Best Cruise Lines For Single Seniors – Which cruise line is best for seniors? It really depends on what kind of senior you are. Some retirees are ready for adventure, looking to conquer the world (or check off bucket-list destinations) with extensive travel and new experiences.
Others want to use their non-working years to pursue their hobbies or expand their minds. Other seniors still want to relax and enjoy themselves without a schedule to follow.
Best Cruise Lines For Single Seniors
Whatever your vacation goals, there’s a cruise line for you. And here’s a secret: The most popular cruises for seniors are often loved by younger cruisers, too.
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You won’t be stuck on a ship full of only adults — and you can travel with your family (if they have time off!).
While any cruise line can be a good choice for seniors, here are our picks for the five best cruise lines for senior citizens.
Holland America has long been a popular cruise line with seniors looking for a classy and classic cruise experience. The line’s midsize cruise ships prioritize simpler affairs — live music, shuffleboard, fine dining — over extravagant bling and crazy top-deck attractions.
You’ll find traditions here, such as ringing a bell to announce the start of dinner service and serving pea soup to chilling cruisers sighting glacier-spotting in Alaska.
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Seniors who want to explore the world while staying loyal to their favorite cruise line choose Holland America for its global itineraries, including annual world cruises and longer voyages.
Its Explorations Central department creates onboard activities to educate travelers about the culture, cuisine and attractions of their cruising region.
If Alaska is on your bucket list, Holland America has a long history in that area, and offers cruises on multiple ships each season. Its land-based pre- or post-cruise tours feature Alaska Railroad’s own wilderness resorts and cars, as well as routes into Canada’s Yukon that no one else offers.
The onboard pace may be convenient, but that doesn’t equal boring. Holland America’s commitment to live music has earned it accolades for its trio of musical hotspots: Billboard Onboard with its rockin’ pianists, B.B. King’s Blues Club bringing down the house with Memphis-style R&B, and Lincoln Center Stage for classical melodies. Its passengers embrace the fact that you’re never too old to boogie down.
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Foodies, or anyone who enjoys fine dining, can mix their own wines, attend cooking demos, and book reservations at several specialty dining venues and pop-up restaurants for in a romantic evening of fine wine and gourmet food. And seniors tired of relying on their grandchildren for tech help can pick up some computer-based tricks at Microsoft Studios’ onboard workshops.
For anyone traveling alone, Holland America pulls out all the stops. Its newest ships feature several single cabins priced for one, and the activities staff organizes get-togethers for solo travelers to meet, socialize, and enjoy the activity with a group.
One of the newer cruise ventures out there, Viking ocean liners have quickly become a favorite among the senior cruiser crowd. Mature travelers appreciate the line’s commitment to destination immersion, a variety of dining options, well-thought-out cabins, and no up-charges.
For seniors on the go, Viking is about the destination, rather than the many fun days at sea. You get to explore a new port almost every day, with one or more shore excursions in each port.
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Cruisers can pay extra for extra-special experiences, but don’t have to pay a dime on tours if they don’t want to. Itineraries also feature at least one overnight stay in port, so passengers can dine at a local restaurant or watch an evening cultural performance.
Every ship in the fleet is custom-built for the line and they are all very similar, so loyal passengers won’t find too many surprises on the cruise. All cabins are spacious, with thoughtful touches like king-size beds, spacious showers, heated bathroom floors, free movies on demand, and balconies in every room.
Viking is also committed to a more inclusive cruise fare. In addition to free shore excursions in each port, the line includes Wi-Fi, all onboard restaurants and room service, its thermal suite, self-serve laundry facilities, and plenty of beverages (specialty tea and coffee, bottled water , and wine, beer, and soda with lunch and dinner) in its fare. Thrifty people will appreciate the incredible value they get for their money.
