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Are you thinking about getting a pass to the Rainforest Room on your next Disney Cruise? The Rainforest Room is part of the Senses Spa & Salon on each Disney Cruise ship, which adults can visit at an extra fee.
Recently I was able to experience the Rainforest Room by purchasing a pass for the length of the cruise on the Disney Fantasy. This is the first time I was able to experience the Rainforest Room so I can only speak to the set-up on the Disney Fantasy and its sister, the Disney Dream. There are various experiences and amenities included in the Rainforest Room including:
4 types of aromatherapy showers
3 types of saunas
10 heated loungers
2 hot tubs
You are provided with lockers, water, robes, and towels every time you visit the Rainforest Room. Normal attire would be a cover-up and a bathing suit.
When you get on board, head to the Senses Spa & Salon to find out pricing and availability. They sell a limited amount of both day passes and for the length of the cruise each sailing so be sure to prioritize visiting the spa once on board to secure your pass. These sell out quickly, so this was one of the first things I did once on board. An 18% gratuity will be automatically added to the Rainforest Room passes.
Before entering the Rainforest room, have your Key to the World card out and ready to exchange at the front desk for the green wristband that lets you in and out of the Rainforest area. This is an adjustable silicon bracelet so it is waterproof and can also be worn in the steam rooms. Reception will also ask if you would like a robe as well and plus-sized robes are sometimes available upon request. Likewise, if you prefer to bring your own robe or cover-up, that is an option as well.
Rainforest Room Steam Rooms
There are three different types of steam rooms available in the Rainforest Room: Caldarium, Hamam, and Laconium.
Outside each room are hooks to hang your towel or robe before entering. I suggest bringing in a towel with you to sit on. This is for both etiquette and comfort while in the rooms. Nobody wants to sit on somebody else's sweat! Personally, I left my flip-flops outside, wearing them only in the showers and while walking around the area, but that is up to you. Each sauna had the spa music piped in so there was no uncomfortable silence. Remember when entering/exiting the sauna to close the door quickly to maintain the sauna environment.
Laconium
By far the Laconium was my favorite and I spent the most time in there. The Laconium is a dry sweat room, so the air feels less suffocating while still getting your sweat on. If you're new to saunas, this one would be a great introduction to get accumulated. The combination of natural wood, tile work, and natural lighting creates the perfect atmosphere for relaxation. Unlike the other two rooms which are fully enclosed, the Laconium has a floor-to-ceiling window that looks out to the starboard side of the ship. During sea days, you can get a nice
semi-panoramic views of the ocean so I encourage you to go during non-peak times to snag a spot next to the window.
Caldarium
The Caldarium is very similar to a steam room and is, or feels like, the hottest out of the three. The entire room is ceramic tile and there is little to no light. The air humidity is high, almost 100%, so it can be difficult to feel comfortable in this room as the air is suffocating. This was my least favorite but did get me the sweatiest. Pairing the Caldarium with
the Cool Mist Experience in the showers is my recommendation.
Hamam
The Hamam is also a steam room that embodies the characteristics of a wet sauna. A Middle Eastern variant of the traditional sauna, I found the seating arrangement in this room to be the most comfortable. The room was spacious, and you had the option to sit upright or lie down. The Hamam was dimly light to maintain a serene feel. In each corner of the room, there were sinks accompanied by wooden ladles and buckets to cool yourself down with water while there. I also found this one relaxing and wished I had spent more time in there.
Rainforest Room Showers
There are four different types of showers in the Rainforest Room: Rainforest, Water Fun, Tropical Thunder, and Cool Mist Experience.
Each of these showers has two or three different settings which vary in pressure, temperature, and lighting effects. There is optimal space to move around in the showers and two of them include a small bench.
Rainforest
The Rainforest option had two distinct shower heads that provided a unique experience in comparison to the other showers. In addition to the traditional rain shower head, there was also a shower head coming out of the wall rather than above your head which mimicked the flow of a waterfall.
Water Fun
Water Fun was just like it sounded, fun. This shower offered three distinct options that leveraged the water pressure and spouts above you.
Tropical Thunder
Tropical Thunder was by far my favorite and one that I kept coming back to again and again. These options replicated the feelings of being in a rainstorm. I highly suggest the Caribbean Storm option as it instantly brought a smile to my face. For 45 - 60 seconds, the shower switched on and off between a dumping of warm pouring rain and a cold mist. Who knew a southern storm could be so peaceful?
