This article was originally published in the November 2020 issue of WDW Magazine. Whether Print or Digital, WDW Magazine brings the magic of Disney to you with articles like this each month. Learn more at https://www.wdw-magazine.com.
“Why would you book a Disney Cruise for a honeymoon, isn’t it full of kids?” was a question we heard quite often when planning our first voyage on Disney Cruise Line many years ago. And while Disney certainly has plenty of offerings for kids and families to enjoy together, there are surprisingly an abundance of activities meant just for the adult crowd too. We ended up having a blast on our Disneymoon at sea, and it became the first of several Disney sailings for us. One of our favorite adult experiences from our honeymoon has now become a tradition for us. Whenever we book a Disney Cruise Line vacation there is one must-do every time we are onboard: brunch at Palo.
About Palo
Aboard all four Disney Cruise ships you will find this intimate adult-exclusive restaurant. Specializing in Northern Italian cooking with a modern twist, the name “Palo” is inspired by the long poles used by gondoliers in Venice. Dining at Palo is an “extra” experience with a cost of $40 per person, but we have found that the quality of the meal is on par with one that would cost far more in a traditional restaurant on land.
Who would enjoy Palo?
While there is no shortage of food options on a cruise ship, some may ask “why pay extra?” We find that with Palo you aren’t simply paying for food, but a unique experience. If you consider yourself a foodie, are looking for an activity sans kids, or perhaps wanting to celebrate a romantic occasion, we highly recommend booking a meal at Palo on your next Disney cruise. (It’s also helps that Palo is a little easier on the wallet than other splurges such as dining at Remy.)
Where is the restaurant located?
Palo is located in the Aft (toward the stern or tail) of all the ships. On Disney’s original Magic and Wonder, the restaurant can be found on Deck 10, wrapping around the full back side of the ships. On the newer Dream and Fantasy Palo is on Deck 14, sharing part of the space with Remy next door. Upon stepping inside, you are instantly transported to an upscale oasis with rich fabrics and gold embellishments, sophisticated paintings, and Venetian glass. One of our favorite design features is the dining room’s semi-circular shape with floor-to-ceiling windows offering spectacular views of the ocean.
When can you dine here?
While Palo is open nightly for dinner we wanted to concentrate on our favorite meal offering – brunch. We have experienced a dinner at Palo once that we truly enjoyed, but there was a trade-off: missing a fun night of regular rotational dining. The beauty of brunch is it will not disrupt your normal dining schedule and we find this meal is quite different from what is offered daily for standard breakfast. (As much we love Mickey waffles, several days of the same options can start to get a bit stale). Something to keep in mind is that Palo Brunch can be slightly harder to book because it is not offered as often as dinner. This earlier meal is only available on sea days for any itinerary that is four days or more.
In the dining room even booths face outward for a view of the sea
Impressive Brunch Offerings
Beverages
Some may say “Is it even brunch without a little bit of bubbly?” The good news is that at Palo the first round of adult beverages is included. You can choose to start with a glass of champagne, a Mimosa, or Bellini. There is also full bar service if looking for something else like a Bloody Mary or Italian Surfer. Also included are nonalcoholic beverages such as coffee, tea, and juices. We found the coffee higher quality than other options on board, and the tea setup was quite impressive with a fancy little timer and assorted sugars.
The large windows allow views of the sea.
Look at this impressive tea set-up.
Palo Brunch includes a complimentary adult beverage to start.
Palo’s brunch menu offers authentic Italian fare as well as breakfast favorites.
Made to Order Menu
What can seem a little confusing to first time Palo guests is how to order food. The thing to keep in mind is that anything and everything is included. You don’t have to choose between an entrée OR the buffet. You get the best of both worlds. You can also order as many items as you wish, simply let your server know what you would like to try. There are so many delicious options and some of the plated items can be on the larger side. We recommend to pick a few favorites to share, or perhaps start with a dish or two, and then order more once you decide how hungry you may be. On this menu you will find an impressive assortment of soups, hot breakfast, flatbreads, pastas, and meats. Because Palo is known for Italian cooking we found we really enjoyed items such as parmesan crusted chicken breast, lasagna, and flatbreads the most. (Quick tip: you can request a flatbread to be half and half to try two different flavors.)
Heirloom Tomato and Basil Soup
You can even get Mickey waffles.
