The best all inclusive adults only cruises in 2026-27 come from a small group of lines: Saga (50+), Viking (18+), Oceania (18+ for new bookings) and Marella’s adults-only ships (17+) bundle in the most for one fare, while Virgin Voyages is strictly 18+ but only partly inclusive. If you mainly want peace and quiet with almost everything paid upfront, luxury lines such as Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn and Silversea are not technically child-free, but you will see very few children on board.
Free: download our 2027 Luxury Cruise Calendar →
The difficulty is that “adults-only” and “all-inclusive” rarely come together in full. Some lines ban under-18s but still charge for cocktails and tips. Others include almost everything but welcome families. This guide sorts the lines by both age rule and what the fare really covers, so you can compare like for like. If you are happy to pay for extras and only want a child-free ship, our guide to the best adults-only cruise lines covers the wider field.
All inclusive adults only cruises compared
Here is a quick side-by-side view. Age rules and inclusions were correct at the time of writing (November 2026), but they do change, so check the line’s own website before you book.
| Cruise line | Age rule | Drinks included | Tips included | Other key inclusions | Price level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saga | 50+ (companions from 40) | Yes: spirits, wine, beer, soft drinks | Yes | Chauffeur to port, Wi-Fi, one excursion per port, travel insurance | Mid to premium |
| Viking (ocean and river) | 18+ | Wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner | No | Excursion in every port, Wi-Fi, specialty dining | Premium |
| Oceania | 18+ (new bookings from 7 January 2026) | Choice of wine and beer with meals, or an excursion credit | Yes | Specialty dining, unlimited Wi-Fi | Premium |
| Marella Explorer 2 and Discovery 2 | 17+ | Yes, standard house brands | Yes | Main restaurants and buffet | Mid-range |
| Virgin Voyages | 18+ | Basic soft drinks, tea and coffee only | Check your fare | All restaurants, Wi-Fi, group fitness | Mid-range |
| Ambassador | Adults-only on all no-fly sailings from the 2027-28 season | Optional packages | Check your fare | No-fly departures from UK regional ports | Value |
| Regent Seven Seas | Children allowed, few on board | Yes, including premium spirits | Yes | Excursions, specialty dining, often flights | Luxury |
| Seabourn and Silversea | Children allowed, few on board | Yes (premium labels can cost extra) | Yes | Wi-Fi, in-suite bar, transfers on some fares | Luxury |
The true adults-only all-inclusive cruise lines
Saga: the most inclusive child-free option
Saga is designed for travellers aged 50 and over, with a travelling companion allowed from 40, so you will not meet children or young families on board its ocean ships Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure, or on its river cruises. It is also the most generous fare of any line in this guide. Saga’s own inclusions page lists all drinks (spirits, wines, beers, mixers and soft drinks, with premium wines being added from 2027), gratuities, Starlink Wi-Fi, one included excursion in every port, shuttle buses into town, travel insurance and a return chauffeur from your home to the port. Most sailings start from UK ports, which makes Saga a strong choice for UK cruisers who would rather not fly.
Viking: 18+ on every ship, ocean and river
Viking has a firm minimum age of 18 across its ocean, river and expedition fleets, and there are no casinos, kids’ clubs or waterslides. Every fare includes a shore excursion in each port, Wi-Fi, all onboard restaurants, and beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner. It is not fully all-inclusive: gratuities are extra, and cocktails or drinks outside meal times are charged unless you add Viking’s optional drinks package. Viking suits curious travellers who want a calm, destination-led cruise rather than a party atmosphere.
Oceania: the newest adults-only line
On 7 January 2026 Oceania announced that all new reservations would be limited to guests aged 18 and over. Bookings that already included minors before that date are honoured, so you may still see the odd young passenger on some 2026 sailings. Oceania’s fares now include gratuities, unlimited Wi-Fi and its well-regarded specialty restaurants. For bookings made from September 2025 you can also choose either wine and beer with lunch and dinner, or a shore excursion credit of up to $600 per guest depending on voyage length. With its focus on food, Oceania is a good fit if dining matters most to you.
Mid-range and cheap all-inclusive adults-only cruises
Marella: all-inclusive as standard, 17+ on selected ships
Marella, the cruise arm of TUI in the UK, includes drinks and tips in every fare, so its adults-only ships are among the best-value ways to cruise without children. Marella Explorer 2 is adults-only all year, and Marella Discovery 2 is becoming a permanently adults-only ship from the winter 2027 season, sailing from Tenerife and Gran Canaria between November 2027 and March 2028. Its former children’s areas are being turned into a speakeasy-style bar, an escape room, a karaoke venue and an arts and crafts space. Marella Discovery has also run adults-only seasons. The minimum age on Marella’s adults-only cruises is 17. Some venues cost extra, including the specialty restaurants and spa. Our guide to Marella’s adults-only cruises goes into the itineraries in more detail.
