Monday, April 1, 2024

14 Best Adults-only Cruises, According to Travel Experts

best cruise ships for adults

The line’s new Explore & Restore program, created in partnership with Chopra, helmed by the renowned Dr. Deepak Chopra, is centered around well-being. Grown-ups can enjoy wellness-centric offerings like Ayurveda-inspired meals, expert-guided workshops, and daily meditation. Azamara’s boutique ships take adult travelers on immersive journeys to some of the most exciting ports on earth, including those in Greece, Turkey, Iceland, Ireland and the Baltic.

Silversea Cruises

One of the more unique things about Anthem of the Seas is its four smaller main dining rooms rather than one enormous main restaurant. Of the four venues, The Grande is the most elegant and tends to draw in more adults. After dinner, head to the theater to see "We Will Rock You," a musical tribute to Queen that originated in London's West End. Rhapsody of the Seas offers some unique sailings, including a two-night sailing from Israel that can be tacked onto longer Mediterranean sailings, such as five-night Greek Isles cruises. For an even longer sailing, consider the 14-night transatlantic cruise, which stops in Alicante, Spain, the Canary Islands and the Bahamas.

best cruise ships for adults

Emerald Waterways Cruises

Adults-only cruising is the standard for Viking River cruises, which, as mentioned above, requires all passengers to be 18 and older. The minimum age to sail on some river cruise lines Emerald Waterways, Grand Circle Cruise Line and Scenic) is 12 to 13. Most other lines adhere to rules similar to those of AmaWaterways, which bans children under age 4 and discourages kids younger than 8. Silversea has ten ships (and two more on the way), four of which are luxury expedition class ships.

How we selected the best adult-only cruises

"I've done some personal research. We found that when you put kids in the pool, they scream, and we don't want that." Here are our picks for the best adults-only cruise lines, with a grown-up vibe to boot. Even as many lines double down on the family market, a small group of cruise operators remains all-in on the idea of adult-only cruises. Holland America tends to cater to an older demographic, but it does have exceptional service and dining at sea. Guests will enjoy top-notch live music with blues and classic rock genres.

Best cruise line for budget travelers

Grownups can also enjoy evening dance parties and movies under the stars on the pool deck as the ship sails to its next port of call. Chops Grille, the onboard steakhouse, provides an intimate setting for a romantic dinner for two. Azamara Cruises is another luxury cruise line that's a great option for adult cruisers looking to have a high-end cruising experience that parallels what you would find at a high-end boutique hotel. Because retirees have more time to travel than other cruisers, Holland America offers longer itineraries to more unique locations, like South America and Antarctica.

There are far fewer port options available on the west coast of North America compared to in the Caribbean. This means Navigator of the Seas typically sails the same few itineraries year round, but that doesn’t mean the itineraries aren’t enticing. From the bar, parents can supervise their kids at the nearby Splashaway Bay pool area, meaning you won’t need to sacrifice your own fun while keeping an eye on your kids.

All-Inclusive Cruise Lines That Aren't Adults-Only

Instead, even established travelers might find some of Seabourn’s itineraries to be impressive, especially sailed by its expedition arm. Focusing on the ends of the earth, Seabourn expedition cruises reach extremes like East Greenland, the Northwest Passage, Antarctica and the wild Kimberley region of Australia. While some of these voyages are a manageable 10 or 15 days, the focus is on the history and exploration of the destination and not as much focus on fun in the sun. Seabourn passengers can pass the time onboard with an espresso or martini at any of the onboard bars or lounges or arrange for an indulgent ensuite bubble bath—rubber ducky not included.

Aurora Expeditions

Compare: 10 Best Cruise Ships in The Bahamas and Caribbean - Cruise Critic

Compare: 10 Best Cruise Ships in The Bahamas and Caribbean.

Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

By eliminating or scaling back services for children, the cruises are less appealing for families as they will have to tend to their kids. However, since its inception, Royal Caribbean International has marketed itself as one of the best cruise ship lines for adults. This cruise line does not accept children over six months, and there are limited children’s programs onboard. It does not offer kids’ entertainment, supervision, or childcare services. While children can board the ship, there are no activities for them to enjoy, limiting the number of families who would embark on this cruise. Azamara discourages families with children under 18 as the atmosphere and experiences onboard cater directly to adults.

The best adults-only cruises to try if you can’t stand being around kids on vacation

While Celebrity appeals to a wide range of travelers, they specifically attract adults and couples in their mid-30s to late-50s. Here are the 13 best cruises for adults who are looking for some time away from children. 7-day Dreams of Tahiti on the 148-passenger sailing ship Wind Spirit, all-inclusive from $3,122. Likewise, when British billionaire Richard Branson launched the first ship of his Virgin Voyages cruise brand two years ago, it was with no one under age 18 allowed onboard. The cruise line later riffed on the subject with ads showing kids very displeased that they couldn’t get in on the fun with grownups. Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more.

Tips, nonalcoholic drinks, a limited menu of alcoholic beverages (select standard liquors and beers, plus house wines), self-service laundry and the AzAmazing Evening are all included on every cruise. Excursions, transfers, premium alcohol, internet and specialty dining generally cost extra on Azamara. Note that while some of these lines are strictly adults-only, others are adults-oriented, meaning that they may have some well-behaved older children on board during school holidays but otherwise, rarely do. Most are small ship experiences with geared-to-grownup itineraries spanning the globe and leaning into all-inclusiveness and luxury—all the better to admire when it’s all about you.

Or, you might be looking for a vacation with more lectures and less limbo, or perhaps a cruise that skews more R-rated than G. Additionally, per Clabbers, the entertainment offerings are best described as “atypical and engaging” and include pool parties, private karaoke studios, and drag queen cabaret. Of course, we’d also be remiss not to mention the onboard tattoo parlors, aptly called Squid Ink. These expert-approved cruise lines are perfect for your next adults-only getaway. While this cruise still allows children, there are enough options for kids to enjoy that it feels like an adults-only cruise.

Viking Ocean Cruises offers an inclusive, engaging experience onboard their ships that visit unique destinations around the world. Because Viking's ships are smaller than other ships at sea, they can call at more exotic ports. Moreover, you will want to avoid sailings over spring break and other holidays, as these are popular cruises for those sailing with kids since they are out of school. Longer sailings and smaller ships will be more popular with adult cruisers rather than families, too.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere of Royal Caribbean ships is always fun and classy without being too wild nor too stuffy. Your other passengers range everything from families (fewer if you sail during the school year) all the way to older couples. There are also tons of places to eat and drink on the ship — including lots of different types of food for any appetite. With over 25 ships in its fleet, Royal Caribbean has a ship for every type of traveler, not just families with young kids. Whether you're looking for fewer upper-deck attractions and more places to relax outside or upscale dining and entertainment for a date night after an exciting day in port, this cruise line has you covered.

Only a handful of cruise lines ban children from their ships and promise cruises for grown-ups — perhaps the most notable being cruise newcomer Virgin Voyages and fast-growing Viking. No sailing is complete without at least one visit to the state-of-the-art Aurōra spa, which offers everything from Dysport injections and IV treatments to acupuncture and salt scrubs. Crystal currently sails six continents (all but Antarctica), and, although you can’t go wrong with any of the itineraries, the 123-night 2025 World Cruise — which visits 62 ports in 31 countries — is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Therefore, guests aboard these ships can expect to see very few, if any, children. This makes it an enjoyable, relaxing vacation away from home, allowing you to recharge and re-energize. Many of them cater directly to what adults enjoy, bringing a range of culinary experiences, exotic destinations, and learning experiences to their clientele.

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