Disney Destiny Cruise Ship Review: Can Heroes & Villains Triumph vs. Treasure?

The Disney Destiny is the newest Triton-class ship in DCL’s fleet, following the Treasure and Wish, our favorite and least-favorite ships, respectively. This review covers how the Destiny compares to its sister ships, with strengths & weaknesses, and why this is bound to be another polarizing entry in the Disney Cruise Line lineup.

As basic background, the Disney Destiny is the third ship in the Wish/Triton class, following the aforementioned Wish and Treasure. Accordingly, all three share the same basic blueprint–meaning the size, scale, layout, and structural elements are nearly identical. The big difference is how that canvas has been used, with the Destiny embracing a “Heroes and Villains” dichotomy that offers tremendous potential.

Unfortunately, this means that the negatives that plagued the Disney Wish are baked into the Destiny’s DNA. If you’ve read our reviews of the other Wish-class ships, you already know what to expect here. If not, see our Disney Wish Cruise Ship Review covered the reasons for this.

The layout remains counterintuitive and feels like it was designed by someone who’s never actually been on a cruise ship. The wayfinding is poor, with retail occupying prime real estate in the Grand Hall. Adult areas are scattered rather than consolidated. The AquaMouse water attraction is still underwhelming compared to what it could be; here’s hoping the rides on the upcoming Disney Adventure are “meatier.” These are real issues, and they shouldn’t be glossed over.

The Destiny also continues the strengths of the Wish-class of ships. Our daughter is just starting to get to the age where she appreciates the kids clubs, which offer a wide range of quality and distinctly Disney experiences–enough to make adults envious.

The dinner shows are mostly fantastic and exemplars of themed design and/or storytelling. Same goes for the food and beverage program as a whole. The restaurants, fine dining, lounges, and even counter service options on the pool deck are all top-tier.

At the same time, the Wish is now ~4 years old and its strengths and weaknesses are well-documented. We’d prefer not to simply rehash what’s already been written, including on this blog countless other times. Suffice to say, if you’ve already discovered that you dislike the Wish-class design and prefer the legacy ships, there’s not going to be anything in this review that changes your mind.

From my perspective, the Disney Treasure is still the high-water mark for Disney Cruise Line, followed by the legacy ships in an order that changes based on my mood or preferences (or, more likely, the itineraries being offered…and discounts), followed by the Disney Wish in last place.

The operative question this review seeks to answer is to what degree the Disney Destiny can overcome the issues inherent to its layout. Is this the #2 ship in the fleet, second-worst, or somewhere in between? To answer that, let’s run through the highlights from our media sailing aboard the Disney Destiny…

Grand Hall

I was worried that we were in for a repeat of the Grand Hall of the Disney Wish here. That has a veneer of opulence and grandiosity, but that falls apart upon closer inspection. It feels like a plastic playhouse version of a castle, as opposed to the real thing. By contrast, the Treasure’s Grand Hall excels because it’s so much more textured, detailed, and warm.

The Disney Destiny’s Grand Hall is somewhere in between. It draws inspiration from the Kingdom of Wakanda in Marvel’s Black Panther films, featuring a statue of T’Challa as a visual anchor and symbolic protector of the ship from malevolent forces…plus whatever Loki is. It’s also a crisp and clean space, with swooping lines and technology that feel pulled from Wakanda.

I went a little wild photographing the Grand Hall, so here are a few photos to set the scene:

The highlight of the Grand Hall is the way it comes alive with 360-degree lighting effects; this enhances the atmosphere and mood to reflect that of the characters that pop-up for show moments and appearances throughout the day. The lighting package is what gives the Grand Hall its texture and personality.

There were times, especially later in the evening, when I found the look and vibe of the Grand Hall on the Destiny to rival the Treasure. Other times, especially during the day when nothing was happening, it fell flatter. Not completely flat, as it’s still imbued with a sleek and contemporary style, but not as good as the Treasure.

Regardless, the Grand Hall aboard the Disney Destiny works far better than the Wish’s generic castle aesthetic, which tries too hard to be elegant without actually earning it. The Destiny’s Grand Hall offers style and substance (just less of it than the Treasure), while also being a dynamic setting for entertainment. I still favor the legacy ship atriums, but this better balances form and function.

Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King

The Disney Destiny’s signature rotational dining experience is Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King, and it’s largely another winner. Pride Lands takes the dinner show concept template from Arendelle on the Wish and Coco on the Treasure, and swaps in a Lion King version of the show.

The setting is inspired by the African savanna, with ambient lighting that shifts from dawn to dusk as your meal progresses. The environment feel alive and dynamic, and if that’s all this restaurant were, it would be moody and maybe even romantic.

