Are you dreaming of a carefree adult cruise? Sometimes, it is nice to vacation without any kids around. No worries, have that extra drink and indulge in a fine meal in an adult-only environment without worrying about those pesky add-on charges or having to tend to your children.
Drinks, wi-fi, specialty dining, gratuities, tips, and room service are some of the most common extra costs cruisers will see on top of their cruise fare, making an all-inclusive option attractive to many who do not want to worry about a large bill at the end of their vacation.
Read more: What are the cheapest cruise add-ons?
The cruise industry mass markets family cruises with all the bells and whistles needed to satisfy multigenerational parties. There is no denying that most cruise lines want to cater towards this population and have become family-focused, with thrills like water parks, roller coasters, go-karts, and more.
That being said, there are some fantastic choices in the all-inclusive range for those wanting to enjoy a child-free and more luxurious option. Even the more upscale mainstream cruise lines are subject to the occasional family (or two)!
Of course, you will be paying a premium for these inclusive cruise experiences. Do not be surprised when you find the fares to be much more than the average mainstream cruise line. Most of the time, the fares are more expensive than they would be if you chose to pay for the optional add-ons.
An 8-night Mediterranean cruise onboard Viking Mars in May 2024 starts at $3,999 per person for a verandah cabin. On the other hand, you could take a 12-night cruise to Spain, Italy, and France onboard Celebrity Apex for $1,849 per person. The price difference per night is about $345!
Here is our list of the best cruise lines for grown-ups who want the stress-free benefits that an all-inclusive, luxury cruise fare provides.
Viking Ocean Cruises/Viking Expeditions
Overview
Known for their river cruises, Viking also offers ocean and expedition cruises and are a great adult-only option with a firm 18+ rule on all of their ships.
Viking targets seasoned travelers with destination focused itineraries. Headquartered in Switzerland, their ships sails worldwide with their 70 vessels to Europe, Egypt and Antarctica, along with everywhere in between. Their ships carry less than 1,000 passengers and focus on service and enhancing the overall cruise experience.
They have a philosophy of "no nickel and diming," with no-pressure sales tactics, photo sales, or art auctions for a more relaxed environment. You won't find any interior cabins, formal nights, or casinos, either.
What’s included on Viking
Their cruise fares are some of the most inclusive in the industry and cover specialty dining; 24-hour room service; thermal spa access; and complimentary wine, beer, soft drinks, specialty coffees, and hot teas. Additionally, they provide one free shore excursion in each port, along with complimentary wi-fi and included port fees and taxes.
In terms of their alcohol policy, they provide complimentary house wines, beers, and soft drinks with onboard lunches and dinners only. However, they do have an add-on package for those who want to enjoy unlimited beverages any time of day, such as an afternoon cocktail by the pool or mimosa during breakfast.
Guests may bring alcohol and beverages with them or purchase alcohol ashore at destinations that sell alcohol. Alcohol can be consumed in the guest's stateroom or public spaces, including dining venues, with no corkage fees.
Plus, if you purchase airfare through the cruise line, they will provide included port transfers!
Read more: Pros and cons: Should I book my flight through my cruise line?
Saga Cruises
Overview
Not necessarily a household name, Saga Cruises is a niche, boutique cruise line out of England with a more mature target market. To cruise on one of Saga’s ships, guests must be age 50 plus; however, anyone 40 or older can sail if accompanying a guest who is 50 or more.
Offering both ocean and river cruises, they sail to a number of destinations, including Europe, the Canary Islands, the Baltics, the Caribbean and New England on ships that only carry around 1,000 passengers.
For those who want a genuinely adult-only, all-inclusive experience, it is one of the few who deliver on that concept. The cruise line markets itself for their excellence in small cruise luxury and first-class service.
What’s included
The cruise fare includes numerous items and is one of the most comprehensive in the industry. In terms of dining, all onboard meals and snacks are included, even specialty dining options.
All-inclusive drinks include a choice of wines, spirits, cocktails, draught beer and lager, non-alcoholic cocktails, all mixers, hot beverages and soft drinks. Being an English cruise line, it is not surprising that they offer afternoon tea, which may appeal to some guests.
