Disney Cruise Line is pulling back the curtain on the entertainment aboard its next new ship, the Disney Destiny, which is themed to Heroes and Villains. This offers a sneak peek at the latest addition to the DCL fleet, with concept art, photos & video of the “Hercules” Broadway-style production, as well as previews of the stage shows featuring Marvel-ous mischief makers and more.
The Disney Destiny will sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida starting with its maiden voyage on November 20, 2025. This special four-night cruise be the first opportunity to experience all this new ship has to offer, and it’ll also include stops at both of Disney Cruise Line’s island destinations in the Bahamas: Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point! The maiden voyage of the Disney Destiny will be followed by an inaugural season of four and five-night cruises to the Bahamas and Western Caribbean.
Every sailing will include a stop at either Castaway Cay or Lookout Cay (some itineraries including both), and select cruises will feature stops in Nassau, Bahamas or Cozumel, Mexico. Bookings are now open to the general public. We recommend contacting a travel agent if you want to set sail during the inaugural season of the Disney Destiny or sometime in 2026.
For today’s new entertainment reveal of the Disney Destiny, we’re starting at the Grand Hall, where guests will be immersed in the epic duality of good and evil as the environment transforms throughout the cruise. Inspired by Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther,” the Grand Hall of the Disney Destiny will transport you into a world of heroes and villains from the moment you step on board.
Most of the day, the Grand Hall will have a bright and optimistic energy–fitting for a hero like Black Panther. But at any moment, it may morph into a mythical realm of mystery. With 360-degree lighting effects that fill the room with life and color, the ever-changing space will react to the presence of certain characters, taking on the signature aura of some of the most legendary villains, rogues and mischief makers of Disney and Marvel lore.
Here’s a first look at concept art featuring the arrival of Loki, the fan-favorite character from Marvel Studios:
Intent on clearing his name with the mortals of Midgard, Loki will try to declare himself ruler of the Disney Destiny vessel and its occupants.
True to his infamous ego and affinity for chaos-making, you’ll never know where Loki may turn up with a grand proclamation of his glorious purpose or a dubious retelling of a well-known story. The God of Mischief may even recruit unsuspecting guests for a surprise competition to prove their adoration for his royal highness, or command them to explain the strange foreign rituals of ocean cruising.
It sounds as if Loki might be the Disney Destiny’s version of Coriander and Sage, who are two new original characters on the Disney Treasure. They are nomadic adventurers who host a lot of programming in the Grand hall (and beyond), offering comedic relief, heart, and emotion. They’re one of the highlights of the Disney Treasure, and Loki could follow that same formula, filling their role with a more recognizable presence.
Turning to classic animated villains, Cruella de Vil is not only the inspiration behind the piano lounge on the Disney Destiny; she will also grace guests with her fabulous presence during two brand-new entertainment experiences aboard the ship.
The first will be an opportunity for fashion-forward cruisers to put their personal style to the test on Cruella’s very own wretched runway, where the reigning rogue en vogue will provide live commentary — whether she’s fawning over an absolutely exquisite fashion choice or offering dreadfully honest advice. When she hears the unflattering and inaccurate “Cruella de Vil” song playing on board the Disney Destiny, Cruella may recruit guests for a bit of “treble-making” as they create a more flattering musical tribute to her marvelousness.
Next, are you ready (are you reeeeeady?) for something a little more mischievous? The playfully sinister practitioner of the macabre, Dr. Facilier, will be lurking around the Grand Hall with a dazzling parlor trick or sleight of hand. You can join him for a game of chance with nothing to lose.
If spells and incantations are your magic of choice, Maleficent will probably be holding court at Saga entertainment lounge. It’s up to you whether to witness the magical prowess from afar or dare to approach the mistress of all evil for an up-close and personal demonstration.
All of this sounds fantastic to us. We have long advocated for Disney to introduce more spontaneity and meaningful interactions with characters, as opposed to treating them as breathing props for meet & greets. This kind of thing is a huge hit at Disneyland for years; more recently, it’s done well with guests in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge on both coasts, and Avengers Campus in DCA.
Of course, this shouldn’t completely displace traditional meet & greets–those have their place, too–but this kind of character programming is entertaining for those participating and those passively observing from a distance. And more so than any other characters, the villains seem uniquely suited for this type of thing, “recruiting” guests to their side or offering a bit of playful ribbing. We’ve participated in this at Disneyland on countless occasions (and once watched a truly marvelous Cruella de Vil for about 30 minutes at Tokyo DisneySea as she went around searching for “puppies” at Tokyo DisneySea).
