The 6 Best Adults-Only Cruises to Take in 2023

Table Of Content

• Aurora Expeditions
• Saga Ocean Cruises
• Saga
• Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady
• Windstar Cruises

Set sail on a voyage that promises not just a journey across the seas but new experiences, relaxation, and unforgettable memories. The appeal of these cruises lies in their ability to offer a tailored experience – think of themed parties, wine tastings with expert sommeliers, culinary workshops, and wellness retreats. The social aspect is also different on adults-only cruises; their is more of a focus on mingling and meeting other guests on the ship – many of the adults-only cruises have a smaller passenger capacity than the bigger cruise lines. In this section, we will uncover the many compelling reasons why choosing an adults-only cruise can be a game-changer for your vacation experience. From the tranquility of the environment to the tailored amenities and activities, adults-only cruises promise a world of advantages for those who seek more from their travels. Whether you’re a couple looking for a romantic retreat, a group of friends seeking adventure, or a solo traveler ready to unwind, this segment will reveal the abundant benefits that make adults-only cruises the perfect choice for your next getaway.

Aurora Expeditions

Passengers who enjoy traveling with children or prefer a more family-friendly environment may find adults-only cruises less appealing. Additionally, some adults-only cruises may have limited entertainment options compared to family-oriented cruises. People not interested in offshore experience may also not enjoy adult-only cruises as much, as many of them emphasize the culture and education of destinations on the itinerary. Both of the Saga ocean ships are considered boutique because they have a maximum passenger capacity of 999, which is far smaller than most ocean liners. On board are fine-dining destinations, spa services and sundecks perfect for lounging with a book. While there are single cabins on Saga ships, there is no one under 50 years of age (it’s a requirement that all guests be 50 or older to cruise).

Saga Ocean Cruises

Whether enjoying a quiet evening under the stars, participating in a wine-tasting session, or exploring exotic locales, these cruises offer the perfect blend of leisure, adventure, and cultural enrichment. Known for luxury cruising, Seabourn offers intimate experiences with all-suite ships, personalized service, and gourmet dining. While they welcome minors, the atmosphere is predominantly adult-focused, ideal for tranquil cruising. If you love nature and photography, an adult-only cruise to Antarctica with Aurora Expeditions is the perfect once-in-a-lifetime, child-free vacation at sea. Aurora Expeditions allow photographers and videographers of any skill level to learn through lectures and presentations, expert tips and tricks, and hands-on guidance on board the ships.

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Saga

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. Crystal, which is now part of the A&K Travel Group, made its grand (re)debut in the summer of 2023 after a years-long hiatus — and the line has long been a favorite among luxury-loving adult travelers. Both Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity have undergone multimillion-dollar refurbishments and are sure to impress.

Oh, and if you return to port with a bottle of wine from Tuscany, there’s no corkage fee to drink it on board. Gratuities, drinks outside of meal times, and select shore excursions will cost extra, and premium beverage packages are available for purchase. When in port, some cruises offer specific clothing-optional excursions but expect to wear clothes for activities like ziplining or land-based sightseeing.

The upscale line’s 148- to 342-passenger ships deliver an intimate, adult atmosphere whether you are on a four- or five-masted ship with billowing sails or an all-suite motorized yacht. Cabins and suites are mostly designed for two and attract couples looking for romance at sea, in addition to excellent dining, enhanced by the line’s status as the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation. Borrow a kayak from your ship’s own marina by day and cap an evening of food and drink with quiet time out on deck, watching the moon reflect on the sea.

Virgin Voyages says no kids on the ocean. And the kids aren’t pleased.

In summary, Celebrity Cruises’ adults-only options provide travelers with the opportunity to embark on a luxurious journey that emphasizes tranquility, sophistication, and exclusivity. These cruises are ideal for couples seeking a romantic escape, friends looking for an upscale adventure, or solo travelers desiring an elegant and enriching voyage. With a commitment to innovation, exceptional service, and a dedication to creating the perfect adult experience, Celebrity Cruises stands out as a top choice for those seeking an unforgettable adults-only cruise. In sum, the Caribbean’s allure for adults-only cruises lies in its capacity to offer a multifaceted experience, seamlessly combining relaxation, luxury, adventure, and natural beauty in an environment free from the distractions of younger travelers. It’s a destination that caters to the desires of adults seeking a cruise that goes beyond the ordinary, making it a prime choice for those in pursuit of maritime serenity and sophistication. Windstar guarantees there won’t be young kids onboard—you must be age eight or up to sail.

