Carnival is primarily recognized for providing affordable cruises that are suitable for families. The biggest cruise line globally, however, is dipping its toes into adult-only voyages with an emphasis on casino areas. 

Numerous blogs focused on cruising have recently announced that Carnival will launch adults-only cruises starting in August and continuing through the fall months. However, the exclusive offers are available for a short duration only. 

Referred to as SEA cruises, which stands for Sailings Exclusively for Adults, and ACES, meaning All-Casino Exclusive Sailings, Carnival has postponed the dry dock plans for Carnival Magic and Carnival Conquest and will now offer adults-only voyages. 

The alteration is a result of scheduling problems at the shipyard. Carnival Magic and Conquest will instead be in dry dock next spring. Carnival has also changed some Magic and Conquest sailings to ACES and SEA activities. 

Guests affected were recently notified that their cruise had transitioned from a family-oriented event to one exclusively for individuals 21 and older. 

“We have made an operational change for this voyage, designating it as a special Casino Event Cruise, dedicated to offering our playing enthusiasts thrilling and unique experiences,” Colleen Oliverio, director of Carnival guest sales, wrote to confirmed passengers

Families that had intended to embark on a cruise now classified as a SEA excursion are receiving help with rebooking their trips. 

SEA Not Accessible to Everyone 

Carnival's trial of adults-only cruises is available exclusively to loyal guests, mainly those involved in the cruise's casino loyalty initiative known as the Carnival Players Club. Carnival’s ACES trips will focus extensively on the onboard casinos and offer guests complimentary play along with various other casino promotions. 

The Carnival Players Club is complimentary to join and enables onboard gamblers to earn reward points for each slot spin and table game wager. Members of the rewards program are also given complimentary alcoholic beverages as they play. They also get special invites to Carnival Premier Cruises and tournaments for slot and table games at the casino. 

Although the minimum age to gamble on most cruise ships with casinos, such as Carnival, is 18, the cruise line's SEA adventures are designated for individuals aged 21 and older. 

Carnival Magic and Carnival Conquest, similar to many Carnival ships, feature both smoking and nonsmoking gaming areas. 

Carnival Prioritizes Family First 

Carnival is operating a limited selection of adults-only, casino-themed cruises, but the cruise line does not plan to increase its kids-free options or decrease the number of yearly family-oriented cruises. This is stated by Carnival representative John Heald.

"We are a proud family cruise line. We have been, and I’m sure we always will be. This is because we moved the dry dock and the casino has taken a couple of cruises and made them adults only. Because they are casino offers … these cruises are for adults only,” Heald explained.

A wholly owned subsidiary of the Carnival Corporation, Carnival Cruise Line has 29 ships in operation across 11 classes. The fleet will expand to 32 vessels in 2027 with Carnival Festivale and to 33 in 2028 with Carnival Tropicale. Both ships are being built by German shipbuilder Meyer Werft.