2 Adults & no kids on Disney Cruise

[ErieCruiser08]

My husband and I are considering booking a Disney cruise because we LOVE all things Disney! We have spent 2 recent vacations at the DisneyWorld resort and loved it! Now we want to try the Disney Cruise Line. It seems like everyone we have talked to has amazing reviews of it!

 

We were wondering if any other people who have sailed DCL has any input as to how they enjoyed the cruise without kids. I mean, is there enough adult-oriented activities to do onboard? We love kids, we just dont' have any of our own yet. So the numerous amount of children onboard does not bother us at all, we just wanted to know that we will still be entertained other than by kiddie stuff.

 

Also, does anyone have a copy of the Daily Newsletter (whatever Disney calls it) that they could post? Just curious as to what kinds of activities are available (although I know they vary from cruise to cruise).

 

Thanks in advance!:)

[JadedRaverLA]

Once you're a Disney addict, there's no going back. And the cruise line does a fantastic job of recreating the "Disney Experience" on the ocean. Everything people who love Disney love about Disney is brought to the ship (uniformity, cleanliness, that "Disney" way of doing things, etc) and they do a very nice job of balancing their fantastic children's programs with things to keep adults happy.

 

Although my parents are DVC members, and I practically grew up at DisneyWorld, I'm currently at the age where I'm between Disney's target mnarkets (ya know, kids and their parents), so I wasn't expecting to be wow'd when my mom announced last year that much of the extended family were ALL going to be going on a Disney cruise. I practically had nightmares that I was going to be trapped on a ship with children mutinying and throwing adults overboard (knowing Disney I REALLY should have known better). Once onboard though, they really do a nice job of of bringing that "Disney experience" that their fans of all ages love onto the boat. There's an adult pool, an adult-only bar and club area, and various activities for adults throughout the cruise, and all were well done and didn't feel like afterthoughts to placate people such as myself. Depending on the itinerary, if you stop at their private island, Castaway Cay, there's a fantastic adults-only beach away from the craziness of the family and teen beaches. The "main show" entertainment is more family/Disney focused than on many other lines of course, though they do have other options, such as a piano bar, and soem late-night entertainment in the "danceclub." Add to that staterooms hat are well-sized and styled in familiar Disney manner (more "home-like" than "cruise-like," though I'm sure others can explain it much better).

 

My only complaints (and these are personal) were the lack of a casino and the dining room setups. Most Disney people will likely enjoy the rotational dining... I just like traditional dining and formal nights on other lines. Still, the waitstaff is first-rate and the food is a nice balance of what kids and even some adults will actually enjoy and some interesting choices each night for the more adventurous types.

 

Anyway, that's a really long stream-of-consciousness mess, but all that really matters is that if you already love Disney, then you'll undoubtedly love the Disney Cruise Line -- kids or not.

 

EDIT: I can't believe I forgot to mention Palo (the premium adults-only restaurant)! That place was leaps and bounds beyond any expectations I went in with. Don't think twice... if you go on the cruise, book Palo before its full!

[belle626]

We have no children, and have cruised Disney 9 times so far with another just 54 days away. Guess that tells you how we feel about what Disney has to offer!

[QuickGold]

I've sailed a couple times without kids and it's great. I think there's a misconception that because it's a Disney ship, the cruise must be something that could fit into Fantasyland but in reality it's very "even balanced" and you have to seek out kids stuff to find it.

[HIPrincess]

We have cruised on the Magic with our 16 year old son and were jealous that we couldn't use the adults only area at the time because we didn't want to ditch him---that was the reason for the vacation---to spend time with him.

 

Now he is off to college and my husband and I are going ALONE on the Disney Magic as soon as it comes out of dry dock for an anniversary celebration. We have cruised before and could have picked any other cruise ship but picked Disney:) because we can't wait to enjoy the adults only areas and events.

 

Do it! You won't be sorry.

[GottaLuvCruising]

Our children are grown, but we've sailed DCL three times and loved each experience. We found plenty to do and look forward to going again.

[coldinerie]

Hay, we love disney with our without children. I have a 12 year old, but cruising and disney are our 2 fav. things. We too live in Erie! Small internet world hu? we are going in Nov 08 for 3 days and some land. GO DISNEY>

[coldinerie]

Go to castawayclub.com to see what goes on during the day.

[ducklite]

We took our at the time 16 year old son on our first DCL cruise, and never saw him except at dinner time. He was so busy with the teen club that we had plenty of adult time.

 

We all had such a grea time that we've rebooked for next year. This time our son will be 23, so we are all adults on this cruise.

 

DCL certainly has something for just about everyone, if nothing else it gives me the time to read a book while sitting in the fresh air--a little luxury that I love and seldom have time for while I'm home.

 

It's forced relaxation for us--and we don't mind that at all! :)

[ErieCruiser08]

Hay, we love disney with our without children. I have a 12 year old, but cruising and disney are our 2 fav. things. We too live in Erie! Small internet world hu? we are going in Nov 08 for 3 days and some land. GO DISNEY>

 

We are planning on booking the Jan. 24 western Carribean cruise on the Magic. Our TA (AAA) has a reservation on hold for us with Disney and we are planning on booking and putting our down payment tomorrow. My husband's b-day is during the cruise. Also, January is good for us to get away from the cold Erie winter--as coldinerie knows all about!;)

[nuthut]

My wife and I spent our 30th (Jan. 28) anniversary on a DCL four day trip. Spent our actual anniversay at the Atlantis water park. Simply wonderful with no kids. Buy the romence at seas package and book both Palo and Palo brunch.....

[lucyddr]

My husband and I used to spend one weekend a month at a DisneyWorld resort hotel (we lived in Florida) and love Disney! We took our Disney cruise in 2005 and loved every second of it! As the above poster said, Palo is not to be missed. I'd go to dinner, the brunch, and the tea if you can as all are outstanding. There are tons of "adult" activities and places where you are not surrounded by children. We loved the pool area and the spa. Unfortunately, Disney 7 day cruises sail on Saturday, which has kept us off the ships for the last few years. (We had to cruise on Sunday for work reasons.) However, I'm likely going to cancel our Feb. Carnival cruise secondary to scheduling issues and plan to replace it with a Disney Eastern Carribean route! Disney is a great product and well worth the added expense...even for us childless adults!

[mom2tcdx2]

I too booked a cruise for next September for my boyfriend and myself without the kids. I will be 38, we sail on his 51st birthday. My children will so hate to find out where we are going, I do believe I won't tell them. However we are taking them in November on a 4 day cruise that will be a surprise to them along with 3 days at Disney.

 

I have always wanted to do a Disney cruise and have been looking for years, finally booked both trips when they offered the reduced deposits so I didn't have to have so much up front.

[BAIC03]

Disney is the greatest at this. Here's why:

 

- Adults have their own resturant, pool, entertainment and beach for 18 and up. The 18 and up requirement is ENFORCED, unlike other cruise lines I've been on.

 

- Even on your seating assignments, they paired us with families with older children- the youngest was 12!

 

- Kids have almost an entire deck of things to do in addition to the pools. WE went on a cruise in July and we were told there were over 1,000 17 and under on the ship-- we hadn't noticed!!

 

I'll always pay more for DCL b/c they take care of me!

[dracsmith]

We sailed on Disney in August with our son, who is 22, and all three of us found plenty to do. We all had massages; hubby and I went to the martini tasting and the shows; son did karaoke and some of the less-formal shows; a good time was had by all!