I didn’t think cruising was for me until I tried an adults-only voyage

• In April 2022, I cruised on a Royal Caribbean ship packed with kids and didn’t enjoy it.
• A year later, I took a luxury, adults-only Virgin Voyages cruise and had a far better experience.
• I learned that when booking a cruise, finding a ship that matches your needs is important.

Cruising is more than a vacation — it’s a lifestyle.

During my first cruise on board Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas in 2022, several passengers told me that every vacation they take is a cruise. It was easy for me to see why. There was something special about waking up in the middle of the ocean.

But sleepless nights, crowded communal decks, and raucous kids made me think cruising simply wasn’t for me.

My annoyances would have been enough to write off the vacation style until I learned about adults-only cruises.

A year later, I embarked on a seven-day, adults-only Mediterranean cruise on board Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady ship.

I hoped that an upscale ship free of children and with more activities geared toward adults would change my mind, and it did.

My first cruise was aboard Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas — one of the largest ships of its kind.

The first difference I noticed between my two voyages was the size of each ship.

Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas was the world’s largest cruise ship back in 2022. At 1,200 feet long and 210 feet tall, the 235,600-gross-ton ship has eight “neighborhoods,” 18 decks, and can hold up to 7,000 passengers.

The ship felt overcrowded, and I got lost navigating its many decks.

On my Royal Caribbean cruise, I learned from the crew that there were roughly 5,000 people on board. Although the ship wasn’t at capacity, it certainly felt like it to me.

Finding an empty chair near one of the three large pools was nearly impossible after 10 a.m., and even though the ship had 24 elevators, there was often a line to take them.

In fact, there was a line to do pretty much everything, from activities to the breakfast buffet. Shows required reservations, which quickly filled up.

The size of the ship was daunting, too. Getting around felt like wandering a maze. By the time I got used to the sprawling layout, the cruise was over.

Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady ship was smaller.

On my Virgin Voyages cruise, the Valiant Lady ship’s smaller size felt more manageable. At 125 feet tall and 910 feet long, the 110,000 gross-ton ship had 17 decks with a maximum capacity of 2,700, although there were only about 1,000 on board during my voyage, representatives from the cruise line told Business Insider.

Although there was less to do on board, I preferred the smaller ship because it was less crowded and easier to navigate.

The intimate ship size meant fewer activities, but I didn’t mind since navigating the decks was easier. There were only two pools, but they were far less crowded, and I had an easier time finding empty pool chairs throughout the day.

While I could make reservations for meals and shows on the Valiant Lady, I quickly realized I didn’t need to. The restaurants often had empty tables, and I could wander into any venue when I heard interesting live tunes. This made my days feel more spontaneous, and the whole trip felt more relaxing since I wasn’t rushing around.

The communal decks on the Wonder of the Seas felt hectic with kids running around.

Children bumped into me while running to the pool, I stepped in ice cream they dropped on the deck, and screaming filled my ears when I tried to relax on the top decks. Altogether, it made my vacation feel less relaxing than it could have been.

Without kids on board, the upper decks of the Valiant Lady felt more relaxing.

Virgin Voyages cruises are limited to guests 18 and up.

As a result, I experienced quiet pool decks and relaxing dinners. The whole ship felt calmer.

The numerous pools, activities, and shows on the Wonder of the Seas made the ship seem geared toward families.

While there was an adults-only area, splash pools, water slides, and zip lines filled the upper decks of Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas. This made the ship ideal for families with thrill-seeking kids — but I don’t like thrills.

I felt cringey sharing activities with children.

Every time I got in line to do an activity, I felt awkward as a solo adult traveler standing among children. It made me hyper-aware of my age.

With an adults-only crowd, the activities on board the Valiant Lady made me feel like a kid again.

Since I was only with fellow adults on the Virgin Voyages cruise, I wondered if that might create a stuffy environment. But the ship’s child-like seesaws and swings, kickboxing bags, and games like foosball, basketball, and a gigantic chessboard made me feel young again.

I loved having the chance to relax and unwind playfully, and sitting on a swing with an ocean view was way more fun than standing in line for a 30-second waterslide ride.

I struggled to sleep during my Royal Caribbean cruise.

On my first cruise, I hardly slept. Getting used to the sway of the ship was challenging enough as I closed my eyes at night. But the added discomfort of my bed — two twin mattresses pushed together — made it even harder. And when I did get some shut-eye, I woke up in the crevice between the beds.

The comforts of a luxury cruise ship made sleeping through the night easier.

On the Virgin Voyages ship, I had one queen-sized bed, which was much more comfortable than the two mattresses in my Royal Caribbean cabin.

Other comforting details made my Virgin Voyages cabin feel fit for a VIP, including mood lighting, a tablet with smart controls, and a private balcony where I could get some air when I felt seasick.

These details made my stay cozy and restful. Getting enough sleep made it easier for me to appreciate the whole trip more than my first cruise.

With two cruises under my belt, I can see now that not all voyages are the same.

To enjoy the cruising lifestyle for yourself, it takes finding a ship that matches your desires as a traveler.

I’m glad I didn’t completely write off cruises. Going forward, you just might find me on one, so long as it’s a smaller ship and, ideally, for adults only.

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