Sail into Excitement
Finding the best cruise lines for young adults can be challenging - if you’re in your 20s or 30s, cruises can often seem out of budget or designed for families or older generations. However, many big cruise lines have cottoned onto this gap in the market.
Now, dozens of unique cruises offer everything you could want, from late-night parties to renowned cocktail bars, classy restaurants and relaxing spas. If you’re considering going on a cruise and want just the right mix of adventure, travel and plenty of exciting things to do onboard your ship, these are the cruise lines you should be looking at for an epic vacation you can enjoy with all your friends.
Best Cruise Lines for Young Adults
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International is a cruise line frequently voted as one of the best for young adults planning a vacation. Royal Caribbean's ships, such as Symphony of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas, are destinations in themselves. They feature state-of-the-art amenities like surf simulators, zip lines and even ice-skating rinks, so you’ll never run out of things to do. Young people and groups of any age will love the plethora of activities, from Broadway-style shows to rock climbing walls.
Royal Caribbean International is also famed for its incredible dining, with everything from casual buffets to specialty restaurants serving gourmet cuisine from all corners of the globe. Royal Caribbean's nightlife scene is also buzzing for those still young enough to stay up burning the midnight oil. Enjoy dancing, performances and theater shows, live music and themed parties that keep the fun going into the early hours. The onboard bars and clubs are perfect for mingling with fellow cruisers and are great for meeting people of a similar age.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line is the go-to choice for non-stop fun for young adults if you're looking for a cruise line that lives up to its name. Almost everything onboard their ships is designed with fun in mind! This includes their deck parties and themed events and entertainment. After all that, you’ll also have an amazing stateroom to go and crash in. Carnival's fleet also features a diverse range of entertainment options. Whether it's comedy shows, live music or the many water parks onboard the ships, they make it their mission to ensure you won’t be bored.
All that fun will have you quickly working up an appetite, but luckily, Carnival offers a wide array of dining options, from Italian and Japanese to Tex-Mex and buffets. The flexible dining schedules on their cruises also mean you can enjoy a leisurely meal before hitting the dance floor almost any time you want. Late-night pizza parties and 24/7 room service add to the convenience, keeping you fueled for the next adventure.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line is synonymous with freedom and flexibility, and they travel to a diverse range of vacation destinations. Norwegian coined the term "Freestyle Cruising," and it's a game-changer for young adults. Freestyling means you can dine when you want, where you want and with whoever you want. And it goes beyond just dining, allowing you to design your whole cruise experience to fit your requirements.
Norwegian’s cruise ships, like the Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Bliss, have cutting-edge designs and modern amenities, such as go-kart racetracks, laser tag arenas and water parks, which are the ultimate if you’re traveling with a group of friends. The cruise line also offers a myriad of dining experiences where you can have a sit-down, elegant dinner one night and a casual snack the next day, depending on how you feel.
MSC Cruises
With a huge fleet of ships, MSC Cruises is the perfect cruise line for young adults who want to combine fun with a bit of luxury. Their ships, such as the MSC Meraviglia and MSC Seaside, all have modern designs, luxurious amenities and gorgeous staterooms, so you’ll be comfortable throughout your journey. MSC’s food options are vast: they have main dining venues onboard each ship that generally serve international menus and themed evening meals, while their other onboard restaurants and cafes whip up a range of food for three meals a day.
For those keen to make the most of the onboard amenities, MSC has some of the best entertainment, such as performances by Cirque du Soleil and hit Broadway shows. There are also clubs, bars and themed parties, like white parties, foam parties and more, for those keen to party into the early hours.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity’s cruise ships, like the Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Apex, are, once again, a little more elegant and luxurious than many other cruise lines, meaning they’re perfect for chilling out or having a good time after a shore excursion.
Amenities like their spas and upscale restaurants are slightly more suited to young couples or honeymooners, but most young people will find something fun to do onboard. They also have many clubs and world-class bars onboard for a wild night out on the ship. During the day, they still cater to everyone, with some having hundreds of types of craft beer, great cocktail lists and live music.
The food on Celebrity Cruise Line is renowned in the cruising world for its innovation, so anyone who likes Instagrammable plates of food will love it here! Their restaurants are from countries worldwide. Dishes are served with spectacular presentation, while you can expect cocktails in quirky glasses, perfect for posing in the sun!
Adventure Awaits
If you're a young adult seeking an exciting cruise experience, these top 5 cruise lines are tailor-made for adventure! With a variety of thrilling activities and sights to explore, you're in for an amazing time at sea. Get ready for an unforgettable journey with these fantastic choices. Bon voyage!
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