What would you like to see on the new ships?

[MunFam]

I also agree with all of the calls for more adult venues. If you have only sailed during school breaks out of Port Canaveral you might not understand why anyone would ask for that, thinking most passengers had kids with them (though even then it's good to get away on your own sometimes). But trust me, take an off season cruise (or even in season to a colder climate) and the adult spaces can be packed!!! Our last two cruises had many, many adult only groups on board. The adult spaces were full every night, often turning people away.

This was SO true on the 2015 WBPC. It was actually quieter and more relaxing in the family area than in the adult pool area. Especially in the evenings and during lunch. There were evenings where we were the only family on the pool deck whereas the adult pool was still packed.

 

[BartmanLA]

I have to say that the continual call for more and exclusive "adults only" spaces on the ship that is ultimately designed for families and children doesn't really make practical sense, the entire premise of the Disney Cruise Line is to let families and their children experience what is like to travel on the sea and see new and exciting places through the ports of call. There's nothing wrong with adults only cruising on DCL ships (heck we're a childless couple ourselves) but I really think that if you do sail that way you have to accept and understand your cruising experience will involve being around families with children. Expecting DCL to accommodate the demographic that isn't their target customer wouldn't be a very cost effective or good way to do business. Honestly, I just have to say again, if you want a adults only experience go sail with one of the cruise lines that caters to adults only. That way you get exactly what you want out of your time at sea.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

the continual call for more and exclusive "adults only" spaces

Not asking for "more" just that the adult areas not be set up where the kids have easy access to them. Currently on all four ships the forward elevators drop off in the middle of the adult area. So you get kids walking/running/screaming/causing turmoil through the area, as they are "just passing through".

Certainly the kid's club areas are exclusive to kids, why can't adults have an exclusive area?

I don't mind being around kids. I have children. I certainly expect to "run into" them onboard - meals, shows, just walking around. I just think that some kid-free time is a good thing, also.

 

[Dug720]

I have to say that the continual call for more and exclusive "adults only" spaces on the ship that is ultimately designed for families and children doesn't really make practical sense, the entire premise of the Disney Cruise Line is to let families and their children experience what is like to travel on the sea and see new and exciting places through the ports of call. There's nothing wrong with adults only cruising on DCL ships (heck we're a childless couple ourselves) but I really think that if you do sail that way you have to accept and understand your cruising experience will involve being around families with children. Expecting DCL to accommodate the demographic that isn't their target customer wouldn't be a very cost effective or good way to do business. Honestly, I just have to say again, if you want a adults only experience go sail with one of the cruise lines that caters to adults only. That way you get exactly what you want out of your time at sea.

Ah, but families come in all shapes and sizes. And some are adult-only.

And not all adults want the stuffiness of those other "adult" lines.

 

[Stratus22]

More Lounge chairs by the pools or is that just unrealistic. I'd ask that people stop reserving them but we all know how that would go.

 

[Shanti]

More Lounge chairs by the pools or is that just unrealistic. I'd ask that people stop reserving them but we all know how that would go.

I'd vote for KTTW card-controlled, free lockers on the pool deck, so that people wouldn't need chairs to store their stuff on or under. The policy would be that chairs are only for those actually sitting in them, and unattended personal items would be taken immediately to a lost and found area near the lockers on the pool deck. All guests would get prior info about this at the beginning of the cruise.

That would make it very easy to keep people from saving deck chairs. CMs would remove towels & personal items from empty chairs as frequently as they now remove trash from tables. With no saving going on, no extra deck chairs would ever be needed. There would always be free deck chairs available in every section, whenever you wanted to sit down.

Because even on the sold-out cruises I've been on, even during sunny afternoons on sea days, there have been many more deck chairs containing towels and personal stuff than actual people.

 

[ludari]

I would like to see single staterooms for solo cruisers.

 

[anna08]

I asked my kids and they said more surprise features that don't get announced (like the interactive art and Pepe's door) that you just kind of have to discover on your own. I think it would be cool to have some kind of scavenger hunt at Castaway Cay that takes you all over the accessible parts of the island, but that's a different topic altogether.

I don't need a ton of adult only space, just well thought out adult space. Comfortable, quieter and not a thoroughfare.

The only place on the ship that I really dislike is the area of the pool decks by the kids' pools - and I have kids who love to swim. It's so loud and so crowded and feels so closed in. I'd just like to see it more open in it's design. Consider relocating all those walk up food counters. Come up with something really modern and cool Disney - you can do it!

I love the idea of a dinner buffet. Especially if it's been a long excursion day and you just want to casually kick back or quickly dine before you head off somewhere. Honestly, you could get rid of all the walk up counters (and expand pool deck) by having a buffet that operates all day and until late at night serving those kinds of things. You could offer more ethnic foods in this buffet too.

 

[ALCooper3]

1. Maintain the DCL style- don't succumb to pressure to turn these beautiful ships into floating malls like those on the other lines.

