Choosing the proper cruise ship is likely one of the most necessary steps when planning your cruise trip. There may be nothing worse than feeling dissatisfied on trip, particularly for those who guide a cruise ship that falls in need of your expectations.
The highest issues for selecting a cruise ship ought to embody your price range, itinerary desire, and journey group’s wants. This implies for those who’re touring with kids, you need to correctly analysis the facilities and sights obtainable for teenagers onboard.
Nevertheless, for those who’re trying to keep away from crusing with youngsters or households, you’ll additionally need to rigorously select your cruise ship. Most mainstream cruise strains like Royal Caribbean attraction to households, however that doesn’t imply you may’t discover ships which might be greatest suited to adults.
I’ve been cruising for so long as I can keep in mind with my first cruise at simply three years outdated. My household sailed with Royal Caribbean yearly once I was rising up, which means I’ve sailed on nearly each ship within the cruise line’s fleet. As well as, I’ve additionally sailed on each Royal Caribbean ship class – together with the now-extinct Sovereign Class!
As you may think about, cruising as an grownup on Royal Caribbean is a vastly totally different expertise. The waterslides and zip strains aren’t fairly the draw for me anymore; as an alternative, I choose indulging within the extra adult-focused actions and facilities.
Since my husband and I are nonetheless proud DINKs (double earnings, no youngsters), we usually guide cruises on Royal Caribbean with the grownup expertise in thoughts. When you may not have the ability to keep away from youngsters altogether, there are some Royal Caribbean ships which might be higher for adults than others.
Of the 46 cruises I’ve taken in my life, listed below are my picks for the very best Royal Caribbean ships for adults.
1. Grandeur of the Seas
I do know what you’re pondering, however hear me out. Taking a look at Royal Caribbean’s fleet as an entire, the Imaginative and prescient Class is arguably the very best for adults. Why? As a result of the Imaginative and prescient Class ships have hardly something to do for teenagers.
I’ve been crusing on Imaginative and prescient Class ships for twenty years, beginning with Enchantment of the Seas in 2005. As a child, the ship was a complete snooze fest with only a few onboard thrills or sights. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve discovered to understand the Imaginative and prescient Class ships increasingly more.
Final fall, I sailed on Grandeur of the Seas with my sister and we couldn’t consider how a lot we loved our trip. Grandeur of the Seas was in-built 1996 and holds 1,992 visitors at most capability, making her a small-to-midsize cruise ship.
Sure, the cruise ship is 28 years outdated and lacks many bells and whistles of newer ships. Regardless of her age, adults trying to chill out and disconnect will discover this simple to do on outdated “Woman G.” As a bonus, there have been hardly any youngsters onboard and so many areas to benefit from the ocean views.
The ship has an adults-only indoor Solarium, together with a spa and loads of bars and lounges. I used to be stunned to see there have been a number of specialty eating eating places onboard as properly. These are wonderful selections for adults trying to have a extra upscale, intimate eating expertise.
To not point out, Grandeur of the Seas has a wide range of itineraries obtainable – starting from weekend getaways to longer voyages all the way down to the Southern Caribbean. I wouldn’t hesitate to guide Grandeur of the Seas for one more grownup getaway.
2. Spectrum of the Seas
Maybe probably the most distinctive ship on my listing, Spectrum of the Seas is one other wonderful Royal Caribbean ship for adults. Again in July 2019, I sailed to China and Japan onboard Spectrum of the Seas, which was the primary Quantum Extremely Class ship. It was in contrast to any Royal Caribbean cruise we had taken earlier than!
You don’t learn or hear a lot about Spectrum of the Seas, as she predominately operates solely in East Asia; nevertheless, she is certainly one of Royal Caribbean’s latest cruise ships that has a lot to supply for adults. As the biggest ship on my listing, Spectrum of the Seas clocks in at 169,000 gross tons and holds 5,622 visitors at most capability.
To start out, Spectrum of the Seas gives some extremely uncommon itineraries all through Asia. For these destination-focused cruisers, this Quantum Extremely Class ship is one to think about for her itineraries alone. You will discover sailings all through Asia, together with ports of name in China, Japan, Vietnam, and South Korea.
In my expertise, crusing on Spectrum of the Seas was a cultural expertise in and of itself. The ship was designed to cater to the Asian market, giving her some distinctive attributes in comparison with different Royal Caribbean ships. The leisure was top-notch with headliner manufacturing reveals like The Effectors, Showgirl, and Silk Highway.
You’ll additionally discover a wide range of specialty and complimentary eating eating places onboard. Most notably, there are ten specialty eating choices aboard together with Wonderland, Jamie’s Italian, Chops Grille, Izumi, Sichuan Purple, and Teppanyaki.
