It's me, Tink! Back from a hiatus of blogging. Summer is a tough time in this house. With both kiddos home, it seems like I have no time for anything other than working and hanging with the kids. I am sure many of you can relate. Once school begins again, (in just two weeks!!!), things will go back to semi-normal... or as "normal" as we can get.
Anyway, the other day, I was talking to a co-worker and sharing with them how awesome our Disney Cruise was back in April, (check out the review HERE!), and then came the same statement I hear all the time: "Well, Disney Cruise Line is for kids. I would never sail with them just me and my significant other." Part of me wants to say, "Your loss!", and walk away, reveling in the fact that I know something they don't know, but a bigger part of me, (the part of me that is completely and totally OBSESSED with Disney Cruise Line), makes me stop and say, "Ugh-uh. No, it's not just for kids. You'd LOVE it! My husband and I sailed 13 times, 11 of which were WITHOUT kids!"
So why? What about Disney Cruises should get you considering sailing with them if you do not travel with kids? Everything!
For starters, cruises are an awesome way for adults to get away and actually unplug and relax. Like, look one another in the eyes and stuff. No phones, no devices, (unless you choose to buy the internet plan), just you and the other fantastic adults that you are traveling with. But don't worry... you will never be bored. There are shows, movies, classes, pools, coffee shops, dance clubs and so much more for you to enjoy. And if you wanna enjoy yourself in an adult-only atmosphere, there are plenty of places for you to do so.
The spa on each of the ships is a kid-free zone. Whether you book a treatment for yourself, or just buy a pass to hang out in the awesome Rainforest Room, you'll be able to relax and rejuvenate in peace and tranquility. Want a place to hang in the sun? There is an adult-only pool, complete with hot tubs, on each ship. No kids allowed in the pool or even hanging out around it on the pool deck. If you want a quiet, indoor, (aka air conditioned), place to read, talk, sip a coffee creation and nibble some complimentary pastries, check out The Cove Cafe. It, too, is totally kid-free.At night, each ship has a lively nightclub district, with an 18+ age restriction, so you can dance the night away, or just chill and listen to some live music all-grown-up-style. Some nights there may even be 18+ cabaret-style shows, where the comics and magicians that entertained families earlier in the day get a bit more risque and perform to an adult-only crowd. There are even adult-only activities during the day! You can sign up in advance, or onboard, for beer, wine, and even tequila tastings. (These are at an additional cost.) And as if all of that isn't enough, you can even dine completely sans kiddos, in either the upscale Italian eatery, Palo, or in the gorgeous French restaurant, Remy, (onboard the Fantasy and Dream only). Both of these dining options require reservations and have an additional upcharge, but they don't allow any cruisers under the age of 18.
And let's not forget about your visit to Castaway Cay! Most Disney Cruise Line itineraries, (with the exception of the European cruises, West Coast cruises, Alaskan cruises and Canadian cruises), include a stop at Disney's private island, Castaway Cay. The island is primed and ready for family fun, but for the adult-only crowd, they've got you covered too. On the far side of the island, (accessible by tram), there lies Serenity Bay, the adult-only beach. It's by far the superior beach, with crystal clear water that is usually as calm as steady as glass. You can grab a hammock, or pull a lounge chair right into the shallow water, sit back, and chill out. There is a bar that services that beach, with bartenders strolling up and down the sands, frozen cocktails in hand. And when you get hungry for lunch, Serenity Bay has it's very own, adult-only barbecue lunch, complete with ribs, burgers, corn-on-the-cob, ice cream and more. The adults definitely get an awesome island experience!
There are also ways to limit your kid-exposure that are not necessarily adult-only options, but are more likely to be kid-free. For example, any movie showing onboard the ships that is either PG-13 or higher OR that happens to be playing after 9 or 10 in the evening, likely is not going to have many kids attending. Another smart move for adult-only cruisers is to choose the 2nd dinner seating, around 8pm, rather than the first seating, which is around 6pm. Most families with kids want that earlier dining time, so there are always less kids in the later seating. And if you really prefer to dine without kids, you can request a table that is either all adults, or even a table to yourself that you do not share with other Guests. Requests are not guaranteed, Disney Cruise Line does their best to respect your wishes.
Now, let's face facts... most of us grown-ups are still kids at heart, and we don't necessarily want to totally miss out on all the kid-size fun. No worries! Adults are welcome pretty much everywhere the kids can go, with the exception of the kid's clubs, but even the Oceaneer's Club and Lab opens it's doors to adults on selected days of the cruise. Check out your personal navigator, (aka activities schedule), onboard the ship and you'll see that they offer "Open House" time, where adults are welcome to go check out the clubs with or without their kids, but there's even adult-only time, where adults "take over the club", and get to play with all of the awesome, high-tech fun that the kids get to enjoy in the clubs all day long.
In addition to all that I've covered above, there's also the fact that Disney Cruise Line serves up some phenomenal food and even better service. The ships are gorgeous and super well cared for, and the Crew Members are some of the best anywhere. You'll feel totally taken care of and your belly will constantly be full of delicious food and tasty drinks. Be warned, however, that there is no casino, so if you're a gambler, you will be limited to Bingo on the ships and casinos will be only in the ports you visit. Because of the family-friendly atmosphere, smoking areas are very limited on the ship, so if you've you're a smoker and you've sailed other lines where you can smoke in most areas, you'll be disappointed.
Ok, so maybe now I have convinced you that you will enjoy a Disney Cruise without kids, but maybe you're thinking, am I going to love a Disney Cruise if I don't love Disney???? (What? What's wrong with you? Why are you even reading a Disney blog? JK, JK. I get that not everyone is as obsessed as I am, and even if you are, you may be traveling with someone who isn't.) The answer is...maybe. If you stick to mostly the activities and areas described above, your Mouse-exposure is pretty limited, however, if I'm being honest, you'd probably enjoy a different cruise line more. A healthy love of Disney definitely makes Disney Cruise Line much more enjoyable. The fantastic, Broadway-style shows are themed to Disney movies and there are plenty of character meet and greets onboard too. There are subtle, and non-so-subtle, Disney touches everywhere... from the shows and movies that play in the room, to the overall decor... from the hallway music to even the ship's When You Wish Upon a Star horn. I promise it's not as Disney-in-your-face as you might be imagining. The ships are very classy and elegant, but there's no doubt that the ships belong to Disney and the cruises are designed for Disney lovers of all ages. It's not a "party" cruise line, nor is it an inexpensive cruise line. You really have to want a quality cruise, and be willing to pay for it.
Bottom line, if what's holding you back from a Disney Cruise is whether or not you will enjoy it without kids, I can assure you that you will not only enjoy it, you'll LOVE it! You'll end up booking with Disney again and again. So, what are you waiting for? Get booking! Contact the crew here at Kingdom Konsultants Travel and they will help you find the perfect itinerary and a great rate!
As for me, I'll be daydreaming about Disney Cruising... until next time, have a magical week, everyone!
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