The 8 Best Cruises For Adults In 2021
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- Best Overall: P&O Cruise See Rates“Ideal for cruisers who enjoy ocean cruising on a mid-sized ship, with an array of dining options and several cabin choices.”
- Best Music Festival Cruise: Norwegian Pearl See Rates at Expedia“Offers music festivals at sea a great way to meet like-minded adults.”
- Best for Over 50: Saga See Rates“Entertainment onboard the vessel is more traditional and a hybrid between the river ship model and ocean cruises.”
- Best Cruise Experience: Holland America See Rates at Expedia“Offers a musically-themed cruise voyage that appeals to an older demographic.”
- Best Traditional Cruise: Tauck See Rates “Tauck’s more traditional themed cruises have excursions that are aimed at adults.”
- Best Holiday Cruise: Azamara Club Cruises See Rates at Expedia“Spends New Years Eve at Copacabana Beach in Brazil.”
- Best Modern Cruise: U River Cruises See Rates“Takes hip approach to river cruising, with modern, stylish ships featuring chic rooftop lounges.”
- Best Historical Cruise: Viking Ocean Cruises See Rates“Has excursions geared toward older travelers interested in art, history, and culture.”
Mega Ship Line #: Royal Caribbean International
If you truly want to feel like youre living in a floating city, Royal Caribbean is the cruise line for you, given that it has the four largest cruise ships in the world. Symphony of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, and Oasis of the Seas top the lists in terms of passenger count , length , and gross tonnage . Given their size, these ships provide every amenity you can think ofand plenty you cant even imaginefrom waterparks to world-class musical productions to autonomous bars staffed by robots to double-decker suites with slides for the kids. Youll find these behemoths sailing the Caribbean and Mediterranean throughout the year, but with so many activities on board, you might not even want to leave the ship.
Cruises For Single Adults
Cruises are a fun way for singles to meet.
Cruise vacations are often identified with newlyweds and couples wishing to rekindle romance, but cruises are gaining popularity with singles and solo travelers. Whether your goal is to meet a significant other or just to have a good time and socialize with new friends, a singles cruise is an adventurous alternative to the after-hours bar scene.
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Go Your Own Way: The Best Cruise Lines For Solo Travellers
Jeannine Williamson
Tuesday May 18 2021, 09:54am
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Medium Ship Line #1: Msc Cruises
Showing up for the third time on our list, MSC Cruises is clearly beloved by many! The Swiss cruise line has just four medium-size shipsthe Lirica classwhich accommodate between 2,000 and 2,600 passengers. Theyre also the oldest ships in the fleet, though they each underwent refurbishment as part of MSCs Renaissance program to modernize interiors and expand their size. The line is known for its Mediterranean inspirationthough its fleet sails far beyond the region, calling at ports all over the worldso youll find delicious Italian food on board no matter where your ship is taking you. MSC sailings are quite lively, especially at night, with many guests partying at nightclubs into the late hours.
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Small Ship Line #: Metropolitan Touring
Operating three expedition vessels in the Galápagos, Metropolitan Touring is the ideal cruise line for those seeking a casual experience in the wildlife hotspot. The tiny ships, which only accommodate between 40 and 78 passengers, have a laid-back atmosphere where the focus is very much on wildlife spotting. The company also offers land-based tours in mainland Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia that can be combined with a Galápagos expedition.
Best Transatlantic Crossing: Cunard
- Ship Name: Queen Mary 2
- Itinerary: New York, NY
Cunard specializes in luxury cruises across the Atlantic on the regal ocean liner, Queen Mary 2, a bucket list voyage for every cruise enthusiast. The 2,691-passenger ship has lovely single staterooms with large picture windows, a desk and vanity, and tasteful, modern décor. Like single cabins on other vessels, these rooms sell out quickly so book early. Queen Mary 2 has some unique activities like the planetarium at sea, lavish gala nights where guests don their finest evening attire, and the companys signature white-glove afternoon tea. The vessel is also known for outstanding cuisine both in the Britannia main dining room and in specialty restaurants like the Verandah steakhouse or the King’s Court which features a different type of cuisine every evening.;
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Exotic Cruises On Bigger Ships
Fred. Olsen offers an imaginative range of fly-cruise holidays in winter, visiting anywhere from Australia to India or the Caribbean. Plenty of lines offer three-month world voyages, too. Cunard’s annual world cruises are lavish affairs, rich with tradition and ideally suited to mature cruisers who enjoy a formal dress code, ballroom dancing and an impressive enrichment programme set against a backdrop of far-flung ports.
