How to Make the Most of Your Disney Cruise – As an Adult Having Fun Without Kids

Whether you’re keen for booking a fun holiday for the friend group, planning a break without parental responsibilities, or even a solo adventure - a cruise is always a good idea. And Disney cruises might conjure up an image in your head of young families, but you don’t have to have kids to enjoy the experience.

That’s what Broadsheet’s social content creator Camille Allen learned when she recently embarked on her first-ever cruise: a three-night voyage from Sydney. And while there was plenty of nostalgic fun for her inner child, she was pleasantly surprised by how much there was to enjoy as an adult.

With 11 decks and a packed itinerary of activities, each day onboard brought something new for Allen. She’d start her mornings with a workout at the fitness centre, which features exercise classes, free weights and cardio machines – all with stunning ocean views.

“The gym was insane,” she says. “It was so crazy running towards the water!”

Next, she’d stop for a coffee at Cove Cafe, one of several spaces exclusive to the adults onboard. Here, your latte orders come with coffee art featuring beloved Disney characters.

Though she’s not a big breakfast person, the promise of muesli stations, made-to-order omelettes and Mickey-shaped waffles at the breakfast buffet at Cabanas tempted her to check it out. With a range of food options included in the cruise fare, there were plenty of dishes to choose from each day.

Afternoons offered a mix of relaxation and social activities. Allen would lounge by the adults-only pool or sign up for one of the many onboard activities, from drawing workshops and trivia to mixology classes.

“While onboard we got to go to a mixology class,” she says. “I had a few cocktails and they were all delicious.”

When she wanted some downtime, she could relax in her stateroom.

“I had a [verandah stateroom], which was incredible,” she says. “There was one day where I watched dolphins playing alongside the ship. While it’s obviously not an offering that you can sign up for, it was a pretty epic perk.”

For dinner, Disney’s Rotational Dining experience meant different restaurants were scheduled for her each evening – and the servers rotated along with the restaurants, so they remembered your preferences the next night. You can choose between an early or late dinner, and then receive a time slot so you know if you can go see a show before or after.

Each night, Allen rotated between three different restaurants with fun, nostalgia-piquing themes – including Triton’s, named after Ariel’s father in The Little Mermaid, Tiana’s Place, inspired by The Princess and the Frog and Animator’s Palate, themed after classic Disney animation. For brunch one day, she dined at Palo, a northern Italian restaurant for adults where she enjoyed “a really delicious ravioli” and woodfired goat’s cheese pizza (Palo was at an additional cost to the cruise fare).

While not a party cruise, the ship offers plenty of night-time entertainment, from live music in the lounges to Broadway-style shows and screenings of brand-new Disney films in the onboard cinema.

“They were playing all these films straight out of the box office, like Mufasa: The Lion King and Moana 2, which was pretty cool,” Allen says. “There was so much entertainment and so many places to explore.”

Finally, for a nightcap, she often headed to the adults-only lounge on the lower deck with portholes offering ocean views.

“The bartender was so knowledgeable and created some incredible cocktails – it was really interactive and fun.”

Here are Allen’s top takeaways on how to make the most of your Disney cruise:

Despite there being so much for kids to enjoy on board, Allen says there was no expectation to sail with kids. “I definitely thought it would be more child-centric, but there were lots of things I could enjoy. There were quite a few people who had come without kids, too.”

Activities and experiences abound on the ship, but you don’t need to jam pack your day with things to do – sometimes just lying down on a lounge chair or in your cosy bed is all you need. “My favourite way to unwind was watching the ocean views from my balcony," she says.

Staying on a cruise means bumping into the same faces throughout your journey – thankfully the crew onboard are a friendly and welcoming bunch, while also delivering premium service and hospitality. “The crew were from all over the world, so it was really interesting to talk about where they’re coming from and why they’re on the cruise,” Allen says. “Their friendly nature totally elevated the experience for me.”

Between catching a Broadway-style show in the theatre, watching newly release films in the cinema and catching the fireworks over the sea, you’re never at a loss for activities – especially if you’ve been looking to relive some of the magic of your childhood. “Definitely go watch the fireworks show.” she says. “It really felt as if you were within the world of Disney.”

From pools, dining and a sports area (with a basketball court and ping-pong tables) to a waterslide and a spa offering massages at an additional cost – Allen says there’s no shortage of things to do, all listed in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. “I was able to look through the itinerary, save what I was interested in, and book or rock up.”

Your cruise fare doesn’t just get you a room and entry to the ship – it also includes meals from the different restaurants, poolside snacks and room service. You can order multiple courses from the Rotational Dining restaurants, all included in the fare. Between the buffet, 24-hour room service and restaurant meals, you’ll easily find something to happily sink your teeth into.

“There was no chance to go hungry at sea,” she says. “My favourite was Palo – their pizzas were divine – and, of course, the room service.”

Whether you’re looking for a fun-filled group holiday or a couples getaway, Allen says a Disney cruise offers a surprisingly premium and elevated experience – even for adults.

Ports of call and offerings may change at any time without notice. On board venues, experiences, services and offerings may be modified or limited in capacity or availability, and are subject to restrictions, cancellation or closure without notice. Additional costs may be required for some experiences and may need to be booked in advance. See disneycruise.com/updates. ©2025 Disney ©2025 Disney/Pixar Ships' Registry: The Bahamas

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Disney Cruise Line. Disney Cruise Line returns to Australia from October this year, sailing from Sydney and Melbourne for a limited time. To find out more or to book your Disney cruise holiday, visit the website.