Disney Cruise Honeymoon 2020

[Miss Frankie J]

Hello everyone!

So this holiday me and my boyfriend got engaged and we couldn't be more excited. We always wanted to do a cruise but since neither of us has done one we are both overwhelmed with all the choices and destinations out there. We have both been to WDW many times and I especially love Disney. Immediately we both thought for our first cruise a Disney one might be a good choice. we were looking to do 2 weeks, a week or so on land in wdw (Late october) and 5 or more days on a Disney cruise to the bahamas or caribbean area. But I have some hesitations...


1. Is a Disney cruise too Kiddish? We like WDW a lot and never felt out of place but I'm worried we might feel awkward without children on the cruise.

2. Is there enough Adult things to do without children?

3. Is it Romantic? Im worried about the possibility of communal seating only because its our honeymoon. otherwise we are fine at places like Biergarten.

4. Would we be better off selecting a different cruise line? Im a huge fan and he usually just goes with the flow but I wouldn't say he loves it.

5. Travel insurance aside, should I avoid a cruise in the fall? I know its hurricane season and we plan on getting travel insurance but should I just suck up the cost and book during a different time?


if anyone could answer some of these questions and let me know their feelings on it ?i would appreciate it. Especially if you were a couple!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Cordy2424]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!! My husband and I just got married in October and honeymooned at WDW for a week in November! He'd never been to Disney before and man is he hooked! It was purely MAGICAL!! In fact, we are considering a cruise later this year for our anniversary because we don't want to go back to WDW until the Galaxy's Edge crazy has had a couple years to die down and the cruise will hopefully curb our addiction!

That being said, we've never cruised before either. We've been watching ALL the YouTube we can find and actually, a few of the really reliable vloggers just went on a media sponsored cruise with Disney earlier this week. I've been following lots of Instagram stories and Facebook live feeds too (The Tim Tracker, the.DIS and DisneyLists are the ones I've been following specifically). We are SOLD after looking into all of this. I've seen what appears to be LOTS of adults only couples/groups with no worries of anything being too childish (even getting on board as early as possible to hopefully get the opportunity to look at the epic Star Wars area in one of the kid only areas before they go kids-only once the ship leaves). One couple we saw on YouTube even mentioned choosing the later dining time and always calling ahead to request being sat alone - with an almost 100% success rate.

I know this doesn't answer all of your questions - but might give you some confidence!

Again - CONGRATULATIONS!!!

 

[mills10]

My wife and I did an 11-night Disney cruise for our honeymoon and we absolutely LOVED it! We never felt out of place or that it was too kiddish. I'm not sure of your background but my wife and I don't drink so even not going to the various bars and clubs on the ship we still felt like there were plenty of adult activities for us.

I'm can't answer your question about travel insurance because we have never purchased that.

 

[disneygirl922]

Congratulations on your engagement! How exciting!! I will try to give my perspective.

1. Not kiddish at all. Of course there are characters and plenty of things for kids to do. Everything is Disney-fied, but in a beautiful, classy way. There are plenty of people who cruise DCL without kids. We're taking an all adult cruise on DCL in July.

2. There are plenty of adult things to do. There are specific areas on the ships that are adult-only...there are adult-only activities...there is even an adult-only beach on Castaway Cay.

3. I think there are plenty of Romantic opportunities. You can call and request ahead of time to be seated at your own table, and they will do their best to accommodate. It's not guaranteed, but DCL definitely aims to please! You can also look into Palo or Remy brunch or dinner (although the prices just went up). These are adult-only specialty restaurants that you have to pay an additional cost for, but they have great reviews. I think we are going to try and book brunch at Palo on this next cruise. Just to have some alone time away from the rest of the group.

4. The only prior experience that I have is with Carnival. It was an old ship, extremely dingy, and just an overall poor experience. I do know there are other cruise lines that are comparable to Disney, but I don't have an experience with them. I think you will be more than happy with DCL.

