10 best cruise lines for seniors

Holland America Line

These mid-sized ships exude the charm of a classic cruise experience, at a budget-friendly rate. Known for its classy onboard entertainment, like chamber music performers, blues musicians, BBC Earth Natural History presentations and destination-themed movies, Holland America Line offers a mellow ride to popular, tourist-friendly cities around the world.

• Known for low prices and routes that visit picturesque cities in the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii and beyond. Just keep in mind that you’ll need to pay extra for shore excursions.

• Best for single seniors looking to make friends. Holland America Line offers a Single Partners Program where solo travelers can meet and be matched by gender to share double occupancy rooms to avoid single supplements.

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity’s indulgent ships feature formal foyers, curated libraries and upscale bars and casinos. It offers entertainment and activities inspired by your itinerary, from food and wine pairing workshops to hands-on art classes, lectures and language classes. Book a movable feast cruise to take gourmet cooking classes and dine with pro chefs atop the waves.

Book a suite if you want to be pampered by a European-style butler. Gratuities, drinks and Wi-Fi are always included in your fare.

• Known for family-friendly cruises with elevated dining options and a certified sommelier in every restaurant.

• Best for seniors that are cruising with multigenerational families. It has adults-only lounge areas and STEM clubs for the kids.

Cunard

Cunard’s cruises evoke visions of a bygone era — genteel, sophisticated and refined, complete with afternoon tea. Cunard hosts gala balls and international cabaret artists in the evening. Its ships feature guest speakers who are experts in the fields of filmmaking, politics, science, history and more — perfectly themed for the regions you’ll travel to.

Onboard, attend educational lectures, Shakespearean plays and musicals. Join a dance club to learn new moves, loosen your joints in the summing pool or simply enjoy relative peace and quiet on the deck.

• Known for white glove service at evening meals and a sparkling bottle of wine in your stateroom upon arrival.

• Best for seniors cruisers in search of old world charm and elegance.

Azamara

Azamara offers slower itineraries designed to help you access the authentic culture of each destination, with golf and holiday cruises available, too. Expand your horizons onboard at wine tastings, themed seminars, culinary destinations and a cozy, curated library.

With Azamara, you’ll enjoy longer stays at each destination than with most cruise lines, so you can truly immerse yourself in your new surroundings. To top that, Azamara’s fleet of award-winning ships welcomes a maximum of only 690 guests per ship — so you don’t need to worry about being lost in a crowd of thousands, like with Carnival or Royal Caribbean.

• Known for itineraries that include overnight stays on land, in addition to your time at sea.

• Best for seniors that want more time at each port.

• Deal — 50% off single supplements on select voyages.

Silversea

Silversea’s ships are intimate, with 50 to 304 suites depending on the ship, and offer personalized indulgence to match, with butler service included in your fare. Because of its small vessels, Silversea can dock at niche ports in remote villages and lesser-known towns that large cruise lines simply can’t access. It’s like traveling the world on a friend’s yacht, with free-flowing champagne and caviar.

Every cabin has an ocean view, and there are specialty restaurants for when you want to splurge on a particular feast. Most of your fellow passengers will be over the age of 60.

• Known for white-glove sophistication and excursion specialists who help you plan your perfect day at every port.

• Best for seniors looking to indulge in true luxury.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Regent Seven Seas includes roundtrip flights to and from your home base in the price of all its cruises. It’s a wonderful choice if your idea of vacation is letting someone else worry about the details, as everything from shore excursions to gratuities are included in the fare. Its grand voyages and world cruises last from one to three months or even longer if you’ve got ample time to retire and relax above the waves.

For entertainment, there’s a casino, fitness center and spa, karaoke, trivia and a curated library. There’s afternoon tea and even a put-put green for cruisers that want to practice their swing.

• Known for a 1:1.5 staff-to-passenger ratio, for personalized service whenever you need it.

• Best for: Seniors who are willing to pay extra for a tailor-made experience and superior customer service.

Viking

Sail away amid minimalist Scandinavian design with plenty of natural light. Viking’s elevated selection of shore excursions include trips to opera houses, world-renowned galleries and dazzling churches. You’ll be in good company, as most passengers are 50 or older.

The gourmet food and drink served onboard is all inspired by local cuisine. Engage with the resident historian, watch TED talk screenings or relax in the curated library.

• Known for bringing guest lecturers, historians and cultural performers aboard to enhance your experience.

• Adults only

• Best for seniors with a special interest in history and art.

Tauck

Tauck aims to surprise and delight its passengers with special shore excursions that you won’t find anywhere else, like prepaying for pastries as a hole-in-the-wall patisserie in Paris and arranging private operatic performances in Austria. Soak in the hot tub on deck, enjoy regionally-inspired meals and relax into complimentary transfers to and from the port.

Choose Tauck if you’re looking to check exotic destinations off your bucket list, like the Galapagos Islands, Iceland, the Norwegian Fjords, the Panama Canal, Antarctica and more. Not only does Tauck emphasize authenticity and adventure, it’s also all-included and luxurious.

• Known for unique shore excursions that get to the heart of every destination.

• Best for seniors that want an immersive experience in foreign cities, in the company of expert guides.

• Deal — No single supplement on all European river cruises. Discounted supplements on other other river cruises and tours.

Avalon Waterways

This cruise line has a reputation for perfectly pleasant voyages down some of the world’s most majestic rivers, including the Amazon, Ganges, Mekong, Nile, Rhine, Danube and more. Pay extra for a Panorama Suite and you’ll get a floor-to-ceiling window to watch the world go by from the comfort of your cabin.

Avalon Waterways include shore excursions, Wi-Fi, onboard activities and locally-sourced wine with most meals. The library comes well-stocked, the beds are customizable (choose how firm or soft the mattress and pillows are) and it offers breakfasts for early and late risers, so you can start the day at your leisure.

• Known for its curated selection of themed cruises, like photography, culinary, history, Jewish heritage, garden and even a cruise themed for the Outlander series.

• Best for seniors that want good overall value and complimentary shore excursions.

• Deal — It waives the single supplement on select cruises. Couples can get up to $1,500 off select cruises.

American Cruise Lines

TThese classic cruises through the US combine educational activities with enriching entertainment, gracious service and a complimentary cocktail hour for a laidback, inspiring experience. You’ll feel like a VIP with complimentary hotel stays for before and after your trip, along with transfers to and from the port.

Every cabin has its own private balcony, so you can unwind in peace and quiet when you need a break from the bustle of public areas. Its 35 itineraries visit 28 states, and all of American Cruise Line’s ships were made right here in the USA. It has themed cruises for the American Revolution, Music Cities and more.

• Known for educational voyages through the heartland, New England, Puget Sound, Alaska and more.

• Best for history buffs, anthropology nuts and cruisers with a keen interest in American culture.

• All ships are wheelchair-accessible.