Cruise Holidays

Disney has a private island in the Bahamas you can book as part of cruise holidays but when I arrived I was completely caught off guard by the whole experience

There are plenty of incredible destinations around the world, but there are a handful that truly are those ‘once in a lifetime’ destinations; and the Bahamas are definitely in that category with those ridiculously beautiful beaches.

So as a Disney fan, the chance to not only tick the Bahamas off the list AND explore Disney’s private island – well, that was literally the stuff of my dreams. (Ask my friends and family how often I’ve mentioned that I’ve been to the Bahamas recently and they will testify that I have been insufferable).

As part of a sailing onboard Disney Cruise Line’s new heroes and villains themed ship, our itinerary included a stop at Disney’s Castaway Cay. From the moment I arrived, I realised I had underestimated what I’d signed up for.

Quite frankly, I’d expected a large stretch of a beautiful beach, a few loungers and then some fun activities/sprinkles of Disney magic for families. I didn’t anticipate the sheer amount of activities on offer, or just how much there would be to explore.

For a start, it’s genuinely an entire island to explore. There are multiple beaches (family-friendly and adults-only), beautiful cabanas, cycling trails, hiking trails, a waterpark complete with a slide that takes you right into the ocean, a shop and plenty of places to stop for a snack and drinks.

It takes about 15-20 minutes to walk to the main areas once you disembark the ship, although you can get a tram that stops off at various points on the island if you’d rather skip the stroll.

Of course there are plenty of Disney touches throughout the island; Daisy Duck and Chip and Dale were all on hand to greet passengers as we disembarked, and I spotted Pluto getting up to some mischief and commandeering a golf cart. There are heaps of photo opps too, with cute signs, fun backdrops and plenty of space so nobody’s having to sharpen their elbows!

Then of course there are those glorious beaches that I thought I’d only ever see on social media. Yes, those sands are as soft as they look, and those crystal-clear waters are not the stuff of Photoshop.

There is a dedicated reef where you can go snorkelling (and there are some Disney statues hidden underwater to seek out), but I didn’t even have to get into the water to spot wildlife, as a school of fish passed by while I wandered along the lagoon’s edge, only for a stingray to appear a few minutes later.

There are heaps of sunloungers alongside the beach but if you want to do something a bit special, you can hire a cabana for the day which includes a covered seated area, mini fridge with waters and soft drinks, and a button you can push to call servers to take your food and drinks orders.

The only downside? We were only there for a day trip. I felt like I could easily have stayed ashore but sadly, the crew are actually very good at their jobs and ensuring that people actually get back on board. (It turns out that you can actually book some Disney cruises that stop off at Castaway Cay twice in one itinerary, and I can see why that would be tempting).

Still, when you’re heading back to a Disney cruise ship where you know there’ll be more character interactions, shows and themed dining on offer, that does ease the blow a little.

Book the holiday

Virgin Atlantic Holidays offers four nights on the Disney Destiny from £5,384 for a family of four. Includes direct Virgin Atlantic Economy Classic flights from London Heathrow to Miami, room-only stay at Sonesta Fort Lauderdale in a Deluxe 2 Double Ocean View Room for one night before boarding, followed by a Disney Destiny sailing visiting Nassau and Castaway Cay.

Price is based on a family of four (two adults and two children aged 3–11) travelling and sharing an Inside Stateroom and includes all applicable taxes and fuel surcharges. Price is based on a departure on 30th September 2026.

Virgin Atlantic Holidays is a member of ABTA and is ATOL protected. To book, visit Virgin Atlantic Holidays or call 0344 557 3859. Prices subject to change and availability. Virgin Atlantic Holidays terms and conditions apply.

The Disney Destiny has a heroes and villains theme with plenty of fun character interactions, a new Hercules show, and themed bars including one inspired by Cruella DeVil

I’d barely been onboard the Disney Destiny for a few hours but I’d already seen Marvel villain Loki attempt to take command of the ship, eaten my weight in ice cream while looking out at sea, and searched out my go-to cocktail spot in the ship’s Cruella DeVil themed bar.

I was lucky enough to be one of the first people onboard Disney Cruise Line’s seventh ship ahead of its sailings from Florida this month, and very quickly, it was obvious that it offers up a huge amount of fun for guests.

One of the biggest underrated perks of a Disney cruise is the character meet and greets. There are so many slots available throughout the day, and you can check the Disney Navigator App to see when and where your favourite characters will appear. Just on a two-day sailing I managed to meet Cruella DeVil, Maleficent, Belle, Mickey, Captain Hook and Smee, as well as getting a cheeky dance in with Mickey, Donald and Goofy at one of the onboard dance parties for families.

