Wife's 60th wants to go on Disney cruise sept/oct 25'. Need help.

DISNEY FIX

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My wife wants her and I to go on Disney cruise for her 60th...Sept or Oct of next year. Please help me select ship, room, stops... Any one of the trips more adult oriented?
We would like to tack on a few days at the Beach Club either before or after cruise. This seems overwhelming...thanks for the help.
 
I would recommend using a travel agent if you are feeling overwhelmed.

You can look at the DCL website and select Sept and Oct 2025 in the Find a Cruise section. They just recently started selling Oct 2025 to May 2026. It will show you where they are going. It’s basically Eastern/Western Caribbean, Bahamas. There are still probably a couple of European and Alaska ones in September. You can do 3, 4, 5 or 7 nights.

The ships will leave from various ports. Port Canaveral is about a hour from WDW. Magic/Wonder are the oldest/smaller ship. Dream/Fantasy are next in fleet. They are bigger and have more stuff than Magic/Wonder. The Wish/Treasure are the latest ships in the fleet. Have similar size and features of Dream/Fantasy but the layout is different.
 
Very good recommendation ^^^^
 
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My wife wants her and I to go on Disney cruise for her 60th...Sept or Oct of next year. Please help me select ship, room, stops... Any one of the trips more adult oriented?
We would like to tack on a few days at the Beach Club either before or after cruise. This seems overwhelming...thanks for the help.
Hi Fix,

There’s more questions than answers. Such as, how long are you looking to cruise? How long do you plan to be away? (Total vacation days). Having cruised before AND after a cruise, we prefer before ONLY if you are doing parks (vs just staying at the Beach Club to relax or whatever). As tiring as the parks can be, going from that to the cruise is a nice way to end it.

I don’t know that any one ship is “more adult” than the other. Personally, I’d go with one of the newer boats (avoid Magic). Though the Treasure is $$$$, I personally think if price isn’t driving it, you may want to consider that one just given the newness of it. Again, more questions than answers. If you want a shorter trip such as a 4 or 5 nighter, then of course days will determine the ship given the months mentioned. I understand it can be overwhelming but I’d pick my cruise first and then build the days on around the cruise (before or after).

Feel free to send me a DM if you need further suggestions. The itenerary will be based on the number of nights so again, there are so many variables here for anyone to really guide you one way or another. Hope that helps a bit! Keep in mind, given the months, it’s likely to be a Halloween on the Seas theme which is always fun!
 

You've gotten some great info already but I will just add my opinion. I feel the Fantasy and Dream have the best adult only areas. Satellite Falls and the Cove pool bar are where we spend most of our days. The District/Europa are also nice areas to enjoy entertainment or just a quiet cocktail in an adult setting.
 
We've enjoyed all our Disney cruises so I think you'll be happy with whatever you choose. The first thing we usually decide on is if we want a specific ship or if we want a specific destination and work from there. If you want to stay at the Beach Club you probably want to cruise out of Port Canaveral. I'm a big fan of Halloween so I love the Halloween on the High Seas cruises.
 
I usually ask a bunch of questions, too. But your choice of staying at Beach Club and celebrating an adult birthday leads me to a suggestion.

[When you book, you will pay 20% of the fare. Balance will be due 90 days before sailing. You can get your deposit (any funds paid) back if you cancel before then. If you opt for the pricier Concierge Level, no refunds. I don’t think it’s worth the money (at least double the price of a verandah cabin - for the same size room).]

IMG_7890.jpeg

There are 4 sailings offered in these two months. The ship alternates weeks between Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.

These itineraries are the standard ones used by Disney for years (and a lot of cruise lines).

However, the ship, the Treasure, will be new (it starts sailing this Christmas).

Book a cabin with a verandah. Midship, Deck 7-9, should be very stable (to reduce risk of seasickness). I actually don’t have problems with that in my cabin - it’s when I am out and about. But this is the standard suggestion.

This is what is available in Deck 7 for the October 7 sail date. Midship Deluxe Oceanview with Verandah. Other decks, dates, and cabin types, too.

The proximity to the elevators may be helpful. Sound from them is not usually an issue.

