Disney Destiny Cruise Ship Sets Sail from Shipyard for Exciting Sea Trials

The Disney Cruise Line has marked a significant milestone as its latest ship, the Disney Destiny, departed from the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, on September 19, 2025. This marked the beginning of a 20-mile river journey on the Ems River toward Eemshaven, Netherlands, where the ship is set for important sea trials ahead of its inaugural launch from Port Everglades later this year.

The Disney Destiny is a sister ship to the popular Disney Wish and Disney Treasure. With dimensions measuring 1,119 feet in length and 128 feet in width, this impressive vessel was towed in reverse by tugboats, a necessary measure for navigating the tight confines of the inland shipyard, where vessels often have a slow progress rate of just 3-5 mph.

This new addition to the fleet boasts a weight of 144,000 gross tons and a capacity of 1,246 staterooms. While it is the largest vessel in Disney’s fleet, it is not the heaviest to be constructed at Meyer Werft, where notably, the Disney Dream and Fantasy each weighed in at 130,000 gross tons.

The Destiny is the third of five Wish-class ships being built, with the next planned for delivery to Japanese markets by 2029. In total, Disney Cruise Line aims to have 13 ships operational by 2031, which includes three new classes.

The ship’s strip-out began in November 2023, and after more than 20 months of construction, it will not officially join the Disney Cruise Line until it passes a series of sea trials verifying its seaworthiness. The anticipated transatlantic journey to Florida is set for late October or early November, culminating in its inaugural voyage on November 20 from Disney’s newly established second Florida home in Fort Lauderdale.

This marks a historic moment for Disney as it represents the first time a new ship will premiere from a location other than Port Canaveral. Disney Cruise Line has taken over Terminal 4 at Port Everglades, where the Destiny will offer four and five-night cruises to the Bahamas and western Caribbean.

Hi-tech enhancements await aboard the Disney Destiny, including Marvel-themed attractions and dining venues, such as a statue of T’Challa in the Grand Hall and a restaurant featuring a “Doctor Strange” motif. It will also showcase entertainment inspired by “Hercules” and a dining experience featuring Cruella de Vil from “101 Dalmatians.”

In summary, the Disney Destiny’s initial journey is a promising step toward expanding Disney Cruise Line’s impressive catalog of oceanic experiences.

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