We Visited Disney Destiny — Here’s How Disney Imagineering Designed the Ship

Disney Cruise Line (DCL) has the notable distinction of having its ships designed by Walt Disney Imagineering, the same innovative team that creates immersive theme park attractions and experiences — and that puts Disney Cruise Line in a class of its own.

As I walked across Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany towards Hall 6 — the largest covered dry dock in the world — I caught my first glimpse of the elegant bow of the Disney Destiny, the third ship in DCL’s Wish class, which celebrated her “float out” on August 9 ahead of her November 20 maiden voyage from Fort Lauderdale, an important milestone when a ship floats out of dry dock for the very first time.

“There’s a very simple notion that applies to all Disney entities, and that’s making a dream and a story a reality,” said Claire Weiss, senior creative director at Walt Disney Imagineering. “And while a cruise ship is a different platform, we still want to bring stories to life in the same way we do at our parks.”

Thanks to Imagineering, DCL ships incorporate Disney storytelling into every experience, beginning with exteriors that feature the extremely dark signature “Mickey Blue” (really, it’s not black) accented with “Mickey Red” and “Mickey Yellow;” lifeboats are even modeled after the mouse's yellow footwear. In addition, unique bow filigree designs incorporate hidden Mickeys, and larger-than-life stern characters represent each ship’s theme. For Destiny’s theme of Heroes and Villains, it’s Spider-Man.

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Clients will particularly appreciate the role Imagineering plays in onboard experiences where every space — from staterooms, suites, restaurants and lounges to pool decks, theaters, stairways and corridors — has a Disney story to tell.

This attention to detail is why Imagineers oversee the design, sourcing and installation rather than rely on the shipyard — as is the case for other cruise lines, says Phillip Gennotte, DCL portfolio senior director for Walt Disney Imagineering.

It’s Imagineering’s unique brand of storytelling that turns a restaurant into an immersive theatrical experience inspired by “Frozen,” on the Disney Wish, “Coco” on the Disney Treasure and “The Lion King” on the Disney Destiny; it’s also what transforms a bar into the Haunted Mansion or the mystical Sanctum from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

“Our first-ever Marvel lounge on a Disney ship … is inspired by the New York Sanctum building from the Doctor Strange films,” said Beth Burkhardt, an Imagineering creative director, during a hard hat tour of the still-under-construction ship. “The window behind the bar was used in the films to defend our world from outside threats, so we wanted to make sure we had that protecting our Sanctum on the Destiny.”

And what would be a traditional piano bar on another ship becomes De Vil’s, a tribute to one of Disney’s most delicious villains.

Burkhardt explained that the lounge’s red, black and white color palette honors the villainous fashionista from “101 Dalmatians,” while the hand-drawn animation style of the original movie inspired the carpet design. Imagineers also took inspiration from Cruella’s distinctive car, with automotive details behind the stage and bar. And, Burkhardt notes, Cruella’s silhouette “may” occassionally appear behind the Dalmatian-spotted grand piano.

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Imagineers also know that Disney fans moonlight as detectives, so the immersive spaces they design must not only bring Disney stories to life, but they’re also expected to incorporate hidden elements from Disney history and lore. Several of Destiny’s “Easter eggs” can be found at Cask and Cannon, a pub inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean attractions around the world.

“Artwork and props pay homage to the [attraction’s] infamous vignettes, but the ceiling is a true tribute,” said Sarah Pepper, an Imagineering senior creative producer. “What you’ll see [on the ceiling] are Marc Davis sketches. He helped create the original attraction in California and this is the first time we’ve brought something like this to life at this scale.”

Soon after the November 2025 debut of Disney Destiny, Disney Adventure will embark from Singapore on December 15, expanding Disney Cruise Line’s fleet to eight. By 2031, that number will increase to 13, including a fourth still-unnamed Wish-class ship debuting in 2027, followed by a new class of four smaller vessels.

“[Disney ships] are floating ambassadors for the Disney brand,” said Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, during the company’s August 6 earnings call. “We effectively build our [Disney stories] into the entire experience.”