IMG_7892.jpeg

The price shown is for the cabin with 2 guests. You will add gratuities for room steward and dining room servers. I think it’s currently $14.50 per guest per night. It could go up a dollar or so by next year. This is a common industry charge.

All meals will be included. There are two specialty restaurants (adults only) that are an upcharge. Alcohol is not included in price. Soda is.
 
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This Eastern Caribbean is 7 nights/ 8 partial days. Leaves from Port Canaveral.

Day 1 Boarding is around noon.
Day 2 Sea Day
Day 3 Sea Day
IMG_7893.jpeg

Day 6 Sea Day
Day 7 Castaway Cay - Disney’s private island. Step off the docked ship and head to the beach. One side of the island has an adults only beach with loungers, umbrellas, and lunch - all included. They even provide towels.
Day 8 Get off the ship after breakfast. No dwaddling.

I did this itinerary most recently in Sep 2023 on the Disney Fantasy. The Treasure is taking over the route.

It’s a very relaxing cruise. At the three stops, your ship will dock (no tendering on a small boat from an anchored ship to get to the pier).

The Sea Days will be your chance to explore the ship. Take in the fresh air from your verandah or the adult pool (think small) area at the upper deck in the back of the ship.

This is a very beach-forward cruise. And some beautiful ones.
 
Dining: Whichever cruise you take, you will have a dinner assignment (venue, table, and servers) preassigned. Everyone on board gets the same experience during the cruise in this regard. Dining is either early (5:45) or late (8:15).

There will also be an evening entertainment each night, with times to compliment your dining. You watch the show while the other half of the ship is dining. Three of the shows are Disney Broadway quality.

There are fireworks one night, Pirate Night.
 
Other than cruise itinerary/ ship, any Disney cruise is very similar in terms of dining, entertainment… all ships have an adult pool area, multiple lounges, at least one for-fee specialty restaurant.
 
WDW resort stay: a lot of cruisers like to do parks first, then cruise. The idea is that the parks are exhausting, then you follow it with the more relaxing cruise.

I dislike disembarking the cruise ~ 9 am and then waiting at MCO until mid- afternoon for my return flight. So I would plan my WDW resort to arrive on Disembarkation day. It’s either a short park day or no park that day (or a special nighttime WDW park party.) When it’s time to come home, I can get one of the morning ones. Recommended earliest flight time after a cruise is 11:30 or noon.

And consider a stay at the Hyatt in MCO airport before the cruise if flying in Friday before a Saturday departure. Combine it with the DCL bus transfer to the port and get priority boarding on the ship. Especially nice for a first time cruiser.
 
Your chosen months are risky for hurricanes (most common day for a hurricane is mid September). But also lower cruise and air- fares and fewer school age children. Early October can be Fall Break for various schools.

I suggest Port Canaveral for the ease of not having to get to or from WDW to Fort Lauderdale (Port Canaveral).
 
I agree with PP - consider reaching out to a TA that specializes in Disney Destinations. A good TA will be able to book each component for you (land and sea) and help you with booking any dining, excursions, transportation, etc. you may need.

Personally, I like to do WDW first as I always like to arrive a few days early to make sure I'm actually in the area to make it to the cruise ship on time. We've done post-cruise WDW stays before, but it still meant flying in a night early and staying near Port Canaveral - it was just too much moving around for us. If you do a pre-stay, you could fly in a few days early, go directly to WDW, go to the port and then leave the day the cruise ends. Plus, I find the parks a bit exhausting, so it's nice to wind down from the parks with a relaxing cruise!

I love all the DCL ships and would recommend a 7-night cruise if you have the time. We have done 3 and 4-night cruises and I always feel like the cruise ends just as I'm settling in! We also prefer Eastern Caribbean ports over Western Caribbean.
 
I read through most of the post and I am not sure if anyone mentioned it, look into travel insurance to see if it is something you might think of purchasing.
That assignment was left for you to mention it. 😉

And especially if they have pre-existing conditions - they will need to purchase it within a defined period of time after just paying the deposit.
 
@DISNEY FIX - picking where and when may be the hardest part of all this. Or maybe the waiting for the cruise date to hurry up and get here.
 
