Disney Dream was amazing, but lacking in just one area.

[ChrisCastig]

My girlfriend, 20, and myself, 21, just got off the Disney Dream from a 3 night Bahamian cruise and almost everything was amazing. The crew were incredible, best service I've had on a cruise ship, and the food was amazing, including the wait staff. The design of the ship itself was so beautiful, I loved everything about it.

While I do understand that it was Disney, I was disappointed in the lack of night life on the ship. My cruise could've just been a bad crowd in terms of going out and partying, but my girlfriend and I were looking forward to dancing and having a few drinks until the wee hours of the morning at the clubs.

Frankie, the adult entertainment director, did a really great job with the events that were pre-planned. He was very entertaining, but as soon as Karaoke or Meet Your Match was over, no one stayed and danced, just went right to the room. I even heard some people say how they couldn't believe how late it was! It was only midnight!

I also was a little surprised when I did a karaoke song that had a couple swears in it they turned it off. I understand that it was Disney, but it was 18+ so I figured it would've been ok. I did feel bad after though, hope I didn't offend anyone.

All in all I really can't complain about the ship, everything about the vacation was amazing except this one little thing. I was just a little shocked seeing it as a short three day weekend cruise I was expecting a couple party nights, but the ship was a ghost town after midnight. Not what I was used to from my other cruises.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

My girlfriend, 20, and myself, 21, just got off the Disney Dream from a 3 night Bahamian cruise and almost everything was amazing. The crew were incredible, best service I've had on a cruise ship, and the food was amazing, including the wait staff. The design of the ship itself was so beautiful, I loved everything about it.

While I do understand that it was Disney, I was disappointed in the lack of night life on the ship. My cruise could've just been a bad crowd in terms of going out and partying, but my girlfriend and I were looking forward to dancing and having a few drinks until the wee hours of the morning at the clubs.

Frankie, the adult entertainment director, did a really great job with the events that were pre-planned. He was very entertaining, but as soon as Karaoke or Meet Your Match was over, no one stayed and danced, just went right to the room. I even heard some people say how they couldn't believe how late it was! It was only midnight!

I also was a little surprised when I did a karaoke song that had a couple swears in it they turned it off. I understand that it was Disney, but it was 18+ so I figured it would've been ok. I did feel bad after though, hope I didn't offend anyone.

All in all I really can't complain about the ship, everything about the vacation was amazing except this one little thing. I was just a little shocked seeing it as a short three day weekend cruise I was expecting a couple party nights, but the ship was a ghost town after midnight. Not what I was used to from my other cruises.

While the DIS tries to paint the DCL as a 'One size fits all" and "everyone will love it" as you just saw it's not true.

I think you should really look for other lines. I did a five night on RCCL and when I retired close to midnight my room mate went until the WEE hours. Plus, they realize it's grownups not "we must protect everyone at all time" LOL!

(If the Karoke was in thier selection they need to GROW UP and quit playing "parent" or do a better job of screening )

 

[dharma517]

Totally agree with you! Have taken 5 or so Disney cruises, 3 RCCL, and 1 celebrity. Disney had zero nightlife...but they have so many great spaces to have it. It really is a shame. I was just on the Fantasy in December with my DH and my best friend and her husband. We got all 6 kids in the kids clubs or otherwise occupied and made a beeline for the nightlife. Serious letdown. We even tried the pools and hot tubs....DEAD! Oh well...still loved the cruise.

 

[ChrisCastig]

While the DIS tries to paint the DCL as a 'One size fits all" and "everyone will love it" as you just saw it's not true.

I think you should really look for other lines. I did a five night on RCCL and when I retired close to midnight my room mate went until the WEE hours. Plus, they realize it's grownups not "we must protect everyone at all time" LOL!

(If the Karoke was in thier selection they need to GROW UP and quit playing "parent" or do a better job of screening )

I've done two on NCL, one when I was over 18 and loved it, up until 3:30 every night having the time of my life.

I can't say it enough times how awesome the ship was, just this one thing was a little frustrating.

