Adult activities on DCL

[LoveDaisy]

We are two Disney living adults who are trying cruising after not cruising for almost 20 years (I be done royal, carnival, and Norwegian in the past) We have a Royal Caribbean cruise booked for end of November out of NYC with several friends.

We are starting to think about our 2024 vacations and cruises are back in consideration.

I see lots of people talk on these boards about the amazing kids clubs which has me hoping they offer lots of amazing adult activities since the kids have the clubs and so many seem to use them. We are aware of the drink tastings, spa and places like Palo. But what are the other adult only things they offer since the kids are in the clubs?

 

[NileNellie]

We really enjoyed the trivia-they had so many categories there truly was something for everyone!

 

[Geomom]

They have crafts, towel and napkin folding, Disney character drawing lessons, 'anyone can cook' classes where you watch the chef make something and you get a sample --apple strudel is a common one they do, movies, adult only entertainers in clubs at night. Most of the adult clubs are family friendly until 9pm,then they're adult only. A bunch of the activities I listed may be 'for all ages'' and then some are adults only. The number of activities offered depends upon how long the cruise is, there will be more offered on a 7 nt than a 3 nt. We love doing 'the art of the theme show' tour of the ship which is adults only and focuses on design elements of the ship, it's usually offered 2x on a 7nt cruise.

 

[CamColt]

You got a lot of good answers above but I just want to add the adult activities are really what got us hooked on DCL (25 cruises and counting). I would suggest, not to book the Wish if you are looking for adult activities. Our last cruise was on the Wish and we found it lacking in that department compared to the other ships.

 

[disneygeek401]

The performers that are onboard do an adults only show in addition to their all ages show in the main theater, there are also adult only trivia events, adult only game shows in the adult clubs at night, they also do adult activities like karaoke and silent disco. as you mentioned they also have the spa, alcohol tastings, and adult dining. There are adult pools and the Cove Cafe that is adults only, (free pastries/light snacks and upcharge specialty coffees)

 

[Clarkson U]

While not "adult only" there are many different Broadway style shows on the ships - which are very well done productions. Also, many of the entertainers will be in the bars at night (after 9) where it will be adult only to listen to some music and enjoy a drink in the evening. Many adults take advantage of the Yoga in the morning which is for them only and general disney fun. We have gone with kids and as adults only and had as much fun either way. Some activities had kids with them (even when it was just us adults) but we didn't mind it. I think it depends on how strict you are on adult only activities.

 

[darnheather]

Alcohol tastings are also great. I learned so much and had a blast.

 

[Flossbolna]

I would recommend to look at some cruise schedules. They used to nice print outs called Personal Navigators, but since Covid they have been discontinued and now it’s all in the app and you can get a simple schedule from guest services.

This website collects them (and has other info on DCL as well) and you can look through old ones from previous cruises.

https://disneycruiselineblog.com/personal-navigators/

As someone else said: longer cruises will have more and so will special cruises. E.g. our Norway cruise had talks about the history of Scandinavia. On our Panama Canal cruise there was a Q&A with the leading officers and someone from Disney Animation giving talks about his work.

We are two adults no kids and love the activities on DCL.

 

[cmph]

I really enjoy the adults-only evening activities. They have match-your-mate game show types of things, for example, which I always think are a hoot. For some, the evening activities may be too tame, but others appreciate that it's pretty clean compared to other lines' adults-only entertainment (no raunchy language/comedians). I have family members who fall into the latter bucket.

They will have some adults-only activities in the club area earlier in the day (before it becomes an adults-only space). Some of them are the same types of things they will have without age restrictions in other spaces - like animation classes and origami. Last month, I did an adults-only animation class and enjoyed the host's personal story about how she got into drawing characters and learned on her own. They also might have craft activities that they don't do for all ages. I made a coaster on our Alaskan, and it had little tiles so presumably NOT an activity they'd want around little kids; in any case, I definitely never saw it advertised any other time. It was on the navigator as something like "make a souvenir".

