first timer questions

[eas21]

my wife, unbeknownst to me, said yes to my sister in law of going on a disney cruise with the whole of their family in a few months. generally we have just gone on RCCL. On those ships we always had a nice quiet place we could go to and sit and have coffee drinks, watch people and enjoy the scenery. Plus there were clubs and the casinos and shows we went to each night. the questions i have regarding disney are:
* is there anything adults can do there; ie; could we find that nice secluded spot for coffee, away from alice, the mad hatter and every other character?
* are the shows all the same type of stuff you get at the parks,
* they said they show first run movies; is it just disney movies?
* if i am forced to just stay in the stateroom, does the tv have oh, lets say, CNN, or ESPN, or movie channels that show movies that actually may have a PG or R rating?

any advice would be appreciated.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Yes, there are adult-only areas that include the Cove Cafe coffee bar. The specialty coffees are an upcharge, tho. There are also little pastries and things inside that are inclusive.

The big theater shows/entertainment will be family-friendly. After both dinner seatings there is usually some sort of adults-only show or act in the night club venue(s) that will most assuredly not be family-friendly. Not raunchy. But not G-rated. Or PG.

First run movies are not all animated features. There's a variety. Typically by day you see a mix from animated features to the latest usually Disney or Disney-affiliated movies like the superhero stuff, Lincoln (a few years ago), etc. Later in the evening once I know a horror movie that was R-rated was shown. DH had to escort our then 15 yro in. He was supposed to stay with him for the whole movie but he snuck out to come back to the room.

Why would you be forced to stay in the stateroom? LOL! The newer big ships have a fabulous on-demand tv system with a solid assortment of movies to watch at no additional charge. Granted, there's no PPV like we saw offered on Allure of the Seas last year. LOL! It's not just kiddie or family movies. There's a selection. I've never paid much attention to the channel lineup on the tvs but I'm pretty sure ESPN will be available considering its a Disney-owned entity.

Something the hubby and I sorely missed when we sailed Royal last November was the mixology and tastings. We aren't wine drinkers so the lowly little wine tasting on Allure was a solid no. Mixology is usually a fab time. The beer and cocktail tastings we've participated in were also solid adult fun. Small upcharge for these things but nothing obscene. Fantastic bang-for-the-buck for sure. I highly recommend.

Watch your Navigator app/paper schedule of events for the adult offerings throughout the day. The different trivias are fun in addition to the other things I've mentioned. Even when we've failed miserably at the subject matter, its fun to be a spectator!

 

[MaryJaneP]

We'll chime in that the posts atop this forum, with the pin icon, are great first resources. As Sweet_pee says, plenty of non-kiddie locations and stuff to do. We saw animated and live action first run movies on our trips. We enjoyed adult spaces and adult events, just look at the posted navigators to get a clue. Yes, TV has all applicable channels plus some. You can even visit the sports bar and pubs to get some variety. Late night events (1980's music trivia, for example) are awesome. Much better than our experience with HAL cruises. Only thing it didn't have, which we didn't miss at all, was a casino. Glad DCL is smart enough to avoid that can of worms. You will have to work hard not to have fun. Hope you enjoy and know that we are very jealous. We have tried to organize a family cruise but haven't been successful YET!

 

[eas21]

Yes, there are adult-only areas that include the Cove Cafe coffee bar. The specialty coffees are an upcharge, tho. There are also little pastries and things inside that are inclusive.

The big theater shows/entertainment will be family-friendly. After both dinner seatings there is usually some sort of adults-only show or act in the night club venue(s) that will most assuredly not be family-friendly. Not raunchy. But not G-rated. Or PG.

First run movies are not all animated features. There's a variety. Typically by day you see a mix from animated features to the latest usually Disney or Disney-affiliated movies like the superhero stuff, Lincoln (a few years ago), etc. Later in the evening once I know a horror movie that was R-rated was shown. DH had to escort our then 15 yro in. He was supposed to stay with him for the whole movie but he snuck out to come back to the room.

Why would you be forced to stay in the stateroom? LOL! The newer big ships have a fabulous on-demand tv system with a solid assortment of movies to watch at no additional charge. Granted, there's no PPV like we saw offered on Allure of the Seas last year. LOL! It's not just kiddie or family movies. There's a selection. I've never paid much attention to the channel lineup on the tvs but I'm pretty sure ESPN will be available considering its a Disney-owned entity.

Something the hubby and I sorely missed when we sailed Royal last November was the mixology and tastings. We aren't wine drinkers so the lowly little wine tasting on Allure was a solid no. Mixology is usually a fab time. The beer and cocktail tastings we've participated in were also solid adult fun. Small upcharge for these things but nothing obscene. Fantastic bang-for-the-buck for sure. I highly recommend.

