How and when to cruise kid-free

Cruise lines are offering more options for passengers who need a respite and a kid-free holiday.

From adult-only vessels to private areas just for the oldies, there are many options for passenger these days. We’ve compiled a list of adult-only lines as well as some of the options on ships with children.

We’ve found some handy tips to make sure you can cruise kid-free

Choose a luxury ship

While luxury lines don’t ban children, luxurious high-end companies like Silversea, Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas as well as smaller lines like Oceania Cruises and Windstar are more geared towards adults. During the school holidays, some lines offer children’s programs. The cruises are not overrun with children but the ones you do find onboard, tend to be well behaved and well-travelled.

Try an exotic itinerary

Hardcore adventure and expedition ships and  often don’t have children onboard. Generally, itineraries to the polar regions like the Arctic and Antarctica, as well as through the jungles of Southeast Asia, rarely have children onboard. Like the luxury ships, you might find a few, but they too, generally are rather worldly for their age.

School-term sailings

The easiest way to avoid the kids is to make sure you sail during school terms. You will rarely find children onboard premium cruise lines during this time. It’s unavoidable when you’re sailing on contemporary family vessels from P&O Australia, Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean. But at least the pools may be a bit quieter.

Longer cruises

Most families tend to take shorter and weekend cruises. So one way to avoid children is by picking cruises of 10-nights or longer. If you’re heading to the South Pacific, opt for a longer cruise during the school term. If you’re doing a lengthy repositioning cruise, grand voyage or even a world cruise, you’ll just be hanging with the adults.

VIP areas

If you can’t avoid the school holiday sailings, try booking a suite in the upgraded VIP areas. Lines like Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America and MSC offer guests haven areas which have their own pool, lounge areas, dining room and a private entrance. There are some families which do frequent these areas, but again, it’s most likely they will be on their best behaviour.

Kid-free areas

Now if you can’t afford the VIP treatment, seek refuge in the kids-free area. These safe little havens usually are around a bar and have cabanas and a small pool for the adults to relax. Some areas, like on Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas also has a restaurant/café attached. So you can enjoy your cake and eat it too.

Try a river cruise

Most river cruise lines, while are open to having children onboard, might not attract families because of the range of facilities onboard. The itineraries are also designed more for adults, as river lines have more enrichment and cultural shore excursions.