5. I cannot really speak on this, but I have read other people's accounts and they have had no problems sailing during hurricane season. I think they will occasionally change itineraries in order to avoid bad weather. That is just what I've heard.

Hope this helps! Whatever direction you decide to go, I hope you have a wonderful honeymoon!

 

[lorimay]

Congratulations!!!

My son and daughter in law were married in April of 2017, for their honeymoon they flew to Los Angeles spent a few days there, then drove to San Diego for a few days and finished their honeymoon with a Mexican Riveria Cruise on The Disney Wonder, they loved it. They were treated so special the entire cruise.
You will love it, plenty of adult spots for you. Try Remy( Dream & Fantasy) and/ or Palo for dinner or brunch.

Choose excursions that say "Adult Departure", adults only.

Happy Planning

 

[pascalspal]

Congrats!!

1. I don't believe they are kiddish at all! I am what most would consider a young professional and I go on DCL all the time as the youngest in my party! You'll have a great time with no kids!
2. Plently of activities to fill your time that are free! Plenty that cost a little extra (alcohol tastings/spa/etc.). Plenty of adults only areas as well!
3. I agree with other posters, if you tell DCL youre celebrating your honeymoon I'm sure they will do everything they can to accommodate your solo table request! Definitely consider Palo for an incredible meal brunch/dinner that is adults only!

I can't help with the others, but I think it would be a wonderful idea!

 

[kiford]

Is a Disney cruise too Kiddish? We like WDW a lot and never felt out of place but I'm worried we might feel awkward without children on the cruise.

2. Is there enough Adult things to do without children?

3. Is it Romantic? Im worried about the possibility of communal seating only because its our honeymoon. otherwise we are fine at places like Biergarten.

1. DH and I have done 10 DCL cruises since 2000. We are both in our 50's and we have no children. I have never felt awkward without children on the cruise. There are plenty of adult-only areas and adult-only activities plus areas where children are permitted but where they are not terribly interested (e.g., some of the lounges). We have cruised with other couples and singles who either have no children or their children are grown and out of the house.

2. I have no problems finding things to do. There are some activities which are adult only. The shows, while mainly geared towards children, are extremely well done and we enjoyed them. Some of the shows, especially later at night, are more adult oriented but not raunchy. There are alcohol tastings, various trivia activities, music, movies, lounges, and talks (these all vary from cruise to cruise), spa, gym. On the larger ships there is mini golf and the midship detective game (originally intended to be for children but we were told that 60% of players are adult).

3. I'm of the opinion that what is romantic isn't necessarily low lights, flowers and wine. It's spending time doing things together with your partner, talking to each other and basically just having fun together. So from that perspective, I've always found it to be romantic because other than dinner it's usually just the two of us devoting all of our attention and time to each other (though we sometimes travel with friends too). You can go to the adults only dining (upcharge fee) if you want low light, flowers and wine or just sit in a corner in one of the lounges (piano bar is my favourite). While you will be seated with others unless you make a request to sit on your own (which isn't guaranteed), I wouldn't call it communal dining though I suppose technically it is. You are seated with the same people for dinner (and have the same servers) every night so you get to know them a bit. We now do a fair bit of travel with a couple we met on one of our cruises and still keep in touch with others or see some of the others from time to time. So much more fun to share with others. I've always found that being on a cruise ship creates a much more friendly atmosphere than a resort so interaction with other people around the ship is more common than at a WDW resort.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

Congratulations on the engagement

1. We don't have children but have taken 7 cruises on DCL. Loved every moment (almost ... see #5). The kids are occupied most of the day in the clubs or on the pool deck.
2. There are so many things to do all day and into the late evening. The adult only is only an age requirement. Nothing bad or nasty. Heck, it's DISNEY (probably won't see Miley Cyrus on board a Disney ship).
3. Romance is what you make it from a table for two (be sure to call DCL and tell them the whole story and request for the table), massages for two, rain forest time, but the best is towel folding !!!
4. We have also cruised on Norway and Celebrity. We keep coming back to DCL. Just love it.
5. WELL.... on one of our cruises we ran right into Hurricane Sandy off the east coast of FL.. Oh what a ride it was, all night long. But we survived and continue to cruise with DCL.