• Keep the old-fashioned charm of the dinner experiences by not adding casual steakhouses & fast food outlets to compete with the MDRs. You can already get steak in the MDRs, and fast food on the pool deck.
• Revert to the only recently removed cruise casual dress code in the MDRs.
• Create an elegant upcharge restaurant that welcomes properly dressed kids over 10.
• Allow people to simply pay extra to guarantee a private table, rather than have to board early, line up first thing at dining changes, and beg.

2. Maintain DCL's commitment to adult cruisers by:

• Not making adult areas bigger, but placing them in a way that allows them to be truly exclusive to adults- no kid walkthroughs needed or allowed.
• Having newly released R-rated movies available in one of the theaters each night.
• Host some historical or cultural talks about the ports- one per cruise at least
• Host adult-only behind-the-scenes tours of the ships
• Host a good improv group to perform on each cruise

3. Maintain the DCL fun by making more activities available:

• More game shows
• More self-scheduled games like scavenger hunts & mysteries to solve
• A panic room
• Longer hours at all of the water-enjoyment areas
• Reservation-based cooking classes during which guests can actually cook & eat

I agree with your ideas. There is a reason why we choose DCL and pay more to cruise with Disney. We actually cancelled a Carnival cruise that cost half the price of the one we then booked with DCL for the same dates. If I wanted the things that other lines were pushing, I would go sail on those ships. DCL has higher prices and still has no problem selling out ships. Why on Earth would they change to resemble the ships they are already beating in sales and quality? Add a few new activities for all, change a few layouts to better accomodate the different types of familys, but leave the majority of DCL as it is...

 

[Flossbolna]

I have to say that the continual call for more and exclusive "adults only" spaces on the ship that is ultimately designed for families and children doesn't really make practical sense, the entire premise of the Disney Cruise Line is to let families and their children experience what is like to travel on the sea and see new and exciting places through the ports of call. There's nothing wrong with adults only cruising on DCL ships (heck we're a childless couple ourselves) but I really think that if you do sail that way you have to accept and understand your cruising experience will involve being around families with children. Expecting DCL to accommodate the demographic that isn't their target customer wouldn't be a very cost effective or good way to do business. Honestly, I just have to say again, if you want a adults only experience go sail with one of the cruise lines that caters to adults only. That way you get exactly what you want out of your time at sea.

Actually, the adult areas are a selling point for families. I have spent a lot of time in the adult pool area and I would bet that a large number of adult enjoying this area are on board with their families. I have talked to quite a few in the hot tubs, I heard them talk amongst themselves and you see them again with their family lining up for pictures with Mickey. When their kids are in the clubs, most parents seem to prefer the adult space where they do not have to deal with some stranger's kids and can instead their "club".

And DCL markets for exactly that: take a cruise, your kids are happy in the clubs and you can enjoy the adult activities. On the Dream and the Fantasy they really failed to deliver with the adult pool area though.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

On the Dream and the Fantasy they really failed to deliver with the adult pool area though.

On the Magic class ships, also. The forward elevators let out in the adult area there, too.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I wonder if it was designed purposely that way... then kids can come to get mom of dad, if needed.

 

[egesicki]

How about a spa theme cabin with different decor, toiletries, access to Rainforest, etc? Or maybe movie theme cabins sort of like AOA? And my kids are drooling over Carnival Waterworks and Skyride and the ropes course on Vista.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

Bigger (or more) hot tubs in the adult area. They aren't very big to begin with, and if a larger guest or two get in with you, it's too close for comfort. WAY too close for comfort when it happened to me on the Fantasy anyway! I don't want to be touching strangers in swimsuits.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

larger pool areas, they are so packed my kids don't even want to swim
better coffee
more west coast departures

 

[egesicki]

I would like to add a bridge viewing area, in lieu of bridge tours that have not been offered. Maybe an officer could come give talks once in a while. My kids are big fans of a show called Mighty Machines and they love seeing how stuff works. And probably many grown ups would enjoy also.

 

[Dug720]

Add me to the "keep the classic profile of the ships" club. I hate the boxy floating island behemoths - when I am on a ship, I want to feel like I am on a ship! There are options out there for people who want all the bells and whistles - Disney has a unique niche and IMHO doesn't need all the fads.

 

[dclpluto]

Some rooms for couples for the bathrooms. For couples no need for the split bathrooms. Would be better if they had one bigger one than 2 small ones imo. Split bathrooms are great for families but no need for it for couples.

 

[Dug720]

Some rooms for couples for the bathrooms. For couples no need for the split bathrooms. Would be better if they had one bigger one than 2 small ones imo. Split bathrooms are great for families but no need for it for couples.

OTOH, this solo traveler loves the split bathrooms!

(This solo traveler also doesn't mind paying for legit rooms as opposed to coffin-like things!)

 

[egesicki]

Some rooms for couples for the bathrooms. For couples no need for the split bathrooms. Would be better if they had one bigger one than 2 small ones imo. Split bathrooms are great for families but no need for it for couples.

I respectfully disagree. I love not having to share the space in the morning or getting ready in the evening. It is a nice perk that goes a tiny part of the way to justify the higher cost imho.