 

[Ofinn]

When I was in my 20's I went on a couple of Carnival cruises and had a blast. Now that I'm older, raising kids and working a stressful job I choose Disney because of the great kids clubs. I really enjoy a nice relaxing vacation without my kids around 24/7. I also enjoy some quiet time with my Dh. I'm sure many of the people on the Disney ships are like me. I would consider midnight pretty late since I'm used to getting up at 430am. I would look at other cruise lines while your young. You can come back to Disney when you have kids, and you will understand why we are worn out by 11pm.

 

[ChrisCastig]

Totally agree with you! Have taken 5 or so Disney cruises, 3 RCCL, and 1 celebrity. Disney had zero nightlife...but they have so many great spaces to have it. It really is a shame. I was just on the Fantasy in December with my DH and my best friend and her husband. We got all 6 kids in the kids clubs or otherwise occupied and made a beeline for the nightlife. Serious letdown. We even tried the pools and hot tubs....DEAD! Oh well...still loved the cruise.

That is what I kept saying. The clubs on the ship were a great set up, I loved the feel and look of all them. Maybe that made it more disappointing that I couldn't use them.

 

[ChrisCastig]

When I was in my 20's I went on a couple of Carnival cruises and had a blast. Now that I'm older, raising kids and working a stressful job I choose Disney because of the great kids clubs. I really enjoy a nice relaxing vacation without my kids around 24/7. I also enjoy some quiet time with my Dh. I'm sure many of the people on the Disney ships are like me. I would consider midnight pretty late since I'm used to getting up at 430am. I would look at other cruise lines while your young. You can come back to Disney when you have kids, and you will understand why we are worn out by 11pm.

That is also what I figured, it must be pretty tiring to keep up with what your kids want to do all day.

 

[JnDRader]

My girlfriend, 20, and myself, 21, just got off the Disney Dream from a 3 night Bahamian cruise and almost everything was amazing. The crew were incredible, best service I've had on a cruise ship, and the food was amazing, including the wait staff. The design of the ship itself was so beautiful, I loved everything about it.

While I do understand that it was Disney, I was disappointed in the lack of night life on the ship. My cruise could've just been a bad crowd in terms of going out and partying, but my girlfriend and I were looking forward to dancing and having a few drinks until the wee hours of the morning at the clubs.

Frankie, the adult entertainment director, did a really great job with the events that were pre-planned. He was very entertaining, but as soon as Karaoke or Meet Your Match was over, no one stayed and danced, just went right to the room. I even heard some people say how they couldn't believe how late it was! It was only midnight!

I also was a little surprised when I did a karaoke song that had a couple swears in it they turned it off. I understand that it was Disney, but it was 18+ so I figured it would've been ok. I did feel bad after though, hope I didn't offend anyone.

All in all I really can't complain about the ship, everything about the vacation was amazing except this one little thing. I was just a little shocked seeing it as a short three day weekend cruise I was expecting a couple party nights, but the ship was a ghost town after midnight. Not what I was used to from my other cruises.

I would say somewhere in the neighborhood of 95% of your fellow adults at those events had kids waiting to wake them up at 7am, or earlier . It just isn't worth it. Completely different crowd. You just have to understand the demographic that is DCL's bread and butter .

 

[Msmit002]

You can come back to Disney when you have kids, and you will understand why we are worn out by 11pm.

For real! At this point, with all of the running around we do for work, grad school and getting kiddos to sports practice/games, our Date Nights usually end before midnight, much to the dismay of our paid-by-the-hour babysitter.

We give it the good college try when on vacation, but sometimes we're too pooped. And I guess we're in good company on DCL.

 

[OSUBuckly]

As a somewhat younger (early thirties) cruiser with no children, I can say that you aren't wrong, at least in regards to the dance clubs.

After we have dinner (late seating) we like to head out to the clubs to have a few drinks. Usually the Rockin Bar D (or its equivelant) dies out pretty early, but we prefer the more laid back atmosphere of the martini or piano bars. Usually they have a decent amount of people with a more laid back atmosphere. We can sit and have a drink and strike up some conversations with other cruisers or the staff without having to yell or be cramped by too many people.

I guess it all depends on the soem of nighttime atmosphere you are looking for. If you want to dance and go wild, then yes, another you might be better off on another cruise line. But not EVERYBODY goes to bed by 11pm. There is still some afterhours fun to be had.

