Disney Destiny - Day 1: All Aboard!

It's been almost two years since we last went on a Disney Cruise - a lifetime it seems! 😆 So for ski week this year, we are shunning the slopes (turns out it was a prescient plan -- conditions have not been the most favorable this winter) and headed to Fort Lauderdale and a sailing on Disney's newest ship -- the Disney Destiny!

For perhaps the first time ever, we actually arrived at the port right when our Port Arrival time was scheduled for -- L commented on this as well, and I responded that perhaps it's because this was the first time we uber'd to the port instead of driving ourselves in a rental. Perhaps a learning we will carry across to future cruises as well! 

Port Everglades felt a bit less crowded than the previous sailings we've done from Port Canaveral and San Diego, no lines to get anywhere...though maybe this is again because of our earlier arrival. 

As Castaway Gold members, we were part of boarding group 6 and made it to the ship practically as they were opening up the buffet. No lines and plenty of seats/food. 

Favorites: Mama: sauteed pepper shrimp. L: teriyaki salmon, Baba: potstickers, R: Mac n' cheese.

This is Marceline's - the Destiny equivalent of Cabanas on the older ships. It seemed fairly similar in offering though.

This is Edna's ice cream shop (I think it's called Edna la mode?) - equivalent of Peneleope's, L is not pleased that it's an extra charge. 

Good thing the soft serve is still free-flowing!

We wanted to go immediately on the Aquamouse but it's closed! Not open until 4:30. So much for all of us being in our swim gear! I guess we will use this time to check out the Dr. Facilier Parlor encounter instead.

No pictures were allowed inside but suffice it to say it's a small group card trick magic show experience. You only go in with 10-15 people at a time so both Baba and I managed to get picked as the volunteers (we were there with another family of 5 and most of the room was children). It was decently impressive. Worth waiting for...though I'd suggest lining up early enough so that you aren't waiting for more than 20-30 minutes. 

Luckily after that it was time for the sail away celebration (Spiderman made an appearance) and then the Aqua Mouse finally opened! Warning: they ensure you get VERY wet. 

We managed to take some showers, get changed, and by then it was time for dinner. Our first dining room rotation for this cruise was the 1923 Steakhouse. 

Baba and L both got the signature 1923 filet mignon. Actually quite tender. Would recommend. 

R got the salmon special of the evening. Also well done, tender and orange sauce that was quite nice. 

I opted for the lobster salad to keep things on the lighter side -- nothing to write home about, except that it was a decent amount of lobster -- I hope that isn't our only lobster of the trip! We didn't take a photo but the burrata appetizer was actually my favorite thing of the evening probably. The sesame crostini with fig and prosciutto and burrata all together was a really satisfying combination.

R finished with her first ice cream sundae of the trip:

L went for the churros instead.

After dinner we decided to hit up Disney's version of the "get free charms at sea" activity -- for the first night, you get a bracelet from which to hang all of the other charms you'd pick up every day of the cruise. I think the effy birthstone necklaces might be more wearable, but the cruise bracelet is a nice souvenir. 

After the charm excursion we headed to the first theatre show: Disney Seas, the Adventure. It was super short (only 30 min) so I don't think it really compared to the other shows we've caught over the years (Golden Mickey's, Believe, etc). But Baba was happy bc he didn't want to go to a long show anyhow. Since today was actually Valentines Day, we came back to a lovely swan couple.

Quick note on staterooms: they seemed smaller than the ones on Dream/Fantasy and Wonder/Magic. First off there was no split bathroom (made morning and evening routines harder for a family of 4. The amount of closet space was also decidedly lower -- maybe this is also because they are mostly sailing 3 and 4 night cruises? Otherwise, the Staterooms seemed similar to ones we've had in the past. 

It was 10pm but only 7pm for us Pacific Time folks so L and R headed off to an animation session while Baba and I checked out the adult only lounges. Very impressed with the theming for the adult lounges on the Destiny. It seems with each class up, they are making more adult only experiences. Here is the de Vil Lounge:

We managed to catch one of the extended visit/musical experiences with Cruella and the two song/story cast members who emcee a bunch of the smaller shows on the ship -- it was surprisingly very entertaining (I was not expecting much so it was a big hit in my book). 

There is a funny video of me helping write one of the lyrics...and holding up the sign with the lyric for everyone to sing...but in the excitement holding up my sign upside down...I would blame the alcohol except that I didn't even have any! 

Oh -- tip, don't get the fur drink. Baba thought it tasted like Windex. They definitely had some fancy cocktails though. Our table mates ordered this one...and apparently there are only 4 glasses total so if you order one and four other people also did, you have to wait until one of them finishes before you get the drink!

Closing out the evening is a shot of the main lobby lit up in Green from when Loki took over. I didn't manage to catch it, but it is a nice show of a mostly empty main stage otherwise. 

Tomorrow -- first sea day!