Just do it. Don't think so hard. Save that for the wedding plans. Let the Mouse do the rest.

 

[lklgoodman]

Dh and I went on a Disney cruise for our honeymoon, nearly 18 yrs ago. Now we take our 10 yr old dd on a cruise each year. In fact we're in Orlando right now and will be getting on the Fantasy tomorrow!! As others have said, there will be lots of great activities for just you and your dh. If you choose a Disney cruise for your honeymoon, you'll love it. We even saw a couple get married on the Wonder last year. Congrats!!

 

[mevelandry]

Hello everyone!

So this holiday me and my boyfriend got engaged and we couldn't be more excited. We always wanted to do a cruise but since neither of us has done one we are both overwhelmed with all the choices and destinations out there. We have both been to WDW many times and I especially love Disney. Immediately we both thought for our first cruise a Disney one might be a good choice. we were looking to do 2 weeks, a week or so on land in wdw (Late october) and 5 or more days on a Disney cruise to the bahamas or caribbean area. But I have some hesitations...


1. Is a Disney cruise too Kiddish? We like WDW a lot and never felt out of place but I'm worried we might feel awkward without children on the cruise.

2. Is there enough Adult things to do without children?

3. Is it Romantic? Im worried about the possibility of communal seating only because its our honeymoon. otherwise we are fine at places like Biergarten.

4. Would we be better off selecting a different cruise line? Im a huge fan and he usually just goes with the flow but I wouldn't say he loves it.

5. Travel insurance aside, should I avoid a cruise in the fall? I know its hurricane season and we plan on getting travel insurance but should I just suck up the cost and book during a different time?


if anyone could answer some of these questions and let me know their feelings on it ?i would appreciate it. Especially if you were a couple!

Thanks in advance!

1. The only thing I find too kid oriented are some of the shows like Golden Mickeys, Believe, Dreams. Frozen was fun. Other than that you can manage your schedule according to your tolerance.

2. For a first DCL cruise you'll be fine. For DH and I, the 3rd DCL cruise felt a bit like a repetition of the two first. But the Quiet Cove on the ship and Serenity Bay on Castaway were very nice and quiet. Palo & Remy (if you can afford it) are amazing as well. Don't miss the "marriage show" (not sure how they call it).

3. A cruise is always romantic.

4. Maybe but if you are big fan of Disney you are going to have a good time.

5. It's not that much about travel insurance than your tolerance to last minute changes. On a cruise, they can change your itinerary at any time for your safety and it's more likely to happen during hurricane season (change of/cancellation of ports). Cruises being cancelled/shortened or longer because of hurricanes can happen but it doesn't happen that much.

 

[lilsonicfan]

Congrats!!

My DH is not a big Disney fan. He enjoyed our cruise, but I am certain he would have been a tad bit happier on any other line, mostly due to the increased cost involved in sailing DCL, lack of a casino (on one cruise, he played in the poker tournament and won $1,200!), and Disney focus. But like I said, he still really enjoyed it. Cruises are all about relaxation and slowing down, (IMO at least) and if that's what you're into, you'll have a great time.

PS: I love Donutella!

 

[Miss Frankie J]

Sorry I havent been able to respond quickly! Thank you all for the responses and congratulations! I'll start tackling replies!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!! My husband and I just got married in October and honeymooned at WDW for a week in November! He'd never been to Disney before and man is he hooked! It was purely MAGICAL!! In fact, we are considering a cruise later this year for our anniversary because we don't want to go back to WDW until the Galaxy's Edge crazy has had a couple years to die down and the cruise will hopefully curb our addiction!

