Key Aspects:
- The highly anticipated Disney Destiny officially floated out at Germany’s Meyer Werft Shipyard on August 9, 2025.
- The important construction milestone was celebrated with fireworks, an appearance by “Hero” Minnie Mouse, and the debut of the ship’s new theme song.
- In the coming months, the Wish-class vessel will see her interior completed, will undergo her sea trials, and will make her way to Port Everglades, Florida, for her maiden voyage in November.
It’s been an exciting day at the Meyer Werft Shipyard in Germany, where crowds gathered to witness the moment where Disney Destiny floated out of Hall 6 for the very first time.
This important construction milestone, which took place on August 9, 2025, marks the moment where the newly constructed cruise ship transitions from dry dock to a wet dock for the very first time.
The float out ceremony is often celebrated as the first time a new-build touches the water, but technically the Wish-class ship was “floated up” in March to allow construction crews to start testing the engines and other essential onboard systems.
However, it is the first time she has floated on her own in open water, which is a huge accomplishment in its own right.
Naturally, Disney Cruise Line couldn’t let this momentous occasion go by without a big celebration.
As the 144,000-gross ton ship floated into the sun, colorful fireworks were fired into the sky – which is fitting considering Disney is currently the only cruise line to offer fireworks at sea.
Just like its older sister Disney Treasure, the 4,000-passenger vessel is also getting its very own signature theme song, which was played for the first time during the float out celebration.
“Here’s the Disney Destiny’s float out celebration moment at MEYER WERFT, complete with a first listen to the ship’s new anthem,” Scott Gustin, who attended the event, posted on X.
While the name of the catchy tune has not been announced, we can confirm that repeated upbeat lyrics like “This is your Destiny! Seize the moment, it’s your time” certainly fit the Disney brand and the “Heroes and Villains” theming of this ship.
Onlookers also got to hear the ship’s horn play out “When You Wish Upon a Star” (from Pinocchio) for the first time, which is the nostalgic horn song that serves as the cruise line’s famous calling card.
The First Real Look at Disney Destiny
The float out ceremony is always exciting because it marks the completion of the exterior of the cruise ship.
While Disney has released sneak peaks of what to expect along the way, this is the first time that cruise fans have really been able to see everything finished and put together on the LNG-fueled masterpiece.
The ship inched out of the construction hall with the stern (back) revealed first, with the mounted Spiderman and his famous Spider-Bots immediately drawing attention.
Disney Destiny is the first cruise ship to ever feature a Marvel character in the bow or stern art, meaning the reveal is really historic.
Minnie Mouse was also on site to greet DCL’s new addition, debuting a special hero outfit that matches the heroic artwork of Minnie on the bow (or the front) of the ship.
As a Disney fan myself (and a former cast member), seeing the freshly finished navy hull, classic red funnels, and gold accents is something that will never get old.
Read Also: How Much Is a Disney Cruise in 2025? I Did All the Checking!
Disney Destiny is now well on her way to completion, with another key milestone met for the first time during her float out. Indeed, the vessel also docked for the first time.
“The Disney Destiny has been successfully docked.Today the Disney Destiny has left our building dock and is now on the equipment pile,” reads a translated social media post from the Meyer Werft Shipyard.
The post continues: “A big thank you to the entire team for their precise and dedicated work!”
Workers will now put the finishing touches on the interior of the ship, before sending her off on her sea trials in the coming months.
She’ll then make her way to Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida, in time for her maiden voyage, which embarks on November 20, 2025, and sails to both of Disney’s private islands in the Bahamas.
Disney Adventure, the largest cruise ship to ever join Disney’s fleet, also floated out in the very same shipyard on April 19, 2025. She will debut in Asia in December.
