LEAVE the kids at home – because these cruise ships are pulling out all the stops for the grown-ups.
TUI has announced that its Marella Discovery 2 will permanently switch to an adults-only vessel from winter next year.
And it’s not the only cruise line to make this move either.
Oceania put an 18-plus rule in place for travellers in January, while Fred Olsen made its Borealis ship adults-only at the beginning of the year.
Sophie Swietochowski picks the best adults-only cruises to book now for 2027.
SPAIN
Marella Explorer 2
ALL hands are on deck as TUI’s Marella Discovery 2 is set to transform its children’s spaces into a chic speakeasy, escape room, karaoke room and arts and craft area.
This change is scheduled for next winter, but the Marella Explorer 2 is already over-18s only.
The ship’s features include a “press for bubbles” button at its champagne and prosecco bar Flutes. There’s also the 19th Hole sports bar themed around golf, plus a luxurious spa that has been designed in partnership with wellness brand Champneys.
If you book now you can bag nearly £500pp off a Spanish Sights sailing, which calls at Palma in Majorca; Palamos, Castellon and Cartagena in Spain; and Gibraltar.
GO: The seven-night cruise costs from £1,097pp, departing Malaga on May 26. The price includes flights from Gatwick. See tui.co.uk.
ROME TO BARCELONA
Allura
THE Oceania cruise line oozes so much sophistication you’ll question why it ever allowed kids on board in the first place.
Its bars are elegant, its entertainment spaces glitzy and the food surpasses that on most other cruise lines.
Its newest vessel, Allura, is no exception. Cruisers’ favourite restaurant, Jacques, delivers delightful soufflés and tableside steak tartare.
There are cooking classes in a swish kitchen and one of the most chic libraries I’ve seen at sea.
The week-long Rome to Barcelona cruise has port calls including Florence in Italy; Cannes and Provence in France; Palma de Mallorca; and Valencia and Barcelona in Spain.
GO: The seven-night Rome to Barcelona sailing costs from £1,939pp, departing Rome on October 22.
See oceaniacruises.com.
EASTERN CARIBBEAN
Brilliant Lady
IF raucous fun and debauchery are what you’re after, try Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady.
Guests can enjoy Scarlet Night, where the ship transforms into one mega party, with performances and late-night dancing in the pool, plus Loteria Gigante, a modern bingo involving shots of tequila and Mexican food.
And that’s barely scratching the surface of the wild shows and theatrical restaurants.
There is space to unwind, too, including a spa, complete with a mud room, salt room, sauna, steam room and more.
Right now, an Eastern Caribbean sailing is cracking value, with a free $600 bar tab for anyone who books an Inside or Sea Terrace room via Iglu Cruises.
The cruise departs Miami and calls at St Maarten; Tortola; US Virgin Islands; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; and Bimini, Bahamas.
GO: The ten-night Eastern Caribbean & Bimini Beach Club cruise costs from £793pp, departing Miami on January 11. See iglucruise.com.
NORWAY
Aurora
AURORA is one of two P&O Cruises’ ships that are adults-only. It is more intimate than P&O’s other vessels, sleeping 1,800 guests, so is great if you’re up for meeting like-minded travellers.
Its Crystal pool, with a retractable roof, is one of the highlights, meaning you can swim and relax whatever the weather. Plus there’s the Playhouse Cinema featuring 200 proper cinema seats.
You’ll love the British feel to this ship, too. There’s a homely pub culture on board and many of the boozers offer live music, quiz nights and TVs showing the latest sports games.
The cruise line is very affordable, with a 14-night Norway sailing costing less than £1,500pp, without the need to shell out on flights.
The ship departs Southampton and spends a few days at sea before pulling into Alesund, then Bodo, Narvik, Tromso and Haugesund.
GO: The two-week Norway cruise departs Southampton on March 19. See pocruises.com.
ISLES OF SCILLY
Spirit of Discovery
SAGA Cruises has nailed the midlife market. Its ships and itineraries have been specifically designed with age 50-plus travellers in mind — and although you can expect to pay a slight premium, cruisers won’t need to lift a finger.
Unlike other cruise lines where you’ll have to shell out extra for speciality restaurants or booze, these come included in the price, as does travel insurance, and you’ll also be chauffeured from your door to port.
Every cabin has a balcony, and solo travellers are extremely well looked after.
Next year, the cruise line will be celebrating 30 years of sailing so is bringing premium wines on board for the occasion. And those who book early can bag up to 35 per cent off the original fare.
Included in this offer is the Isles of Scilly and Celtic Sea Escape which calls at Falmouth, Isles of Scilly and Cork.
GO: The six-night Isles of Scilly and Celtic Sea Escape on Spirit of Discovery costs from £2,306pp, departing Dover on June 27. See travelsaga.co.uk.