Disney’s New Cruise Ship Is Basically a Floating Wine and Cocktail Theme Park
I am a Disney adult. It’s taken years of hard conversations with myself and my family to finally embrace that label, but when you have a Walt Disney World annual pass and travel to Orlando at least twice a month (and subsequently earn a side living making Disney-related videos), it becomes harder to plausibly deny.
My lifelong affinity for theme park culture has since extended to the high seas, as I just took my seventh Disney cruise—this time on the brand new Disney Destiny, which set sail on November 20th. As a 35-year-old with no foreseeable children in sight, I find myself fielding more questions about Disney cruises than any of my other peculiar travels. “Isn’t it strange being stuck for days on a ship that’s made for kids?,” someone will ask.
That’s where they are wrong: I’ve sailed on every major cruise line, and Disney actually caters to adults more than almost any of the others. In fact, this ship—like the others in Disney’s newer Triton class, which also includes the Disney Wish and the Disney Treasure—has five adults-only cocktail lounges, each with its own immersive theme, plus two adults-only restaurants and an adults-only pool area in the back of the ship with a bar and coffee shop. It’s very possible to spend your entire cruise vacation without encountering a single child for longer than a fleeting moment.
While Disney is one of the only cruise lines that does not offer a drinks package (which allow guests to pre-purchase nearly unlimited alcoholic beverages), more reasonable drinkers will find the quality for price point—particularly with regard to wine—to be favorable, with most wines by the glass ranging from $9 to $13.
So, without further ado, here are the highlights from my latest sailing, complete with my must-try drinks … as well as some to avoid.
Dalmatian Cocktails and Cruella’s ‘Sommelier Bin’
Each Disney ship has a designated piano bar with a different theme, and this is easily the most marvelous of them all. The Dalmation-spotted piano is the centerpiece of the room, and Cruella De Vil herself makes occasional appearances as part of a dramatic performance.
The cocktail list is as gaudy as Cruella, with two must-trys on the menu: I Live for Furs was my favorite, which is a lively mix of gin, lemon, raspberry, and vanilla with a perhaps superfluous but whimsical Dalmatian-spotted sugary garnish on top. If that’s not extra enough for you, go for the Perfectly Wretched, which costs $30 but comes with a perfume bottle full of Taittinger Champagne along with a glittery make-up kit and edible lipstick.
However, the hidden gem here is the Sommelier Bin, which is somewhat hard to spot at the bottom of the menu. For $14, the bartender will surprise you with a higher-priced glass of wine from an already-opened bottle. I got a glass of Billecart-Salmon Champagne, which normally goes for $29! But be warned you are at the mercy of whatever the bartender is willing to give you.
South African Wine Tour with Lion King Jams
This dinner theater show, “Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King,” is exclusive to this ship and features booming live performances of the biggest hits from the 1994 movie. While Disney restaurants have a reputation for toning down the spices for a mass audience, there are some bolder flavors on this menu. Don’t miss the tender tomato-braised lamb shank spiced with Ras el Hanout and finished with juicy pops of pomegranate.
While you’re there, order the South African Wine Tour, which gives you three nice pours for $18—one Sauvignon Blanc, one Pinot Noir, and one Chocolate Block red blend. (The blend was my favorite of the three; it is robust with strong berry notes and just enough acidity to keep you coming back for more … so much so that I ordered a full pour after the meal.)
Immaculate Vibes (and Old Fashioneds) at the Haunted Mansion Parlor
While this bar is not exclusive to this ship (it also exists on the Disney Treasure), I firmly believe it should be a mainstay on every ship from here to eternity. It is easily Disney’s greatest achievement in immersive theming outside of an actual attraction, and it effortlessly ties in elements from the iconic Haunted Mansion ride, with Madame Leota casting spells from behind the bar (pro tip: ask the bartender if you can be the one to awaken with spirits with a tambourine.)
There’s just one flaw, though: The cocktails are … well, slightly cursed. That is, unless you like ultra-sweet, pre-batched cocktails that are topped with whipped cream or covered in smoke that lends no additional flavor. If you are ordering off the cocktail menu, though, my go-to is The Siren, which is a delightful mix of sake, gin, pineapple, and citrus juices, plus a touch of Falernum for some earthy spice.
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Otherwise, I’d just order off the menu—the bartenders are fantastic and Lewis makes an incredible Old Fashioned.
Ho, Ho, Ho and Many Bottles of Rum
Here we have another lounge that’s themed around a classic Disney ride, and this time it’s Pirates of the Caribbean. Sadly, the immersion element at Cask and Cannon is lacking in this space, as the vast majority of wall real estate is taken up by at least a dozen televisions playing sports. Personally, I think there should be a separate sports bar on board for those who want to partake in that … Disney, you own ESPN! Make an ESPN Zone or something! Anyway, I digress.
However, they did do a bang-up job with the menu, which features an extensive list of rums from Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and all over the Carribean, plus rum cocktails that adequately strike the balance of being cool-looking and delicious-tasting, a rare feat. I recommend the Dead Man’s Chest—a fruity but not too sweet mix of rum, pineapple, lime, and coconut served in a glowing, smoke-filled pirate’s chest with chocolate coins at the bottom.
Aperitivo and Views with Belle and Co.
This elegant Beauty and the Beast-themed lounge has floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean, and it’s the most peaceful spot to have a cocktail on board. This is the place I’d come for a classic martini or a nice glass of wine during sunset, but it’s also the gateway to the ship’s two adults-only restaurants: Palo, an Italian-style steakhouse that offers the only brunch on board (and at $55 for unlimited food, plus a glass of Prosecco, it’s totally worth it), and the highly upscale French-inspired Enchanté.
Take a ‘Champagne Journey’ … for a Price
Helmed by Chef Arnaud Lallement, who also runs a three Michelin-star restaurant in France, Enchanté is easily the most high-end dining experience on board the Disney Destiny—and the prices reflect that. The nine-course tasting menu costs $215 per person, plus an additional $180 for the “Champagne Journey,” which pairs five different glasses of bubbly with your meal.
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While this is definitely not for the picky-eating cruiser—at least half of the dishes are covered in some type of foam—Enchanté will make you completely forget you’re on a Disney cruise … that is, until you notice the replica of Beauty and the Beast’s Lumiere peeking over at you from the light fixture on the wall.
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