Cool Mist Experience
If you ever want to know how Anna felt when she fell in the river in Frozen then this shower is definitely a good start. There are two options to choose from: Cold Mist and Siberian Night. Both shower an artic mist onto you while projecting a cool blue light scheme. These are a perfect option to cool down after stepping out of the saunas. Be warned, this shower is extremely cold, colder than a normal cold shower.
Hot Tubs
There are two hot tubs located in the Rainforest Room that sit in an open-air room with floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides. The hot tubs are spacious but can handle two people max before it gets awkward. The hot tubs have built-in loungers that I personally found uncomfortable to lay in as the proportions were inconsistent with how I wanted to lay. Most of the time I sat up, lying over the edge while looking at the water.
Heated Loungers
By far, the best, most relaxing aspect to take advantage of in the Rainforest Room is the heated loungers, 10 total, which look onto the open-air room that houses the hot tubs. Did I accidentally take the best nap I have ever taken in my entire life on these loungers? Yes, yes, I did. These ergonomic seats are curved to the shape of your body and lined with tiles that provide a warming feeling to soothe your back and muscles. They come equipped with a head pillow and a personal reading light with plenty of space in between individual loungers to sit down and get up without disturbing your neighbor. Personally, I found the heated loungers the best feature of the Rainforest Room.
The Nitty Gritty
Aside from those main features, you will also have access to the locker room located in the Senses Spa area. This locker room is equipped with complimentary lockers to store any valuables you do not want to bring into the Rainforest Room. These lockers open and close via an electronic code so you do not have to lug around an extra key. In addition to the lockers, there are also bathrooms, sinks, hairdryers, mirrors, and showers for your use. The showers are well stocked with Elemis products including shampoo and conditioner. There are also more towels available here if you forgot to grab one from the receptionist.
Inside the Rainforest Room, you will be greeted with a beautiful running water feature and palm tree mosaic that sets the tone for relaxation. In addition to the towels in the locker room, there is a wall of clean towels inside the Rainforest Room in case you want a fresh, dry one after using the sauna or shower. There is also a bin for dirty towels, so the space is always tidy. On a counter, they offer complimentary ice water and lemon water with paper cups to stay hydrated. If you want to bring in your own water bottle, that is also an option.
Keep an eye out for any special deals they might have for Rainforest guests! During one of my visits to the Rainforest room, I noticed a special for a complimentary scalp massage and pro-collagen treatment OR a 20% discount on any hair or facial treatment. After my experience, I visited the front desk to check the availability for the scalp massage and they were able to book me for an appointment immediately. The treatment lasted about 15 minutes and although it was complimentary, I did leave a small tip for the service.
What times are the busiest for the Rainforest Room?
Although they sell a limited number of passes to the Rainforest Room there were still times when the space was busy with moments where you might have to wait for a heated lounger or a spot in one of the saunas. Regardless, the Rainforest Room can still be relaxing if you want to purchase a day pass on one of the more popular days. By far I found the busiest times to be on sea days and between the hours of late morning and late afternoon.
However, there were also times when it felt like I was the only one there and had the entire space to myself! There were many instances where I had the Laconium all to myself or there was one other person in a heated lounger. I found the best times to visit were early morning right as the spa opened, port days, and dinnertime. If you are not interested in seeing a particular show or want a quick sauna before bed, the Rainforest Room was open until 10 p.m.
How does the Dream Class differ from the Classics and the Wish?
One thing to point out is the Rainforest Rooms on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy differ in layout and offerings compared to the other ships such as the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, and the Wish. Although newly re-imagined, The Classics are completely indoors without any open-air sections like the Fantasy and do not have hot tubs.
Check out this link to learn more about the offerings on the Disney Wish and how it is configured differently!
The Million Dollar Question: Is it Worth It?
For me, purchasing a pass for Rainforest Room for the length of my cruise was completely worth it. This particular cruise was an 8-Night Cruise with several days at sea. I am also an early riser while on vacation, so it was nice to have a space to go to in the mornings whilst the ship was just waking up. However, unless I am on a relatively long cruise that is not port-heavy again, I do not think I will be purchasing a pass for the Rainforest Room, at least for the duration of the cruise. The question of whether it is worth it depends on how much you think you will be using it which can be influenced by the overall length of the cruise, how many sea days you have, and what activities you want to prioritize. For example, as a repeat cruiser, I have seen the nighttime show Aladdin several times, so I decided to head to the Rainforest Room instead to relax before dinnertime. That said if you are looking for a space to relax and plan on maximizing your time here, the Rainforest Room is definitely worth the upcharge.
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