Ocean Cruises That Cater to Seniors

Many seniors would like a cruise experience that caters to them. EWY Media/Shutterstock

One nice thing about retirement is the spare time you’ve gained. It allows you to do whatever you want, and that includes traveling. Many seniors would like a cruise experience that caters to them. Several cruise lines keep seniors in mind when sailing.

Choosing the right cruise lines and destinations can be fun but challenging. You may want an adult-only cruise, or you may want to bring the grandchildren along to make memories. Regardless of what you want, there are a lot of choices.

How to Choose a Cruise Line

There are some basic steps to finding the right cruise. It all starts with your budget. Decide how much you can spend and how long you want the trip to be.

It’s wise to break the budget down to cost per night rather than the entire cruise price. Cost per night is the great equalizer. It will let you compare apples to apples when deciding between cruise lines for the same destination.

Destinations are the second step, and you’ll want to note if a cruise line goes to different destinations on the same voyage or to just one.

You’ll also want to know the cruise line’s reputation. It’s imperative you read reviews. Things to look for include:

• how guests are treated
• food quality
• if the cruise aligns with your interest (kid-friendly, adult-only)
• customer satisfaction

And, finally, what amenities and activities do the cruise lines offer? Different ships offer activities that are geared toward separate interests and ages.

Cruise Lines That Offer Different Activities for Seniors

There are three types of cruises available. When considering a line, it’s important to be aware of exactly who the cruise is targeting and if that’s you. Read what activities and amenities are offered so you won’t have any surprises.

Floating Amusement Park

With the floating amusement park, you’ll have several amusements. There are an endless array of deck-top fun zones. Some of these could be water parks, surfing pools, go-kart tracks, laser tag, and other such activities and distractions.

There also are, usually, casinos, restaurants, and other entertainment venues.

These cruise lines typically target families and active adults. They’re not a place to just relax by the pool.

If you’re taking the family with grandchildren, you’ll want to look at Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and MSC cruises. They have all the amusement park-like features. But these ships are big and can hold thousands of people.

For example, according to U.S. News, MSC’s ships carry 2,620 passengers to 6,762 passengers. Ships that are newer in the fleet tend to be bigger with a more amusement park-like atmosphere.

Anti-Amusement Park

Anti-amusement park ships are smaller and are not loaded with water parks and surfing simulators. These are the more traditional cruise ships. They’re for people who want a quiet cruise with lazy days by the pool. There isn’t a floating theme park or Las Vegas resort experience.

The experience includes more classic entertainment, a classy bar, and a music scene.

Ship lines that offer this type of experience include Princess, Holland America Line (HAL), and Celebrity. These ship lines skew older than the amusement-park ships.

For example, according to Vocal Media, the average age group on Holland America is 55–75.

Cruising With Mobility Issues

Holland America is one of the best cruise ships for those with mobility issues. It has accessible cruising with wheelchair-friendly staterooms on all HAL ships.

Passengers can make arrangements ahead of time with the Access Compliance Department. You can secure wheelchairs, scooters, and other amenities to support any disability issue, or you can bring your own mobility devices.

What Goes Into Cruise Pricing

The time of year you travel and the destination are major factors in determining the cost of the cruise. Whether you choose an interior cabin or one with a porthole or balcony will also determine the price.

For example, according to U.S. News, a cruise can cost $109 per person in an interior cabin for a four-night Bahama cruise to up to $101,199 per person for an entry-level suite on a 168-world cruise.

There are mass-market cruise lines. They include:

• Royal Caribbean International
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• MSC Cruises
• Carnival Cruise Lines

Upscale mass-market cruise lines include:

• Celebrity Cruises
• Holland America Line
• Cunard Line
• Disney Cruise Line
• Princess Cruises

All cruise lines advertise “starting from” base fares. These are all inside cabins and are less expensive than staterooms. Inside cabins don’t have windows.

But staying in an inside cabin still gives you access to all the complimentary dining venues and several types of non-alcoholic beverages. You’ll also have access to the ship’s pools, gym facilities, kids’ clubs, and onboard entertainment.

So, if you aren’t planning on staying in your room except for sleeping, an inside cabin will save you money.

The base price for any type of room excludes port expenses, taxes, and fees. Those fees will automatically add to the cost of your cruise. Staff gratuities will also be added to the base fee.

Be on the lookout for deals on older ships. They usually are less expensive than the newer ones—but they also don’t have all the bells and whistles.

Choosing the Best Cruise for You

Choosing the best cruise for you may come down to price and destination. Be aware, however, that different cruise lines offer different activities and are geared toward separate age groups.

If you just want a quiet, easy cruise with few or no children, a non-amusement-park line may be for you. When you bring the grandchildren with you, you may want the waterslides and go-kart.

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