A lot of solo travelers will automatically think of booking a cruise so they can feel a little more connected to people. And that’s a great reason! You get to choose how much you engage and participate. Your goal should be to do what you want and have a nice time. Nothing else. Cruising Solo | So Worth it!
Supplemental Charges
Cruises sometimes have a supplement charge since their ships are geared to couples and families. There are a lot of cruise lines that are getting a little smarter about the huge number of solo travelers and how than can accommodate them without a single supplement charge.
There are a few cruise lines that have either waived or reduced the single supplement charge. Here are a few – Crystal, Silversea, and Seabourn. I believe more and more will come around as we are on a high wave of people choosing to travel solo.
A travel agent specializing in cruises is the best way to find the best cruise for you. A good agent knows who has the best singles cabins or waived single supplements and can help you plan a fantastic solo voyage.
Here are some of your options for ocean cruise cabins dedicated to one person that doesn’t charge a single supplement:
Costa Cruises: Certain ships have a limited number of solo-designated cabins.
Holland America Line: Two of HAL’s newest ships, Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam, each has 12 ocean-view solo cabins that measure 127 to 172 square feet. This is plenty of space for a solo cruiser to camp out for the week.
Cunard: All three Cunard ships—Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria, and Queen Mary 2—all offer single cabins. Queen Mary 2’s recent renovation saw the addition of 15 Britannia Single Staterooms that are more spacious than a typical solo cabin and offer ocean views through picture windows. Between Cunard’s three ships, you can sail just about anywhere in the world. If you want to try a transatlantic voyage though, between New York and London, book aboard Queen Mary 2.
Norwegian Cruise Line: Norwegian offers The Studio, a keycard-accessible complex with up to 100-square-foot interior single cabins on Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Encore (launched November 2019), Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Getaway, and Pride of America.
Well-designed Studio cabins have a full-size bed, private bathroom, and virtual porthole with a “live video feed” of exterior views. The Studio’s exclusive Lounge is a solo traveler gathering spot with a big-screen TV, coffee/tea/snack station, activities, and evening bartender services. The focus is not to find a ‘partner’. It is to engage with others who also enjoy solo traveling.
Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Edge, the line’s newest ship, has two types of cabins for a solo traveler: Single Staterooms and Edge Single Staterooms with Infinite Veranda. The Edge Single Stateroom has a drop-down glass panel that creates an open-air balcony without taking up space inside the cabin.
Royal Caribbean International: Many Royal Caribbean ships have solo cabins. Quantum of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, and Anthem of the Seas from the line’s Quantum class of ships each have 28 studio solo staterooms that are 101 to 119 square feet. All have either open-air or virtual balconies, some have a floor-to-ceiling LED screen displaying live exterior views. The Oasis-class Harmony of the Seas also offers cabins for solo travelers.
River cruise lines are also catering to independent travelers with solo cabins. You will find them on American Queen Steamboat Company’s ships that sail North American rivers. In Europe, look to companies like Emerald Waterways and Vantage River Cruises.
Tips to get the most out of your solo cruise
Rely on the ship’s staff. Even if you don’t want to join all the activities, there are two people it pays to know on the ship: the cruise director and the entertainment director. Both people are usually held by fun, outgoing people who already know a lot of the passengers and can introduce you. The cruise and entertainment directors are usually on the gangway at check-in to greet passengers. Introduce yourself and let them know you’re traveling solo and would love to join in on some of the activities they have planned.
After you board, head to any designated areas for solo travelers: Some ships with solo cabins also have lounges that are for the exclusive use of anyone staying in those accommodations. Visit often to meet your fellow solo cruisers. You might meet someone to share a meal with or even go on a shore excursion together. Just because you chose to travel solo doesn’t mean you have to do everything solo. It’s YOUR choice.
Each evening, a daily program will be delivered to your room that shows you the next day’s activities. Decide which activities you might like to try. They offer dance classes, games, and trivia, and are all great places to meet other solo travelers.
Go on ship-sponsored shore excursions: Sign up for a shore tour and you’ll meet plenty of fellow passengers in a setting where sharing and interacting is easy and natural. If you just want the day to explore the ship and have fewer people in your path then this is the day to do that. That is usually what I do occasionally, depending on where the excursion is.
Try to say hello to people and of course smile. Remember: You are not solo and sad. You are solo and Empowered! You don’t need to go up to people and introduce yourself but just saying hello or making small talk could start a new friendship!
Just Relax and have fun. There is no requirement to do anything, or you can do it all. Solo cruise travel gives individuals the opportunity to customize their vacation with as much or as little interaction with others as they’d like. If you really want to go on a cruise, do it! You don’t need a cabin mate, just a good attitude and eagerness to explore the world. You won’t regret it.
