Escapism on the high seas for both heroes and villains

Cruise veteran Marc Shoffman discovered myriad marvels aboard 'Destiny', the latest addition to the Disney Wish fleet

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A Norse god has hijacked my cruise ship, but no one is panicking. Instead, guests are eagerly holding up their smartphones in awe as Marvel’s mythological character Loki roams the Grand Hall to inspect his prisoners.

As welcomes go, it is a bit more hostile than the clapping crew you usually get but I love it. This is the seventh ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet and third in the Wish series. Wish, the original, had a theme of enchantment, Treasure is dedicated to adventure and Destiny – at 144,000 gross tonnes and with a capacity of around 3,466 passengers – is all about heroes and villains.

A bronze statue of Marvel’s Black Panther stands proudly as I embark on the ship for one of its first Caribbean sailings from Miami. Looking up, I spot a chandelier made from “vibranium”, the metal unique to the Panther’s homeland, Wakanda, lighting the statue and motifs of shields around the venue.

It all feels more immersive than Wish and Treasure, with the lighting changing according to which characters are in the area at any time.

Loki’s entrance turns the warm golden ambience of the chandelier green and the music makes it feel like the ship is trembling. It is as if the whole room breathes out as the character leaves – after posing for several selfies – and the lighting returns to normal.

This ship feels like the sweet spot for that awkward point where boys and girls may have grown out of princesses and Pixar – it even has a giant Spider-Man clinging to the stern.

That said, younger fans aren’t left out. There are chances to dance with Minnie, Mickey and Donald at the poolside sailaway and pirate parties. Some of the gems of