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Cruising attracts travelers from all walks of life like families, couples, and retirees. But for travelers who want a hassle-free vacation, an adults-only, all-inclusive cruise is the best choice for you.
There will be no kids taking over the hot tub or whining at dinner, and no splashing at the pool. The world you’ll find yourself in is one of complete peace and sea breezes.
It will be the place to do the kind of stuff you can’t seem to do anywhere else. This includes reconnecting with your partner, reading a book, or relaxing the way you want.
If you want to spend time for yourself alone, here are the adult cruises that offer grown-up experience at sea:
P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises offers two ships that are exclusive for adults, the Arcadia and Aurora.
Other than the cruise, they have itineraries to some of the world’s most exciting cities that can satiate your wanderlust.
Arcadia offers a relaxed pace and stylish surroundings which combines the trendy with the classic. It won the hearts of all who have sailed her since it entered the service in 2005.
Thanks to her intimate atmosphere, classic elegance, and line up of featured designs, passengers can indulge themselves in relaxation.
Aurora, on the other hand, is a world-class mid-sized ship. It entered service in 2000 as the first ship in the whole fleet dressed in a blue funnel. It also boasts the Union flag design on her bow.
She is best known for her world cruises, idyllic cruising experience, fine dining, superb cinema and theatre, and friendly bars.
Underlying all these experiences is the attentive, intuitive, and thoughtful service of the Arcadia and Aurora crew. It all adds up to the perfect package for a once-in-a-lifetime luxury cruise experience.
Viking Ocean Cruises
Due to the nature of Viking Ocean Cruises and its itineraries, the carrier does not maintain facilities or services for passengers aged 18 or younger.
Viking has always offered cruises for travelers who are 50 years old and older. That’s because the cruise explores history, art, and culture.
Sure, the cruise line is flexible when it comes to the minimum age of passengers who can travel alone. Yet, their loyal guests insisted that they appreciate an environment where they can travel without children. Doing so eliminates the possibility of encountering noisy teens or whining kids onboard.
It’s a way of differentiating the luxury line from mega-ships that market family-friendly features. Not to mention that adult-only cruises offer casinos and bars.
Oceania Cruises
Oceania is an ultra-premium, luxurious, mid-size ship cruise line. It is lavish, yet comfortable with a “country club casual” ambiance.
Its five different ships:
- Riviera
- Marina
- Regatta
- Nautica
- Insigna
They all feature decks and verandas with the finest teak, elegant custom stone and tile work, fine arts poised in the public areas, and staterooms that boast luxurious, neo-classical furnishings.
Although not entirely an adult-only cruise line, Oceania caters to sophisticated travelers. And we’re talking about well-heeled pensioners and retirees.
Saga Cruises
If you’re 50 years old or older and looking for a cruise that is unadulterated with screeching children, then check out Saga Cruises.
Like P&O Cruises, Saga Cruises is a British line that has been in the business of offering voyages for adults.
The best part? Their adult-only expedition is only available to passengers who are aged 50 years old and older. You won’t find a single millennial or even those Generation Xers on board a Saga Cruises ship
The line has two ships, the 999-passenger Spirit of Discovery and the 720-passenger Saga Sapphire. The latter, though will be replaced with the 999-passenger Spirit of Adventure this year.
Fares include all meals, gratuities, and Wi-Fi. You can also enjoy most of their drinks like wine for lunch and dinner, soda, house spirits, draft beer and mocktails.
Saga Cruises also features fitness classes, transfers to or from the ship, and shuttles into town from the port.
As a part of your comfort, you’ll find a pampering luxury spa and a cozy library.
The cruise line also has a nightclub created by the musician Jools Holland, who also plays on selected sailings. Each evening, passengers can look forward to colorful new shows from the ship’s very own theatre company, live music, guest entertainers, cinema screenings, and more.
Virgin Voyages
Richard Branson’s Virgin Group released a cruise line that boasts a more hip. sophisticated, and millennial-friendly vibe.
Known as The Virgin Voyages, it promises an “escape to chaos” of casinos and kid-filled screeches.
It’s CEO, Tom McAlpin, and Brian Kelly made research and found out that kids scream when they are usually put in the pool. The CEO also added that the research’s purpose is to give the passengers a sophisticated experience.
When Virgin Voyages launches its first ship, it will only offer an adults-only and more inclusive big-ship experience. Its 2,750-passenger Scarlet Lady and subsequent vessels will be 18+, and will include basic nonalcoholic drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities, fitness classes, and meals.
Other standouts include the cave-inspired Redemption spa replete. It features hydrotherapy pools and quartz beds, an outdoor athletic club with a boxing ring, and The Manor signature nightclub.
What you won’t find on Virgin Voyage are waterslides, watery splash zones, teen lounges, and all the other family-friendly features that are becoming so common on bigger ships.
Uniworld
U by Uniworld may not be an all-adult cruise line, but it’s probably best suited for those in the 25 to 50-year-old range.
River cruising is normally for baby boomers, and hundreds of ships sail Europe’s inland waterways offering luxurious services. But the new boutique brand ‘U by Uniworld’ had already changed its course. It’s turned ballroom halls into a neon-lit dance lounge and Ice Bar, offering the first-ever river cruise for the young, and young at heart.
One of the best things about river cruising, that it can also dock right in the heart of each town, or city, and everything onboard is designed to be social, including the dining experience, which is very good for the old travelers.
Some of the biggest, best-known cruise lines have gone full-bore after the family market. No wonder their ships’ top decks sometimes feel like a scene from “Cheaper by the Dozen” than a blissful vacation retreat.
If your idea of getting away includes getting away from the kids, you would want to steer away from such family-magnet ships. Instead, opt for the adult-only cruises we have listed above.
These cruises don’t only promise a relaxing time away from children but also tranquility and the chance to enjoy an uninterrupted conversation.