grown up with Disney Cruise Line, aging through the different club programs to where our older daughter is now in Vibe!

There’s lots to say about the kid’s clubs, which is why we’ve dedicated a number of articles to talk about this specific topic. You can find more tips to sailing with preschoolers in this article. And our tips for sailing with tweens and teens here!

So with all of that in mind, let’s break down all of the topics that really make the Disney Destiny cruise experience different, from any other Disney Cruise.

Disney Destiny Rotational Dining

One of the unique things about sailing on Disney Cruise Line is the rotational dining restaurants. We have a full guide to rotational dining on the Disney Destiny in this article. Below are some of the highlights from dining on our cruise!

1923

This classic restaurant is located on all of the Wish class ships, the Disney Wish, Disney Treasure, and Disney Destiny.

The decor throughout the restaurant celebrates classic Disney animation. We love taking some time to look around and see the different displays. This was also a highlight food wise for us. The means here were flavorful and elegant!

Worlds of Marvel

Worlds of Marvel is an interactive restaurant located on all of the Wish class ships, the Disney Wish, Disney Treasure, and Disney Destiny. The shows may vary from ship to ship, but generally the inside of these restaurants looks the same.

We actually enjoyed Worlds of Marvel much more on the Disney Treasure than our experience on the Disney Wish. (Keeping in mind, we were on an extremely early sailing on the Wish. They may have dialed in the experience on that ship now too.) And again on the Disney Destiny this was a fun meal that we could have conversation at!

The sound was low enough that we could hear the show on the screens, but still be able to talk with people at our table as well.

We had an absolute blast here and enjoyed the Marvel trivia show. This is one that is fun to dress up for if you’re a Marvel fan!

Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King

On each of the Wish class ships, there is a show restaurant that is exclusive to that ship! On the Disney Destiny, Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King brings the story of The Lion King to the stage! We loved the live entertainment here and thought the decor was fantastic as well.

Their menu was one of my favorites on the ship, and I enjoyed the appetizer salad the most at this meal. Also, it should be noted that I have a soy intolerance, so I was ordering off the allergy menu. I found everything arrived quickly and everything I ordered on the cruise worked out great!

Read our full overview of the rotational dining on the Disney Destiny in this article!

Disney Destiny Entertainment and Activities

Entertainment was one of the strong points of the Disney Destiny! And this is where it really shined with its Villains & Heroes theme! There was lots to do around the ship! We actually couldn’t make it to all of the shows, since our 4-night cruise was jam-packed with activities!

Of course the Broadway style shows on Disney cruises are always a highlight! And the Disney Hercules stage show was absolutely amazing! Don’t miss that one.

We had already seen the Seas the Adventure show a number of times, so we opted to see other entertainment around the ship. We did go to the Frozen show although I had already seen this one on the Disney Wonder. It is an adorable show and a must see, if you haven’t see that one yet!

I think that speaks to how much there is to do around the ship though! We enjoyed spending time meeting characters, going to some of the 18+ entertainment shows, and made sure to see a number of the lounge shows that were specific to the Disney Destiny!

Lounges on the Disney Destiny

This is where I feel like the newer ships really start to shine and show off their personality! I love The Haunted Mansion Parlor, which can be found on both the Disney Treasure and Disney Destiny!

This is a must see for The Haunted Mansion fans, and it is a cool place to hang out in the evenings. There is also a Sanctum lounge just outside The Haunted Mansion Parlor on Deck 3. (I did find it odd that there is no Dr. Strange meet and greet on the ship?) And there’s also Cask & Cannons lounge up by Saga on Deck 5.

DeVil’s was the 18+ lounge on the ship, and for adults this not only is a fun place to enjoy jazz music, there are also some exclusive shows! Make sure to catch “Treble Making with Cruella” (ages 18+) if your kids are off at the clubs when its offered!

We also spend some time in The Rose lounge, located up near Palo and Enchante. This had a gorgeous view of the ocean and was the perfect spot to spend some time on our afternoon at sea!

