Disney Destiny Review: Is This Disney Cruise Ship Worth It for Families?
The thing I loved most about the Disney Destiny wasn’t one restaurant, kids club or attraction. It was that somehow all five of us got the vacation we wanted
Disney Cruise Line is not the least expensive way to cruise. I know that. But after sailing on the Disney Destiny with my family, I was reminded why I continue to recommend Disney cruises to families and why I think the Destiny in particular is such a great choice.
The ship is beautiful, easy to navigate, packed with things for kids to do and still relaxing enough that you don’t feel like you need a vacation from your vacation.
Here is what I loved about the Disney Destiny and what I think families should know before booking.
Where Does the Disney Destiny Sail From?
Currently, the Disney Destiny sails from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In fall 2027, the Destiny will make the move to Port Canaveral, which I think will be especially convenient for families who want to pair their cruise with a few days at Disney World.
You’ll find different itinerary lengths depending on when you travel, so there are options whether you want a shorter getaway or a full week at sea.
We sailed for 5 nights, and personally, I thought it was the sweet spot. Our itinerary included Cozumel, Castaway Cay and 2 days at sea. Next time I would pick a sailing that maybe skips Cozumel as we just didn’t love it as a family.
We had enough time to actually learn the ship, enjoy the kids clubs and pools, have some downtime and visit Castaway Cay without feeling like we were constantly rushing to the next thing.
But it also didn’t require us to commit to a full 7-night vacation.
If you’re new to Disney Cruise Line and wondering how many nights to book, I would happily recommend a 5-night sailing. It gave us enough time to settle into cruise mode and really enjoy the ship, which is a big part of the vacation on the Destiny.
The Disney Destiny Is Just the Right Size
One of the first things I loved about the Destiny was the size.
It is big enough to have plenty of restaurants, pools, entertainment and things to explore, but it never felt so massive that we couldn’t figure out where we were going.
It didn’t take long for our entire family to learn the layout of the ship.
That was especially important because we actually felt comfortable giving our 10-year-old a little freedom onboard. We had rules and check-ins, of course, but he was able to navigate the ship, sign himself in and out of the Oceaneer Club and meet back up with us.
He LOVED it.
We also really enjoyed the Hero Zone. This area is only on the Wish Class ships and gave our family another area to hang out together and play. This is also where you’ll find the Incredi-Course on select days and times.
There is something really special about a family vacation where your kids can start having their own little adventures while you still feel like you’re vacationing together.
The Kids Clubs Were Spectacular
If you’re sailing Disney Cruise Line with kids, the Oceaneer Club is a huge part of the experience.
And the Destiny’s kids spaces absolutely delivered for us.
My daughter is typically attached to my side. She is not the kid begging me to leave her somewhere while I go relax.
On the Destiny? She actually wanted to go back to the kids club.
If you know, you know.
Meanwhile, our 10-year-old loved having the independence to sign himself in and out and decide when he wanted to participate.
This is one of the reasons I think Disney Cruise Line works so well for families. Your kids aren’t just tagging along on your vacation. There are parts of the ship designed entirely for them.
And when they WANT to go to the kids club? Mom and Dad might actually get to sit down for a minute. Imagine that.
The Dining Was One of the Highlights for Us
Pride Lands: Feast of The Lion King was probably my favorite dining experience on the Destiny. The show was entertaining without being overstimulating, the food was genuinely good, and I still think about the shrimp curry.
But on an adult level, my husband and I also really loved 1923. It felt a little more elevated and gave us a completely different dining experience from Pride Lands.
And I have to mention our waitress, Esther. She was beyond incredible and treated our family like her own. One of the things Disney Cruise Line does so well is the service, and having the same dining team with you throughout your cruise means they actually get to know your family. Esther was a huge part of what made our dinners so special.
We also didn’t feel like sitting down for a full dinner every single night, and that’s okay too.
On those nights, we loved grabbing food up on deck. There were tacos, BBQ and plenty of other quick options, plus unlimited soft serve which, according to my children, may be one of the most important amenities on the entire ship.
That’s one of the things I loved about dining on the Destiny. You can have a full dinner with a Lion King show one night, enjoy a more elevated meal at 1923 the next, and then decide you’d rather eat tacos by the pool.
It’s vacation. You’re allowed to do that.
There Are Water Areas for Everyone
One of our favorite things to do on the Destiny was ride the AquaMouse, especially at night.
We discovered that later in the evening we could ride it over and over again with basically no line. Riding around the top of the ship in the dark ended up being one of those simple vacation memories my kids still talk about. Yes it was freezing but we did not care, it was a core memory moment.