One couple we saw on YouTube even mentioned choosing the later dining time and always calling ahead to request being sat alone - with an almost 100% success rate.

I know this doesn't answer all of your questions - but might give you some confidence!

Again - CONGRATULATIONS!!!

WOW Congrats to you too! We love going in october and are considering a stay at a deluxe (beach club or AKL) then the cruise. Where did you guys stay for your honeymoon?

I love timtracker and Im so happy they are doing a cruise vlog. They have the first one up so that makes me excited! I also heard that the later time has a better success rate as well. thank you for the tip!

3. I think there are plenty of Romantic opportunities. You can call and request ahead of time to be seated at your own table, and they will do their best to accommodate. It's not guaranteed, but DCL definitely aims to please! You can also look into Palo or Remy brunch or dinner (although the prices just went up). These are adult-only specialty restaurants that you have to pay an additional cost for, but they have great reviews. I think we are going to try and book brunch at Palo on this next cruise. Just to have some alone time away from the rest of the group.

4. The only prior experience that I have is with Carnival. It was an old ship, extremely dingy, and just an overall poor experience. I do know there are other cruise lines that are comparable to Disney, but I don't have an experience with them. I think you will be more than happy with DCL. My boyfriend absolutely loved it! (This is a guy who had never seen the Lion King until last month...) Booking our second cruise with DCL was his idea.

5. I cannot really speak on this, but I have read other people's accounts and they have had no problems sailing during hurricane season. I think they will occasionally change itineraries in order to avoid bad weather. That is just what I've heard.

Hope this helps! Whatever direction you decide to go, I hope you have a wonderful honeymoon!

Thank you for the reassurance! I am excited about all the adult only areas but I love the charm of Disney so I'm heavily leaning towards a DC. Carnival has some of the cheapest rates I have seen but just keep hearing negative things about them. I've been looking into Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises as well and some of the ships look beautiful.

Congrats!!

1. I don't believe they are kiddish at all! I am what most would consider a young professional and I go on DCL all the time as the youngest in my party! You'll have a great time with no kids!
2. Plently of activities to fill your time that are free! Plenty that cost a little extra (alcohol tastings/spa/etc.). Plenty of adults only areas as well!
3. I agree with other posters, if you tell DCL youre celebrating your honeymoon I'm sure they will do everything they can to accommodate your solo table request! Definitely consider Palo for an incredible meal brunch/dinner that is adults only!

I can't help with the others, but I think it would be a wonderful idea!

thank you for the reassurance! I guess I should look up prices on those extra activities. I'm really interested in Remy and spa packages as I really just want this second portion of our honeymoon to be relaxing :3

 

[Miss Frankie J]

Congratulations on the engagement

1. We don't have children but have taken 7 cruises on DCL. Loved every moment (almost ... see #5). The kids are occupied most of the day in the clubs or on the pool deck.
2. There are so many things to do all day and into the late evening. The adult only is only an age requirement. Nothing bad or nasty. Heck, it's DISNEY (probably won't see Miley Cyrus on board a Disney ship).
3. Romance is what you make it from a table for two (be sure to call DCL and tell them the whole story and request for the table), massages for two, rain forest time, but the best is towel folding !!!
4. We have also cruised on Norway and Celebrity. We keep coming back to DCL. Just love it.
5. WELL.... on one of our cruises we ran right into Hurricane Sandy off the east coast of FL.. Oh what a ride it was, all night long. But we survived and continue to cruise with DCL.

Just do it. Don't think so hard. Save that for the wedding plans. Let the Mouse do the rest.

