Disney Cruise Line will launch hero-and-villain-themed next year

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Even heroes need a vacation, and Disney Cruise Line is dedicating an entire ship to them – and their evil counterparts.
The cruise line revealed new details about its Disney Destiny ship, which will begin sailing in late 2025, this week.
“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 general manager, said in a news release. “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.”
The ship will be a sister vessel to the upcoming Disney Treasure, launching in December, and the Disney Wish.
The ship will operate four-and-five-night Bahamas and Western Caribbean cruises from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, beginning in November 2025.
The ship’s design will be inspired by Disney, Pixar and Marvel characters, from the accommodations to the restaurants. 
Every cabin will have custom artwork depicting “the epic journeys of famous Disney legends,” according to the release. Concierge staterooms and suites will feature watercolor-style art evoking “Fantasia,” while iconography from “The Incredibles” will adorn seven distinct oceanview cabins. Superfans can book the IncrediSuites, decorated in a midcentury modern scheme, while Hero Suites will draw on “Hercules,” with an aesthetic inspired by Greco-Roman architecture.
Passengers can also vacation like Tony Stark in the luxurious Destiny Tower Suite, modeled on Iron Man’s “sleek, industrial designs.” The space will sleep up to eight people and have a private ensuite elevator.
Two walk-up cafes serving coffee, tea, snacks and more will pull from the films “Hercules” and “Brave,” respectively. Café Megara will be decked out with Mount Olympus clouds, lightning bolts, Muse-covered vases, and other nods to the movie, while Café Merida will feature a Celtic look inspired by the character of the same name.
“Special touches include a tapestry hung from a mounted bow while glowing lights above the bar will pay tribute to the will-o’-the-wisps, ethereal blue flames that lead travelers to their destiny,” the cruise line said.
The “Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King” dining experience will feature live music and storytelling in a venue inspired by the savanna. A wall lined with windows will show sunrises that set while guests are eating, and performers will play songs like “Circle of Life” and “Hakuna Matata” from a stage with tiered risers that call to mind African drums.
If passengers need a sugar fix, Edna Á La Mode Sweets is just the spot. The “Incredibles” fashion designer’s lab will be turned into a confectionery offering cookies, gelato, ice cream and more. The space, which draws on the 2018 “Auntie Edna” short film, will see her sewing machinery used to make sweets.
The ship will include new nightlife options, as well.
De Vil’s piano lounge, named for the glamorous, fur-clad antagonist from “One Hundred and One Dalmatians,” will feature a spotted piano (though no puppies were harmed) and a menu of martinis, wines and other drinks. At Cask and Cannon, “Pirates of the Caribbean” fans can enjoy a range of rums – including specialty and vintage options – and brews served from the barrel. The pub will be furnished with “pillaged and pilfered” treasures from the pirates’ travels, and show live sporting events on TV.
At The Sanctum lounge, guests will step into the world of “Doctor Strange,” where they’ll find surprises from the sorcerer’s New York Sanctum, along with cocktails, coffee, entertainment and more. Destiny will also debut with the Haunted Mansion Parlor cocktail bar, which will first launch on Treasure.
AquaMouse is back, too, with a twist. The 760-foot-long water ride, a signature attraction for the brand, will feature a new storyline that sees Mickey and Minnie Mouse venture to the top of Villain Mountain, disarming foes like the Queen of Hearts from “Alice in Wonderland” and Scar of “The Lion King” with a silly song and “a bit of pixie dust,” according to the cruise line. The ride will feature three other shows as well.
The central Grand Hall will pay homage to “Black Panther” with a statue of T’Challa, a Vibranium-inspired light fixture and metalwork that evokes Wakanda jewelry and armor, along with a stage and 360-degree lighting. The space will be complimented by the two-story Saga venue, which will host family activities during the day and adults-only entertainment at night.
The ship will have other Marvel touches, too. Spider-Man will serve as the ship’s stern character, the first time a Marvel Super Hero has done so in the line’s history. “The larger-than-life sculpture will showcase Spider-Man and his Spider-Bots, who are making a well-meant, if a bit haphazard, attempt at decorating the filigree on the back of the ship,” the cruise line said.
Destiny will also offer the Worlds of Marvel dining experience and the Marvel Super Hero Academy at its Oceaneer Club for young kids, both of which can be found on Wish (and on Treasure when it launches).
Other characters guests will encounter on board in meet-and-greets, shows and other appearances include Maleficent, Hades and Captain Hook. “Hercules” will also make another appearance in a new Broadway-style stage show, which will include an unreleased song written for the film.
Pricing is not yet available, but bookings will open to the general public on Sept. 12. The company will also add another vessel, the Disney Adventure, next year. The ship will homeport in Singapore and mark its first to sail in Southeast Asia.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].