Adult-only cruises are the ideal option for those looking for a hassle-free, calm, and quiet holiday on the seas. For this feature, Iglu Cruise has hand-picked four companies that can take you out on the seas without the distraction of children.

Over recent years, the popularity of adult cruises has continued to increase. To back this up, Google Trends data research performed by Iglu Cruise shows a 66% increase in the search “adult cruise” for the first week of August 2024 compared to 2023.

In addition to the trends data, Iglu has also provided us with information on cruise lines that currently offer adult-only itineraries and starting prices per person, which can be seen below:

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, and 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 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 of a relaxing stay.

The cruise line strongly focuses on quality and top-notch service, offering a more traditional cruise experience. Its target market is mainly those aged 50 plus; however, adults of any age are free to enjoy an Ambassador cruise on one of its two ships, Ambience or Ambition.

All Ambassador Cruise Line voyages are no-fly, offering affordable rates while sailing from all around the UK, including Liverpool, Bristol, Belfast, Newcastle, and more. Many passengers enjoy this benefit, as they can skip the airport, making travel much easier.

Throughout the year, you can travel to locations in France, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Denmark, Ireland, and more. 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 and 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 are highly regarded as some of the best on the sea. A stand-out is the Indigo Bar and Casino, a three-in-one venue that allows guests 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, the ship has a main pool and four whirlpool baths for relaxing in the bubbles. Many sunbeds are located around the ship, where you can soak up the sun or simply watch the world sail by. For golf fans, there is also a mini-golf course 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, and scheduled events bring everyone together. The Social Hostess also sends solo guests a letter in their cabin 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 included in the fare, along with all food, drinks, entertainment, port fees, and taxes.

P&O Cruises
From £649

P&O Cruises has two ships that 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 Shakespearean theatre, yet behind the scenes, all the latest technology brings you 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.

Photographs of the cruise ships were supplied by Iglu Cruises.