You can find romance at every corner on Disney Cruise Line! Check out our ultimate guide to a Disney Cruise for couples.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Disney Cruise Line is the best vacation for any kind of occasion. Its great for families, but even better for romantic adult-only getaways. There are so many fun and exciting things for adults to do that it is impossible to get bored! You can never go wrong with a Disney cruise for couples.
My husband and I have been on four Disney Cruises and 3 of those have been couples-only trips. We went on our very first cruise for our honeymoon, went back on the same itinerary a year later, and then took another the year after that! Because of this, we definitely know a thing or two about how to have a fun, relaxing time on a Disney cruise for couples.
If you’ve got a honeymoon, anniversary, or special occasion coming up and are looking for a memorable way to celebrate it, I highly recommend going on a Disney cruise! It will definitely be a special trip to remember. I can promise that Disney will outdo themselves when it comes to making your vacation extra magical.
Tips for Going on a Romantic Disney Cruise for Couples
Splurge on a verandah or concierge room
The view that you get right from the balcony of your stateroom is worth every single penny in my book. It is pure bliss to be able to sit out on your balcony in the morning, drink a cup of coffee, eat your breakfast, and enjoy the scenery with each other. We really cherished that time that we could just talk to each other. It was much quieter and more peaceful than the main deck.
Tell DCL you’re celebrating
If you’re going on your cruise because of a honeymoon, anniversary, birthday, or other special occasion, let Disney Cruise Line know! They will absolutely go out of their way to make it even more special for you. As I said before, my husband and I have been on DCL for our honeymoon and two anniversaries, so we know first hand the kind of special treatment you will receive! Sometimes you’ll get a special dessert at dinner, a keepsake or button, unique towel folding “art” in your room, or a chocolate-drizzled/decorated plate from Palo (that unfortunately you can’t keep – boo!). They’ll do whatever they can to thank you for celebrating your special occasion with them because that’s the Disney difference!
By the way, one of our favorite things is planning romantic Disney vacations for couples. As a couple who has been on many romantic Disney getaways ourselves, we are experts at knowing all the luxurious and relaxing hot spots, as well as how to pull off an escape that both of you will remember for years to come. Email us at theweavers@travelbytheweavers.com and lets get planning!
Reserve a brunch or dinner reservation at Palo or Remy
A Disney cruise for couples wouldn’t be complete without an elegant dinner for two! Palo and Remy are the adult-only restaurants aboard Disney Cruise Line. Palo is on every Disney ship, while Remy is exclusively on the Dream and Fantasy. Both restaurants offer brunch and dinner, a spectacular view of the ocean, and exquisite food. They both also require advance reservations. Palo and Remy boast a very romantic, elegant, and relaxing atmosphere for couples to enjoy.
My husband and I have been to Palo for dinner on every one of our cruises, and it was absolutely amazing. You can get the finest Northern Italian cuisine here. Dinner is a four course meal – you get bread and antipasti, an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert. There are lots of different options to choose from, and trust me, no matter what you get here, you will be pleased and you will be full when you leave! For the main entree, I recommend either the lemon and thyme chicken or the rack of lamb. For dessert, you have to get the chocolate souffle. You just have to! It is absolutely delicious and you will never have another dessert like that in your entire life. We have yet to try Remy, but we’ve heard it is just as spectacular as Palo and can’t wait to try it on our next cruise!
Extra tip: If you are going to either of these restaurants for dinner, be sure to book your reservation at sunset!
Book a spa appointment
If you and your spouse are looking for a way to really relax and unwind on your cruise, what would be better than a couples massage at the spa? Senses Spa and Salon offers massages, body wraps, facials, salon services, a sauna, and much more. These services do cost extra and appointments need to be made in advance. They do fill up fast, so we recommend booking them as soon as possible.
Go bar hopping/dancing at the nightclubs
No matter which Disney Cruise Line fleet you go on, there are several bars/nightclubs you can enjoy onboard. Usually after 10pm, they become adults-only areas. My husband and I love to take a night and go bar hopping to check out the unique atmosphere of each one. For example, on the Fantasy, there are 5 adult only bars onboard, each with a different theme. Our favorites on the Fantasy are the Tube and Skyline. In Skyline, behind the bar, you’ll get panoramic views of some of the most famous cities in the world (and if you look close, you might even see Mickey waving at you!). These bars usually have music and entertainment at night so you can dance away with the one you love – it’s so much fun!
Have a coffee shop date
If you’re on the Fantasy, go grab a seat at the coffee shop on board and have a nice conversation with one another! Cove Cafe is the perfect place to get out of the heat and relax with a cup of coffee. Drinks from this restaurant are extra, but they do have complimentary snacks!
