Guests sailing aboard a Disney Cruise Line shouldn't overlook the thermal suite. With heated lounge chairs, a sauna, private outdoor sun deck, and more, it offers a relaxing, adult-only escape from the kid-friendly activities and amenities.
I spent time in the Rainforest Room while aboard the Disney Destiny ship and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Although it isn't included in Disney Cruise Line's standard cruise fare, the Senses Spa refuge can be easily justified, but it isn't for everyone.
Here's what I thought of Disney Cruise Line's Rainforest Room, and why, despite its price tag, it's a must-have for me on future voyages with the Mouse and his pals.
What is the Rainforest Room on Disney Cruise Line?
Disney Cruise Line's Rainforest Room is a peaceful, adult-only thermal suite retreat located inside the Senses Spa.
It is available on every ship in the fleet, from the Disney Magic to the Disney Destiny and the brand-new Disney Adventure.
The purpose of the thermal spa is to help you relax and recharge, rotating through sensory spaces designed to soothe muscles, improve circulation, and more.
Actual amenities vary depending on which ship you are on. For example, while newer Wish Class vessels feature an ice room called the frigidarium, it's not available on older ships in the fleet, including Disney Magic and Disney Fantasy.
Moreover, Magic Class vessels don't have hot tubs, though they do have a sauna, steam room, cold showers, complimentary water and tea, and stone lounge chairs.
Finally, Dream Class ships don't have an open-air sun deck. Instead, the jacuzzis are enclosed within the spa. Although you can't work on your sun tan in the Rainforest Room, you can take in panoramic ocean views!
That said, all ships' spas feature a dedicated changing room with lockers to secure your belongings. There are also showers, restrooms, hairdryers, and premium spa products available in the locker room.
Disney Rainforest Room Cost
Booking the Rainforest Room isn't as straightforward as it might seem. Before my cruise, I kept checking the pre-cruise planner, hoping to reserve two passes ahead of time, but the thermal suite never appeared.
Once onboard, you can sometimes purchase access through the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app after connecting to the ship's Wi-Fi. In my case, though, it was far easier to run to the Senses Spa and speak with the receptionist first thing on embarkation day.
The prices vary depending on your ship and cruise length. However, on my four-night Disney Destiny sailing, unlimited access to the Rainforest Room cost $239 per person, which came out to roughly $59.75 per day.
Recent guests aboard the Disney Adventure have reported paying around $79 for a single-day pass or $179 for unlimited access on a three-night sailing.
Meanwhile, passengers on the Disney Treasure have seen higher prices of around $339 for an unlimited pass, though these Caribbean voyages are a full seven nights. As such, the daily cost would come out to around $48 per night.
Others have also shared that they scored deals to the Rainforest Room aboard the Disney Dream, paying $99 to $119 per person for unlimited visits on four- and five-night cruises.
Rainforest Room Disney Destiny Review
Reservations were not necessary for the Rainforest Room during my Disney Destiny sailing. Whenever I wanted to relax in the thermal suite, all I had to do was simply check in with the receptionist, who held onto my Key to the World card and gave me a MagicBand to access the area.
Perhaps what I appreciated the most was that the thermal spa never felt overcrowded during our cruise. Even on our sea day, there was always space to relax, whether on a heated lounger or on an outdoor daybed.
Plus, I never felt rushed to fully experience the thermal rooms, including the frigidarium, hammam spa, and sauna, along with two outdoor jacuzzis.
I'm a fan of warmer thermal rooms and loved rotating between the hamman and sauna rooms. The former, with its strong eucalyptus aroma, helped clear my sinuses, while the sauna's dry heat relaxed my muscles.
Every so often, I'd pop into the frigidarium, or ice room, which wasn't as chilly as you might expect. Still, it was a nice way to cool down after breaking a sweat.
That said, my all-time favorite part about the Rainforest Room was the outdoor lounge area. On Wish Class ships, this design is controversial since it opens to the deck above. However, this peaceful oasis quickly became my go-to spot on the ship.
Whether I was relaxing in a whirlpool, stretching on the floating daybeds with my latest read, or simply soaking up the sun, I couldn't get enough of the space. In fact, I much preferred it to the cramped adult-only Quiet Cove pool.
Is the Disney Cruise Rainforest Room Pass Worth It?
Overall, I'd argue that Disney's Rainforest Room is an absolute must if you are someone who prioritizes wellness. Because we spent so much time in the thermal suite each day (at least three hours!), we definitely got our money's worth.
If you are traveling with young children and aren't sure how much time they will want to spend in the kids' clubs, it may be harder to take full advantage of the adults-only thermal suite.
Plus, Disney cruises are jam-packed with other activities, including trivia, character meet-and-greets, port adventures, Broadway-caliber shows, and more. As such, some cruisers may struggle to carve out enough time in the Rainforest Room to justify the pricey add-on.
For me, though, I have begun prioritizing different kinds of experiences, especially as part of my sobriety journey and a broader focus on wellness — and the Rainforest Room aligned with that shift.
The thermal spa allowed me to exist in a calmer headspace than on past vacations, when I was more worried about bouncing from activity to activity or recovering from too many drinks the night before.
Instead, I began my mornings bright and early, grabbing a specialty coffee from Café Merida on Deck 5, before heading to the Rainforest Room as soon as it opened. If in port, I'd return in the afternoons before freshening up for dinner.
Whenever I finally managed to pull myself from the Rainforest Room, I felt noticeably more relaxed, both physically and mentally. And that's exactly what thermal spas are meant for!
If you're still torn, head to the spa on embarkation day and ask for a free tour. It is an easy way to see the space, get a feel for the atmosphere, and decide whether you'd take advantage of the available amenities during your sailing.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
