The Evolving Cruise Industry: An Exciting Shift Towards Adult Only Cruises

While many cruises promote family-friendly environments, it’s becoming common for ships to have designated areas exclusively for adults. Royal Caribbean for example, maintains an indoor pool, spa and casino which are all for adults only.  Some cruise lines are even introducing ships that are entirely for adult only cruises. This trend, though not entirely new, is gaining traction with major players like U by Uniworld, Viking Cruise, and Virgin Voyages.

Many ships, even before the recent surge in adult-only offerings, were designed with adults as the primary audience. For instance, Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2, though equipped with a kid’s club, primarily offers adult-centric entertainment.

The design of these ships is also evolving. Without the need for children’s amenities, ships can allocate more space for adult activities. Typically, these ships lack kids’ clubs and waterslides, offering more dining and relaxation areas instead.

The allure of adult only cruises isn’t just about the absence of children. It’s also about luxury and unique offerings, like Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady tours both Western and Eastern Caribbean and is exclusively for adults only.  The Scarlet Lady boasts such adult only experiences such as “decadent dinners to drenched-in-red afterparties.

Moreover, adult-only doesn’t mean it’s only for the older generation. While some cruise lines cater to an older demographic, others, like Uniworld, are targeting younger adults boasting river cruises and boutique ships.

If an adult-only cruise is unavailable to the Caribbean destination you desire, consider that for those specifically seeking adult-only experiences, a simple solution is to book cruises during school terms, a long-standing practice for a quieter vacation.