Disney Cruise for Honeymoon?

[Tnkrbl2199]

Hi! My fiance and I have been to WDW twice together. We plan to go on a cruise for our honeymoon, then hopefully go to WDW for a few days before we return home again. I am thinking that a 7 day Disney Cruise would be the most convenient being we plan to go to WDW as well.
I am concerned that the Disney cruise will be less like a honeymoon than doing another cruise that may have more adult oriented activities. I have read a few things on the boards that concerned me such as a smaller spa and fitness than other cruiselines, less likely to have romantic dining do to so many families, & less adult activities. I am curious if anyone has any thoughts on this?
Are we better off honeymooning on another cruiseline and then to WDW for a few days, or going on the Disney cruise? Thanks!

 

[alexandrew]

DCL will be a perfect honeymoon choice....

There are many adult activities and venues onboard. For example, you can definitely reserve Palo for at least 2 of your evening meals on the 7-day. In addition, there is an adult only pool area. Also, you can request late dinner seating.

DCL service is the best!!!!!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

We did the 7-day Eastern and then 6 days at the Swan for our honeymoon December 2001. The only thing I would change is to do the parks first...very tiring.

We loved the cruise so much we keep going back! There are SO many romantic things to do as well as adult-oriented activities. We wouldn't do it any other way!

 

[mmouse37]

Just got off the Magic yesterday and there were several honeymooners onboard and all having a blast. Saw a few in their wedding gowns on formal night.

MJ

 

[Limmer]

We went on the Magic for our honeymoon in Oct 2001 with 3 days first at POR. Honestly, we saw very few children (ok, maybe not saw but interacted with). The only time we were really with children was at the shows. We hung out at the adult pool and did the wine tasting, and the cooking demos. We did both beaches at Castaway Cay. The kids were not intrusive. Very well behaved and happy for the most part. We found it very amusing that friends of ours who got married a few months before us and cruised on Royal Caribbean had kids in the background of almost all their pictures while the only pictures of kids in ours were on the beach. Disney keeps them well entertained. (By the way, there was a 9 year old girl at our table of 10 that only showed up on the 1st night. She was in her club the rest of the week.)

 

[rae519]

After attending a DCL Wedding at Sea, I have repeatedly recommended this to my oldest son and his fiance!

Not that they are listening to me!!
But any excuse for me to get back on the ship is worth a try....


Rae

 

[Poohbush]

The first cruise we ever went on was the Magic (10/00), and it was just me and DH. We very rarely saw kids, and felt like there were plenty of adult activities to keep us "big kids" well entertained! Definately do the late seating, there are less kids there, plus you won't feel as rushed to finish dinner.

Congrats on your wedding & honeymoon!

 

[alexturner74]

We did our honeymoon on the 7-day Western last November and it was awesome. We then spent 2 nights at WL.

There are quite a few kids, but there are plenty of adult only activities and places to go. It's really up to you and how tolerant you may be during times when there are kids around.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

So far in our experience Disney seems to do a GREAT job at keeping the adult only areas exculsively for adults.

A few things we always do when booking through DCL:
1 - Ask to be seated alone or with other honeymooning couples or other couples (we were seated at a very large table for our honeymoon -- three families all with teenagers. We just didn't know we could make requests).
2- We always book a stateroom far forward. Incredibly close to the nightlife, spa and adult pool.
3 - Take advantage of those excursions that have relatively high age limits to them. Like the Champagne Catamaran in St. Thomas.

You will find SO much to do that you will end up missing things because there just isn't enough time. The family atmosphere is wonderful and you really don't have to worry about there beinga heavy party-till-you-puke atmosphere. We love it and live for the next one!

 

[two-foxes]

Oh My Gosh!!!! It is a perfect Honeymoon!!!!!!!

My DH and I did the 3 night land/4 night sea package and added a seperate 3 night package for a total of 6 nights on land. It was perfect because we were going non stop at the parks, then we had 4 super amazing, relaxing days on the Wonder. We wish we would have done a 7 night cruise...we LOVED it so much!

I often visit the knot.com and read up and post to what others brides are saying about DCL. People think that it is a raging cartoon character boat....you know from reading these posts it is not so! But lets face it, you gotta love Disney to some extent to really appreciate it for a HM cruise. But if you read Barb's posts, she has often stated the one big difference between DCL and other cruiselines. DCL enforces the "no kids" policies, others don't.

On our cruise (we held off until Oct for our HM; we were married in June, but we sure didn't want to to WDW in June!) we had the late dinner seating, and we sat with ALL honeymoon couples. There were at least 15 couples between our tables and the surrounding tables. I remember only seeing two kids at a table somewhat near to us....we were pretty much in an adult only area! Our wait staff came out on the first night with "Happy Honeymoon" cakes...one for each couple, plus we got a "We're celebrating our Honeymoon" pins.