But as with Arendelle and Coco, Pride Lands is a dinner show. Performers bring Simba’s journey to life through the film’s iconic songs. The storytellers, Mwongozo and Shaha, narrate the tale with soulful vocals and creative costumes as the meal and show progress. The performances are heartfelt and engaging, striking that perfect balance between entertainment and allowing diners to actually enjoy their food without feeling rushed.

The menu blends African-inspired cuisine with familiar Disney Cruise Line favorites, incorporating authentic spice blends, regional sauces, and traditional grains. We loved our meal at Pride Lands, which I’d put on par with Sanaa (not quite Jiko caliber) at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Lots of spices and delicious rubs on the meats, and a wide variety of options (meats, especially).

For us, the food at Pride Lands was significantly better than what we experienced at Plaza de Coco on the Treasure. The flavors were bolder, the execution was more consistent, and there was a real sense of culinary adventure without straying so far from familiar territory that picky eaters would be left without options. By contrast, I felt that Coco was a bit too crowd-pleasing, but I know plenty of others who actually preferred that to Pride Lands.

Part of why we liked Pride Lands so much, admittedly, is because we had great seats. At the same time, it’s a vast room, and all of the action is concentrated in the center. Similar to how experiences vary between those seated in the nosebleeds versus the front row at a concert, that’s likely the case here. We had friends whose view was obstructed; they felt differently about Pride Lands than us.

Hercules Broadway Show

This review is going to have two confessions. The first is that, at the risk of losing my Millennial Card, I’ve never been a huge Hercules fan. Honestly, as we prepared to watch the show, I tried to remember whether I actually saw the movie, or if I’ve just been so exposed to it at the parks that I’ve absorbed a lot. (After seeing the show, pretty sure the answer is no.)

Suffice to say, Disney Hercules was never going to resonate for me like Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, or even Frozen or Tangled. I’m not the target audience, which is fine. I’m also not the type who thinks familiarity with the source material is a prerequisite for enjoying this type of thing.

Hercules is mostly good to great, albeit uneven. Award-winning puppet designer Michael Curry has created massive Titan puppets that literally tower over the performers, representing the mythological behemoths that Hercules must defeat. The multi-headed Hydra sequence is particularly jaw-dropping, with puppetry, special effects, and choreography combining to create genuine moments of awe. This is one of the best, most show-stopping scenes in any DCL production. (Images above and below are courtesy of Disney since photography isn’t allowed in these shows; all other photos in this article are my own.)

The casting is superb, with every performer bringing energy, charisma, and vocal talent to their roles. Not that DCL casting ever disappoints. Hercules makes excellent use of the ship’s theater capabilities, with elaborate sets, stunning costumes, and technical wizardry that rivals anything you’d see in a major theatrical production on land.

At the same time, Hercules also has issues with pacing and structure. While generally great, there were some costuming and staging choices that struck me as a little “try-hard” or trendy. I applaud the risk taking, as this worked exceedingly well in Tale of Moana, but not all of it lands here. At least, not for me. Thankfully, nothing is even remotely as egregious as the Little Mermaid on the Wish, which I’d be fine never seeing again. And that’s one of my all-time favorite animated films.

For me, Disney Hercules sits comfortably behind Tale of Moana on the Treasure as the best Broadway-style show in the DCL fleet (an S-Tier production), right in the A-Tier alongside Frozen, Tangled, and Beauty and the Beast. I personally prefer all of those, but Hercules is on their level. And again, it’s far superior to The Little Mermaid, so another point for the Destiny over the Wish.

Great Lounges, Again

Disney has gotten really good at doing lounges, which you’d expect, since they’ve been building a ton of them. They’d better be good with all that practice! These spaces give the ship personality and offer adults upscale places to relax that are often more Disney-inspired than Disney-themed.

The Sanctum is Disney Cruise Line’s first lounge inspired by Doctor Strange and the mystical world of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s sorcerers. The space recreates the Sanctum Sanctorum featuring familiar icons like the Cloak of Levitation, spell books from the library, and mystical artifacts throughout.

De Vil’s is themed after Cruella de Vil from One Hundred and One Dalmatians, and it’s fabulous. The space captures Cruella’s flair for style and has a luxurious flair. It’s better than I expected.

The focal point is an eye-catching spotted piano where a live pianist performs throughout the evening. Cruella herself makes appearances, adding an interactive element that’s campy fun. One of the highlights of our cruise was working with other passengers to help Zayah and Gamble (see below) write a song paying tribute to Cruella. The results were a hoot.

The Pirates of the Caribbean-themed Cask & Cannon bar rounds out the lounge offerings with a swashbuckling atmosphere. While it doesn’t reach the heights of Periscope Pub on the Treasure, it’s still a well-designed space that captures the spirit of adventure. It probably doesn’t help that we were fresh off a visit to Beak & Barrel at Magic Kingdom, which blows Cask & Cannon out of the (figurative) water.

