No, Carnival won't offer adult-only cruises

Carnival's series of adult-only cruises has been a hit. Unfortunately, cruisers shouldn't expect a shift in the cruise line's target demographic. 

John Heald, Carnival's Brand Ambassador, confirmed via Facebook that the cruise line's target audience will always be families. 

"[W]e are and always will be a proud family cruise line and I don’t ever want you to think that this is changing," he wrote when responding to a query about whether they'd offer more options for cruisers without children. 

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Carnival has always focused on family-friendly fun, from the exclusive Camp Ocean programming to top deck thrills, including water slides, ropes courses, roller coasters, mini-golf, and more. 

Still, Heald acknowledged the popularity of Carnival's adult-only cruises, admitting that many are sold out:

"We have 2026 [adults-only sailings] from Port Canaveral, Miami and Galveston...Most are sold out and if any more cabins become available I will let you all know..."

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One reason Carnival's adult-only cruises are so popular is that they offer a completely different atmosphere compared to the typical family sailing — without sacrificing the FUN. 

A lot of adult fun can be had on normal sailings, from raunchy comedy shows to late-night parties in the nightclub. 

However, during the day, the atmosphere on regular sailings can be hectic, with kids splashing in the pools. 

Read more: Best Carnival ships for kids

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Not only that, but children aren't always on their best behavior. It's not uncommon to hear loud groups of teenagers in the stairwells or running through the hallways. 

As such, Carnival's adult-only sailings give those sans kids an opportunity to enjoy everything they love about a Carnival cruise — minus the family aspect. 

"I would like for a [chance] to cruise without having to endure other people’s children," one cruiser wrote to Heald. 

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"Just because one would like and enjoy an [adults-only] cruise does not mean one is anti-children. I love kids, but I also love the idea of being able to get in the hot tub without it being overcrowded with kids or getting in the pool without getting bonked in the head with a ball, or enjoying time in the sun without the [blood-curdling] squealing,... etc. etc.," another added in the comments. 

Virgin Voyages is the only mainstream adults-only cruise line

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Although lines like Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Viking Ocean Cruises exclusively cater to adults, they’re also positioned in the luxury market. As such, the onboard experience is typically more refined than what the average cruiser is used to. Not only that, but they're more expensive than traditional, family-friendly cruise lines. 

Enter Virgin Voyages. Virgin Voyages is a relatively new player in the cruise industry. However, the line has quickly made a name for itself and earned a solid fan base. From the get-go, Virgin only allowed adults aged 18 and older on board, setting itself apart from nearly every major cruise line. 

This adults-only approach has allowed Virgin Voyages to offer a cruise experience tailored to mature travelers — think late-night bingo hosted by a drag queen, scandalous parties, a tattoo parlor, and more. 

Read more: 5 things I liked and 3 I hated about my adult-only cruise on Virgin Voyages

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That said, the experience is not for everyone. Those who love ships filled from bow to stern with endless activities might find Virgin's fleet a little boring. There are no water slides or mini-golf courses. In fact, there's just one main pool! 

Still, Virgin Voyages has proven that there’s strong demand for adults-only cruises, something Carnival has clearly picked up on through the popularity of its limited series of adult-only sailings. 

"I think we have perhaps stumbled across a secret and discovered that not all family cruises have to feature the whole family and those choosing these [adult-only] cruises seem very happy to know this," Heald concluded.