Medium Ship Line #1: Marella Cruises
U.K.based cruise line Marella, which is operated by TUI UK, has a fleet of six ships that hold between 1,100 and 2,000 passengers, sailing itineraries around Europe, the Middle East, North America, and the Caribbean, with some special journeys to Asia. The sailings are billed as all-inclusive, and they do include alcoholic beverages and tips, but some of the specialty restaurants cost an extra fee.
Medium Ship Line #1: Norwegian Cruise Line
Until it launched Norwegian Epic in 2010, then the Breakaway and Breakaway-plus classes in 2013 and 2015, respectively, Norwegian primarily focused on mid-sized ships that carry around 2,000 passengerswhich still make up the majority of the fleet. A colorful atmosphere pervades the ships, as guests enjoy everything from water slides to silly pool contests like synchronized swimming to everyones favorite: bingo night. Norwegians ships have itineraries all over the world, with many focusing on North America.
Our Top 5 Picks For Best Senior Cruises:
1. Azamara Club Cruises
Azamara Club Cruises is a subsidiary of the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Whats interesting is that although this cruise line offers luxury service, they try to keep it low profile and avoid the designation of such. Nevertheless, many of their guests commend the cruise line for its upscale service and amenities they provide. These services are inclusive in the fare. Among its many accolades, Azamara has been ranked #4 by Condé Nast Traveller in the Top 10 midsize ship lines which was featured in Readers Choice Awards 2014. It was also nominated #2 in Worlds Best Awards by Travel + Leisure.
The Fleet
Azamara Club Cruises takes pride in two ships, Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest, are large enough to offer high-end amenities and services while small enough to be able to enter places larger ships would have to avoid. Azamara cruises are known for spending extra time in port along with a handsome number of overnight stays for guests to explore the area.
Each ship can accommodate around 686 guests, most which are an older crowd.
The Experience
The Destinations
- Enrichment programs and classes
- Accommodates special dietary needs
- Complimentary onshore events to experience local culture
Other Unique Offerings
The Cost
- Senior citizen discounts on select sailings
Upcoming cruises:
- Explorers Lounge
Other Unique Offerings
Awards
Best Dining Experience, Master Chefs Table2014 Porthole Cruise Magazine Editor-in-Chief Award
In one wordWorldclass.
The Fleet
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Best Cruise Lines For Couples Including Top Adults
A guide to the best cruise lines for couples after a romantic break including adults-only cruise ships not to miss
- 17:11, 10 Apr 2019
Cruise holidays can be ideal for a romantic break.
Think elegant cabins, luxurious spas, fine dining restaurants, heaps of activities and, of course, the chance to go exploring plenty of new destinations.
After all, with hotspots from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean on offer, it’s an easy way to have an adventure without the stress of organising every part of your trip.
But like any romantic holiday, there is some planning involved, especially when it comes to picking the right cruise lines for a couple’s holiday.
Luckily, we’ve done the leg work for you and searched out the top cruise lines for couples including those that offer adults-only sailings.
Check out our round-up below…
Looking for more inspiration? Mirror Cruise has deals on Honeymoon Cruises from £699pp .
Small Ship Line #1: Hapag
German company Hapag-Lloyd is not just in the shipping business: its building a luxury expedition cruise empire, too. Though it currently only has two ships in its fleet, the MS Europa and MS Europa 2, the line has impressed its customers with suite-style cabins, impressive itineraries across all seven continents, and extremely polished service thats anything but stuffy. Hapag-Lloyds budding empire will expand with three new expedition ships scheduled to launch in 2021.
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Italy France Monaco And Spain Cruise
Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy
One of the best cruises for couples is a European jaunt around Italy, France, Monaco, and Spain. Start off this seven-night journey in Civitavecchia, a port city located just thirty minutes away from Rome.
