Here’s what the new policy means for travelers.
Oceania Cruises has gone adults-only. Effective January 7, the cruise line, a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, said it would no longer accept reservations from guests who had not yet reached their 18th birthday by the time of sailing.
That doesn’t mean children will immediately disappear from Oceania sailings, however. Oceania said that it would continue to honor reservations made prior to January 7 that include children under the age of 18.
Customer feedback was the primary reason for the change, said Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer of Oceania Cruises. “Our guests have consistently shared that the tranquil environment aboard our ships is one of the primary reasons they return time and time again. By transitioning to an adults-only experience, we are enhancing the very essence of the Oceania Cruises journey – one defined by sophistication, serenity and discovery.”
It’s worth noting that Oceania had never tailored the onboard experience to children. Although children do sail onboard the cruise line—which focuses on sophisticated dining and onboard activities like cooking classes and wine tastings—there are no dedicated children’s facilities or programmed activities. That had previously put Oceania as a peer among cruise lines such as Seabourn, Azamara, and Windstar—cruise lines that weren’t officially adult-only but didn’t offer onboard amenities or services that would appeal to younger travelers.
Continue Reading Article After Our Video
Recommended Fodor’s Video
Now with a firm 18+ policy, Oceania joins the ranks of cruises like Virgin Voyages and Viking, which have similar policies. Virgin cultivates a distinctively adult atmosphere onboard its ships, with extensive nightlife and adult-oriented parties. Viking largely appeals to older adults who prefer a quieter, refined atmosphere (Viking ships also lack casinos).
Many cruise passengers have expressed enough interest in respite from child passengers that even the largest mainstream cruise lines have installed adults-only areas onboard their ships. Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Disney, Celebrity, and MSC Cruises each offer an adults-only pool, sun deck, or solarium—sometimes for an additional fee. Many cruise lines also put age restrictions on certain spaces like spas and casinos.
In addition to feedback from past guests, Oceania also queried travel agent partners and past cruisers who hadn’t yet sailed with Oceania. The change differentiates Oceania within the NCL suite of cruise brands, as the mass market Norwegian and luxury all-inclusive Regent Seven Seas Cruises continue to accept children under 18, although like Oceania, Regent hasn’t historically offered extensive kids’ programming.
Oceania offers cruises to more than 600 ports in 100 countries on seven continents, and is anticipating significant growth in its fleet of ocean-going ships in the coming years. Focused on a more boutique cruise experience onboard ships still large enough to offer a full slate of amenities and services, the line’s largest ships accommodate around 1,200 passengers.
Oceania’s newest ship, Sonata a new eponymous class of ship in 2027, followed by additional ships in 2029, 2032, and 2035. Travelers wishing to guarantee an entirely child-free experience can book a sailing on Sonata for peace of mind—sailings on that ship have not yet opened for booking, so there won’t be any previous policy bookings that include children.
