The Top Five Reasons Why Your Clients Need an Adults-Only Cruise

How many of your clients are looking for an escape? Would you say pretty much all of them right about now? Now imagine offering them a break that was purely adult-focused, luxurious, and free from all the burdens that have been wearing them down for the past year. Sounds like pure gold to me.

For many, 2020 upped the responsibility ante to a level grown-ups never experienced before. Not only did the average adult remain a financial provider and caretaker for their offspring or elderly parents, they also had to balance the hats of teacher, therapist, work-at-home employee and entertainer. Suffice it to say, these people need a vacation and they need it bad.

While options certainly abound for a getaway, TMR spoke to a number of travel advisors who put adult cruising at the top of their list of offerings. Here are their reasons why:

1. No Kids. Of course this reason had to be number one, but did you really consider what this means? Not only does “no kids” mean your clients leave their own children home (if they have them), it also means no one else’s children will be coming along for their sail either. Translation: they can say what they want out loud and let their inhibitions go!
   
   “Not having to worry about children in any space, whether it’s the pool or the dining room, adult cruising offers a feeling of freedom that fills a blank space in the market right now,” said Karen Krugliak, owner and manager of Brit Olom Tours in Miami. “Adults become the master of their time on board.”

2. Grown-ups are in the spotlight. All of the on-board amenities focus on adults and only Your clients don’t have to share the entertainment with families because the emphasis is on satisfying and exceeding adult indulgences. They can ditch the buffets and assigned-seating dining halls and replace it with a plethora of fine dining options alongside sophisticated bars and lounges manned by serious mixologists. And they can even participate in a cooking class or wait for it … indulge in a spa service all alone or visit the tattoo parlor on board! Now, what’s more adult than that?

3. Inclusive Pricing.
   From unlimited wifi and an abundance of fitness classes on board to a variety of specialty restaurants that extend from burgers, tacos, and sushi to steak, seafood and Mediterranean, there’s no better way to indulge oneself than on an adults-only cruise. “My clients want as many things included as possible that they can’t get when they go away with the family. They want group workouts and healthy food and they want it to be a part of their daily routine. Adults-only venues are the best for offering all of this,” said Valerie Gossett, CEO and president of Premier Resources Travel Group based in Ellijay, Georgia.

4. Fun.
   It’s been said that youth is wasted on the young. Well, that might be true if adults didn’t have a playground like an adults-only cruise to take advantage of. Letting loose and having the freedom to be oneself has never been more desirable than now. Today’s travelers are seeking active vacations, whether it’s karaoke and dancing or yoga and a little gambling too. “People have cabin fever and they want to travel. It’s about being able to cut loose and have fun because this experience isn’t made for everybody, it’s made just for adults. It’s like having all of what a big trendy city has to offer but in one place,” said Dave Fowlie, owner/travel designer at Cruise Planners in San Diego. “If you want to be pampered but in a more adult way, this is the way to go.”

5. No schedules.
   Whether it’s time away from your employer or your kids or the desire to reconnect with your loved one or friends, an adults-only cruise certainly has the cure. With no schedules to keep, your clients’ days can be filled with all the things they have been craving this past year: great food, health and wellness, pampering and just plain enjoyment. Can’t escape for an entire week? Take a long four- or five-day weekend getaway and refresh and renew. Does your client want to travel alone? Or is he/she traveling with a group but wants their own space? Single cabins are in supply and meet that demand. 

Rosemary Martinek, a luxury travel specialist with Cruise Planners in Destin, Florida, contends there’s no age for this cruise. “Today I think people think younger and they want to refresh their soul and do things that make them feel young, happy and alive again. Covid-19 has kept us bound to our bubble and not able to live the life we knew once upon a time. These cruises are for people who want to experience something epic and different and break out of their routine.”

While family time was even more precious this year, it also reminded us that adult time is just as necessary. Whether it’s time spent with a significant other or a group of friends, your clients have earned this opportunity to do something just for themselves. Are your clients worthy of this guilty pleasure … minus the guilt?

FROM THE SPONSOR:
Virgin Voyages is a new lifestyle travel brand focused on delivering irresistible cruise vacations. The brand currently has four ships on order with master shipbuilder Fincantieri and has operations in the US, UK and across Europe. Virgin Voyages’ first ship, Scarlet Lady was designed to reflect a yacht’s sleek luxury, offering the intimate, elevated experience of a boutique hotel at sea. Featuring spaces designed by some of the top names in contemporary interiors, Scarlet Lady is Adult-by-Design and a sanctuary at sea for the 18+ traveler. A dose of Vitamin Sea will be naturally intertwined across the entire ship, with well-being, relaxation and rejuvenation at the forefront. Scarlet Lady will also feature alluring entertainment and 20+ world-class intimate eateries on board. With a modern twist on luxury, coupled with discerning design, Virgin Voyages offers incredible value for its sailors, including unlimited access to all restaurants and eateries, group fitness classes, free WiFi and tips covered in the voyage fare.

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