Watch your Navigator app/paper schedule of events for the adult offerings throughout the day. The different trivias are fun in addition to the other things I've mentioned. Even when we've failed miserably at the subject matter, its fun to be a spectator!

Yes, there are adult-only areas that include the Cove Cafe coffee bar. The specialty coffees are an upcharge, tho. There are also little pastries and things inside that are inclusive.

The big theater shows/entertainment will be family-friendly. After both dinner seatings there is usually some sort of adults-only show or act in the night club venue(s) that will most assuredly not be family-friendly. Not raunchy. But not G-rated. Or PG.

First run movies are not all animated features. There's a variety. Typically by day you see a mix from animated features to the latest usually Disney or Disney-affiliated movies like the superhero stuff, Lincoln (a few years ago), etc. Later in the evening once I know a horror movie that was R-rated was shown. DH had to escort our then 15 yro in. He was supposed to stay with him for the whole movie but he snuck out to come back to the room.

Why would you be forced to stay in the stateroom? LOL! The newer big ships have a fabulous on-demand tv system with a solid assortment of movies to watch at no additional charge. Granted, there's no PPV like we saw offered on Allure of the Seas last year. LOL! It's not just kiddie or family movies. There's a selection. I've never paid much attention to the channel lineup on the tvs but I'm pretty sure ESPN will be available considering its a Disney-owned entity.

Something the hubby and I sorely missed when we sailed Royal last November was the mixology and tastings. We aren't wine drinkers so the lowly little wine tasting on Allure was a solid no. Mixology is usually a fab time. The beer and cocktail tastings we've participated in were also solid adult fun. Small upcharge for these things but nothing obscene. Fantastic bang-for-the-buck for sure. I highly recommend.

Watch your Navigator app/paper schedule of events for the adult offerings throughout the day. The different trivias are fun in addition to the other things I've mentioned. Even when we've failed miserably at the subject matter, its fun to be a spectator!

Thank you for your reply! It is very much appreciated!

 

[eas21]

We'll chime in that the posts atop this forum, with the pin icon, are great first resources. As Sweet_pee says, plenty of non-kiddie locations and stuff to do. We saw animated and live action first run movies on our trips. We enjoyed adult spaces and adult events, just look at the posted navigators to get a clue. Yes, TV has all applicable channels plus some. You can even visit the sports bar and pubs to get some variety. Late night events (1980's music trivia, for example) are awesome. Much better than our experience with HAL cruises. Only thing it didn't have, which we didn't miss at all, was a casino. Glad DCL is smart enough to avoid that can of worms. You will have to work hard not to have fun. Hope you enjoy and know that we are very jealous. We have tried to organize a family cruise but haven't been successful YET!

Thank you! sounds like they consider all the different age groups. I appreciate your help!

 

[rob0519]

my wife, unbeknownst to me, said yes to my sister in law of going on a disney cruise with the whole of their family in a few months. generally we have just gone on RCCL. On those ships we always had a nice quiet place we could go to and sit and have coffee drinks, watch people and enjoy the scenery. Plus there were clubs and the casinos and shows we went to each night. the questions i have regarding disney are:
* is there anything adults can do there; ie; could we find that nice secluded spot for coffee, away from alice, the mad hatter and every other character?
* are the shows all the same type of stuff you get at the parks,
* they said they show first run movies; is it just disney movies?
* if i am forced to just stay in the stateroom, does the tv have oh, lets say, CNN, or ESPN, or movie channels that show movies that actually may have a PG or R rating?

any advice would be appreciated.

I have to say, from the language used in your question, you're setting yourself up to have a bad time. The live stage shows are definitely oriented towards children. You can call it family entertainment all you want, but when every show has characters in it, well you get the idea.

If you're used to a cruise with more adults than children, more quiet space, high energy shows, truly adult clubs and casinos, you are definitely on the wrong cruise line.

My advice is spend time in the Adult areas like the coffe shop or the adult pool. If you dont have a veranda, grab a chair on Deck 4 (at least it's Deck 4 on the Wonder) and relax there.

Disney has the cleanest and best run ships in the business. You should have a great time as long as you set your expectations correctly.

 

[wogwog]

Thank you! sounds like they consider all the different age groups. I appreciate your help!

Big plus. DCL dining beats RC, especially lunch. Not saying RC is bad, I sail them when DCL does not fit our schedule, but definitely a notch down on the food. Not as much nickel and dimeing you either. Soda, coffee, tea, milk all free help yourself on deck 24 hours. No soft drink package required.

 

[eas21]

I have to say, from the language used in your question, you're setting yourself up to have a bad time. The live stage shows are definitely oriented towards children. You can call it family entertainment all you want, but when every show has characters in it, well you get the idea.

