Do You Believe in Magic?: Ten Reasons Disney Cruises Aren't Just For the Kids

You know that feeling—that gasp that fills you with awe and youthful excitement when you see with your own eyes a work of art far superior in size, power, and beauty than any picture could accurately paint? That is the feeling she demands. As you drive down State Road 528, she slowly, majestically comes into view. Her hull glistens in the Florida sunshine, appearing to subtly shift hues from deep blue to black to blue again. Above this, her superstructure stands strong and white, crowned with two funnels of shiny red like candy apples. The Disney Magic, like her sister ship the Disney Wonder, is reminiscent of an era gone by, a modern embodiment of the classic ocean liners of the early 20^th Century. To this traditional design add all the modern convenience and technology of the last 100 years, sprinkle with a bit of pixie dust, and you have the perfect vacation home away from home. Don’t let the overexcited children and the colorful cast of characters fool you. The magic isn’t just reserved for kids and their eager parents. Here are 10 reasons you’ll want to limber up your sea legs and take a Disney Cruise Line vacation sans kids:

1. Luxury Accommodations

As soon as you board the ship from Port Canaveral’s Terminal 8, you know you aren’t in Kansas anymore. As you step into the lobby, the ship’s officers and crew are there to greet you and welcome you aboard. (One of the around 1000 crew members will always be available to assist you throughout your stay.) The lobby is magnificent, open to three floors of the ship. The rich nautical carpet gives way to wood-paneled walls with large windows which let in light, a glass elevator encaged in an intricately designed metallic frame, a grand double staircase that leads up to the next floor—and it’s all topped with a delicate sculpture of colorful blown glass that hangs down from the ceiling three floors up. Every nook and cranny of the ship is given this same careful detail, from the public areas to the staterooms.

The 875 staterooms range in size and cost to accommodate your needs. Besides a bed and bath, each cabin is equipped with a television, telephone, safe box, and room service (Order a plate of chocolate chip cookies after a long day for the perfect treat.). Seventy-three percent of these rooms have outside views, and many of them have verandas. Disney Cruise Line also boasts cabins that are a cut above that of other cruise ships as far as space and amenities. However, there is so much to see and do aboard the ship you probably won’t want to spend too much time in your cabin.

2. Deck Activities

Being 964 feet long and 106 feet wide, neither the Magic nor the Wonder are short on things to do. You’ll be sure to find something to amuse you on most any of the ten decks. If it’s games you like, have a go at ping pong or shuffleboard. If you’re the athletic type, the Wide World of Sports Deck offers basketball hoops. If you like to run or walk, Deck 4’s track is approximately 1/3 a mile. If you just want a little sunshine and laziness, the Quiet Cove Pool offers a heated pool, 2 hot tubs, and plenty of lounge chairs (and towels are provided)—for adults only. In the evenings, you can watch a poolside movie. Just pull up a chair on Deck 9 or 10 around Goofy’s Pool (the family pool) and a film (Pirates of the Caribbean, anyone?) will be displayed on a jumbo LED screen television that hangs on one of the ships stacks. If you just want a lovely view of the ocean, any one of these activities provides a stunning view.

3. On-Board Activities

If you find yourself getting bored with all the lounging around, check your Personal Navigator (That’s the handy little pamphlet you’ll find in your room each day with all the information you need for the next day’s sailing.) for a full list of movie, tour, and workshop/lecture times. The Buena Vista Theatre shows first-run films as well as Disney classics. If you like to shop, the ship has three stores (Note: They won’t be open when the ship is in port). A variety of classes are also offered. The Art of Entertaining series will teach you to cook some of the wonderful dishes you’ve tasted on board, to decorate your own cake, to fold those napkins and towels into works of art, and so much more. The Behind-the-Scenes series will take you behind the curtain of the stage and behind the scenes of the films to see how the magic is created. The Navigator Series will give you a taste of the legends, traditions, techniques, and customs of sailing. You may even find an auction, a dance class, or a wine or beer tasting that you just can’t miss.

4. Vista Spa and Salon + FitnessCenter

If it is pampering you want, the Vista Spa is the place for you. They offer hair styling, manicures, pedicures, massages, facials, and steam baths. If you can dream it, they can probably do it. They even offer couples’ treatments and, for a special treat, open-air massages on Castaway Cay. The spa is quite a popular destination, so book your treatments the first afternoon or evening.

The FitnessCenter offers several classes, seminars, and activities in addition to their gym. If you get tired of the spectacular ocean view, you can always watch television while you work out. If you are on the treadmill, you might even see the captain and his officers on the ship’s Bridge.

If you want to check out these adult-only areas before booking appointments or getting up for a sunrise workout, you can take tours during your first afternoon on board.

5. Food, Food, and More Food

You may need that fitness center after you gorge yourself on all of the incredible food that is available on board. For a typical 7-Night cruise, the ship is stocked with almost 1000 pounds of rib-eye steak, 9000 pounds of whole chickens, 2,200 pounds of shrimp, 10,500 pounds of fresh melon, 4,400 pounds of fresh pineapple, and 44,500 eggs. And that just the start of it. The dinner rotation moves you through three restaurants, each night with a different themed menu. Your servers even come with you. But, if you don’t feel like following the dinner schedule each night, that’s okay. You can always find pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, fruit, and ice cream on the pool deck. Topsiders (or Beach Blanket, if you are on the Wonder) is a buffet that offers breakfast and lunch, and a beverage station on the pool deck will keep you hydrated throughout the day.

