There are some cruise lines that only welcome travelers 18 and older, including Virgin Voyages and Viking. Oceania Cruises only recently entered this arena with an official announcement of plans to operate as an adults-only cruise line.

For Oceania Cruises, the choice came down to maintaining a quieter, more sophisticated atmosphere and experience onboard for all passengers. According to Nathan Hickman, CCO, Oceania Cruises, the cruise line has historically carried “very few children, with the majority of them traveling with us during the summer and December holiday periods.” The shift to an adults-only line reflects Oceania Cruises’ rebrand as luxury.

Should luxury cruise lines be allowed to ban kids? Passengers seeking adults-only cruises do so because they are guaranteed child-free, more refined experiences. Often, luxury ships are smaller than the massive lines one would expect with Royal Caribbean or Disney. This means there aren’t dedicated facilities, like kids’ clubs or water parks, for children on smaller luxury vessels. The lack of such facilities can easily cause boredom in young passengers, and this could prove problematic if children express their boredom in behavioral issues.

Then one must consider the shared amenities. Unsupervised kids invading a pool where other adult passengers are relaxing can cause a disturbance. Many luxury ships also feature hot tubs, which often spell trouble when young guests are left to their own devices.

But then there are parents wishing to travel with their children in a high-end manner. And, let’s face it, some children are far better behaved than others. There’s also the factor of age: A 2-year-old is going to act much differently than a 16-year-old. Families willing to pay more for a more luxurious cruise with older children who can travel respectfully argue the unfairness of being restricted from select cruises because of the behaviors of others that caused the policies to be enacted in the first place.

There are, however, brands that try to do the best of both. Windstar Cruises, for instance, has a minimum age requirement of 8 instead of 18, allowing families with slightly older children to enjoy the trip.

Holland America Line, a cruise line perhaps once known for older passengers (despite never having an age ban), is also working to cater to younger guests with its innovative kids’ clubs, programming and babysitting services.

What are your thoughts on certain cruise lines having age limits? Have you had a negative experience on a cruise involving young passengers? Email us at letters@globaltravelerusa.com. Please include your full name and location.