Disney Cruise Line reveals more plans for new ship Destiny — including a surprise home port
Big news, Disney Cruise Line fans: You'll soon be able to sail out of Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades on a brand-new Disney ship.
The cruising arm of vacation giant Disney on Tuesday announced that the third vessel in its new Wish Class of ships, Disney Destiny, will sail out of the South Florida port when it debuts in late 2025.
The deployment of the 144,000-ton vessel to the port will mark the first time Disney has placed a new ship in a port other than Port Canaveral, its main hub.
It comes as Disney rapidly ramps up year-round operations out of Port Everglades. Disney in November began operating out of Port Everglades on a year-round basis for the first time with sailings on its 13-year-old Disney Dream and, later, the 25-year-old Disney Magic.
The move coincided with the opening of Disney's first dedicated cruise terminal at the port.
Port Everglades is only the second port in the world where Disney has operated year-round — the other being Port Canaveral.
New hero-themed venues
Disney on Tuesday also announced new hero-themed venues planned for Disney Destiny that won't be found on the two earlier ships in the Wish Class series. They include a first-of-its-kind dining experience inspired by the Disney hit animated film "The Lion King" and a confection outlet themed to "The Incredibles."
As previously announced, Disney Destiny will have a "heroes and villains" theme that will make it unique among the Wish Class ships.
"Enchantment" is the theme of the first ship in the Wish Class series, the two-year-old Disney Wish, taking its inspiration from Disney's timeless tales of wishes come true. "Adventure" is the theme of the second ship in the series, the soon-to-debut Disney Treasure, taking its inspiration from Walt Disney's love of exploration.
The new hero-themed venues announced for Disney Destiny on Tuesday are the first of several new venues for the ship, which are expected to be announced this week in a multiday reveal of its new features.
"For the Disney Destiny, we will introduce brand-new cruise experiences inspired by the legends and legacies of some of Disney's most iconic heroes and villains," Sharon Siskie, Disney Cruise Line's senior vice president and senior manager, said in a statement accompanying the announcement. "From the dining rooms to the staterooms and everywhere in between, guests aboard our new ship will be surrounded by extraordinary storytelling paired with the signature service and family-fun adventures that are hallmarks of a Disney Cruise vacation."
A new 'Lion King' dinner show
To be called "Pride Lands: Feast of The Lion King," the new dining experience planned for Disney Destiny will take place in a savanna-inspired venue that "will bring unique depictions of animals and nature to life through lighting and special effects, while the window-lined back wall will transform from stunning sunrises to enchanting sunsets throughout the meal."
As families dine, what's billed as a colorful ensemble of live musicians and storytellers will take the stage in the center of the restaurant — complete with tiered risers that evoke African drums — to present a musical journey through the award-winning "The Lion King" soundtrack, Disney said.
The entertainment will include iconic songs from the animated film, such as "Circle of Life" and "Hakuna Matata," plus a mashup of "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" and "Be Prepared," which Disney said would highlight the hero-villain dynamic of the story.
The eatery also will have a themed menu.
An 'incredible' sweet shop
The new confection shop, to be called Edna A La Mode Sweets, will take its theme from Edna Mode's lab, where the fashion designer from Pixar Animation Studios' "The Incredibles" films creates superhero outfits.
Inspired by the "Auntie Edna" short film, the lab's modern sewing equipment "will be repurposed as sweet-making mechanisms meant to entertain Jack-Jack, the unpredictable and hilariously unstable super baby," Disney said in its announcement.
The venue will serve handmade gelato, ice cream, cookies, candies and specialty treats that are "served among the lab's bolts of fabric, costume models and picture-perfect sculptures of both Edna and Jack-Jack."
Other new venues
Other new venues announced Tuesday for Disney Destiny include two casual walk-up cafes located just off the ship's central Grand Hall. One, Cafe Megara, named after the heroine of the Disney animated movie "Hercules," will pay homage to that film's world of ancient Greek gods and heroes. The other, Cafe Merida, will be inspired by the flame-haired heroine of Pixar's "Brave," with a Celtic-centered design that invokes her family's Scottish Highlands heritage, Disney said.
'Hero-worthy' cabins and suites
Disney on Tuesday also revealed new details of the cabins and suites planned for Disney Destiny, which it said would be "hero worthy."
Every accommodation on the ship will feature artwork depicting the epic journeys of famous Disney legends — a new theme.
As on all Disney ships, the rooms will be family-focused, with most offering Disney's signature split-bathroom concept. Many will feature connecting doors that allow for the creation of bigger accommodations.
Among the accommodation choices will be concierge-class rooms with "Fantasia" watercolor-style artwork. The rooms will come with access to exclusive areas and amenities, including a concierge lounge and a private sundeck.
In addition, seven special ocean-view rooms directly above the bridge with stellar views from floor-to-ceiling windows will feature a "The Incredibles" theme.
Other notable accommodations will include four Hero Suites that will celebrate the heroes of "Hercules" with a design inspired by Greco-Roman architecture, colors and patterns.
There will also be IncrediSuites that pay homage to "The Incredibles" with a streamlined midcentury-modern aesthetic.
The Wish Class ships have been designed with 1,258 cabins that can hold 2,508 passengers at double occupancy. With every pull-down bunk and pullout sofa bed filled, their total capacity rises to 4,000 passengers.
Disney Destiny is not yet open for bookings, and specific itineraries for the vessel out of Port Everglades have not yet been set.
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