8 Best Cruise Lines for Young Adults

Table Of Content

• Best Adults-Only All-Inclusive Cruises
• Best cruise line for quick sailings: Royal Caribbean
• Paul Gauguin Cruises
• Drinking age on cruises
• Serenity Adult-Only Retreat

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.

Are cruise line drink packages worth the price? Not necessarily - USA TODAY

Are cruise line drink packages worth the price? Not necessarily.

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Best Adults-Only All-Inclusive Cruises

Several of the cruises have in-built LEGO play areas, small water parks, and virtual reality movie theaters. 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.

Best cruise line for quick sailings: Royal Caribbean

With floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a private verandah, these spacious suites are flooded with light. They feature a large sitting area and two lower beds convertible to one king-size bed—our signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses. The bathroom comes with a dual-sink vanity, full-size whirlpool bath and shower, plus additional shower stall.

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Even solo cruisers will find cabins on Norwegian Cruise Line that are designed just for them, with communal spaces ideal for making friends. These expert-approved cruise lines are perfect for your next adults-only getaway. Note that these short cruises take place in and around Australia, though, but they’re an excellent addition to any vacation in Australia, a country that’s super-popular among young backpackers anyway.

On most sailings from the U.S., guests must be at least 21 years old to drink alcohol on the ship. One exception to this rule is Margaritaville at Sea, which allows guests who are 18 to drink once the ship is in international waters or on Grand Bahama Island. Young adult cruisers can find a party around every corner on Carnival Cruise Line or adventures off the ship with Royal Caribbean International.

Other adult-focused cruises

Lavish touches — from glittering chandeliers to sumptuous suites, to thousands of square feet of marble — can be found throughout its fleet. The elegant, all-suite accommodations are a highlight, as is the ocean-inspired wellness center. The culinary programming is also top-notch, with six onboard restaurants — including the Med Yacht Club for tasty Mediterranean dishes, the ritzy Marble & Co. Grill for steaks and chops, and the breezy-chic Emporium Marketplace for all-day international fare — all helmed by a team of acclaimed chefs. Passengers can sip cocktails in style at one of 12 tony bars and lounges (eight indoor, four outdoor).

GREAT CRUISES NEAR ME

While most cruise lines still focus on offering family-friendly cruises, there are some that have pioneered adult-only cruises. Their ships are either entirely kid-free or at least their (lack of) kid-friendly facilities keep away traveling families. Royal Caribbean is definitely the best cruise line for active young adults.

Kids will appreciate Dream enhancements like the Star Wars-themed Millennium Falcon play area in its kids' club and the Disney Infinity gameplay zone; Disney Wonder features a Marvel Super Hero Academy and an It's a Small World Nursery. The sleek, 100-square-foot, designed-for-one cabins come with flat-screen TVs and modern mood lighting, along with access to a lounge that's exclusively reserved for studio-level passengers. All Norwegian's ships are additionally decked out with dozens of dining, drinking, activity and entertainment venues that are made for mingling. Earn your wilderness badge as you cruise between the Alaska glaciers, pan for gold in prospecting towns, and trek across the rugged tundra on an Alaska vacation. And savor a burst of flavors throughout culture-rich ports in the Mediterranean, the British Isles, Scandinavia and beyond on an unforgettable cruise through Europe.

Serenity Adult-Only Retreat

You must pay extra to ride CocoCay's many waterslides, zip line or tethered hot air balloon. Cruisers ages 18 to 20 who want to participate in the planned activities can see all the available happenings on the Disney Cruise Line app once they're on the ship. Young adults should attend the first meetup, which is where introductions and icebreaker games happen. Throughout the cruise and even on Disney's private island, Castaway Cay, meetups and activities are scheduled for the age group. Even though Disney Cruise Line is known as the family cruise line, young adults may be on board because they have younger siblings or their family enjoys visiting Disney parks.

Rob Clabbers is a T+L A-List travel advisor and founder of Q Cruise + Travel, a Chicago-based travel agency. Alternatively, the Cloud 9 Spa Thermal Suite offers ultimate relaxation with its steam baths, dry heat rooms and other climate-controlled areas.

Gratuities, drinks outside of meal times, and select shore excursions will cost extra, and premium beverage packages are available for purchase. Memory making starts here — with a full lineup of 2024, 2025 and 2026 future cruises ready to book. It’s over 270+ destinations from Alaska to Australia and everywhere in between. And the biggest, boldest, best ships in the world to take you there — each one packed full of features you won’t find anywhere else, dining that takes your tastebuds on a world tour, jaw dropping entertainment, and award-winning service. Check out our 2024, 2025 cruises and 2026 cruises to start planning your adventure.

