Couples w/o children

[Jack & Monica]

We recently returned from our week long cruise aboard the Disney Magic, and I have some tips for adults sailing w/o kids. First off -- my wife and I had a marvelous time! Disney has done just about all that can be done to cater to mainly families but to also to pay some attention to adult couples. First tip: definitely go at least one night to Palo -- absolutely a wonderful experience and there are no children. Second tip: get a verandah. The Disney ships are beautiful and the peace and quiet afforded by our own little deck was heavenly. Third tip: Disney will allow you to bring on your own alcohol which I was greatly surprised about. My wife and I bought a 5 liter keg of German Beer which fit perfectly into the refrigerator in the room. LOL -- I carried it onboard outright. I had to put it on the conveyor belt at securty LOL. When we got to St. Thomas, I purchased a case of Corona for $24 (pretty much what it would cost back home!) and carried it onboard. Disney crew even provided me with the Lime slices!
If we purchased the same amount of beer on the ship, it would have cost us well over $200.
This was our first Disney Cruise. We have made several other cruises. My wife and I are Disney fanatics. The cruise is in the category of must do for us -- because of three reasons -- first -- the shows are absolutely tremendous!!! Second -- Castaway Cay was also great (from a couples perspective). Quiet Cove, the adults only area was beautiful. There was a bar and a food area that served the same lunch that was in the more crowded family area. Finally, Animator's Palate was also awesome!
If you are not a Disney fanatic, I would not recommend the Disney Cruise if you are sailing without children. I say this because there are a LOT of kids running around that you can't get completely away from. Again emphasizing that Disney does a great job of minimizing the impact of the kids on adult couples, kids will be kids and you will run into some trying to slide down the bannister of the central stairwells or (if you make the mistake of going to an early show) having babies crying in the theater.
You can get great service and great food on other cruise lines. For us, however, what you can get only from Disney is that special Disney Magic!
One other tip that I didn't realize until haveway through the cruise. If you do not want to get dressed up for your normal dinner seating -- there is always an alternative site available for a served meal in Parrot Cay, Lumiere's/Triton's. or the Topsider's area (where the afternoon buffet is.
Also there is also a sit-down breakfast and lunch available that rarely had children present. We had great weather and the kids swarmed over the pools all day and ate at the snack bar type places.
All in all -- I am very very pleased!

 

[cdnmickeylover]

Was really glad to read your post -- we have kids but will be sailing without them -- they are all teenagers and not interested. It's nice to see that you can have a good time on a Disney cruise. We are Disney fanatics.

Did you ever feel 'funny' b/c you were travelling without any kids? We've been to WDW twice without any of the kids and it wasn't a problem.

Cdnmickeylover

 

[BethC1952]

We've done the four-night cruise twice without kids (this last cruise, we got to be the kids--we took my father-in-law along with us).

We've had a great time both times, and didn't feel funny at all without kids. Our neighbors in the next cabin and the people across the hall and one couple seated with us at dinner were also traveling "child-free".

Our cruise in Dec. 2003 will be a very different experience for us, since this time we're bringing "the kids"--my son, his wife, and my granddaughter, who will be 3 1/2. I wonder if I'll enjoy myself as much? There surely won't be as much "peace and quiet" and "couple time"!!!

Beth

 

[Jack & Monica]

LOL. I have a son in college and dd is a junior in HS. My DW and I did get a few sideway looks from fellow passengers who had their kids after they learned we didn't bring the "kids". I caved and explained that it was our anniversary etc etc. LOL I do not feel guilty!!! That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

 

[Denine]

We have cruised 5 times with DCL w/o children. We loved it. The next time we cruise, hopefully Ocotber 2004, we will have our 2yo daughter with us. She is now almost 4 months old and a real joy!
She has already been to WDW!

 

[trampslady]

Thank you for the wonderful review. My husband and I will be celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary onboard. We have recently (May 2002) become Disney fanatics. Our very first visit ever to WDW was in May and since then, we have purchased Disney Vacation Club and have returned to WDW three times. In fact, we are headed there today for a three day weekend.

We don't have any children and have never felt out of place at WDW. It's the kind of place that allows you to make it any kind of vacation you choose. That's one of the many zillion things we love about it. Of course, the folks we work with all look at us funny because of our frequent trips. They just don't "get it" and think that WDW is just for kids.

It's comforting to know that we will be pleased with our choice of the Disney Magic for our May cruise! We can hardly wait!

Thanks again!

btw-which itinerary were you on? Also, which dining rotation? Did the you get the predicted PAL rotation, and if so, did it work well for your dining preferences? Which night in Palo?

 

[mmouse37]

We have been on the Magic several times with our three teens but for our 20th Anniversary back in '99 we sailed on the Wonder without them. We had a marvelous time and didn't feel guilty in the least about leaving them home...they knew we needed the time together!!!

If people ask why we chose Disney to travel without our kids...I just tell them you really can't beat Disney quality or service...after all...why should kids have all the fun!!!

MJ

 

[CRSNDSNY]

If you are going without kids, I would also recommend the late dinner seating. Less children, more teenage.

