The ultimate guide to Disney Cruise for adults. Are you thinking about going on a Disney cruise without kids? Or are you just looking to learn what adults have to do on a Disney cruise when your kids are at the kids club?
Whether you’ve been dreaming of a few hours alone on a cruise with your whole family, or a getaway with your friends, or a romantic escape with your partner, a Disney Cruise can be the perfect choice for adults.
We will discuss all the Disney cruise adult-only options, along with what spaces and activities are off-limits to adults! We will also explore the differences between the adult options on the different ships.
This guide will help you decide if you want to take an adult-only Disney cruise and will provide all the information you need to make the most of your Disney Cruise. We will discuss onboard activities, restaurants, adult areas, and more.
So, let’s jump right in and explore all the exciting things a Disney Cruise has to offer!
Table of Contents
Disney Cruise Adults Only Dining
On Disney Cruise Line there are either 1 or 2 adult-only restaurants depending on the size of the ship you are on. The smaller ships (also called the classic ships) of the Magic and the Wonder each have only the original Palo restaurant. The larger ships have 2 adult-only restaurants to choose from.
All the adult dining experiences on the Disney cruise have an extra charge. They also have a dress code. Check it before sailing so you bring the correct attire with you.
Palo
Palo, an Italian-inspired restaurant, is on all of the Disney cruise line ships. Palo is open for dinner each night of the ship and for brunch on sea days and also on Nassau day on the Disney Wish. Brunch reservations are limited to once per cruise per adult and are hard to obtain.
On the Disney Magic and Wonder, often referred to as the classic ships, Palo is the only adult-only restaurant on the ship. On the Disney Wish, Palo is referred to as Palo Steakhouse.
Is Palo Adults Only?
Yes! Don’t even try and bring your 17-year-old. It is not allowed!
Remy
Remy, a French-inspired restaurant, is on the Disney Dream and Fantasy. Remy is open for dinner each night of the ship and for a dessert experience. Remy is more upscale then Palo and thus has a higher upcharge.
Remy Dessert Experience
We were lucky enough to experience the dessert experience on the Disney Dream in 2018. It was WONDERFUL. We were seated in a small room with just our party of 5. The chef came to talk to us and they explained every dessert as it was presented.
Enchante
Enchante, a French-inspired restaurant, is on the Disney Dream and Fantasy. Enchante is open for dinner each night of the ship and for a dessert experience. The dessert experience is limited to once per cruise.
Cove Cafe
Located inside the adult pool area, think of Cove Cafe as Starbuck but with no kids allowed. They sell specialty drinks and a best-kept secret is the pastries are free!
Should you Dine in the Adult Only Restaurants?
If this is your first cruise, don’t worry if you can not obtain reservations there is plenty to do on the ship anyway! We have been on 11 Disney cruises and have yet to eat dinner in an adult-only restaurant.
Are the Disney Cruise Adult Restaurants Reservation Only?
Yes, you must have a reservation for all the adults attending a meal at the adult restaurants.
When are the Adult Restaurants open?
All the adult restaurants on the ship are open each night for dinner. Palo is open for brunch on sea days only. And Enchante and Remy both offer a dessert experience.
Coming soon: A post with more tips on adult-only restaurants.
Disney Cruise Adults Activities
The Disney Cruise Line offers plenty of adult activities that are designed to entertain and relax you on your vacation. From wine-tasting events to trivia games, there are plenty of activities to choose from.
Daily Navigator
Disney provides a list of their activities on their “Daily Navigator”. Which is provided primarily on their exclusive app (download the Disney cruise line app before you sail). Adult-only activities are clearly Activities – Adults on the navigator.
If you are looking for child-free times, you will find that this 18 and over is usually very well policed. In fact, it was questioned how my daughter got in who looks very young but is in her 20s!
What free adult-only activities are on the cruise?
Trivia, karaoke, and game shows are very popular. Both Disney trivia and general trivia are offered. These activities are offered all day long.
If you are looking for adult-only activities make sure you attend the 18+ ones on the navigator. Many activities are offered in both family and adult options. These also include cooking demonstrations.
And there is also adult-only entertainment in the adult lounges in the evenings when they become child-free. There is usually an adult-only show on 4-night and longer cruises. This is usually a show by the variety act performer who performs on the main stage for families also. We have seen comedians and magicians. These shows are sometimes performed in the main Walt Disney theater and other times in a smaller venue or one of the nightclubs.
Adult Beverage Tastings
Disney Cruise Line offers a wide range of adult beverage tastings for guests 21 years and older. These include:
- Champagne
- Whiskey
- Martini tastings to Mixology classes
- Chocolate and Liquor tastings
- Cognac tastings
These tastings must be reserved ahead of time and have an extra charge. They can be hard to obtain as well. The adult beverage tasting offerings vary based on the ship and itinerary.
Senses Spa & Salon
The ships also have an adult-only area called Senses Spa & Salon where you can get pampered with massages or facials.
The Senses Spa and Salon on the Disney Cruise Line offers a variety of services, including massages, facials, and spa treatments. The ships also offer a hair salon with manicures and pedicures.