Overall, I enjoyed the assortment of lounges a bit better on the Disney Destiny than the Disney Treasure. Although my favorite, The Haunted Mansion Parlor, is located on both! (It does have a different drink menu on each ship though!)

The lounges are a great place to spend some time in the evenings after dinner, especially if you enjoy live music!

Senses Spa on the Disney Destiny

One of our favorite add-on activities on the Disney cruise ships is to visit the spa! I did spend a little time at the spa, although I did find it harder to fit into my schedule on this ship compared to other ships!

I tried out the length of cruise Rainforest Room spa pass that was reserved ahead of my cruise, and unfortunately was only able to make it down there once! It was helpful to have the additional shower space, however it wasn’t necessary as we were able to rotate using the shower in our room.

The Rainforest Room was nice and relaxing with a number of different shower options. The heated chairs were definitely a highlight of the experience here.

Purchasing the full cruise Rainforest Room pass is not an experience I would repeat again on any of the Wish Class ships. I prefer the Rainforest Room configuration on the Dream Class ships, where they have a large bank of windows facing the oceans. Overall, I felt like the shorter amount of time also didn’t allow me to “take the time” to get to the spa.

So if you’re planning on getting a Rainforest Room pass, I personally would opt for a single day pass on a future cruise. Or not select it at all on these newer ships. That is a personal preference, but with so much to do around the ship it felt like it took up too much time to stop by here.

Disney Disney Water Activities

This is where… there is a lot of contention about the new ships. It also may be why we don’t mind the newer designs and even have come embrace them!

Our family doesn’t personally do a lot of swimming on our Disney cruises. Which worked out fine for us on the Disney Destiny, because there are really just a few smaller wading pools on the newer ships. As opposed to larger swimming areas on the legacy style of ships. It never even crossed our mind to use the pools, as we prefer to engage in water activities during our port excursions. So once we’re on the ship we like participating in non-water activities.

I’ve done the AquaMouse on the Disney Wish and Disney Treasure, but never made it to it on the Disney Destiny. It is a fun experience, especially for kids that love water slides! On the 4-night cruise with two port days, time just went by too quickly to focus on the more “leisure” activities1

Quick Service Food on the Disney Destiny

Dining was a highlight on the Disney Destiny and that extended to the quick service dining options as well.

On Deck 11, you have Mickey’s Festival of Foods. This is a cute themed food area that serves up tacos, burgers, brisket, hotdogs, and ice cream. We use this are quite a bit to grab a quick snack. One of my favorites were the tacos and bowls from Donald’s Cantina!

At the end of the deck is Marceline Market. This is a buffet style area that is open for breakfast and lunch, similar to a Cabanas on the older ships. We enjoy stopping into the buffet area for quick breakfasts and lunch on our days at sea.

I liked the offerings at Marceline Market and thought the food was overall good too. I think that buffets tend to work out well for families, because everyone can get what they are in the mood for. And there’s a large selection at the buffets. Churro waffle day on our day at sea was of course a “can’t miss” occasion!

And if you get hungry later in the evening, there’s always ordering food via room service too!

We took full advantage of the complimentary room service and ended up ordering it every night! Just have a few dollars set aside to be able to tip the server that brings it to your room. Otherwise, the food is included in your sailing!

Shopping on the Disney Destiny

This could be its own article, but my main takeaway for planning your shopping on a Disney cruise… is if you see it on the ship and want it. Get it! Items sell out early during the cruise and quantities are limited during your sailing.

There are so many exclusive items that can only be found on the Disney Cruise ships. Exclusive apparel, accessories, and collectibles that are not sold online or in any other location. In some cases, especially if you may not know when your next cruise will be, this will be the one chance to grab these items. (Although we highly recommend putting down a cruise placeholder!)

I’ve started cruise specific collection of Pandora charms, which I will be doing a whole series on. There also exclusive pins for pin traders, and plenty of shirts and sweatshirts as well!

There are also shops where you can pick up last minute essentials like sunscreen or hats. We typically always end up buying at least one hat on our Disney cruises!