Cruised twice without kids (no kids 'yet'). DH and I say we're 'testing' the cruise out for when we have children. Learning the ins and outs! LOL

 

[tstobb]

Originally posted by CRSNDSNY
DH and I say we're 'testing' the cruise out for when we have children. Learning the ins and outs! LOL

That's how we got away with it - we took our 1st ever cruise for our 10th anniversary on DCL & told the kids we were "testing it out" to make sure that they would like it (some background - we are fanatics & visit WDW 2-6 times during the year, each of our children spent their 1st birthdays with Mickey!). We did the 3 day Wonder & took everybody for the 7 day eastern Magic this past September and are planning another "Mommy & Daddy" trip soon. We loved it both ways. DCL is great about enforcing the "adults only" areas and there are plenty of activities to keep adults entertained (or you can just hang out on the "secret decks").

 

[inkkognito]

It's so nice to see positive comments from other adults without kids. Hubby and I have been on 28 Disney cruises, and we have no kids unless you count the kind with fur & claws, feathers, or hooves & manes. Obviously, they do not travel with us! People think we are crazy for sailing Disney without kids. I always try to explain that Disney does a superior job of catering to childless couples, but they look at me as if I'm off my rocker. We have sailed for times on RCCL and have actually found Disney to be better because RCCL does not have the adults only areas. Also, I personally get a kick out of watching the kids on Disney. I have a pretty high tolerance for kids (I served my Masters internship as a child & family counselor), so I enjoy being around them for part of the time. It's so neat to see their awe and wonder on the ships. And when I'm tired of being around them, there's always the adult whirlpools or the spa
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[nghtangl01]

I am really glad to hear this too. My fiance and I are getting married on the Magic this November. (I am the big Disney fan) and he has always wanted to go on a cruise. He did say that this experience may make it where we will on go DCL when we have kids. (I am praying that this happens, so I can have a third home!!!)

Any other suggestions for romantic fun? We are doing the western, and we automatically have reservations at Palos for our wedding night.

 

[sjm]

Originally posted by tstobb
(or you can just hang out on the "secret decks"). [/B]

What is the "secret deck"?

We are grown ups, who think we are still kids, sailing the Magic on sat, to celebrate our 60th birthdays.

sue

 

[inkkognito]

It's a verandah all the way aft on Deck 7. I have photos on my website...many people don't know about it, so it's typically less crowded than other areas.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[ncligs]

Glad to hear all the thumbs up

by the above posters.We are DVC members and are taking our first cruise "ever" on the Wonder next Feb(2004) by ourselves.

 

[Parrotheader]

We're a young couple w/o kids (they'll be coming up in the next year or two) and we had a blast! Yes, the majority of people on the cruise are traveling as a family, but since there's still a smaller minority of people without kids, Disney also has to cater to that audience meaning we probalby get much more entertainment options per capita than the people with kids.

The adults only pool was great (don't remember seeing any kids) and Quiet Cove at Castaway Cay was perfect. My wife and I really aren't big drinkers and party hard type people, but we had a good time at some of the lounges and clubs and I think we spent most of our 2nd day walking around fairly buzzed since we realized we could relax a little since we weren't driving or anything like that. I'll second the reminder that the alcohol is expensive and that you can bring your own. We didn't mind since we weren't planning on drinking much and even when we did we decided it'd be ok to splurge since we don't do this very often anyway.

Even though we've only been on one cruise, one thing I'd recommend for couples (that I don't think was mentioned) was to try and get a room in the forward part of the ship. Since there are 3 main stairwells/elevator shafts this will put you closest to most of the more adult-oriented areas of the ship. The spa and adults only pool are up top on the fore part of the ship (with the ESPN bar just behind it midship.) And the nightclubs are also forward on deck 3. So while you can still stroll the ship at your leisure you don't HAVE to walk a long way to all the adult areas if you're toward the front of the ship. We just got lucky by having our room forward and realized it later when we saw how convenient all the adult areas were.

 

[SINK]

DW and I have done two DCL's last year. Once is adult only scouting trip, the other with my two nieces. Both times, DW and I had a fantastic time. We have both the Western and Eastern booked for this year, and again, DW and I will be doing a scouting trip late March and will be with the entire family in Nov. Can't wait!!!! Want to book at least three more for 2004 (we will wait until we get on board to book our 2004 sailing, in order to get the $200 stateroom credits. Then transfer it to DREAMS!) Also pre-ordered the new Passporter's DCL guide book.

 

[disny4ever]

DW and I have completed 3 trips with DCL all w/o kids ( grown and in or out of college ). All I can say is " I want to go back... "
as everyone has already said...Disney does it right. We have not done a cruise other then Disney and I'm not sure we want to ! The Ships are beautiful, the crew is fantastic, and the service impeccable. Add all this up and you will find that just about everyone coming off the ship is very impressed.


Hey Barb...did you buy that steamer trunk yet so I can slip on board your next cruise...lol

 

[CyranoJones]

We've done 4 Magic cruises without children and had a wonderful time on each. This year we're going on another cruise line for a change of pace and I'm sure we'll be happy with that decision too.

 

[jaysmom4285]

re: the "secret" verandah on Deck 7 - we found it easily on our last cruise (1/12 Wonder). There is a good picture of it in Barb's website. Just walk all the way aft (port or starboard doesn't matter) on Deck 7 til you see the stairwell going down. Behind the stairwell is a brown wooden door labeled "aft overlook". It's usually open and quite deserted.

 

[sjm]

Thanks for the info on the "secret" verandah. We sailed on the Pacific Princess last summer and there was a secret verahdah also, it was wonderful and peaceful.

Thanks,
sue