I took an adults-only cruise and thought the kid-free playground was the best part

• I recently embarked on an luxury, adults-only cruise with Virgin Voyages. 
• My favorite part of the ship was the kid-free playground on one of the upper decks.
• The playground made me feel young again with giant see-saws, relaxing swings, and jumbo-sized games.

On my first adults-only cruise, I felt like a kid again.

It was my second cruise to date, following a Royal Caribbean cruise on a family-friendly ship called Wonder of the Seas. Full of water slides, splash pools, and running, screaming kids, the ship didn't feel as relaxing as I had hoped. Ultimately, I didn't enjoy the experience.

I was ready to write cruises off completely, until I learned about Virgin Voyages, an adults-only, luxury-leaning cruise line limited to guests who are at least 18 years old. I expected tranquil pools, upscale details, and an intimate vibe going into the trip.

Once onboard the ship Valiant Lady in August 2023, I got all of those things as we sailed through the Mediterranean Sea for seven days.

But surprisingly, my favorite spot onboard was a space I'd typically associate with children — the one thing I was trying to avoid — a playground.

The kid-free playground had swings and see-saws — but was designed for adults

I learned that a kid-free playground is actually a feature of any Virgin cruise. The Virgin Voyages ship fleet is nearly identical aside from artwork and other decorative details, a representative of the cruise line told Business Insider, so you can enjoy one on any Virgin Voyage.

On the Valiant Lady, the playground was outdoors on deck 16. The swings and see-saws were jumbo-sized, and the swings had a large circular net instead of a banded seat, making them more comfortable and relaxing.

The swings also faced the ocean. I enjoyed multiple sunsets swaying in the large nets with the wind in my face.

Next to the swings and see-saws, in the same area, was a boxing ring with a punching bag along with other body-weight workout equipment inspired by athletic social clubs of the 1920s, according to the cruise line's website.

I typically don't like to work out on vacation, but hitting the punching bag was so much fun that I didn't even feel like I was exercising.

Also within the playground, I spotted a foosball table, a gigantic chess board, and a basketball court. I loved being able to participate in games that I hadn't played in over a decade. And getting into a playful, competitive mindset reminded me of my childhood.

Among these games and structures was one I'd never experienced — a catamaran-like net to walk or lay on with views of the ocean below. It was surprisingly thrilling to step into, and it left butterflies in my stomach.

The lack of children made the playground even more enjoyable. Without kids running around, I felt more relaxed without the guilt that comes with taking up play space when you don't have kids.

During the day, I spotted many people using the playground, from swinging and playing chess to practicing gymnastics-like moves on the workout equipment.

While I often had to wait around for the chessboard and foosball table to be available during the day, the playground was usually empty during sunset, save for the occasional couple on the swing set.

I thought the ship's playground was a creative way to curate a youthful vibe during the cruise. I spent more time here than any other communal space onboard. And feeling like a kid again was the break I needed from adult life.