Rainforest room
The Rainforest room is an adult-only area of the Senses Spa where guests can relax and unwind. This area features a hot tub, sauna, steam room, and waterfall showers. Guests can also enjoy spa amenities such as aromatherapy, herbal tea, and chilled towels.
Be sure to take a tour of the rainforest room on embarkation day! The one on the Wish is amazing!
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Excursions for Adults
Everyone is invited to join in on the Disney-organized port adventures, but those looking for a more grown-up experience should check out the excursions specifically tailored to adults. This is a wonderful addition for adult-only cruisers.
Castaway Cay
It is also worth noting that on the Disney private island of Castaway Cay, they have a whole adult-only section called Serenity Bay. Serenity Bay has its own food area and bar. No one under 18 is allowed.
It is wonderful, quiet, and peaceful. If you are looking for entertainment, this is not the place for that. So be prepared.
If you want to experience Castaway Cay with fewer kids, take the tram right from the ship. Then the next tram all the way to Serenity Bay. Spend the day floating in the water or with a drink sitting on the sand.
You can hear the kids on bikes behind the cabanas though and I have heard you can hear them from the couples’ massage tent too.
Nightlife for Adults and Bars
Each ship has a bar and entertainment area on the ship. These bars can be used by people of all ages during the day. But after 9 pm they are adults only. Both during the day and in the evening these venues are places that host many different types of activities. Such as beverage tastings and trivia games.
The adult lounges on the Disney Cruise Line ships offer live music and entertainment throughout the year. From jazz bands to acoustic guitarists, there’s something for everyone’s taste in music. Guests can also enjoy comedy shows, karaoke nights, DJs, and other performances in the evening hours when the lounges become child-free.
Guests 18 and over can enjoy a variety of stylish, sophisticated nightclubs and lounges aboard Disney Cruise Line.
The Disney Magic, Wonder, Dream, and Fantasy all have an array of nightclubs and lounges for adults to enjoy in the Entertainment Districts.
On the Magic and Wonder After Hours, is the adults-only club area on these ships. They each have a nightclub, pub, and piano bar.
On the Disney Dream, it is called The District area. And on the Disney Fantasy this areas is called Europa.
The Dream and Fantasy have an additional bar between Palo and Remy on deck 12 called Meridian.
The Disney Wish is a bit different as its bars and lounges are spread out on the ship. This does make it a little harder to avoid the children.
Disney Cruise Adults Only Pool
If you’re looking for a place to enjoy some quiet time away from the kids, the Disney Cruise Quiet Cove pools provide the perfect escape. The pools are a great way to unwind and relax, and the padded chaise lounges in the adult areas provide a comfortable and luxurious place to sit and unwind. The poolside bar also offers a variety of refreshments and you can get snacks inside at cove cafe nearby.
On the classic ships of the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder there is one large pool with plenty of seating in the shade. Along with 2 hot tubs
On the larger Dream and Fantasy, there are 2 adult pools. Both are on different levels.
On all 4 ships, the adult cove pool areas CAN be walked through by children who are exiting the forward elevators and walking toward the aft of the ship. For some reason, this is much more common on the Dream and Fantasy.
To combat this issue the adult area on the Wish was placed only forward of the elevators. Unfortunately, this design made the adult area much smaller and the pool smaller as well.
Disney Cruise Adults with Disabilities
Disney cruises are crowded and spaced such as the breakfast and lunch buffets can be hard to manuever with a walker, wheelchair or scooter. All meals are available in a dining room which is a great alternative if this is an issue. Also be prepared to wait a long time for elevators and evevators can be small on all the ships.
See my interview with Hayley on her experience with cruising disney with a wheelchair. The staterooms are small, so if you require an accessible stateroom book it early. There are several places to charge electric scooters as they will not fit inside standard staterooms.
No Adults Allowed Areas and Activities
- Chill Spa is specifically designed for tweens and teens on the Dream and Fantasy.
- Kids clubs: Vibe, Edge, Oceaneers club, and the Nursery (except during open houses)
- Bippity Boppity Boutique
- While adults are invited to accompany their children, special parties such as the Royal Tea and Olaf picnic are designated for children.
Differences among the Ships
The adult areas vary immensely from ship to ship. From the location, size, and quantity of adult-only offerings. The Dream and Fantasy have larger adult areas than the Wonder and Magic as would be expected since they have a larger number of passengers.
Overall the adult areas on these 4 ships are set up in very similar ways. With the adult bars all together in one part of the ship and the adult pool and cove cafe together in another part of the ship.
Since the Wish is new, it is unique. The adult areas are more spread out and the adult pool area is much smaller.
Final Thoughts
There are things to do on a Disney ship for adults. And there are many ways to enjoy the ship and the ports without being with too many kids. But if you are looking to be around none or very few children, then a Disney cruise is not for you. If you enjoy being around people of all ages, and the magic of Disney shows, characters, and entertainment with times you can escape the younger generation, then you will have a wonderful time.
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