There are also other highly valued inclusions, such as wi-fi, 24-hour room service, all tips and gratuities, port taxes and fees. Plus, they even cover tourist visas where required. Saga Cruises also have sightseeing excursions in select ports of call and include spa access, fitness classes and travel insurance.
Virgin Voyages
With its distinctive, vibrant red logo and penchant for being bold and innovative, Virgin made a big splash in the cruise industry with the introduction of its adult-only cruise ships in 2020. The cruise line currently has two ships in its fleet, Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady. However, their fleet is expected to grow in 2023 and 2024 with the debut of two additional ships: Resilient Lady and Brilliant Lady.
Their ships sail with a capacity of around 3,000 passengers to a growing list of destinations. Their edgy dining and entertainment may appeal to non-traditional cruisers who want to dance the night away, attend drag bingo, or do not care for the standard buffet and main dining room experience.
With a limited fleet, they are currently sailing to Australia and New Zealand, the Caribbean, and Europe. Despite being seen as a cruise line for guests in their 20s and 30s, the ships have been well received by a much broader age segment. Guests must be 18+ to sail with Virgin. Children are not permitted onboard at all.
Read more: What it's like to sail on Virgin Voyages
What’s included
Different by design, guests on Virgin enjoy a wide selection of complimentary dining among their 20+ venues. The base fare also includes essential drinks, tips, wi-fi, group workouts, and entertainment like you have never seen before.
An important caveat, though, is that Virgin includes essential drinks as part of their cruise fare, and despite what some people think, alcoholic drinks are not considered essential on a Virgin cruise. Guests have to pay extra for their fancy cocktails and brew. Unlike other cruise lines, they do not offer any unlimited drink packages, either.
There is good news! Virgin has been offering some sizeable promotions, like up to $600 credit per cabin toward the bar bill. Although not guaranteed, cruisers who want the adult-only, fun party vibe of Virgin, should watch out for their frequent promotions to make it a more all-inclusive experience.
You will still have to shell out money for a few other things, like shore excursions, spa treatments, and transportation to/from the port. However, Virgin's fares are considerably lower compared to other adults-only cruise lines and attract a younger crowd. You will not find the same kind of late-night entertainment onboard Viking Cruises, that is for sure!
Virgin Voyages is perfect for potential cruisers looking for a more energetic adults-only cruising experience.
Read more: 10 weird things about Virgin Voyages (and why you should sail with them)
Other possible considerations
There are some cruise lines with expansive all-inclusive options that do allow kids onboard.
However, with limited or no services and programming geared toward younger cruisers, coupled with exotic and adventurous itineraries, as well as higher price tags, there will be few, if any, kids onboard. These alternatives may be something to consider for select sailings.
Atlas Ocean Voyages
The cruise line describes itself as an intimate yacht style with a focus on service. Atlas travels to the Artic, Norwegian Fjords, British Isles, Northern Europe and the Mediterranean in ships with 200 or fewer passengers.
With their small ships and focus on adventure and the explorer market, they are not a typical cruise for families, as they lack many of the thrills that kids and teens love.
What’s included: Dining (including specialty restaurants); unlimited wines, beer and cocktails; stocked-in-room mini bar; gratuities; and emergency medical insurance. For those who visit cold weather destinations, such as the Artic, a complimentary parka is provided. Note that wi-fi is limited onboard.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Regent is a luxury-focused cruise line with sailings to 450 worldwide destinations. Owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, they have smaller ships with a maximum capacity of 750 passengers, providing more personalized and attentive service.
While Regent provides one of the best all-inclusive experiences in the industry, they do allow kids and have some kids programming onboard. There may be a few kids, but for what they offer, it may be worth the tradeoff for some cruisers.
Regent is considered among the best for an authentic all-inclusive cruise experience. Their comprehensive benefits entail free drinks that span from wines, to cocktails, and even specialty coffees. Specialty dining, wi-fi, laundry valet service, unlimited shore excursions, gratuities, taxes, and transfers are also covered, along with a pre-cruise night at a hotel.
