Table Of Content
- Convenient Port Canaveral “Park & Cruise” Hotels
- Cruise Travel Trends: Bookings, Value, & Destinations
- Best Adults-Only Luxury Cruise: Viking Cruises
- Best Cruise Line For Adults Wanting a Real “Adult” Experience
- Rhapsody of the Seas itineraries
- Holland America Line
- Carnival Cracks Down on Unsanctioned Poolside Gambling During Cruise
Sailing on a Princess cruise ship means you’ll find upscale amenities around every corner. Also keep in mind the smaller the ship—and fewer onboard experiences for kids (such as kids clubs and big water slides)—the greater the chance youngsters won’t be onboard. You can expect extensive all-inclusive cruise offerings from Tauck and Uniworld as well, which offer free airport transfers, all alcoholic drinks all day and night, gratuities, mini-bars and even extra-special events like dinners in castles. Other cruise lines are adults-only but have more a la carte charges, or are inclusive but don't ban kids (even if you don't often find them). Some of these lines might still be right for you, so don't rule out the following options.
Convenient Port Canaveral “Park & Cruise” Hotels
The 3,099-person capacity vessel, which boasts a 24-hour butler service and three-level race track, was just named the best new cruise ship of 2022 in the Ocean category, CNN Travel reports. This year marked the return of the annual awards ceremony, which took a hiatus during a tumultuous few years for the industry. Other select ships feature Cloud 9 Spa Staterooms and Suites, which include in-room products and give priority spa reservations, free fitness classes, unlimited thermal suites, and more. Though Carnival Cruise Line is family-friendly, its ships also offer a great amount of amenities for adults.
Cruise Travel Trends: Bookings, Value, & Destinations
In the spirit of tradition, adult cruisers looking for a slower-paced vacation will want to consider sailing onboard one of Holland America’s ships. This cruise line caters mainly to retirees and older adults, creating a refined and enriching vacation. It is, however, a more inclusive line than Celebrity Cruises or Royal Caribbean. Marella Cruises launched its first adults-only ship, Marella Explorer 2, in 2019. Fares on the 1,814-passenger vessel include both tips and a selection of drinks (alcoholic and nonalcoholic).
Best Adults-Only Luxury Cruise: Viking Cruises
It still has lots to offer adults looking for a fun getaway, especially to Europe, where you can book back-to-back port-intensive cruises for a customized vacation. All fares include specialty dining and in-suite dining 24 hours a day, beverages, Wi-Fi, non-motorized watersports, and gratuities. Seabourn's ships are also on the smaller side, catering to no more than 600 guests per sailing. They also cater to guests wanting to ultimate luxury experience, meaning that they only offer oceanfront suites onboard their ships. Travelers looking for an immersive cruise will love the itineraries offered by Azamara.
Mariner of the Seas
Holland America Line boasts premium dining and service at sea in a subdued onboard atmosphere combined with today’s modern entertainment. Guests looking for a memorable night out with their significant other will have a choice of intimate specialty restaurants for a romantic evening, such as Le Bistro, the line’s elegant French restaurant, which serves premium dishes in a serene atmosphere. Available on select ships, studio staterooms are designed for solo cruisers, and the studio lounge, accessible only by those staying in this area of the ship, provides a central gathering spot to meet fellow solo travelers. You may also dine at adults-only restaurants and then spend your evening in the adults-only entertainment district, featuring late-night fun with high-energy nightclubs, English-style pubs, and more. While not entirely kid-free, Celebrity Cruises‘ demographic skews a bit older than other family-friendly lines, creating a more upscale experience that appeals to adults without kids. For one, things like gratuities and all food are included in the fare — no buffet is on the ship.
Best Cruise Line For Adults Wanting a Real “Adult” Experience
You need to be age 18 and up to get onboard to enjoy the many perks covered in the all-inclusive fares. While this small expedition line — known for its off-the-beaten-path voyages — technically allows guests over eight years old, it’s quite rare to see any children on board since there are no kids clubs. While most famous for its Antarctica and Arctic itineraries, the line also offers itineraries through Central America, Mexico, Peru, Southwest Africa, and the Chilean Fjords. Its fleet of three small ships offers elegant accommodations, dining options, and common areas. Take in the panoramic vistas from the sauna or heated Jacuzzi, or get up close and personal via Zodiac.
