Opinions Please - Adults Only Cruise

[inkkognito]

Over at Cruise Critic, I just read that Celebrity is offering four adults-only cruises. Since I love the adults-only areas, that got me to thinking...how would I feel about being on a ship with adults only? At first, it sounded kind of good, but on further contemplation I decided that I wouldn't like it. Even though we do not have children, I enjoy seeing the youngsters on the ship. We've been on 19 Disney cruises, but it feels fresh each time to see it through their eyes. We've seen so many amusing little incidents with kids on the ship. And of course when we're tired of being around them, we can escape to the adult pool or the adult beach. I think I would feel stifled being with all adults (plus adult areas such as the spa would probably be packed). So after considering, I decided that I wouldn't do an adults only cruise. What about the rest of you? What do you think?
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Michelle]

When I cruise DCL without my daughter I almost never see kids! Sure they are at the Goofy and Mickey pool but I live at the adult pool, spa, Palo and the adult nightclub areas. I never seem to stop at Deck 5 on those cruises...no visits to the Kid's Clubs.

I have no problem with being around kids (obviously, I have one!) but if it were an issue with DCL where they had kids running amok and not separate from the adults area I suppose I might consider such a cruise. But I have no burning desire to only be on a cruise with adults.

I kind of think those adults-only cruises will be filled with an older generation who may want LOTS of quiet around them.

Interesting question, Barb!

 

[my3kids]

I think it would depend on how comfortable a person was in a much older group of people. I'm just guessing, but I would think that would attract a MUCH older group of cruisers than a DCL trip, even if all the adults on the DCL had left their kids at home.

 

[Tluvs2talk]

My husband and I do not have any children and love the Disney Cruise Line just like it is. I enjoy alone time with adults only, but it is also nice to sit and watch the Children as their faces light up with delight at Mickey or any other Disney character. I think adults and children have plenty of spaces to enjoy on the cruise together and apart.

 

[CamColt]

I wouldnt make a point to go on an adult only cruise, if I ever get another chance to cruise w/out the kids. Other children, even when they are acting up, dont bother me at all. Its my own that drive me nuts.

 

[MdmMim]

My DH and I have cruised twice on DCL, with a third booked for 2003. Our kids are on their own, all grown up, so we cruise--just the two of us. We, too, enjoy watching the little ones, especially when they're all dressed up for dinner or dressed like one of the princesses. We usually stay in the adult areas, so the kids really aren't a problem. I wouldn't want to go on an adults-only cruise--it would seem so artificial to me.

 

[wovenwonder]

Hubby and I never vacation without our kids -- even though they are older now. I would hate to be on a cruise without them, and see others their ages having the time of their lives. This would make me really regret not having them along --and I would not enjoy my vacation without them.

BUT if it were to be a childless cruise --- I think that I could stomach leaving them behind. And to think of all the fun the adults could have on Disney Cruise without the kids. Great 'kid type' activities in the Kids Clubs --- I'd love to make Flubber -- and just have a chance to act like a kid again.

 

["Ginger"]

When we are cruising and our DD goes to the Oceaneers Club, the first 2 hours are great without her. Then I start to miss her. I find myself wandering into the club to see if she'll come out and play with me. I can't imagine cruising without her or any other children around.

 

[Dodie]

Would go on an adults-only cruise (especially DCL - but that would never happen) in a HEARTBEAT!

 

[taswira]

I have never lost my enthusiasm and fascination with all things Disney. Like wovenwonder, I'd love to be able to experience some of the just-for-kids stuff. I'd LOVE to interact with the characters the way the kids do, without feeling guilty for taking magic moments away from the children. So an "adults only" Disney cruise with the characters would be a dream come true for me. Unfortunately, I can't imagine that EVER being offered by DCL!

 

[Parrotheader]

As a young married person with kids still a couple years off (I'm 26, my wife is 25) the idea sounds intriguing at first. But after thinking about it a little more, it sounds a bit dreary to me personally.

My wife and I are at that age where we are adults for all intents and purposes, but we still don't feel like we're truly "grown ups" even though we've been out of college a couple years and are now financially independent (got the house, the dog, our 2.4 children are next on the list.) It's weird whenever we go out now. Instead of LEAVING to go out at 10:30 or 11:00 (and then getting in at 2:00-3:00) like we did in college, we now leave at 8:00 or 8:30 and get in around 11:00. My how times have changed (actually I'm still a nightowl, but my wife's a teacher and early riser.) The main thing I've noticed with crowds at places at these hours is how much older everyone is, instead of everyone being 21-24 the ages are noticeably older. And while I totally understand this, it still makes me feel weird because it's proof that I'm getting just a bit older. Being on a cruise with nothing but adults (who will most likely be MUCH older than us on average due to the greater probability of more disposable income at that age) sounds like a real downer. Even though we don't have kids, I think they help to lighten the mood tremendously.

 

[RIDISNEYLOVERS]

My DH and I took our first cruise on our honeymoon in September 1998 on the DCL (Magic only at that time)!! At that time we had no children and had a blast. Many of our friends thought we were nuts for going on the DCL for our honeymoon with "all those kids".

We are in our mid - late twenties and now have a 2 year old and are taking her on the Wonder 11/03/02. We have already taken her to WDW and Disneyland and it is so much fun watching her interact with the characters and just be in awe of everything.

My DH and I absolutlely LOVE everything about Disney, I just can't imagine leaving my DD to go on vacation on an "adults only" cruise, afterall, isn't vacation supposed to be spent with family?!?

I think what DCL offers is the happy medium - you can have family time as well as adult time and that is what a vaction should really be about.

Interesting topic!!

Lisa

 

[Chattyaholic]

My husband and I cruised on the Magic 1/01 and had an absolutely FANTASTIC time, even though there were 900 children on board. The kids were not a problem, but I still feel it would be fun to be on the Magic with no children. I would have loved getting in line to have my picture taken with the various characters, but felt that I couldn't because it was for the kids. If I would have gotten in line there would have been one child, at the cut-off-point, that would not have been able to have their picture taken because of ME so I never got in line even though I wanted to!! And it would have been nice to be able to have early seating dinner and not worry about being seated with a family with children (as we were, even though we were celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary and had no children with us!). And like another poster said, it would be FUN to make flubber too....and go down the Mickey Slide into the pool too!!! I wish Disney would consider it. Maybe just have 1-2 "adults only" cruises per year and see how well they do.

 

[SQUIGGLE]

At first the adults only cruise sounds good; but I really think I would miss seeing the little boy, all dressed up in his tux, giving Minnie a big kiss. An all adults cruise would mean an awful lot of people who have grown up. I haven't yet and don't intend to for a long time!
Then again - having a time, say around 10PM, for an Adult Character Greeting could be fun!

 

[Amzey]

Although I'm not an adult (will be 18 this summer), I really like Squiggle's idea - a designated adult character greeting time. Perhaps along with that, a designated adult Oceaneer Club/Lab time where the adults could do all that fun stuff like make Flubber. Might be a neat idea - I doubt it would ever happen though.

 

[taswira]

If enough of us requested it , there MAY be hope that someday they'll have some "adults only" character greetings/photo ops. Most of us Disney enthusiasts have not "grown up" (or old at heart). We would treasure being photographed with the characters as much as the children do. After all, we DO pay for a "Disney" cruise and the characters are a big part of it. I've never had kids. I enjoy watching kids with the characters but do not feel that adults should be excluded nor intrude on the kids' character greetings. Just my thoughts as a lifelong Disney fan.