The Five Best Cruise Lines for Adults

Cruise lines have a wide variety of patrons taking vacations with them. You will see the young and old, the married and the divorced/single, and those with families, and adults who just want to enjoy their cruise. For adults, this can be a difficult choice. Oftentimes, some of the more "hip" ships, such as Carnival or Royal Caribbean, will have far too many young folks on board for their taste. Then again, there are other cruises that may offer an older, more distinguished taste, and that might not be what they will enjoy.

Because of the difficulty of this choice, here are the five best cruise lines for adults. These are not necessarily in order of rank, but just an overall compilation of the best cruise lines for this genre.

Cunard Line, which is owned by Carnival Corporation, offers a luxury vacation, which will more than likely have fewer kids onboard, thereby allowing you to relax without a lot of crying or screaming. The cruise line offers three ships, the Queen Mary 2, the Queen Victoria, and coming in Autumn 2010, the Queen Elizabeth. All three of the ships are a minimum of 90,000 gross tons, which equates to some of the largest ships afloat. Touted "The Most Famous Ocean Liners in the World^®", they are also known for their Transatlantic crossings and amazing world cruises. Although they only have two active cruise ships, they boast a broad itinerary range, including Europe, the Mediterranean, the United States and the Caribbean, just to name a few. This is a line that adults of all ages would enjoy.

Celebrity Cruises, which is owned by Royal Caribbean, makes you the star on your cruise and has recently introduced Celebrity Life, a series of life-enhancing programs that are designed to give you the most unique and sophisticated cruising experience available. Celebrity is known for its service all over their ships, which starts in your cabin, and continues in the dining room and any place in between. Celebrity's ships also tend to cater to adults rather than kids, which is a positive for adults looking for "their own cruise". Celebrity offers 10 ships that are the youngest fleet in the world today. Conde Nast consistently rates Celebrity among the finest in the world.

Princess Cruise Lines, also owned by Carnival, is also known as "The Love Boat". Made famous by the television series of the same name, Princess has long been a favorite of couples, especially of newlyweds. The Ruby Princess, which just came into service in 2008, had a renewing of vows ceremony during its Inaugural cruise and christening. This included Trista and Ryan Sutter, who were thrust into the spotlight during their stint on "The Bachelorette". Princess, aside from being a romantic venue for a cruise, also offers impeccable service, terrific cuisine, and elegant itineraries.

Holland America Line, also owned by Carnival, allows cruisers to experience Old World charm, while taking you to exotic destinations. Holland boasts a fleet of 14 mid-size ships that give you luxurious feel, which is bolstered by Holland's ongoing $525 million Signature of Excellence^® commitment, which has been enhancing all areas of their ships. This includes new facilities and public spaces, as well as upgrades to staterooms, and improved services and amenities. Holland also calls on less-traveled ports, which is a key for adults who have traveled to the traditional ports to where the larger lines cruise.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines is usually considered one of the mainstream lines or Big Three, which includes Royal, Carnival and Norwegian. Royal's newest offering, the Oasis of the Seas, is the largest cruise ship in the world, at over 225,000 gross tons. It offers many adult activities, which also allow you to feel like you are a kid again, such as rock climbing walls, ice skating rinks, Flowrider^® surf simulators, miniature golf courses and more. Royal's ships also boast some of the largest number of dining options at sea. With so much to do, adults will have more to occupy them than would the kids. Royal's large fleet and range of itineraries have made it one of the more popular cruise lines in the world.

Ultimately, adults should conduct their own research to find the cruise line that is perfect for them. Consulting the advice of a cruise profession (aka travel agent) would be suggested. Remember, the advice and service of a travel professional rarely costs extra, if ever, and they can help tailor a vacation that fits your needs. Not only that, but they can offer you protection to ensure your experience is as smooth as possible, something that an online service may not be able to provide. Please contact Keith Cooke at charlottecruiseexaminer@gmail.com to recommend a travel professional if you need advice.