Take a break from the daily grind and slip into vacation mode with unbeatable deals on 2-3 night cruises that fit more fun into just a few days. Set out on the epic island-hopping vacation you’ve been waiting for onboard the best cruises for 2024, 2025, and 2026. And make every moment count at our private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, with record-breaking thrills and endless ways to chill — for families and couples alike. Every corner of the Caribbean is yours to explore, with the cruise line voted Best Overall for 19 years running by Travel Weekly readers. Eric Goldring is a T+L A-list travel advisor specializing in expedition, small-ship, and medium-ship cruising. The iconic Viking ships sail all over the world, including the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, the Caribbean and East Asia, and even round-the-world cruises.

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, which sells both ocean and river cruises, traditionally discourages customers from bringing passengers under the age of 12 on vessels except during Christmas holiday sailings. This storied British line clearly sees the demand for adults-only cruise ships, but it isn't giving up on the family market, either. Five of its seven vessels (Arvia, Iona, Britannia, Ventura and Azura) are marketed as "family-friendly" and open to passengers of all ages. It also offers a karaoke lounge with pink-and-purple karaoke rooms and a tattoo parlor (read about how one of our staffers was among the first to get inked on board). Azamara's four vessels carry roughly 700 passengers each and fall just shy of being all-inclusive.

On board the ships, young adults can meet others at the sports court for a pickup game of basketball or pickleball. The nightclubs and lounges are fun spots to dance and sing with new friends. The minimum age to sail without an older adult in the cabin for cruises departing from North America is 21. Young adults may struggle to take time off from work or school to do a weeklong cruise.

Live productions of Aladdin, Marvel themed dining centers, and Star Wars themed recreations allow your children to be immersed in some of their favorite pop culture fandoms. Most of the cruise’s interior is themed to Disney movies while mascots in costumes of your children’s favorite characters roam around the decks. However, the cruises also have adult-oriented activities to ensure caretakers can unwind in their exclusive poolside bars and adult only dining facilities. Oceania cruises offer luxury experience at a better value for money than other cruise liners. Its ships conform to the medium size category and travel to destinations all around the world.

Cruises: Norwegian Cruise Line Cruise Deals NCL Cruises

Table Of Content

• CRUISES FROM
• Drinking age on cruises
• Best Cruises for Young Adults in Their 20s and 30s
• Silversea Cruises
• LIMITED-TIME ONLINE OFFER!

Young adults looking for a kid-free vacation should check out Virgin Voyages, an adults-only cruise line where the minimum age to book is 18. Each of the three (soon to be four) ships have many restaurants, such as Pink Agave for Mexican and Gunbae for Korean barbecue, all of which are fee-free. Dining at the many onboard restaurants is also a treat, with venues specializing in sushi, backyard barbecue, French bistro classics and handmade Italian pasta.

CRUISES FROM

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. Outside of the Mediterranean, Viking Alaska or Caribbean cruises are an easy choice for those seeking adults-only cruising during busy summer travel seasons to regions that are otherwise wildly popular with families. Holland America Cruise Line is another historic cruise company that began its operations back in 1873. It makes great efforts to acquaint its passengers with its achievements in shaping the cruise industry over the last 150 years. However, in the modern era, it has gained a lot of praise for its voyages into the waters of Alaska for which it has been honored with several accolades over the years. The cruise line also has a partnership with BBC Earth, under which it hosts seminars and musical performances themed towards exploring nature and wildlife.

Drinking age on cruises

Using a consensus approach, we shortlisted the cruise lines which had been recommended most frequently. No sailing is complete without at least one visit to the state-of-the-art Aurōra spa, which offers everything from Dysport injections and IV treatments to acupuncture and salt scrubs. Crystal currently sails six continents (all but Antarctica), and, although you can’t go wrong with any of the itineraries, the 123-night 2025 World Cruise — which visits 62 ports in 31 countries — is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Onboard Oceania’s ships, you’ll find a wide array of adult-focused facilities and services, from a running track and artist loft to a culinary center, library and lecture rooms. Additionally, Oceania is one of the more affordable small-ship cruise lines that cater to adults. U by Uniworld has numerous river ships, all of which offer unique experiences and elegant spaces.

Best Cruises for Young Adults in Their 20s and 30s

Carnival doesn't typically offer planned events for cruisers ages 18 to 25. Travelers looking to meet similarly aged travelers can connect with shipmates on Facebook groups dedicated to their sailing and arrange an unofficial meetup with other young adults on board. Active shore excursions, the fitness center and the hot tub on the adults-only sun deck are great places to look for peers during a cruise. Also, while Viking cruises aren’t exactly budget-friendly, they offer plenty of added value.