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Celebrity Cruises, renowned for its commitment to luxury and sophistication, offers a range of adults-only options that cater to travelers seeking refined experiences at sea. These adults-only sailings come under the “Celebrity Revolution” initiative, a commitment to modernize and elevate the cruise line’s offerings. While adults-only cruises offer a serene and sophisticated atmosphere, they may not suit everyone.

Their all-suite ships provide spacious accommodations, personalized service, and an intimate atmosphere. Their ships feature spacious accommodations and adults-only areas (on ships that allow minors). Viking is renowned for its destination-focused itineraries and immersive cultural experiences.

P&O Cruises is a British line that’s especially popular with — you guessed it — U.K.-based cruisers. P&O has a total of seven ships, five of which are family-friendly and two —  Aurora and Arcadia — that are only for adults. Additionally, per Clabbers, the entertainment offerings are best described as “atypical and engaging” and include pool parties, private karaoke studios, and drag queen cabaret.

Azamara's four vessels carry roughly 700 passengers each and fall just shy of being all-inclusive. 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. Saga river cruises feature the same level of included perks on adults-only sailings aboard Spirit of the Danube and Spirit of the Rhine. In ports that require transportation into town (like Pireaus/Athens) coaches are provided at no charge.

Holland isn’t technically an adult-only cruise line, but anyone who has cruised on their stately ocean ships will tell you that kids are few and far between, and they aren’t the target demographic for this cruise line that happily skews older. This means you and your partner can book an affordable journey to Alaska on ships from the line that is often voted the best in Alaska by those in the know. Holland America has been sailing to the Land of the Midnight Sun for nearly 75 years, and it shows, particularly when it comes to its truly authentic shore excursions.

The breadth of Viking’s destinations and cruise styles is nearly unmatched, but its decision to accommodate a kid-free atmosphere positively sets it apart. When asked to envision a cruise, chances are you might summon images of kids wailing down waterslides, dripping in ice cream and building sandcastles, typically what you see in the many candy-colored ads from mega cruise ships. But those are far from the only cruise options out there for grown-ups who want to get away from it all.

While originally a millennial-only cruise line, U by Uniworld changed its age restrictions in 2018 and now offers river cruises in Europe to adults of all ages. They still focus heavily on younger adults in their branding and marketing, though, which sets them apart from other river cruise lines. People who are looking for a relaxing and quiet cruise trip can now opt for adult only cruises. This relatively new concept has emerged due to the popularity of adult only areas aboard regular cruise ships. We hope this guide has provided valuable insights into the world of adults-only, all-inclusive cruises and has inspired you to embark on a journey that caters exclusively to your adult sensibilities.

American Cruise Lines Ships and Itineraries 2024, 2025, 2026

Table Of Content

• Mississippi Riverboats
• List of river cruise lines
• USA Cruise Highlights
• Who Cruises on American Cruise Lines and What They Were Saying About the Ship and Itinerary

The best travel agents have access to discounted group rates and exclusive cruise pricing that's not found anywhere else. In addition, agents occasionally give you extra value on your booking -- such as prepaid gratuities, a free bottle of Champagne or onboard credit -- to sweeten the deal. And if the price of your cruise drops after you book, a good agent will notice and refund you the difference in fare. Finally, as cruise lines pay agent commissions, you don't have to worry about paying extra for their planning services.

Mississippi Riverboats

Guests can also look forward to discovering spacious lounges and quiet nooks to gather with fellow travelers. As you cruise the legendary Mississippi River, our dedicated crew will treat you with gracious hospitality and the utmost care. Enjoy the intimacy and comfort of small-ship cruising, where our crew will quickly learn your name and preferences as you travel with us. Our onboard experts don’t just lecture, they spend time with guests aboard and on shore, giving real insight and depth to each destination visited. Celebrity Cruises offers a vast range of USA cruise itineraries and departure ports. In Florida, choose between Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando (Port Canaveral), and Miami.

List of river cruise lines

Guests we spoke to were quick to sing the praises of the crew, the food and the overall itinerary, but equally quick to voice their opinion regarding the sudden change in the starting point. Some were not happy with the change, primarily because it affected travel plans. We felt the cruise line adapted quite well, by using the motor coaches that travel with the ship to transport guests from San Francisco hotels to the ship waiting in Sacramento on embarkation day. On departure day, guests with flights from San Francisco or post-cruise hotel packages were also taken by coach.

