Don’t drink, low calorie diet, will I enjoy cruising?

[kaetra]

I’m considering my first cruise, but as I’m watching DCL videos on YouTube I don’t know if a cruise is going to be fun for me. It seems like there’s just not much to do besides eat tons of food and go to bars in the after hours areas. Sitting in a deck chair would get very boring very quickly

The shows look amazing , though.

Was anyone else worried about being bored but then had an amazing time.

 

[koala1966]

My sister is a super picky eater and doesn't drink and she still loved her cruise. Her husband was definitely worried about being bored and he may have had even more fun than she did. Despite the advertising, there is more than just food and drinks, and every dining room offers a light menu option. Also we almost never spend time by the pool and we're busy morning to night.

 

[FigmentSpark]

You should take a look at some previous navigators to see what all there is to do. There are movies, meet and greets, if you're into that, or people watching (at meet and greets) if you're not. Don't forget that you'll be stopping at ports, as well. It's not all sailing. But, yeah, you have to decide what you like to do on a vacation to know whether it's suited to you.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Agree to check navigators, read some reviews of your itinerary and make an informed decision. I happen to think that yes, enjoying some specialty meals, enjoying some cocktails and relaxing while on seas days is enuf for me, lol. There are plenty of things to do depending on ur expectations.. but if ur hesitant already, research cause may Not be for you.
Good luck deciding!!

 

[scrapbookjulie]

The last time we cruised, I was losing weight and staying strict to my 1200 calorie a day eating. And it was still my favorite vacation! Lots to do on the ship besides eat.

 

[mmmears]

Yes, it's possible to eat carefully, not drink, and still have a blast on a Disney cruise.

Like PPs have said, look at some past Navigators, especially a day at sea, and see all the activities available. Then factor in sitting and watching the ocean, going to work out at the gym, maybe a trip to the rainforest room, etc. and see what you think. Personally I find there is too many things to do that look fun to me and I have to make myself relax and not go to them all. I was looking at another cruise line, not sure whether or not I'd be bored, and I looked at their daily offerings and I couldn't find anything I'd want to do. So I think it's very personal but this is a good way to see what's available.

 

[lilsonicfan]

I will go out on a limb and say that you may well be bored. A lot of the fun of cruising, beyond the food and drink, is the ability to do nothing at all. Yes there are things to do on board but they are things like cooking demonstrations, bingo, trivia, towel folding, crafts etc. If I’m being honest, my DH would likely prefer being on a different cruise line. I have cousins who really disliked their DCL cruise as they felt so bored. It’s not for everyone. But it might be for you! Just depends on what you find fun.

 

[lorimay]

I love going on a cruise vacation, you will never be more spoiled by crew members on a vacation, then on a Disney Cruise ship, IMO.
When you go home you will be looking for your dining room servers and your stateroom host who made you feel like royalty. Possibly even weep a little for them
I have never been bored in 17 cruises, there is as much or as little available for you to choose from.
I agree with other's look on DCLblog.com for Navigator's for just about every itinerary Disney sails and you will see all that you can enjoy.

 

[DisneyGirlMI]

Past navigators can be found here: https://disneycruiselineblog.com/personal-navigators/

 

[ScooterScott44]

I’ll be the contrasting vote on this, yes you might be bored.

If you review the navigators, I’ll agree that there is plenty to do on DCL and other cruise lines. Will those things appeal to you, maybe. Will you find something that you can enjoy for dinner, probably. Do you HAVE to drink and go to the bars to have fun, not really.

Only you can decide if you like cruising. We tried it many years ago, and like most people who enjoy cruises, found it a completely different way to vacation. It really feels like a getaway. You can do as much or as little as you like. I’ll add that even as an active person, sometime just sitting in the sun, feeling the breeze and watching the ship piercing the blue water can be the bright spot of my day. (Sometimes boring is just what is needed on this type of vacation.)

 

[DietCokeMommy]

My DH and I don’t really drink either. He never developed much of a taste for it and it often gives me headaches. On our last cruise (4 day) we had one drink and spent about an hour at the (adult) pool and we had an amazing time. As for the food, we didn’t really get into the whole stuff your face around the clock thing. We felt super weird asking for extra beignets at Tiana’s, lol.

Whether you like a cruise will depend on which cruise you do and what you enjoy in a vacation. You should probably pick a more port intensive one with fewer sea days. And make sure to research each port and have planned activities to do on your own or with a group excursion.

