AARP Hearing Center
Cruises are one of the hottest trends in travel, with estimates that 2026 could be the biggest year yet, as both seasoned cruisers and newbies choose to take their vacations on the high seas. To meet the demand, more than 25 new oceangoing cruise ships are expected to enter the market between 2025 and 2027.
“Cruising is one of the best vacation options for travelers over 50,” says Teresa Tennant, senior vice president at Cruise Specialists, a world cruise and luxury cruise travel agency. “It offers tremendous value, comfort and the chance to see the world without the hassle of constant packing and unpacking.” And travelers agree. A record 34.64 million global cruisers set sail in 2024 — 50 percent of whom were 50 and older, according to the Cruise Lines International Association’s State of the Cruise Industry Report 2025.
Cruises are also an excellent option for adults with mobility concerns. Debra Kerper, owner of Easy Access Travel, a franchise of Cruise Planners specializing in accessible travel, notes that several factors should be considered when booking a cruise — beyond the type of stateroom you choose and the itinerary. She recommends reserving a fully accessible room and selecting a cruise line with good accessibility for areas on the ship. She advises, “Using a travel consultant who is familiar with all these aspects can be extremely beneficial for a successful experience.”
If you’re ready to cast off for your next (or inaugural) cruise adventure, these seven cruise lines offer a myriad of options for destinations, accommodations, dining and entertainment.
Fine dining is available in the restaurant on American Cruise Lines’ ‘Pioneer’ ship.
Courtesy American Cruise Lines
American Cruise Lines
American Cruise Lines offers more than 50 U.S.–based itineraries ranging from seven to 55 days. Guests don’t need a passport to sail on any of its 90- to 180-passenger ships, since the entire fleet is flagged in the U.S. Its domestic itineraries include river cruises on the Mississippi, the Columbia and the Snake, and the Hudson rivers. The line also offers coastal voyages, combined land-and-cruise National Parks itineraries, extended cruises, holiday and themed sailings.
One of American’s newest ships (debuted in October 2025), the 130-guest American Pioneer, is small enough to tuck into smaller ports and harbors larger vessels can’t reach. The ship will sail round-trip eight-night voyages from St. Petersburg, Florida, and 15-night Florida Gulf & Keys cruises through April 2026, before repositioning to New England for the summer. Ports of call on the eight-night Florida cruise include Tampa, Punta Gorda, Marco Island, Key West and Dry Tortugas National Park. All-inclusive pricing starts at $6,575 per person (double occupancy).
Viking will debut one of its newest ships in the spring of 2026. Here, a pool on one of its oceangoing vessels.
Viking
Viking
Viking offers river, expedition and oceangoing cruises in destinations around the globe. The ocean ships accommodate between 930 and 998 adults-only (18 and older) guests and feature elegant Scandinavian-inspired spaces and an extensive enrichment program on board and ashore. Set to debut in the spring of 2026, one of Viking’s newest ships, Viking Mira, will sail itineraries in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe during its inaugural season.
A new itinerary for the line, the 12-day Iberia, France & England Explorer, is available on Sept. 26, 2026, aboard Viking Mira. The voyage includes iconic European cities renowned for their wine, culture and gastronomy, such as Lisbon and Porto in Portugal and Bordeaux and Paris in France. The itinerary begins in London, where it will then traverse the River Thames before sailing to Dover, England, and Paris. Guests will disembark in Lisbon after additional stops in France, Spain and Portugal. Viking’s inclusive pricing starts at $6,999 per person (double occupancy) for the voyage.
