Rock the Boat

Sail single or cruise double on these ocean adventures

By Lena Katz

Air travel's a pain, road trips are too much work and bus tours are just...not sexy. But a cruise...

No wonder cruises -- formerly the preferred travel method for retirees and families -- are enjoying a renaissance among active travelers 21 and over.

Of particular interest is the ever-expanding slate of cruise programs geared toward singles, younger couples and people looking to spice up their love lives. Princess even introduced a "Celebrate Romance" enrichment course to its 2007 Scholarship@Sea program. For those who are less academic in their amorous pursuits, here are 2008 cruise options that run the gamut from fun and flirtatious weekend getaways to once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Sail solo
No shirt? No date? No problem. These pleasure cruises are all about meeting people and having fun -- regardless of whether you have a bunkmate or not.

Kandy Cruise
The ultimate in ocean-going decadence for the 21-40 beautiful people set. These cruises are the latest offering by L.A. entrepreneur/nightlife impresarios the Karma Foundation and are basically the equivalent of an exclusive mega-club transplanted onto a Royal Caribbean ship. Bumpin' sound systems, tons of DJs, non-stop partying, swimming pool hi-jinks, outdoor massages and more. Nobody really sleeps during this four-day cruise; they just catnap as needed. The rules are the same as at any exclusive L.A./Las Vegas nightclub: beautiful women get in free and men pay double. (A limited amount of tickets are available for women who don't want to deal with the "hot or not" juggernaut.)

Bermuda Cruise on Explorer of the Seas
Our favorite of the various 2008 programs brought to you by Singles Travel International, this nine-day cruise departs from New Jersey in mid-May and sails to Kings Wharf aboard a Royal Caribbean luxury liner. Unlike the Kandy concept, Singles Travel reserves a select number of cabins for single travelers and adds special singles' events to the regular onboard itinerary. It's still a party, just not a techno-powered 24-hour one.

Board with your mate
Leave the jaded masses behind and set sail with your girlfriend, and a thousand other couples, onboard these über-luxe, ultra-romantic ships.

Bora Bora Cruises
Beyond Maui and Bali Hai lies a secret, barely traveled land. The Leeward Islands of Tahiti see only a smattering of tourist traffic, and new small-ship operator Bora Bora Cruises goes to the most tucked away coves and scenic spots. Visit vanilla fields, pristine bays and tropical gardens. With only about 50 passengers onboard, these "Nomade Yachts" make their own itinerary and schedule, encouraging guests to lose themselves in the magic of Polynesia.

Queen Victoria Ocean Crossings
Cunard's newest triumph adds specialty martinis and a champagne bar to its renowned high tea traditions. But bubbles are just one of the many perks onboard Cunard's latest masterpiece. Dramatic, elegant architecture is enhanced with gilt leaf and crystal chandeliers, evoking the opulence of a bygone era. Various 2008 ocean crossings include Singapore to Southampton and Los Angeles to Sydney.

Cruise with a purpose
The latest trend toward onboard "enrichment" programs means there's something more to do onboard than eat, sunbathe, gamble and sleep (though no one's saying you have to).

TransAtlantic Dance Cruise
Okay, so it's a little bit Love Boat, but if you're going to learn ballroom where better to do it than the stately, gold-leafed ballroom of the Queen Mary 2? This eight-day voyage has a jam-packed social schedule, with lessons by day and dances every night. Though best suited to the mature crowd, this themed cruise is liable to be among the liveliest of the luxe liner crossings.

Viking Cooking School
Small ship market leader Silversea partners up with the Viking Range company to offer onboard culinary crash courses that incorporate food-shopping expeditions, wine pairings and hands-on lessons. Though the chefs work their fingers to the bone, the students are given ample opportunity to sample the fare and drain the horns of honey mead (or Pinot Gris).

Just the three, or four or five of us
Make a getaway, but take your most precious cargo along.

Disney
The shipboard setting is particularly well suited to families, and no one caters to children's needs better than Disney. Get your canoodling in while a staff of impeccably trained crew members supervises the kiddies with infinite patience. New Caribbean itineraries in 2008 combine cruise travel with overnight stops at Disney-owned properties (including Castaway Cay, the Mouse's little secret in the Bahamas).

Ocean Alternatives
Once some people are out on the open ocean, no amount of Dramamine in the world will set things right. If that's you, check out the landlocked alternatives below.

Cruise the Danube
Europe's legendary river has inspired composers and storytellers, artists and winemakers...plus probably a million lovers, give or take a few. Danube cruises are more than just sightseeing expeditions; they're cultural, musical, epicurean journeys. New offerings like Horizon & Co.'s epicurean-themed cruises and Uniworld's "Danube Discovery" program encourage guests to expand their cultural and romantic horizons.

Panama Canal
Native villages, Central American jungles and Teddy Roosevelt's unquenchable spirit all play into the mystique of this continent-traversing waterway. It's an ever-more popular cruise destination, and award-winning tour operator Tauck World Discovery has sweetened the appeal by adding an 11-day Panama/Costa Rica itinerary to its "Singles Special" roster for 2008.