Top 5 Cruise Lines for Adults

Whether you seek adventure, romance or a little peace and quiet, today's cruise lines offer endless opportunities for adult-friendly fun. Most cruise lines offer a variety of shows, dining, spas, casinos, and more, but the following five cruise lines stand out as leaders in bringing adults the best entertainment on and off the high seas.

Carnival Cruise Lines

Eight of Carnival's cruise ships offer the "Serenity Adults Only Retreat." Available to guests over 21, this ocean view kid-free zone lets you unwind in a comfy chaise lounge while enjoying complete bar service or relax in a tranquil whirlpool while listening to your favorite tunes. Popular Carnival lines featuring this adult only haven are Carnival Fantasy, Inspiration and Paradise. Guests will also enjoy a variety of shows, nightclubs and casinos for late night fun.

For added convenience, ships depart from California, Florida and Charleston, South Carolina. Destinations include the Western Caribbean, Mexico, the Bahamas and the Panama Canal. Carnival also provides a wide variety of price points to appease any budget. Three-day cruises begin as low as $169, with seven-day cruises as low as $449. Visit www.carnival.com for a complete list of activities and destinations.

Princess Cruises

Princess offers a unique cruising opportunity for single adults, the Love Boat Singles Cruises. Go solo or with a group and take part in group discounts, cocktail parties, mixers, games, group exercising, dining geared for singles, and more. Your cruise host helps ease the pressure of meeting new people by introducing guests and scheduling events. Upon reserving tickets, adults gain access to a singles chat room where you can meet-and-greet fellow passengers before the ship sets sail.

Popular Princess lines The Emerald Princess and the Crown Princess offer this singles experience. Destinations include the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Seven and eight day excursions begin at $675 per person for a shared room or $974 for a private cabin. Prices include all meals, non-alcoholic drinks, singles activities and cocktail parties, room service, Vegas-style shows, nightly dancing, live music spa facilities and taxes. For more information, visit www.princess.com.

Celebrity Cruises

Select Celebrity Cruises for special programming geared to adults, like the Wine Harvest Celebration. Appreciate the fine art of wine tasting in a wine sampling program or learn about wine pairings and how to match up wines with a variety of foods to maxi­mize flavors. A World Wine Tasting and Silent Auction event showcases six different wine varieties. Relax with an evening of jazz and chocolate buffet, as it's paired with a glass of Port. Guests can even learn how wine glass shape can affect palate flavors by attending one of the seminars offered on board. Prices for this celebratory style cruise range from

$399 for a 13-night transatlantic cruise to $3,749 for a 10-night trip through the Eastern Mediterranean. Celebrity cruises also prides itself in top-notch personal service, amenities and cuisine. You are sure to feel like a celebrity by the time you dock.

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line is probably the last cruise line one would expect on an "adult" list, but this line is sure to please all ages. Disney goes out of their way to give adults an unforgettable cruising experience. The Senses Spa & Salon provides the utmost in relaxation with massages and skin treatments in a luxury setting. Private villas are also offered. Take a dip in the Quiet Cove Pool or relax with your favorite drink in this adult's only area. Disney's nightclubs and lounges cater to your needs with live music, cabaret shows, dancing, sports, karaoke and socializing.

Art lovers can take in their favorite works at Disney's Art and Vista Galleries or take one home in the Disney Dream's art sale and auction. Prefer a romantic dinner for two? Disney's got it at The Palo, an Italian restaurant providing adult-only dining and a lot of atmosphere. Additional activities include walking tours, wine tastings and seminars focused on art and health.

Even if you brought the kids, Disney Cruise Line makes sure you get alone time. Onboard kids clubs provide parents the chance to find adult entertainment while kids are safely cared for by qualified staff. A good choice for your wallet, Disney lets kids under 17 cruise free with two paying adults. Check out disneycruise.disney.go.com for the complete scoop.

Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean International shines with its action-packed onshore excursions sure to bring out the adventurer in you. Ride a horse, bike a mountain, parasail over an exotic sea, hike through a rain forest or go 4x4 off-roading on Royal's Adventure Tours. Relax on a secluded beach, go whitewater rafting, view undersea life on a glass bottom boat, sail in the sunset on a romantic cruise or catch the big one while deep sea fishing. Take to the sky with a helicopter tour of the Hawaiian waterfalls or Alaskan ice fields.

Haven't found your adventure yet? Try golfing, snorkeling kayaking, guided sightseeing, and wildlife spotting in animal's natural habitats. Food lovers won't want to miss a Cuisine Tour with food tastings of local fare from around the world. Whatever you decide, Royal Caribbean International has enough to keep you coming back for more. Destinations include Australia/New Zealand, Hawaii, Alaska, Caribbean, Canada/New England, Europe, Mexico and more. See www.royalcaribbean.com for all the details.

These top cruise lines provide adults the utmost in relaxation, socialization and adventure. Opportunities are endless for a great time at sea.

Carnival Staff, Serenity Adult Only Retreat , Carnival Cruise Line

Princess Cruises Staff, Singles Cruises , Princess Cruises

Celebrity Staff, Wine Harvest Celebration , Celebrity Cruises

Disney Cruise Line Staff, Adult Cruise Activities , Disney Cruise Line

Royal Caribbean Staff, Onboard Experience , Royal Caribbean International