The Grown-Ups’ Guide to Surviving a Disney Cruise

Onboard the new, 4,000-passenger Disney Destiny, during a three-day Bahamas cruise before the official launch on November 20, I got an evil look from Maleficent and a sneer from Cruella de Vil, and responded in kind. And that’s what’s cool for adults about Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship. Villains do not have the same mushy energy as princesses.

The new Disney Destiny has a heroes and villains theme, featuring characters and stories from Disney, Pixar and Marvel—everyone from hero Black Panther in statue form, who looks over the striking Wakanda-inspired Grand Hall atrium, to the Princess and the Frog’s voodoo-practicing villain Dr. Facilier (also known as the Shadow Man) performing magic tricks in his own dark, secret parlor.

The fact that the villains are not quite as smiley as Disney royalty and Mickey and Minnie and pals, was fine with my husband and I, two adults who had left the grandkids at home and were looking for grown-up experiences. We found opportunities to both participate with and hide from the family masses, to get both nostalgic and to snarl like pirates.

Photo by Amy Smith/Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line

Find solace in the adults-only hideaways

Away from the ship’s seven pools, splash zone, and family-friendly AquaMouse water coaster attraction, Disney cleverly reserves a high-up outdoor section of the ship for those age 18 and over to enjoy a calmer version of fun in the sun.

At the “Quiet Cove,” the name of the adults-only area, you can grab a drink from the outdoor bar and admire the ocean from a lounger, daybed, or rocking chair, hang out in the infinity pool or hot tub, or head indoors to the classy indoor coffee shop for craft coffee or bar drinks. While it was a bit too cloudy to see much outdoor action on our sailing, I imagine adults spending much of the day in this part of the ship, relaxing, chatting, and, at least in some cases, showing off their Disney, Pixar, or Marvel tattoos as Disney adults are wont to do.

Another adults-only escape is the ship’s Senses Spa, where you can get a romantic couples massage in a suite with a tub, and pay extra for access to quiet heated loungers, a foot pool, outdoor hot tubs, and sensory showers in the pretty and peaceful rainforest thermal area (at a cost of about $79 per day).

Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line

Embrace the (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) bar scene

The bar (or “lounge” in Disney-speak) scene on Disney Destiny, is over-the-top, thanks to creative designers and tech-happy Disney Imagineers. We lingered one evening in the fleet’s first Avengers-themed lounge, the Sanctum, inspired by mysterious hero Doctor Strange (the Benedict Cumberbatch character in Avengers movies). Under the sorcerer’s eye of Agamotto that keeps watch on the scene, we ordered cocktails that billowed smoke and changed colors while listening to an excellent live band playing Credence and other rock classics.

In the ship’s Haunted Mansion bar, themed on the cult favorite Disney Parks attraction—tech-enhanced but otherwise little changed from the same space on sister ship Disney Treasure—you can’t help being impressed by the skeletons swimming in the fish tank, watchful eyes that appear in what otherwise look like regular paintings, and whisps of air that make you feel the presence of spirits.

In my favorite new space, De Vil’s piano lounge, girlish glam meets evil when you order a “Perfectly Wretched” cocktail (similar to an elderflower spritz and served with an edible lipstick and spray from a perfume bottle) and sit in chairs inspired by Parisian fashion. The lush fabrics reflect Cruella’s preferred shades of red, black, and white. At night, a pianist plays Disney love songs on a piano decorated with Dalmatian spots. By day, in a creative session for all ages, Cruella asks the audience to create a more pleasant theme song for her, one that does not refer to her as “evil.”

Inspired by the Pirates of the Caribbean attractions at the parks, Cask & Cannon is a new pub for this ship where adults can act like rowdy pirates cheering along with buccaneers and sipping rare and even vintage rums or specially developed house beer served from the barrel, in true pirate style. This is also the venue to sneak away to for watch sporting events on big screens.

Of note in the bars, Disney has added lots of zero-proof and non-alcoholic cocktail options to its menus, for adults who are sober or sober curious.

Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line

Reserve a table at more upscale dining venues

Disney Destiny, like the other Disney Cruise Line ships, has a rotational dining system where you dine in a different restaurant every night, and your servers move with you, a system designed so that everyone can try a variety of themed spaces and so kids don’t get bored. We found, however, that the cavernous Pride Lands: Feast of The Lion King, a new venue with a tasty Africa-inspired menu served alongside iconic music and storytelling performances, was extremely loud. And that the Marvel-inspired dining experience is really for true fans who get all the references.

Adults traveling without kids should request to eat at the contemporary, California-inspired venue 1923, named for the founding year of The Walt Disney Company, and the most elegant of the dining rooms. And on other nights seek the ship’s alternative cuisine options.

For instance, tucked away on an upper deck with prime ocean views and décor lightly inspired by Beauty and the Beast, are classy, date-night spaces reserved for adults. Palo is an Italian-inspired steakhouse (priced at $55 per person), and Enchanté is a high-end venue for French cuisine with menus by Chef Arnaud Lallement, of the three-Michelin star L’Assiette Champenoise in France’s Champagne region (priced at $145 per person, with wine pairings costing extra). On our sailing, the chef himself was onboard, overseeing our champagne-accompanied meal, including an impressive first course that featured a dollop of Petrossian caviar with various foams created from smoked haddock and salmon and potatoes.

I also highly recommend starting your evening with a drink at the Rose, the quiet and elegant oceanview bar located between the two restaurants.

A more casual dining alternative for adults is dinner at Cask & Cannon, with an á la carte-priced menu of wings and other pub grub. Or try my personal quick-food favorite, the included Donald’s Cantina, with food truck-like stands serving excellent barbecue, tacos, and burgers.

Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line

Participate in activities and entertainment for the young (at heart)

While the younger passengers were having fun in the kids’ clubs or at the family pool, I chose to embrace the adult daytime activities. I painted a beer can cozy with markers at one of several adult-oriented craft sessions. In another session you could bedazzle a wooden anchor. I didn’t have time for trivia but if I did, I could have chosen from grown-up themed options such as sports and NatGeo (now that Disney owns National Geographic) contests.

At night, Disney presents adult entertainment with a cheeky, R-rated comedic edge such as “With Great Power! A Marvel Comedy Show,” complete with music, witty repartee, and flowing drinks.

As an alternative, grab a latte from the new coffee shops off the Grand Lobby and popcorn or candy at the concession stands and see a classic or first-run movie at one of the ship’s two sophisticated movie theaters.

And do not miss the late-night Pirate’s Rockin’ Parlay Party out on deck, with high-energy music and dancing. Like the accompanying fireworks display, it’s a blast, regardless of your age.

Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line

Book grown-up accommodations

While we were in a deluxe family accommodation with a balcony and one-and-a-half bathrooms, if you’re an adult couple or traveling with friends and don’t plan on spending a lot of time in your cabin, the ship has nice 169-square-foot inside staterooms (with no view), with a starting price from about $3,000 for two for a four-night Bahamas sailing.

Or splurge on a Concierge oceanview or veranda stateroom (up to 296 square feet and priced from about $6,000 for two). My pick would be one of seven staterooms with forward-facing, floor-to-ceiling windows and mid-century modern décor, inspired by Pixar’s the Incredibles. Concierge perks include access to an exclusive outdoor sunning area and indoor lounge with bar and snacks.

For its inaugural season, Disney Destiny is also doing five-night Western Caribbean sailings. All itineraries visit Disney Castaway Cay and/or Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, private beach destinations where you’ll find the option of adults’ beaches, with cold rum punch awaiting and no kids allowed.