I later heard from other passengers that there’s even a secret parlour on board where you can meet the Princess and the Frog’s Dr. Facilier; but be warned, only a handful of guests can get in, and they’ve all been warned to stay tight-lipped about what awaits!

It’s the sort of character time that any Disney fan dreams of – but in the parks sometimes it can be tricky to fit them in amongst trying to get on all of the rides too, so here it’s a much more relaxed way to have those magical moments.

There’s so much more to the ship than just the characters though. The top deck boasts multiple pools including one right by a huge screen where you can watch Disney films, while the adults-only areas include plenty of loungers and breathtaking ocean views for a bit of peace and quiet. (If you’re after the latter, then don’t miss out on a trip to the spa!).

Throughout the day there are plenty of fun events including Disney and Marvel themed quizzes, live music, and fun activities including a ‘Diaper Dash’ where parents can race their babies which is inevitably adorable and chaotic.

I managed to also brave a ride on the AquaMouse water slide where you’re in a dinghy being propelled around the tubes above the ship. A word of warning; you get absolutely drenched, but then again who wants to go on a water slide and stay dry?

Come evening time, you can sip on cocktails at DeVil’s or brave mortals can head to the Haunted Parlour where paintings come alive, ghostly apparitions make themselves known, and the cocktails are so pretty you’ll want to take a million photos before you drink them. At DeVils, a cosy lounge inspired by Cruella with live piano music, you’ll find a creative drinks menu including the Fearless Sir Galahad, a smokey mocktail resembling an Old Fashioned, and the Perfectly Wretched which served alongside ‘edible’ make-up treats.

For us Brits, the Cask and Cannon pirates-themed pub is a must visit – and yes, you can get a decent pint!

For those who love the theatre, the brand new Hercules show that’s exclusive to the Destiny is a must-watch. The cast were brilliant, the atmosphere was so fun and some of those special effects were genuinely jaw-dropping. The theatre feels very ornate so you forget you’re on a cruise ship and not in the West End.

There’s also an impressive production of Frozen which again does the film justice with a talented cast, special effects and plenty of fun surprises for the audience (I won’t spoil it!).

I was impressed by how much is actually going on in the evenings, from the pirates’ night with a whole show and live music, to those all-important fireworks at sea! (Disney Cruise Line is currently the only cruise line to offer this). Even when we set off, there was a fun Sail Away party with Mickey and friends appearing for a cute little dance show.

All of that fun and activity can work up an appetite, but don’t worry; you can absolutely eat your way through this holiday. Marceline Market is the main buffet (head here for Mickey waffles at breakfast), while Mickey’s Festival of Foods has stalls serving up everything from tacos to barbecues.

For evening meals, what’s great about Disney cruises is that you’re on ‘rotational dining’, so you’ll get a spot at the main restaurants without needing to fight for a booking. Disney Destiny is the first ship to offer the Pride Lands: Feast of The Lion King restaurant, where you get to listen to live performances of the film’s iconic songs while tucking into your food, while World of Marvel offers up some fun interactions including a chance to show off your Marvel knowledge with a quiz.

If you fancy an adults-only meal (because these cruises don’t just cater to families), then the all-inclusive brunch at Palo Steakhouse is a must. Honestly, I thought they were kidding when they told me I could order a bit of everything, so I did – I practically had to roll out of that restaurant but it was so worth it. Don’t expect small portions! It’s worth noting that while most food is included in your Disney cruise price, Palo Steakhouse comes at an additional cost.

As for those with a sweet tooth, there is so much ice cream available around the ship that I honestly believe that by the time I left I was about 80% sugar. (Edna A La Mode Sweets is a must-visit to build up your own epic treats).

When that sugar crash inevitably hits, the Destiny’s staterooms have everything you could need to unwind. Big bed? Check. Heroes and villains theming? Check. Bathrooms, amenities, and plenty of storage? Check, check, check. My stateroom had a balcony and I was impressed by how large it actually was – the perfect spot to take in those ocean views especially when we sailed towards Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay!

Book the holiday

Virgin Atlantic Holidays offers four nights on the Disney Destiny from £5,384 for a family of four. Includes direct Virgin Atlantic Economy Classic flights from London Heathrow to Miami, room-only stay at Sonesta Fort Lauderdale in a Deluxe 2 Double Ocean View Room for one night before boarding, followed by a Disney Destiny sailing visiting Nassau and Castaway Cay.

Price is based on a family of four (two adults and two children aged 3–11) travelling and sharing an Inside Stateroom and includes all applicable taxes and fuel surcharges. Price is based on a departure on 30th September 2026.

Virgin Atlantic Holidays is a member of ABTA and is ATOL protected. To book, visit Virgin Atlantic Holidays or call 0344 557 3859. Prices subject to change and availability. Virgin Atlantic Holidays terms and conditions apply.