Go on adult-only excursions
Disney has made it so easy to have adult-only time all throughout your cruise with adult-exclusive excursions in port! There are wine tastings, mixology classes, sightseeing tours, and much more reserved only for adults. On our honeymoon, my husband and I took several adult-only excursions and we loved it. It made for a very relaxing day and we even made a few new friends who were on their honeymoon as well!
Sip on your favorite drink while getting your tan on near the adult-only pools
My favorite part about Disney cruises? The adult-only pool and hot tub areas! The main deck pools are always so crowded and loaded with kids. It’s not exactly the most relaxing part of the ship. On the Fantasy, there’s even a swim up bar that you can go to and get your favorite drink. There are also cast members available who will bring a drink to your seat for you if you’d like.
Relax on Serenity Bay
If your itinerary makes a stop at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, go to the adult-only section of the island and relax on Serenity Bay – a beach just for adults. You can relax in a hammock or beach chair while sipping your favorite drink and taking in the beautiful scenery of clear, cool Bahamian water. This is my favorite thing to do while on a Disney cruise for couples – nothing says romantic like a beach breeze!
Reserve a cabana on Castaway Cay
If you’re really looking to splurge and want a place to get out of the sun on Castaway Cay without having to go back to the ship, consider renting a private cabana. This is the perfect way to have your spot reserved on the beach and serves as a nice little secluded spot for just the two of you! The cabanas come with a fridge full of water, snacks, sunscreen, towels, a hammock, beach chairs, and even a rinsing shower. These cabanas cost extra and can book up extremely quickly. If you would like to rent a cabana, it is very important that you reserve them on the day you can book your excursions (which depends on different factors such as how many Disney cruises you have been on and how far you are from your arrival date). When you book your cruise with us, we will keep up with these important booking deadlines as well as take care of booking all of your excursions for you! Email us at theweavers@travelbytheweavers.com and let’s get to planning!
Do some shopping on board
If you like shopping or want to buy your spouse a special keepsake to remember your cruise by, take a stroll through the stores on board. The onboard stores are open on nights and during sea days (not on port days). You can find items to fit everyone’s taste and budget, including fine jewelry, clothing, home goods, toys, and other souvenirs.
Watch the spectacular Broadway style shows every night of your cruise
I can not stress this enough: DO NOT miss the nightly Broadway shows offered on your cruise! Each cruise offers different shows and each night is unique. My husband and I have seen some amazing comedians and magicians on our cruises as well. This is one of the many aspects of a Disney cruise that really sets Disney apart from other cruise lines.
Get celebration buttons
Stop by guest services after you board the ship and get celebration buttons to wear throughout your cruise! Make sure to tell guest services what you are celebrating so they can put it in their system. Cast members might give you special treats/gifts throughout your cruise if they see you are celebrating something special!
Get bride/groom Mickey ears
If you are celebrating a honeymoon or anniversary, buy some bride and groom Mickey ears! These make for adorable photos you will remember for years to come. You can buy these ahead of time at the Disney store or onboard in the shops.
Watch movies on demand in your stateroom or in the Buena Vista theater
One of my favorite ways to chill out on vacation is to watch movies. You can do that on DCL either from the comfort of your stateroom (via movies on demand) or on the big screen in the Buena Vista theater. In the theater, there are movies playing almost all day long, and the best part is, they are free! You can watch as many movies as you want. Sometimes, DCL will even play a movie that hasn’t been released yet, exclusively for cruise guests. I remember when my husband and I were on our anniversary trip on the Fantasy, Marvel was weeks away from releasing Dr. Strange. We got to see this movie before anyone else in America did. I thought that was really awesome! I haven’t known this to happen again (at least it hasn’t on any other cruise we have taken), but you never know!
Have your picture taken
I don’t know about you, but as parents, my husband and I rarely get a chance to take pictures of just ourselves anymore. Naturally, we want photos of us with our daughter very often – which is never a bad thing! Though sometimes it is nice just to have some photos of just the two of us enjoying something as husband and wife. Disney offers many opportunities for you to get your photo taken together on your cruise, as there are photographers on many places aboard the ship and on Castaway Cay. You can even pay to have professional photos made at the Shutters studio or on formal night. Shutters is also where you will go if you want to buy the rest of your photos when your cruise is over.
Sleep in
The most exciting thing about a romantic getaway is the fact that you get to sleep as long as you want! There are no kiddos around to wake you up wanting a sip of water or a snack- can I get an amen?! Take advantage of that time to rest, but don’t sleep too long and miss all of the wonderful activities your Disney cruise has to offer!
