Choosing the right cruise ship is one of the most important steps when planning your cruise vacation. There is nothing worse than feeling disappointed on vacation, especially if you book a cruise ship that falls short of your expectations.
The top considerations for choosing a cruise ship should include your budget, itinerary preference, and travel group’s needs. This means if you’re traveling with children, you should properly research the amenities and attractions available for kids onboard.
However, if you’re looking to avoid sailing with kids or families, you’ll also want to carefully choose your cruise ship. Most mainstream cruise lines like Royal Caribbean appeal to families, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find ships that are best suited for adults.
I’ve been cruising for as long as I can remember with my first cruise at just three years old. My family sailed with Royal Caribbean every year when I was growing up, meaning I’ve sailed on just about every ship in the cruise line’s fleet. In addition, I’ve also sailed on every Royal Caribbean ship class - including the now-extinct Sovereign Class!
As you can imagine, cruising as an adult on Royal Caribbean is a vastly different experience. The waterslides and zip lines aren’t quite the draw for me anymore; instead, I prefer indulging in the more adult-focused activities and amenities.
Since my husband and I are still proud DINKs (double income, no kids), we typically book cruises on Royal Caribbean with the adult experience in mind. While you might not be able to avoid kids altogether, there are some Royal Caribbean ships that are better for adults than others.
Of the 46 cruises I’ve taken in my life, here are my picks for the best Royal Caribbean ships for adults.
1. Grandeur of the Seas
I know what you’re thinking, but hear me out. Looking at Royal Caribbean’s fleet as a whole, the Vision Class is arguably the best for adults. Why? Because the Vision Class ships have hardly anything to do for kids.
I’ve been sailing on Vision Class ships for two decades, starting with Enchantment of the Seas in 2005. As a kid, the ship was a total snooze fest with very few onboard thrills or attractions. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to appreciate the Vision Class ships more and more.
Last fall, I sailed on Grandeur of the Seas with my sister and we couldn’t believe how much we enjoyed our vacation. Grandeur of the Seas was built in 1996 and holds 1,992 guests at maximum capacity, making her a small-to-midsize cruise ship.
Yes, the cruise ship is 28 years old and lacks many bells and whistles of newer ships. Despite her age, adults looking to relax and disconnect will find this easy to do on old “Lady G." As a bonus, there were hardly any kids onboard and so many spaces to enjoy the ocean views.
The ship has an adults-only indoor Solarium, along with a spa and plenty of bars and lounges. I was surprised to see there were multiple specialty dining restaurants onboard as well. These are excellent choices for adults looking to have a more upscale, intimate dining experience.
Not to mention, Grandeur of the Seas has a variety of itineraries available - ranging from weekend getaways to longer voyages down to the Southern Caribbean. I wouldn’t hesitate to book Grandeur of the Seas for another adult getaway.
2. Spectrum of the Seas
Perhaps the most unique ship on my list, Spectrum of the Seas is another excellent Royal Caribbean ship for adults. Back in July 2019, I sailed to China and Japan onboard Spectrum of the Seas, which was the first Quantum Ultra Class ship. It was unlike any Royal Caribbean cruise we had taken before!
You don’t read or hear much about Spectrum of the Seas, as she predominately operates only in East Asia; however, she is one of Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ships that has so much to offer for adults. As the largest ship on my list, Spectrum of the Seas clocks in at 169,000 gross tons and holds 5,622 guests at maximum capacity.
To start, Spectrum of the Seas offers some incredibly rare itineraries throughout Asia. For those destination-focused cruisers, this Quantum Ultra Class ship is one to consider for her itineraries alone. You can find sailings throughout Asia, including ports of call in China, Japan, Vietnam, and South Korea.
In my experience, sailing on Spectrum of the Seas was a cultural experience in and of itself. The ship was designed to cater to the Asian market, giving her some distinctive attributes compared to other Royal Caribbean ships. The entertainment was top-notch with headliner production shows like The Effectors, Showgirl, and Silk Road.
You’ll also find a variety of specialty and complimentary dining restaurants onboard. Most notably, there are ten specialty dining options aboard including Wonderland, Jamie’s Italian, Chops Grille, Izumi, Sichuan Red, and Teppanyaki.
Additionally, you won’t have to fight the chair hogs during your cruise because the top decks are not jam-packed like other sailings. It was always easy to find an outdoor chair if we wanted a little bit of sun, ensuring a relaxing experience. I recommend booking a sailing when kids are in school - September to July - to ensure a quiet cruise.