Moreover, you received’t need to battle the chair hogs throughout your cruise as a result of the highest decks aren’t jam-packed like different sailings. It was all the time simple to search out an out of doors chair if we wished just a little little bit of solar, guaranteeing a calming expertise. I like to recommend reserving a crusing when youngsters are at school – September to July – to make sure a quiet cruise.
3. Mariner of the Seas
Shifting again to smaller and older cruise ships, Mariner of the Seas is certainly one of my all-time favourite cruise ships as an grownup. Whereas the ship caters to cruisers of all ages, the Voyager Class cruise ship simply acquired the Royal Amplification therapy value $120 million.
Mariner of the Seas is a modestly sized ship, measuring 138,000 gross tons and holding round 4,000 visitors at capability.
I’ve sailed on Mariner of the Seas a number of instances and it by no means will get outdated! I first sailed on Mariner of the Seas in elementary college, adopted by an unique Southeast Asian itinerary to Thailand and Malaysia with my husband. Final 12 months, I sailed on Mariner of the Seas twice for a enjoyable getaway cruise to Mexico with family and friends.
To start out, I really like The Bamboo Room, which is a singular bar that was added to Mariner of the Seas throughout her Royal Amplification. The tiki bar is Polynesian-inspired with a particular menu of tiki-themed drinks – it’s the right place for adults desirous to take pleasure in a wide range of cocktails.
Additionally, Mariner of the Seas has a pleasant choice of complimentary and specialty eating choices. For adults desirous to indulge, the specialty eating choice on Mariner is greater than adequate. Actually, her Royal Amplification additionally introduced three new specialty eating places: Playmakers Sports activities Bar, Jamie’s Italian, and Izumi Hibachi and Sushi.
To not point out, I really like the leisure on Mariner of the Seas, particularly the ice skating performances. Adults can spend time within the adults-only Solarium on Mariner of the Seas. Much like different ships, I like to recommend reserving a crusing throughout the college 12 months to keep away from too many youngsters onboard. Avoiding holidays and spring break will assist mitigate the variety of households onboard too.
4. Serenade of the Seas
As an grownup, I’ve spent extra time on Radiance Class ships than every other in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. That is principally as a result of Royal Caribbean’s Radiance Class ships sail on the extra far-flung itineraries.
My husband and I sailed on Serenade of the Seas in 2021 on certainly one of Royal Caribbean’s first post-pandemic cruises. Maybe I’m wanting again with rose-colored glasses on that have, however Serenade of the Seas was a fantastic selection for grownup cruisers.
Throughout our crusing, there have been only a few youngsters onboard, which has been the case for nearly all of my Radiance Class sailings. Serenade of the Seas is likely one of the smaller ships on my listing, measuring 90,000 gross tons with 2,490 visitors at capability. You received’t discover a lot for teenagers to do on this medium-sized ship, detracting households from reserving their subsequent journey on Serenade of the Seas.
The ship’s smaller measurement permits her to dock with out restriction in most ports, in contrast to Royal Caribbean’s bigger ships. This doesn’t imply you may’t discover Royal Caribbean’s basic bars, lounges, and eating places onboard for adults to take pleasure in.
Each of my experiences on Serenade of the Seas had been memorable with one cruise to Alaska and one other crusing throughout Northern Europe visiting 8 totally different nations. Adults trying to sail on Serenade of the Seas will respect the huge array of itineraries to guide, from Alaska to the Caribbean, Panama Canal, and Europe.
Actually, Serenade of the Seas is presently crusing on Royal Caribbean’s first-ever Final World Cruise. These wanting an unparalleled Royal Caribbean expertise can nonetheless guide segments all through Europe for this summer season and into fall.
5. Rhapsody of the Seas
Looping again to Imaginative and prescient Class ships, I’m going to complete the listing with one other controversial decide: Rhapsody of the Seas. This outdated cruise ship was in-built 1997 and represents a considerably totally different cruising period than the brand new mega-ships we see being constructed at present.
I sailed on Rhapsody of the Seas a couple of years in the past with my husband for our honeymoon. We sailed from Venice to Croatia and the Greek Isles. Given her small measurement of 78,000 gross tons, she will solely maintain round 1,900 visitors at capability, which creates a extra intimate cruising expertise.
Not like Royal Caribbean’s largest ships, Rhapsody of the Seas doesn’t have any flashy onboard thrills or sights. You’ll be able to peacefully sit on the highest deck having fun with the ocean breeze with out the commotion of waterslides or splash pads.
As one of many smallest ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, Rhapsody of the Seas was a superb selection for us after we had been newlyweds crusing on a price range. Whilst an older ship, she was in good situation for crusing. The ship had all the things we wanted for a snug cruise with out the distraction of kid-friendly thrills, resulting in only a few youngsters onboard.
For a port-heavy itinerary, I’d extremely suggest Rhapsody of the Seas for any adults!