Disney Fantasy Review, Adults Only - Sept 2017

My latest review is here on Cruise Critic on the Disney Fantasy from an Adults Only perspective. We have no children but we love Disney. Overall it was a great trip, but we felt there was a bit lacking from the adult perspective. I hope you find this helpful!

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=547367&et_cid=2764671&et_rid=85437048&et_referrer=Boards_Million_Member_Newsub

Thanks! Very useful

Thanks! Very useful

My pleasure, enjoy your next cruise!

Great review. I agree with much of what you've said.

When we sail DCL (as a group of 3 adults), I try to ensure that we focus on the "Disney" stuff - we usually try to catch at least 1-2 main shows, we utilize the movie theatre and the in room movies, we look for characters (not necessarily wait in line for them but scope them out), we do the trivia and the crafts and enjoy the non-pool water features that aren't present on other lines.

We don't even attempt "night life" on DCL any more - it's usually quite dead so we have quieter nights and save our late nights for other cruise lines.

My latest review is here on Cruise Critic on the Disney Fantasy from an Adults Only perspective. We have no children but we love Disney. Overall it was a great trip, but we felt there was a bit lacking from the adult perspective. I hope you find this helpful!

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=547367&et_cid=2764671&et_rid=85437048&et_referrer=Boards_Million_Member_Newsub

Absolutely fantastic review! It's funny you mentioned you couldn't hear the fireworks show - I didn't even know there was a show to go along with it! Clearly, I couldn't hear it either. I could hear piped in music though so I don't know why they wouldn't pipe in the show itself.

Excellent analysis of the lack of flexibility and adult options at night. I couldn't agree more.

Great review. I agree with much of what you've said.

We don't even attempt "night life" on DCL any more - it's usually quite dead so we have quieter nights and save our late nights for other cruise lines.

This is the one area we missed, at least having the opportunity to walk in on a show or on Royal Caribbean their live band would pop up somewhere in the ship if there wasn't a main show in the theater. Even a true piano bar would have been nice. The Piazza is pretty but it's pretty much a hallway to get to the rest of Europa so it's not conducive to listening to music.

I did love the Skylight Lounge though, that was beautiful.

Absolutely fantastic review! It's funny you mentioned you couldn't hear the fireworks show - I didn't even know there was a show to go along with it!

that's too funny! We could see Jack Sparrow drop from the front stack and then we could see about 1/3 of the top of the main screen so that's how I knew it was a Benny Hill / Keystone Cops type of "run around the deck" type of show. The fireworks were pretty darn cool though!

Great review. I agree with much of what you've said.

By the way, I see in your signature you're sailing Freedom of the Seas. We sailed her November '14 for Thanksgiving. Had a wonderful type despite engine trouble and 1000 kids sailing for the holiday. :) The freestyle coke machines were awesome and we still have the cups.

I posted a review of her after our trip, link is in my signature. Have an awesome time!

Just read your review, thanks for being so detailed. As two adults we'd like to try Disney, and your comments are extremely helpful to our planning.

Please explain this time travel to me....:)

We did our first Disney cruise in May but we had our extended family with us. Seeing the Disney fantasy through their eyes was great but I would not do it again as an adult couple.

We had 4000 people on board and the crowds irritated us. We hated the pool deck, the noise from the movie screen was deafening. We totally agree the pools were tiny, kids were shoulder to shoulder. There were few chairs in the shade.

The Lounge chairs at the adult pool were uncomfortable.

We found refuge on the promenade deck and spent most of our time there. It was quiet and the chairs were so comfortable, full cushioned loungers.

We enjoyed the shows and the wonderful movie theatre.

Disney did a great job with their character meet and greets.

The ship was beautiful and in immaculate condition.

We didn't enjoy our evening dining all that much. The dining rooms were packed shoulder to shoulder with tables and chairs, we had one thousand more people on board than the OP.

Pirate night show at the pool was just a rumor, people were standing five and six deep at the rails. We didn't see much.

We enjoyed the food and experience at castaway cay.

Cabanas was OK, we liked that they had two carving station meats every day at lunch.

Our young people really enjoyed Palo.

We love DCL, but.....

There are other lines more suited to adults. For half the cost of a DCL cruise, you can do the same or similar ports in a mid-level line like Princess or Celebrity. For the same price as DCL, you can do a truly upscale line. DCL pretends to be one of these, but is not.

DCL has an elaborate and costly kid program which you subsidize if you cruise as "adults only." Granted, they do not have casino income, which also contributes to the more costly cruises. But the price increases over the past 2 years are ridiculous. However, they will charge these rates as long as they can find people willing to pay them and they continue to fill ships.

We love DCL' date=' but.....

 

There are other lines more suited to adults. For half the cost of a DCL cruise, you can do the same or similar ports in a mid-level line like Princess or Celebrity. For the same price as DCL, you can do a truly upscale line. DCL pretends to be one of these, but is not.

