More and more cruise ships have become adults-only in recent years, but a kid-free vacation can start well before passengers step on board.
At least, that’s the idea behind the new "Do Not Disturb" flight-and-cruise package from JetBlue Vacations and Virgin Voyages. The trip will take guests on an 18+ JetBlue flight from New York to Florida to board the adults-only cruise line’s newest ship, Brilliant Lady
."People feel exhausted, and what people are looking for when they get away, when they travel, is being able to reconnect or potentially connect back to somebody or some group of people, and that's what you get when you get onto a kid-free experience," Nirmal Saverimuttu, the cruise line’s CEO, said during an early October news briefing. "And
so the idea of these brands partnering and creating a fully end-to-end kid-free experience is a truly one-of-a-kind vacation experience."
What will the kid-free flight and cruise be like?
The four-night trip starts March 4, 2027, at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, where guests will depart on a charter flight for Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Upon landing, they’ll receive transfers to PortMiami and priority boarding during embarkation.
The ship will visit Key West and the cruise line’s Bimini beach club in the Bahamas, which Saverimuttu said is the cruise line’s "most popular voyage." There will be numerous perks along the way, from an "in-flight toast" to kick off the trip to a private welcome party aboard the vessel with a custom cocktail, according to the release.
How much does the kid-free flight and cruise package cost?
The trip package costs $2,750 for two guests, including taxes and fees. The package is limited to 60 cabins and the cost covers round-trip flights, the cruise fare, gratuities, airport transfers and a $100 Bar Tab drinks credit for each cabin.
The first 60 guests to arrive will get access to JetBlue’s BlueHouse loungeat JFK, and travelers will earn toward both JetBlue and Virgin Voyages loyalty rewards. Bookings open at noon ET on Oct. 21, and travelers can make reservations by calling JetBlue Vacations at 1-844-528-2229.
The package is a one-time offering for now.
"JetBlue Vacations’ cruise business has doubled from last year and is on track to double again next year," Jamie Perry, President of Paisly, which powers JetBlue Vacations, said during the news briefing. "So, clearly this is something that people want, and I think we believe that this is a particular version of the experience that people are going to be excited by. So, watch this space."
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why JetBlue is betting on a kid-free flight
