Singles Cruising
Are you single and dreaming of taking a cruise, but unsure what to expect? Cruising is an ideal getaway for solo cruisers; it offers the breathing space of a resort getaway, pampering service, opportunities to meet new friends and the chance to visit a new place almost every day.
Many cruise lines welcome singles onboard with receptions where they can meet other solo passengers and even if they don't, you can use your areas of interest (card playing or wine and cuisine
theme cruises) to meet people with similar hobbies. With lots of organised activities and social events, you will never be bored! But if you fancy some time on your own, there are also quiet places onboard where you can seek tranquillity.
There's no need to feel like a wallflower when the band starts playing. Some cruise lines offer "gentlemen" dance hosts onboard and are selected on the basis of their dancing ability. Don't worry; Solo men who love to dance won't have a problem finding a female dancing partner, they outnumber males travelling alone by about three to one! Dance hosts can be found on
QE2;
Crystal,
Regent and
Silversea ships; and on longer voyages of
Holland America and
NCL vessels.
Dining is not a problem onboard, where the majority of dining rooms have seating for groups of 4, 6 or 8 people and can be an easy way to meet new friends. If you want to be seated with other solo cruisers, make sure you ask the Maitre'd and they will accommodate your needs. Generally passengers are grouped together with others of a similar age and background, so you will never feel left out.
The biggest drawback of being a lone traveller is the single supplements. Some cruise lines can charge a solo traveller who wants to occupy a cabin, without a roommate, the same price as a couple travelling together. Other lines, such as
Costa,
Holland America,
NCL, Orient Line, Swan Hellenic and
Cunard still offer single cabins on some of their ships, but these tend to be older ships.
With some cruise lines, such as
Crystal,
Regent Seven Seas,
Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, and
Silversea, now adding less than 25 percent supplements on certain cruises for solo travellers, you may be able to afford a luxury ship rather than a mass market ship with a heavy supplement.
However, if you feel that travelling solo may blow your budget, you could consider a cabin share. By using a "Find a Partner" program, offered by many lines, you could be matched with another solo passenger of the same gender, which means no extra supplement. Sharing a cabin with a stranger may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it does mean savings!
For more information about which cruise lines accommodate solo travellers see below:
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