The Haunted Mansion Parlor returns on the Destiny after debuting on the Treasure, and it remains one of the best bars in the entire DCL fleet. While it’s not technically new to this ship, it’s executed as well here and continues to be a must-visit for any Disney parks fan. I’m not going to fixate on it, but Haunted Mansion Parlor is the highlight of the Disney Treasure and will be here for newcomers who are parks fans.

With that said, and I don’t want to push on this too hard because I love the Haunted Mansion Parlor, but what does it have to do with heroes and villains? All of these Wish-class ships have a “grabbag of IP” vibe that calls purported thematic throughlines into question, and that’s really highlighted here by the Haunted Mansion Parlor.

Off the Grand Hall, you’ll find two walk-up cafés that serve specialty coffees, teas, and light snacks throughout the day. Café Megara pays homage to Hercules with a vibrant “Greco Disco” design featuring purple and blue hues inspired by Megara and Pegasus. The space includes custom cloud-patterned carpet and wallpaper with hidden Pegasus designs.

Café Merida takes inspiration from Brave with Celtic-influenced design elements that honor the Scottish setting of the film. Both cafés are charming spots to grab a morning coffee or afternoon pick-me-up, and they’re far more interesting than the generic coffee counters you’ll find on many cruise ships.

My first thought when perusing both locations was that they got bigger budgets than their counterparts on the Treasure and Wish. There are little flourishes and finishings that strike me as higher quality here.

Zayah & Gamble: Storytellers Extraordinaire

The Disney Destiny introduces two new original characters: Zayah and Gamble, traveling storytellers who bring wonder and entertainment to various venues throughout the ship. Think of them as spiritual successors to Coriander and Sage on the Treasure, but with their own distinct personalities and style.

These original characters offer comedic relief, heart, and emotion. These performers host interactive shows in the Grand Hall and other venues, including “Zayah and Gamble’s Traveling Show” where they retell classic Disney stories with audience participation.

Not to be missed is the new adults-only “With Great Power: A Marvel Comedy Show” hosted by the dynamic duo in Saga lounge. Not much can get me to stay up until midnight these days, but that show did. It was an absolute hoot, and I have high expectations for Zayah and Gamble being the heart and soul of the Disney Destiny.

They’re also used as a vehicle for engaging the ship’s villainous “activations” (or appearances, if you’d prefer), and they way they engage with characters like Loki or Cruella is an absolute hoot. Zayah and Gamble are (mostly) not marquee entertainment, but their appearances are high-impact. Their humorous interactive moments can often be more memorable than the blockbuster shows.

Guests who take the time to engage with Zayah and Gamble will be rewarded, as these experiences are among the best of the cruise. It’s exactly the kind of “little thing” that Disney excels at–atmospheric entertainment that adds personality and creates unexpected magical moments.

I wrote almost the exact same thing about Coriander and Sage, but I’ll reiterate it here: Zayah and Gamble are the heart and soul of the Disney Destiny. The heroes vs. villains conceit is often superficial or flimsy. To the extent that it works and the Destiny feels more cohesive, it’s completely carried by Zayah and Gamble. They are the connective tissue that ties together the thematic throughlines, and they put a nice little bow on top of it all at the end of the voyage.

Other Entertainment & Characters

As discussed above, Cruella’s surprise stops inside De Vil’s are a highlight. She’s not the only villain who makes surprise (they’re in the Navigator) appearances throughout the voyage.

Loki shows up in the Grand Hall to commandeer the vessel. He’s one of several Marvel characters, along with Black Panther, Spider Man, and Doctor Strange. Loki is the only one of these that really resonated with me, but I’m also an adult. I could see kids enjoying the other ones.

Captain Jack Sparrow, Maleficent, and Dr. Facilier also have what DCL has dubbed “meet and play” moments on the ship. These moments are exclusive to Destiny and are extended engagements as opposed to traditional meet & greets. After a lengthy wait, I had the chance to experience Dr. Facilier’s Parlour.

At the risk of sharing a potentially unpopular opinion, this was fine. Dr. Facilier was incredible. But the trick (sorry, illusion) was only okay. The performer carried it on his back, though, and sold the trick (sorry, illusion). I don’t think the payoff was worth the wait and hassle, though. I’d hazard a guess that this won’t last long in its current form. The capacity is abysmal.

It’s potentially worth pointing out that several of these offerings also evoke the failed Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser in spirit. (Not in substance, there’s scarcely anything Star Wars to speak of.)

The above-referenced Cruella song, in particular, but also many moments in the Grand Hall and the throughline of the Loki ship takeover. It’s not as singular of a story and certainly not LARPing, but it’s a nice taste of what made the Starcruiser special–and one that’s approachable for average audiences.

