My family is planning a reunion for 2019...they want to do it on a Disney cruise ship...what are they like? I'd rather do Carnival, Royal Caribbean or another adult-friendly cruise line.

by Anonymous

reply 24

January 29, 2018 5:38 AM

JUST REMEMBER TO PRE-LUBE!! BLESS,BILL

by Anonymous

reply 1

December 31, 2017 1:32 AM

Expensive and full of bratty kids.

by Anonymous

reply 2

December 31, 2017 2:26 AM

See R2? That is just what I was thinking. My relatives have kids and grandkids that run the age spectrum from 3 to 20...If I go, I'll stay out of the pool...kids shit in cruise ship pools. That's one way to get sick for sure.

by Anonymous

reply 3

December 31, 2017 2:30 AM

I did a Disney cruise back when the cruise line just got started. It was actually really nice. There were parts of the ship (including a pool) that were adults only and when they stopped at the Disney private island there was an adults only section of the beach as well. The beach was basically empty and we had the whole area to ourselves. The food was amazing and everything was first class. They had places basically to dump the kids off-like a supervised play room so that the adults can have time away from them.

The only other cruise I've been on was with Norwegian and it was horrible. The ship was old, the service was lousy and the food was terrible.

by Anonymous

reply 4

December 31, 2017 2:38 AM

It’s fantastic for kids and fun for adults, too. The characters are on board and there is lots of Disney entertainment. Yes, they are expensive.

by Anonymous

reply 5

December 31, 2017 2:40 AM

ABC OP.

Anything but Carnival. Even Disney is preferable to Carnival, but as BILL TAYLOR said, you ,ight want to lube up if you plan on hitting the bar.

by Anonymous

reply 6

December 31, 2017 2:59 AM

Adding to the chorus: went on a similar family trip a few years ago OP-- My brother and SIL and I were all dreading it beforehand and humoring my parents and the kids, but it turned out to be a lot of fun.

Food is surprisingly good and in normal sized portions. Lots for adults to do, including a good gym and decent entertainment/movie options.

Mix of people ranging from upper middle class families for who this was just another vacation to blue-collar families for whom this was a once-in-a-lifetime event. The kids part is very well done and your nieces and nephews will have a blast.

by Anonymous

reply 7

December 31, 2017 3:12 AM

Four DCL cruises under my belt. Two of their ships are nice (Dream and Fantasy); the other two are very old (Magic and Wonder). The service is impeccable. The food is extraordinary. The entertainment is top notch. No detail is too small.

But they are expensive cruises. If there are small children involved, and they are Disney addicts, DCL cruises are great for them. For adults, especially if you're not into the whole Disney shtick, they are tedious. Alcohol is expensive. Shore excursions are really expensive, compared to other companies'.

On top of it all, DCL ships do not have casinos.

by Anonymous

reply 8

December 31, 2017 3:21 AM

Listen to r4, r5, r7 and me: The Disney cruised is great (and I HATE children). The minute those kids get aboard, that brainwashing mouse has them in his thrall. They have tons of activities for them, and those rapscslians are hidden away doing what ever it is that they do. There are three pool areas, one for families with little kids, one for families with kids up to teenage years and the adult pool, which is adjacent to the spa. If you really want to get away from the younger set, there are four things you can do: 1) Pay the pittance for a spa membership for the run of the cruise— it’s a great retreat. 2) Choose the late seating for supper— you’ll see almost no kids 3) Instead of trudging down to Castaway Quay for the day, stay on board the ship— you’ll have about five times the staff just begging to wait on you 4) Make reservations for the premium restaurant which is small, intimate, no kids allowed. I think you’ll be surprised how much you’ll enjoy a Disney Cruise. The prices are higher for a reason— they’ve got everything under control and are masters at customer service and masters of mind control over children. It’s amazing.

by Anonymous

reply 9

December 31, 2017 3:29 AM

Disney does not have "anytime dining" in its restaurants. You get early or late seating, which you can request but not guarantee. If you want to eat at any other time, you have to use room service or go to one of the casual/buffet outlets. Dining also has theme dining almost every day, e.g., formal, Pirates of the Caribbean, etc., so plan to pack dressy clothes and costumes. All this sucks. But you can book dinners at Palo (on Fantasy and Dream), an upscale restaurant that requires reservations. Book it before you get on board, or as soon as possible after. It costs a few bucks extra, but is worth every cent.

The Disney island is crap. Spend that day in the on-board spa and pools. They will be empty. Trust me on this.

by Anonymous

reply 10

December 31, 2017 3:35 AM

That does it. Your recommendations have made me decide to put a Disney cruise on my list of to dos.

I had thought I would hate it because of the kids, but you convinced me that they are avoidable.

by Anonymous

reply 11

December 31, 2017 9:13 AM

The ships smell. And you have to be a Castaway Club member in order to get the lanyard for your keys. Otherwise the staff won't give them to you, so don't bother asking them. A lot of people get pissed about the lanyards for some reason.

by Anonymous

reply 12

December 31, 2017 9:51 AM

They will sell you a very expensive lanyard in the onboard boutiques. And you're a Silver Castaway Club member after just one cruise.

But, yeah, Disney freaks are weird about freaking lanyards.

by Anonymous

reply 13

December 31, 2017 5:49 PM

Germy snot nosed kids everywhere and they pee in the pools.

by Anonymous

reply 14

December 31, 2017 6:10 PM

We think they're tremendous!

by Anonymous

reply 15

January 29, 2018 2:35 AM

You can stay home and have a weeklong stomach virus for free.

by Anonymous

reply 16

January 29, 2018 2:37 AM

Anyone actually hook up on one of these?

by Anonymous

reply 17

January 29, 2018 3:26 AM

R17 Well people told me I was fucking Goofy, but I don't think that's what they had in mind.

by Anonymous

reply 18

January 29, 2018 3:30 AM

You can buy them off of Ebay

by Anonymous

reply 19

January 29, 2018 3:32 AM

You can buy the lanyards off of Ebay

by Anonymous

reply 20

January 29, 2018 3:33 AM

Why would someone want a lanyard? Is it special somehow?

by Anonymous

reply 21

January 29, 2018 3:34 AM

I wouldn’t go if someone paid me.

by Anonymous

reply 22

January 29, 2018 3:34 AM

[quote] You can buy the lanyards off of Ebay

Aren't those what Cherie wore as headbands on [italic]Punky Brewster[/italic]?

by Anonymous

reply 23

January 29, 2018 3:41 AM

OP - do you understand what a family reunion is?

I've been to a few family reunions. The worst one was help in a place where there wasn't enough for the children to do.

by Anonymous

reply 24

January 29, 2018 5:38 AM