Disney Destiny Stateroom

Last but certainly not least, a bit about our stateroom! We booked Family Deluxe Verandah Stateroom, and this worked well for our party of three! My traveling party was with two other creators on this cruise, and we had plenty of space in our stateroom to store our items. (And hang up all of our outfits!)

We selected Stateroom 8610 on the Disney Destiny. The room location worked out great for us, being just steps away from the aft elevators which are close to a number of things!

We enjoy having the verandah space on our room, and inside the rooms are bright and airy. The layouts of the rooms do feel much like the rooms on the Magic Class or Dream Class ships, but since they are brighter it helps it feel a bit more open.

Stateroom Theme

Our room had a Merida theme over the main bed in the stateroom, and worked wonderfully with the overall theme of the ship!

Inside the stateroom, our group had enough storage space. And we also really like the split bathroom design that the Disney Cruise ships have.

This makes it easier for multiple people to be getting ready at one time!

When I’m cruising we typically aren’t in the stateroom a lot because we are usually either at port excursion all day or enjoying activities around the ship. We truly only use our cabin for sleeping.

We do love having the Verandah space to be able to enjoy the ocean sounds for a bit. And it also works great to take outfit photos near your room too!

Is the Disney Destiny Worth It?

This was an easy cruise to book because the price point was so much lower than my previous (longer) cruise aboard the Disney Treasure! Length of cruise and time of year can affect the overall price of the cruise, but I found the Disney Destiny to be an exellcent value!

We didn’t quite get to evertyhing on this cruise, so I do feel like the 4-nights went by fast, and 5-nights may have been a bit better fit. However I’m already planning a repeat trip to come back on this ship to see the entertainment offerings we missed!

So as I’m sure you can guess, if you ask would I recommend booking a cruise on the Disney Destiny… I would definitely say YES!

This quickly became one of my favorite Disney Cruise Line ships in the fleet! I felt the theme was extremely strong and right up my alley! Plus I loved all of the entertainment options on the ship!

We enjoyed the fresh and modern vibe on the Destiny. And the entertainment was top notch! Some of the Disney Destiny exclusive areas like The Haunted Mansion Parlor were favorites of ours, and I would definitely sail on this ship again in the future.

If you’re trying to decide between the three newest Wish Class ships, this is how they rank for me!

All of them are excellent experiences, it really depends on your family’s goals and preferences for your trip as to which one may be the top pick!

Disney Destiny for Newer Cruisers?

This is a fantastic ship to start out on, if you haven’t sailed with Disney Cruise Line yet! It’s currently sailing out of Fort Lauderdale, but is soon to start cruising from Port Canaveral. So that makes it easy to combine in to a land and sea trip with Walt Disney World!

The offerings on this ship are strong for families, and if you have a family that loves heroes & villains, this is likely the ship for you! Since this ship offerings shorter sailings, it is also a great way to try out cruising without a longer time committment.

If you’re an avid Disney Cruise Line traveler and are comparing this ship to other ships, I think it is strongly worth considering. The Disney Destiny offers a fresh and modern cruising experience, from familiar ports. The theme is the strongest on this overall across the entire fleet. So if you love a theme and Disney (and Marvel) characters, this is one to strongly look at!

The ship is absolutely lovely as well, and I appreciate all of the advancements they’ve made on these newer ships. Yes, as cruisers that started out on the legacy ships I do miss having three elevator banks! However I felt like it was less of an issue on the Disney Destiny compared to our time on the Disney Treasure.

Planning Your Disney Destiny Cruise

If you’ve decided on your next Disney Cruise, we have plenty of other planning guides on the blog to help you get ready for your sailing! Watch our full series of Disney Destiny videos on YouTube, to help you get a sense of what it’s like sailing on the Disney Destiny!

Don’t miss our detailed reviews of the ports we visited on the Disney Destiny, along with articles on what to pack and more!

• Disney Cruise Packing Checklist
• Disney Cruise Ship Fleet Quick Reference Sheet
• Castaway Club Levels & Perks
• Disney Treasure Ship Review