Virgin Voyages: strictly 18+, partly inclusive
Every Virgin Voyages ship is for over-18s only, and the atmosphere is livelier than on the other lines here, with late-night entertainment and a social, boutique-hotel style. The fare covers all of its 20-plus eateries (there are no specialty dining charges), basic soft drinks, tea and coffee, Wi-Fi, group fitness classes and entertainment. Alcohol is not included, although you can prepay a Bar Tab, often at a discount. It is a good fit for younger adults, couples and friend groups who want a fun, child-free trip without luxury prices.
P&O Cruises and Ambassador: UK adults-only, not all-inclusive
P&O Cruises’ Arcadia and Aurora remain adults-only on most sailings, but a limited number of family sailings started from December 2026, so check before you book. Arcadia will also leave P&O for Holland America Line in August 2029. Ambassador Cruise Line is making every no-fly sailing adults-only from the 2027-28 season. Neither line includes drinks as standard, so both are better seen as child-free than all-inclusive. Optional drinks packages can bring the cost closer to an inclusive fare.
Best cruises for adults that are not officially child-free
If you care more about an all-inclusive fare and a grown-up atmosphere than a strict age rule, the luxury lines are worth a look. None of them bans children, but long itineraries, high fares and a lack of family facilities mean children are uncommon outside school holidays.
- Regent Seven Seas is the most inclusive line at sea: all drinks including premium spirits, gratuities, unlimited shore excursions, specialty dining and, on many fares, flights. Sister brand Oceania has gone adults-only, but Regent still welcomes younger guests on selected voyages.
- Seabourn includes drinks, an in-suite bar, gratuities, Wi-Fi and its specialty restaurants on small, yacht-like ships.
- Silversea includes most drinks, tips and, on many fares, some excursions and door-to-ship transfers.
- Explora Journeys is all-inclusive, but it actively welcomes families with a youth club, so it is less reliably child-free than the others.
For a wider look at these lines, see our round-up of the best all-inclusive cruise lines, from luxury to value.
River cruises: often adults-only in practice
River cruising is naturally suited to adults. Viking and Saga river ships follow the same 18+ and 50+ rules as their ocean fleets. Lines such as Scenic and Emerald set minimum ages around 12, while AmaWaterways does not accept children under four. Most river fares include wine with dinner, Wi-Fi and a guided tour in most ports, and some luxury river lines include all drinks and tips too.
How to choose the right adults-only all-inclusive cruise
- Decide how strict you need the age rule to be. If seeing no children at all matters most, stick to Saga, Viking, Oceania, Virgin Voyages or Marella’s adults-only ships.
- Work out the real cost. Add drinks, tips and Wi-Fi to fares that leave them out. A Viking or Virgin fare can look cheaper than Saga or Regent until you add your bar bill and gratuities.
- Check the date of your booking. Oceania’s 18+ rule applies to bookings made from January 2026, and P&O now runs some family sailings, so the age rule can depend on the exact cruise.
- Match the atmosphere. Virgin is social and lively; Viking, Saga and Oceania are calm and focused on destinations and food.
- Look at where you start. UK cruisers have more no-fly choice with Saga, Ambassador and P&O; US cruisers have more choice with Virgin, Viking and Oceania from Florida and the Caribbean.
Prices change daily, so treat the price levels in the table as a rough guide. At the time of writing, Marella’s winter 2027 Caribbean fly-cruises were advertised from around £1,817 per person. Luxury lines usually cost several times more per night, but the gap narrows once you add up what is included.
If all-inclusive is not essential, our guide to the best cruises for adults by budget and style covers adult-friendly options too.
FAQs
Which cruise lines are all-inclusive and adults-only?
Saga (50+), Viking (18+), Oceania (18+ for bookings from January 2026) and Marella’s adults-only ships (17+) combine a child-free policy with drinks or tips in the fare. Saga includes the most, including drinks, tips, Wi-Fi, excursions and a chauffeur to the port.
Are Virgin Voyages cruises all-inclusive?
Not fully. Virgin Voyages is strictly 18+ and includes all restaurants, basic soft drinks, Wi-Fi and fitness classes, but alcohol costs extra unless you prepay a Bar Tab.
What is the cheapest all-inclusive adults-only cruise?
Marella’s adults-only ships are usually the best value, because drinks and tips are included as standard and fares are mid-range. Ambassador’s adults-only no-fly sailings are also affordable, although drinks are extra.
Is Oceania Cruises adults-only now?
Yes. From 7 January 2026, Oceania accepts only guests aged 18 and over on new bookings. Reservations made before then that include under-18s are still honoured.
What happens on adults-only cruises?
Mostly the same things as on any cruise, such as dining, shows, spa time and shore excursions, but with quieter pools, no kids’ clubs and entertainment aimed at adults. The atmosphere ranges from lively on Virgin Voyages to calm and cultural on Viking and Saga.