1) are you a first time cruiser? I might suggest a 5 night is long enough to see most things, but shorter in case you find you don't care for cruising. not all people do. 3 day is definitely too short for a first time cruise, you will spend that much time figuring things out, not relaxing.
2) As has been mentioned, the conventional wisdom is the boat rocks less in lower levels mid ship. If you know you dont get sea sick you can think of some of those higher levels and bow. aft some people complain about engine vibration.
3) however, when choosing a room look at what is above or below you, you don't want to be right under the deck chairs for example, can get noisy. its like not choosing a room by the elevator in 3d
4) if you are going to castaway cay, get a cabin on the starboard side for the best view
5) do get a verandah if you can.
6) I tend to avoid rooms right next to the larger suites as those tend to have children. yes I over think things.
7) choice of ships is really a personnel thing, there are good things to be said about them all. some people like the smaller size of the magic and wonder for getting around it. but it has the fewest extra facilities (one speciality restaurant versus two). I find the wish (and presumably the treasure) to be the most 'themed' in its lounges, if thats important to you. simply amazing. the dream and the fantasy are the goldilocks in the middle .. they have a lot of the newer features but fewer guests than the wish or treasure (but more than the magic and wonder) for when you go off ship to a private island.
8) I havent said a lot about the itineraries because those to me are an aside. the ship is the main attraction. I skip Nassau all together. thats not a bad thing, staying on ship on port days can be fun, less people. I liked grand cayman, Tortola, and st. johns.
9) this is going to be controversial... but if you can afford it, do consider concierge. There are a lot of people that will tell you its a good value, and they are right, from a dollars and cents point of view it wont add up, but for sheer comfort and feeling pampered, it is simply amazing. if your wife is a coupon cutting bargain hunter, she might not be able to look past the cost, if she likes to be spoiled, concierge is worth considering. the advantages are numerous but they really do help you with all your on board decisions and you often get access to splurges that are sold out. and if you want a cabana on their private island (and I do recommend it for the splurge), really unfortunately most if not all are scooped up by the concierge guests (they get first choice on everything)
10) I like to stop by Disney World with my cruise. Port Canaveral is the easiest, but its just a 3 hour drive from Fort Lauderdale which I don't mind doing, so I chose more by the itinerary. conventional wisdom is the park first and then relax on the cruise, but any day at the park is a good day to me, so I find the order doesnt matter. My favorite stay was to go from a cruise to a stay at the Polynesian, felt like just continuing the vibe. but I love the poly so...

thats all I have to say, no doubt will think of something else. the suggestion of a travel agent is a good thing, but do not be shy, if you aren't clicking with the one you are assigned, ask for another. there are some great travel agents, and then, some who are less great.
 
You've gotten a lot of good advice.

I think first and foremost, figure out what your max spend is including airfare (if necessary), cruise fare (which includes most non alcoholic beverages, food from the MDRs and buffet and on castaway cay or LHP), any cruise extras like alcohol, upgraded dining, spa and photos and resort costs (including park tickets/food and drink).

Once you know your max spend, figure out how many nights you want to be on board whether it's 3/4 or 5 or 7. There's no wrong answer here. You know you the best. Personally I recommend taking a chance on a 4 night more than jumping head first into a 7 night and wanting to be off the boat by day 4.

The cruise should be figured out and booked first so prices don't increase too much between now and when you book.
 
You've gotten a lot of good advice.

I think first and foremost, figure out what your max spend is including airfare (if necessary), cruise fare (which includes most non alcoholic beverages, food from the MDRs and buffet and on castaway cay or LHP), any cruise extras like alcohol, upgraded dining, spa and photos and resort costs (including park tickets/food and drink).

Once you know your max spend, figure out how many nights you want to be on board whether it's 3/4 or 5 or 7. There's no wrong answer here. You know you the best. Personally I recommend taking a chance on a 4 night more than jumping head first into a 7 night and wanting to be off the boat by day 4.

The cruise should be figured out and booked first so prices don't increase too much between now and when you book.
I thought of budget the day after posting! It is definitely a starting point for vacation planning.

And I recommended a cruise that more expensive than I would pay. But so many guests here do not seem daunted by verandah and Concierge pricing that my suggestion was what a celebrating adult couple might enjoy. ☺️

A shorter cruise might be the sweet spot,
 

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