Huge change coming to major cruise line, affecting all future bookings
A major cruise line has announced that guests under 18 will no longer be welcome on board for future sailings.
From now, Oceania Cruises will exclusively welcome over-age guests, in a move they say is in pursuit of a more serene, upscale experience at sea.
Executives say the change comes after extensive guest research and feedback.
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Oceania focuses on luxury offerings. Oceania Cruises
Any existing reservations with minors will still be honoured, but going forward, everyone who books onto an Oceania Cruise must be over 18.
"Our guests have consistently shared that the tranquil environment aboard our ships is one of the primary reasons they return time and time again," said Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer of Oceania Cruises.
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"By transitioning to an adults-only experience, we are enhancing the very essence of the Oceania Cruises journey–one defined by sophistication, serenity and discovery."
The culinary- and destination-focused luxury cruise line is a premium brand within the portfolio of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
Guests have reported they love the 'tranquil environment' on board. Supplied
The move places Oceania in line with a handful of other cruise firms that cater solely to adults on board their ships.
Famously, all Virgin Voyages are strictly adults-only, as are Viking Ocean and River cruises.
Recently, beloved cruise company Carnival announced it would be beefing up its roster of 18+ cruises, with itineraries designed around enrichment, culture and destination immersion, rather than family programming.
"Adults-only cruise lines are consistently some of the highest-rated among reviewers on Cruise Critic, and the adults-only experience is often the most-praised part of the cruise for those travellers," Colleen McDaniel, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic, told Parade.
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Virgin Voyages are also an adults-only line. Supplied/Virgin Voyages
It's not just adults without kids who want these child-free cruises, but also parents seeking a holiday away from their family.
"Sailing with families is a wonderful part of cruising, but our cruisers tell us sometimes, they're just looking for a break," says McDaniel.
Solo cruising is also rising in popularity, with more and more cruise lines offering single rooms without a supplementary fee.
Some ships - like Norwegian's Aqua - even have dedicated lounges for solo travellers.
Group activities, meet-ups and even shared restaurant bookings are organised by the crew, making it easy for solo sailors to mingle if they want.