It can also depend on whether you have kids. I have two daycare aged children and since my oldest was born 4 years ago we’ve taken many trips, but it’s not so much a vacation as it is parenting in different locations. On a cruise with the kids club you can get an actual break for a while. So while we typically might be bored to just do nothing, when our kids are in the clubs and it’s just DH and I we feel amazing. We can air on deck or our verandah, we can read, we can float in the pool for bit. And no one’s fighting, no one’s begging for a snack, we can just relax. So that’s a huge plus for a cruise vacation in my book.

 

[mike314]

Honestly there is so much to do, my wife and I only ate during dinning times (well, we did grab icecream a few times during the day). I think you will enjoy it, if you really are on the fence try a small cruise like a 3 or 4 night. Trust me you will be addicted

 

[MomOTwins]

If the shows are really the only thing that appeals to you, a trip to New york with tickets to see Disney on broadway might be a better option (and the low calorie dining there is great!). We enjoy the pools, the slides, Castaway Cay, the spa, entertainment like bingo and family quiz and karaoke etc. so we don’t feel bored. But would I go on a cruise if I was eating light? Honestly no, because the four-course meals are a huge part of the cruise fare, so I would rather go to Disney World and spend less by eating light there.

 

[ironz]

Oh, for us it's not all about the food and drinks. We enjoy our meals and do have some drinks or go to a tasting, but they are not the centerpiece of the cruise. We enjoy working out on the ship, relaxing, going to the shows and movies, exploring the ports. I sometimes leave DH to his own devices if I want to go play bingo or do one of the trivia contests. On our next cruise, we'll spend a bit of time in the spa, too.

Going to add: there are "lighter" options on the dinner menu. Or you don't have to order all of the courses. I sometimes just let my server know that if I don't eat everything, that I just am not as big an eater-- not because the food isn't good.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

Depends on what you need not to be bored. I am doing things all day throughout the ship when we have a sea day. Never stop moving, me and my Navigator. OTOH, my DH loves to just sit on the veranda, read a book, and watch other ships or coastline through his binoculars. Once we dock at a destination, it's a half day adventure for us seeing the sights of the city and learning about local foods and activities.

Food is what you want. We only eat at meal time and choose carefully . Maybe a self-serve ice cream mid-afternoon. You are what you eat and if you are the type to choose carefully, like us, you'll find the selections fantastic. Go For It.

 

[Girl of the South]

I only ate once a day on my last cruise - either a late breakfast buffet or the later lunch buffet. There is a LOT of starch in the buffet but there is a small salad bar and fish, not that many cooked vegetables. Also fruit. I thought the desserts looked a lot better than they tasted. I was NOT bored but I am quite good at entertaining myself. I took the cooking classes (small sample of what they cooked - VERY tasty), people watched, read 4 books . . . I do think it's a personal thing. Do you need to be entertained or can you entertain yourself?

 

[mevelandry]

I’m considering my first cruise, but as I’m watching DCL videos on YouTube I don’t know if a cruise is going to be fun for me. It seems like there’s just not much to do besides eat tons of food and go to bars in the after hours areas. Sitting in a deck chair would get very boring very quickly

The shows look amazing , though.

Was anyone else worried about being bored but then had an amazing time.

You get to stop at certain ports and do excursions all day so with the exception of a Sea day (which you won't get on a 3 nights), it's only the evenings you have to fill up with activities.

You can swim in the pools. Play mini-golf, ride the Aquaduck (if you sail on the Dream and Fantasy), go to the Spa, go to the gym, go to the movies, go to the Match Your Mate Show (those are always fun), go to musical shows (outside of the Disney productions there are musicians playing), have coffee or tea at the Cove Café... Do brunch at Palo or Dessert at Remy...

If you are scared you are not going to like it but are intrigued, you can start with a short cruise (3 or 4 nights).

 

[FSU Girl]

I think you can still have fun! I barely eat on my cruises, I just find the food awful when it's massed produced and I love cruising. There will be trivia and activities around the ship. The shows are amazing. When you're in port get off the ship and explore or do an all day excursion.

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

I’m considering my first cruise, but as I’m watching DCL videos on YouTube I don’t know if a cruise is going to be fun for me. It seems like there’s just not much to do besides eat tons of food and go to bars in the after hours areas. Sitting in a deck chair would get very boring very quickly

The shows look amazing , though.

Was anyone else worried about being bored but then had an amazing time.

I don't drink and don't eat a ton of food (although I do like eating) and I loved it. I do know that I prefer the more port intensive cruises though, with only 1-2 sea days. More than that I can imagine getting a little bored.

 

[kaetra]

The shows, the ports and the view are what is drawing me in. Looking at the Magic cruise to key west, Nassau and castaway cay in April for my 50th birthday. I’m really on the fence. I’m not a huge “relaxer”, I’m a go-go-goer