Youngest can go to Oceaneer's now -- a whole new cruising world!

[Lillebelle]

We just booked a cruise that's only a couple months away and as I'm planning things out, it's hit me that this cruise has the potential to be totally different than cruises of the past. We'll finally have both kids able to go to Oceaneer's and it's hitting home how much freedom that potentially gives us. I've been watching video walkthroughs of the ship (just for hype purposes) and I'm realizing how little time I've spent in most of the adult areas even after 10 cruises. I think it's in large part because we've always had one nursery-age kid, and my youngest hated going to the nursery so we could only leave her for short amounts of time to do high priority things like tastings or Palo. But if she likes going to Oceaneer's with her brother...and they can go whenever they want instead of the structured/scheduled way the nursery works...holy moly I might actually be able to go to the adult pool!

I guess for purposes of discussion -- did you find your Disney cruise experience changed after your kids got older? What would you prioritize with more kid-free time? Or if you don't have kids, what are your favorite things to do?

 

[Calantha]

I guess for purposes of discussion -- did you find your Disney cruise experience changed after your kids got older? What would you prioritize with more kid-free time? Or if you don't have kids, what are your favorite things to do?

So, I only have 1 kid - he's 8 now and we've cruised since 2019 when he was 4 (minus 2020/2021) but we were back on board at the beginning of 2022. Most of the time he won't go to the club. When he is willing to go, it is for Palo or just until we've finished dinner. If we're doing tastings, I get someone else in the party to watch him (FIL, BIL, etc.).

The few times he's gone and there hasn't been something else planned, I relaxed and watched the ocean on the top decks (with a book or my camera) or went to the coffee shop and had a drink. I'd love to maybe go do an activity (e.g., drawing or something) sometime. I'm lucky there is usually someone else around to keep him occupied if I really really want/need to do something but I do picture a day when he's older and DH and I can go have a drink and do an activity and I didn't have to find someone else to stay with him. (BUT not wishing away today, I yelled at DS about that earlier this week, heh).

 

[o&smom]

Definitely a difference as our kids got older. We started cruising when our kids were 7 and 3 months. We have only felt like we got to enjoy the adult areas on our last few cruises. Luckily, our kids have both loved the kids club, but our youngest wanted to go to just about every character meet and greet available, so that took a lot of time. In 2020, she decided that she did not have to go to every one which was both sad and happy. On our last cruise, in June, she would even take a friend from the Edge and get pictures on her own. We have fallen in love with Cove Cafe the most, and then love deck four or a nice, quiet area on one of the top decks. We have still never hung out in the adult pool area on any of the ships. It is really nice that Disney can continue to be something new for many years.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Our first cruise my youngest was only able to go to the nursery and he liked it but didn't love it, but we still managed a Palo Brunch and Dinner, and one Marvel movie we had missed. Last cruise both could go to Oceaneers and my mom and I went to the spa, a chocolate/liquor tasting, had like a 5 hour long dinner at Remy, it was great. But we also spent a lot of time with them doing Midship Detective and the Aquaduck, Pirates League, Character Meets, and our excursion on Castaway. Technically we had more free time but since it was a shorter cruise it didn't really feel that way.

 

[Pens Fan]

Our son did not like the clubs until he was old enough for Vibe and we never forced it. My husband travelled so much for his job that vacations were a time to spend together anyway so we were quite happy to hang out with him. I think it was our 3rd or 4th cruise before we ever spent any time at the adult pool areas or bars. It was really nice, I have to say! We also discovered the alcohol tastings on that cruise and those are a lot of fun.

We still haven't eaten at Palo, as we felt weird going without our son. Once he started college we took a cruise without him but Palo was already booked up (it was short 5 day cruise). We were going to try and get it once we got on board but the line was insane and so didn't even try. It's been 7 years now since we sailed on DCL, so fingers crossed we can book both Palo brunch and dinner on the transatlantic next May.

 

[Flossbolna]

Your post reminded me of this old commercial:

 

[Flip flops in winter]

Your post reminded me of this old commercial:

UMM, I should have seen this commercial a decade ago. This is exactly what happened to us. Our youngest is a souvenir from our first Fantasy trip. Our daughters were old enough to go to Oceaneer's together and us having alone time for the first time in years . Good luck, OP!