Just too good for the kids...
IT MIGHT have been the sumptuous Italian dinner on our final night that was the clincher. Or maybe it was the seclusion of the Deck 13 sun-trap where we could sit and read in splendid isolation. Or perhaps it was the fabulous ambience of pre-dinner cocktails in the Skyline Bar.
Whatever it was, we were on a nautical cloud nine with our ‘No kids’ experience aboard Disney Cruise Line, a quality-conscious few days of sailing in a manner that would surprise many holidaymakers.
Everyone knows Disney is a family experience, but its cruise line – sailing from Port Canaveral in Florida – adds an extra element, with a range of facilities only for adults.
We set out on a four-day cruise aboard Disney Dream as a couple and therefore with no interest in the kids’ facilities that are a key feature of the 4,000-passenger ship.
The first surprise was that we were not alone in our adultorientated quest. There were other child-free couples, and the Dream was keen to make sure we had a good time in a more self-indulgent fashion.
To start with, the daily information sheet detailed events just for grown-ups, and highlighted the areas where we could enjoy them in a largely uninterrupted manner.
And Deck 13 was strictly over-18s, with plenty of elbow room and sunloungers, as well as an open-air bar.
By night, the offerings changed again to feature two alternative dining venues and an entertainment area (called The District), where it was also adults-only after 9pm. There were four bars, a club and a live music lounge.
And, if all else failed, we could retire to our cabin balcony and enjoy room service while we watched the iridescent blue waters of the Bahamas roll by, accompanied by the occasional flying fish or dolphin.
While we were indulged in our adult reverie, it was hard to escape the feeling Disney Cruise Line is not so much about a family experience as a quality experience. The dining scaled the heights of modern foodie extravagance, while the entertainment was Broadway quality.
For our port call at the Bahamian capital of Nassau, there was the option of a visit to the distinguished Graycliff Hotel (with five-star lunch), while Disney’s private island of Castaway Cay boasts its own adults-only beach.
Sorry, kids, but this cruise is too good just for you!
A four-night Disney Dream cruise, calling at Nassau and Castaway Cay, costs from £1,540pp, including return flights from Gatwick to Orlando. Visit disneyholidays. co.uk or call 0800 085 0695.