We pretty much avoided the little munchkins for most of the trip...we saw them at shows and at breakfast and when dodging them on our way to the buffet past the Mickey pool, and on a shore excursion or two. We did some spa treatments, did wine tasting, and mainly hung out in the adults only areas. To be honest, we had a child free cruise for the most part!

Do DCL for your HM.....you'll LOVE it!!!!

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Hi Tnkrbl2199.

less likely to have romantic dining do to so many families,

On our first cruise my son was 9. Two other boys at the table were 10 and 11. The 11-year old seemed to breathe fire when out of his dad's sight, but at dinner he was ok. The 10-year old was just fine.

I found it interesting listening to "Buckaroo" and the 10-year old talk about their experiences onboard ship as well as shore excursions. Articulate children can be quite entertaining. Their insight is amazing, their honesty is refreshing and their stories are usually humorous.

I am concerned that the Disney cruise will be less like a honeymoon than doing another cruise that may have more adult oriented activities

Unless you desire naked co-ed mud wrestling, glass-enclosed cabins or a casino, I trust your stateroom and verandah will suffice to hold those adult-activities appropos for newlyweds...

 

[dclwdwlover]

You will absolutely LOVE the ship for a honeymoon if you choose to. A word of advice, tho, do WDW FIRST because, as you know, it's A LOT of walking & cruising afterward is relaxing & a perfect end to a wonderful trip.
Our first DCL cruise (Magic) we did for our honeymoon. We had a fantastic time. We did dine at Palo's for adults only, but we actually enjoyed each night with our dinner companions - adults only - DCL obviously made sure of that! We utilized all of the adults only areas as much as we could, and had a wonderful time, but didn't mind seeing the kids around also - mainly because we didn't have to be taking care of them or be around them if we didn't want to. I would STRONGLY suggest a cabin with a verandah as we found this the most private & "romantic" area for us. Whenever we felt like being alone, whether it was in the middle of the day, or sailing away from an island or enjoying the moonlit night, we went back to the cabin & relaxed out on our verandah.
Since we're a 'blended family' & have kids (@ that time 10-15) we did enjoy a ship with kids around to see them enjoy the experience, but as I said, we could always be where kids aren't allowed if we wanted not to be around any. I picked Disney exculsively because it was my husband's first cruise &, altho I had cruised before, Disney ships weren't around then & I knew Disney's reputation would make it so that the entire experience was fantastic. I wasn't wrong! He loved the cruise so much we're going on our 3rd this fall.
The 2nd time we took the kids (& barely saw them, actually) & they had a WONDERful time, also. They didn't even want to try another line this time.
I hear some good things about RCL, but if it's your honeymoon & such a special, memorable time, I would want to be assured that it WILL be that way and with DCL you can't go wrong. Best Wishes.

 

[aricau]

I used my DVC points to send my daughter and her new husband on a Disney Cruise for their honeymoon. They loved it! They had a blast and are talking about going back. They made sure to get the late dinner seating. Disney put them with several other honeymoon couples. My daughter said the kids on the ship were busy doing their own thing and didn't bother them at all. Go on the Disney Cruise. You will love it! Besides when you are on your honeymoon you kind of make your own party with just the two of you.

 

[Grumbo]

Since we're a 'blended family' & have kids (@ that time 10-15) we did enjoy a ship with kids around to see them enjoy the experience

Wow dclwdwlover how many rooms did you have to put all of those kids in!?!??! Talk about your Brady Bunch Plus on the High Seas
Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[dclwdwlover]

Sorry - I meant '10 - 15 YEAR OLD's'. Gosh, I'd need more than a cruise if I had that many!!!! I'd need an asylum.
True 'story': I know a man who is one of TWENTY-THREE (23) kids - NO twins or triplets!!!! He (& the sibs that I knew) told me they had picnic tables as kitchen/dining tables & an old bus for transportation. YIKES!!! What a woman his mom must have been.

 

[mirel]

We just came back from our honeymoon in the Magic (5/10 - Western) and we had a great time. Can't wait to go back!
We were seated with another couple of newlyweds.

Mirel

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by mirel
We just came back from our honeymoon in the Magic (5/10 - Western) and we had a great time. Can't wait to go back!
We were seated with another couple of newlyweds. Mirel

You all who are saying you were seated with other newlyweds are SO lucky! Why didn't they do that for us on our honeymoon????

 

[Tnkrbl2199]

Thankyou all so much for your help.
Now...to convince my fiancee......

 

[Hygiene99]

My brother inlaw and his bride r going to do this ....
First they do a 4 day on the Wonder and then the Go to
GRAND FLORIDIAN HoneyMoon Suite and then 7 day Western
Sounds good to me...... peter