The Parmesean Crusted Chicken Breast is one of the most popular items.
Brunch Buffet
If you think the first menu was impressive, the buffet may shock you. Across several tables you will find a bountiful display with high-end dishes most would never expect at a buffet. The fresh baked goods seem to go on forever with assorted breads, pastries, muffins, and drool-worthy, hot sticky buns. Another table housed different platters of meats, cheeses, and savory small bites such as prosciutto wrapped asparagus, hummus, olives, and crudité. While Julie loves to pair the breads with small bites, the fresh seafood table is Andrew’s favorite stop. Here you can find heaps of shrimp, crab legs, scallops, seafood salads, and even caviar (fancy!). Guests can continue to visit the buffet as many times as they like to sample away. And by the way, we will not be admitting how many trips we may usually take …
Desserts
While desserts are technically a part of the buffet they are worthy of their own shout out. Make sure to save a bit of room for these artfully crafted delights that seem to come in every color, shape, and flavor. You will find bite sized fruit tarts, chocolate covered strawberries, champagne infused jelly, tiramisu, cannoli’s, brownies, and more. We love that the desserts are small so we can try a few favorites.
Rows and rows of beautiful desserts.
It’s impossible to not want to try several.
We love the artistic touches to the desserts.
Service & Value
With every visit to Palo we have experienced impeccable service. The servers are very knowledgeable about food and beverage, and are quick to take care of every request. On many visits they have made sure to do a little something special to celebrate our anniversary too. We personally love getting to meet DCL crew members as they are from all over the world and interesting to chat with. At Palo servers have a smaller number of tables and the leisurely pace offers time for great personal conversation.
When deciding what activities to book onboard, no matter what, we always make sure to fit in a Palo brunch. Dining here simply feels special, and the price point is just right to justify adding it into the vacation budget. Overall, we find brunch at Palo an excellent value. The quality of service and food can’t be beat, and a comparable meal at home would have a much higher price tag. The amount of food is only limited to what you can comfortably eat, and we always find ourselves sitting for a while soaking up the atmosphere. Dining at Palo is relaxing and romantic and we find it the perfect way to spend a leisurely morning at sea together. So, make sure to check out Palo on your next Disney cruise vacation and enjoy a champagne toast whether you are celebrating something special, or simply celebrating a couple hours of refined adult time. Cheers!
Enjoying a meal earlier this year at Palo.
Our server brought this celebratory message for us.
Must Know Info
Dress Code
Since Palo is considered more upscale a dress code is requested: Men are recommended to wear dress pants or slacks and a collared shirt. While suggested wear for women includes a dress, skirt or pants and a blouse. Jeans are allowed but please no tank tops, swimsuits, swimsuit cover-ups, shorts, hats, cut-offs, torn clothing, t-shirts with offensive language and/or graphics, flip-flops or tennis shoes.
Reservations
Reservations can be made before sailing based on your cruiser status:
Concierge Guests: 120 days in advance
Castaway Club Levels:
Platinum Castaway Club: 120 days in advance
Gold Castaway Club: 105 days in advance
Silver Castaway Club: 90 days in advance
First Time Cruisers: 75 days in advance
But if you can’t snag a reservation do not fret, on the first day of sailing there is a dining request station you can visit in person to see what times are available. It is also good to note if you need to cancel a reservation make sure to do it at least 24 hours out to avoid the charge!
Gratuities
In addition to the $40/person cost to dine it is also suggested to tip for service. However, there is no hard rule on what an appropriate amount is. Some people tip a percentage based on the $40 fee, while others tip the same amount as the fee (or even more). We suggest tipping what feels appropriate to you for the excellent quality service.
This custom glass feature on the Fantasy is inspired by pasta noodles.
When sailing away on a cruise vacation many people envision kicking back with a frozen drink in hand as the ultimate picture of relaxation. But these days more and more people are choosing to forgo the fully loaded libations for one reason or another. While we have enjoyed many cocktails on Disney ships over the years, lately in our everyday lives we have been finding ourselves choosing more and more mocktails for a healthier balance. We were a little nervous that if we were looking for an alternative to alcohol while onboard, the only thing available would be super sugary concoctions geared towards kids. But we were ecstatic to learn that Disney Cruise Line had just soft launched a brand new “Zero Proof Cocktails” menu featuring an array of elevated craft mocktails…