If you're used to a cruise with more adults than children, more quiet space, high energy shows, truly adult clubs and casinos, you are definitely on the wrong cruise line.

My advice is spend time in the Adult areas like the coffe shop or the adult pool. If you dont have a veranda, grab a chair on Deck 4 (at least it's Deck 4 on the Wonder) and relax there.

Disney has the cleanest and best run ships in the business. You should have a great time as long as you set your expectations correctly.

Thank you; appreciate the reply. I will admit being ticked off by being blindsided by all this..

 

[eas21]

Big plus. DCL dining beats RC, especially lunch. Not saying RC is bad, I sail them when DCL does not fit our schedule, but definitely a notch down on the food. Not as much nickel and dimeing you either. Soda, coffee, tea, milk all free help yourself on deck 24 hours. No soft drink package required.

Thank you, i apppreciate it.

 

[disney4life2008]

Why would you be forced to stay in the stateroom? LOL! The newer big ships have a fabulous on-demand tv system with a solid assortment of movies to watch at no additional charge. Granted, there's no PPV like we saw offered on Allure of the Seas last year. LOL! It's not just kiddie or family movies.
/QUOTE]

LOL I could not even imagine them having this on anything disney related. But an interesting request that I am sure people look for nonetheless.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

True story. Hubby sat down on the end of the bed, started flipping thru channels/features, and he called me over to see where they had PPV adult movies. We both laughed and agreed, "You know you aren't on Mickey's boat when..... PPV." We had a good laugh. I was glad he found it so I could watch our folio for any mysterious charges from our teenage son's stateroom. LOL! I don't think they'd do something that stupid knowing they wouldn't sneak it by us but...teenagers....sometimes there's no predicting what their brains or hormones will convince them is the thing to do. LOL!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Thank you; appreciate the reply. I will admit being ticked off by being blindsided by all this..

It's okay. I kinda felt on the opposite side of the coin when we landed on Allure of the Seas last year. Hubby's family, at the time, were super anti-Disney cruise. They wouldn't consider it. We're Disney fans (my fault, I will admit) so Disney is all we'd ever sailed. Royal was their line of choice. They wouldn't consider Disney so we went Royal so we could have the vacation with family. In a way I was a little irked by it. It was a few abrasive comments that rubbed me wrong. If I had gone on Royal expecting it to be Disney I would've been sorely disappointed. I tried to keep my mind right and get my family in the right place to go into the Royal cruise as a new experience all it's own. And it was. We all found things we really enjoyed on the Allure just as we have our favorite things on the Disney ships. But definitely if we'd gone looking for the same experience as we get on Disney we would've been setting unrealistic expectations. That would be doomed from the get-go.

Disney Cruise Line does try to offer venues, activities, and options for everyone. Of course it being Disney it'll be family-friendly-centric but they aren't going to ignore any demographic either. My husband & I have left our kids home and sailed on Disney a few times. If we want to avoid children altogether it can be done. We have always had a grand time, tho.

And hey, now that we've sailed Royal with the hubby's family they're going on a Panama Canal voyage with us next year. Pretty cool!

I'd definitely sail with Royal again, too. Absolutely!

 

[DAKOTADISNEY]

My observation when we were on the Dream a few years ago was that there were Disney characters around but we weren't over run by them. If you wanted to see them they had several meet and greets in the atrium which are usually listed in the navigator. We did see Mickey wandering around on deck 4 one day but I'm guessing if you are in the adult-only areas they won't pass through there very much. Maybe others have more insight on this.

 

[rob0519]

Thank you; appreciate the reply. I will admit being ticked off by being blindsided by all this..

I don't blame you. Being blindsided into an expensive vacation, one of which I'd never been on would have me ticked off as well. Read the forum here or go to the DCL forum on Cruise Critic.com and get as much information as you can. Maybe search YouTube for a few videos. Hopefully, it will be a relaxing time for you and the family.

 

[EOD K9]

My first two cruises were sans children and my wife and I had a blast. On our second cruise, we skipped the shows to go play music trivia, match your mate, etc. Other than the Disney touches, the cruise isn't "kiddie" all in your face. You'll enjoy yourself. During my next cruise early next year I'll be bringing my 10 month old girls. That will make for a totally different experience. Good luck on yours.

 

[ginadee]

Ive done the disney cruise twice. Once with my dad and once with a girlfriend. Ive also done RCL, NCL, Carnival and Celebrity. As far as the ship itself, disney was the nicest by far. 1st class all the way and completely caters to every age group. We were not even around kids that much. Waaay less than some of the other cruises. We were always at the adult pool, at night all the lounges and clubs were adult, adult restaurant and one end of their island is adult. The shows are as good as a broadway show but they are disney and you will see all the characters. But I recommend it for anyone. My girlfriend was not a disney freak like me and she loved it.