Some cruise lines don’t take children at all, and others have adults-only ships or a calm, grown-up atmosphere by design. Whether you want a lively, playful adults-only ship or a peaceful, cultured voyage, there’s a line for you.
Here are the best adults-only and grown-up cruise lines we sell.
You’ll find on this page
- A comparison table of every cruise line in this guide
- Strictly adults-only
- Grown-up by design
- Answers to the questions we’re asked most
- How to book or get expert advice at the end of the page
At a glance: compare the cruise lines
| Cruise line | Style | Fleet | Best for | Included highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Voyages | Premium ocean | 4 Lady ships | A lively grown-up holiday | WiFi, All dining, Soft drinks |
| Viking | River and ocean | 15 Ocean ships | Culture and calm | Wi-Fi, Excursion in every port, Beer & wine at lunch and dinner |
| Saga Cruises | River and ocean | 7 Ships — 2 ocean + 4 river | Over-50s | Chauffeur from home, Travel insurance, All drinks |
| P&O Cruises | Mainstream ocean | 7 Ships in the fleet | No-fly adults-only | Main dining, Sterling onboard, Reef kids’ clubs |
| Fred Olsen Cruise Lines | Mainstream ocean | 3 Smaller ships in the fleet | Regional UK departures | All gratuities, Main dining, 24-hour room service |
| SeaDream Yacht Club | Luxury ocean | 2 Twin yachts | Intimate luxury | All dining, All drinks, Marina watersports |
| Azamara Cruises | Premium ocean | 4 R-class sister ships in the fleet | Destination immersion | AzAmazing Evening, House drinks, Gratuities |
| Cunard | Premium ocean | 4 Queens in the fleet | Classic elegance | Britannia dining, Afternoon tea, Theatre & shows |
Fleet sizes and inclusions are from each line’s own information and can change; inclusions often depend on the fare you book.
Quick verdicts
Strictly adults-only
Virgin Voyages
- Premium ocean
- 4 Lady ships
Adults-only (18+) with no buffets and no formal nights, more than 20 eateries included, Wi-Fi and soft drinks included, and a playful, social atmosphere.
Best for: A lively grown-up holiday
Viking
- River and ocean
- 15 Ocean ships
Every ocean and river ship is 18+, with no casinos, no kids’ clubs and a calm, conversation-led atmosphere, plus an excursion in every port.
Best for: Culture and calm
Saga Cruises
- River and ocean
- 7 Ships — 2 ocean + 4 river
For over-50s (with companions from 40), with a chauffeur from home and drinks, gratuities, Wi-Fi and insurance included.
Best for: Over-50s
Grown-up by design
P&O Cruises
- Mainstream ocean
- 7 Ships in the fleet
Britain’s biggest line runs dedicated adults-only ships alongside its family ships, all sailing from Southampton.
Best for: No-fly adults-only
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines
- Mainstream ocean
- 3 Smaller ships in the fleet
- 900 To 1,400 guests max
Smaller ships of 900 to 1,400 guests from four regional UK ports, including the adults-only Borealis, with gratuities included.
Best for: Regional UK departures
SeaDream Yacht Club
- Luxury ocean
- 2 Twin yachts
- 112 Max guests
Two 112-guest yachts with a kid-free, casual-elegant feel, watersports from the marina and all drinks included.
Best for: Intimate luxury
Azamara Cruises
- Premium ocean
- 4 R-class sister ships in the fleet
- 702 Guests per ship — small-ship scale
Small 702-guest ships with longer days in port, overnight stays and an included cultural evening, designed for grown-up travellers.
Best for: Destination immersion
Cunard
- Premium ocean
- 4 Queens in the fleet
Four grand ocean liners, with formal evenings, afternoon tea and transatlantic crossings on Queen Mary 2.
Best for: Classic elegance
Adults-only or just grown-up?
Adults-only lines (Virgin Voyages and Viking) don’t accept guests under 18 at all, and Saga is for over-50s. Grown-up lines take children but have few or no facilities for them, so very few families sail. P&O Cruises and Fred Olsen run specific adults-only ships. Many big family lines also have adults-only areas such as solariums and sun decks.
How we chose these cruise lines
We compared lines with adults-only policies, adults-only ships or a grown-up atmosphere by design. We sell more than 60 cruise lines, from big family ships to tiny expedition vessels, so these recommendations are based on what each line actually offers: ship size, what’s included in the fare, who it suits and who it doesn’t. Fares, inclusions and ships change, so always check the details for your sailing, or ask a Travel Designer to compare them for you.
Frequently asked questions
Which cruise lines are adults-only?
Virgin Voyages and Viking are 18+; Saga is for over-50s; P&O Cruises and Fred Olsen have adults-only ships.
Is Virgin Voyages really adults-only?
Yes, all four Virgin ships are 18+.
Which adults-only cruises sail from the UK?
P&O Cruises’ adults-only ships from Southampton, Fred Olsen’s Borealis from regional UK ports, and Saga.
Do luxury cruise lines allow children?
Most do, but they have little for children, so the atmosphere is grown-up.
Find your cruise
Browse every cruise line we sell, or ask a Travel Designer to compare ships, cabins and itineraries for you.
Keep planning
Updated October 2026. Cruises can be booked through Travelisto, with flights and hotels added where you need them.