Turning to the heroic side of the entertainment ledger, the Disney Destiny will debut a Broadway-style stage adaptation of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Hercules. Above is a first look at the new show that’s sure to prove “whose daring deeds are great theater” for a new generation of Disney Cruise Line guests.
“Disney Hercules” will stay true to the story and spirit of the beloved film with a fresh, contemporary retelling centered around the legendary soundtrack. Featuring a celebration of iconic songs like “Go the Distance,” “Zero to Hero” and “I Won’t Say I’m in Love,” this show will present incredible live renditions like you’ve never heard before through new musical arrangements inspired by the soulfulness of gospel music with the energy of a pop concert.
In addition to all of the songs from the film, “Disney Hercules” will include the theatrical debut of “Shooting Star,” a heartfelt ballad originally written for the movie by Alan Menken and David Zippel. Speaking of the soundtrack, here’s the show’s star, Corey Bradford, performing “Go the Distance” during a media preview of the Disney Destiny:
As in the film, the Muses will be the storytellers in the Broadway-style adaptation of Hercules aboard the Disney Destiny, and their over-the-top personalities and transcendent vocals will shine on stage. High-fashion costume designs will showcase the opulence of the gods of Mount Olympus and contrast starkly with the more understated and humble attire worn by the humans and creatures of Earth.
Award-winning puppet designer Michael Curry is bringing to life some of this tale’s most larger-than-life characters through jaw-dropping puppetry, building on the innovative designs debuted in “Tale of Moana” aboard the Disney Treasure last year. Embodying the ship’s theme of “heroes and villains,” our new show will use these massive puppets to represent the mythological behemoths — like the multi-headed Hydra monster — that Hercules must defeat to fulfill his hero’s journey.
Developed exclusively for the Disney Destiny, “Disney Hercules” will be one of three stage shows aboard the new Disney Destiny Cruise ship, along with fan-favorites “Frozen, A Musical Spectacular” and “Disney Seas the Adventure.”
Invited media also had a chance to hear from the creative team about the multi-headed Hydra monster scene in “Disney Hercules,” which should be a show-stopping scene. I don’t want to spoil “Tale of Moana” aboard the Treasure (since that ship is still pretty new!), but there’s a climactic scene in that show with real wow-factor that leaves guests speechless. Or at least, it did for me. And I’m not one who’s normally at a loss for words, as this blog’s lengthy posts demonstrate.
It sounds like “Disney Hercules” is going to pull from the playbook used to make “Tale of Moana” something truly magical, building on the foundation of that to make an equally impressive production. Many members of the creative team went directly from that show to this one, which is great to hear. At least, from my perspective as someone who thinks “Tale of Moana” is the gold standard of Disney Cruise Line stage shows (and there are a lot of great ones).
In general, my perception of the Disney Destiny thus far is that it’s building on the foundation of Disney Treasure, taking that same formula and applying it to the heroes & villains, good vs. evil dichotomy as opposed to adventure on the high seas. Given our effusive Disney Treasure Cruise Ship Review: Worst to First, I’m pretty pleased with this approach. We already know this is a Wish-class ship, with all of the baked-in good and bad that entails.
My hope is that Disney Cruise Line is willing to go all-in on the heroes & villains conceit, and give the Imagineers working on the project the creative bandwidth to create a cohesive experience aboard the Disney Destiny. This is what sets the Disney Treasure apart from the Wish, and makes it leagues better than its predecessor. Despite all of this class of ships being identical canvases, it looks like the Destiny is shaping up to iterate on the formula of the Treasure and offer its own unique twist thanks to the good vs. evil duality.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Excited for “Disney Hercules” or the Grand Hall entertainment featuring Loki, Cruella de Vil, Dr. Facilier, or other villains? What do you think of the Disney Destiny and its good vs. evil duality? Hopeful that this iterates on the Disney Treasure and its more focused storytelling, or do you prefer the Disney Wish? Does this have you looking forward to the Disney Destiny ? Do you plan on booking a cruise aboard this ship, or are you awaiting more details? Do you agree or disagree with our take about the more focused themes for the Treasure and Destiny? 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!