If you can’t imagine anything worse than being stuck at sea surrounded by bawling babies and noisy toddlers, it’s worth choosing your cruise wisely. With their waterslides, expansive kids’ clubs and all-inclusive dining, most cruise ships are distinctly family-friendly. Ones that impose minimum age restrictions tend to be a far more peaceful proposition, as I discovered when I first sailed around the Caribbean on an over-18s cruise. Sedate sea days were spent sunbathing, reading or visiting the spa, punctuated by on-board wine tasting, expert lectures and gourmet meals worthy of any upmarket restaurant. Sounds idyllic? Here’s our pick of the best adults-only cruises to book for a similar sailing.
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1. Marella Cruises
Best for cruise and stay
No need to rush back from holiday if you don’t have an eye on school terms. Most Marella adults-only cruises offer cruise-and-stay options so that you can add a hotel stay before or after the voyage to extend your trip. It will even take care of your transfer between the airport, hotel and its dedicated adults-only ship, Marella Explorer 2, with its spa, golf simulator and champagne bar. In Montego Bay, Jamaica, spend days sipping rum cocktails at the swim-up bar at adults-only Riu Montego Bay; or stay within strolling distance of the harbour, shops and restaurants of Palma in Mallorca at the Valparaiso Palace & Spa.
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2. P&O Cruises
Best for UK departures
Start your holiday even sooner by sailing straight from Southampton for a no-hassle escape. A wide range of itineraries starting on UK shores are available on both of P&O Cruises’ adults-only ships, the Aurora and Arcadia, which were renovated in early 2023. Cruises include three-night round trips to Belgium for quick weekend getaways, 18-night Mediterranean sailings visiting Valencia, Lisbon and Naples and even 65-night bucket-list cruises to the Amazon that drop anchor in Barbados, Brazil and Belize along the way. Luckily each ship has at least five restaurants on board plus a cinema, spa, casino, library and art gallery, so you’ll never be bored. All this and no chance of flight delays.
3. Newmarket Holidays
Best for an Alaskan adventure
Let someone else take care of the details with a fully guided, 16-day tour of Alaska and the Canadian Rockies, for over-21s only. Start your holiday with short stays in Banff, capital of the Rockies, and the railroad town of Jasper before boarding the Holland America Line ship in Vancouver to spend seven nights sailing through Alaska. Marvel at glaciers while drifting through the Inside Passage, watch for humpback whales and brown bears when sailing through Glacier Bay and visit the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park on a day trip to Skagway, known as the gateway to the Yukon.
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4. Viking Ocean Cruises
Best for culture
The entire Viking Ocean Cruises fleet is adults-only, so every detail is designed strictly for grown-ups. There are no casinos or flashy theatre shows — instead, activities on the ships appeal to those who want to learn more about the places on their itinerary. These include performances of each region’s traditional arts, such as Italian opera or Portuguese fado, a lecture programme presented by experts in politics, architecture and the natural world, and even group discussions hosted by resident historians. Ships also have their own library, a resident group of classical musicians and a cooking school to teach guests how to rustle up dishes from each destination.
5. Virgin Voyages
Best for fun
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Don’t expect a standard cruise once you step aboard one of Virgin Voyages’ three ships. Bringing glamour and a hint of irreverence to the high seas, the cruise line has swapped buffets and dining times for quirky eateries including an authentic Mexican hacienda, a plant-focused restaurant and a Korean BBQ. There’s a beauty salon, a boxing ring, a record shop, a tattoo parlour, drag queen brunches and even an app to summon champagne at any time. There are a range of Mediterranean and Caribbean itineraries, but you can crank up the glamour by opting for one calling at the Beach Club at Bimini in the Bahamas for DJ pool parties, beach yoga and starlit bonfires.
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6. Silversea Cruises
Best for all-inclusive
Though Silversea isn’t strictly for adults only, it’s rare to find children on board as the whole experience is aimed firmly at a more mature market. From the moment you’re whisked from home in a complimentary private transfer service, a Silversea cruise lays on luxury at every turn. Think butler service in every suite, almost one staff member for every guest, all premium drinks including bottles of champagne included across the ship, and gourmet dining including teriyaki restaurants, French gastronomy and sushi bars with sake pairings. You won’t find a kids’ club but guests can attend on-board lectures on the history and culture of each destination, work out with personal trainers or retire to the cigar lounge.
7. Hebridean Island Cruises
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Best for personal service
It doesn’t get much more intimate than sailing with Hebridean Island Cruises. Both of its ships — Hebridean Princess and Lord of the Highlands — carry no more than 48 guests, so each one feels like a private party on water, with shore picnics, land excursions and communal meals included for making new friends. Only over-16s are permitted to sail on the cruise line’s UK-based itineraries, which drop anchor in Scotland’s prettiest spots, including wildly beautiful Shieldaig and Inverie, home to the most remote pub in mainland Britain. Still keen to have the kids on board? It’s possible to charter an entire ship so that you can bring along whoever you like.
8. Tui River Cruises
Best for solo travellers
Want to holiday alone without being forced to socialise with other singles? A river cruise is the ideal solution with minimum time on board and the freedom to explore destinations without signing up for pricey shore excursions. All three of the Tui River Cruises ships are fitted with single cabins and guests are welcome to dine alone if preferred. Hop off the ship on shore days and wander the cobbled streets of Budapest’s Castle District, ride the cable car in Koblenz to a 2,000-year-old fortress or sample Portuguese wine at the museums of WOW Porto.
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9. Windstar Cruises
Best for small ships
Eliminate the risk of sitting next to a crying baby at dinner by sailing with Windstar Cruises, which has a minimum age requirement of eight on all its ships. Even its shore excursions have a distinctly adult focus and include visits to wineries, tours of local markets, guided trips to historical sites and traditional cooking classes. Itineraries feature out-of-the-way destinations and far-flung ports that appeal to more adventurous travellers rather than families, including rainforest-ringed Quepos in Costa Rica, remote Huahine in French Polynesia and idyllic Bonaire in the Caribbean, renowned for its pink sand beaches.
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