Adult-only cruises are a great option for those looking for a child-free and hassle-free holiday. Even for those with children, taking some much-needed alone time is a great way to self-care. And others without children enjoy booking an adult-only cruise as it guarantees a calm, relaxing atmosphere on board.
The popularity of adult cruises has grown in recent years. Google Trends data shows a 66% increase in the search “adult cruise” for the first week of August 2024 compared to 2023, according to Iglu Cruise
With that being said, the team at Iglu Cruise has revealed some of the best cruise lines that currently offer adult-only itineraries, along with starting prices per person.
Virgin Voyages
From £457 pp
Virgin Voyages is renowned for its adults-only getaways, with all its cruise ships catering for adults aged 18 and over. Even if you have children, they believe that everyone deserves some time on their own to relax and enjoy a child-free holiday. Whilst all the cruises are child-free, Virgin Voyages encourages guests to let their “inner child” run free whilst sailing.
They have designed their cruise ships with this in mind, with all their facilities focused on the needs and wants of an adult-only cruise. This includes the Redemption Spa (with a mud room, salt room, sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, and heated marble hammam benches), a state-of-the-art gym, a well-being pool, hot tubs, shows and events, over 20 onboard restaurants and plenty of bars. You’ll also find a two-storey, three-bar nightclub onboard, meaning guests can truly let their hair down.
Virgin Voyages has also stepped away from a traditional cruise ship design with a modern contemporary feel, completed with high-end world-class dining and luxurious interior design throughout the ships. It’s also worth noting that dining, wifi, gratuities, soft drinks (including juices, tea and coffee) are all included in the price of your cruise. There are no drinks packages, however, for alcoholic drinks, passengers can add money to a bar tab in advance.
Sailings range from 3 nights up to 10, with fly and no-fly cruises available. No-fly cruises depart from Southampton and Portsmouth and visit various destinations including Portugal, Spain and Northern Europe.
Ambassador Cruise Line
From £699 pp
Ambassador Cruises is another cruise line that predominantly operates as adults only. They do have a few multi-generational cruises, where children are welcome, during the school holiday period, however, this is limited. Ambassador ships are much smaller than some other cruise lines, meaning adults can enjoy a child-free cruise with the guarantee for a relaxing stay.
The cruise line has a strong focus on quality, and top-notch service, offering a more traditional cruise experience. Their target market is mainly for those aged 50 plus, however, adults of any age are free to enjoy an Ambassador cruise on one of their two ships; Ambience and Ambition.
All Ambassador Cruise Line voyages are no-fly, offering affordable rates whilst sailing from all around the UK, including Liverpool, Bristol, Belfast, Newcastle and more. Many passengers enjoy this benefit as you can skip the airport, making travel much easier. You can travel to locations in France, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Denmark, Ireland and more throughout the year. Guests can enjoy 3-night European mini-breaks or longer stays at 14 nights plus.
Whilst onboard, guests can enjoy a range of facilities including two swimming pools, hot tubs, The Palladium (where you can watch a variety of shows and entertainment), 11 lounges and bars and fine dining restaurants, including speciality restaurants for an extra price.
The price of your fare includes full-board cuisine, entertainment (including shows, quizzes, and deck games), fitness classes, use of the gym, swimming pools and spa access, and all port taxes, fees and charges.
Marella Cruises
From £1500 pp
Whilst Marella Cruise Line isn’t exclusively child-free, one of their ships, Marella Explorer 2, is reserved for adults only. Designed for singles, couples or even groups of friends, this ship has everything you could want for a child-free holiday and it’s perfect for those looking for plenty of activities during their cruise.
With ten bars and nine restaurants onboard, the food and drink is highly regarded as some of the best on the sea. A stand-out is the Indigo Bar and Casino, a three-in-one venue giving guests the choice to relax with a drink from the feature bar, join in on the dance floor, or test their luck on the slot machines or card tables. At the Broadway Show Lounge, you can also watch a range of exciting shows, complete with waiter service.
In terms of facilities, you’ll find a main pool and four whirlpool baths for relaxing in the bubbles. There are many sunbeds located around the ship to soak up the sun or simply watch the world sail by. For golf fans, there is also a mini-golf course located on the ship.
If you’re travelling alone or thinking about taking a solo holiday, a Marella cruise on the Marella Explorer 2 is a great option. Solo travellers are well looked after, with scheduled events bringing everyone together. Solo guests also receive a letter in their cabin from the Social Hostess with information about all of the solo events taking place.
Mediterranean destinations are popular for a Marella Cruise, with ports such as Dubrovnik, Split, Kotor, Corfu, Sicily and Athens found on many itineraries. When booking with Iglu Cruise, flights are also covered in your fare, along with all food, drinks, entertainment, port fees and taxes.
P&O Cruises
From £649
P&O Cruises has two ships which are exclusively adult-only; Aurora and Arcadia. These ships offer itineraries around the world, including Europe, Asia, Australia, North America and more.
The ships offer a fantastic wealth of stunning bars and ambient lounges. Lazing back at Anderson’s in front of the traditional fireplace, you’ll simply melt into the cosy atmosphere of this laid-back bar. Alternatively, if you’re in the mood for celebrating, Charlie’s elegant champagne bar is the place to go, with its sparkling design and glitzy colour.
Carmen’s is the central hub for live entertainment onboard. Here, the show lounge will provide you with countless memories of evening comedy or sophisticated cabaret. After the shows are over, the stage is cleared for a dance floor to dance the rest of the night away. The Curzon Theatre on the Promenade Deck has the feel of a traditional, Shakespearian theatre, yet behind the scenes is all the latest technology bringing the very best West End-style performances you’ve seen.
As guests wander the decks they’ll find the chefs cultivating a huge array of dishes for every craving. From a freshly cooked breakfast on deck at The Orangery, to Café Bordeaux Bistro created by Marco Pierre White, the Aurora has a great array of eateries. In the evenings, the Alexandria and Medina restaurants offer fine dining in exquisite surroundings with sumptuous food.
Sailings start from weekend getaways at three or four nights to round-the-world longer trips, up to 100 nights (if you have a spare £9000), with fly and no-fly cruise options available.
