As Disney Cruise Line prepares to launch its newest ship, the Disney Destiny, on November 20, a bold new chapter in immersive storytelling is unfolding — one that brings Disney, Pixar, and Marvel’s most iconic heroes and villains to life on the high seas in ways only Disney can.
Through a dynamic collaboration between Disney Cruise Line, Walt Disney Imagineering, and Marvel, guests will step into the Marvel Universe like never before, surrounded by characters, environments, and innovative experiences that are beloved across generations.
“The cruise environment is such a unique canvas to play in,” Brian Crosby, Executive, Marvel Experiences Development, said. “We have our guests staying with us for multiple days, and [they] come with the expectation of being fully immersed in these stories with the opportunity to spend some quality time with our characters.”
And fully immersed they will be: from the Wakandan-inspired Grand Hall to multi-day narrative arcs featuring Spider-Man and Loki, the Disney Destiny is more than a cruise ship — it’s a floating stage for epic adventures.
Creating the World at Sea
The Disney Destiny is a heroes- and villains-themed ship, and with part of the inspiration coming from Marvel — complete with Spider-Man and his Spider-bots as the ship’s stern characters — selecting which of the brand’s vast universe of over 8,000 characters to bring onboard was no small feat.
As Crosby noted, the priority is always the story and experience — choosing characters that resonate widely and offer rich storytelling potential. For the Disney Destiny, Marvel focused on iconic figures such as Black Panther, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, and Loki.
“When I think about those characters… I recognize that we get Wakanda, Asgard, the Sanctum, the Mystic Arts, trickery, heroism, sometimes even some villainy,” Crosby said.
Jen Bascom, Creative Director for Disney Cruise Line Creative, added, “Inspired by the Grand Hall design, we developed exciting new shows that pay tribute to the music and stories of King T’Challa, the Black Panther… And when it came to choosing a villain, we were energized by developing material for Loki. Who better to explore the concept of ‘destiny’ than this villain in search of his ‘glorious purpose?’”
And it’s not just about having the characters onboard.
“Guests who sail on the Disney Destiny will be surrounded by incredible design and architecture from the lore, myths, and films,” Bascom said.
Guests stepping aboard the Disney Destiny are immediately welcomed into the Wakandan Grand Hall — a striking space that sets the stage for total immersion.
“Imagine a villain like Loki walks into the Grand Hall,” Beth Burkhardt, Manager of Interior Design at Walt Disney Imagineering, suggested. “We can completely change the look and feel of the space with lighting and color so the whole space is washed in his iconic green palette… As a hero like T’Challa or Spider-Man enters the space, we can have the lighting and color feel more optimistic and strong.”
From there, guests can explore a variety of themed environments, including the Sanctum inspired by Doctor Strange, the Saga lounge echoing Black Panther’s throne room, Marvel Super Hero Academy, and the Worlds of Marvel restaurant.
Crosby added, “I’m always blown away by the innovation and creativity [Imagineers] bring to the table… I often present them with seemingly impossible characters, stories and magic to bring to life, and they never disappoint!”
A Unique Canvas for All Ages
Marvel’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to connect across generations.
“Parents and even grandparents grew up with these characters… and then a new generation was introduced to them through the lens of the Marvel Cinematic Universe,” Crosby said. “We always try to stay true to [Walt Disney’s] goal by finding experiences that will entertain all audiences regardless of age and depth of knowledge of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.”
Entertainment experiences were designed for all ages in mind: interactive youth programs, immersive theatre shows, surprising spectacles, sophisticated intimate villain engagements, and adults-only comedy shows. This way, kids can go off on their own adventures, parents and adult friends can share a laugh, and the whole family can come together and create memories on board they’ll cherish for years to come.
Marcus Gibson, Disney Signature Experiences Producer of Shipwide Entertainment, explained that bringing these experiences to life connects with him personally, much like many others who worked on turning the dream of the ship into reality.
“Marvel stories have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember,” Gibson shared. “Our goal was to craft experiences that are exciting, immersive, and meaningful for guests of all ages — whether they’re longtime fans or encountering these heroes for the first time.”
A Marvel Experience Only Disney Could Create
The Disney Destiny offers 4- and 5-night sailings, and as Bascom explained, “we have an incredible opportunity to create durational stories. On the Disney Destiny, we’ve created some multi-day narrative threads for guests to follow along or catch up on.”
Jay Abruzzese, Production Designer Principal, Walt Disney Imagineering, added, “Whether it’s one evening rounding the corner after dinner and coming face to face with Loki, or another day taking a family photo with the powerful sculpture of T’Challa in our Grand Hall, each one of our guests will experience their own stories in their own unique way.”
These may be unique and innovative storytelling experiences, but for guests onboard, they’re also memories that last a lifetime.
The Disney Destiny is more than a cruise ship — it’s a storytelling platform that brings Marvel’s rich universe to life in ways that are immersive, emotional, and unforgettable. Through the combined efforts of Disney Cruise Line, Walt Disney Imagineering, and Marvel, guests will not only witness the stories of heroes and villains — they’ll live them.