 

[MamaMermaid]

We have sailed many times pre-kids and loved it! Plenty of adult only or adult friendly activities. Plus, the adult only area of the pool is super relaxing!

 

[ttintagel]

They have crafts, towel and napkin folding, Disney character drawing lessons, 'anyone can cook' classes where you watch the chef make something and you get a sample --apple strudel is a common one they do, movies, adult only entertainers in clubs at night. Most of the adult clubs are family friendly until 9pm,then they're adult only. A bunch of the activities I listed may be 'for all ages'' and then some are adults only. The number of activities offered depends upon how long the cruise is, there will be more offered on a 7 nt than a 3 nt. We love doing 'the art of the theme show' tour of the ship which is adults only and focuses on design elements of the ship, it's usually offered 2x on a 7nt cruise.

How is adults-only not "family-friendly?" My family is all adults.

 

[Geomom]

How is adults-only not "family-friendly?" My family is all adults.

I meant that the under 18 set are allowed in most adult clubs until 9pm (a couple clubs are always 18+, it'll be listed on the app.) Sometimes they have crafts for all ages, etc in there during the daytime--like the Tube on the Fantasy.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

On longer cruises (~10+ nights) we've done ballroom dancing lessons & parties. Soooo much fun

 

[SnowWhite2]

If you are looking for any activity after 11:30 pm, this is not the cruise line for you. After the 10pm adult shows in the adult lounge, it empties out and the DJ plays for no one. A few people may stay but by midnight there is no one in there. The adult bars close by midnight. Pizza is open on the pool deck until midnight and then it closes along with the areas around the pool. They are in full cleaning mode.

 

[CaseyCruiser]

It can vary depending on the cruise. Last year our Hawaii cruise had a number of adults only excursions. The Western Caribbean cruise we just got done with didn't offer that. We also enjoy the piano bars on the classic ships.

 

[KGmomoftwins]

I really enjoyed the art of the theme tour. We walked through the entire ship and learned about some of the art pieces, different areas, and building of the ship. This was adult only. If we ever cruise the dream class ships again I’d love to do the remy dessert tasting

 

[FastPasser.]

On longer cruises (~10+ nights) we've done ballroom dancing lessons & parties. Soooo much fun

What did you use for a bribe to get your partner to do it?

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

What did you use for a bribe to get your partner to do it?

Nothing! We love go dance and the instructors were fabulous. Natalia and Wilem. Great teachers an he had a heckuva personality

 

[1lilspark]

If you are looking for any activity after 11:30 pm, this is not the cruise line for you. After the 10pm adult shows in the adult lounge, it empties out and the DJ plays for no one. A few people may stay but by midnight there is no one in there. The adult bars close by midnight. Pizza is open on the pool deck until midnight and then it closes along with the areas around the pool. They are in full cleaning mode.

We saw Lots of TEEN ONLY activities between 11-1am on our January navigator

 

[auntlynne]

While activities do vary, there is a similarity from 3-15 night and any ship. (I have done these on everything but the Wish, starting in 2007).

Adults often do the Fun for All Ages activities, whether traveling with children or not. I imagine that Disney fans are used to that. I am showing Days 2-3-4 (of a 5-night cruise. Leaving off Boarding Day and Castaway Cay. These are from the Magic in 2019, when paper navigators were available to be submitted for posting on Disneycruiselineblog. That site continues to post the activity schedule, which you can watch as a video.

Other than participating in ship’s activities, adults lounge by the pool, a few use the gym, drink, chat with ship mates. The nighttime adult gatherings, including Match Your Mate, are the best time to see a crowd of adults. And then they go to their cabins. You will find little groups in the various venues with music.

If I have this all wrong and there is a vibrant social scene, you will figure out my vacations have not changed much since I was a kid - they are just to different locations).


If not clear enough to read, check out disneycruiselineblog and look for Personal Navigators. Pick any ship, most dates before 2020.