3. Mariner of the Seas
Moving back to smaller and older cruise ships, Mariner of the Seas is one of my all-time favorite cruise ships as an adult. While the ship caters to cruisers of all ages, the Voyager Class cruise ship just received the Royal Amplification treatment worth $120 million.
Mariner of the Seas is a modestly sized ship, measuring 138,000 gross tons and holding around 4,000 guests at capacity.
I’ve sailed on Mariner of the Seas multiple times and it never gets old! I first sailed on Mariner of the Seas in elementary school, followed by an exotic Southeast Asian itinerary to Thailand and Malaysia with my husband. Last year, I sailed on Mariner of the Seas twice for a fun getaway cruise to Mexico with friends and family.
To start, I love The Bamboo Room, which is a unique bar that was added to Mariner of the Seas during her Royal Amplification. The tiki bar is Polynesian-inspired with a special menu of tiki-themed drinks - it’s the perfect place for adults wanting to indulge in a variety of co*cktails.
Also, Mariner of the Seas has a nice selection of complimentary and specialty dining options. For adults wanting to indulge, the specialty dining selection on Mariner is more than sufficient. In fact, her Royal Amplification also brought three new specialty restaurants: Playmakers Sports Bar, Jamie’s Italian, and Izumi Hibachi and Sushi.
Not to mention, I love the entertainment on Mariner of the Seas, especially the ice skating performances. Adults can spend time in the adults-only Solarium on Mariner of the Seas. Similar to other ships, I recommend booking a sailing during the school year to avoid too many kids onboard. Avoiding holidays and spring break will help mitigate the number of families onboard too.
4. Serenade of the Seas
As an adult, I’ve spent more time on Radiance Class ships than any other in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. This is mostly because Royal Caribbean’s Radiance Class ships sail on the more far-flung itineraries.
My husband and I sailed on Serenade of the Seas in 2021 on one of Royal Caribbean’s first post-pandemic cruises. Perhaps I am looking back with rose-colored glasses on that experience, but Serenade of the Seas was a great choice for adult cruisers.
During our sailing, there were very few kids onboard, which has been the case for almost all of my Radiance Class sailings. Serenade of the Seas is one of the smaller ships on my list, measuring 90,000 gross tons with 2,490 guests at capacity. You won’t find much for kids to do on this medium-sized ship, detracting families from booking their next trip on Serenade of the Seas.
The ship’s smaller size allows her to dock without restriction in most ports, unlike Royal Caribbean’s larger ships. This doesn’t mean you can’t find Royal Caribbean’s classic bars, lounges, and restaurants onboard for adults to enjoy.
Both of my experiences on Serenade of the Seas were memorable with one cruise to Alaska and another sailing across Northern Europe visiting 8 different countries. Adults looking to sail on Serenade of the Seas will appreciate the vast array of itineraries to book, from Alaska to the Caribbean, Panama Canal, and Europe.
In fact, Serenade of the Seas is currently sailing on Royal Caribbean’s first-ever Ultimate World Cruise. Those wanting an unparalleled Royal Caribbean experience can still book segments throughout Europe for this summer and into fall.
5. Rhapsody of the Seas
Looping back to Vision Class ships, I’m going to finish the list with another controversial pick: Rhapsody of the Seas. This old cruise ship was built in 1997 and represents a significantly different cruising era than the new mega-ships we see being built today.
I sailed on Rhapsody of the Seas a few years ago with my husband for our honeymoon. We sailed from Venice to Croatia and the Greek Isles. Given her small size of 78,000 gross tons, she can only hold around 1,900 guests at capacity, which creates a more intimate cruising experience.
Unlike Royal Caribbean’s biggest ships, Rhapsody of the Seas doesn’t have any flashy onboard thrills or attractions. You can peacefully sit on the top deck enjoying the ocean breeze without the commotion of waterslides or splash pads.
As one of the smallest ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, Rhapsody of the Seas was an excellent choice for us when we were newlyweds sailing on a budget. Even as an older ship, she was in good condition for sailing. The ship had everything we needed for a comfortable cruise without the distraction of kid-friendly thrills, leading to very few kids onboard.
For a port-heavy itinerary, I would highly recommend Rhapsody of the Seas for any adults!