 

[Brynnie]

Im sorry you did not have good night life. :-( DH and I (no kids,) had an amazing time! We sailed in Sept and I think due to school starting we had a lot of adults on our ship! The bars were busy every night and the bartender in Skyline actually stayed open late since it was packed! We made great friends with 2 other couples that we cruised again with last Jan on the Wonder. That cruise....the nightlife was DEAD! The cm's loved us tho because we made our own fun each night!! I can see why many parents don't make it out late....it's a long day in the sun with kids!!! Glad u liked the Dream! We are on the Fantasy in September and we are trying out first RCCL cruise next Jan...I'm excited for both.

 

[bsusanmb]

I have to agree with you. I love the Disney atmosphere, the exceptional service, but other than drinking until midnight, there's not much to do unless you have a group of friends to spend time with. We would like a nice romantic place to dance as we are seniors. But I love Disney enough to just head off to the room at midnight.

 

[ChrisCastig]

I honestly thought I was going to get killed for this post. I am glad that there are some people agreeing with me.

 

[manateesmom]

FWIW, we found Carnival's nightlife to be lacking, too. Like, you could drink or gamble . . . and that was about it. The shows were horrible (like Elvis impersonators) and ended early, there was no theater, movie screen on deck had volume so low you couldn't hear it, and the few "clubs" were packed with kids probably old enough to be there but not old enough to drink. Otherwise, lots of piano bar things that were too old for us.

We liked RCCL Freedom better for night life.

 

[disneyholic family]

we totally agree with you!!

my most recent cruise on the Dream was fine, since i was with my mom and sister, who are early to bed people..
but when i cruised with DH and DD (who was 21 at the time), we were really really disappointed in the lack of adult activities and the absence of anything at all to do late at night (even just the movie theater would have been better than nothing, but even that was closed).

DD and her husband were on RCCL this past summer on their honeymoon and had a BLAST! There only problem was choosing between all the activities!
They and DH and I are going on an RCCL cruise this summer - i'm very much looking forward to it!!!

 

[MyYearWithTheMouse]

I honestly thought I was going to get killed for this post. I am glad that there are some people agreeing with me.

I can see both sides. On the one hand it's like saying, "I expected more opportunities to gamble but all they had was Bingo and it was filled with kids." On the other hand, DCL does try to advertise a one-size-fits-all vacation experience when in fact they cannot provide one.

DH and I love Disney and loved our DCL cruise we took with our DS two years ago. We're taking another DCL cruise with our DS and DD in September and I know it's going to be awesome. That said, if we weren't bringing our kids, we wouldn't take a Disney cruise. We aren't 2am party people, but there are other aspects of adult-oriented lines that we find far more appealing than a cruise with, say, a fantastic kid's club we won't be using.

 

[disney1990]

I know that my DD closed the clubs every night and made lots friends doing so. After the clubs closed, they headed up to Deck 4 to play shuffle board or Deck 11 to play mini golf or just hang out. It is what you make of it.

 

[NC State]

We're aren't party/dancing folks so Disney is the right choice for us. I'm glad to know that we made the right choice to take our first cruise with Disney.

 

[moosecrouse]

As a single guy who has done Disney centric vacay at least once a year for the last 14 yrs with extended family I was really surprised by the lack of nightlife on the cruise ships. I've had better times hanging @ the POR piano bar then any bars on either of the two cruises I've done. That being said I'm already booked for my 3rd cruise. I dont compare my family trips to my adult only vacations and enjoy DCL for what it is, a truly relaxing vacation for me(no kids only nieces & nephews) with excellent service and some very good food. I got no problems with my buckets of beer in the quiet cove, some wine at dinner and a couple of after dinner drinks somewhere. Early to bed then wake up and repeat. Lol

 

[Mickeyhugger]

This is something cruisers should mention on the comment card. (Or, enclose a seperate letter to DCL, using the stationery in the stateroom, and drop in the comment box.)

While I'm one of the "I'm too tired, going back to the stateroom cruiser, my DH is a night owl (he works nights.) We'd love it if DCL would have just ONE bar open until 2am?