No Kids Aboard! Adults-Only Ocean Cruises on Oceania, Viking, and Virgin

Foodie’s Delight, Strong Destination Focus: Oceania Cruises

If “no kids aboard” coupled with a refined aura, gourmet cuisine, and a strong destination focus sounds perfect, check out Oceania Cruises. Yes, you may have sailed this line in the past and remember encountering children onboard. But starting in 2026, the line adopted a new policy. All guests now must be 18-plus years of age.

Truly a paradise for foodies, this upscale line is famed for “The Finest Cuisine at Sea®.” Master Chef Jacques Pepin served as the line’s first executive culinary director and today remains an executive culinary advisor. The line’s two executive culinary directors are both Master Chefs of France — Chef Alexis Quaretti and Chef Eric Barale.

Not surprisingly, guests can expect a high chef-to-guest ratio on Oceania’s ships. Best of all, you’ll dine at diverse fine dining and specialty restaurants, with no added dining fee.

But there’s more on the culinary side! Guests will also enjoy hands-on cooking classes, culinary enrichment programming, and even some specially themed voyages, such as those with Claudine Pepin and other notable chefs.

Recently, the line unveiled the cruise industry’s first entirely gluten-free ocean voyage on Oceania Vista, a luxurious vessel with 607 suites and staterooms. Departing May 31, 2028; that 12-night “Gluten-Free Isles Discovery” voyage will sail roundtrip from Southampton, England, U.K. Travelers will explore the landscapes and historic cities of Cork (Cobh) and Dublin (Dún Laoghaire), Ireland; and Glasgow (Greenock), Stornoway in the Hebrides Islands, and Edinburgh (Newhaven), all in Scotland.

At publication time, fares for this gluten-free voyage began at $7,499 per person, double occupancy, but your skilled Pavlus personal travel planner can ensure you get both the best pricing and any added amenities or benefits that may be available at the time of booking. Call 1-800-528-9300 today.

If creative art is another favorite activity, you’ll love Oceania’s Artist’s Loft, a dedicated art studio on Oceania Allura, Oceania Vista, Oceania Marina, and Oceania Riviera; those ships have between 624 and 607 staterooms and suites, varying by vessel.

So, if you’re eager to unveil your hidden Monet or Picasso artistic talents, just go “hands on” at the Artist’s Loft on those ships. Skilled artists teach classes and offer step-by-step guidance. So, you’ll paint with oils or watercolors; sketch; create colorful collages; and, on select voyages, even learn the intricacies of needlepoint.

Or for those who say, “I wish I were a techie, and understood better how to do certain tasks with my computer or Smartphone,” here’s another helpful tidbit. On some ships, Oceania offers the Lync Digital Center which hosts free technology classes for all skill levels.

Finally, Oceania has a strong destination focus with ships that call at 600 marquee and boutique ports in more than 100 countries across seven continents. Oceania’s nine luxurious ships operate port-intensive voyages of seven to 180 days. Five more new ships are also slated for delivery between 2027 and 2037.

Summing it up. Oceania has a strong culinary focus, intuitive service, sizable enrichment programming, and a strong destination focus. And without kids aboard, it’s typically a calm, sophisticated, highly personalized, and relaxing cruise experience aboard.

Call Pavlus today at 1-800-528-9300 and definitely visit pavlus.com/ocean-cruises/oceania-cruises/ to see many Oceania voyages and great deals.

Nordic Style, Cultural Focus, No Casinos: Viking

Sporting elegant Scandinavian style, thoughtful hospitality, and much cultural enrichment, all Viking ocean, river, and expedition ships are 18-plus years of age for guests.

Pick your preferred size of ocean ship, as the line’s classic ocean vessels carry 930 to 998 guests while smaller, more intimate expedition ships accommodate 378 guests. All Viking ocean staterooms feature private verandas, while accommodations on the line’s river and expedition ships vary by ship and category. Across the fleet, guests can enjoy diverse dining experiences and destination-focused itineraries.

What’s truly special? Viking delivers curated enrichment designed to appeal to intellectually curious guests. Or in the line’s own words, it’s a cruise with experiences for “The Thinking Person®.” Onboard, you’ll discover engaging enrichment lectures and elements of local culture interwoven within the voyage’s programming.

Some shore options also nicely facilitate guest interactions with local residents, farmers, chefs, shop owners, and entrepreneurs. So, guests can dive deeply into any destination’s culture, heritage, cuisine, and lifestyle.

But look beyond. There’s more! To make the best match with Viking for your vacation choice, it’s helpful to check out the line’s own “No” list. What’s that? It’s a list of what Viking ships do not offer (beyond the “no kids” approach). Check these out.

• No casinos
• No charge for beer and wine with lunch and dinner
• No charge for Wi-Fi
• No umbrella drinks
• No art auctions
• No charge for alternative restaurants
• No photography sales
• No charge for use of launderettes
• No entrance fee for The Spa (treatments do cost)
• No smoking
• No formal nights, butlers, or white gloves
• No nickel and diming!

