Where are all the rug rats?

[over50visits]

Just coming off of our Alaska cruise on Carnival, we probably had to explain 10 times to people about DCL and kids. Seems like everyone who doesn't have small children and hasn't been on DCL worries that the ship will be overrun with youngsters and their associated mahem.

We thought the same before we went, and after 3 cruises with DCL recently we are now their best spokespeople. The kids are (1) in the clubs, (2) in the children's pool, (3) in the theater at night, (4) at dinner, or (5) in the rooms. We were very (pleasantly) surprised at the real lack of presence everywhere else (other pools, outside decks, lounges, public areas). Disney has somehow (magically) kept them happy and busy, and let us older folks have a cruise experience that almost seemed adult only. We've seen a lot (LOT) of seniors on the DCL, and they were always having a ball.

 

[staceymerrill]

I've stopped trying to convince the uninformed how great DCL is....My DW's friends with no children, as well as her mother just have no idea what they are missing, despite our best attempts to enlighten them.....Then again, to put things in perspective, the less people that know how great DCL is, the fewer people will book, and the better the pricing and choice of stateroom we all will have.....

 

[webray]

Same with us, we are a married couple, 40ish, with grown children. We cruise DCL, with no children, not even the grandchildren yet. When I tell people we are sailing disney, they say, how can you stand all the kids, I just laugh and say, you hardly see any kids.

We did see more kids on the Wonder than the Magic.

The only time we really had any problem with kids at all was the last few days of our recent repo cruise to CA. There were quite a few children who must have been getting extremely bored with the kids clubs and activities because they were running wild on the ship, up and down the stairs, in the atrium, up and down the hallways. Got quite annoying and we wondered where the parents were.

 

[NCRedding]

I love the "experts" on cruisecritic who talk about how overrun with kids DCL is and yet they have never set foot on a DCL ship. We felt far more overrun with kids on our RCCL cruise to Alaska and there were only 120 kisd under the age of 12 onboard.

 

[JanDave]

My DH and I are going on DCL cruise #6 on 9/3/05. We're both in our 50s. Our friends think were nuts to cruise with a bunch of kids. I've stopped trying to convince them.

Jan

 

[over50visits]

I've stopped trying to convince the uninformed how great DCL is....My DW's friends with no children, as well as her mother just have no idea what they are missing, despite our best attempts to enlighten them.....Then again, to put things in perspective, the less people that know how great DCL is, the fewer people will book, and the better the pricing and choice of stateroom we all will have.....

I like that idea!

 

[kcashner]

It's not just internet sites that don't understand how DCL works. We've read guidebooks geared to cruise ships (complete with point system ratings) that make it very clear that the person "reviewing" the Magic has never sailed on the ship. However, we will continue to enjoy the Magic and the associated "adults only" area.....let those fools stay on their "adult friendly" lines!!!

 

[ragdoll]

DH and I are also in our 50's (hi Jan and Dave) and love DCL. DH's buddies who cruise, but have never tried DCL, are constantly making fun of him. One of them bought him a Mickey tie which he loves wearing on our cruises. He will never convince them to try DCL and I doubt that they will convince us to try another cruiseline. DCL is just magical to us!