For younger kids, there are splash areas where they can play without needing to get into one of the pools, and there are several family pools spread around the upper decks. I liked that everything wasn’t centered around one giant pool area.
And Disney did not forget about the adults. There are adults-only pool and lounging areas when you need a break from the family side of the ship for a bit.
Cruise ship pools themselves are never going to be the reason I book a cruise, but I really liked the variety of water areas on the Destiny. There was somewhere for the little kids to splash, places for families to swim together, spaces for adults to escape, and the AquaMouse for my kids to convince me that yes, we absolutely needed to ride it one more time.
The Activities and Theming Felt Made for the Whole Family
One of my favorite things about the Destiny was that it didn’t feel like everything onboard was geared toward little kids or princess fans.
There were superheroes to meet, a Haunted Mansion scavenger hunt, tons of different characters around the ship and activities happening throughout the day. You could participate in as much or as little as you wanted, which is pretty much how we like to vacation.
And as a mom of boys, I especially loved the theming. There is plenty of Disney magic, but it isn’t princess-everywhere Disney. You’ll find superheroes, Hercules, Wreck-It Ralph, The Lion King and so many other Disney stories represented throughout the ship.
It made the Destiny feel like a ship designed for the entire family, not just one age or one type of Disney fan.
My kids could find things they were excited about, I had plenty that I loved, and we also found things we genuinely wanted to do together.
That balance is a big part of why the Destiny worked so well for us.
You Still Get Everything Disney Cruise Line Does So Well
The Destiny has its own personality, but it still has all of the little things that make me love Disney Cruise Line in the first place.
Room service is included, which we definitely took advantage of. The crew and Cast Members were incredible throughout our sailing, and there were always characters to meet, shows to see and activities happening around the ship. And of course, depending on your itinerary, you may get a day at Castaway Cay, which continues to be one of my family’s favorite places.
But one of the things I appreciate most about a Disney Cruise is that you don’t actually have to do all of those things to feel like you’re getting your money’s worth.
We definitely don’t.
There were times when my kids wanted to go do their own thing and times when we all wanted to be together. There were activities we skipped completely because we’d rather swim, order room service or just hang out on the ship.
I think that’s part of what makes Disney Cruise Line feel like a vacation to me. There is always something available when we want it, but very little pressure to actually do it all.
So, Is the Disney Destiny Worth the Money?
Disney Cruise Line isn’t cheap, and I’m never going to pretend that it is.
But I also don’t think you can determine whether a Disney Cruise is worth the money by simply comparing the price to another cruise line. For me, the value is in what the vacation actually feels like once we’re onboard.
My kids had places they genuinely wanted to go without us. Our 10-year-old got a little taste of independence. My husband and I could enjoy a great dinner. We had things all five of us wanted to do together, and we also had plenty of moments where everyone could go at their own pace.
And I wasn’t spending the entire trip figuring out how to keep everyone entertained.
As a mom, that last part is worth quite a bit to me.
That’s ultimately what I loved so much about the Destiny. It gave us plenty of Disney without requiring our entire vacation to revolve around Disney. It gave my kids some independence, gave us time together and somehow managed to have something for everyone without making us feel like we needed to do everything.
The Destiny just gets the family vacation part right. And for me, that’s what makes a Disney Cruise worth it.
Who Would I Recommend the Disney Destiny For?
I think the Destiny is an especially great fit for families who love Disney but want a vacation that feels a little easier than a theme park trip.
It’s a great option if you have kids at different ages and stages because everyone can find something that feels like it’s for them. Little ones have splash areas and characters, bigger kids can fall in love with the kids clubs and gain a little independence, and there is plenty for adults to enjoy too.
I also think families with boys or kids who aren’t especially interested in princesses will appreciate the heroes and villains theme. It still feels unmistakably Disney, just with a much broader mix of characters and stories.
And if you’re the kind of family who wants to spend some of your vacation doing things together and some of it happily doing your own thing, I think the Destiny really shines.
I would absolutely sail on her again.
Thinking About a Disney Destiny Cruise?
There are a lot of choices that come with booking a Disney Cruise, from choosing the right ship and sailing length to figuring out which stateroom makes the most sense for your family.
That’s where I come in.
I help my Disney Cruise clients narrow down those choices and then walk them through the details that come later, so they don’t have to spend months trying to learn everything about Disney Cruise Line before they can enjoy one.
If the Disney Destiny sounds like the kind of family vacation you’ve been looking for, I’d love to help you get onboard. Learn more about my Cruise services here.