For something extra special, try room service for a meal or a snack. Check the menu in your cabin to find which items come with a surcharge and which do not. Or, for just a small charge ($15 for brunch and dinner; $5 for high tea), you can have an adult-only dining experience. Palo is an upscale restaurant that specializes in Northern Italian cuisine. The restaurant is named for the poles that line the canals in Venice, and its décor, designed by Martin Dorff, engages the senses with warm woods, Venetian class, curved walls, and incredible ocean views. Palo is a popular destination, so you’ll want to make reservations as soon as possible.

Of course, just when you thought you couldn’t possible eat anymore, you’ll run into a poolside midnight buffet. Carved ice, fresh fruit, and delectable desserts are just the start for this cruising tradition. The buffet table is a work of art—pretty enough for pictures, good enough to eat.

6. Entertainment

In the evenings, the ship offers Broadway-style shows at the Walt Disney Theatre. The spectacle, the costumes, and the technical precision will astound you. Yes, these shows are all Disney themed. As a special treat for adults, the ship offers comedy acts, cabarets, game shows, time warp parties, pub nights, and musical acts which change with each voyage.

7. Lounges & Clubs

If you aren’t tuckered out by all the sunbathing and eating and partying you’ll be doing during the day, you can spend the nights in one of the ships many lounges. You can dance, snack, have a drink, listen to some music, unwind, catch a sporting event on the Magic’s Beat Street or the Wonder’s Route 66. The Cove Café also offers a quiet spot to sip coffee or cocktails while perusing books, magazines or the internet. The Cove Café is reserved for adults only, while the lounges on Route 66 and Beat Street have special times for families and for adults.

8. Ports of Call

Depending on what options the cruise line is offering at the time of your trip, you can choose from a wide variety of trip lengths and destinations. Special Transatlantic, European, Mediterranean, Panama Canal, and Mexican Riviera cruises are offered in different years, but you can always count on one of the ships taking visitors to the Bahamian and Caribbean islands. Anywhere you go, a wide variety of shore excursions will be offered (for a cost, of course). Once the ship drops its 14-ton anchor (that’s equivalent to three elephants, by the way) you can swim with the dolphins, snorkel, golf, see Mexican ruins, scuba dive, and more. If you’d rather explore on your own, however, there is still plenty to see and do. Beaches are always popular destinations, as are shops and craft districts (it’s duty free in the islands). You can have a margarita at Margaritaville, climb up in a lighthouse for spectacular views of the islands, dance to the sounds of street musicians, or chat with the locals. Whatever your interest, there’s something for you at any of the exciting destinations. If not, you can always stay on the ship and enjoy the relative quiet and emptiness of the ship.

9. Castaway Cay

Even if you choose to stay on the ship in other ports of call, Castaway Cay is not a place you’ll want to miss. Imagine if you will, a remote island with beautiful sandy beaches, water that reflects various shades of clear, turquoise, blue, and deep blue, shallow waters teaming with all sorts of wild life, and biking trails surrounded by beautiful foliage. The island is clean and, for the most part, uninhabited. No merchant will be out on the streets trying to get you to come in and buy their goods. No, this private island is a haven of fun and relaxation. Here you very well may find nirvana.

The island has several beaches and activities. If you are feeling adventurous, you can rent boats, feel the wind in your hair as you parasail, ride a bike through the island, kayak, or get soaked on a banana boat. If you’re feeling playful, check out the Flying Dutchman (the ship used in the filming of the Pirates of the Caribbean films), get your picture taken with Jack Sparrow, find the hidden treasures at each beach with your snorkel gear, or go boogie boarding. But if you just want a peaceful day at the beach, you definitely need to visit to SerenityBay.

SerenityBay is the beach reserved for adults and is the perfect location to sunbathe, fall asleep to the lullaby of the undulating waves, let the water take you for a serene ride on a float, or take a walk on the beach. Relax in a lounge chair as you sip the drink of the day, the Conch Cooler (which comes in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic varieties). It’s the tranquil paradise of your dreams; the only down side is that you have to leave before the tide recedes and the ship is stranded in the shallow waters. Although, come to think of it, maybe that wouldn’t be so bad…

10. Sailing

No matter which length trip you choose, which destinations you go to, or what excursions you try, you’re still on a cruise. No matter if you fill your days with activities or lounge around the entire time, you’re still sailing. If you’ve cruised before, you understand what this means. If you haven’t, you can only imagine the smell of the salty sea, the wind in your hair, the sound of the waves crashing into the side of the ship, the chirping of the seagulls, the blanket of stars that fill the night sky which seemlessly mesh with dark waters, the amazing light show of distant lightning illuminating the clouds… Until you’ve experienced it you can never really comprehend the magic of days spent cruising at 21.5 knots on the open sea, and who better to help you find that magic, than the folks at Disney?