Disney Cruise for oldies!

[Sue's Mum]

Dh is in his mid 70s and I am 71 and we are DVC members. We like cruising and wonder how we would like a Disney cruise. Neither of is is particularly active but like walking around a ports, people watching on the ship etc. Neither of us likes a lot of noise but are quite happy to go and find somewhere quiet.

Do you think we might find a Disney cruise OTT.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We are seniors and love DCL cruises! On the DVC Member cruise in August, we made sure to get tickets for Anna and Elsa Meet which was a lot of fun! We're going on a Merrytime Cruise in 2 weeks.

We have traveled with DGC, but most of my 14 DCL cruises have been with DH and other adults. We do some port excursions, I really like to snorkel, DH joins me, but usually does not stay in the water as long as I do. I have had 2 knees replaced, and I now can get up and down into the pools by myself, but I cannot walk on sand without a lot of assistance.

We enjoy going to movies on board. I enjoy trivia and the shows more than DH.

Our first DCL cruise was 11 years ago, I surprised him for his 60th birthday, we began with a 3 nighter. Our most favorite DCL cruises were the EBTA and the WBPC.

We do enjoy cruising, and have been on at least 40 cruises. Our one in January will be on Princess. We will be going to ports that DCL does not go to.

When we got on the Wonder in Miami in January this year, one terminal worker asked why we were going on DCL without children, I told her we enjoy the whole experience. Clearly, she was not interested, so DCL may not be for everyone, but it is for us!

Bobbi

 

[cruisehopeful]

Neither of us likes a lot of noise but are quite happy to go and find somewhere quiet.

Do you think we might find a Disney cruise OTT.

I am not a big fan of noise, either. There are many places on Disney ships that are very noisy. The Wonder (and I am sure all the ships) has a very quiet, adults only area by the Cove Cafe. You can sit inside or outside. We often grab drinks/food from the noisy section and bring it back to the quiet section. The dining rooms can be very loud, too, but you can avoid those for some of the nights if you really need some quiet space.

 

[southerngirl528]

While DH and I are hardly seniors (yet, LOL!), we are definitely middle-aged and we both love, love DCL! We find they definitely have tons to offer for adults, in fact more than we can ever do while on a DCL cruise. We have sailed without kids way more than we have sailed with them and because we both lead very busy, crazy lives, we too like quiet and just "being". We love the adult areas, live the Quiet Cove area and the lounges for relaxing before dinner. I say give DCL a go and see what you both think! I'll bet you'll love it!

 

[HermanTriplets+1]

Cruised with a group of girlfriends last year for our 50th, and we had the time of our lives! We are not big night life folks, all tended to be in bed on the early side and up early. We found lots of quiet places for ourselves. Deck 4 (the "jogging and shuffleboard deck"), near the Cove Cafe and the adult pool, inside the Cove Cafe (books, magazines, complementary snacks even without purchasing the fancy coffees). We did some tastings which was great fun. I attended a drawing class (animation) and a cooking demo. We went to movies and shows, though not every evening. We lingered over our meals enjoying the fact that we didn't have kids to tend to! We enjoyed seeing all the other cute children and loved being able to feel their "wonder" - then we'd continue on our way to our quiet spots! We also enjoyed feeling free to act as young as we felt - standing on line for character meet and greet, taking pictures with the captains, ordering from the children's menu, eating Mickey Bars for dessert. If you love the Disney brand - the attention to perfection, the cleanliness, the friendliness, the "nothing you can ask is too much" attitude - then please do try a DCL cruise! You'll LOVE it!

 

[kittymamma]

Absolutely agree with HermanTriplets+1....we are early 70'a (now) and have sailed DCL 4X, Princess 1X and enjoyed them immensely. Our first cruise was when we were 69 and 68...we too waited in line to have our photo made with the characters and maintained a kids heart the entire cruise (s) which made for such a fun time. Spent a lot of time on our verandah and in the adult areas, saw the theatrical productions, which were excellent, had a few cocktails in Meridian and Skyline, walked around deck 4. You will be surprised how much you will enjoy the DCL magic...it really is true. You will not be disappointed.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

You will love the DCL cruises and will also be surprised at the great number of older folks like us onboard. We are DVC owners since 1993.


The superior designed, and built vessels with the classic lines and feel, the art deco and Nuevo deco feel and just enough Disney touches to bring a smile to peoples faces.

A ship crew that is excellent and the best trained and I know that for a fact, because I know all the special training they get on American Maritime schools. Add to that how they have rescued many at sea, including being able to get the rescue boat in the water and save a person who fell off another cruise ship when the other cruise ship could not even get their boat in the water.

The excellent service,, yes other lines may have great service, but twisting that into saying its Disney Pixie Dust, doesn't work, Add great food and good family entertainment. The DISNEY characters that bring joy to the kids, young and old. Mickey and Minnie. Things like Animators Pallet MDR, food and mixers events and that is just starters.

One of my thing was we were taken the design of the Magic tour, (which by itself is a great tour) when Belle came around the corner and a young girl on the tour with her MOM, just cried out in joy. Belle spun around, flopped down onto the deck, lifted the girl into lap and calmed her down. She finally told the child that if she was at a door down the passageway at 1830, she could walk with Belle to a greeting session. Mom nodded ok, Belle got up waved good bye and I would bet a week pay that child was at the door at 1830 and had a memory that would last a lifetime

In all our cruises we never had any problems with kids in the adult areas.......... Not a issue !