Thank you for your feedback! Could you maybe go into a little more with your experience with Celebrity cruises? Celebrity is another cruise line we were heavily considering. WDW has always wowed me each time I go back, but since we are first time cruisers we are nervous! all of these tips really help us feel better about considering a DC

 

[allaboutthemouse]

Your thread title caught my eye because we went on a DCL cruise for our honeymoon...20 years ago in 2020 End of October.
Gone on a few DCL cruises between then and now, with kids and without, but I have my eye on the repo from San Juan to New Orleans in 2020 to celebrate our 20th since it’s on the wonder, haven’t been on her in awhile and she was our honeymoon ship so I thought that would be “romantic”
Leaving the kids home, of course

Either that sailing, or Alaska on the wonder in 2020, but I doubt we’ll be able to afford that! Waiting to see, though.

For our honeymoon, they sat us with another young couple at a four top, and it was fun getting to know them...We also ate at Palo one night.

One time we sailed end of October on magic. Was supposed to be a western itinerary but was changed to eastern due to a hurricane...fine with us, wasn’t real interested in the ports anyway, just wanted to be on the ship lol

So yes, go, it will be awesome

And you will be hooked...

 

[Miss Frankie J]

Congrats!!

My DH is not a big Disney fan. He enjoyed our cruise, but I am certain he would have been a tad bit happier on any other line, mostly due to the increased cost involved in sailing DCL, lack of a casino (on one cruise, he played in the poker tournament and won $1,200!), and Disney focus. But like I said, he still really enjoyed it. Cruises are all about relaxation and slowing down, (IMO at least) and if that's what you're into, you'll have a great time.

PS: I love Donutella!

I am lucky that my Fiance has gone with me on many Disney adventures to make me happy. he may not be a huge fan but he has a great time each time. he hates how planned out WDW is so I do all of the planning lol. I feel like a cruise will help us slow down, but keeping it Disney would fulfill another Disney Bucket list item

And Donutella is the best! I love Mozzerella as my all time fave. Disney needs to collab with Tokidoki!

 

[BMDisney]

Hello everyone!

So this holiday me and my boyfriend got engaged and we couldn't be more excited. We always wanted to do a cruise but since neither of us has done one we are both overwhelmed with all the choices and destinations out there. We have both been to WDW many times and I especially love Disney. Immediately we both thought for our first cruise a Disney one might be a good choice. we were looking to do 2 weeks, a week or so on land in wdw (Late october) and 5 or more days on a Disney cruise to the bahamas or caribbean area. But I have some hesitations...


1. Is a Disney cruise too Kiddish? We like WDW a lot and never felt out of place but I'm worried we might feel awkward without children on the cruise.

2. Is there enough Adult things to do without children?

3. Is it Romantic? Im worried about the possibility of communal seating only because its our honeymoon. otherwise we are fine at places like Biergarten.

4. Would we be better off selecting a different cruise line? Im a huge fan and he usually just goes with the flow but I wouldn't say he loves it.

5. Travel insurance aside, should I avoid a cruise in the fall? I know its hurricane season and we plan on getting travel insurance but should I just suck up the cost and book during a different time?


if anyone could answer some of these questions and let me know their feelings on it ?i would appreciate it. Especially if you were a couple!

Thanks in advance!

We went on an anniversary trip as just adults, we don't have kids yet, in 2016 and took the Thanksgiving Western Caribbean Cruise from Disney.

I can answer for you:

1. No, its about the same as WDW. Kids have their own floor they can hang out in on the ship. I never felt there were too many kids on the board, nor did I feel awkward.

2. Yes. Wine/Beer/liquor tastings/mixology classes. An Adults only pool and hot tub. There is a Spa, Cove Cafe, Palo and Remy- Adults only Restaurants. (All of those things cost extra money though except for the pool/hot tub and cove cafe (unless you buy something there). They also have adult only events in the bars at night, things like the Newly Wed Game (I think they may have called it something different), or Karaoke, etc. Also while it's not exclusively for adults, the Broadway-esque shows they put on are entertaining.

3. We were seated with two other young couples like us, both of which were on their honeymoons. I think DCL tries to match up people with similar demographics, as we had been married for about 3 years and the two couples were recently wed, and we were in the same age range. It was actually fun to talk to the other couples about how their day was and what they did on the ship.

