Disney Cruise Line hit another milestone on Saturday ahead of the Disney Destiny debut, Florida’s latest ship.
The third Wish-Class ship, which will begin its voyage this fall from Port Everglades, floated at the Meyerwelft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, from under a massive building that has been in shape since November 2023.
According to a press release from Cruise Line, “Hero Minnie was first acquired from the garden, first to first, first to first, first to first, first to first, first to first, first to first, according to a press release from the Cruise Line.”
The 144,000 Groston containers had only 3 feet of clearance on either side of the ship and were led by the stern of a tug boat through the narrow entrance and exit of the building.
The ship has multiple Marvel-inspired spaces, including a statue of T’Challa, the Black Panther, King of Wakanda, in Grand Hall. An entertainment parlor with the theme of “Doctor Strange.” And the latest iteration in the world of Marvel Restaurants.
The ship will also have a new venue themed from “101 Dalmatian” on Cruella de Ville and a new stage show based on “Hercules.”
It is a sister ship to the 2022 Disney Wish and the 2024 Disney Treasure, both based in Port Canaveral. However, Destiny is scheduled to host the Maiden’s voyage south from Fort Lauderdale Port on November 20th. It then follows the first season of a four- and five-night voyage to the Bahamas and the Western Caribbean.
This is the first time Disney has made one of its ships debut anywhere other than Port Canaveral. DCL took over Port Everglades Terminal 4 in 2023 as its permanent year-round Florida home.
Once delivered, it becomes the seventh ship in the DCL fleet. All Wish Class ships are slightly larger than the old Disney dreams and fantasies, but still hold 4,000 passengers.
The next milestone on the ship is a 20-mile haul along the EMS River along the Netherlands Eemshaven, and will then head out to sea trials in the North Sea before being handed over to the cruise line this fall.
The ship was first cut in November 2023 and keels were laid in March 2024.
The DCL Fleet also expects to deliver Singapore-bound Disney Adventures by the end of the year, leading the DCL Fleet to eight ships.
Disney’s first two ships, Disney Magic and Wonder, debuted in 1998 and 1999, followed by sister ships of Disney Dream and Fantasy in 2011 and 2012.
Last week, I only cut my fourth ship and ordered more Wish class ships. Also, with plans for a new class of ships over the next few years, the fleet will grow to 13 ships by 2031.
Original issue: August 9, 2025 11:00am edt