Onboard entertainment is low-key, but organized with Viking’s target audience in mind. Learn more about your travel destination from a resident historian, or watch a TED talk. Enjoy live music in the public lounges, an intimate musical show in the Torshavn lounge, or a rockin’ Beatles show on the pool deck. Some ships even have planetariums.
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If you’re thinking about a multigenerational cruise with your grandchildren, think again. Viking has a no kids policy, and all passengers must be 18 or older.
Some luxury lines nail it with fine dining, attentive service, well-appointed onboard spaces, and leisurely itineraries…but no variety of entertainment because the ships are so small. Crystal is one of the best luxury cruise lines for seniors because it strikes the right note between total pampering and a huge variety of things to do.
Crystal’s ships are slightly larger than its high-end competitors, which translates into more space for dining and activity options. In one evening, you can choose between the main Broadway-inspired show in the theater, a comedian or cabaret in a smaller show lounge, a live duo hosting an Irish Pub Night in the bar, or even a movie in the theater . Entertainment is a focus for the line, not an afterthought, and Crystal makes the most of the space it has.
Itineraries hit many exotic ports, but be sure to include plenty of sea days for enjoying bridge workshops, mahjong games, ballroom dance classes (with gentlemanly hosts to squire single women), guest speakers, golf clinics…or a lie-in and lounge -about entertaining day. Spend an afternoon at the spa, and you’ll feel like you’ve found the fountain of youth.
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There are also many choices when it comes to dining. You’ll become a sushi convert at Nobu’s onboard restaurant, gorge yourself on meat at the Brazilian churrascaria, or try it all at family-friendly dining at the Silk Kitchen. Oenophiles can book an intimate, gourmet wine dinner in the Vintage Room. Even the all-day snacks at the Bistro and the burgers at the Trident Grill are a cut above.
Crystal has branched out into river, yacht, and expedition cruising, so seniors who want to change things up can try different types of ships and itineraries without sacrificing the Crystal quality they’ve come to know and love. loved River ships ply the Rhine and Danube, intimate yachts sail to the Greek Isles and Seychelles, and expedition ships venture to the poles. Combine that with annual world trips, and Crystal has plenty of ways to help you check off those bucket list destinations.
Retirees who want to vacation with their children and grandchildren, or who want to choose large ships without the sluggish speed of mega-ship behemoths, should look to Princess. Its ships are large (but not too large) and have cabin, activity, and dining options for a variety of budgets and interests.
The patriarch of the family can book into a spacious suite to host family gatherings and enjoy VIP perks, while younger relatives can book rooms with smaller price tag, or can sleep a family of four without breaking the bank. Seniors can enjoy a cooking class or casino spree, escape to the adults-only Sanctuary sun deck, and even renew their vows. (Princess, after all, is the Love Boat cruise line.) Meanwhile, the grandkids can make friends at the Camp Discovery kids club, hit the pool, or play on the digital screens around the ship.
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In the evening, the whole family can get together for dinner and a show. Celebrate a milestone birthday or anniversary at the steakhouse or Italian trattoria, be casual at the buffet or have a pizza dinner, or meet in the main dining room where the menu can accommodate all tastes and dietary restrictions.
You won’t find rock-climbing walls or waterslides on Princess ships, though late-night movies on the pool deck, complete with popcorn, are a popular after-dinner event. During the day, you’ll find plenty of activities — from themed parties to animal demos and live performances — taking place in its piazza-style atrium.
In the evenings, main stage shows feature the talents of Jim Henson and Stephen Schwartz — as well as some of your talented The Voice of the Ocean shipmates. (Although not all shows are on every ship, so consider that before booking if this is an important option for your family.)
With nearly 15 ships, Princess goes almost anywhere you want to cruise. The line is well-established in Alaska, gets rave reviews for its Japan sailings, and offers plenty of North American options in Mexico (its original Love Boat route), the Pacific Coast, Hawaii, and Canada/New England. That’s in addition to staple cruise itineraries to the Caribbean (great for a fun day out with the family) and Europe (for an easy outing with the grandkids).
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