4. I can't really answer that properly. I've only ever cruised on DCL and once on Carnival. All I can say is the Carnival cruise was really bad, the ship was old and tiny and it jostled a lot and it felt like everyone as trying to nickle and dime us to squeeze more money out, it felt like vacationing at a used car lot. I can't speak for other cruises, all I can say is we thoroughly enjoyed DCL to the point where we booked an on board place holder and are now preparing for our next cruise in June.

5.That is your call. We didn't do Travel Insurance and we cruised in November and it was fine.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

Thank you for your feedback! Could you maybe go into a little more with your experience with Celebrity cruises? Celebrity is another cruise line we were heavily considering. WDW has always wowed me each time I go back, but since we are first time cruisers we are nervous! all of these tips really help us feel better about considering a DC

Our Celebrity cruise on the Millennium was definitely geared more towards adult experiences and entertainment. The main lounge was right at the bow (plus or minus a deck from the captain's bridge) overlooking the waters ahead. Beautiful view to enjoy a drink and relax. The food was fabulous in the dining room that had an upscale private restaurant atmosphere and the food presented in an equivalent manner. Do not recall a lot of children, but our cruise was in early February. We enjoy the fall/winter cruises and let families have the summer experiences. Dress code was very much in effect, but the people on this cruise were more apt to dress accordingly for a very well presented meal. It was relaxing. We enjoy DCL because it is active (not like the parks active) just lots of things to do as well as not to do. I am the active one. My DH is the "not to do" and enjoys the veranda with a book and a pair of binoculars.

 

[sleepydog25]

Hello everyone!

So this holiday me and my boyfriend got engaged and we couldn't be more excited. We always wanted to do a cruise but since neither of us has done one we are both overwhelmed with all the choices and destinations out there. We have both been to WDW many times and I especially love Disney. Immediately we both thought for our first cruise a Disney one might be a good choice. we were looking to do 2 weeks, a week or so on land in wdw (Late october) and 5 or more days on a Disney cruise to the bahamas or caribbean area. But I have some hesitations...


1. Is a Disney cruise too Kiddish? We like WDW a lot and never felt out of place but I'm worried we might feel awkward without children on the cruise.

2. Is there enough Adult things to do without children?

3. Is it Romantic? Im worried about the possibility of communal seating only because its our honeymoon. otherwise we are fine at places like Biergarten.

4. Would we be better off selecting a different cruise line? Im a huge fan and he usually just goes with the flow but I wouldn't say he loves it.

5. Travel insurance aside, should I avoid a cruise in the fall? I know its hurricane season and we plan on getting travel insurance but should I just suck up the cost and book during a different time?


if anyone could answer some of these questions and let me know their feelings on it ?i would appreciate it. Especially if you were a couple!

Thanks in advance!