14 Best Adults-only Cruises, According to Travel Experts - Travel + Leisure
14 Best Adults-only Cruises, According to Travel Experts.
Posted: Wed, 24 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Passengers under 21 need to be accompanied by an adult who is a minimum of 25 years or older. Speaking of vibes, if you're looking for a secluded place to drink (as in, not the swim-up pool bar), few will top the Overlook Pods, perched just behind the AquaDome. The mega-ship's food hall wasn't nearly as diverse or exciting as the one on Norwegian Prima. Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more travel, tech, cleaning, humor and fun facts all week long. For the best in-suite views, book a room at the back of the ship, Kelly Cochrane, executive chef of Regent Seven Seas Cruises tells T+L. In addition, Central Park comes alive at night with al fresco dining and a live-strings ensemble that sets the mood for a memorable night.
You can expect some kids on Regent Seven Seas' Alaska and European cruises in the summer, so if you're set on cruising at that time of year, opt for longer cruises that shy away from places with more family-friendly excursions. The line has two ocean ships, the 999-passenger Spirit of Discovery and the 999-passenger Spirit of Adventure, both with all balcony staterooms. Saga cruise itineraries include the Baltic, the British Isles, the Canaries, and the Caribbean. Outside of dining venues, Rhapsody of the Seas also features a spacious adults-only Solarium, large spa and salon, Schooner Bar, and a variety of entertainment lounges and venues. Despite being a small ship, Rhapsody of the Seas still features nine dining venues.
There are no water slides, no kids club and no video game consoles, just rich history, fascinating local culture and fine food and wine on board and to explore on land through curated—and complimentary—shore excursions led by passionate locals. This upscale line with four small ships does not restrict kids but tends to attract well-traveled couples age 50 and up who like the idea of seeing the world from the vantage point of a floating boutique hotel. The onboard atmosphere on Azamara sailings is both convivial and sophisticated, on ships that carry a maximum of 704 guests. The vessels feature a library with faux fireplace, an upscale steakhouse for an elevated dining experience, and a “living room” for drinking and socializing.
Instead of non-stop entertainment and continually open buffets, passengers can relax between ports. With a Viking cruise, passengers can expect a cruise completely designed to immerse them in the destination. Adults can expect pampering at a spa with hydrotherapy pools, salt rooms, quartz beds, and mudrooms. We outline the best cruise lines for adults, both adults-only and those with adult amenities.
If you're after a true all-inclusive cruise, you'll likely have to opt for a luxury line. These lines typically don’t have age restrictions that make them true adults-only cruises, but high fares, longer itineraries and less theme park-like destinations tend to discourage many families from booking. Saga river cruises feature the same level of included perks on adults-only sailings aboard Spirit of the Danube and Spirit of the Rhine. Seabourn has thought of everything when it comes to pampering its guests, from partnerships with Thomas Keller, the Michelin-starred chef of The French Laundry, to an experience noshing on Champagne and caviar from a floating bar. It’s unlikely, however, that anyone’s kids would be impressed by these offerings, let alone the upscale atmosphere of Seabourn’s intimate ships. Children are allowed to sail on Seabourn, but with no kids’ clubs or activities beyond the likes of lectures and afternoon tea, it’s not the cruise line to anticipate piles of school kids during spring break.
The best adult cruises allow passengers to pursue relaxation, rejuvenation, and indulgence, undisturbed by tantrum-minded toddlers and other children potentially ruining your me-time groove. For when it's time to sail away from the stresses of life on land, we've pulled together the very best cruise lines for adults, plus their most exciting itineraries available for booking in 2024 and early 2025. Viking is the pioneer of comfortable, adult-only cruising for the modern traveler.
These sailings offer longer port stays to encourage cruisers to have in-depth exploration at each destination, which is something that many young children might not be able to tolerate. Spring break, holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, and summer sailings will appeal to families since these best accommodate school schedules. Vision and Radiance Class ships lack the attractions and onboard thrills that kids love, such as surfing simulators, ice skating rinks, and more.
Itineraries are focused on maximizing time in port, with cultural immersion including small group shore excursions and “AzAmazing” experiences where, for instance, you and other guests might be treated to complimentary private acrobatics show in Monaco. Special golf cruises with PerryGolf include play at such prestigious courses as Ireland’s Royal Portrush. Azamara's four vessels carry roughly 700 passengers each and fall just shy of being all-inclusive.