USA Cruise Highlights

The first was the number of times each cruise had been recommended in our previous search. Ratings on platforms such as Cruise Critics and Cruiseline became 2 other metrics for our research. All our ships are built in the U.S. at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Maryland and are equipped with state-of-the-art Rolls-Royce stabilizers. This feature enables our guests to experience the smoothest cruising available along the scenic waterways and legendary rivers of the country, bringing you to your desired location in comfort.

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On these voyages, you'll sail with anywhere from 100 to 400 other guests aboard either modern riverboats or classic paddle wheelers that hearken back to a different time. Like their European counterparts, river cruises in the U.S. typically package everything at a single price, including staterooms, meals, guest lectures and enrichment programs, entertainment, and most shore excursions. Princess Cruises offers voyages to over 330 destinations over the world, more than almost any other cruise line.

Use the search tool to locate agents in your area with a variety of levels of CLIA training. Most cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, have some version of a "Find a Travel Agency" search tool on their homepage. In most cases, its located in one of the menus located near the bottom of the page. Well, as always, we are here to partake in this debate with our list of best cruise lines in the US.

Why American Cruise Lines

In addition, ask if the agent can meet or beat the best price you've seen elsewhere. Find out if the travel agent has preferred status with any cruise lines or whether he or she belongs to travel consortiums that would enable him or her to get you better deals, upgrades, etc. But watch out -- some agents will push a particular line too aggressively for your tastes.

You don't want to get caught in an agent's agenda if the cruise line isn't right for you. So, you've decided to go on a cruise -- perhaps your first venture on a vacation at sea -- and you're a little overwhelmed. You have to consider how much you're willing to pay, whether to book an inexpensive inside cabin or splurge on a suite, and which cruise line and ship are right for you. Add dinner seatings, shore excursions and cabin location to the list, and planning a relaxing getaway suddenly seems like a second job. Musicians, historians, and naturalists join every cruise, creating an entertaining onboard experience. Our cruises in this region focus heavily on southern history and culture, where even the most self-proclaimed history buffs will learn something new.

Cunard is one of the oldest and most iconic names in the cruise industry, with a storied past that stretches back to 1839. Its roots are seeped in tradition, heritage, and timeless elegance, all of which come forth during its cruises. Travelers on Cunard’s cruises get to immerse themselves in a traditional mise en scene, with activities such as ballroom dancing, symphonies, and attending lectures with veterans from WWII. Although Cunard is a British cruise line, like most other foreign cruise lines it offers several different tours to accommodate American passengers.

As you cruise in perfect comfort to ports like Charleston, SC, and Savannah, GA, enjoy spacious amenities, a private balcony, and an intimate oasis aboard our fleet of award-winning small ships. MSC Cruises is perhaps the most affordable and family-friendly cruise on our list. It would be ranked even higher, if not for the fact that it is an Italian cruise company which has only a select few voyages from US ports. Despite this, it has amassed a massive customer base in the US, some of whom even travel across the Atlantic to sail aboard its ships. The foremost reason behind such a devoted clientele is that MSC allows children to sail free of cost on most of its voyages, making it very affordable for a family vacation.

Our team of award-winning chefs locally sources ingredients with food that brings every region to life. According to Reuters, over 35 million tourists around the world are looking to cruise in 2024. The US contributes more tourists to the cruise industry than any other country in the world. Florida, California, and New York are home to some of the busiest cruise ports in the world. Ft. and features a separate bedroom and living area, ideal for gathering with family and friends after an invigorating day of exploration. Sliding glass doors lead out to a private balcony complete with a private dining area, the perfect place to enjoy breakfast room service or watch the sun set.

Staterooms all have private balconies, and are spacious by most cruise ship standards. Rooms have more of a hotel feel than a cruise ship feel because furnishings aren't built in, plus electrical outlets are standard 110-volt U.S. household wall plugs scattered generously around the room. If you don't see a sign or advertisement, always ask -- the agent may have fabulous offers the cruise lines won't let him or her publicize.

It is extremely popular among seniors and retirees, partly because it offers extended travel duration which can last up to 195 days! It offers one of the most diverse culinary experiences in the industry, with options ranging from southern Porterhouses, to steamy Callaloo, to delicious Bouillabaisse. Travelers can engage in amenities such as culinary classes, luxury spas, and destination focused cultural activities. Silversea Cruises is renowned for its luxury cruise experiences with all-inclusive packages.

Choosing a cruise is not the same as picking a hotel or flight, as there are many more options to consider. With everyone attached to their phones, laptops and tablets, many people assume that online is the only way to book travel. But, as booking online can often be confusing, a travel agent might be just what you need.