Solo travel differs from traveling alone. A solo traveler cruise offers the perfect balance of loneliness and interaction with fellow human beings, with an inbuilt scope for meeting fellow travelers. Other ships have also taken solo cruising up as a niche activity lately, cutting hideous singles supplements and providing special single deals.
If you’ve just ended a relationship, need to escape the kids, or simply prefer to go your own way, the right cruise can make solo travel a joy, not a horror.
Best Cruise Lines for Solo Travelers
Not all cruise ships are alike for singles. Norwegian Cruise Line stands alone in its single status by offering studio staterooms at single-occupancy prices and a private Studio Lounge where singles can find a place to gather and socialize. They waive or reduce single supplements that would otherwise double the cost of a regular room.
Holland America Line and Cunard are ideal for single cruising at lower-budget single supplements and ship-hosted social activities. Cunard World Cruises attract discerning single cruisers seeking culture, while Holland America offers an informal atmosphere with enrichment programs and dance hosts specifically designed for singles.
Best cruise lines for singles are:
- Norwegian Cruise Line – single studio cabins with a lounge
- Cunard – elegant atmosphere with hosted social activities
- Holland America – enrichment activities and free dance hosts
- Viking Ocean Cruises – affluent travelers with affordable single supplements
Budget travelers can make use of repositioning cruises, which are cost-effective and friendly to solo travelers.
Read More: What to Pack for a Cruise: The Real Essentials
Credits for choosing the right cabin and facilities
For solo cruising, cabin choice can make a significant difference in your vacation and your budget. Norwegian’s studio staterooms are solo-occupancy staterooms with creative space-savings. Inside staterooms are the least expensive if you’ll spend most of your time away from your stateroom. Balcony staterooms offer private outdoor space for enjoying morning coffee or reading, but at a single supplement rate.
Look for locations near public spaces and elevators. Theater and dining room proximity, as well as midship cabins, reduce seasickness, providing the best chance for casual encounters. “Guaranteed” cabins, offered by some cruise lines, mean you accept whatever cabin you are assigned in your category at a discounted rate; one doesn’t want to spend too much money on the cheapest accommodations.
The top solo traveler cruise offers WiFi packages to stay connected, specialty dining to encourage sharing tables, and shore excursion credits to keep group activities affordable.
Read More: Themed Cruises You Didn’t Know Existed
Social Activities and Meeting Fellow Travelers
Being single and lonely are two different things. Most ships organize single-traveler events at the start of the cruise that result in instant friendships. Participate in enrichment talks, cooking demonstrations, or exercise classes that are icebreakers. The gym, pool deck, and specialty restaurants with communal seating are party spots.
Beach activities provide a natural environment for spending quality time with small groups, allowing them to connect and engage in meaningful activities together. Buy participatory tours like hiking, snorkeling, or biking, where cooperation will bond friends. Solo cruisers complain about sharing time with their best vacation friends in port experiences, rather than on shipboard activities.
Dinner times must be considered. Request open seating at large tables, where you will have a different group of passengers every evening, or a reserved table if you wish to get to know the same group better during your cruise.
Safety Tips for Solo Cruisers
Cruising is among the safest forms of travel, but prudent precautions can add even more safety. Close your cabin door when in your cabin and leave your passports and valuables in the in-room safe. Have someone at home know your day’s plan by using ship WiFi or message apps.
For extra security in port cities, consider booking excursions from the ship through the cruise line for some planned departures. As a single traveler, research neighborhoods ahead of time, stay during the day in tourist areas that are densely populated, and venture out with photocopies of important documents and originals. Trust your instincts; if a situation doesn’t seem right, return to the ship.
Be cautious in taverns and lounges. Accept drinks from bartenders straight and watch your drink. Most cruising travelers are above board, but caution is a safeguard that protects you without stifling the experience.
The right cruise for singles enables single discovery to become a people-enriching experience without compromising personal freedom. Through cruising on single-friendly vessels, booking wisely positioned cabins, attending singles events, and taking reasonable safety measures, you’ll find solo cruising far from desolate. Growing solo cruising demand means more choices and experiences every year. Have you booked your initial solo cruise yet? Your ideal cruise is waiting to show you that maybe the best traveling buddy you’ll ever have might just be you.
