Are you planning to book a cruise vacation but worried about being unable to relax? Are you concerned that instead of enjoying the pool, you’ll be frustrated by the booze cruise party atmosphere? Or do you want a cruise vacation without being surrounded by boisterous kids? Here are some helpful tips for a relaxing cruise vacation away from the party crowd and kids.
Timing is Key
The time when you go on cruises is key if you’re trying to avoid kids. First, make sure you go on a cruise when it’s not during the school holidays. Don’t go on cruises during the peak summer vacation months, spring break, and Christmas. These times are when cruises are most crowded with families and kids.
Book a cruise during non-school holiday months, there will be fewer kids onboard. Fall is a great time to go on a cruise because you’ll avoid the kids, the weather will still be nice, and cruise fares will be less expensive.
Ships without Fun Amenities
When choosing your cruise, it’s important to do a little research on the onboard amenities. Nowadays, many cruise lines are building mega-ships with a plethora of attractions to appeal to a younger demographic. These fun features are typically geared toward families with kids and teens, as well as young adults. These onboard attractions include water slides, splash pads, go-karts, bumper cars, laser tags, ice skating, roller coasters, zip lines, and more. If you prefer a more relaxing vacation experience, sail on a cruise ship that offers just the essentials.
Instead of elaborate water slides, book the cruise with just the basic pools and hot tubs, and in place of thrilling rides like indoor skydiving or roller coasters, find a cruise that only has a jogging track. By choosing a cruise with less attractions, you’re likely to encounter fewer families with kids on board.
Longer Cruises
Another way to avoid kids on cruises is to go on longer cruises. Cruises lasting more than 7 days, even during the busiest summer months, tend to be less crowded with families than shorter cruises. This is because many families can’t take extended time off work, so longer cruises attract a more mature crowd, including many retirees, rather than families with kids.
Another advantage of longer cruises is that they are less likely to be party cruises. Shorter cruises lasting 3-5 days tend to draw in a partying and drinking crowd, especially weekend cruises. That’s because short cruises are usually more affordable since the total cruise fare will come out less, and they’re a better fit with work vacation schedules.
On the other hand, long cruises generally don’t attract the party crowd since the total cruise fare will most likely be more than short cruises, and many younger cruise passengers can’t take as many vacation days off from work. So, if you book a 10 day or longer cruise, you’ll likely be sailing with fewer kids onboard and will avoid the party crowd.
Older Cruise Ships
Another strategy to avoid kids on your cruise is to sail on older cruise ships. Older cruise ships are “boring” ships compared to shiny, new mega-ships because they tend to have the basic amenities of pools, hot tubs, a jogging track, and maybe a sports court. As a result, they attract a more mature crowd who are not after all the fun cruise amenities.
By sailing on older cruise ships, there are more likely to be fewer kids and teens onboard. Plus, older cruise ships are usually less expensive than newer ships!
Repositioning Cruises
An easy way to avoid kids and the party crowd is to sail on repositioning cruises. Repositioning cruises is when a cruise ship moves from one home port to the next. These are usually one-way cruises.
For example, a cruise ship sailing the Mediterranean will be moved to the Caribbean at the end of its Mediterranean sailing season. These repositioning cruises are typically long, lasting more than 7 days, and usually take place during the off-season rather than during the peak summer months. As a result, these cruises tend to attract a more mature crowd, including retirees who have the flexibility to go on repositioning cruises.
Transatlantic Cruises
Another way to avoid kids and the party crowd is to sail on transatlantic cruises. These cruises sail across the Atlantic Ocean. They have fewer port days and many sea days and are usually long, lasting more than 7 days.
As a result, they tend to attract the more mature crowd and retirees who have time to take long cruises and don’t mind being at sea for many days. One big plus of these transatlantic cruises is the cruise fare tends to be cheaper since it’s during the off-peak times. If you book at the last minute, you can get great deals on transatlantic cruises.
Upscale Cruise Lines
If it’s within your budget, one way to easily avoid kids and the party crowd is to sail on one of the luxury cruise lines. These cruise lines are a lot more expensive, as a result, they attract an older clientele.
Cruise lines such as Oceania, Azamara, and Silver Seas are upscale cruise lines that typically have few kids on board and will usually have a more quieter atmosphere (no party crowd!)
Cruise Lines Matter
One way to avoid kids and the party crowd is to book a cruise that typically attracts fewer families and has a more relaxed atmosphere. Cruise lines like Holland America, Cunard, Princess Cruise, and Celebrity Cruise tend to be quieter, with fewer children and a more laid-back vibe.
They cater to a more mature crowd compared to Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise, or MSC Cruise, which tend to attract families with kids and a younger demographic. They also offer a less party-centric atmosphere than Virgin Voyages.
It’s worth noting that the time of year you choose to sail can significantly impact the crowd on board. Peak holiday months will inevitably see more kids on board, and Spring Break can bring in the party crowd, even on Holland America, Princess Cruise, and Celebrity Cruise.
Avoid Party Cruises
Some cruises have a reputation for being party cruises, so I’d avoid sailing on those if you want a more relaxed cruise experience. How can you tell if you are going on a party cruise? It’s actually pretty easy. Just take a look at the marketing materials. If the website and brochures give off the vibe that the cruise line is trying to attract a younger party crowd, then you know it might be a party cruise.
For example, Virgin Voyages, being an adults-only cruise, tends to have a lively, party atmosphere that appeals to a younger demographic. Short weekend cruises are also often marketed to target the younger clientele. These cruises should be avoided if you don’t want to be sailing in a party atmosphere.
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