"I'm looking for a cruise with no kids. An 'adults only' cruise would be great.
"I want a cruise with lots of kids' activities."
I get requests for both kinds of cruises, and paradoxically, sometimes the two types of cruises are actually the same cruise. First, let's consider the case where a client wants a cruise with as few kids as possible. Some cruise lines discourage kids onboard by having absolutely no kids' activities. If you book a cruise like that, and there are some kids onboard, that just tells you that the travel agent for those families didn't really book them on the right cruise. But generally, kids will be few and far between.
But suppose you want a cruise with few kids but the cruise lines that discourage kids onboard just aren't for you. (There could be lots of reasons for this.) In that case, you might be best off with a cruise line that has lots of kids programs. As strange as this sounds, when the cruise line is keeping the kids busy with planned activities, they are not running around the ship on their own and you don't see them too much. And more and more of these cruise lines are also starting to add adult only sections of the ship. Remember too, that if you choose a late seating for dining (8:00 PM) the dining room will have fewer kids. The ships in the "contemporary" class of cruise lines usually have the most kids activities.
Of course if you're taking your kids on a cruise, there are lots of cruise lines that have organized, age appropriate activities. Many have optional baby sitting services available if you want a late night out with your significant other. Some ships have limited activities while in port, so if you want to leave the kids behind while you go off on a shore excursion, make sure you ask your travel agent about the extent of activities while in port.
So take the kids, or not. Either way there are good choices available.