P&O Cruises also has world cruises aimed at a British audience, with familiar touches, not least an understanding of what constitutes a good curry or a proper cup of tea. There are British officers and entertainment onboard, British gins and beers in the bars, and food geared to British tastes.
Sex And Swingers Cruises: What You Need To Know
Swinging, or the practice where partners in a committed relationship engage in sexual activity with other people, takes place everywhere from sex clubs to private parties. More recently, “the lifestyle” has taken to the high seas on a variety of sexy cruises.
An adult-themed cruise can be a veritable sexual playground where anything goes. If you want to hook up, the odds are in your favor, as plenty of participants are ready to help you fulfill your fantasies, be they mild or wild.
Here are the basics you need to know before booking a swingers’ cruise.
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Best Cruise For Seeing Wildlife
UnCruise AdventuresPrices start at:Where it goes:
What makes it awesome? Small ships and yachts that carry just 22 to 88 passengers mean that you can get up close and personal with the wildlife you seek. Fewer ports of call mean that you have time and freedom to explore. Spend your days hiking, kayaking, bushwhacking, and exploring by skiff. Snorkel with turtles in Hawaii. Watch humpback whales from your kayak in Alaska. See gray whales and calves in Baja. Even better, the Costa Rica and Panama itineraries just got extended, so youve got more time to explore two beautiful countries and one heck of a canal. Basically, if you want an adventurous, nature-filled vacation, this is your cruise.
Book Shore Excursions Through The Cruise Line
Anchorage, Alaska
Shore excursions highlight the best parts of a destination and provide unforgettable experiences. Bond with fellow passengers by exploring the port together. Youll have the chance to run into them again on the ship for more fun and conversation.
When you book a shore excursion, you know youll be spending your day surrounded by other travelers on your ship. Most ports have multiple ships calling at them each day, so its better to spend the day making new friends with people who will board your ship at the end of the day.
Alaska
Choose an excursion that features a hands-on activity. This gets people out of their element and provides easy conversation starters. Chatting with others while hiking through a rainforest or waiting on a zip-lining platform can lead to fun conversations.
If you go on a sightseeing shore excursion on a bus, try to sit up near the front so youre close to the guide. Theyll usually be open to conversations and are a wealth of knowledge on the destination youre visiting.
You can ask questions and also learn about what its like to live there. Its a way to have some socialization throughout your solo cruise day in port while also learning more about the city or town youre visiting.
Galapagos
The best part? All the details are taken care of for you. Youll be conveniently guided right to your shore excursion transportation from the ship. Youre guaranteed to be back to the ship in time before it leaves for the next port.
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Best For Over : Saga Cruises
Courtesy of Saga Cruises
- Ship Name: Spirit of Discovery
- Itinerary: Aalborg, Denmark; Aarhus, Denmark; Gothenburg, Sweden; Oslo, Norway; Esbjerg, Denmark; Southampton, England
The U.K.-based cruise line, Saga, offers ocean cruising on smaller ships for the over 50 crowd and its newest ship, Spirit of Discovery, will debut more than 100 cabins dedicated to solo travelers. All single’s cabins have balconies and average 245 feet of space, and theres even single’s suites for more space. The company offers door-to-door pick-up service to transfer guests to the ship followed by a sail away cocktail party. The ship focuses on boutique luxury cruising, and the intimate atmosphere makes it easy to create comradery with other guests. Even more, theres a singles mingle drink hour, singles lunch and singles meet-ups for cultural shore excursions like Scandinavian jewelry and art workshops.;
Mostly Adult Only Cruises With Adult Amenities
In addition to the top adult-only cruise lines above, there are several others that also cater mainly to adults. Although theyre technically not 100% adults only, they do make for a great choice if youre looking for a more sophisticated and grown-up atmosphere. When you book a cruise with the following cruise lines, you wont find many kids on board .
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Expectation: Sharing A Room With Other Solo Cruisers Will Ruin My Cruise
Reality: While there are some great ships that offer solo staterooms such as Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean, on most singles-specific cruises you wont get the opportunity to have solo cabins and instead will have to share a room with double occupancy.
This is how most tours and cruises work for singles as the tour operator will book out a large section of the ship. The tour companies will pair you up with someone of the same sex though and its a great way to meet a new friend.
Youll actually be in your room for very little of your awake time anyway, which make it very unlikely to be an issue. Instead of ruining your cruise, you are much more likely to have an amazing time with someone who will make your cruise even more special.
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Medium Ship Line #: Crystal Cruises
While many cruises are notorious for charging guests for alcohol and specialty dining options, Crystal practices a generally all-inclusive fare structure covering all drinks , one specialty dining reservation per passenger , 24-hour room service, and a Wi-Fi package. The line has just two ocean-going vessels, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, which both have capacities of fewer than 1,000 passengers and sail global itineraries.