Walk hand in hand as you visit historical landmarks including the Pantheon, the Colosseum, and the Sistine Chapel inside St. Peters Basilica in the Vatican. During an intimate lunch for two, feast on pasta, pizza, and a glass of vino before strolling towards the Trevi Fountain, where you can both throw in a penny and make a wish.
In the city of Naples, stay and explore the many archeological sites and historic city center, or board a ferry and head off towards Capri, a dreamy island once favored by Roman emperors. Shop designer items in the town square, enjoy a seaside lunch, and sneak in a kiss inside the famous Blue Grotto, where the suns reflection creates a magical azure glow in the water underneath.
Capri, Italy
After sailing for a day, youll dock in La Spezia, a Tuscan port city located near Florence, Pisa, and Cinque Terre, a picturesque collection of five seaside fishing villages.
Art lovers might decide to head to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance movement, and the home of Davids Michelangelo and masterpieces by Da Vinci, Botticelli, and more inside the Uffizi Gallery.
Florence, Italy
Luxurious yachts in Monaco
Promenade de la Croisette in Cannes, France
Cathedral of Barcelona, Spain
Can I Spend The Day At The Spa
Spa treatments always cost extra, so if you’re planning to escape the kids by retreating for a day full of massages, facials and body scrubs, be prepared to give your onboard account a workout. You can often get discounts on spa treatments if you have one on the first day or on port days when most passengers are ashore and spa staff struggle to fill their appointment books.
Spas are usually located near cruise ship fitness facilities, which also carry age restrictions. Some spas offer access to thermal suites and thalassotherapy pools free of charge when you book a treatment or with day passes for an additional charge these are also kid-free and the best way to spend a day at the spa, especially when combined with a treatment.
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Large Ship Line #: Holland America Line
As its name indicates, Holland America is a cruise line that was established in 1873 to primarily ferry passengers, many of whom were emigrants, between the Netherlands and the United States. Of course, these days, the cruise line sails more broadly to more than 470 ports around the world on its 11 shipsand its highly regarded for its Alaska itineraries. While passengers can enjoy classic cruise activities like swimming, sports, and gambling, Holland America is particularly noted for its culinary and musical programs: it has a partnership with the TV show Americas Test Kitchen for cooking demonstrations, cooking classes, and a number of live music venues , and stage productions dedicated to the history of music on many of its ships. It also partners with O, The Oprah Magazine, on lifestyle programming, like daily meditation classes. The next addition to Holland Americas fleet will be the Rotterdam, which is due to set sail in 2021, with a capacity of 2,650 passengers.
Large Ship #1: Costa Cruises
Italian cruise line Costa Cruises, which operates under parent company Carnival, has quite a history: It was founded in 1854 as a cargo shipping company, transporting olive oil and textiles around the world. Transferring to the leisure cruise side of the business in 1959, Costa now operates 17 shipsthe majority of which accommodate between 2,800 and 5,300 passengersthat sail all over the world, with two more scheduled to join the fleet by the end of 2021.
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Small Ship Line #1: Silversea Cruises
Silversea’s five expedition ships stop in the Caribbean, the South Pacific, Europe, Africa, the Galápagos, and Antarctica on shorter duration sailings, but they also offer around-the-world itineraries for an international clientele. Off-the-beaten-path excursions make for once-in-a-lifetime experiences, like penguin spotting in Antarctica or private catamaran tours in tropical locales. In September 2019, Silversea completed its first journey through the Northwest Passagea monumental featwith the Silver Explorer, a 144-passenger expedition vessel. The fleet was joined by the new Silver Origin, a Galapagos-specific ship, in 2020.