You will be treated like royalty beginning the moment you step onboard, when you will be personally greeted by the crew and presented with a glass of champagne.
Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
A relatively new entrant in the cruising industry is the famous hotel company, the Ritz Carlton, which is part of the Marriott Group. Their yacht collection offers a comprehensive, luxury cruise experience serving popular cruise destinations such as the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and the Northeast United States and Canada.
Each yacht has a limited number of 149 suites that accommodate 300 guests in a relaxed, casually elegant atmosphere, and include a personal concierge. The cruise line welcomes kids and provides some programming options onboard.
All fares include specialty dining and in-suite dining 24 hours a day, beverages, wi-fi, non-motorized watersports, and gratuities.
Seabourn
Seabourn pampers guests in their all-suite ships with no more than 600 guests. A subsidiary of Carnival, they target guests wanting the ultimate luxury experience. Their ocean facing suites provide guests with incredbile views in exotic locations such as the Amazon, the Arctic, or during a world cruise.
Kids are welcome onboard, but the cruise line offers no specific programming for this age group.
Onboard, passengers will find that their fare is pretty inclusive! Guests have their own suite host and attendant. Plus, all cruise fares include unlimited beverages with premium spirits and wines and a personalized in-suite stocked bar.
When it comes to dining, passengers will enjoy access to all dining venues, with gratuities included. Finally, they offer a basic surf wi-fi package for 1 device per guest, complimentary watersports, and beach BBQs when ashore.
Silversea Cruises
Silversea, a luxury cruise line owned by Royal Caribbean, features ships with under 300 suites serving over 900 destinations worldwide, one of the most extensive offerings in the industry. With their smaller ships, they gain entrance into more unique ports in locations such as the Arctic, Greenland, Antarctica, and the Galapagos.
The cruise line does allow kids over 6 months of age but provides no programming for them. For expedition-style cruises and longer itineraries, it is less common to see kids/ families.
As one would expect from a luxury cruise line, they have a long list of inclusions. Their “door-to-door all-inclusive service” includes a chauffeur picking guests up at their home, airfare (including international travel), as well as pre- and post-cruise hotels and transfers, all of which provide guests with the ultimate inclusive experience.
Onboard, cruisers can expect complimentary gourmet dining, room service, drinks (even a stocked mini-bar), butler service, gratuities, and shore excursions (at least one per port). They do offer different levels of free wi-fi depending on the cabin type.
Explora Journeys
Explora Journeys is an upcoming luxury cruise line from MSC Cruises. Their first ship, Explora I, is set to debut in July 2023 and will be able to carry less than 1,000 guests at double occupancy. They have another five ships planned to set sail in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
According to the cruise line, they hope to take guests to "lesser-traveled harbors to enjoy a more authentic experience and a slower pace of travel." The shortest itineraries are 7-nights and sail to places such as Bozcaasa, Turkey; Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt; Kastellorizo, Greece; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; and the Lofoten Islands of Norway.
These all-inclusive cruises will include an in-suite bottle of champagne, wine, and spirit of choice upon arrival; nine different dining options; unlimited beverages, fine wines, premium spirits, speciality coffees, teas and soft drinks; access to the spa thermal area and fitness programming; gratuities; Wi-Fi; and shuttle services from port to city centre where required and available.
While they recently announced the "Journey Together Gathering" program that is meant to appeal to multigenerational families, the price point and lack of other kid-friendly attractions means that you are less likely to encounter as many families with children as you would on, for instance, Celebrity Cruises. Even so, this programming in dedicated spaces will keep them away from other cruisers!
Chantal McPhee
Chantal McPhee has a great passion for travel since first venturing to the Bahamas as a child with her grandparents. Today, she loves cruising with her husband and two daughters to new places and aspires one day to do a world cruise. Living on the east coast of Canada, she shares cruising tips and information with fellow Canucks seeking a reprieve from the great white north. She also teaches business studies at a university, with a focus on strategy