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Large Ship Line #: Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Lines is all about good family fun at a pretty affordable price point. The largest cruise line in the world in terms of number of annual passengers as well as fleet count, it has 24 ships that sail North America and Europe, with about half of them having a capacity between 2,500 and 3,900 guests. Carnival is known for its fun upper decks that are akin to an amusement park at sea, between water slides, ropes courses, mini-golf, and attractions like SkyRide, where guests pedal a hanging vehicle around a suspended track.;
The Best Cruise Destinations For Singles
The next thing to think about is the destination. Youll probably want to pick somewhere warm, as the combination of sunshine and swimwear will set you off on the right path.
If youre in the US, then a cruise from Florida to the Bahamas is a great option. These short cruises tend to include a day at a private island where you can spend the day at the beach with people from the ship.
If you live in the UK, then a short cruise with an overnight stop in Amsterdam would be a great option for people who like to have a good time. Consider booking an excursion with the cruise line as a way to get to know your fellow passengers better.
Shorter sailings, particularly weekend cruises tend to attract more groups of friends and solo travellers. On a longer cruise, youre likely to find more couples and families.
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What Are The Best Cruises For Solo Travelers
The best cruises for solo travelers depend on the experiences you most want out of a vacation.
Are you a thrill-seeker looking to cross items off your bucket list? Want to see the capital cities of Europe without hotel-hopping and planning all your own accommodations and train travel? Are you more interested in hiking or history?
Weve crafted different itineraries for travelers of all kinds, from introverts who prefer fewer social activities to extroverts who thrive on meeting new people.
Craving time in the sun against the backdrop of white sand beaches and crystalline waters? Consider a 7- or 10-night Caribbean cruise, where snorkeling and diving shore excursions are bound to introduce you to people with similar interests and a sense of adventure.
Some of the best cruise destinations for history buffs are located in the Mediterranean, where you can tour thousand-year-old churches in Italy or see the ancient ruins of Greece up close.
There is no shortage of options for cruisers who are traveling solo.
Expectation: I Wont Find Anything In Common With Other Single Cruisers
Reality: Even if you are going to be on a large cruise ship, if you are going on a singles cruise adventure then you are only going to be with a finite amount of people and you might think that your opportunities to find like-minded people are going to be slim.
In reality, you are going to be on a cruise ship with others who decided to go on the same vacation, you already have a lot in common with everyone youre going to be with on the ship. You will soon find that you have plenty of other things in common with your fellow passengers too.
That doesnt mean, of course, that you are definitely going to fall in love and live happily ever after, but it does mean that you are going to be able to have a great time, meet great people and have a very enjoyable time while you are out there on the ship.
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Is A Sex Cruise The Same As A Nude Cruise
There’s a difference between clothing-optional cruises and those geared toward swingers. Nude cruises are rarely marketed strictly as a sex or swingers cruise. With nudism, there is less of an emphasis on the sexual aspect of baring it all. Instead, it’s more of a means for people to interact in a less pressured, more natural level.
In the case of nude cruises, a third-party operator — a company like Bare Necessities or Castaways Travel — will buy out the whole ship and sell cabins to clients interested in exploring the lifestyle.
The Best Cruise Lines For Singles
Firstly, youll want to choose a cruise line that has other passengers in your age group. If youre under 30 or 40, then youll want to consider the following cruise lines which attract a younger crowd:
- Carnival
- Royal Caribbean
- Celebrity Cruises
If youre looking for a fun adults-only cruise, then I would highly recommend Virgin Voyages. Richard Bransons new cruise line is unlike any other and the first ship, Scarlet Lady, is the ideal place for younger singles to meet and have fun.
Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line both offer singles mixers events. These can be a great place for single parents to get together at set times while their children are in the care of the kids club.
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Things You Need To Consider:
Before you even start scouting for the best cruise packages, here are a few questions you need to ask yourself first to help you narrow down your choices:
How many days do you intend travel? Are you traveling solo, with a partner, family, or with a group? What are you looking forward to achieve from this trip? Do you have any mobility issues? Any health conditions that need to special assistance? How much is your budget?
You see, different ships offer different amenities, different services, and different facilities. Some cruise lines dont offer the utmost convenience to passengers with disabilities, even;though;they have complied with ADA . Yet, some cruise lines go as far as featuring hydraulic pool chairs in their pools as well as providing wheelchair accessibility. Some ships cater to multi-generation families while others are designed to exclusively accommodate adults.