Tired of excitable children racing to the kids’ club and youngsters splashing around in the pool?
Fear not, a major cruise line is transforming its biggest ship into an adults-only liner.
Marella Cruises, which is operated by TUI, is set to relaunch Marella Discovery 2 as a permanent adults-only ship from winter 2027.
The company is investing in four new additions to the vessel, which boasts 918 cabins, to help sway its appeal to over 18s.
Spaces currently used to entertain children onboard the ship will be renovated into a speakeasy bar, escape room, karaoke room and an arts and crafts area.
At the moment, its sister ship, Marella Discovery, is the only liner in the fleet to have a speakeasy bar – The Exchange. There, guests are treated to unique cocktails and immersed into another world with actors, music and 1920s-style glamour.
The new adults-only ship will be home-porting from Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Malaga during next year’s winter season.
Marella Cruises, Tui’s UK-based cruise line, is set to launch Marella Discover 2 as an adults-only ship
To helps increase its appeal to over 18s, new additions to the ship include a speakeasy bar, escape room, karaoke room and an arts and crafts area
Marella Cruises’ CEO Chris Hackney said: ‘Our winter 2027 programme will focus on the regeneration of Marella Discovery 2 returning as an adults-only ship for a second consecutive winter season.’
He put the transformation down to an increasing ‘demand for adults-only cruising’ and shared how the company hopes to ‘enhance the experience even further’ with the ship’s four new features.
But Marella isn’t the only company to lean into the adults-only trend, with plenty of other over-18 cruises popping up and leaning into a more mature way of sailing to appeal to their customer bases.
Earlier this year, Oceania Cruises, a luxury operator based in America, began offering voyages for just adults.
The transition began on January 7, with Oceania hoping the move will elevate ‘the onboard ambience’ and revealed the decision was made in response ‘to the preferences of its guests’.
The company carried out ‘extensive research’ into what its ‘loyal repeat’ customers were looking for.
It found people booked the cruise line for its ‘serene atmosphere, sophisticated service and unhurried pace’.
This is an experience Oceania Cruises feels is sought after by ‘mature, affluent travellers’.
Other cruise companies have joined the adults-only trend, including Oceania which announced it would be only for over-18s in January
Meanwhile, all of Virgin Voyages ships are adults-only, including Resilient Lady, pictured
‘Our guests have consistently said the tranquil environment is one of the main reasons they return,’ says Jason Montague, Oceania Cruises’ chief luxury officer.
The company doesn’t expect the move to have a huge impact on its customer base, as many are adults anyway.
Chief commercial officer Nathan Hickman estimates that children only make up a small percentage of their guests and said it was so little it was ‘almost a rounding error’, with the average age of those on board being mid-60s.
Elsewhere, all four of Virgin Voyages ships – Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady and Brilliant Lady – are adults-only, offering party vibes, festival-style entertainment and menus crafted by Michelin-starred chefs.
Likewise, every Viking cruise is child-free and boasts a fleet of stylish, Scandi-inspired ships sailing primarily across Europe.
Fred Olsen is another company adults can find child-free getaways. The Borealis ship offers a quiet, intimate sailing experience, drawing in mostly over 60s.
Also jumping on the trend is P&O Cruises, which offers a range of adults-only itineraries on its Arcadia and Aurora ships.
Source link
CHECK OUT: Top Travel Destinations
READ MORE: Travel News