Large Ship Line #: Princess Cruises
Part of the Carnival family, Princess Cruises has a fun claim to famethe TV show The Love Boat was set on its Pacific Princess ship. If youve never seen an episode, youre in luck, as one of the onboard TV channels airs reruns around the clock. But you wont want to stay cooped up in your stateroom when you discover all the activities on board its 17 ships, from its special Seawitch craft beer program that sees the cruise line partner with breweries around the world to Discovery at SEA, a series of programs based on TV shows from the Discovery, Inc. family of networks, including Animal Planet, the Discovery Channel, and the Science Channel. In October 2019, Princess Cruises newest ship, the Sky Princess, set sail, debuting a new class of stateroom called Sky Suites, which is the lines most luxurious offering. Its next two ships, Enchanted Princess and Discovery Princess, are scheduled to launch by the end of 2021.
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Best Cruise Lines For Adults
One of the best things about cruising is that there are almost as many different types of experiences to be had as there are ships on which to have them.
While cruising is incredibly popular as a family vacation, an increasing number of adults are opting to leave the rest of the clan behind and enjoy a vacation on their own.
Fruity drinks? Check. Gambling money? Check. Family trips are all well and good, but getting away with your fellow adults is downright sweet.
Viking River Cruises And Viking Ocean Cruises
Vikings ocean ships debuted as kid-free ships, and the line recently changed their river cruise ships to reflect the same you wont find anyone under 18 when sailing with Viking.
Best Ship: In Europe, go with one of the line’s modern, 180-passenger longships, which have balcony cabins and outdoor dining options. The Viking Longship Forseti takes passengers to the vineyards and chateaux of Bordeaux, France, from March through December.
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River Ship Line #: Tauck
Taucks nine river ships specialize in navigating Northern Europe, with itineraries that highlight the castles of Germanys Rhine River or explore Paris and Monets gardens at Giverny on a Seine cruise. Special departures throughout the year welcome multigenerational family groups, including young childrena unique offering among river cruise lines.
Medium Ship Line #: Oceania Cruises
Its all about the food on Oceania Cruises. Its 1,250-passenger MS Marina and MS Riviera offer restaurants by Jaques Pepin, a six-course Dom Perignon dinner with a pairing of three vintages, a cooking center where passengers of all cooking skill levels can take classes, and culinary-themed excursions, like a visit to the market in Nice with a chef. Its four smaller Regatta-class ships also have excellent dining options, like the Polo Grill and the Italian eatery Toscana. Two new 1,200-passenger ships are on the way for Oceania, set for delivery in 2022 and 2025.
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River Ship Line #: Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Uniworld’s 17 ships cruise around the globe in Europe, Egypt, Russia, China, India, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Their excursions offer passengers the opportunity to get a little closer to their destinations of choice, with visits to local homes, farms, and artisans, and every excursion is rated by ability level. In 2018, two of its ships were overhauled for a new venture, U River Cruises, with itineraries, dining, and activities that appeal to younger prospective passengersthink silent disco, mixology classes, and rooftop camping.
Medium Ship Line #: Regent Seven Seas Cruises
As far as all-inclusive cruises go, Regent Seven Seas is the real deal. Everything from specialty excursions to meals and alcohol to airfare is included in the rates. Even the mini-bar is free! The only things youll have to pay for are spa treatments, laundry, and the casino. The cruise lines five ships each carry 750 passengers or fewer, but the ships are actually quite large, offering each guest plenty of personal space, especially in their cabins. Regent Seven Seas specializes in round-the-world itineraries.
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River Ship Line #: Crystal River Cruises
Crystal River Cruises launched in 2016 with custom-built river ships. The company is dead-set on matching the top-of-the-line service of its ocean ships in this offeringand it’s certainly got readers convinced. The fleet has five river shipsfour of which, Crystal Bach, Mahler, Debussy, and Ravel, are Europes only all-suite, all-balcony river shipssailing the Moselle, Rhine, Danube, and Main rivers. Guests enjoy an all-inclusive experience, with free butler service, unlimited drinks , WiFi, and fitness classes.
Do Cruise Ships Have Adults
Adults-only restaurants are hard to come by, but they do exist. Typically, they cost extra, too. Disney, for example, has two adults-only dining venues, Remy and Palo.
