Disney cruise a treat for children and less stressful on parents

Vacations can be tiring, especially when they involve traveling with kids.

So in planning my first major trip as a solo adult with my two school-age sons, I wanted to
avoid feeling as if I immediately needed another vacation to recover upon return.

We considered a visit to Walt Disney World, but I could feel my energy draining at the thought
of all that walking and standing in line without another adult to tag-team.

Plus my sons, 11 and 13, are at an age where they like to be independent even though they aren’t
yet ready to roam a theme park on their own.

I discovered that there was a more controlled, relaxed way for us to “do Disney.” Its cruise
line offers a “club” tailored to 11- to 13-year-olds.

That could actually be a vacation for both the boys
and mom.

Our three-night cruise to the Bahamas on the Disney Dream left from Port Canaveral, less than an
hour’s drive from Orlando International Airport.

If you have more time and energy than I did, flying into Orlando means you can easily combine a
cruise with a couple of days at one of the happiest (and most exhausting) places on Earth.

Although early, our 6 a.m. flight from Columbus allowed us to take one of the first buses to the
port, giving us time to check out the ship before those staying in the 1,249 other staterooms
boarded.

Like most cruise ship staterooms, ours was small; I chose an ocean-view family stateroom with a
large porthole window.

Thanks to ingenious use of space, though, it didn’t feel overly cramped. It featured a “split”
bathroom, which was two small rooms, one with just a toilet and sink and the other with those
things plus a combination shower/tub. Comfortable twin beds for the boys folded into a wall unit
and a sofa; our room attendant took care of the transition each day.

The decor had Disney touches such as character-themed sheets on the boys’ beds, but it wasn’t
over-the-top.

My sons gravitated to the basketball court on the top deck, which features stunning vistas as a
backdrop to pickup games. In the same area is a miniature golf course and foosball and table-tennis
equipment.

I was a little apprehensive about being a single adult in family land.

Although most cruisers seemed to be in traditional family units, other combinations were
evident, including grandparents traveling with grandchildren and two female relatives traveling
with kids.

Children of every age have areas tailored to them, from the nursery to the teen club, providing
entertainment and a break for their adult companions.

In the tween and teen areas, kids can come and go as they please; I felt safe allowing my sons
to go back and forth together to the club alone.

The cruise line also provides two walkie-talkie-type phones per stateroom, offering a way to
stay in touch.

The boys played video games and board games and participated in a scavenger hunt around the ship
as part of the activities of Edge, the tween club. Club counselors also sometimes took kids to the
Aqua Duck, a giant enclosed water slide that wraps around the ship’s deck.

The club was typically open from late afternoon until 1 in the morning, providing time for
parents to play and dine with other grown-ups.

The ship has several adults-only areas, including a dedicated pool/hot tub, several
nightclubs/bars and an upscale restaurant (which incurs a separate charge).

There even are singles “mingles,” although I wouldn’t recommend them as a likely way to meet a
compatible single parent. I poked my head into a singles mixer at the champagne bar on the last
night of the cruise and found no one there except two welcoming employees.

Cruisers won’t lack for activities, though, including live Disney musicals and Disney movies in
the ship’s theaters, free of charge.

A
Pirates of the Caribbean-themed fireworks show filled the sky one evening, and the ship
hosted a “sail away” on-deck party with music and characters as the ship left port on the first
day.

But cruisers should splurge on one or two port excursions, which can offer unusual opportunities
to make memories with the children.

In Nassau, we enjoyed a dolphin encounter at an attraction called Blue Lagoon, about a 40-minute
boat ride from the port, which was a highlight of our trip. The ride over on the ferry, staffed by
employees of Blue Lagoon, provided island flavor: Local pop tunes played over the loudspeaker, and
small bags of Bahamian candies were handed out to the children as the boat passed waterfront
mansions and the elaborate Atlantis Paradise Island resort.

The cost of the dolphin experience — more than $400 for the three of us — was a little steep,
but the kids learned about and interacted with the creatures for almost an hour, after which they
played on the beach before catching the boat back to port.

On our day at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay, we rented cruiser bikes ($10 a person,
which includes helmet rental) and took a short, leisurely tour of the island’s back roads.

There are also foot-pedal boats, scuba equipment and other toys to rent, although I would
recommend not overscheduling. Instead, allow time to just soak up the sun on the beach. Clubhouses
offer a place for the older kids to play pool, shoot hoops and the like with counselors from the
tween and teen clubs.

The food was uniformly tasty, with a good balance of healthful and indulgent offerings.
Breakfast was buffet-style, except for the final morning. Kids’ portions at the restaurants were
generous and eagerly enjoyed by my boys, who took a liking to the friendly waiters hailing from
around the world.

For us, three nights was a perfect, budget-friendly introduction to cruising with mom and the
kids. The staff asks you on the last morning when you’re planning to return; my kids — and, I’m
sure, many others — are already talking about it.

mrose@dispatch.com