Holidaying alone can be daunting, especially if you’re used to having someone to help you plan, book and enjoy your time away. Cruising, however, is the perfect way to enjoy a hassle-free solo getaway.
With everything arranged for you, from excursions to meals and activities, all you have to do is decide what your dream cruise you’d like to set sail on and go! As a contained ‘resort on the water’ with lots of group activities and excursions to sign up for, you’re bound to meet like-minded people who are, quite literally, in the same boat.
At Cruise.co.uk we want you to have the very best time onboard, whether you’re going solo or in a party of ten. To help you plan for your solo cruise adventure, read our blog below to discover our top nine tips for an amazing solo cruise:
1) The Right Ship
Choosing the right ship is probably the most important thing when it comes to having a great solo cruise. Just like people, cruise ships come in all kinds of different shapes and sizes, from huge-multiple-passenger ships to slightly smaller vessels accommodating only a few hundred passengers.
The advantage of sailing solo on a cruise on a larger cruise ship, such as vessels managed by Celebrity Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line, is that there is so much available onboard to get stuck into – from thrilling ropes courses and relaxing spa treatments to organised activities for fellow solo travellers.
However, sailing on a smaller liner, such as Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines or luxury line Silversea, also come with its own advantages. Choosing a smaller liner means that you’re more likely to bump into the same friendly crowd of people throughout your holiday – whether that’s at an organised event or just at the pool bar – rather than trying to find new friends amongst a busy larger ship.
2) The Right Cruise
Solo cruising is all about you and your interests, so it is imperative to really put some thought into what kind of voyage you’d like to enjoy. Think about what balance of at-sea days, destinations, time in port and excursions you would like to make up your perfect holiday.
Whatever you prefer, check that there’s a ‘group focus’, i.e. lots of group activities for sea days and group excursions in port rather than a more relaxed ‘meet back at the ship at 6pm’ vibe. (That is assuming that you do want to meet people on holiday!)
If you’re actually quite looking forward to a relaxing time enjoying brand new and exciting locations in your own company, then forget the above and look for the exact opposite!
Lots of major cruise lines now have tons of detailed information on shore excursions and itineraries available on their websites, including prices and details on activity levels.
3) Be Mindful Of Single Supplements
The dreaded single supplement is a real thorn in the otherwise rosy world of solo cruising. Booking a double cabin for yourself could cost exactly that – double!
So, try to avoid that unless your surname is Musk, Gates or Zuckerberg (in which case, why not hire the whole ship and be done with it?).
If you’re not on the Forbes Billionaires List just yet, look for cruises that have plenty of single cabins going. The more single cabins, the more singles for you to mingle with! Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines are great for those going solo, with around two hundred single cabins across the fleet.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Epic boasts over one hundred and twenty single ‘studios’ (with a dedicated studio ‘social’ area for easier mingling!) too.
4) Sharing Is Caring
If your cruise ship of choice doesn’t have single cabins available (boo!) there’s no need to throw in the beach towel just yet. Why not consider sharing with a fellow solo cruiser?
Risking getting stuck with a snorer isn’t for everyone, but it means that you get the cruise that you want without paying extra. Plus, you’ve got an instant best friend onboard (hopefully).
5) Speak Up
One of the easiest ways to meet people on a solo cruise is to approach your onboard cruise director and let them know that you’d like to meet other singles. They know the ship better than anyone and even if they can’t arrange direct introductions they’ll be able to point you to the very best places to meet your fellow solo cruisers.
If there’s a sing-along hour in the piano bar or a solo travellers meet-up, for example, that can break the ice and get you talking to what will hopefully be new (and tuneful!) friends.
6) Get Involved
Throwing yourself into the social scene on the ship can be scary at first, but the reward is a brilliant time trying out lots of new activities and experiences with newfound friends. It’s always best to just bite the bullet, sign up for anything you like the look of on your daily schedule (such as group activities), smile, and make friendly conversation.
7) Eat With Other Singles
When it comes to mealtimes onboard, ask to be seated with other singles at dinner – after all, friends are easily made over a glass of wine or two! Bear in mind that families will often choose the earlier dinner sittings, so avoid the 6 pm service if you’d prefer a child-free supper.
Instead, opt for a later dining time and don’t be shy to ask your dining companions which bar or lounge they are moving on to after coffee liquors and After Eights.
8) Calling Cards
Consider having some calling cards made up with your name, mobile number and maybe even your cabin number on to save an awkward scrabble for a pen and paper when trying to make arrangements with new friends.
You can usually get these made and printed, and delivered straight to your home address, from a variety of online retailers.
9) Be Selfish
It’s natural to be apprehensive about holidaying alone but having only yourself to look after can actually turn out to be a real joy, so grab the opportunity to be really, truly, gleefully selfish with both hands!
This is your time to do exactly as you wish. So do take the time to treat yourself to an indulgent spa treatment, treat yourself to a sublime speciality meal, or spend hours on the pool deck sunning yourself with your favourite book.
Take your time making new friends onboard, or, indulge in enjoying your entire cruise in your own company. The world at sea is literally your oyster!
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