An easy — and free — way to avoid children at dinner in regular restaurants is to book the late seating or, if you choose the flexible dining option, to show up at a later time.
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Viking Ocean And River Cruises
Both of Vikings deluxe brands ocean and river cruises have a strict policy that guests must be 18 and above to sail. The company said the policy fits in with the lines focus on cultural enrichment ashore and onboard the ship.
Previously, we had allowed a degree of flexibility in the minimum age for travel, but increasingly our guests have told us how much they appreciate an environment where they can travel without children, Viking senior vice president of marketing Richard Marnell said.
The lines ocean and river ships are all identical, so returning guests feel a sense of comfort and familiarity. The ocean ships are Scandinavian in their design, so the ships have light filled rooms, with clean, white and cream coloured decor. There is a Nordic-inspired spa as well as a special snow room a pioneering first. All suites have veranda balconies, and wine and beer are included in the price of the cruise. But aside from no children, youll also find no umbrellas in your cocktails, as well as a ban on formal nights and casinos. Its a smart move that differentiates the line from any other cruise company.
Best Cruise Line For Romance
Adults looking for a romantic getaway can do worse than setting sail with Princess Cruises. In fact, the line has an entire section of its website dedicated to travelers looking for romance.
So what makes Princess a winner for couples looking to enjoy each other? First, there is more of a focus on romance than with other cruise lines. For example, if youre looking for fun and romantic, theres the Love Boat Disco Deck Party. For others, there are cooking demonstrations and wine-tastings. Heck, there are even ballroom dancing classes if you want to practice for elegant night.
And while there are places to get married on pretty much any cruise ship, Princess also has anniversary, engagement and honeymoon packages available.
Furthermore, the more sophisticated atmosphere of Princess ships mean that fewer families set sail on the line.
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The Cruise For Adults
Weve all heard of country music cruises, jazz cruises, and nude cruises but how about an adult entertainment cruise? Its a huge market with a large following and surely will be a cruise to remember!
The voyage will be run by Temptation and Brilliance of the Seas from Royal Caribbean will be chartered. This means it wont be a cruise operated by the cruise line with the adults-only theme taking over. However, guests will still be able to enjoy all the great onboard features along with dining venues, stores, and more.
Rodrigo de la Peña, CEO of Original Group, Temptations parent company and the leading Mexican expert of adult hospitality, said:
Were thrilled to bring the Temptation concept to life via this exclusive nautical experience, taking most exhilarating and fabulous aspects of the brand and adding them into the mix of this overseas adventure,
Between the curated events led by our Play Makers and the debut of our new Red Room as the ultimate naughty twist to the cruise itinerary, this will be the most alluring cruise for couples and singles.
The cruise will depart Tampa, Florida on February 13, 2020, and includes calls at Cozumel, Mexico and George Town, Grand Cayman. The cruise will be for those only aged 21 years and above, for obvious reasons. Rates will start at $711 per person and will include a deluxe beverage package.
Best Modern Cruise: U River Cruises
Courtesy of U by Uniworld
- Ship Name: The A
- Itinerary: Haarlem, Netherlands Düsseldorf, Germany Cologne, Germany Koblenz, Germany Rüdesheim Germany Frankfurt Germany
Geared towards millennials, U River Cruises takes a hip approach to river cruising, with modern, stylish ships featuring chic rooftop lounges with ice bars and fabulous, trend-setting dining venues. Theres also yoga, paint and wine classes, and themed cruises that bring special guests onboard, ranging from celebrity drag queens to famous tattoo artists. On the 120-pasenger A ship, cabins include adjustable mood lighting, USB ports, built-in Bluetooth speakers, and luxurious baths with heated mirrors and plush bathrobes. Plus, theres dedicated rooms for solo travelers or groups of three. On the Rolling on the Rhine cruise, the ship stays late in port, with night excursions in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and others included in the fare.
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