Just to add my thoughts to the excellent ones above. . .my wife and I went on a DCL cruise for our honeymoon after getting married at the Wilderness Lodge. It was divine!
1. No, it isn't. There are plenty of adult areas and activities. There is the adults-only pool and hot tub area with a bar. There is Cove Cafe, which is an adults-only coffee shop with specialty coffees, Danish, and snacks. The specialty coffees are an out-of-pocket expense, but the snacks and Danish are free. You can also get a Cove Cafe card and after 10 (8?) purchases, you get a free one, and it can be saved to your next cruise. There are bars, alcohol tastings (varies but usually martinis, whiskeys, and wines), a mixology class, and two adults-only restaurants. It's also not hard to find places to be alone and away from kids who mostly want to stay at the pool area, anyway.
2. See above. You can also do excursions such as parasailing, snorkeling, et. al., as well as visiting the adults-only beach at Castaway Cay. One of the adult clubs had a take on the Newlywed Game, and we took part in it. They asked for the couple who had been married the longest, the couple who had been married the shortest (that was us by one day), and then chose another couple in between. It was a hoot! Due to a couple of our answers, we were often recognized and waved at the rest of the cruise. Quite fun! Edited to add: We did a couples massage for our honeymoon at Senses Spa, and it was worth the extra dollars. Very relaxing, and after you finish the massage portion, you get a spa room to yourself to unwind, drink champagne, and have your own hot tub that looks out over the water.
3. Very! You can request to be seated alone rather than at a table with others which we did on our honeymoon cruise. For our next two cruises, we didn't make the request and had one cruise with no one else seated with us and the other cruise we had a very nice couple and then a group of three who only showed up to one meal. Beyond the normal dining rotation, we always reserve Remy and Palo (you might not have Remy if you don't book one of the two newer ships) as they are very romantic, especially Remy, and they both have excellent food. Yes, they do cost extra, but they have been worth it for the experience. Remy has likely priced itself out of our comfort zone with the recent increase, but I'd still recommend Palo. One of the best desserts I've had is their chocolate soufflé. I will say that Remy is a topnotch restaurant, and on our last cruise, we reserved the first night. We were the only couple in the restaurant the entire night as we were there for first seating and didn't leave until after the last seating. Talk about romantic!
4. I doubt it. I'm not saying you wouldn't have a good time on another cruise line, but as expensive as Disney's version is, it's still the class leader. And thus far, their health grades have outpaced the competition. It's still Disney, but the service you get is far above that you receive at Disney parks.
5. We've always traveled during hurricane season, and thus far we've been fortunate. On our first cruise, there was a hurricane headed straight for the Bahamas. Literally, 24 hours before our departure, it turned north and missed the islands. If that season works best for you, stick with it. The odds are in your favor; however, trip insurance is a wise idea.

DCL has the sort of customer service you wish Disney parks could have. If not for the cost, we'd do a lot more Disney cruises. We do have another one coming up in December. It will be a Christmas cruise, so we're already excited. Hope this helps!

 

[kiford]

You can also get a Cove Cafe card and after 10 (8?) purchases, you get a free one, and it can be saved to your next cruise.

After 5 purchases, you get the sixth one free. I'm not sure if you're technically allowed to carry it onto the next cruise. While I have always been able to do so, some people have reported that they are no longer allowing this. The free one can only be non-alcoholic (although sometimes they've allowed me to do an alcoholic one but the policy is not to) but you'll get credit for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to make up the five. They make a decent Americano and my favourite alcoholic one is the mint moche latte (espresso with milk, creme de menthe and chocolate syrup topped with whipped cream). They also have a lot of nice teas and they also count towards your five. If you're into higher end brandies, scotches and whiskeys, it's a good place to get them. It's just a really nice quiet spot. They usually play CNN on the big screen in there but you have to put on headphones to hear it so it's not disruptive. We spend a lot of time there just reading and talking. They also switch from sweet pastries at about 5 pm to savoury items like cheese, crackers, olives, etc. No purchase necessary, just help yourself.

 

[Dug720]

After 5 purchases, you get the sixth one free. I'm not sure if you're technically allowed to carry it onto the next cruise. While I have always been able to do so, some people have reported that they are no longer allowing this. The free one can only be non-alcoholic (although sometimes they've allowed me to do an alcoholic one but the policy is not to) but you'll get credit for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to make up the five. They make a decent Americano and my favourite alcoholic one is the mint moche latte (espresso with milk, creme de menthe and chocolate syrup topped with whipped cream). They also have a lot of nice teas and they also count towards your five. If you're into higher end brandies, scotches and whiskeys, it's a good place to get them. It's just a really nice quiet spot. They usually play CNN on the big screen in there but you have to put on headphones to hear it so it's not disruptive. We spend a lot of time there just reading and talking. They also switch from sweet pastries at about 5 pm to savoury items like cheese, crackers, olives, etc. No purchase necessary, just help yourself.

Just know that the free one cannot be one of the alcoholic options - even if the purchased ones all were. Not a huge deal, but something to be aware of.