Kids Club

The line offers a range of activities, including book clubs, guided meditations, mixology classes, coffee tastings, courses on destination-themed crafts, and live jazz. Alternatively, travelers can opt to bypass all of the above to soak up the sun by one of several sparkling swimming pools or peruse some of the uber-luxe onboard shops, including the world’s first Rolex boutique at sea. Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers the most inclusions of any luxury line in its base fares. Regent's five ships (with a sixth launching in 2023), range in size from 490 to 750 passengers.

Windstar Cruises

Made to cruise Europe’s most iconic rivers, they’re not just a floating boutique hotel, but also a water taxi, yoga studio, nightclub, restaurant and bar. Their itineraries are packed with immersive activities, social events and cultural programs, catering perfectly to the millennial lifestyle where experiences are more important than materialism. The key to finding adult-only cruises is looking for those sailings that lack family appeal. Ships without children facilities and cruises with a strong focus on culture, food and history will naturally have far fewer kids onboard. So, because we didn’t want to leave those out, we included Disney Cruise Line in this best cruise lines for young adults list. On the Top 18 adults-only deck on their Fantasia-class ships, MSC Cruises features relaxation areas, bars and spa treatments.

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The best adults-only cruises to try if you can’t stand being around kids on vacation

If you decide to try to sneak on more alcohol than allowed, security can confiscate and discard it. Most cruise lines will open bottles of water, mouthwash and other clear liquids to confirm it's not contraband alcohol. There are tastings of local wines guided by a sommelier, cooking classes and guest lectures.

World Stage, the largest theater on board is home to a variety of performances day and night. Our exclusive EXC® Talk lecture series features captivating regional stories told by local experts and narrated by your Cruise & Travel Director. In the evenings, Step One Dance Company, vocal sensation Cantaré, BBC Earth in Concert and more take the stage.

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Smooth sailing: Cruise lines roll out early Black Friday deals.

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Even as many lines double down on the family market, a small group of cruise operators remains all-in on the idea of adult-only cruises. It certainly begs the question “What is the number 1 cruise line in America? Well, as always, we are here to partake in this debate with our list of best cruise lines in the US. If you wish to skip our detailed analysis of the cruise lines industry, you may skip ahead to 5 Best Cruise Lines in the US.

Classic nautical finishes, modern amenities and a spectacular art collection make Zuiderdam a continued favorite and the new home for our annual Grand World Voyage. Numerous enrichment and entertainment activities keep guests going from the moment they wake on this cruise ship. When it comes to dining, there are options for everyone, from steak at the Pinnacle Grill to burgers and fries at Dive-In to exquisite Italian cuisine at Canaletto. Hear your favorite tunes all evening long at music clubs, such as the Rolling Stone Lounge and Billboard Onboard. These expansive staterooms include include two lower beds convertible to one queen-size bed—our Signature Mariner's Dream™ bed with plush Euro-Top mattresses, premium massage shower heads, a host of amenities and an ocean view. Only a handful of cruise lines ban children from their ships and promise cruises for grown-ups — perhaps the most notable being cruise newcomer Virgin Voyages and fast-growing Viking.

Some of these lines might still be right for you, so don't rule out the following options. These three cruise lines stand out for their commitment to adults-only cruises while offering inclusive pricing -- read on. According to Reuters, over 35 million tourists around the world are looking to cruise in 2024.

Viking Ocean cruise ships are all identical, each carrying 930 adult passengers; all cabins offer private balconies. Viking Expedition ships carry 378 adult passengers, and its river ships across the globe all carry fewer than 200 passengers. Although the most popular cruise destinations for American tourists are in the Caribbean, River and Expedition cruises are also becoming increasingly popular. Expedition cruises provide tourists a chance to sail to remote destinations alongside a team of seasoned guides (and in some cases intellectuals) and take part in adventure activities.

It prides on providing an individualistic yet immersive experience to cruisers, which is why its fleet comprises of smaller sized cruises in comparison to others. Its pristine dining facilities allow passengers to feast on delicious cuisines, complementary caviar, and the finest alcoholic beverages. On its most elegant cruises, Silversea offers its S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) program, which allows cruisers to dive deep into the flavors of the regions they voyage to. Outside of dining, Silversea offers the chance to journey around the seven seas.

"We have done a ton of research really trying to create a sophisticated experience," Virgin Voyages CEO Tom McAlpin said in the days before the line's 2021 debut. "I've done some personal research. We found that when you put kids in the pool, they scream, and we don't want that." Here are our picks for the best adults-only cruise lines, with a grown-up vibe to boot. You may be asking because you just spent time on a megaship where the kids took over the pools and hot tubs (not to mention the elevators), much to your chagrin.