However the bottom line is the Disney cruises are special with real Disney Magic and Pixie dust only found on their ships.


AKK

 

[Uncleromulus]

Well--there are quiet adult areas but on occasion kids infiltrate those areas. In fact on our last Fantasy Cruise there were kids all over the "adult only" deck 13 area. When we said something about it to the bartenders at Currents they just said they no longer wanted any part of trying to keep them out. They said that they were often cursed and screamed at and on occasion challenged to fist-fights by parents who insisted their kids had a "right" to go anywhere they well pleased!!!

Bottom line--be prepared to find kids almost anywhere and be prepared to like them...

 

[Expatriat]

Well--there are quiet adult areas but on occasion kids infiltrate those areas. In fact on our last Fantasy Cruise there were kids all over the "adult only" deck 13 area. When we said something about it to the bartenders at Currents they just said they no longer wanted any part of trying to keep them out. They said that they were often cursed and screamed at and on occasion challenged to fist-fights by parents who insisted their kids had a "right" to go anywhere they well pleased!!!

Bottom line--be prepared to find kids almost anywhere and be prepared to like them...

This has not been our experience. We have only encountered a few "violators" on the Fantasy during our many sailings, and they were (albeit hesitantly) politely asked to "move on" by the CMs after about 5 minutes because it was an "adults only" area, and thankfully they did. Had this not been the case, we would have gone on up the totem pole - security, hotel manager, even the captain - whatever it takes to have the situation safely resolved. Bottom line is that DCL emphatically ADVERTISES "adult only" areas for adults to have a relaxing time away from kids. It is in their brochures, commercials and DVD. We pay for it! Kids have plenty of space exclusively for them around the ship, and we don't mind sharing the public spaces with them, but the few adult areas aboard are for ADULTS. I would never directly confront the violators, but would never hesitate to seek out the proper crew member or officer to do so.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Part of the problem is that the adult areas are not really closed off in any real way. Unattended kids (of which there are many) can wander in at any time--not to mention the entitled families as I referenced in my original post.

Another is the signs--they should say ADULTS ONLY in big red letters. Instead, it's something bland like "reserved for guests 18 and over". Pretty easy to ignore---

As you say--kids have 99% of the ship--adults can certainly have their 1%.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I've seen a few violators as well but they have usually been parents with babies or toddlers who either carry the children in or push them in with a stroller or baby carrier. A couple walked into Skyline with a baby in a stroller one night and the bartender immediately told them they could not have the baby in there.

By contrast, several times I have seen passengers walk into the Cove carrying a toddler, and the servers just make up whatever they want and they pay for it and leave. Have had Cove servers also say that children are welcome in Cove when the ship is in port! Specifically on the Magic. Which I know is not the case. They just don't want to confront the parents.

 

[Expatriat]

If the adults in the adult areas say nothing, the CMs will think it's no big deal, and the violations will increase. Any of us who truly enjoy the adults only areas and care about keeping them SHOULD let it be known to the crew and especially the officers every time that a child-infested adult experience is NOT what we paid for and we are not happy. If we let it slide, it won't be long before there won't be any escapes for adults to be found aboard anywhere. DCL has a great cruise experience for all if they would stick to delivering what they advertise!

 

[cruisehopeful]

When I am in the adult's only area on Wonder, there are often parents with kids walking through. I don't care because they are just passing by, but I did have a day where it was constant. There weren't many people sitting around and a staff member came up to ask if my 18 y/o was an adult. That's interesting that someone else must have complained since the place was pretty barren at the time.

 

[tltay2005]

You can always find a quite spot somewhere. We sailed in June which is peak busy season for families. Except for the pool decks, most of the ship was very quiet on the day we were at Nassau, as you can see by this photo of us in the lobby. No one else in sight.

This is Deck 4 and it is a nice place to sit and relax. Usually was quiet everyday.

This is the adult pool area and its was only busy one of the three days we sailed.

I am sure you will have an amazing time.

 

[southerngirl528]

Out of all my DCL cruises, which total about 2 months onboard, I really have not seen kids in the adult areas more than an occasional walk-through with parents.

But I'm with Expatriot and others that I would DEFINITELY speak up if someone had their kids in the adult areas. And I also would cascade the complaint upward if area CM's were not comfortable or if the parent of the kids got testy. If a parent started acting up when asked to get their "darling(s)" out of the adult area, I would immediately go and request Security to the area. It's not okay for people to make up their own rules and override the rules.

 

[MickeyD]

I have only encountered kids in the adult areas a few times in 7 cruises with DCL. It is one of the reasons we, as adult only cruisers, continue to cruise with them. They enforce the quiet spaces for the adults. Yes, I get irritated when kids run down the stateroom hallways and slam doors, but I realize Disney can't parent other peoples kids. The fact that they have spaces for adults only and keep it that way, is more than most cruiselines have. We have sailed RCCL and Princess and adult only spaces were not enforced at all (although the ratio of kids was much smaller on Princess). The responsibility for enforcement of these areas should lie with parents and other cruisers, not the castmembers. Just because (you) are on vacation, does not give (you) the right to ignore rules or allow your children to run wild on the ship. So add me to the camp of it is up to us to police the adult only areas and speak up if an infraction occurs. Alot of times, a polite word of reminder that "this area is for adults only, there are plenty of places on the ship to take your little one." I will add that the Art of Entertainment classes are adult only, but found out on our last sailing on the Fantasy, that they do allow older children to attend on the dessert day (because they don't serve alcohol with that one).