 

DCL has an elaborate and costly kid program which you subsidize if you cruise as "adults only." Granted, they do not have casino income, which also contributes to the more costly cruises. But the price increases over the past 2 years are ridiculous. However, they will charge these rates as long as they can find people willing to pay them and they continue to fill ships.[/quote']

 

Agree with above poster. I have my third DCL cruise booked, but I choose them because they are great with kids. I would never choose a DCL cruise for just myself and DH. For an example, my upcoming 4-night Dream cruise (admittedly with a 6 year old as well, but she didn't cost that much) is only 600 dollars difference from my 7-night Celebrity Equinox cruise with DH only, in an Aqua Class cabin, with a beverage package, unlimited wifi, prepaid gratuities.... Big, big difference.

Just read your review, thanks for being so detailed. As two adults we'd like to try Disney, and your comments are extremely helpful to our planning.

Thank you for your kind words. We have found so much help from these CC forums and Trip Advisor for all of our planning that I try to create reviews that are as helpful as possible to others.

Have a great day!

We love DCL' date=' but.....

 

There are other lines more suited to adults. For half the cost of a DCL cruise, you can do the same or similar ports in a mid-level line like Princess or Celebrity. For the same price as DCL, you can do a truly upscale line. DCL pretends to be one of these, but is not. [/quote']

 

The cost it the main reason why we took this cruise. The cabin rate was right in line with Princess, Celebrity and Holland because we were off season. We would NEVER recommend anyone pay the full priced fares which as you say, can be double of the other cruise lines.

 

But since the cabin price was right in line with what we're used to paying for a Verandah cabin on other lines, we felt this was the perfect time to try a Disney Cruise. Glad we did!

Thanks for the detailed review! DH and I also don't have children and we just took our first Disney cruise this past September on the Magic in the Med. we've been on three RCL cruises before this cruise. Our experience was the exact opposite of yours! This was the first cruise where there was so much going on that we actually didn't have time to do everything (and we've been on the Allure of the Seas and didn't feel like that...). We were actually really blown away by all of the activities Disney offered every day, so much so that we canceled two of our tour days in ports because we preferred to stay onboard and enjoy the ship and the activities onboard.

I don't know if the schedule on the Fantasy is different than the Magic, but you mention you never went to trivia, which there are a bunch of every day, for instance. We also found the adult entertainment at night to be great and only got back to our room at around 11:30-11:45 PM every night. BTW, we both do not drink and don't like sitting by the pool, we love going from activity to activity and felt this was the most active ship we've ever been on.

In terms of the meals, I get your point about not having a buffet at night, I think that would be a nice option. However, we didn't at all feel like we were limited or in a rigid place, because there are so many other options. For instance, we chose to skip the MDR one night because we wanted to see Tangled twice. So instead we had hamburgers (one real one veggie, which I love at Disney) for dinner up on deck and ordered room service later (which is free and we thought it was great quality).

This of course was just our experience :) I do wonder if there's a difference in activities between the two ships.

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Thanks for the detailed review! DH and I also don't have children and we just took our first Disney cruise this past September on the Magic in the Med. we've been on three RCL cruises before this cruise. Our experience was the exact opposite of yours! This was the first cruise where there was so much going on that we actually didn't have time to do everything (and we've been on the Allure of the Seas and didn't feel like that...). We were actually really blown away by all of the activities Disney offered every day, so much so that we canceled two of our tour days in ports because we preferred to stay onboard and enjoy the ship and the activities onboard.

 

I don't know if the schedule on the Fantasy is different than the Magic, but you mention you never went to trivia, which there are a bunch of every day, for instance. We also found the adult entertainment at night to be great and only got back to our room at around 11:30-11:45 PM every night. BTW, we both do not drink and don't like sitting by the pool, we love going from activity to activity and felt this was the most active ship we've ever been on.

 

In terms of the meals, I get your point about not having a buffet at night, I think that would be a nice option. However, we didn't at all feel like we were limited or in a rigid place, because there are so many other options. For instance, we chose to skip the MDR one night because we wanted to see Tangled twice. So instead we had hamburgers (one real one veggie, which I love at Disney) for dinner up on deck and ordered room service later (which is free and we thought it was great quality).

 

This of course was just our experience :) I do wonder if there's a difference in activities between the two ships.

 

 

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I agree with you. I have no kids either, but have cruised with nieces and nephews on both Disney and on other cruiselines. If I am traveling with extended family, and the purpose is just spending time together, then the cruiseline isn't as important (although I would still prefer Disney). If it is just my husband and I, or I am planning the cruise, then I would definitely pick Disney. I find so many activities to do. Disney is my cup of tea and I especially love the Magic.

Awesome detailed review. Thanks so much!

Great review. Thanks for sharing.

Awesome detailed review. Thanks so much!

Thanks so much!

"Disney Fantasy Review, Adults Only - Sept 2017"

A review from the future! lol

I'll disagree on "things to do". We went NCL to Alaska this summer, and there were a lot of times where there was nothing to do. On the Fantasy, there's always a movie showing, or a trivia time, or a liquor tasting, or something. We miss a lot due to conflicting events.

No clue why this shows as 2017 in the app. Clearly dated 2016 in the original review.

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