Many of Pavlus’ guests love sailing with Viking. If you’re one of them or you want to experience this adults-only line for the first time, talk with a Pavlus personal travel planner. That skilled professional will assist you in finding the perfect vacation to meet your style, budget, and travel personality.

One trend? Increasingly, travelers are yearning for an off-season, less-crowded European travel experience. If so, check out the eight-day “Iconic Western Mediterranean” voyage on Viking Vela. Sailing from Barcelona to Civitavecchia (Rome), it departs on January 28, 2027. The itinerary touches four countries and includes five guided tours!

Guests will spend two days in Barcelona, then go ashore during calls at Sete and Marseille, France; visit Monte Carlo, Monaco; enjoy two days in Livorno (Florence, Pisa); and end their voyage in Civitavecchia for Rome. If you desire to stay in a lovely Penthouse Veranda (PV2) category cabin, prices start at $3,399 per person, double occupancy.

Tip? For the absolute best pricing and added perks for this or another Viking voyage, be sure to contact a Pavlus personal travel planner at 1-800-528-9300 or pavlus.com/ocean-cruises/viking-ocean-cruises/

Vibrant, Nontraditional, Fun: Virgin Voyages

Founded by Sir Richard Branson, it’s no wonder that oceangoing Virgin Voyages is a nontraditional, upper premium cruise line that oozes vibrancy 24-7. All guests are 18-plus years of age, but the demographic is quite broad – from twenty-somethings to seniors.

It’s edgy, immersive, and fun. If you love a great party, nothing beats the onboard, red-themed Scarlet Party, offered once per voyage. Guests, called Sailors by Virgin, and crew members or First Mates alike arrive in red attire and dance unfettered on the pool deck, as entertainers rock around the pool’s ledge. Sailors sip and savor drinks and hors d’oeuvres.

In 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026, Travel & Leisure magazine named Virgin Voyages as the best mega-ship ocean cruise line. All four 2,770-passenger ships are quite new — Scarlet Lady (debuting in 2020), Valiant Lady (2022), Resilient Lady (2023), and Brilliant Lady (2025).

One plus is that all voyage fares include free Wi-Fi, soda, and essential drinks, and unlimited group fitness classes, as well as sophisticated dining at 20+ eateries.

So, you won’t find one big main dining room, but rather an appealing, diverse mix of smaller restaurants with specialties from Asian to Mediterranean, from seafood to burgers or pizza. Sailors might chow down on hibachi crudo and filets at The Wake; carpaccio and truffle pasta at Extra Virgin; and mezcal pairings at Pink Agave.

As for cabins and suites, 86 percent feature a balcony and 93 percent feature an ocean view. Sea Terrace cabins and many suites have private balconies with a distinctive feature – a red, chair-style hammock! The ship’s most massive suites have traditional hammocks where Sailors can truly stretch out.

For an elevated experience, ask your Pavlus travel planner about the incredible RockStar Quarters – with 78 to 102 of these robust suites on each ship.

Another plus of sailing with Virgin is the adult-centric entertainment with a modern look, feel, and style. In just one example, the theater transforms into different configurations, and a Pavlus employee recently attended one highly creative and entertaining show there.

She witnessed singing, dancing, gymnastic moves, and performers who popped up as audience members. This isn’t a typical theater experience for sure, but very entertaining.

While the Virgin ships “ooze” vibrancy, guests will also find many quieter spots as well. One lovely, secluded spot is The Perch, a sundeck with 360-degree views, the perfect place to relax, rejuvenate, and participate in sunrise and sunset yoga.

Currently, Virgin’s voyages depart on more than 60 itineraries from multiple embarkation points, varying by departure date or season. Guests might sail, for instance, from Miami, FL; Barcelona, Spain; Athens, Greece; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Los Angeles, CA; and Seattle, WA.

For instance, a 12-night “Scandinavia & Stockholm Overnight” voyage sails July 19, 2028, roundtrip from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to Oslo, Norway; Copenhagen, Denmark; Gdansk (Gdynia), Poland; Stockholm, Sweden (overnight); Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany; Aarhus, Denmark.

Pricing begins at $6,456 per person, double occupancy, but for more information on this and other voyages plus the best pricing, call 1-800-528-9300 or visit Virgin Voyages 2026-2028 | Exclusive Savings | Pavlus Travel.

Parting Thoughts

So, if you’re ready to sail but prefer a “no kids” environment during your upscale cruise, Oceania, Viking, and Virgin Voyages are great options to consider. Another plus? All three brands also offer a strong focus on wellness, spa services, and active options.

Why not get started with planning for your next great ocean adventure? Contact Pavlus Travel & Cruise today at 1-800-528-9300. This family-owned luxury travel agency, one of the U.S.’ largest independent travel agencies, will match you with the “right” cruise product, based on your personal interests and travel style. A Pavlus personal travel planner will ensure you get the best deal, any value-added perks or added discounts, and good service.

Before you know, you’ll be sailing the ocean blue on a luxurious vacation – and one that’s exclusively adult!