Entertainment is definitely the strong suit of the Disney Destiny, and there’s a wide range of performances, from the aforementioned characters to live music. The daily schedule is jam-packed, and you could spend the better part of your day bouncing from one thing to the next.

If you’re a fan of live entertainment and will make a point of prioritizing it, the Disney Destiny is either the #1 or #2 ship in the fleet for you. That’s true even if you’re not a Marvel fan.

Artwork

One regard where the Disney Destiny easily surpasses its contemporaries is the artwork.

The collection is both formidable and incredibly well-rounded. Not only in art styles, but also franchises, stories, and characters. I always take the stairs as opposed to the elevators, but found myself making a point of taking different stairs and stopping off at each floor to see as much of the collection as possible. There’s probably still some I missed.

The artwork felt like the strongest reinforcement of the heroes versus villains conceit, and one of the “little things” I loved most about the Destiny.

Other Negatives

Beyond the layout, there are a few Destiny-specific considerations.

Here’s my second confession, which shouldn’t be a bombshell to regular readers: I’m over Marvel. I’ve just lost interest. Now some of you MCU diehards might call this a personal problem, but the box office receipts suggest I’m far from the only one. At least, until Avengers: Doomsday.

The Destiny leans heavily into Marvel, and that might be off-putting for people who aren’t MCU fans. While the Wakandan Grand Hall is lovely, it’s decidedly more contemporary and less traditionally “Disney” than what you’ll find on other ships. There’s a lot of Marvel art. A lot of Marvel characters.

This would all be less bothersome, at least for me, if more emphasis were placed on classic animated Disney (or even Pixar!) villains. Honestly, it’s not that there’s too much Marvel for me; it’s that there’s too little of the other heroes and villains.

Disney didn’t fully commit to the good versus evil dichotomy with the Destiny. The whole ship feels more fragmented than the cohesive adventurous narrative of the Treasure. Even with the abundant entertainment, the Destiny is slightly less satisfying from a storytelling perspective than the Treasure; they didn’t do full justice to heroes and villains.

Our Disney Destiny Verdict

The Disney Treasure felt like a massive leap forward. As if Imagineers, although still constrained by the Wish-class, made lemonade out of lemons and improved the ship in almost every conceivable way. While still navigating within the bounds of that structure, every creative decision was a noticeable upgrade.

The Disney Destiny, for its part, is also an upgrade over the Disney Wish. It feels less plasticy, with spaces and programming that are, on the whole, a significant upgrade over the Wish. At the same time, it has similarities. It also feels like less of a cohesive concept and more of a grabbag.

The Destiny falls short of reaching the same high bar of the Disney Treasure. It’s closer to the Treasure than it is to the Wish, but not to the point that it’s my #2 ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. I don’t know where it ranks, honestly. It would probably depend upon how much we planned on enjoying the entertainment (which is top-tier) versus everything else.

Being a bit of a thematic hodgepodge is what drags the Destiny down for me, personally, and it probably doesn’t help that I’ve lost interest in all things Marvel. Regardless of that, the Destiny doesn’t feel sufficiently committed to the heroes vs. villains conceit, which is a really good one!

To each their own, but the reason the Treasure rises up the rankings so much is because it’s so distinct. The ship is thematically focused, elevating it well above the Wish-class and even the legacy ships that I otherwise prefer. In the absence of that, I’d rather have one of the older ships, as I find them to be more sophisticated, adult, and elegant while still offering plenty of family-friendly programming.

Setting that aside, setting sail on the Disney Destiny is still an immensely satisfying experience. The food is fantastic. There’s a ton to explore and discover. The art collection is formidable. Once you get past the layout, there’s thoughtfulness to the more malleable design elements. The entertainment is on par with the Treasure, and might even surpass it for Marvel or villains fans (or even Starcruiser diehards).

There’s absolutely a ton to love here! I’m certainly not averse to setting sail on the Destiny again, I just wouldn’t actively seek it out or pay a premium for it like I would with the Treasure. I have no doubt that other guests will enjoy the Destiny more (especially Marvel fans), while we search for bargains on the legacy ships.

Planning to set sail aboard one of the DCL ships? Read our comprehensive Disney Cruise Line Guide to prepare for your voyage, plus plan entertainment, activities & excursions, and learn what to expect from your Disney cruise! For personalized planning & recommendations, click here to get a cruise quote from Be Our Guest Vacations, a no-fee Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. They can find you all of the current discounts, and help you plan the details of your cruise!

YOUR THOUGHTS

What do you think of the Disney Destiny? If you’ve already set sail on this ship, how does it compare for you to the legacy ships or the Disney Wish/Treasure? Thoughts on the execution of the heroes vs. villains conceit? What about the lounges, restaurants, entertainment, etc? Does it have an appropriate amount of Marvel, too much, or just not enough animated villains? Do you agree or disagree with our advice and assessment? Any questions? Hearing feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!