How To Avoid Booking a Cruise With Lots of Kids Onboard (Without Booking An Adults-Only Cruise)

Many people assume the only way to avoid children on a cruise is to book an adult-only cruise ship or cruise line.

Even on mainstream cruise lines, the number of children onboard can vary hugely, depending on the itinerary, timing and ship.

Experienced cruisers often choose the sailings that they know will attract far fewer families.

Cruise Outside School Holidays

The biggest factor affecting how many children are onboard is the school calendar.

Do some research to find out when the school holidays are in your country.

School holidays can vary widely from one place to another.

Summer Holidays

American school holidays may run from late May or June until mid-August or early September.

In England, schools tend to finish towards the end of July and go back in early September.

In Scotland, however, children break up from school in late June or early July and return in the middle of August.

If you were coming from the USA to the UK, for example, for your summer holidays, you would be better off coming in June or early July.

If you were going from the UK to the USA for your holidays, late August may be the time to go.

Christmas and Easter Sailings

Easter and Christmas sailings will always be busy with families, and the ships are likely to be sailing at full capacity.

If you can avoid these periods, cruises will be far quieter – and probably cheaper.

Half Term Sailings

Half terms can take you by surprise, as they aren’t always in the same weeks each year.

They tend to be around six weeks after the term starts.

Dates can even vary between one UK county and the next, so do some research and give half-term sailings a “wide berth.”

I remember taking an October sailing on Independence of the Seas, expecting it to be quiet. Unfortunately for me, the last week in October is half-term in the UK, and the ship was full of children, and sailing at full capacity. It was heaving!

Choose Longer Cruises

Longer cruises naturally attract older travellers who don’t have to be back for work or for school.

If you can sail for 10 to 14 nights – or even longer, you are unlikely to find children onboard.

You are likely to find a much older passenger demographic onboard.

Families rarely take children out of school for extended periods of time.

The longer the cruise, the fewer children you typically see onboard.

Look Out For Repositioning Cruises

Repositioning cruises start and finish in different ports.

They tend to be longer sailings of 10 to 14 days, with few – if any – port stops.

Cruise lines regularly move ships between regions. For example, crossing the Atlantic from the Caribbean to the Mediterranean at the start of the summer season, and back to the sun of the Caribbean when winter comes in Europe.

There are some really good deals to be had on repositioning cruises; they aren’t popular because they will have many sea days.

That doesn’t suit the family market, who won’t be able to take their children out of school or days on end. They are unlikely to coincide with the school holidays either.

Families are more likely to choose a shorter cruise with more port stops.

Find out more about repositioning cruises here:

You Need To Take a Repositioning Cruise – Here’s Some Huge Reasons Why

Choose A Cruise Line With An Older Passenger Demographic

Some cruise lines just don’t attract – or market to – families with children.

These cruiselines aren’t “adult only”, but their more traditional approach to cruising, with fixed dining, dress codes, etc., doesn’t really appeal to families, who prefer something more flexible.

Examples include:

• Holland America Line
  • They offer many longer cruises and have a more traditional feel.
• Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
  • It is set dining times, shared tables and dress codes all the way with Fred.Olsen. This is unlikely to suit the family market.
• Cunard
  • It is the most formal cruiseline of all, with dress codes after 6 pm.
• Ambassador
  • This British Cruiseline hold “multi-generational” cruises during the school holidays to encourage families to book.
  • Most of their sailings are adult-only though, and the ships are older and lack facilities that appeal to children.

You aren’t going to find water parks, slides, rock-climbing walls, or Go-Karts on any of these cruise lines.

Although these lines do have kids clubs (Fred.Olsen only have them open in school holidays), they don’t have the facilities on offer that you would find on MSC, Norwegian or Royal Caribbean, for example.

Have a look at the traditional cruise I took with Fred. Olsen to see the Northern Lights here:

Avoid Ships Built For Families

Some ships are built with families in mind.

Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and MSC have ships with all sorts of family-friendly entertainment.

Think:

• Water Parks
• Rock Climbing Walls
• Ropes Courses
• Go Kart Tracks
• Video Arcades
• Roller blading
• Lazerquest

I took my nieces on a trip on Anthem of the Seas during the school holidays. It was busy – but they absolutely loved it!

Have a look at that trip here:

Choose Itineraries That Appeal More To Adults

Some itineraries naturally attract older travellers.

For example:

• Longer European cruises.
  • Children are unlikely to be able to get multiple weeks off of school. So two-week cruises to the Mediterranean or Canary Islands from the UK are likely to have more older passengers.
• Transatlantic sailings
  • Transatlantic sailings usually have at least seven consecutive days at sea.
  • Children may get bored, so parents are more likely to choose an itinerary with more port stops.
• Colder destinations.
  • You aren’t likely to get many children on a trip to see the Northern Lights, for example.
    • They probably wouldn’t appreciate the cold, would likely be in bed by the time the lights appear, and are unlikely to be “wowed” by the whole spectacle!
  • Families are more likely to choose a week in the sun.

Short Caribbean cruises from Miami often attract more families. They are easy and offer almost guaranteed fun in the sun.

Have a look at the Transatlantic crossing I took on the last Ocean Liner at sea, Queen Mary 2, in the video below.

Seven full days onboard, with many days of stormy seas that other cruise ships rerouted to avoid.

It was also in early January when the children had just returned to school for the new year.

I didn’t see a single child onboard – although I did see a dog or two….

Book Outside Peak Sailing Seasons

Cruise demand varies throughout the year.

If you can sail in off-peak times, like early spring, late autumn or winter ( but not Christmas), you will find the ships less full.

Often, there are bargains to be had, and they are likely to have fewer children onboard because the children will still be in school.

Use Adults-Only Spaces Onboard

Even on family ships, there are often areas designed for adults.

On many Royal Caribbean ships, for example, there are adult-only Solarium areas at the front of the ship.

They feature whirlpools and water features, and adult-only eateries.

My brother and Mum often escaped there during our Anthem of the Seas trip, when the buffet was full of children eating cookies and ice cream!

Most cruise ship spas restrict access to their facilities, including thermal suites, saunas, and steam rooms, to guests aged 18 and older, so spas will be a quiet, child-free zone.

The Serenity Adult-Only Retreat on Carnival ships is a relaxing adult-only space with a bar to get away from the kids, the noise and the “Carnival style excitement” you will find everywhere else on the ship.

These areas can feel totally different from other areas of the ship.

Why You Don’t Always Need An Adults-Only Cruise

If you choose the right sailing choice, even a family cruise line can feel very relaxed.

Many experienced cruisers choose itineraries very carefully and end up on sailings with very few children onboard.

Before You Go

Can you sneak your own alcohol onto a cruise ship to save buying from the cruise lines? Find out here:

Can You Sneak Alcohol Onboard A Cruise Ship? The Cruise “Hack” Some People Still Try

Find out about the cabin upgrade bid I won – and whether it was worth the money here:

I Bid on a Cabin Upgrade and “Won”! (First Time EVER)